Six things we learned from finals weekend
Before the Lions bonanza consumes us all, Lee Calvert takes one last look at the domestic season in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Traditional northern hemisphere rugby won’t win you trophies anymore
For years, the likes of Munster and Leicester won titles playing with a massive pack and a simple game plan. It was like a toddler winning a game of Monopoly by eating the money – no one liked it, but you couldn’t deny it was effective. If the finals last year suggested this era was over with the enterprising Connacht and the all-court masters Saracens victorious, then this season’s offering confirmed it. Both Exeter and Wasps played a game through the hands, kicking less than twenty times in play, and Scarlets completely marmalised the hitherto solid Munster defensive line with fast hands and pace.
2. Always take the points!
Five minutes to go and three points down, a kickable penalty awarded just to the right of the posts. You kick the penalty, level the scores, receive the kick-off and go again, right? Not if you’re Exter you don’t. If you’re Exeter you go for a scrum and, as inevitable as a Dan Lydiate handling error, get no points. The long road of rugby history is littered with the carcasses of teams that didn’t take the points. When will they learn? Exeter can count themselves very lucky they were given another marginal penalty to finally do the sensible thing.
3. Gareth Steenson is the most undervalued player in Europe
If they made a rugby version of the film Moneyball, Exeter out-half Steenson would be the player that Brad Pitt would be signing first. Unfussy and incredibly effective, the Irishman has acted as an unflappable guide for the entire Exeter journey, from promotion seven years ago to now finally a championship. The fact he has no Ireland caps during this period is a mystery of Sherlockian proportions.
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4. Exeter Chiefs really need to change their branding
The Exeter story is what rugby is all about. A provincial club made great that still has strong ties to its local community with fans that are loud and friendly and dedicated and their excellent squad has a refreshing humility despite their achievements. However, their insistence on continuing to use Native American iconography in their branding and apparel is borderline disgraceful and takes away from everything that is brilliant about them. Twickenham was awash with people in war bonnets on Saturday and each time they score their “tomahawk chop” song boomed out of the stadium speakers. Let’s not forget that this game was broadcast live on NBC in the US and also on Canadian TV. If rugby wishes to be the global game it professes have ambitions towards, they need to address this very quickly. Call yourselves the Chiefs by all means, but maybe look to your own tribal history in Devon for your icons, rather than perpetuating the Disneyfication of an entire race of people from a foreign land.
5. If Wasps had a kicking game, they would have won
Exeter had nearly 70% territory and possession in the Aviva Premiership final and the game was screaming for Danny Cipriani to put his team in a better field position but it never happened. The Wasps attack, when it has platform and position, is deadly – as they showed with their two tries. But no attack can go through hands from their own half consistently and Cipriani as their 10 should have identified this and dealt with it. Added to his general lack of kicking, when he did kick it was either the wrong one or poorly executed.
6. Rhys Patchell should play for Wales soon
The young Scarlets 10 was calm, classy and inspirational in his side’s forensic dismantling of Munster. He did everything and showed a varied and intuitive kicking and passing game that Wales desperately need.
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments