A look at who shone and who suffered in the three rounds of domestic rugby over the festive period.
GOING UP
Christian Wade
A hat-trick against Bath on Christmas eve from the flying winger reaffirmed Wade as the deadliest finisher in the premiership and had everyone, bar Eddie Jones it seems, calling for him to be involved with the England team. Wade’s second try was sublime – starting at the half-way he slalomed through six Bath players, leaving them all for dead to touch down. He also popped up with perfect support lines to finish off excellent breaks by Thomas Young and Elliot Daly. He then backed that performance up with a fine display against Leicester and another try.
Wade deserves a shot with the squad – occasionally suspect defensive positioning or not. He needs to be looked at because of what he can do, not what he can’t. And no other player in the northern hemisphere can do quite what Wade can. Gatland took a punt on him as an injury replacement in 2013 – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him involved again, even if he remains out in the cold with England.
CJ Stander
One man’s misfortune is another man’s luck – as Robshaw is ruled out, Stander is surely now leading the race for Lions blindside shirt by some distance. Consistently brilliant week in, week out, he excelled again at the weekend in Munster’s reorganised European clash with Racing 92. He carried 22 times in the match, over double the number of times any of his team mates did. Another boon for Stander will be that with both Billy Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau in a fitness and form race, Gatland will be looking for abrasive ball carriers – something Stander brings in abundance.
Jonny Sexton
There has been a lot of praise raining down on flyhalves Ford, Farrell and Finn Russell recently, with Sexton slipping from mind as he took a break to recover from his latest injury issues. Making his first start in seven weeks against Zebre, Sexton masterfully orchestrated his side as they ran in 10 tries in a match that verged on embarrassingly one-sided at times. Although his competition for the Lions 10 jersey are all in great form, on his day Sexton is one of the best flyhalves in the world. Expect some more impressive performances in the next few weeks as he looks to remind Gatland he should be his main man come June.
GOING DOWN
Chris Robshaw
Critics curse? After naming Robshaw as my first-choice blindside for the Lions in the summer, he has now been ruled out of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury and will face an uphill battle to remake his case for inclusion in the Lions squad – especially as Quins are not in the Champions Cup or likely to be involved in the Premiership play-offs.
In 2013, Robshaw looked likely to make the Lions tour until that infamous thrashing by Wales cost him his place. Now injury looks likely to do the same. A real shame for a player in the form of his career.
Alex Goode
Probably the biggest call by Eddie Jones in his new England EPS was the omission of last season’s Premiership player of the season. What added to the surprise of this decision was Goode has continued his excellent form, integral to Saracens’ victories this season and offering intelligence and reliability from the back.
The only explanation I can see for Goode’s omission is he just doesn’t fit Jones’ gameplan – with twin playmakers operating at 10 and 12, Goode’s distribution and footballing nous are less important, Jones instead preferring Mike Brown and Mike Haley’s attacking abilities. Goode’s best chance of a recall would probably come should Jones start to employ a physical 12 like Ben Te’o or the eternally injured Manu Tuilagi. However, in the short term, continued international exile will likely scupper his Lions hopes.
Who impressed you recently?
By Henry Ker
Agreed that Wade is a special player, he is improving his defence and will probably get a shot with Gatland in charge
Sextons game management against Zebre is hardly impressive as they have been woeful all season and any fly half looks good against them, also Goode hasn’t been in good form for Saracens either
Robshaw isn’t out of the reckoning yet he has been such a strong consistent performer that he will still be in Gatland thoughts especially now that he has got the stigma of Cptn6.5 off his back and is considered to jut be an excellent 6
No room for Tommy Seymour? he has been unreal in the last few games. Right now I would have him and Nowell on the wings.
Good shout on Seymour! Agree he has been brilliant recently
I’ll second that second. He’s been consistently excellent for some time now.
I thought Zebo did very well, has now scored 1/8th of Munster’s tries in europe. If he brings this form into the Ireland team during the 6N could be a Lions. I think atm if everyone is fully fit and firing you have 15 Hogg 14 Watson 11 North but if North keeps having his concussion issues and it effect’s his chances than I feel you have Williams,Zebo,Seymour fighting for the spot.
And those are three very good choices. I think it’d be hard to be aggrieved whomever was chosen.
Don’t think that North is anywhere near making the trip. Concussion issues have affected his form for the past two years and he is nothing like the player he was.
On what grounds is George North anywhere near the lions squad let alone team, as most pundits (and people on this forum – most of whom clearly, for the most part, know their rugby) have selected.
He is woefully out of form and low on confidence (fair enough saints aren’t pulling up trees) and on current and recent historical form isn’t in the top 10 ( I reckon) European wingers or the top 6 B&I wingers.
We’re all still hoping that he magically returns to the fresh-faced thoroughbred powerhouse that was ripping up the turf as a 19 year old but he’s nowhere near that player. He looks to have lost considerable speed (remember when, an admittedly weaving, Gopperth maintained a gap on a run to the line – North seemed to accept he was beaten for speed by a journeyman 10 not renowned for pace who had just a 3 yard start in 30 on him).
Every time North gets the ball he seems to stop and when he does attack the line he loses confidence as soon as he is challenged defensively.
I love North; he was an exceptionally exciting winger and is still a very good player plus seemingly a very nice young man who has hard a hard time with injuries and a struggling team but as a Lions winger – not on this tour.
The only grounds North needs to get in the team is that Gatland is selecting the squad. The same reason that Cuthbert and Biggar still get in the Welsh squad!!
Also I would say Wade is above North on current form.
Some names currently above North (IMHO)
Nowell
Watson
Roko
L Williams
Seymour
Zebo
Seymour
Maitland
Hogg (as a winger)
Plus May, Wade, Varndell, Visser, Sharples and Uncle Tom Cobley and all….
Despite Goode performing well last weekend when Sarries had their backs to the wall, his form has dipped considerably from his usual standards. I can’t see him getting near the Lions squad unless Halfpenny, Williams, Hogg and Kearney all get crocked.
Wade toured last time and he has improved vastly since then and I would expect him to be going, if only for the mid-week team. Problem is I’m not sure his defence has improved enough to cope with what will be coming at him. I think Nowell is still a better all round winger but Wade has that ability to produce something amazing from absolutely nothing.
I would not pick Wade for the Lions.
He’s not going to get a chance in the Six Nations, and so he remains unproven at International level. You can’t take players on a whim to tour New Zealand for the Lions.
Yes, Gatland called him up last time, but I think he’ll respect Eddie Jones’ reasons for not selecting him more than he did Lancaster’s.
Seymour, Maitland, Watson, Nowell, Roko, Yarde, Zebo, Trimble all safer bets than Wade, and North more likely to be picked on reputation.
The next couple of rounds of European rugby and the Six Nations should give us a clearer view but………….I will still wait with baited breath to see if Cuthbert is in the squad!! LOL!!!!!!
The sooner Wade gets put onto the wing for England the more of a credible threat in attack they’ll be!
The last piece in EJ’s puzzle: The attack!
THE TRY for Bath was out of this world – six players beaten solo. The guy doesn’t need anyone around him at times – the spacial awareness, the side-step and the speed!
What more can EJ want in a winger!
Doubts about size under the aerial bomb out on the wing maybe but that apart….
His defence is alright now from what i’ve seen nor can anyone he say he disappointed for the Lions last time around!
Enlighten me please someone on the EJ mind games…..!
Disagree….you can take anyone you want.
Wade HAS played for the Lions and SHOULD do again!
Did you see his Bath try? How could you not?
He is IN FORM……Correct?
As an aside or a sporting comparison England ‘s football team used to play players from the old First division (i’m talking late eighties-early nineties)
Not sure it worked on that occasion but Wade is different clearly!
So the answer is you can because they have already done so in the sporting arena!
Note to self:
His name was Steve Bull.
Played for England (footy) and won 13 caps in the late 80’s until 1990 (not that long ago if anyone was thinking of saying!)
The England coach/manager dropped a divisio to pick him and 13 caps ain’t a one off! Can anyone think of other english players that were in the same lofty position as Bull?
Wade for England and Lions and any other team out there. To date Wade has played for them all just not England on a regular basis and its about time he was given the chance.
My inkling is that the England strike rate would go up by 25% overnight!
As for other examples of internationals coming from lower divisions, Wade Dooley, used to play second row for England a few years back and played his entire career at the lowly Preston Grasshoppers, they were two or three divisions off the top if memory serves me right!
The above meant as a reply to Hutch.
Poor comment placing on my part
I would not pick Wade for England, and I certainly wouldn’t pick him for the Lions. He may be improving as a defender, but that’s still not good enough, particularly in NZ where they are so good at punishing any small mistake.
Out of interest, what do you think Yarde (for instance) is that much better at than Wade? Personally I’ve never rated Yarde that much, but he haas been good (certainly not outstanding) when playing for England.
For me Wade has the X factor in terms of attacking rugby, which is something that I don’t think any of the others have in the same way as Wade. It’s not just his speed, but his spacial awareness and the speed of thought to exploit it. It is a shame that he can’t use the same speed of thought when getting into the correct defensive position, but I think the pros outweigh the cons.
I can still understand why Ej won’t pick him when Nowell, Watson and May are available, but outside of them? I would certainly pick him ahead of Yarde.
The only reason I can think of for picking Yarde is because we have been playing a more lightweight midfield with Ford, Faz and JJ?
Ah my bad – feel free to amend the article to read ‘had everyone, bar Eddie Jones (and Hutch), calling for him to be involved with the England team’…
Out of interest Hutch – have you been seeing mistakes in Wade’s defensive game this year? I’ve pretty much watched every Wasps game that has been on TV this year, and I honestly can not think of any.
Certainly a year ago I was of a similar view but I’m not seeing the same mistakes from him this year. Could well be that Wasps are a better side that have more of the ball now, but still….
Agreed Jacob!
1. His pros do indeed far outweigh any negative(s). At the moment i would say there is only one negative: defense under the opposition fly half’s aerial bomb due to his small stature. Other than that his defense is good (certainly as good if not better than May’s and Rokoguduni’s who are both pretty suspect at the best of times as others apart from me have said recently on here)
2. Weaknesses can be worked on, reduced (sometimes eliminated), and compensated for (with players doubling up in defense if necessary)
What can’t and shouldn’t be covered up or ignored is natural god-given talent!
3. EJ has gone on record (in an interview with Sir Clive Woodward published in the Saturday Mail since xmas) to say the offence is his next key area of improvement if England are to challenge the ABs. No surprises there!
As others have said…..which player springs most to mind when it comes to scoring tries for fun? Yes you’ve got it……its Wade!
If i were the ABs Wade would put the fear of god up me (especially in broken and unstructured play – an AB specialty and area of expertise)
3. Many on here have argued the merits ad infinitum of other players like Alex Goode for example.
I would insert the name “WADE” and say….”Give the guy a run to see if he can establish himself as at least then we’ll know one way or another!”
It seems Goode has at last been consigned to the ‘not good enough basket’ which however harsh i would agree with. Never thought he had it!
Wade on the other hand in all OBJECTIVE, RATIONAL and fair dinkum RUGBY NOUSE needs a good look at. Otherwise EJ could be denying himself a Shane Williams or a Jason Robinson-esque try scorer.
That would be unforgiveable!
Reading this back have realised I was very unclear on Wade! To clarify, I think he deserves a shot with the England squad (and was disappointed not to see him there ahead of Yarde) not necessarily the Lions, but I think it is more likely he will be involved with the Lions than England given the respective coaches…
No clarification needed its in the title of the article
Just because a stock is going up doesn’t mean you have to invest in it
Duh. Forgot to add Wade (I intended to) to my list. So we’re agreed? No North?