An English Championship side has left a World Cup team's preparations in tatters
The credibility of the World Cup was dented on Tuesday when an English Championship club beat 2019 finalists Russia in their own Moscow back yard.
The Russians, who qualified for the finals on the back of the eligibility row that wrecked the 2018 Six Nations B championship in 2018, weren’t even supposed to be playing Jersey as they were initially scheduled to face Eastern European rivals Georgia.
However, amid fears about safety in travelling to Tbilisi, the Russians cancelled that Test fixture and were instead left with egg on their face 23 days before they open the 2019 World Cup by taking on host nation Japan in the first match of the tournament in Tokyo.
The Slava Stadium wasn’t supposed to be a scene for a big upset, but the Russians were unable to cope with a first-half Jersey onslaught which laid the foundation for a deserved 35-22 win by the lower league English side.
Among the early blows in a contest where the visitors outscored the hosts by five tries to four was an opportunistic score by Luc Jones, the son of Russia boss Lyn who could only watch in anguish from the sidelines as the Jersey scrum-half took possession from the base of a scrum outside the 22 and raced on to regather his own chip kick over the defence.
What a night! ???? | Thank you for all the support ??? | #WeAreTheReds #JerseyReds pic.twitter.com/nf8cz6xwci
— Jersey Reds (@JerseyRedsRugby) August 27, 2019
Jersey led 28-12 at the break and while the Russians, who also face Ireland, Scotland and Samoa at the finals, were better in the second half, there was no denying the islanders a famous win over a country ranked 20th in the world heading to Japan.
It was the second big setback for Russia in recent weeks as they were walloped 85-15 by 13-try Italy in Trento and their lack of form should leave World Rugby administrators concerned about the competitiveness of the lowest ranked countries who will be making up the numbers in Japan.
'When the Russian anthem was played, you couldn't hear a note. That's how hostile the crowd was.' https://t.co/CVy3wjlzvR
— liam heagney (@heagneyl) February 3, 2019
The anxiety about the Russians follows last weekend’s home 38-35 defeat in Ontario for Canada, who are ranked 21st, by a second-string Leinster side who are still in the very early stages of their PRO14 pre-season.
WATCH: What rugby fans coming to Oita can expect at night during the World Cup in Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments