Good week, bad week: England's seven-try MVP
England, Wales, and the USA have seen their stock rise this week – France and UK-based broadcaster ITV have taken a hit…
GOOD WEEK
England
Not just the England senior men’s side – though their 18th consecutive Test win is worthy of another mention – but every other England Six Nations outfit as well. While the senior men’s side beat an injury-ravaged Scotland, the women nilled their counterparts from north of the border and the under-20 side picked up a bonus-point win against their Scots opposition. With one round remaining, the senior men and the under-20s have their titles wrapped up, while all three remain in line for a Grand Slam. Now, just the combined Ireland sides on a Saint Patrick’s weekend in Ireland stand in their way…
Kay Wilson
England’s Wilson scored a record-breaking seven of England’s 12 tries at the Stoop as the Red Roses demolished Scotland 64-0. Her hat-trick came in just 26 minutes; seven minutes later, she became the first player to score four tries in the first half of a women’s Six Nations match. Her fifth came shortly after the restart, and her sixth, the tournament record, followed on the hour. It was fitting, too, that she rounded off the scoring, while Amy Cokayne notched a hat-trick, and Danielle Waterman scored her 25th tournament try in her 25th tournament match. The result, combined with Ireland’s inability to pick up a bonus point against Wales in Cardiff, saw England move a point clear at the head of the table with one match to go.
Jonathan Joseph
Over the road from the Stoop, England’s senior men’s side were almost as clinical as their female counterparts – and centre Jonathan Joseph was the scalpel that cut through the Scottish defence time after time after time, as he ran in a hat-trick in an impressive man-of-the-match performance that lasted all of 57 minutes. Joseph tries are like buses – nothing for ages and then several all at once, and he leapfrogged his way to the top of the tries-by-centres list in the process. We’ve spoken about riches at Warren Gatland’s disposal in the locks and back row. Seems he’s not short of options at 13, either…
George North
The Wales’ winger admitted that the very public arse-handing he received from the coaches in the week leading up to the match against Ireland was the motivating force behind his two-try performance at the Principality Stadium. The out-wide resurrection man was a very different, hard-running animal from the ineffectual flapper who took to the pitch against Scotland at Murrayfield the week previously. But, even in success, there is room for improvement. His late, late charge for a hat-trick was so blinkered, he missed a chance to gift the Welsh a try-scoring bonus.
Perry Baker
The seven-a-side game does not get much of a look-in here, and Americans arguably are honoured with even less. But, while the 15-player game struggles to get a toehold in the US, the shortened version has really kicked in, and with players as downright speedy as Perry Baker and Carlin Isles, it’s easy to see why. The former scored his 100th career try during the Vancouver 7s, and it really was a little bit special. A worthy touchdown for the century.
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BAD WEEK
Coaches at French clubs
Last week, Steve Meehan abruptly left Toulon, becoming the third coach to leave the three-time European champions this season. This week, Raphael Ibanez announced he will vacate the big chair at Bordeaux at the end of the season after facing criticism for punditing on the Six Nations while his club crashed and burned in the Top 14. They had failed to win since November 19, plunging from second to ninth in the table. When, at the weekend, they finally did win a match, Rafa was not there. He was at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome for the Six Nations match between Italy and France. That match at Bordeaux’s Stade Chaban Delmas claimed a second coaching victim as losing side Grenoble and Bernard Jackman – who was actually there – have parted ways. Reports in France suggest that the club told Jackman that he would be surplus to requirements at the end of the campaign, but he decided he did not want to stay that long.
Players at French clubs
Specifically players two French Top 14 clubs – Racing 92 and Stade Francais – after the two clubs from the Parisian neck of the woods (Racing’s base is officially not quite in the capital but is part of the Haute-de-Seine department just outside. Literally, across-a-road outside), announced this week they have decided to merge. Maximum playing-staff levels, the salary cap, an increasingly strict limit on overseas players and a self-expressed desire to promote French talent means that a number of players will find themselves out of a job. According to L’Equipe, the two clubs currently have a combined 62 players on their books whose contracts are due to last at least one more season. The maths alone reveals many will be on the hunt for new employers sooner rather than later. Not even Racing’s marquee player Dan Carter, who was booed as he left the Stade Yves du Manoir pitch in the defeat to La Rochelle at the weekend, is safe – though buying him out of the final year his contract would cost an awful lot.
The Aviva Premiership
Sponsor Aviva’s long-running contract with the English Premiership is set to finish at the end of the season – and the competition’s organisers have yet to finalise a new deal, leaving clubs fearing that they could face a £650,000 shortfall next season. The League is said to be looking for an improved £35million deal over four years – but the problem, according to an article in The Rugby Paper, is that sponsorship opportunities are being severely squeezed as the Six Nations and European rugby competitions are also looking for new deals, while Premier League soccer clubs can now enlist ‘sleeve sponsors’ – a move that could hit rugby club revenues.
ITV
British broadcaster ITV, which now shares coverage of the Six Nations with the BBC and did a pretty decent job as host broadcaster of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, really did introduce Scotland’s injured captain Greig Laidlaw like this:
https://twitter.com/EricNorthcote/status/840638122841034752
No, ITV. Just. No.
SANZAAR
The Southern Hemisphere powerhouse unions held a meeting about the future of Super Rugby in London at the weekend, after which everyone expected some news on the future shape of the competition. Instead, the news was that they needed to have more meetings about the meeting before the next meeting after which maybe, in a couple of months, they might be ready to announce the two or three teams that have been given the chop… but no promises. Maybe Racing 92 and Stade Francais had the right idea.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments