Beattie: 'Genge obliterated Ireland's scrum. He bossed Tadhg Furlong'
To the neutral, ‘Le Crunch’ has always been the jewel in the Six Nations crown. A mighty collision of English power and French flair, Anglo efficiency and Gallic elan.
Here in France, the anticipation for ‘Super Saturday’ is ratcheting up to levels I have never witnessed. The people are in thrall to rugby beyond anything seen in over a decade. The game is all anyone talks about when I drop my kids off at school, head to the supermarket, or chat to the postman as he pops round with the morning mail. The place has gone into a frenzy.
Little wonder when a Grand Slam – France’s first since 2010 – is on the line in Paris this Saturday night, and all that stands between Les Bleus and their cherished prize is an inconsistent England. What chance have Eddie Jones’ men, with their callow playmakers and fluctuating form, got in the bearpit of Le Stade?
Actually, not a terribly slim one. Combine the tremendous heart and wit of their 14-man heroics against Ireland with Wales’ canny strategy against France on Friday, and England have their blueprint for the role of party poopers.
Jones described England’s performance as a ‘foundation game’ for the World Cup. It is odd to talk of foundations six years into his reign, but that’s what the display was on the most simplistic level.
My highest Six Nations finish with Scotland was third, when Dean Ryan was part of our coaching staff. Dean used to say to us, ‘an Englishman is hitting you with a big stick, what are you going to do about it?’. He talked about winning Test matches in the most basic terms. That was through kick-chase, set-piece, tackles and collisions. England almost pulled off the unthinkable by bossing those areas.
They were galvanised by Charlie Ewels’ red card – and there is no doubt the lock’s high, late, head-to-head hit merited a sending off. We have not seen much of Ewels as an international starter, and he got his attempt to impose himself physically on another second-row badly wrong. The only thought anyone should have had in that moment was for the stricken James Ryan. It is not Ryan’s first head injury, and we can only hope it will not affect his career or, more importantly, his long-term health. The frequent grumbling on Twitter is that red cards destroy games, something needs to change, and paying punters deserve better. Where is the concern for the player’s wellbeing?
For all that people moan about cards destroying the spectacle, what an audacious show of character those England players served up. When you lose a second-row, your line-out is heavily reshuffled, your scrum is hugely impacted, and you have to problem-solve on the hoof, which England failed badly to manage earlier this championship. Yet they dominated Ireland in those facets. Never mind the sheer exhaustion of spending almost an entire game a man down. To organise themselves under massive pressure and extreme fatigue on the biggest of stages was remarkable.
Every scrum victory was amplified, every disrupted maul celebrated by roars and spilled pints from a Twickenham crowd not traditionally renowned for febrility or raucous intent. Propelled by that backing, England were really close to pulling off one of the biggest results in the Six Nations era.
Player-camming three English forwards would tell the story of the game, and England’s refusal to let one action, one card, dictate the narrative. Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje and Jamie George were the visceral embodiment of English stubbornness.
Genge obliterated Ireland’s scrum. He bossed Tadhg Furlong. There are a few moments you get as a rugby player where you completely own your opposite man and shift momentum in a match. Genge stepped forward with his chest pumped and had Furlong’s reverse lights flashing over and over, which almost never happens to the hulking ‘Mayor of Wexford’. Genge often has his character unfairly questioned, but here was the rugby player and the character combined in an awesome blend.
Itoje was not so much a thorn in Ireland’s side as an entire rose bush. He wrecked their disallowed Caelan Doris try, and infiltrated their mauls with timing, power and presence. The volume and quality of work he got through was imperious.
George, like Genge, was key to the scrum efforts, but his collisions, industry and excitement set him apart. You could see how much he enjoyed that performance, latter describing it as one of his “proudest moments in an England shirt”.
You have to go to dark places when you are a man down, you have to dig deep and bring something out of yourself. It was one of those days for the English pack, with that trident at the forefront.
England must take the obstinance and determination and apply it to the game plan deployed by Wales, who have come closest to derailing the French juggernaut. Where they failed to capitalise on red-zone possession, England have the technical quality to succeed.
Neither team played especially well in Cardiff because there was so much non-rugby. Nobody was playing multi-phase stuff. It isn’t the entertaining game we want to see – it is a chess battle. It’s about how you can keep the ball away from your third, make no errors, be pragmatic, and then win cheap field position.
That’s what Wales did under Warren Gatland for years. Now France are doing it, and everyone is saying it’s so weird, so un-French, but it’s what almost every other team have done for a decade – France are just doing it better. It’s about building momentum and pressure. If you can’t build pressure, stick it up in the air, and if the opposition do get the ball back, it’s poor-quality ball.
That game broke the French TV audience record for a Test match. It was watched by an average of 6.9m people, with a peak figure of 8m for the final 10 minutes – the combined population of Ireland and Wales. Imagine every single person in those two countries tuning in to a rugby match. That gives you an indication of how adored and admired this team is now.
The prize for France is that first slam in a dozen years, a monumental opportunity for them. But in some ways, it’s almost as big a game for England and their coach.
What I find bizarre about the whole Jones complex is his constant focus on the World Cup. When you’re involved in any rugby environment, your immediate goal is to win the next game, not the global showpiece once every four years. England were fifth in last year’s Six Nations, and the best they can do this season is third. They should be first or second every year with the depth and resources at Jones’ disposal. It must infuriate fans to hear him talk of 2023 time and again, when there are tournaments in front of your nose you want your team to win.
Jonny Sexton, who spent two years with Racing 92 and knows a thing or two about Parisian glory, said England have a great chance this weekend, because “England are England, one of the most dominant teams in world rugby”. They certainly have a squad capable of winning every game in this competition, but a distant third? Jones will know that is not good enough.
Victory on Saturday, though, could change the complexion of an otherwise stuttering campaign. Jones will have one day fewer to prepare his team, and travel to consider, making a win even more impressive.
England might well have to beat France on their own turf next autumn if they are to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. The Six Nations title is gone for another year, but should they spoil a French party of this size and grandeur, thrive in the teeming cacophony of Stade de France, it could be a defining triumph for the players, Jones, and their quest for 2023 riches.
Comments on RugbyPass
True Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
21 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments