RUGDAQ Weekly: How long til we see Denny Solomona in an England jersey?
We go around the rugby world to find some stocks on the rise and some which have taken a hit in the past week.
BUY! BUY! BUY!
Pro12
An idea, no matter how crazy, can send stocks soaring. So it is with the Pro 12, who are, according to reports, seriously thinking of expanding to become a Pro 14 tournament – with the additional teams coming from America and Canada. The idea has been around for some time, but now reports suggest that powers that be in the Pro 12 have firmed up plans for an Atlantic Rugby Championship, made up of two conferences of seven sides. This set-up would reduce the number of games from 22 to 18, and give Pro 12 rugby a toehold in one of the biggest potential markets in world rugby. As for concerns over distance, they can always ask Super Rugby teams to offer advice on logistics.
Denny Solomona
Interest in Denny Solomona is likely to remain high for some time, given that his former employers, Castleford Tigers, have filed papers with the High Court in Leeds over alleged breach of contract after he failed to turn up for pre-season training, told them he had retired from rugby league and then popped up on the wing for Sale Sharks in union’s Aviva Premiership. But it’s his on-field activities that are catching the headlines right now. He has scored eight times in five outings for the Sharks since his controversial switch. And if head coach Steve Diamond’s maths is right, he could qualify to play for England in a matter of weeks.
Georgia
Georgia are talking a big talk about their prospects of breaking through European rugby’s glass ceiling and into the Six Nations. George Nijaradze, their representative on the World Rugby council has said that they could guarantee 55,000-plus crowds in Tiblisi (which, in fairness, their annual Rugby European International Championship matches against Russia regularly achieve) for all matches in a future Six or Seven Nations competition. Meanwhile, Rugby Europe – organisers of the second-tier Rugby European International Championship – are set to officially request a Six Nations play-off match at a big meeting of European unions in Paris next month. Given Italy’s struggles (they are currently two places below Georgia in World Rugby’s rankings) the Eastern Europeans’ argument may have some merit. Expect any wheels to grind slowly, however. Six Nations organisers aren’t known for embracing change.
Edinburgh
The first RUGDAQ bulletin in early February speculated that former Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill may be a target for ambitious Pro12 side Edinburgh. That speculation proved accurate this week when the Scottish side announced Cockerill would join the club when his current short-term consulting contract at Toulon finishes at the end of the season. With Chiefs’ Dave Rennie set to join Glasgow, at the other end of the M8 motorway, this could be the beginning of a boom period for club rugby in Scotland.
[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473306980″]
SELL! SELL! SELL!
Los Jaguares
Argentina’s Super Rugby sophomores have suffered a less-than-ideal setback a week out from competition kick-off, with star number 8 Facundo Isa last week announced as having signed for Toulon from the end of the 2017 season, before Lyon announced this week they had secured his services as a medical joker effective immediately. 23-year-old Isa was a standout performer for Los Jaguares in their first Super Rugby season, and an important part of Argentina’s test set-up. Los Jagures’ opening match of the Super Rugby season sees them travel to Port Elizabeth to play the Kings – so their short-term outlook is probably fine, but in the long-term Isa’s loss will prove a costly one.
Steve Hansen
The All Blacks coach reacted badly to news that Steven Luatua had decided to leave the promised land at the end of the Super Rugby season for a lucrative contract with Bristol, who by then are likely to be playing in the English second tier. He reacted even less well to news that the ambitious English side’s next coach, Pat Lam, had reportedly been instrumental in persuading the bulldozing flanker to sign on the dotted line. But his ‘ex-New Zealander’ comments were some way below the belt. No wonder Lam issued a rather stern rebuttal.
Rafael Ibanez
Two years ago, Rafa was the French rugby media’s preferred choice as Les Bleus’ next coach. Relatively young and definitely charismatic, his star was very much on the rise, and his Bordeaux side were playing wonderful attacking rugby to the delight of the 30,000-plus fans who headed to Stade Chaban Delmas every week. As recently as last November, it was reported that then-candidate for the FFR presidency Bernard Laporte had sounded out Ibanez about the possibility of taking over from Guy Noves. Now, however, the future does not appear so bright for Rafa. Bordeaux’s brand of rugby has taken a dull, conservative turn. They have not won at home in more than three months, and were beaten at the weekend by a Castres side that has only won twice on the road in nearly a year. Questions are being asked about the future direction of the club, and whether Ibanez should be allowed to continue a no-doubt lucrative second career as regular rugby pundit for TV channel France 2, which broadcasts the Six Nations.
Mohed Altrad
The Montpellier owner’s bid to buy a majority stake in Premiership rugby side Gloucester has juddered to a halt after the board of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), which organises the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, voted to reject the plan. Under EPCR rules one person or entity cannot hold control of two clubs if those clubs could be in the same competition. Despite Altrad’s apparent confidence, this appears to have been a line-in-the-sand rule that EPCR would not ignore. But they are considering options that would allow him to invest heavily in the club, but not become the majority stakeholder. How that would affect the futures of Philippe Saint-Andre and Gonzalo Quesada, who had both been linked with key roles at the club under Altrad, remains unknown.
Marius Mitrea
The Italian referee is quickly becoming fans’ Pro12 referee of despair. So far, coaches have – publicly at least – kept their counsel about some of his decisions, but the press and fans have been less backward about coming forward with a roll-call of perceived errors on his watch. And, if the venting of spleens on social media is anything to go by following his latest outing at the top-of-the-table clash between Ospreys and Munster at Liberty Stadium, he has been at it again. The worrying thing is that, with a couple of notable exceptions, the standard of refereeing in the Pro 12 has been a concern for some time.
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