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Alun Wyn Jones must captain the Lions and four other things we learned from the 2021 Six Nations
The 2021 Guinness Six Nations drew to a close with Scotland edging to a 27-23 victory over France by scoring a try with the clock four minutes into the red.
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The game took place almost a week after the tournament should have finished and confirmed Wales’ title.
It was a Championship like no other after the coronavirus pandemic meant empty stadia and players and coaching teams living and working in bio-secure training bubbles.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from this season’s competition.
Crowds cannot return soon enough
The coronavirus pandemic meant that all 15 games in this season’s Six Nations took place behind closed doors. From the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, matches were punctuated only by players’ shouts and the referee’s whistle. And not only were the grounds deserted, normally-thronging streets outside – central Cardiff being arguably the most obvious example – were empty as shutters stayed down on bars, pubs and restaurants. It was a weird experience for all concerned, yet to everyone’s credit, the quality of rugby on show was not diminished in any way.
England at a crossroads on coaching front
England, World Cup finalists 16 months ago, slumped to a fifth-placed finish on the back of defeats against Scotland, Ireland and Wales, which some have christened the Triple Frown. Head coach Eddie Jones will now be the central figure in what Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney describes as a “brutally honest analysis” of England’s Six Nations campaign, and while Jones is expected to stay at the helm – in his favour is a win ratio of 77 per cent since he took charge – it seems change in some areas is inevitable, with coaching staff and playing personnel certain to be scrutinised.
A UK reporter has suggested that Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is the ideal successor to Eddie Jones as coach of the England rugby team.https://t.co/hMdlRb1gSQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 27, 2021
France building ominously towards home World Cup
When France kick off the next Rugby World Cup on home soil against New Zealand in September 2023, Les Bleus will aim to have arrived as serious contenders for a first world title. Everything suggests they are heading in the right direction – from a coaching perspective under the astute guidance of Fabien Galthie, to a playing squad packed with quality and headed by the likes of Antoine Dupont, Charles Ollivon, Mathieu Jalibert, Romain Ntamack and Gregory Alldritt. It would appear that France are at their strongest for years, and if they can handle huge home World Cup expectation, then winning rugby’s golden prize is a realistic ambition.
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Wales boss Wayne Pivac silences doubters
Pivac faced a difficult assignment when he was appointed as Warren Gatland’s successor to become Wales head coach. Starting work in November 2019, Pivac took over from one of the most successful coaches in rugby history who masterminded four Six Nations title triumphs, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final appearances during his time in charge. A tough first year followed, with Wales losing seven Tests, but they ended the current Six Nations campaign just seconds away from achieving a Grand Slam. He also made some big calls and successful decisions, which contributed to confirming that the Welsh Rugby Union got its appointment spot-on.
This just in… pic.twitter.com/1FNpkj9ZGZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 27, 2021
Alun Wyn Jones must captain the Lions
At the age of 35, Wales skipper Jones just keeps going and going. He holds the world Test match appearance record – 157 games for Wales and the British and Irish Lions – and was within touching distance this season of becoming the first player to win four Six Nations Grand Slams. Lions head coach Gatland knows him as well as anyone from their time together with Wales, and when it comes to appointing a captain for this summer’s scheduled South Africa tour, Gatland will know that Jones pretty much ticks every box. Other players have captaincy credentials, but Jones’ CV stands out.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
9 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.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
22 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
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments