The winners and losers from the final round of warm-ups
The final round of warm-ups has been played and fans everywhere have a slightly clearer idea of where their team is, who is in form, and what they need to be worried about.
After Scotland played Georgia, England played Italy, and Ireland hosted Wales, we take a look at the winners and losers from the weekend’s games.
Winner: Ireland
For all that Joe Schmidt highlighted that the rankings don’t change the fact that New Zealand are still the favourites for the Rugby World Cup, Ireland arguably deserved the Number 1 spot last year and it is nice for the fans to be recognised as one of the best teams going into the tournament. Moreover, both Schmidt and Rory Best got the send-off in Dublin their respective Ireland careers deserved: a comprehensive win and a standing ovation.
Loser: injury concerns
None of the players who had to leave the field early last weekend looked like their tournament was definitely over but Rhys Patchell’s withdrawal with concussion after a year struggling with symptoms will be a concern, despite Gatland’s confidence he will be fine for Japan. Ireland saw Keith Earls leave the field early, Luke Cown-Dickie and Joe Launchbury had to go off for England, and Scotland ended the game with no fewer than five players with injury issues, including Jamie Ritchie who is now a serious doubt for the RWC. Marcus Bradbury, one of ths surprise omissions from the squad, will travel with the squad as cover. The debate over just how many warm-up games are needed will no doubt continue.
https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1170379100348919808
Winner: Joe Marchant
Having been ruled out of the England 31-man squad, one of the first to be announced, Marchant was asked to stick around in camp and was rewarded with his first start against Italy. He scored a lovely solo try and showed off some nice footwork throughout. Should Jonathan Joseph struggle to overcome his injury issues, Marchant has proved they have an exciting option waiting in the wings.
Loser: Ruaridh McConnochie
Marchant’s fellow new starter struggled to have the same impact on the game, however. It wasn’t calamitous by any means but there aren’t many easier debuts on paper than Italy’s second string at home, and McConnochie didn’t show what fans have been waiting for since his summons to the training squad. On the other wing, Johnny May had a far better outing despite the limited opportunities.
Winner: the engine room
Some of the best players in world rugby right now play in the second row and these games highlighted just how much impact locks can have. James Ryan was excellent, rescuing Ireland’s lineout, scoring a try, and generally bringing some game-winning physicality to all his interactions. Scott Cummings had a similarly standout performance for Scotland, making 30m from four carries. For England, Courtney Lawes reminded everyone that Maro Itoje is not the only wrecking-ball lock in the English second row, dominating the lineout, the maul, and defence, while carrying and helping out at the breakdown.
https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/1170407636107517952
Loser: Leigh Halfpenny
Halfpenny has been one of the first names on the team sheet since his emergence, with Warren Gatland prizing his defensive positioning, his ability under the high ball, and his outstanding goal-kicking. Since the British & Irish Lions tour in 2017, Gatland seems to have finally been convinced by Liam Williams’ qualities, and injury troubles have meant Halfpenny hasn’t been able to fight for his spot for the first time. This game was a chance for him to finally do that and he couldn’t take it, even missing an easy kick and a high-ball take – the staples of his game.
Winner: Scotland’s 23
Perhaps more than any other Home Nation, Scotland have been vulnerable to injuries. Their first XV could take on anyone, on their day, but the quality of their replacements meant they have struggled. Along with Ireland and Wales, they have worked to rectify that this World Cup cycle and the final warm-up game demonstrated that. Cummings was not the only player to have made a case for himself against Georgia – Darcy Graham, Adam Hastings, and Blade Thomson all excelled, and Sam Johnson looked like he could make a very strong partnership in midfield with certain starter Duncan Taylor. Scotland aren’t the finished article yet but they no longer seem likely to be derailed by the first injury.
Loser: Mako Vunipola
Eddie Jones has confirmed that the loosehead prop, arguably the best in the world, won’t be fit for the first two pool games at the earliest. Those matches are against the USA and Tonga, and Jones and his coaches think it is worth the risk of carrying Vunipola until the knockout games, such is his ability. “He’s probably going to be right for the third or fourth game”, said Jones. Realistically, this England side ought to be able to win even their toughest pool games without him although, even though he rarely needs many games to play himself back into form, it will be a tough ask to return for a quarter-final with only one brief outing under his belt since May. Moreover, should one of the other loosehead props sustain an injury early on, Jones will find himself in a tough spot.
https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/1170086097550028800
Winner: second-half resurgences
It’s unlikely that many home fans would have been thrilled at half-time in any of these three games but patience proved to be a virtue, with the second-halves much more entertaining. England scored four tries after a turgid first 40 minutes, Scotland pulled away with 26 unanswered points, and Ireland came back from a first-half deficit for the first time since 2014, with a comprehensive performance that Wales had no answer to. All three sides have frequently struggled to play for a full 80 minutes recently so those resurgences will comfort fans and coaches.
Loser: Wales
Regular observers of Gatland’s Wales will know their strength and conditioning work is always aimed to have them peak at the end of a tournament and they usually start slow. There is not necessarily any cause for concern about the outcome of warm-ups, especially with a decent turnaround between their first game against Georgia and the likely pool decider against Australia. On the other hand, for a team with aspirations to win the RWC for the first time, three losses out of four isn’t encouraging, irrespective of the quality of the opponents. Moreover, Patchell’s early departure means Gatland hasn’t had much chance to decide who he wants to start games at No 10. After sitting top of the rankings so recently, Wales are now fifth and looking like a dark horse again.
Eddie Jones discusses England’s injury troubles
Comments on RugbyPass
A Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
103 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
103 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
103 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
103 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
103 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
103 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
103 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
103 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
103 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to comments