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Plus, how the overwrought daytime soap opera in Paris can’t hide Welsh problems; the continuing woes of Jacky and Thomas; Bucharest delight for Romania; and Mohed Altrad closes in on Gloucester deal.
GOOD WEEK
Non-English rugby media
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Didn’t they have a lovely time when Ireland brought down England in Dublin at the weekend? The Irish had a field day after their ferocious no-backward-step win. The Irish Independent’s Neil Francis said ‘this result will tell you that the English coach doesn’t shit Maltesers’ while the Examiner’s Simon Lewis hailed Ireland’s ‘wonderful, stubborn defiance’. Elsewhere, the comments were rather less gentle – Chris Rattue called Eddie Jones’s men ‘wrecking balls in chains’ in a scathing comment piece for the New Zealand Herald, but his most savage line was delivered quietly, almost killingly kind: “I mean no disrespect to the England team, who can only play to their limited skill capacity.” Even the Australians joined in – The Roar’s Spiro Zavos branding England ‘thuggish, arrogant, brain-dead, nasty’. As for the English media, after all the pre-match hype, the Telegraph’s Paul Hayward probably summed it up best: “England would now approach a potential autumn clash with New Zealand with a greater degree of realism about how good they are.”
England
Despite defeat at the Aviva Stadium, and despite the lashing Jones and his team took from the media, overall England have much to be happy about. A day before England’s players stood on the Aviva pitch, surrounded by the wreckage of their 18-match winning run, the women’s side had completed a Grand Slam. So, too, did the under-20s. And the senior men’s side still lifted the Six Nations trophy having won the championship with victory over Scotland at Twickenham the previous week. Three titles and two Grand Slams – there’s still plenty for England to be content with in spite of everything.
Romania
The Oaks broke neighbouring Georgia’s grip on the second-tier Rugby European International Championship with a hard-fought 8-7 win in Bucharest to lift the title for the first time since 2010. That win strengthened their claim for a place at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Better beware that scrum.
Toby Flood
The 60-cap England man may have played 63 times and scored more than 300 points since joining Toulouse for the start of the 2014/15 season, but he has not always enjoyed the best of times since leaving Leicester. After a bright start, he slipped down the pecking order quickly as he struggled to get to grips with then-Toulouse coach Guy Novès’ idiosyncratic coaching style and the loose grip on organisation common to many French rugby teams. Things were probably at their worst a mere five months into Flood’s Toulouse career, when Novès – with brutal Gallic diplomacy – told Sud Radio “Toby has not evolved to his best [potential]”. His rugby chances seemed to take an upturn when Noves moved to Marcoussis and Ugo Mola took over at Ernest Wallon. Now, however, word is he is hot favourite to replace Bristol-bound Ian Madigan at Bordeaux.
Mohed Altrad
The billionaire Montpellier owner who would also own Gloucester has, it seems, finally got his club … or 45% of it, at least. European Rugby bosses are expected to approve the planned takeover this week – after weeks of backroom diplomacy and discussions over possible conflicts of interest. While Altrad will probably be denied a majority share, he will have a controlling stake in the club – and the French press is confident former Kingsholm favourite Philippe Saint-Andre will be named director of rugby in place of David Humphreys, with Stade Francais’ Gonzalo Quesada and another Gloucester old boy, Olivier Azam – who has been out of a job after a short, sharp and painful stint at Oyonnax in 2015 – also on the coaching team. Meanwhile, Johan Ackermann has reportedly been sounded out for the head coach’s job following Laurie Fisher’s sudden departure.
BAD WEEK
Jacky and Thomas
What finances and pragmatism wanted to join, player power and traditionalism put asunder. The problem with the merger of Racing 92 and Stade Francais was not the idea – it was probably a good plan for the survival of top-flight rugby in and around Paris. The problem was that it was badly sold. The merger bomb dropped last Monday, to the shock of just about everyone in French rugby. That shock quickly turned to anger, and – this being France – anger quickly turned to strike action. Players, Stade’s players especially, were against it, the fans were against it, and the FFR was against it. And that combination proved too much for the pro-merger camp led by club presidents Jacky Lorenzetti and Thomas Savare. While the former seems willing to simply walk away from the insults being lobbed his way, the latter has gone on the offensive, claiming that French rugby is “living beyond its means.” It has been reported he may even be willing to file for bankruptcy if he cannot find a buyer for Stade Francais within three months. Which looks difficult. Stade own neither their ground or their training complex – they are the property of the city – which means Savare is seeking to sell just the name. And an estimated €8million hole in the club’s finances.
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France
The best finish in the Six Nations since Marc Lièvremont was coach, and with three wins for the first time since 2014. Given recent lean rugby years in France, this has got to be a good year, right? Oh, wait… Right…
Wales
Ignore the last 20 minutes of the extended episode of the overwrought daytime soap opera in Paris on Saturday (Was it a head injury? Who bit George North? What issues did the fourth official have?), and it’s clear Welsh problems are mounting. The mighty bosh that goes by the name ‘Warrenball’ failed miserably – both at Stade de France at the weekend and, on the whole, during the entire Six Nations. A success rate of three wins from four in the November internationals papered over the cracks, but they have simply opened right up again. The defence and ferocious work at the breakdown isn’t a problem. That works fine. But, as an attacking force, Wales have the potency of lettuce. Against France, they managed two line breaks. Two. They scored eight tries in the entire tournament, and three of those came against Italy on the opening weekend. To put that into perspective, New Zealand averaged six a match in 2016. Rob Howley can tilt at French and Six Nations windmills over events in Paris until he is blue in the face, and Justin Tipuric can insist Wales are better than fifth all day, every day, but what happened at the weekend should not be allowed to hide the longer-term problems facing the national team.
Aaron Mauger
Leicester are doing a Toulon. Just over two months after they sacked Richard Cockerill as director of rugby, they have decided to bid farewell to head coach – and the man they placed in interim charge. Aaron Mauger’s too-brief tenure ends after the East Midlands’ derby against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday, and less than a week since he guided the club to the first silverware of the season, the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
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He will be replaced by Australian Matt O’Connor, who coached the side to three Premiership titles during a previous stint at Welford Road between 2008 and 2013. He may have the pedigree, but players’ reaction to Mauger’s departure means he will have work to do to convince them he’s the man for the job.
With 5 games to go, really?? We don't know how good we've got it! #biggerpicture #gutted
— Telusa Veainu (@tveainu) March 20, 2017
Never enjoyed my rugby more than under Mauger, great coach and great person. Any team would be lucky to have him.
— Lachlan McCaffrey (@LockyMcCaffrey) March 20, 2017
Was going to tweet but Locky hit the nail on the head. https://t.co/mGyJi36tPh
— Sam Harrison (@ShazamHarrison) March 20, 2017
We've lost a good man.. pic.twitter.com/AdY7H4VoPm
— MIke Williams (@Williams4_Mike) March 20, 2017
Meanwhile, Mauger was the epitome of dignified diplomacy at what was surely a difficult press conference.
Aaron Mauger explains his feelings following the club's decision to appoint Matt O'Connor as Head Coach pic.twitter.com/nEsY75dRUf
— BBC Leicester Sport (@BBCRLSport) March 21, 2017
Bad week, yes, but kudos for that, sir.
Six Nations citing officials
Who’d be a citing official? The poor sods had their work cut out after the France / Wales game amid biting allegations and the head injury replacement of replacement prop Uini Atonio late-on, when the raw scrummaging power of starting front-rower Rabah Slimani was much more useful to the French cause. While the latter rumbles on amid claims Atonio’s injury was ‘convenient’, citing commissioner John Montgomery was unable to find clear evidence of who bit George North to bring any further action. That announcement didn’t go down well.
Comments on RugbyPass
Jake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
9 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
9 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
34 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
34 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
86 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
9 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
34 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
9 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
9 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
11 Go to comments