Good week, bad week: Why Wales are desperate for a win
Whose rugby stocks are on the rise and whose have taken a hit over the last week? Let’s go around the world to find out.
GOOD WEEK
Bristol
It may seem odd that Aviva Premiership basement club Bristol should be considered a positive after a weekend defeat that saw them cast seven points adrift at the bottom of the English top flight. But, while their on-field fortunes remain stuck in the red as they stare relegation firmly in the face, off the pitch they are continue to do some canny business. After tempting Pat Lam across the Irish Sea and prising Steven Luatua from the All Blacks (for all that his week has been far from impressive on both personal and professional levels), Bristol this week announced they had signed Irish international Ian Madigan on a big-money three-year deal and had retained the services of impressive youngster, and Mads’ likely long-term successor, Callum Sheedy. This is one of those slow-burn rugby investments that looks set to offer big returns over the next two seasons … always supposing they don’t pull off a miracle in the remaining few matches of this campaign.
Leinster
Another club, more impressive news on the recruitment front. Pro12 leaders Leinster this week announced that they had signed Wallaby flanker Scott Fardy and Chiefs’ Maori All Blacks winger James Lowe for next season. They would have been tremendous signings individually, but combined they’re a strong warning to Pro 12 and likely Champions Cup rivals that the Dublin-based outfit mean serious business.
Mohed Altrad
No, the construction magnate and rugby-mad Montpellier president who would own Gloucester has not found a way around European Professional Club Rugby’s veto of his plans for Northern Hemisphere rugby domination. But he has signed a deal to be the first official paying sponsor of the France jersey. The players will wear shirts sporting the Altrad logo as well as the France 2023 World Cup bid, for the first time against Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday. The initial deal will run until November 17.
Dans le cadre de ce soutien à la candidature, le nom du groupe sera associé au #France2023, déjà présent sur le maillot du #XVdeFrance. pic.twitter.com/yzgA4G4Iel
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 7, 2017
Dan Carter
After a dismal run of unusually negative press, during which he lost a lucrative sponsorship deal with Land Rover after being arrested for drink driving, Carter has been unveiled as a new ambassador for maker of expensive watches Tag Heuer. If you’ve got one or two freebies to give away, Dan…
Humbled to be a new ambassador for @TAGHeuer #DontCrackUnderPressure pic.twitter.com/UxO9PrAeW3
— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) March 6, 2017
Germany
Two wins from three Rugby Europe Championship games means Germany are in with a strong chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Japan. In a country in which a once-proud rugby heritage never recovered after the Second World War – Germany won a rugby silver in the 1900 Olympic Games – it would be a long-overdue return to the top level rugby fold.
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BAD WEEK
Toulon
To lose one coach can be considered unfortunate. To lose two is probably careless. So far this season, the once-shiny galacticos of the Top 14 have lost three. Well-regarded Australian Steve Meehan this week left the club with immediate effect, following former head coach Diego Dominguez – who was, as Bernard Laporte’s successor, a choice so left-field he navigated the globe before the season started and was returning to port from the other side – and the entertainingly shouty Jacques Delmas. Despite a video vote of confidence from Mourad Boudjellal filmed in front of a toothy cartoon-esque model that would terrify even last season’s Sunwolves mascot, the rumour in France is that Mike Ford’s future at the club is short, with (according to reports in the French media) former Montpellier coach Fabien Galthie and Grenoble’s Fabrice Landreau both set to sign contracts sooner rather than later.
South Africa
Rugby authorities in South Africa last week decided that only overseas-based players with 30 or more international caps will be eligible for Test selection. SA Rugby’s president Mark Alexander said the decision sent “a message to young players that if they wish to play for the Springboks, then they must remain in South Africa.” And, yet, no one was fooled. These days, players can win 30 caps in three seasons – the length of a single contract – and then head off to rugby pastures far more lucrative. Where do South Africa go if this too-little-too-late idea doesn’t stop the player exodus? Besides, that get-out clause which allows the coach to pick anyone, regardless of the number of caps, during a World Cup year renders the whole idea somewhat pointless.
Laurie Fisher
Gloucester’s head coach was so disillusioned with his side’s capitulation at home to Harlequins at the weekend that – less than two hours after the final whistle – he apparently, and very publicly resigned via the medium of Twitter. His comments surprised the head honchos at the club, but after a series of meetings over the following 48 hours they agreed that it was probably best that he should, in fact, leave. While the ever-colourful Fisher was popular with the fans, reports swirling around Kingsholm suggested that his relationship with the players was rather less smooth, with some reportedly less-than impressed with his coaching methods. Jonny Bell will step into Fisher’s role on an interim basis, and a new head coach will be announced within a month, according to the club’s director of rugby David Humphreys.
Chris Masoe
While Dan Carter’s fortunes (in more ways than one) have taken a much-needed upturn recently, the same cannot be said for fellow ex-All Black and Racing 92 compadre Chris Masoe. He lasted all of five minutes of the defending Top 14 champions’ most recent game against drop-fearing Grenoble before being sent off for a dangerous tackle. He could only watch from the bench as Racing lost 19-10 – and, in truth, it was a match so dreadful that he could probably be forgiven for being caught on camera checking his phone rather than see the horror show unfolding before his eyes.
Wales
Wales have not lost three successive Six Nations matches in 10 years, but, following defeats against England and Scotland, nerves really will be jangling ahead of this week’s match against Ireland at the Principality Stadium. Another defeat, and they will be looking at their worst finish in the tournament since 2007. Worse, they could fall further down the World Rugby rankings – they are currently seventh; if they drop to ninth they will be in the third rank of nations come World Cup draw day on May 10 and all the more likely to be dumped in one of those death pools. More pressingly for a number of players, they really need a good performance to reignite fading hopes of Lions selection.
Comments on RugbyPass
I 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.
8 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.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 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?
8 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?
41 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 commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments