Highs and Lows: Who Rules in the Northern Hemisphere?
Bearing in mind that my name doesn’t feature anywhere on the leaderboard of the Rugby Blog’s Betfair Betting League (there is a reason they give long odds on draws!) you are entitled to take a cynical view to all that follows…
Nevertheless, I have been putting some thought into the remaining weekends’ fixtures in this year’s Six Nations and concluded that the title will in fact be won and lost this weekend. Contentious, illogical and just plain nonsense actually but hear me out.
If Wales beat Ireland at Croke Park they will be unstoppable. In front of their home crowd against an irascible French side, playing for the Grand Slam they will take no prisoners and the noise from the Millenium Stadium’s rendition of Bread of Heaven will put the fear of God into whichever inexperienced and young side Lievremont chooses to select that week. As in 2005 against Ireland, the lure of the Grand Slam would bring out the best in the men from the valleys and they would definitely not stumble on the final hurdle.
However, winning in Dublin is easier said than done, doubly so with the Irish – a confidence side if ever there was one – playing with renewed vigour following their convincing victory over the Scots. In my opinion, it is too big an ‘if’ and the Welsh will come unstuck, Gatland’s honeymoon period finally coming to an end. What next?
Momentum is an over-used word in sport, and a bit of a cliché in rugby in particular. However, the World Cup proved what we knew already that when it comes to English rugby, building up a head of steam is what we do best and can inspire some outrageously unpredictable results. So let me predict some. England will triumph at Murrayfield. It will help their cause enormously (indeed it is essential) if they do so handsomely, which is very unusual in traditionally dour Calcutta Cup games when played north of the border. Following on from the unexpected win in Paris this will put England back in the running. Notwithstanding a likely Irish win as well on Saturday, they will return to HQ for the final showdown against Ireland with the snowball gathering speed and size to despatch the pesky leprechauns at a canter. So far so good.
France meanwhile, should have minimal problems dealing with Italy at home with Vincent Clerc running in 8 unconverted 2nd half tries in the process, and giving them the initiative in terms of points differential when they head to Cardiff. Henceforth, we English will require the Welsh to do us a favour despite not having the Slam in their grasp anymore, which is only fair after we let them pursue it in the first place by sportingly lying down and offering them 14 free points at Twickenham a month ago. They may not have to because France may simply shrug, mutter “bof” a few times and decide they can’t be arsed with this year’s competition anymore and wait for the clock to run down so they can get back to pouting and drinking champagne. But I hope not, as this would clearly allow Wales to run up a big score. Wales to come out on top in Cardiff - just.
So, there will be no Grand Slam this year, and like last year it will come down to a potentially very tight points difference. Four teams will be playing one another on the final weekend all with a shot at the overall crown. Manifestly, by around 7pm on the 15th it will be between two of those nations, with Wales and France having the dubious advantage/curse of knowing what winning margin is required for them to be victorious. Currently the points difference stands at Wales +61; Ireland +21; France +15; England +8. After this weekend I predict it to look more like Wales +51; Ireland +31; France +45; England +23 with all four teams poised on 6 points.
So, Ireland, England and France to win this weekend by not much, a fair bit and a lot respectively and England and Wales to be the only teams who complete four wins out of five overall. A swift and basic glance at the mathematics is all I am capable of and all that is necessary and leads inescapably to the conclusion that Wales are undeniably in pole position with their vastly healthier points difference. However, in an epiphany it has been revealed to me that in a final twist, they and France will play each other into a stalemate culminating in a 1 point Welsh victory (maybe a draw?!). From the back of the grid England will then be the team celebrating a less than satisfactory but pleasing return to the top of the Northern Hemisphere tree following a last play interception by Iain Balshaw clinching the last vital points.
To summarise, a Welsh win on Saturday means a Welsh Slam but the expected reverse in Dublin results in the English becoming champions. All fairly simple really: as long as Eddie O’Sullivan’s men come to answer their country’s call.
by Rob Douglas
Player Watch: The Mighty ‘Quins – Danny Care and Tom Guest
In the third installment of his examination of the brightest young talents in English rugby, Rob Douglas turns his entirely impartial attention to his beloved Harlequins. Here he profiles England Saxon back rower Tom Guest, and the newest addition to the England squad, scrum half Danny Care.
Danny Care, Scrum Half
A graduate of the full spectrum of junior representative honours of every age group from U-16 through to U-21, in addition to competing in the England 7s team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, this young Scrum Half is at the heart of the late season renaissance currently being witnessed at Harlequins.After winning five of their opening seven matches of the season Quins had quietly established a healthy position in the Premiership whilst the World Cup was capturing all of the attention of the rugby world. Danny was very much to the fore at this stage, vying with Steve So’oialo for the No. 9 shirt whilst Andy Gomarsall was away on international duty. A suicide-inducing run of 8 games without a win in all competitions followed towards the end of the year, coincidentally as Danny found himself increasingly sidelined.
However, convincing back to back wins, including the Premiership double against Worcester and then an impressive and very tough away victory at Vicarage Road has swung the momentum of Quins’ season and Care was at the forefront of both these peformances. He is small in stature, standing at 5’9” and only tipping the scales just over 12 stone, but is surprisingly strong on his feet, has a first-class pass (seemingly not so much of a pre-requisite at the highest levels these days) and is never afraid to have a go around the fringes whilst constantly chivvying his forwards. Jon Hobbs was quite right in his review of last week’s Premiership action when commenting that it may not be just his England spot that Gomarsall has let slip.
Richard Wigglesworth had an eye-catching debut last week, but is a long way from the finished article. It is perfectly clear that Gomarsall, Peter Richards and Shaun Perry have all had their time on the international stage. Only time will tell if Harry Ellis returns to competitive rugby after his awful knee injury, compounded by a bout of MRSA in hospital, as the hugely gifted player he undoubtedly was. Paul Hodgson is knocking on the door but the England hierarchy do seem somewhat hesitant to open it. Danny Care is only 21 and has yet to serve his club apprenticeship having joined from Leeds following their relegation, but he is well placed to do so under Gomarsall’s experienced mentoring in the ambitious, developing atmosphere engendered by Deano.
With the Mighty Quins only four points from a top-four playoff spot (and no knockout cup distractions), as if you needed another reason to keep one eye on the Stoop, just bear in mind the name of their ambitious and talented young pretender at Scrum Half.
Tom Guest, Back Row
Originally I had thought to profile Jordan Turner-Hall as the second pick from Harlequins in this feature, as exciting a centre as there is in the Premiership right now for sheer potential. However, I took exception for two main reasons: firstly his age, as having just turned 20 a month ago I am finding it increasingly depressing to glorify the talent of these youthful athletes who were sitting their 11+ and noticing funny black hairs sprouting when I was busy with my A levels. Secondly, an only slightly older back row forward decided to announce himself as a serious prospect, noticeably in a Man of the Match performance for a losing side away at Sale.
Guest has been around for a while having made his Quins debut in the friendly against the Natal Sharks at the Stoop on 10th February 2005. He has been groomed through the Academy, but he has struggled to varying degrees with a number of injuries. Still only 23, he is one of a number of young hopefuls in these competitive positions, such as Jordan Crane and of course, Tom Croft at Leicester, who all seem to possess an unnatural amount of speed on top of all the other essential physical attributes.
Since the glory days of Mick Skinner and Brian Moore, Quins have often suffered from a lack of power up front, and indeed their current front five flirts with the journeymen tag, but the back row is a different proposition. Guest looks set to star, and is just as comfortable on the blindside as at No. 8 so Nick Easter can relax, and they are well balanced by Will Skinner at openside, not forgetting the estimable Chris Robshaw.
Guest was typically assured in his England Saxons debut away in Rome this season, and personally I would be very surprised not to see his explosive brand of dynamism and pace included on the England tour this summer. His ability as an extra lineout option should not be underestimated, and despite the wealth of riches we seem to possess at the moment, he is being widely tipped as a future England No.8. Let’s hope he helps steer Quins into a Heineken Cup spot so he can gain an extra dimension of experience in addition to giving the boys a chance to redeem this year’s woeful showing in the European competition…
Finally, another quick summary of our previously featured players: Ollie Philips continues to turn out solid performances for Newcastle while his mate Ben Woods has been integral to the England Saxons’s success this season; Dylan Hartley has already made a name for himself with an audacious try-scoring assist in the Saxons win over Ireland A and it is impossible to ignore Chris Ashton’s remarkable strike rate for Northampton, now standing at an obscene 33 tries from 23 matches!
by Rob Douglas
Player Watch – Dylan Hartley and Chris Ashton
In the week that Brian Ashton has named his squad for the forthcoming Six Nations, here is the second instalment of our look at budding young talent that, although lesser known, may be getting discussed by the powers that be at Twickenham…
Out of sight, out of mind? Northampton Saints may have slipped down to National Division 1, losing some of their better known stars such as Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson along the way, but they look set for a certain return straight back to the Premiership and will be bringing some new firepower with them. Rugby followers will have heard these names bandied about on Sky’s The Rugby Club and among certain clued up journalists, but what do we actually know about Northampton’s brightest young stars, both of whom have been tipped to do great things?
Dylan Hartley, Hooker
Born in New Zealand and brought up in Rotorua, Hartley plays with the rugged, confrontational style of rugby you would expect from the country that has reared men like Sean Fitzpatrick. Qualified for England he looked set to challenge for an outside shot at a place in the 2007 World Cup squad after a strong 6 Nations with England Saxons but was ruled out following a 26-week suspension for gouging in April.
Nevertheless he has cemented his place as Thompson’s natural successor in the front row and quickly established himself as a favourite at Franklin’s Gardens, signing a 2-year extension to his contract in November. Still only a fresh faced 21 year old he has the physical attributes to mix it with the big boys, his 1.85m frame weighing in at 111kg, and he knows where the try line is, scoring on his Saxons debut.
Mark Regan may be the incumbent for England, but can he really run out in the number 2 shirt a few days after his 36th birthday? Lee Mears is having a typically rumbustious season in a resurgent Bath team, but there are still doubts about the pocket dynamo brand he represents on the international stage. It may be a fair leap from playing teams such as Moseley and Esher to opposing Wales at Twickenham, but Ashton has the opportunity in the next year or so to really stamp his authority on the style of England’s play and Hartley may just feature prominently in Yoda’s philosophy.
Chris Ashton, Full Back
Of all the rugby league converts to switch codes, Chris Ashton has probably received the least attention, possibly because of his age and inexperience and that he joined a team just relegated from the Premiership. It was a bold move for the former Wigan Warrior – their player of the season last year already capped by England in the 13-a-side format and not long turned 20 – to move south to Franklin’s Gardens in August.
However, with a return of 20 tries from 17 matches, including a brace against local rivals Bedford at the weekend, it appears to have reaped dividends for club and player already. Unlike some of the more established and prominent players to cross the divide later in their careers (with the notable exception of big Jase), it clearly has not taken Ashton long to bed in and find his feet at union.
Equally adept on the wing, Ashton is not the biggest back standing at 5’ 10” and tipping the scales at 93kg but has skill and pace to burn with an outstanding finishing ability. He scored with his first touch of the ball as a replacement in his debut against London Welsh and his strike rate is nothing short of sensational. All the talk is of Mathew Tait showing great potential from Full Back but don’t be surprised to see the head coach’s namesake in England colours before too long.
Finally, a quick review of our previously featured pair: since the time of writing, Ben Woods has continued to turn in consistent performances for the Falcons, very prominent in their first away win in months at Saracens recently. Ollie ‘Shooter’ Philips meanwhile was included in the England 7s squad yet again, having a good tournament in Dubai where England were desperately unlucky to lose to Fiji in the semi-finals.
By Rob Douglas
The Rugby Blog Player Watch - Ben Woods & Ollie Phillips
I floated the idea recently about starting a player watch – The Rugby Blog keeping its eagle eye on a select group of lesser-known English players starting to make a name for themselves in the Premiership or elsewhere, and got a wide array of potential subjects suggested to me.
In the wake of the world cup with every man and his dog giving not just their teams of the world cup, but also their predictions for the national team in four years, perhaps it is useful to study the breeding ground of today and look for some hidden gems. After all, who had genuinely heard of David Strettle, Danny Cipriani or indeed Dan Ward-Smith even two or three years ago? Granted, none of these made the world cup this time round for whatever reason but they have certainly grabbed their share of headlines in recent times and will all be in the hunt for Six Nations berths.
Perhaps the die-hard or their own well informed club fans saw the untapped potential of these and others long before they achieved recognition. Over the next few weeks/months/seasons The Rugby Blog will attempt to speed up and facilitate this process by highlighting those players we think may have slipped through the net unnoticed or without the plaudits they merit. Rumour has it Rob Andrew is a regular reader.
The criteria is selective but excludes no-one, dependant not on age, background, club or even league – just look at Nick Easter’s unconventional pedigree before Deano snapped him up and nurtured the big man into something approaching world class.
This will be an ongoing feature that will follow the progress of those it deems worthy and we welcome ideas from readers who can justify a particular player’s inclusion. Possible subjects in the frame are Tom French (Wasps), Richard Blaze, Tom Croft and Jordan Crane (Leicester), Nick Wood (Gloucester), Lee Thomas and Ben Foden (Sale), Andrew Higgins and Matt Banahan (Bath), Tom Biggs (Leeds), Danny Care and Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Rob Higgit (Bristol) and Chris Ashton (Northampton).
This week we turn our attention to the North-East and a pair of players who both earned their stripes for Durham University (one also subsequently gaining a Cambridge Blue) before being snapped up full time by the selectors at Newcastle.
Ben Woods, Flanker
Having had the misfortune to be born in Barnsley, the 25 year old Woods has recovered from an horrendous leg break in 2004 to establish a regular starting place in the Falcons back row. Not exactly a household name yet, Ben has represented England Saxons in the last two Churchill Cup campaigns.
A victim of an abundance of talent in the Durham back row and also his own versatility, Woods spent 2 years playing in the second row in the university 1st XV. Nevertheless, he was consistently spoken of as being the outstanding forward on the park, in the tight and loose, not to mention a committed team player, and has since become an out and out number 7 at both Cambridge and Newcastle.
Tom Rees took over from Magnus Lund as the openside of choice for England only to be usurped by two of the older, bigger, more experienced squad members at the World Cup. In this fiercely competitive position, Woods could arguably be the man to fit somewhere imbetween the two camps, a specialist with a bit of northern grit and a competitive spirit to match his engine. England have searched in vain for a worthy heir to Neil Back: watch this space.
Ollie Phillips, Wing
In the star studded Newcastle backline it is small wonder this pug-faced baldy has been overshadowed by his more glamorous team-mates. However, a streamlined lack of hair and a propensity for chewing wasps hasn’t stopped Phillips from quietly and effectively going about his business this season.
With a strike-rate of 6 tries from 9 appearances, including a hat-trick against Spanish giants El Salvador, Ollie has a sharp rugby brain and an eye for space which marks him out. In a show of solidarity with his mate Woods he went as far as sustaining a broken leg of his own in the same season, but bounced back to gain a call up to the England 7s squad from Mike Friday whom he had previously impressed in the Samurai invitational side.
Ever the dedicated professional, he sacrificed what could have been a promising drinking career to pursue the rugby angle, going tee-total whilst squatting prodigious weights in the Maiden Castle gym at Durham Uni. A stalwart of the University 1st XV he was prominent in the inaugural years of the Team Durham program and an influential member of the side that captured the BUSA title at Twickenham in his final year.
Despite complex and at one point very treacherous contract negotiations at the end of last season, having cemented his place this year during world cup absences he is currently the Falcons top scorer, one of the first names on the team sheet and definitely one to look out for in the future.
As a buddy I can (hopefully) afford to big him up in this abusive, flippant manner without him despatching Carl Hayman down on GNER to inflict some retribution, and in all seriousness we wish him and Woodsy a successful season and will continue to chart their development, good or bad!
By Rob Douglas
Just the tonic for post-World Cup blues
Rob Douglas lifts the mood, previewing some of the action coming up, and you can follow it all here on The Rugby Blog.
The Aftermath: Has anyone else got a hollow, empty feeling inside them at the moment, almost like a distant family member has passed away? Am I the only one who feels that life has just got a little more dreary, less focused and slightly jaded? Work seems less fulfilling than ever, it seems there’s nothing much to do or talk about and there’s nothing to look forward to over the dark winter months. Oh, and the clocks are being put back: mega.
Blog to the rescue: But no, there is hope. Rugby fans, pick up your pint glasses, they are indeed half full. Now that the burden of being world champions is behind us, our players can go back to expressing their talents unhindered and light up the domestic season, now alongside many mercenary Southern Hemisphere cousins.
Upcoming highlights: Fear not, the tonic to sooth post-world cup depression comes in many guises. Jonny Hobbs has been keeping us up to date with the comparative trivialities of the Premiership (go on the Quins, cracking start), and there is now a 3-week sabbatical before the resumption of that competition as cup rugby takes centre stage again.
The EDF Energy Cup kicks off today, giving English clubs the chance to add further misery to Wales’s world cup blues. Wasps have made a diabolical start to the season, but as the club with the most amount of players absent on world cup duties, contributing to four national sides, they should see an upsurge in form following their return. They will need to, because the favourites for pool A in this cup will be their old rivals Gloucester, who in contrast have been impressive at the start of the season, with a wealth of new talent from the summer signings boosting an already strong squad.
There will be no love lost in Pool B as Bath, Leicester and Sale go head to head. The Mighty Quins will undoubtedly dominate Pool C, though the Ospreys may prove a tough test, and Llanelli are likely to be the pick from the relatively weak Pool D.
The Heineken Cup picks up where the EDF Energy leaves off in a fortnight’s time. After all the shenanigans and political wrangling surrounding this outstanding competition in the summer it is now back on track, better than ever and guaranteed to provide some fireworks. International players have a chance to make up for disappointing world cups (they know who they are), capitalise on success (swing low) and re-live bitter rivalries in what is considered to be the closest thing to Test match conditions away from the national sides. Ulster begin proceedings at Ravenhill against Gloucester on Friday 9 November, while at the same time the Dragons travel to the Perpignan hotbed for a stern away test.
Pool 6 is probably the pick of the groups, featuring Edinburgh, Leicester, Leinster and Toulouse, but Pool 5 won’t be far behind for competitiveness and Wasps will not surrender their crown easily. The 13th Heineken Cup final returns to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on the weekend of 24 / 25 May 2008: the smart money’s on Quins.
Internationals aren’t too far away either so the rugby fiesta didn’t by any means stop in Paris last weekend. Twickers welcomes newly crowned world champs on 1st December to face the Baa-baas in what is supposed to be Jason Robinson’s swansong, so here’s wishing the big guy a speedy recovery.
Furthermore, we only have to wait till the first weekend in February for the resumption of 6 Nations hostilities. First up sees Ireland and Italy attempt to get back on track at Croke Park after their world cup debacles, followed immediately by England-Wales at HQ. It’s a shorter wait than being an Argentine rugby fan in any case – they need to be included in the Tri-Nations, I don’t care what anyone says!
So basically, lets all drag our chins off the floor, re-locate our club colours and empty wallets and get back to doing what we know best. Finally, a brief tribute to Stuart Abbot, who was forced into early retirement this week due to an ongoing shoulder injury, at the age of only 29. South African-born, he has been a stalwart of the English club game for a number of years, mainly at Wasps and latterly at the Mighty Quins. A player who never seemed to realise his full potential and had persistent bad luck with injuries, he was nevertheless a world cup winner in 2003 and has numerous domestic honours to his credit. You’ll be missed Stuart, and Quins’ success this year is already dedicated to your fine self.
One Night in Paris
I love South Africa. It is a diseased country (literally as well as metaphorically), and I pray not terminally, but there is no other nation where sport has the ability to transcend all other social problems so congratulations to them on this famous and deserved victory.
I love the country, the climate, the culture (basically braiis and rugby), the people (well, mainly the girls) and I love their passion. For all these reasons I do not begrudge their win in the slightest.
From a supporter’s perspective, I am immensely proud of the English team and of the huge contribution they made to a fierce, uncompromising contest and I am equally delighted to have been there and help the English win the fans’ battle by a distance. There was a universal feeling of heartache at chances missed and an opportunity lost, but I did not witness any vitriol directed at any of the officials, no depression and no regret. Our island race has its faults, but self-pity is not one of them, and the party afterwards was no less raucous because of the result.
Kiwis take note, points and composure win big matches, not refereeing decisions. You can keep your whinging, we’ll simply applaud our boys for overachieving, which I realise must be an unfamiliar concept for rugby-lovers of the silver fern persuasion.
The weekend began with a phenomenal Friday afternoon of ESPN Classic re-runs, including the inside story from the road to world cup glory 2003 and the best of the world cup. Hours of non-stop goosebumps and spellbound viewing set the tone and raised impatience levels. However, it was a good 24 hours later when first hitting the bars around the Bastille that any sign of real world cup fever was evident, although the ferry over was a sea of white shirts and a good number of cars were sporting the Cross of St George.
It was typically French to organise the transport strike for this weekend - good lads - but when I asked the taximan if the chaos on the roads was because of the final/strike/Saturday afternoon he replied it was like that everyday in Paris. Absolute carnage. Getting to the ground via Metro and RER wasn’t as hard as it might have been and the banter on the packed trains helped build the atmosphere. It was also good to see the variety of national shirts being sported by optimistic fans who had retained their tickets anyway.
It is also typically French to construct a brilliant stadium with so many basic design faults. Firstly location, in what is essentially an industrial swamp meaning the walk to the ground is funnelled by grumpy chat-deficient Gendarme down a ridiculously thin passage next to a main road, which bottlenecks horribly at the subway entrances,
Then there is the toilet issue within the ground. It must be the only place in the world where women can answer their calls of nature quicker than the lads, although the absurd lack of urinals does mean you can opt for the more efficient method waz and hand-wash at the same time!
Last stadium issue that slightly disappointed me was actually the acoustics, as despite the fantastic spectacle and sweeping stands, the singing never really rumbles around the place like it can at HQ, and as a sporting coliseum it comes nowhere near matching its predecessor the Parc des Princes for sheer noise by all accounts.
Having said that, it was a privilege to have been there, and I was captivated by every second of the game. There has probably been enough written about the match and every facet analysed to death. The was it/wasn’t it a try was a seminal moment and undoubtedly would have altered the game’s dynamic. The debate will continue as Mark Cueto claims he is 100% confident he scored, whilst Stuart Dickinson is equally happy with his decision, which still photographs hazily seem to back up. My interpretation and I think that of every other pair of eyes in the stadium was that it was a try and when the agonising wait ended in frustration I was stunned as these decisions have generally tended to go the attacking side’s way in moments of doubt.
Regardless, the South Africans won this match for the right reasons. They were clinical, their kicking was near flawless, their lineout was actually flawless and they played error-free final-winning rugby. We might have provided more of the wide stuff, but we didn’t have a game-breaker.
The one we did possess at the back ended his career in a hugely sad way, his aging body now broken twice by the merciless Springboks. There is not a genuine rugby fan worldwide of either code who hasn’t appreciated Jason’s genius over the years: all hail Billy Whizz. In fact, the nearest I have been to seeing any real aggro at a rugby match (off the pitch) was when a Bok fan got slightly impatient at the Englishman in front of him saluting Robo’s limping heroics as play went on, and was swiftly silenced by a torrent of abuse and accusations of lacking respect.
It is a mystery to me why Jonny didn’t take more shots at the drop-goal from numerous great field positions, surely the costly early miss didn’t dent the great man’s confidence? Overall though, neither side left anything on the pitch less for an Herculean amount of sweat and a fair bit of claret.
As ever, the stats don’t come close to telling the story but the simple truth is, South Africa 2 finals, 2 wins, England 1 from 3. In two games we scored 6 points, they put 51 on the board. At least we have a better final record than the Frogs, and the partying into dawn was very much a multi-national, cordial effort. One Englishman we met insisted the Saffas were terrible at celebrating their win, chastened by the unfairness of the try decision and not being able to afford it anyway having spent all their Rand getting to Paris. He got put in a bush.
At the conclusion of an unforgettable tournament, it is only right to thank the Frenchies for putting on a great show, congratulate South Africa for achieving the ultimate accolade and repeat Kenny Rogers’ immortal words from the team’s new adopted anthem:
You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run.
You never count you’re money, when you’re sitting at the table, there’ll be time enough for counting, when the dealin’s done…
Four more years boys, four more years.
By Rob Douglas
And did those feet…
Get the champers on ice, rev up the open top bus and put the Red Arrows on standby.
The Chariot has never swung lower than it did one month ago, and yet history has repeated itself and while we say au revoir to the hosts (enjoy that 3rd-4th play-off chaps) the English march into the final. Simply extraordinary. The bookmakers are crying themselves to sleep each night and the party organisers have begun planning the ultimate Trafalgar Square knees up. Call that snap election now Gordon, if only you had half the bottle of our boys in Paris. The cross of St George has finally and rightfully (and I suspect temporarily) been disassociated with football chavdom and put back in the hands of the patriots.
What a rubbish game though. It really doesn’t matter, but it was largely dross. Voltaire would struggle to identify why the French decided to attempt drop goals from their own half from the start. Jonny re-found his own drop goal muse which had gone missing against the Aussies, but his greatest single contribution was the hit on Pelous which brought Chabal on early. This completely stuffed Laporte’s bench tactics and lessened its impact hugely – seeing Toby Flood and Paul Sackey bundle the Neanderthal into touch was actually arousing.
This tournament has rarely followed its script and as long as it continues to ad lib, the more England believe. From the unbearable agony of watching the clock tick down against Australia, there was a serene calmness to events unfolding in Paris on Saturday. Granted, I’ve developed an annoying habit of turning away for the big kicks, but observing a large crowd’s reaction before joining the celebration and throwing more beer over myself is quite cathartic. The great aspect of the semi and also now the final is win or lose, this adventure has been an enormous success for England. There is no pressure, even if expectation has shot up exponentially, because these guys have exceeded every prediction going. Its OBEs all round, arise Sir Jonny and enjoy your country estate Viscount Ashton.
Or is it? There is nothing worse about English sport than the way we revel in success. Winning the World Cup in 2003 was an end state, the summit, the entire raison d’etre of Woodward’s Army for 4/8 years. There was not even a contingency plan for what happened next, apart from the glorious homecoming and ecstatic nationwide celebrations. Ditto following the Ashes two years later. The achievement and ambition (whilst huge in itself) should not be getting there, but staying there. Our rugby team’s fall from grace was swift and painful, and let’s not even start with the cricket.
We have stumbled into a position where we can defend our crown, a ridiculous privilege from the viewpoint of the last four years. If the miracle continues and we redeem that humiliation from a month ago against South Africa, having entered the competition ranked ninth, then no doubt let’s drink every bar dry from Paris to Newcastle. Hand out the plaudits where they’re due. Then on Monday 22 October let’s think about how to set about improving our Six Nations record of late. Let’s figure out how we remind people that this wasn’t a fluke and that the Kiwis are going to have to do something seriously special even on home soil to take our cup from us.
South Africa have one world cup winner in their squad. We have, well a lot. They have Habana. We have Robo. The latest edition of the OED is publishing the phrase big game player next to a photo of J Wilkinson Esq. Synonyms: Simon Shaw, Martin Corry, Lawrence Dallaglio; acronyms: anything wearing black.
South Africa are the favourites, and we will revel in that because they have everything to lose. If we go down fighting there will be heavy disappointment but also a sense of bloody hell, haven’t we done well, bravo us and back pats all round. Sheridan and co will have watched the Argies give the vaunted Springbok pack a hard time in the scrum whilst mauling them to death and think if we can just win our lineout, not knock on every time we get possession and ask Jonny nicely not to throw the ball to their quickest players then we can turn these guys over. Big ifs, fine margins.
We will need to be better than against the French, we cannot kick turnover ball away badly and we must take every scoring opportunity that comes our way. The stone a man advantage we enjoyed up front on Saturday is gone, but we are technically better than the Springboks on our day. A lot may come down to our friend Alain Rolland’s interpretation of the scrum. I predict a thriller (rare for games with the England juggernaut in) and what’s better, I will be there. Now I just need a ticket – any offers?!
Karma awaits.
By Rob Douglas
Rugby World Cup Dream Team
Let the debate begin - Rob Douglas has selected his World Cup Dream Team so far, tell us what you think and let us have yours.
This may seem a little premature, but fortunately that’s something I’ve never been too embarrassed about. Granted, there are four games left but the truth is, after undoubtedly the greatest weekend of rugby in my lifetime, I actually wake up thinking about the game. I can deal with this in two ways: seek help and worry about some deeply disturbing Freudian obsession, or I can construct my world cup dream team from the tournament so far. Better to do it whilst those memorable performances from the group stages are still fresh anyway.
As you would expect, there are many contenders for all the positions. Criteria can be based around one single, earth-shattering performance (ie big Andrew Sheridan) or consistent, effortless brilliance (Hernandez was the first man on the team sheet). It’s also important to try and maximise the range of nationalities, ok maybe not linguistically, but to bring balance and blend of rugby culture as well as reflecting the contribution of every country to the world cup.
If nothing else, this tournament will be remembered as the year of the upset when the Northern Hemisphere struck back. What it should also be celebrated for is the prolific achievements of the lesser nations, and the outstanding contributions of certain ‘unknowns’ within these collective performances.
Reputation has already been shown to count for nothing, and selection can be won or lost in this team far more for performances in the matches where there is much to be played for. Hence, although they steamrollered their way through the group stages, the sole representative of the Tri-Nations in this side is Luke McAllister because (yellow card aside) he was the only man to deliver when required. The Fijians, Tongans, Samoan and Scot may have lost their crunch fixture(s), but the opposition was victorious in spite of them, not because they took a backward step or were anything less than exceptional throughout.
Before Rugby World Cup 2007 began not one of the men listed below would have been considered for the ‘All-Stars’. However, the sight of Ngwenya being shown the outside by Habana and then taking it comfortably proves how awesome rugby’s showpiece can be. There are only 5 players in this side, all but one in the forwards, who can still finish with a winners’ medal. Perhaps in a fortnight I’ll have to reconsider the starting line up but for now, here’s my ten cents worth. Feel free to rip it apart…
1 Andrew Sheridan
2 Akvsenti Giorgadze
3 Census Johnston
4 Simon Shaw
5 Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
6 Hale T Pole (partly because it’s just such a great name)
7 Thierry Dusautoir
8 Finau Maka
9 Mosese Rauluni
10 Juan Martin Hernandez
11 Takudzwa Ngwenya
12 Luke McAllister
13 Seru Rabeni
14 Vilimoni Delasau
15 Chris Paterson
Day of Days in the Rugby World Cup
Brace yourself for another barrage of superlatives to add to the long list of media reports singing the England rugby team’s praises. Just sensational. There were many of us who approached yesterday’s game with hidden hope, but very few can claim real expectation. This was sport at its absolute best.
There can be few better feelings in sport than triumph in an ancient, antagonistic and often hostile rivalry. To do it as massive underdogs, on the biggest stage, against every prediction, versus our fiercest rivals, in the face of all their pre-game rhetoric must be unparalleled in terms of satisfaction. Had Stirling Mortlock defied his prior form with the boot and stroked the winning penalty over at the death it would have been the biggest injustice on world cup record.
England may have won by two points on the scoreboard but they were better at every part of the game, and the merciless destruction up front was a joy to every fan. It’s even better that it was close, it’s tremendous that we did it without needing to score a try, it’s simply phenomenal that we broke the Aussie spirit along with their hearts. A bar in Parsons Green is also without its sizeable antique mirror now following some over enthusiastic celebrations from yours truly!
John O’Neill’s well-documented but less well-considered statements have been unceremoniously booted down his oesophagus. He accused the English of a ‘born to rule’ mentality: on the evidence of Andrew Sheridan and chums’ annihilation of their pack perhaps this perceived attitude is justified. After his initial errors awarding penalties the wrong way, every time Alain Rolland blew for a scrum I expected the English to come away with the ball, regardless of who was putting in. Tell your story walking Campo. I can’t imagine one non-Australian had the least trace of compassion as we bid cheerio to a team and a nation who are the true masters of sporting arrogance. We will salute George Gregan and the unfortunate Stephen Larkham as stalwart veterans with the legend tag rightly allocated, but we will not shed a tear as they pack their bags with the rest of their team mates.
There were heroes all over the pitch, and I suspect that the Australians slightly regret their ill-advised tactic of trying to wind Sheridan up, as they not only succeeded in waking the beast but also managed to anger the normally placid giant. And he made them pay, in the tight and loose. Regan and Vickery/Stevens backed him up at all times, as our pack displayed the kind of power in the contact area that few can compete with – the men in green and gold were simply out-muscled and trampled on. Away from the big men, Mathew Tait had his best game with the rose on his chest. The very fact that you didn’t really notice him is testament to how well he coped opposite the Australian captain, to whom he was giving away virtually 2 stone and buckets of experience. Never has the phrase ‘chin up’ been so apt: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, bye, bye, bye.
The celebrating will go on for a long time, and I think I’m fair to say that even the biggest trouncing by France next week would not supersede the feel good factor and general gloating inspired by events in Marseille. In many ways, it is disappointing that England will not begin their semi-final by facing the haka for the first time in eight years at the world cup. However, although my memory of the France-New Zealand epic is somewhat more hazy, I can confirm that not only did I find myself doing the unthinkable and supporting our Gallic neighbours, but even leading chants of ‘allez les bleus’ and a slightly more debauched version of the Marseillaise. It really was an extraordinary day, and the memory of Dan Carter sitting distraught and helpless, more due to the match he was forced into leaving than the injury which caused it, was emotive and abiding.
It really did appear at the nonchalance and seeming disregard displayed by both Southern Hemisphere teams (and again by the South Africans today) that they fully expected to turn up, put on a show and progress through to the next round. It was ridiculous that France sacrificed apparently their only advantage by not playing this match at home, despite being the host nation, but how little they needed it. Forget that both passes that led to their winning try were forward, this win was absolutely deserved. Again New Zealand go home early, in fact earlier than they ever have. The inquest can begin, the mourning will be intense and after the well-practised post mortem Graham Henry can carry on clearing his office. Never mind Graham, Wales would probably welcome you back!
England have been the worst ever reigning world champions by a distance. They also now have a genuine and realistic opportunity to do what has never been achieved before, hold on to the Webb Ellis Cup and have another four years to redeem that record. The French are self-evidently beatable, we would fancy taking the Argies on or surely the Rugby Gods in their wisdom can see the potential fireworks and catharsis that a rematch with South Africa would provide. Either way, I’ll finish as I started, with a superlative: magnifique!
By Rob Douglas
Big fish in a small pond? Those minnows still have teeth
Rob Douglas looks back at the story of the group stages and at some of the ‘upsets’ that have taken place.
Mid-way point: As the World Cup saunters into the knockout phases, the story of the competition to date is not New Zealand’s predictable infallibility against non-existent opposition. Neither is it the demise of the Northern Hemisphere sides, culminating in the unforgivable early exits of both Wales and Ireland. It is not even the return of the old school up and under, last seen as a reliable attacking weapon sometime before I was born.
No, the lasting images that will be taken away from the first four weeks are those involving the ‘lesser’ nations, either smashing hell out of one another in their own must win group stage matches, or displaying heroic pride against established first-rate opposition.
Against the odds: The IRB operates a multi-tier system which regulates the level of funding and investment a nation’s Union will receive, but this can be effectively summed up as the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. There are 95 registered Member Unions within the IRB and it is no surprise that the top dozen of these are the main focus of its attention, particularly in financial matters as they are the sides that generate the vast majority of the income from television and advertising and marketing interest. However, the widening gap in resources and money has not stopped the lower tier sides in this world cup producing some memorable performances.
Georgia coming tantalisingly close to turning Ireland over; Japan giving Fiji a real scare and then tying with Canada; even Portugal’s valour in their thrashing by the All Blacks thereby managing to do what Scotland couldn’t and cross the try line (indeed, score a point!). All of these raised bigger cheers than any elite nation has managed so far.
The South Sea Islands: Of course, the most blinding scandal of all concerns Samoa, Tonga Fiji. Perhaps some may argue that it is only fair to handicap these sides further than their tiny populations already do (Tonga consists of 112,000 people) given their unfair natural advantage in that they have been genetically designed to play rugby.
The travesties surrounding these South Sea sides is well documented, from the unrepentant (but economically welcome) Antipodean poaching that goes on to the chronic lack of financial support centrally distributed to them. The Fijian squad wished to travel to Nantes the night before their miraculous game against Wales but couldn’t afford the overnight hotel expense necessitating a pre-dawn departure on match day. The historical fixture with England was only televised in Tonga, a country undergoing serious domestic problems, due to the generosity of a wealthy Tongan businessman living in Germany along with the Chinese ambassador on the island. These teams have no right to achieve what they have, and it is no wonder they are the neutral’s favourites wherever they go, particularly as they play a brand of rugby characterised by natural enthusiasm and effervescent physicality. All hail Fiji who fully justify a place in the quarters, though they may find South Africa a slightly different beast to Wales come Sunday – one thing is for certain, the Springboks will not underestimate them.
Money talks: The injustice of commercial pressures does not stop with the teams lower down the pecking order. Argentina have climbed to fourth in the IRB rankings, yet they are repeatedly denied a place in one of the two major tournament’s outside of the world cup, either of which they would most certainly challenge for. The scheduling of their World Cup matches was as always a disgrace, having to face a pumped up Georgia team just four days after their exhausting triumph over France in the opening match simply because in terms of TV scheduling they are not considered a mainstream side. Their victory over the hosts was no surprise and no fluke: they had defeated France in four of their five meeting priors to this game and had only lost by a point in France on the other occasion. They won on Sunday not because Ireland had to play high-risk, try-chasing rugby but because they dominated the critical areas, winning both the battle of the breakdown and the kicking game through the peerless Hernandez and Contepomi. Argentina must be given the respect they deserve, and that does not mean letting them join the Six Nations to play their home matches in Madrid.
A bright future: The gulf in class that has grown again between the leading nations of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere has shown itself to be a canyon during this World Cup. However, the most revealing and also encouraging aspect has not been the top three or four sides pulling away from the pack, but the bottom eight or nine showing they deserve to be eating at the big boys’ table. The balance of power may be starting to shift slightly in world rugby, and that is to be nurtured: Japan should have been awarded the 2011 World Cup, that they weren’t is further proof of the IRB’s nepotism and favouritism. The pond may still be a small one, but it is starting to expand a little, and the little fish at the bottom of the food chain are just as hungry as those at the top.
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