Lions Watch: Russell inspires Scotland, Joe launching into contention
Finn Russell, Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Sexton were among the standout performers in round three of the Six Nations as competition for British and Irish Lions places hots up.
Sexton hit the ground running on his return from injury, inspiring Ireland to victory against France in Dublin to keep them in the hunt for the title.
Launchbury produced another man-of-the-match performance for England, who made hard work of beating Italy, while Russell was a thorn in Wales’ side as Scotland won at Murrayfield.
We take a look at who did their chances of featuring for the Lions in New Zealand a world of good and which players will need to raise their game next weekend.
Good week
Finn Russell – With captain Greig Laidlaw out for the rest of the tournament due to an ankle injury, Scotland needed their key men to step up against Wales and Russell was outstanding. The fly-half was perfect from the tee, scoring 19 points, and his decision-making was superb as Vern Cotter’s men turned the game around in the second half, with Lions coach Warren Gatland watching on from the stands.
Joe Launchbury – Although England were far from their best, struggling to get to grips with Italy’s ploy of not committing to the ruck, Launchbury led the charge for the defending champions and was rewarded with a second successive man-of-the-match award. The lock managed 14 carries and gained 58 metres, standing out for an England side who are two wins away from another Grand Slam.
Jonathan Sexton – Sexton missed the first two games of the tournament due to a calf injury, but made up for lost time in Ireland’s defeat of France. The influential number 10’s fitness stood up to the test and he stamped his authority on the game with an excellent all-round performance.
Bad week
Alun Wyn Jones – Provided he stays fit, Jones will be expected to earn a place in the Lions’ starting line-up, but the Wales skipper had a bad day at the office at Murrayfield. He was unable to prevent Scotland from roaring back for a win which leaves his side’s Six Nations title hopes in tatters, with questions asked over his Lions captaincy credentials following some curious in-game choices.
Jonny May – May would surely have seen a clash with Italy as a chance to run in some tries and catch Gatland’s eye, but he had a day to forget on Sunday. The England wing was unable to grab a Ben Te’o offload in the first half with a try there for the taking and was short of service. Jack Nowell scored two tries after replacing May, who might find himself back on the bench against Scotland.
Ross Moriarty – Moriarty goes from good week to bad week after struggling to meet the standards he set against England. The powerful back-rower put a shift in, but could not make his mark on Scotland as he did with some brutal hits in the loss to Eddie Jones’ men. Taulupe Faletau is breathing down his neck for a starting berth.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments