1. Itoje spurred on by England omission
As the hype around Saracens’ second row Maro Itoje was starting to heighten it became clear that Eddie Jones was not going to get caught up in it all as the England head coach released him back to his club from the Elite Playing Squad for the weekend’s encounter with Bath.
Itoje clearly had a point to prove as he turned in a Man of the Match performance that saw him make more metres than any of his teammates during his 14 carries and contributing to numerous turnovers that disrupted any rhythm that Bath may have had in attack.
His power and contribution in the loose was highlighted by the five defenders that he beat – also more than anyone on the field. For a second row to turn in performance like this a week before the Six Nations and not to feature at Murrayfield next weekend means Eddie Jones must believe he already has some world class operators within his ranks.
2. Be grateful that Josua Tuisova has chosen to be faithful to Fiji
Many in France were hopeful that Josua Tuisova would consider turning out for France in this year’s Six Nations on residency grounds but in pursuit of his Olympic Sevens dream with his country of birth, Tuisova has chosen to show his allegiance to Fiji for the long term.
France’s loss is most definitely the rest of the Six Nations’ gain as his performances this season have been eye-catching to say the least. The flying winger has left numerous defenders in his wake and he is joint second on the Top 14 try scoring charts.
Against Stade Francais at the weekend, though, the unlucky Jeremy Sinzelle felt the force of Tuisova’s defensive ability. His huge hit on the former Toulon winger shows what a talent the 21-year old is and why the French wanted him to play for the foreseeable future for Les Bleus.
3. Goode rubs salt into Irish wounds
He doesn’t have much pace left and his body may look like he should be at the front end of the scrum rather than fly-half, but Andy Goode came on and changed the face of the game on Sunday to earn Newcastle a crucial victory against Harlequins at Kingston Park.
Nine points down and with the rain pouring down, Goode entered the fray and immediately had an impact with his trusted right boot. His tactical kicking put Quins on the back foot and applied the pressure that meant the visitors conceded three kickable penalties in quick succession. After Goode landed all three to level the score, he then laid the platform for Rob Vickers’ last minute try to clinch the four points.
For any London Irish fan watching on, the whole Andy Goode situation must be galling. Not only did he cancel his move to Irish as he announced his retirement, he has returned to their main relegation rivals and lifted them above the Exiles off the bottom of the table.
4. Chiefs are serious Premiership contenders
Whilst most clubs feel sorry for themselves at this time of the year as their stars turn their focus to the international scene, it seems that Exeter are seeing this as an opportunity use their strength in depth to gain ground on Premiership leaders Saracens.
The Chiefs, somewhat surprisingly given their league position, only have a handful of players away on international duty but that has not stopped them playing the sort of free-scoring rugby that sees them topping the Premiership’s try-scoring charts. Last year’s top individual try scorer, Thomas Waldrom, has also put daylight between himself and his nearest challengers to the tune of two scores.
James Short has found his scoring boots again whilst the relationship between Will Chudley and Gareth Steenson at half back is as solid as any in the English top division, but the guile in the pack is where the Sandy Park outfit truly excel.
The acquisition of Geoff Parling means the loss of Dean Mumm last summer hasn’t been as big a loss as some may have thought. Julian Salvi has added a tenacity to the back row that, with Waldrom, is allowing Don Armand to be on the end of moves like the try he scored at the weekend.
There is genuine class and bags of experience in this Chiefs squad and that is one of the main reasons that they are challenging both domestically and in Europe. This period of international games seems to be made for Exeter to cement their place in the top four.
5. London-based exiles may hold more value to Pro12 than Italians
As Zebre and Benetton Treviso occupy the bottom two places of the Pro12, it may be time for the rest of the teams to consider what value they are adding to the competition.
Treviso have haven’t won a single match in their last 26 attempts. They also averaged less than nine points a game in their Champions Cup pool. Zebre will more than likely finish 11th this season in the league yet that will gain them a lucrative spot in next year’s Champions Cup as the top placed Italian team.
It has been mooted that London Scottish and London Welsh could join the league, especially after London Scottish recently announced their dual affiliation to both the English and Scottish RFUs and this should now be heavily supported.
The supporter catchment areas for these clubs is vast as they are both based on the outskirts of Twickenham meaning the commercial power is already there to be utilised. If the Pro12 teams are serious about making a move back up to sit at Europe’s top table then they need to be playing competitive rugby week in, week out, whilst not travelling halfway across Europe for what is essentially a training match.
By adding two London-based teams with a rich Celtic heritage the league will stretch further afield, add to its audience significantly and also add in the possibility of attracting some of the exiles that are playing in the Aviva Premiership.
6. Sonny Bill Williams is not human
He certainly wasn’t the best player at the latest leg of the World Sevens in Wellington but Sonny Bill still showed the sporting world that he can probably turn his hand to any sport and not look out of place.
After being gifted a try with his first touch of sevens rugby, Williams then set up one of the tries of the tournament with a trademark offload over the top of three South African defenders to deliver a scoring pass that beat the Springboks in the last second of their group match.
Winning the World Cup in both Rugby codes and having a 100% win record in seven bouts of heavyweight boxing clearly isn’t enough success for the 30-year old and with the Olympics on the horizon, there won’t be many daring enough to bet against him playing a major part in the All Blacks’ quest for gold.
Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
11 replies on “6 things we learned from the weekend’s rugby”
I’m seriously hoping that Itoje will feature in later 6 Nations matches. How can you leave him out after a performance like that. Especially given Lawes drop in form this season.
I think he most definitely will play later on. I’m thinking off the bench against Italy and then probably off the bench or maybe starting in the rest of the matches assuming he performs as well as we all think he will.
Agreed, that was a fantastic performance and I just can’t fathom what more EJ wants? This guy is miles ahead of Lawes at the minute and adds real versatility as well. I would love to see him and Launchbury together.
I read a story about how EJ lines to ‘ride’, i.e. criticise, or set really high standards and not be satisfied with players, especially the younger ones in his squads, with the aim of making them world class in the long term. I think this is what he’s doing with Itoje, as his current form is incomparably good compared to Lawes, but obviously EJ wants to keep pushing him at the moment.
I can relate to the idea, but when you have a player like Itoje, who is arguably the best player in his position at the moment, is left out because he’s not tough enough (apparently why he was released?). Then you retain a player, who’s been on relatively poor form for a few months (but has the experience) to come off the bench, and potentially under perform, couldn’t you say that playing those kind of mind games would be better used on the experienced player whose out of form?
At the moment I would say Lawes needs to be told to up his level of play to meet Itoje’s, not the other way round. Lawes is being rewarded with a bench spot for past appearances (a bit Lancastrian!?), whilst Itoje is being told to go away and work harder?
Bit hyperbolic. Itoje was brilliant against Bath, but no way has he been as good as Kruis this season, and Launchbury has been in a different league to both of them.
I think a lot of it is that he will likely already have three uncapped players in the squad and he doesn’t want to blood them all at once. Knowing lock is a position where England are strong he doesn’t have to rush Itoje in with all the new caps.
Hill has been forced into a cap because of injuries. Devoto has come in as a distributing centre which is clearly foremost on Jones’ agenda, and then he is clearly a massive Clifford fan.
Itoje’s time will come, as will Daly’s. Unfortunately for both of them, very good players are in there way so they need to keep working.
Lawes hasn’t been at his best post-WC, but I think his poor form is overstated, and he has actually been pretty good the last few weeks.
Points taken, but for me I think the issue is that Itoje is right up there with them. He has been performing this way for the whole of last season, and so far in this one. On Saturday he stood head and shoulders above all other players in the team in the second half. When you look at some of the players in that team, it makes it all the more impressive.
When Launchury was first picked for England, it was essentially for the same reason (and because of a few injuries). He was playing far and above the level expected of a player of his age, in his position. What is so different about Itoje?
Lawes may have been playing better the last few weeks, but has been far away from the form that got him selected. If we only had one of Kruis or Launchbury injured, (or if Lawes was in a rich vain of form) then I could understand having Lawes in their for experience, but with both of them fit, I don’t see the issue of having someone of Itoje’s natural rugby talent, obvious leadership ability and hunger for success on the bench.
I think you’re comparing apples and oranges. Launchbury was drafted in when players like Moritz Botha and Tom Palmer were at lock for England, I’m sure Itoje would be well ahead of players of that standard.
Whether Itoje was the best lock (or even best player) on the pitch against Bath is a bit irrelevant. The question Jones has to ask himself is if Itoje is better than Launchbury, Kruis or Lawes.
The only one that gets maybe is Lawes, but when you consider how we know Lawes can play, combined with a recent upturn in form and the fact that he already has three uncapped players in the squad, it is a decision that makes sense.
Hats off to Rob Baxter and the rest of the staff and players in the West country.
I’m not sure what to make of the Itoje situation. In fact I’m still puzzling over Jones back row selection full stop. (I know Maro has been playing at lock.) Clifford obviously has a big future and to be fair we have’nt witnessed the England training sessions. Maybe Jones sees things in Itoje that need work,who knows.
I do agree however,that Lawes is a shadow of the player we know he can be. To me he seems to be coasting a little. I also think that his relative lack of poundage has been found out at test level.
Back to Clifford, I think Jones has stated that he sees Clffords future at no8 rather than o/side so it puzzles me why Kvesic was released and we appear to be going down the six and a half road with Haskell/Clifford et al, which jones was so disparaging about during the W Cup.
The Volte Face over Robshaw smacks of muddled thinking too. I’ll reserve judgement until after Murrayfield.
I agree that the thinking over the 7 poistion seems muddled considering Jones’ previous comments.
Clearly though, Jones does not believe that Ksevic has the ability to play 7 at test level, which leaves him with few choices.
Given that, I’d rather see Clifford there than Haskell (who could hardly be descibed as the future and who has never shone particularly brightly for England in the past). To my mind Clifford would be best at 6 or 8, but he is good at the breakdown, has the speed to play a linking role and has played well there for Quins. I can think of worse options – but it would be good if dedicated 7s like Underhill and Wallace can kick on over the next year or so and really raise their games
As for Robshaw, I don’t see muddled thinking there at all. Jones said he didn’t see Robshaw as a 7 or captain and told him he would only be considered at 6. So Robshaw has taken that to heart and absolutely shone at 6 for Quins. As far as I am concerned, with Ewers injured, there is no better blind-side in England at the moment than Robshaw. As such and with his experience, Jones would have been insane to leave him out of the side
To be fair to Robshaw I have’nt seen that much of him since the W Cup. I know he’s getting rave reviews but you can argue that ,like Haskell,he is hardly one for the future. I do take the point about experience however. Murrayfield is no place for a team of tyros. I really hope Ewers comes back the same player he was before his injury. On his day he is an absolute monster.
Anyone think Brookes might not be up to the rigours of such a quick return to the test arena?