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Ahead of Tuesday night’s Premiership Rugby Cup final at Brentford, London Irish boss Declan Kidney has curiously referenced last month’s attempt by Steve Diamond, his Worcester counterpart, to skew the Gallagher Premiership fixture list by bringing forward the Warriors’ final league fixture by three weeks.
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Worcester were due to face fellow strugglers Bath at Sixways on June 4, but both those clubs sought to bring that match forward to May 14. Due to the dominance of European weekends in the end of season calendar, Worcester were facing having no rugby at all in May while Bath were to have two fallow weeks in the lead-up to their May 21 game at The Rec versus London Irish.
It was April 22 when it was eventually confirmed that the Worcester-Bath league match would not be shifted and would instead go ahead as originally planned on June 4 as a vote involving all 13 Premiership clubs refused the request to bring the game forward. Five days later, though, Worcester defeated Gloucester in the Premiership Cup semi-final to secure themselves a showpiece appearance that is now taking place in London on May 17.
This boardroom politicking that took place was mentioned by Irish boss Kidney at his media briefing ahead of the cup final. Asked for his impression of Worcester since lead rugby consultant Diamond took charge following the January exit of Jonathan Thomas, Kidney touched on the fixture situation in his reply.
“I respect Steve a lot with what he has done with Sale in the past. He has a good track record in this competition. He won it two years ago with Sale and he will have earmarked this one as well.
“I know there was a bit of toing and froing with the fixture list but that was Steve just being smart, just being cute as we’d call it in Ireland, just getting his lads a good fixture list. Their lads have had a two-and-a-half week lead in to this match on Tuesday and it will be two-and-a-half weeks until their next match, so they can fully focus on it to get themselves right for it. We’re expecting a full-blown cup final match.
“For us, it means a lot but I’m also conscious it is the same for Worcester. It is 20 years since we have won a trophy at Premiership level. We said we would have a go at all competitions this year and that is what we have been trying to do. It takes a squad effort for that to happen.”
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It was March 2018 when Kidney took charge of a struggling Irish team that was heading towards relegation from the Premiership. Aside from reaching Tuesday’s cup final, they are currently in eighth position in the top flight, a position that will qualify them for next season’s Heineken Champions Cup if they manage to hold onto it.
Their issue with making it through to the elite European tournament for the first time since 2011/12 is they have just one Premiership match remaining – away to Bath on Saturday – compared to their rivals around them on the table each having two games to end their campaign. “I mentioned to Les (kiss, the head coach) on the training pitch that four years ago we were getting ready for the last match of the season against Bath and we were already relegated,” continued Kidney.
“We have managed to make some progress but tangible progress is if you manage to qualify for Champions Cup… I can’t say it is new for the club but there is not a whole lot of experience of it in the club, so we need to manage all the different things that go with a week like this both physically, mentally and emotionally.
“We had a cut off the Toulon match (in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals). It just wasn’t to be and that has its own effects, but that is where we want to be as a club. It’s one line of work where the better you are the busier you are and you need to enjoy being busy.
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“These are steep learning curves and just because you get to a final you don’t have any god-given right to win it. We know that Worcester will be hungry, It’s 20 years since we won one, Worcester might be able to add on to that (wait) a bit, so you will have two very hungry sides on Tuesday. It’s akin in football to the League Cup and when there is a trophy on the line at the end, everyone wants to win the trophy. It has the making of a good night out.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
8 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
8 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
14 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
14 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
8 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to comments