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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.
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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.
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Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments