Winners and losers from this weekend's World Cup warm-ups
After this weekend’s round of games, most of the 31-man squads for Japan will be finalised. Ireland will not announce theirs for another week but Joe Schmidt and his team will have determined the selections. These games, then were a last chance for fringe players and bolters to play their way onto the plane.
We take a look at the winners and losers from Georgia v Scotland and Wales v Ireland.
Winner: Attacking fly-half play
Rhys Patchell and Jack Carty probably played themselves into seats on their respective plane while Finn Russell showed some of his best tricks against a Georgian defence that couldn’t handle him. Creative kicks, flat passing,and some lovely running were all on display at times across the two games and while there were also errors at times, it generally made for enjoyable viewing.
Loser: Jarrod Evans and Ross Byrne
Before the match, Warren Gatland had said it was a straight shootout between Evans and Patchell to go to Japan alongside experienced fly-half Dan Biggar. Evans got the first chance and he fumbled his lines, struggling to make an impact against a physically dominant Irish side, missing some easy kicks at goal and to touch. Ireland’s dominance didn’t stop Patchell when he came on so Evans will probably have to wait for his time. The hammering Ireland took at the hands of England last weekend wasn’t Byrne’s fault but it seems unlikely he will be Schmidt’s third No. 10 now, after Carty’s performance.
Winner: Georgian rugby
Neither the attendance nor the scoreline were what they would have wanted but this was the first visit to Georgia from a Tier 1 side. Other Tier 2 teams have regularly spoken about how important regular competition from better sides is for the development and their finances so this game was more important than the result. Hopefully, there will be more games like it – maybe even with different results
Loser: Georgia
There’s no getting around it, Georgia were poor. They were too keen at the breakdown, too one-dimensional in attack, and too limited in defence. Their famed forwards didn’t have the impact expected in the scrums or mauls and this was generally a game where brain very much had the upper hand over brawn. Karlen Asieshvili gave the home fans a try in the 58th minute but that was really the only comfort in an underwhelming showing.
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Winner: Andrew Porter
The tighthead has been showing his ability on the other side of the scrum in these warm-up games, guaranteeing he will play in Japan unless injury strikes. He gave Leon Brown a rough time from the loosehead when he came on in the second half, causing his opposite number to concede two penalties and a yellow card, before continuing to bother the more experienced Samson Lee. Porter may find himself starting in the No. 1 jersey if he keeps this up.
Loser: Fairytale send-offs
It’s rare that players and coaches get the perfect send-off in their final home games and Gatland has proved to be no exception. The arch-pragmatist won’t care about the result or the send-off, as Wales came through the match with no injury concerns and their back-up fly-half dilemma seemingly solved. Given everything he has achieved with Wales, however, it seemed a shame. Perhaps he will get a fairytale return in the autumn instead, as he coaches the Barbarians against Wales.
Winner: Fringe players
There were a number of players who knew this was their chance to make an impression before squad selections and many stepped up. Rory Hutchinson bagged a brace and may have played well enough to no longer be considered a fringe player, despite Scotland’s growing depth at centre. Owen Lane and Hallam Amos were bright spots in a generally poor performance from Wales, with the former scoring a try on his debut. Gatland will probably only take one of the two, however. Will Addison was excellent for Ireland before going off and his creativity may see him make the squad.
Loser: Fringe players
On the other hand, some fringe players will have done their chances of a world cup place serious harm, especially in the Wales side. Steff Evans had a very poor season but Gatland gave him a chance to show his attacking potential and he didn’t take it. Owen Watkin gave possibly his worst performance for Wales and it may be that Scott Williams will now go to his third world cup. Brown’s difficulties against a loosehead playing out of position will probably see him out. For Ireland, Dave Kearney didn’t show enough to justify being selected over the other options.
Winner: The starting Scottish forwards
The game against Georgia was billed as a huge test for Scotland’s forwards against the renowned Georgian scrummagers. The scrums were generally frustrating but Scotland would probably have taken that. Elsewhere, their maul was excellent in attack and defence, while both Ben Toolis and Scott Cummings picked up tries from the second row. A bulked-up Matt Fagerson did some solid work at the back of the pack, carrying well and showing his ball-handling ability too. In a game where a lot of the focus was on the Scottish backs, the forwards proved they could stand up against a big side. Their replacements had far less of an impact, however, with the exception of Cummings.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 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.
12 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.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 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,
12 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.
12 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.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments