World Cup Diary: England must go back to basics
England’s World Cup hopefuls began their training in the Algarve today after a gruelling few days PT with the Royal Marines. Ashton has 6 weeks to mould his merry men into mean machines before he has to name his final 30-man squad.
The head coach threw a curveball at his team by sending them to train with the Marines, a tactic also employed by Sir Clive Woodward during his tenure. Woodward claimed that the Marines had advised him on squad selection by identifying ‘energy-sappers’ that had too much negativity around them. He wanted players with positive mentalities only, rather than include one or two ‘bad eggs’ that would bring everyone else down.
It may be that Ashton has received the same advice this year, and perhaps he will reveal all when he makes his final selection, but in my view he has a bigger problem on his hands - it is all very well picking 30 ‘energisers’, but you need players that can run, catch, pass and tackle. Unfortunately, there aren’t many English players who seem to be international standard at all of those basic skills.
The England management team should be using the time in Portugal to develop and hone the basic skills of a rugby player. Too often in recent seasons have we seen passes behind the player, squandered overlaps and simple missed tackles. Andy Robinson blamed the lack of time with the players - Ashton has no such excuse now, with the rest of the summer at his disposal.
The opportunity should also be taken to improve fitness levels in the team, learning from the success of 2003. England seemed to be the fittest team in the competition, despite the derisory chants of Dad’s Army by the whingeing Australians. Down at half-time against Samoa, England’s superior fitness allowed them to absorb the attack, and then race away at the end. It was the same story against the Welsh, and everyone knows what happened in the final.
So Brian, forget about the subconscious states of mind and go back to basics. If England can sharpen up their basic skills and arrive in France as one of the fittest teams, they will be competitive. This will allow them not only to maintain their defensive patterns, but also to sustain a challenge at the breakdown - an area where they must compete in order to live with the All Blacks and the Springboks.
Australia v New Zealand Preview
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The Tri-Nations roadshow moves on to Melbourne this weekend for the Australian leg of the competition. The Wallabies will host the match at the MCG, the first rugby match to be played there since 1998, when Australia beat New Zealand 24-16.
If history repeats itself tomorrow, I would be very surprised. All the signs suggest that New Zealand will win comfortably, following their bruising victory over South Africa last week.
The Australian pack has been one of their greatest weaknesses in recent years, and it will come under immense pressure from the All Blacks. New Zealand out-muscled the Springboks in the scrum last week, which is no mean feat, and Australia will not be able to live with the power.
Out wide, Australia look more of a force. They have some of the most experienced campaigners in Gregan (131 caps), Larkham (98), Mortlock (57), Giteau (44) and Tuquiri (52) - a total of 382 caps between just 5 players.
That said, will they be too old and slow to cope with the pace and physicality of the New Zealand runners? The likely lack of a forward platform will mean they are defending for most of the match, and fitness will be vital if they plan to keep the All Blacks at bay.
The Rugby Blog predicts a 24-point margin for the men in black, and the All Black juggernaut to roll on towards France.
Player Profile: Dan Hipkiss
Position: Centre
Height: 1.78 m (5? 10?)
Weight: 121 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Date of Birth: 4th June 1982
Birthplace: Ipswich
Dan Hipkiss is a popular choice to start in England’s midfield for the World Cup this year, having completed a fine season at Leicester Tigers. Together with Alesana Tuilagi, Hipkiss was part of the most effective centre partnership in the country.
His scything running has opened up many Premiership defences this year, but Hipkiss is also renowned for his ferocious tackling. It is this combination of skills that make him a suitable candidate for the international side. Other contenders for the position do not seem to have this balance – Tait has great elusive speed but can be a liability in defence, whilst players like Tindall and Farrell only seem to know one way forwards in attack.
Hipkiss is no stranger to the England setup, having represented his country at U16, U17, U18 and U21 levels, as well as playing regularly for England Sevens team. If he is given a chance to impress in the World Cup warm up matches, there is every chance that he will be named in the final 30-man squad. The Rugby Blog would rather see him in there than old Mike Catt.
Hipkiss scored 15 tries for Leicester last season and was named Guinness Premiership Player of the Month for April.
Watch the video below from Sky Sports featuring Tuilagi and Hipkiss as Leicester’s danger men.
Australia throw their toys out of the pram
Australia are refusing to play against South Africa in the Tri-Nations after the Springboks named a weakened squad for the fixture. John Connolly is suggesting an additional fixture against the All Blacks.
To be honest, the South Africa second-string could probably beat Australia, and perhaps Connolly is looking to avoid the embarrassment. I seem to remember the Wallaby whingeing about Wales’ squad that toured this summer - and then they nearly lost the game.
Whilst I believe the Aussies should put up and shut up, it does raise the question over the structure of the rugby calendar. There are too many matches too close together, and the so-called Test matches are beginning to lose their significance. It’s worth remembering that the only losers in this debacle will be the supporters, who have paid hard-earned money to watch a competitive match.
Team Profile: Samoa
Lima. Tuilagi. Fanolua.
Synonymous with the image of size; of power; of sheer physical force, these names instil fear in even the most vociferously gallant armchair supporter, let alone those charged with the duty of physically attacking the try-line of these Sergeants of the South Islands. The nom-de-guerre Brian ‘Bonecruncher’ Lima wasn’t gained through a reputation for cuddling his opposition. Lima exemplifies the physicality and power that has historically been brought to the green-bladed table by the Samoans, a tribute to not only their natural genetic physiological size but also their committed enjoyment to the game, characterised and expressed most vividly through the 7s circuit.
The question, however, is how potent a force has Samoa become in the 15-man game? Beyond the front-line rifle fire of the Bonecruncher, there is a deeper menace to the Samoans’ artillery: an increasing understanding of the 15-a-side version of the game and a greater ability to structure their play to a pre-determined game plan. It is this development in recent years – aided and abetted by an influx of Samoans playing regularly in the English Premiership – that has made the Samoans a greater force than the entertaining-but-ineffective thrashing-boys they once were. At no time was this more obvious than one passionate night in October 2003 in the enclosed embrace of Telstra Dome, Melbourne in the last Rugby World Cup. Faced with an England team seated firmly on their throne as the top-ranked team in world rugby, the Samoans constructed and implemented a game plan that not only nullified the attacking threat of strikers such as Jason Robinson, Ben Cohen, Josh Lewsey and Jonny Wilkinson, but indeed played with such aplomb as to stretch the England defence, trample on their own game plan and nearly complete the shock of the tournament.
So great was the effort in nearly overcoming the greatest obstacle in international rugby at the time that Trevor Leota – having made himself unavailable for the World Cup through fear of loss of earnings from his club Wasps – offered to catch the next flight out to Australia to join in what had overnight become a team to be reckoned with that was now viewed as a serious force in world rugby.
It is perhaps this decision not to allow Leota to join the RWC 2003 squad that best epitomised the new Samoan attitude. No one man was greater than the team. In the era of professionalism only those willing and able to contribute and commit to a visionary future would be permitted to play in the Blue shirt. Look back 5 years and the Samoan management would have jumped at the chance to include a man of Leota’s 21 stone stature in the team, with the major purpose of intimidating the opposition, but with the knowledge that little else would be gained in terms of a serious result.
The question is, now faced with a similar group in RWC 2007 with both South Africa and England, can Samoa once again organise themselves and play a solid, creative, but structured 80 mins of Test rugby that can challenge one of the world’s top teams for an unexpected but long-overdue major victory?
The structure has been implemented. The desire, commitment and skill has never been lacking. Now perhaps just the belief can take them to the promised land of a world cup quarter final. Obviously, the odds are against them but would you venture a bet that these South Sea giants won’t maybe, just maybe produce a spectacle that will create a new chapter in World Cup Rugby…?
Heartbreak for South Africa
The Springboks showed that the All Blacks were beatable on Saturday, but just didn’t quite manage it. They dominated the game for all but a ten-minute spell, exposing New Zealand in several areas and demonstrating to the rest of the world that they should not be afraid.
Two late tries from Richie McCaw and Joe Rokocoko ensured that the All Blacks crept home for the win, but it was South Africa that had the upper hand for the majority of the game. Nevertheless, credit must go to the winning side for maintaining their composure and for capitalising on the boks’ momentary lack of concentration.
The South African back row were ferocious throughout and dominated the All Blacks’ unit, but could not quite sustain their efforts for the duration. Schalk Burger was monumental in defence and just had the edge over McCaw, and it looked as though their ruthlessness in the breakdown would win the day.
As expected, the South Africans were menacingly competitive at the breakdown, they put pressure on the opposition lineout, and they kicked well out of hand to turn Sitiveni Sivivatu and Rokocoko. Indeed, this strategy led to their try just before half time.
Turnover ball was kicked into the corner for Mils Muliaina to field, but his only option was to run into touch, such was the speed of the chase. The lineout was won, and the green juggernaut marched towards the line and eventually gave the home side a lead at half-time of 11 points to 6.
The number of turnovers won by South Africa was outstanding, and they frequently forced the Blacks’ runners into poor positions so that they gave away penalties in the tackle - and with Ruan Pienaar capable of slotting goals from his own half, this looked like a good plan.
However, leading 21-12 with ten minutes to go, the Springbok challenge faltered. The All Blacks found some open space to run in, courtesy of Rodney So’oialo, and were able to steal the game.
World Cup hopefuls will take heart from this game though. At times, especially in the first half, New Zealand looked vulnerable in the face of the challenge. Clever passes were being dropped, the ball was knocked-on reguarly, Jerry Collins nearly hospitalised his own man and Dan Carter looked fallible in his goal-kicking.
The key was the ruthlessness at the ruck by the Springboks, with their pack seemingly unconscious to the possibility of serious injury as they charged head first into their opposite numbers, and it yielded results.
Rarely have the All Blacks been stood up to at the breakdown, and they looked as though they did not know what to do. Only when the play was more broken did New Zealand look comfortable again, and as everyone knows this is when they are so lethal.
So what does this all mean? What do you need to beat the best team in the world? A savage and brutal back row for one, a faultless lineout on your own throw and strong jumpers to pressure theirs, a pin-point accurate kicking game (5 yards behind Rokocoko is effective, but 5 yards in front is ill-advised) and a big, mobile, aggressive forward unit that will sustain the fight for 80 minutes.
South Africa weren’t far off, but can anyone else manage it?
South Africa v New Zealand
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I have already discussed this match in a longer article (here) on The Rugby Blog, but I wanted to reiterate what a fascinating encounter this is likely to be.
As the top two teams in the world go head to head, the outcome could have a massive bearing on the World Cup as the winner of this match will take a huge boost in confidence. It’s a fascinating context for the showdown, with New Zealand showing one or two signs of weakness (which is a word you couldn’t associate with the All Blacks over the last 3 years), and with the Springboks on the rise following record wins over England and a close (but solid) victory against Australia last weekend.
My prediction is a 9-point win for the Springboks, and a second World Cup victory in September. Don’t forget, the odds will shorten dramatically if South Africa win on Saturday, so put your bets on now - see my Rugby Betting post.
Rugby World Cup betting
Now is the time to place a bet on South Africa to win the World Cup. The Rugby Blog maintains that the Springboks will beat New Zealand in the Tri-Nations this weekend, and when they do, the odds on them lifting the Webb Ellis Cup will shorten dramatically.
Extrabet is offering the best odds at 13/2, but I’ve opened an account with Betfred who will reimburse your first bet - so basically it’s free! If you open an account, then put a tenner on South Africa to win the World Cup, you’ll get the tenner back within a couple of days (and at odds of 11/2, you’ll win £65).
Heineken Cup Draw for 2007/08
The chairman of the European Rugby Cup, Jean-Pierre Lux has just made the draw for the group stages of next season’s Heineken Cup.
Last year’s champions, Wasps, seem to have drawn the hardest group in which they will compete against Munster and Llanelli Scarlets. Runners-up Leicester will also have a challenge to qualify for the knockout stages as they face Leinster, Toulouse and Edinburgh.
London Irish seems to have the best draw of the English sides - they will be up against Perpignan, Treviso and Newport Gwent Dragons.
Having said that, there are no easy groups in this competition, and the standard of rugby seems to improve year after year, with many fixtures looking like Test match rugby. The first round of fixtures will take place from 9th to 11th November.
Heineken Cup draw for 2007/08 season:
Pool 1: Benetton Treviso, London Irish, Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool 2: Ospreys, Gloucester Rugby, Bourgoin, Ulster Rugby
Pool 3: Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Harlequins
Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque, Viadana
Pool 5: London Wasps, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster
Pool 6: Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Edinburgh Rugby
New Zealand name their ‘first-choice XV’
Graham Henry has named his full-strength side for the game against the Springboks this weekend. The All Blacks have been using a huge squad full of world-class players, so it’s actually a bit of a surprise to learn of Henry’s first choice players.
There is no room for Chris Masoe, with Henry preferring Rodney So’oialo, Jerry Collins and Richie McCaw to form the back row unit. Kevin Mealamu is another notable absentee, with Anton Oliver getting the nod. Luke McAlister misses out in the centres, with Isaia Toeava selected to combine with Aaron Mauger.
Jake White will name his team tomorrow (Wednesday), and the excitment is building at the contest between the best back rows in the world.
New Zealand team to play South Africa:
Muilaina; Rokocoko, Toeava, Mauger, Sivivatu; Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman; Flavell, Rawlinson; Collins, McCaw, So’oialo.
Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Filipo, Masoe, Weepu, McAlister, MacDonald.
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