2022 will be France's year - Andy Goode
There’ll be a lot of people glad to see the back of 2021 but rugby has survived, improved as a spectacle and shown there’s much to look forward to in the New Year.
It’s been a mixed bag of a year and, whilst we’re certainly not out of the woods in terms of the pandemic and all of its implications yet, the doom and gloom of a year ago has lifted a bit and the various professional clubs and unions have made it through without going bust.
That threat remains very real and in terms of the overall product, as well as the obvious financial factor, the one overriding message to come out of rugby this year has to be the importance of fans. Players, coaches, clubs and unions won’t take them for granted again.
The whole of the 2021 Six Nations was played behind closed doors and the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa was full of hype but the action on the pitch did little to lift people and the absence of fans was a major reason behind that.
In fact, the most memorable aspect of that tour was probably Rassie Erasmus’ 62-minute video. He overstepped the mark in that one and is currently serving his ban but that hasn’t stopped his social media activity!
Supporters were back for the Autumn Nations Series and it made the world of difference with England putting the memory of losing to all three of Ireland, Wales and Scotland for the first time in 45 years behind them to record a clean sweep of wins.
It was Ireland and France’s autumn though as both beat the All Blacks and did so equally convincingly, albeit in very different fashion.
More will be expected of Ireland next year but it is France who have laid down a marker more than anyone else on the international stage over the past year and I expect 2022 to be their year to an even greater extent.
Toulouse won the Top 14 and Champions Cup double and the French provided three of the four semi-finalists in the top tier of European competition as they completely dominated at club level.
World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and co then did for New Zealand and it’s amazing to think that France haven’t won the Six Nations since 2010. I’m picking them to lift the trophy this year with a home World Cup on the horizon in 2023.
The Six Nations looks as wide open as it’s ever been in 2022 and even Scotland will fancy their chances if they retain the Calcutta Cup on the opening weekend but I think it’s going to be the year of Les Bleus this time around.
On the domestic front, the Harlequins story has been a remarkable one. Things didn’t look good when Paul Gustard left in January but the manner in which they won the Premiership just five months later was enough to lift anyone’s spirits.
Marcus Smith was integral to that and many have written that 2021 has been his year but there’s much more to come from him in the next 12 months. A Premiership title, first England caps and a Lions call-up isn’t bad going but it’s very much just the start.
There have been some real highs in 2021 and, crucially, the entertainment seems to have gone up a notch from the kick-dominated rugby we were seeing 12 months ago but all the postponed Champions Cup and URC games over the past few weeks are a stark reminder that the sport is still teetering on the brink.
Rugby can’t take another year like 2020 or 2021 and we all hope it’ll be a case of onwards and upwards in 2022 but, whatever the coming 12 months have in store, fans have to be at the heart of it all.
The New Year is a time to reflect as well as to look ahead to the future and you can tell it’s been the craziest of years when I end it predicting a triumph for the French in 2022!
Comments on RugbyPass
Ouch. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to comments