Clubs use Christmas to stake claims
Welcome back to The Rugby Blog and Best of the Weekend 2018. Hopefully you filled yourself with a decent enough supply of food and drink to complement (or compensate for) your team’s Christmas exploits. Here’s a little reflection of the last two weeks.
The top four gave themselves a bit of a cushion, mid-table congested, the East Midlands sank and London Irish were cut adrift. All is set for an intriguing second half of the 2017/2018 season.
It all started the Friday before Christmas, where Worcester – inspired by a Josh Adams double – gave themselves breathing room over London Irish with a 23-8 win over London Irish. Warriors then went down to Saracens, but came away with a try-scoring bonus, whilst Irish narrowly slipped to defeat at home to Newcastle 20-15. It looks like, barring a miraculous turnaround, it will be the men from Reading heading straight back down to the Championship.
Arguably the stars of the festive season were Wasps, who navigated two potentially tricky fixtures (in the middle of their series of four season-defining ones) with aplomb. They secured bonus point wins against playoff rivals Gloucester and Bath to move up to third. It’s Saracens next up for the Coventrians and, after their early season woes, will be confident of leapfrogging the European Champions into second.
Saracens themselves seem to have bounced back, having added the scalp of Leicester to that of Worcester. They still have a way to go to catch Exeter, though. The reigning champions also heaped misery on the Tigers with a New Year’s Eve 30-6 demolition job, after they had beaten the other East Midlands strugglers by a similar margin the week before.
After a smashing win over Bath in the first week, Sale will rue being edged by Gloucester at Kingsholm, which would have put them well in contention for the playoffs. Similarly, Harlequins could and should have made it two from two, but fell to Newcastle by a point the week before they destroyed Northampton.
It seems like the top three are nailed on favourites of a playoff place, but there is plenty to play for at the midway point, with five teams hopeful of catching any slips Gloucester make from fourth.
What happened elsewhere?
It was derby time of year in the Pro14 and there was no lack of drama. Honours were even in Scotland, with Edinburgh ending Glasgow’s perfect record and the Warriors exacting revenge the following week.
Scarlets won their games against Blues and Ospreys by a combined total of six points, while Dragons lost both to those same teams.
In Ireland, Leinster kept on the pressure at the top with wins over Munster and Connacht. Ulster had lost to Connacht and looked set to go down to Munster as well, but a late fightback saw them claim the win there.
Discussion points
– Who will make the top four?
– Is there any way back for London Irish?
– Which players will emerge for starring roles in 2018?
– Who was in your team of 2017?
– What laws/initiatives would you like to see World Rugby focus on this year?
by Joe Large
Am not arguing with the top 3 being probably the pick of the teams this year (and last!). After that there is a 6 team chasing pack. Not sure what to say about Northampton. Maybe Gaffney will right the ship or maybe the malaise runs deeper. They certainly pulled out a few good performances earlier in the season, so it would seem to be more a failure of coaching which is causing the problem. Any Saints fans know any different?
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The issue is in the forwards
Against quins we lost the set piece and the breakdown consistently which left the backline trying to play with crap ball and forcing it too much
West is and always has been the issue (not Maillinder) we have performed well in the past due to great individual forward performances rather than good forward pack performances which has papered over the cracks in West’s coaching practice. added to which it is rumored that West has lost the dressing room which could explain the downturn in the forwards performances
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Agree mostly, but I also think issues at 10 have got unaddressed for too long. Myler hasn’t been up to it for a few seasons – I know Biggar signs next year but I think that has come a year too late for Mallinder. With Francis at 12, which I think is his best position, Biggar at 10 and Harry Mallinder at 15 Saints will have the playmaking ability needed to compete.
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Thanks Leon and Jacob. Have heard a number of complaints about West, and I guess that would explain the downturn getting worse. Any ideas on whether Gaffney will keep him?
Also sympathise with the 10 situation. Have had too may years of Hook or Twelvetrees playing the position, when they were better suited to 15 or 12 respectively. They could both play 10 when needed, but it’s no surprise we are playing better with Billy Burns who is a 10 through and through.
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At the moment with the options available we play best with Mallinder at 10 but he still has a tendency to try and force it a bit too much and could work on his defence
Mylers past it and Francis is not good enough
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Mallinder doesn’t look like a 10 at all to me, more of a 12 or 15. That being said I don’t necessarily see a better option in the Saints squad which is concerning and explains a lot…
Francis I actually like the look of, but more at 12 than at 10.
Biggar next year should help the development of both Francis and Mallinder, but I think both their futures lie wider than the fly half shirt.
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English centric Team of 2017
Genge
George (impressive Lions tour)
Sinkler (provided he doesn’t lose his head)
Lawes
Itoje (provided he plays his best position)
Robshaw (massively underrated)
Wray (needs England call up)
Simmonds
Robson (needs England call up)
Ford (wish he could kick off a tee)
May
Farrell
Slade
Daly
Brown
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Not sure what the qualification is for this team Leon. If they are all supposed to have been born in England I am fairly sure Itoje wouldn´t qualify. Using that criterion on current form I´d have Genge, George, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Robshaw, Wilson, Simmonds, Care, Farrell, May, Eastmond, Slade, Daly, Brown. It would be interesting to see if you could pick a team of qualified immigrants to play against them. Re Laws that World rugby should look at, it would be better if they started getting the game officiated using the ones we have at the moment rather than constantly messing about with them. Policing not straight at scrum and line out, constant obstruction in midfield, ignoring the offside line and 2nd man going off feet at rucks would be a start.
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Itoje was definitely born and bred in London…
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What a strange comment
It is the best England qualified performers of 2017. Arguably it is also the best performers of the AP in 2017 although it might be difficult to justify openside on that basis
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Would have Simmonds at 7 and Hughes in on that basis.
Hughes had a quiet end to 2016 and start of 2017. When he first got into the England squad it really seemed to affect him for some reason, however his form in particular this season (as well as on the Argentina tour) has been outstanding.
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Not really strange Leon. In the absence of any obviously foreign born players I was just wondering whether you were considering what the England team might look like without any imports.
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Andy, I’m interested to know where you think Itoje was born?
Leon, as well as Wray I think Armand is knocking on the same door. Both must be wondering what they need to do!?
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Slight brain fart Dazza. I thought he was born in Nigeria and came over as a young boy, but Camden is apparently not in Nigeria. Totally agree with you about Armand. Not so sure about Wray but he has at least earned a shot. Share your concerns about number 9’s. I like Simpson, Spencer and Wigglesworth but the one who catches the eye every time I see him is Harrison who has a great pass and is decidedly quick.
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Much as I admire Wigglesworth I think his style of play does not suit the England set-up. Spencer and Robson I think are the two best options going forward for England. From what I’ve seen of Harrison he does look sharp but, not sure about his defence?
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Looks as though Robson isn’t fancied at all by Jones, with just two 9s in the squad again.
I’m also not sure on Wray. Looks a good player, but realistically only an option at 6 for England. With Shields joining Wasps and Rhodes qualifying for England come July – Wray drops even further down the pecking order for me.
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Wray is as industrious as Robshaw but probably a more effective ball carrier. He has been a stalwart for Saracens for years, rarely makes a mistake and has been lucky with injuries. Seems an ideal candidate for me!?
I still don’t know why Eddie hasn’t looked at an extra 9 in the squad. We have so many 10/12 options but still only two 9s!! It’s not as if he doesn’t have any choice.
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