As we enter the year of the Rugby World Cup in England, who impressed in the first round of domestic rugby in 2015, and took a step closer to featuring at the tournament?
GOING UP
Tim Visser
Edinburgh, Scotland
The ‘Flying Dutchman’ has been grounded for some time now, becoming almost the forgotten man of Scottish wing play as the likes of Maitland and Seymour have leapfrogged him in the pecking order. His brace at Murrayfield in the 1872 Cup at the weekend, then, was a timely reminder to Vern Cotter that he is still an arch-finisher.
Scott Williams
Scarlets, Wales
Williams’ gliding 60m break against the Ospreys was a thing of real beauty, and when he was eventually caught he threw a lengthy but pinpoint offload that set up John Barclay’s try. It wasn’t all positive as he received a yellow card in the first half, but with Jamie Roberts and Jon Davies not necessarily setting the world alight in the Top 14, the Scarlet must be edging his way towards a start in the Six Nations.
Gareth Anscombe
Cardiff Blues, Wales
Anscombe’s kicking from the tee may have left a little to be desired against the Dragons, but if he were called up for Wales he wouldn’t have that responsibility anyway. What he lacked in kicking, however, he made up for in play-making, scything through the defensive line on three occasions and finishing as his side’s greatest accumulator of metres – no mean feat for a fly-half. His perfectly judged spin pass for Cory Allen’s try was also crucial. All in all a persuasive nudge to Gatland and the selection committee.
Devin Toner
Leinster, Ireland
Toner’s contribution to Leinster’s win over Ulster didn’t necessarily grab the headlines in the way others’ did, but he was vital to their victory. As ever a key source of lineout ball, the beanpole-like second row ensured his province won a staggering 19 of 19 lineouts on their own throw. For not a single one to go awry is hugely impressive. He also made some decent inroads with ball in hand – which he hasn’t always been able to do – and finished as his side’s top tackler, with 10 made and none missed. All in all, a thoroughly impressive outing.
Christian Wade
Wasps, England
Wade was back to his unstoppable best against Sale at the weekend, turning in the kind of performance that harked back to the days when he made such an indelible first impression on our rugby consciences. His break and assist for James Haskell’s try was but one of a handful of mesmerising runs that saw him beat seven defenders, make four clean line breaks and cover 159 metres from 10 carries. England’s back three is still not completely settled – surely he deserves to be given at least a chance in the Six Nations?
Robbie Henshaw
Connacht, Ireland
Henshaw was a revelation for Ireland in the Autumn Internationals, but you suspect that to anyone who watches Connacht regularly, his performance level wasn’t a surprise at all. On a blustery, wet night in Galway the boisterous centre was again superb, causing all sorts of problems for the Munster defence to play a crucial role in two of his side’s tries. Again, it was his strength and running lines that impressed the most, making him a real gainline weapon.
GOING DOWN
George Ford
Bath, England
It was a tough afternoon for Ford at Welford Road, the kicking demons that dogged him during his Tigers days resurfacing in the cruelest of manners in front of the onlooking Stuart Lancaster. Two simple kicks missed meant Bath left with nothing to their name, and in one of the most pressurised situations of his season so far, that he came up wanting will be a concern for Lancaster. He has a chance this weekend, away at Toulouse, to vanquish said demons, and he simply must do so to prove this is nothing more than a blip.
Paul James
Bath, Wales
Another Bath man to make a poor impression at the weekend, the veteran James was hammered at scrum time by Leicester’s relative novice Fraser Balmain. To be honest, it has been a poor season for the Welsh loosehead, who seems to be consistently pinged for not pushing straight. It’s difficult to be too critical without having played in the front row at the highest level, but the fact that so many referees are picking up on it so consistently is a worry, for Bath and Wales. His reprieve might be that Wales’ loosehead stocks are reasonably thin on the ground.
Danny Cipriani
Sale Sharks, England
Now, Cipriani only played half an hour at the weekend and didn’t necessarily do that much wrong while on the pitch, so his presence in the going down list is for other reasons. He is being heavily linked with Toulon, and according to director of rugby Steve Diamond, the only thing that would keep him in England would be an international recall. This weekend, he comes up against Stephen Myler, the man just ahead of him in the England rankings, and has his best chance yet to send a message to Lancaster. The way the England coach has managed this situation so far, however, does make you think that more likely than not, Cipriani has played his last game for England and will be wearing a Toulon shirt next season.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
5 replies on “Rugby World Cup Stock Check: 254 days to go”
Anscombe seems nailed on for a 6Ns squad place to me. Gatland was part of the process of tempting him to come over so all he seemed to need to do was not be rubbish and he has already achieved that. I’d like to see a more consistent run of games for The Blues first but there is no doubting he has talent and could be really good.
Slightly amusing to see another club coach (Cockers with Flood last year) trying to pressure SL into picking one of his players so he doesn’t sign for a rich French club. Can’t see SL buying it.
Must say the Ford performance did not surprise me. It isn’t just his Leicester days that he misses kicks like this – the Challenge Cup final for Bath was terrible last year. He also threw 6 points away against Australia and missed a gimme against Samoa.
Really really like Ford as a player but I just don’t trust him as a goal kicker.
Would like to see Wade jump over Yarde into the EPS (4 wingers being Wade,Roko and May, plus Watson and Nowell with Brown the only FB). Seems to cover all bases and Wade certainly deserves a shot.
Those wingers are a good selection – May can cover 13, and Nowell and Watson are equally adept at 15 and wing.
Unless Ford’s pressure-kicking improves, the only way we can have him in the XV is to have Farrell or 36 at 12 with the kicking duties. Not sure either of those are our best IC option, though.
… or Henry Slade at 13?
Exactly my thoughts with backs cover – more than enough there.
I agree – I wouldn’t mind seeing Farrell at 12 with Tuilagi or Burrell outside the two of them. That looks like the best balance for me.
If someone had grabbed hold of the 12 shirt and been great – then I’d have a different opinion, but no one seems to be nailing down that shirt. Let Farrell have it to take kicking duties and then Ford can be more ambitious with ball in hand from the 10 shirt.
Love the Slade shout – really like him! But I don’t think we’ll see him in an England shirt until post-2015.