Rattling, he’s again!
No it isn’t for those who’re a real blue Cleaning soap Dodging Taswegian. Nevertheless, setting that apart for a second, within the true spirit of Christmas mine’s a Hellyers Highway single malt whisky aged in French Oak purple wine barrels (in case you’re shopping for it’s $640 a bottle, thanks very a lot). What higher strategy to end off the 12 months than to take a look at how the principle protagonists carried out within the November collection. The matches have been coated in nice element so I don’t suggest including something additional aside from my random ideas for what they’re value and identify checking a number of gamers that deserve a point out. So in no specific order of benefit off we go.
WALES P3 L3
With a detailed loss to Fiji and massive losses to Australia and South Africa, that is in all probability a collection and a 12 months that Warren Gatland will wish to draw a line below. That being stated he does have a squad of very younger and inexperienced gamers to work with. There are the makings of an honest pack of forwards with a great entrance row and the likes of Wainwright, Reffell and Morgan within the again row giving one thing to construct on. Dropping Rees-Zammit to the NFL hasn’t helped one bit however there are some good younger backs coming via. Discovering an aesthetic 10 could also be a problem, Sam Costelow blows cold and hot and to suppose that this was as soon as a place the place Wales held all of the aces. They might effectively wrestle to win a match within the up and coming 6Ns. Taking part in England at house shall be a bonus however Italy away shall be a troublesome one.
IRELAND P4 W3 L1
Outcomes look good on paper, however in his final recreation in cost earlier than taking on his Lions duties I don’t suppose Andy Farrell shall be too completely satisfied. Overpowered by the ABs and pushed to the bounds by Argentina and Australia they appeared to get the rub of the inexperienced in a number of of those video games. The could’ve missed Furlong anchoring the pack at tighthead, however they nonetheless have some superb and aggressive forwards that know methods to play the referee and create chaos on the breakdown that’s mysteriously neglected. Additionally, they will’t be in a foul spot once they can carry on serial pest Peter O’Mahoney as a substitute. Their backs, nevertheless, solely appeared to get their act collectively in patches. Loads of intricate performs and off the ball motion that didn’t appear to go wherever and Bundee Aki, their acquire line breaker, was effectively shackled by the opposition’s defences. Farrell made a giant name in choosing Prendergast for his run on debut towards the G&G, on the again of some video games for Leinster. He appears to be in the identical mould as Sexton, not a ten that actually assaults the acquire line however provides choices inside and out of doors with a fairly good kicking and passing recreation. Simon Easterby takes over for the 6Ns and might want to give the squad a great kick up the arse. They’ll present the spine of the Lions squad, that’s for positive.
SCOTLAND P4 W3 L1
Of all the house nations, I feel that Townsend can come away with a job effectively performed👍. He had the luxurious of two straightforward video games towards Fiji and Portugal to blood some new gamers and though they misplaced to the DDFs the scoreline didn’t do them justice as they pushed them proper to the end. With Russell pulling the strings they overpowered the G&G with an incredible all spherical efficiency from the forwards and backs. They’ve a effectively balanced and aggressive pack and backs that may play each the kicking and operating recreation very successfully. Russell could generally go MIA however he was on tune on this collection delivering a masterclass towards the G&G. He’s the highest 10 enjoying in world rugby in the mean time in my view. On this exhibiting Farrell couldn’t go far flawed in choosing him, Tuipolotu and Jones because the Lions midfield. The Jocks may additionally be a great wager within the 6Ns however France shall be a tricky nut to crack in Paris.
ENGLAND P4 W1 L3
That document speaks for itself. The three losses had been all comparatively shut and given a good wind the SDs could have snuck by in two of them however that might have been a little bit of an injustice. In all three they begin out positively, attacking with ball in hand with nice passing between forwards and backs that led to them scoring glorious workforce tries. Nevertheless, as quickly as any strain was utilized they went again into their shell and resorted to a kick chase recreation that the opposition quickly sussed out. The sport towards the G&G simply highlighted for me how poor they had been. The G&G performed a quick recreation with go ahead and glorious backline play which, aside from the primary 20 minutes, the SDs couldn’t match. The G&G had been the higher workforce and earned the win. Borthwick’s technique of teaching has been known as into query many occasions. His reliance on kick metres as the principle assault plan is clear, so too his reliance on information as an alternative of what’s in entrance of him. His alternative of replacements, and their timing, has been questionable as has his choice of gamers in key positions who’ve had subsequent to no recreation time. The defence that appeared to go so effectively in NZ below Felix Jones has just about fallen aside below the brand new coach who was plucked from the underside half of the French professional Div 2 (who simply occurs to be a great mate of Borthwick’s). Nepotism appears to be the rule so far as the SD teaching workforce is anxious. Even Japan made a mockery of the defence operating in straightforward tries. The RFU, nonetheless, have to elucidate why Jones left and why we’re ready for the appointment of a head of S&C to interchange Aled Walters (who’s been picked up by Eire). What else might probably go flawed, aside from the clusterf#@ok that’s RFU headquarters? About the one mild that I can see is we’re clearing out a number of the deadwood and bringing in some youthful gamers who’ve performed so effectively within the U20s. There must be some additional pruning earlier than the 6Ns. Sadly, we’ll be combating it out with Wales and Italy for the picket spoon. Nonetheless undecided whether or not Marcus Smith is the proper alternative at 10.
AUSTRALIA P4 W2 L2
I reckon that St Joe may be moderately proud of that set of outcomes. I’d say that G&G might’ve been 3-1 to the nice as they didn’t get the rub of the inexperienced towards the Paddies. They performed good rugby towards the SDs and deserved the win and overwhelmed the Welsh. The efficiency towards the Scots, notably among the many backs, was disappointing however they turned it round towards the Irish with an incredible defensive effort. The pack are beginning to look the half. The entrance 5 are holding their very own and we now have a balanced again row with Bobby V and McReight being my Aussie gamers of the collection. Given the kind of recreation Joe needs to play, quick and aggressive, I truthfully don’t see the place Large W suits in; Frost, Williams and LSL are the best way ahead. It’s a pity we didn’t see extra of Uru however he’ll get his likelihood to shine for the Reds and press for a spot. Nonetheless a little bit of a toss as much as see who will get the 9 jersey however ATM it appears like Gordon’s within the driving seat. After an detached recreation towards the Scots, Noah received his act collectively and leads the contenders for the ten slot. Icky had an excellent collection and has the 12 jersey just about nailed down. Nevertheless, this specific jurist continues to be out on Suaalii. Not unhealthy on debut however nonetheless has a hell of so much to study. Even his effectiveness in retrieving the excessive ball from kicks offs was negated, notably towards Eire. His defence appears suspect to met, getting in excessive with little or no try wrap; that’s a card ready to occur. At occasions he appeared just a little misplaced in attacking conditions, which was highlighted on the 77 min of the Eire recreation when he threw a no look go to nobody. This exhibits a lack of expertise of what’s occurring round him. Maybe a season of Tremendous Rugby will assist, however will that be sufficient to safe a spot towards the Lions? For some it would, however not for me. The G&G jersey must be earned, not given. Aside from the hiccup within the Scots recreation, I’m proud of how the again three have gone. All in all of the G&G get a 👍from me for the tour and St Joe and his workforce get a giant👏.
SOUTH AFRICA P3 W3
Not so much you’ll be able to say towards a workforce that’s moved again to No 1 on the earth rankings. Love him or hate him Rassie is assembling a squad with depth throughout the park and is already lining up younger gamers to take over from those that are coming to the tip of their careers in time for RWC 2027. They cruised to a win towards the SDs and though just a little rusty in locations didn’t actually get out of third gear. They got a great exercise by the Scots however got here via comparatively unscathed earlier than walloping the Welsh. Kolisi leads by instance and Etzebeth is without doubt one of the high locks enjoying in the mean time. The Bomb Squad continues to be in good stead and so they can combine it up with an all courts recreation within the backs. Williams the 9 is like greased lightening and in Pollard and Libbok they’ve two 10s that provides Rassie choices relying on the opposition. Kriel and de Allende are strong as a rock in midfield and in Kolbe, Fassi and Arendse they’ve a again three with efficiency. The again ups are not any slouches both.
NEW ZEALAND P4 W3 L1
Like Eire, the outcomes look good on paper, however there’ve been rumblings each in NZ press and on these very pages via our resident referee and normal all spherical good bloke KARL aka Splinters. They’d a snug heat up win towards Japan earlier than the primary recreation towards England. A two level win might have simply been a loss had not Borthwick made a proper Horlicks of his alternative and use of replacements. Subsequent got here the Irish which was altogether higher, gaining some revenge for earlier defeats. They misplaced to the French by one level in what was, I believed, the most effective recreation of the collection after which closed out with an unconvincing win over Italy. On the again of those video games it should be fairly clear to Razor that being coach to a nationwide workforce isn’t the identical because the armchair journey he had with the Saders for a few years, and he’s getting a little bit of effectively aimed stick because of this. Following the retirement of quite a lot of gamers and actions north he wasn’t tempted to make wholesale modifications to his squad so perhaps he’s seeking to construct slowly in the direction of RWC 2027. That has, nevertheless, not stopped criticism of his conservative strategy. I don’t suppose a lot goes flawed with the ahead choice. The ABs are beginning to develop energy in depth within the entrance 5 and in Sititi they’ve an actual star within the making. Dropping Roigard to a foul damage final season didn’t assist the trigger however Cortez Ratima did OK, and TJ did sufficient earlier than lastly calling it a day. The talk over BB and DMac goes on, and the persevering with choice of Ioane at 13 raises eyebrows. I’d’ve favored to’ve seen extra of the ALB/Proctor partnership at centre however Jordie and Reiko presently maintain sway. It stays to be seen when the likes of Ruben Love will make an look within the AB jersey. Within the meantime Robertson’s name to the NZRU to overturn its coverage concerning abroad gamers appears to be getting a👎👎from the media .
Over to you guys to have your two cents’ value.
One last be aware earlier than closing down and embarking on a number of weeks of overeating, ingesting and delicate debauchery. It appears like G&G rugby has turned a nook and is heading on an upward trajectory. That is solely the beginning and Rugby Australia has quite a lot of points to deal with. Establishing improvement pathways for the subsequent technology of gamers and coaches, creating a bigger participant base via a significant and absolutely funded third tier competitors and addressing the wants of grassroots rugby that’s the bedrock of our recreation would all be on my New Yr’s want checklist. Within the phrases of my outdated mate Jean Luc Picard, Rugby Australia “ Make It So”.
Final however certainly not least, to all my fellow G&GRians, a really protected and pleasant Christmas and New Yr to you and yours till we meet once more in February when SR rivalries shall be resumed. The Rebs could have gone however their spirit stays principally in RANSW.
