Rugby Union - Six Nations & Erc

Another legend of a great Wales era passing away .

RIP

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68170605

 

Hard on the heels of the loss of JPR awful.news again with rhe loss of another colossus of the game the quicksilver in mind and body Barry John. Another of the absolute masters of their sport and that golden Welsh era who delighted supporters wherever they went. So sad.

About the rugby. Accuracy and more accuracy. Intensity and more intensity. It's these two things that make the likes of the ABs and Boks what they are. Ireland are assuming that mantle no matter the idiocy displayed by Willemse.

Italy had they shown more accuracy would have won. The commentary from Drugolio was so one sided and appalling. However Garbusi P needs to really sharpen his place kicking if he wants to be accepted as a top class flyhalf. Quesada was and might take him to task for the identical kick offs that handed England a free advantage every time.

Borthwick's team were laboured but a few of the newcomers like Freeman did breathe some life into another stale performance.

I'm sure Gatland had the hairdryer at full volume at halftime that sparked a revival. I'm still very wary of Costello at flyhalf. And again intensity. You cannot wander into a Test match and expect to succeed. You have to be at it from rhe first second.

In rhe ERC the Netherlands at home lost 18-20 to Spain. A very impressive result and indication of their progress.

All the more impressive since none of their T14 and ProD2 players played. Nor the likes of Stan van den Hoven who after five years in the NZ NPC has joined new MLR franchise the Miami Sharks. If the Netherlands want to make it to USA 27 then these players must realise their national duty.

Players like Samuel Ezeala of Spain who has excelled on the T14. I hope he's not waiting upon a possible French call.up.

Meanwhile MLR also has another new franchise. The Carolina Anthrm funded by MLR and WR to provide additional players for the pool given that the US are hosting the RWC in 2027.

The Atlanta franchise had moved to LA while NY Ironeorkers had ceased to exist while in another blow to Canafian rugby the Toronto Arrows have taken a years sabbatical from the competition.

A Monterrey based franchise the New Lions is expected to join in 2025 as the Mexican Union looks to develop the sport in that country.

 

Belgium.ranked 16 places below Portugal upset Os Lobos in Brussells. Belgium's u20s have shown great improvement but nonetheless Portugal under an interim coach took them too casually.

Germany performed very creditable in a loss to Georgia in Dessau. Georgia were under strength and their new head coach is Richard Cockerill. He should improve their scrum no end.

Poland in Gydnia also did well in holding Ronania to a narrow loss. The opening weekend saw the narrowest winning margins of Amy round of the ERC. No bonus points were awarded.

Average attendance was 4,500 which is not too shabby. One thing these teams must do us get a proper stadium if required even if it's only 10000 capacity. ERC needs to look more professional in that regard Next week Portugal are for instance playing on their training field at Jamor. Ridiculous You cannot grow spectator numbers that way.

Also Diego Escobar the Chilean hooker has deservedly handed a contract with Racing 92 in the Top 14 Great news for Chilean Rugby and it's strongholds in Santiago and Vina del Mar. I think one or two others of that team should be able to get contracts in France too.

France will have 2 Tests v the Pumas and one versus Los Teris. Scotland will play a Test against Chile this summer which is what we need more of.

Fiji amd Japan will be joining the RC in 2026. Again good news for improving both NTs further.

 

Sounds like there was a VAR like extended wait at the end of the Scotland game .

 

Italy ate definitely on the up despite the scoreline. Ireland despite events at the WC are the equal of SA and NZ. Far more determination and better defence. And the u20s were very unlucky to lise to Ireland by a point with wing Scalabrin very impressive.

Scotland were robbed by the decision. No application of common sense and bound by protocol as Jiffy said. It's obvious the ball rolled back was grounded by a Scottish arm.

The kick tennis rulw where all.players ate left onside by the receiving kicker and hence unwilling to run back into a mass of defenders is being scrapped in Super Rugby. And no doubt will be adopted by WR.

Wales extremely unfortunate with a very youthful side to lose to another staid England. Borthwick will never be the calibre of c9ach that Gatland is. My MOTM was Reffel. Winett has immense promise but a little slight for a modern full back.

Georgia overcame the Netherlands in Tblisi 33-18. Another creditable effort from.the Oranje despite missing several picks from their French based players. Cocjerill did pick sone of their young T14 stars.

Romania look better despite a still.lengthy injury list. Belgium though were in it until the end. The former Lobos assistant coach David Gérard is also coaching the Romanian Wolves which is a good idea. A couple of key players that missed yhe WC are back and unlike the previous coach Gérard is happy to call on French based players. Spatula in the back row and young Iancu at lock were impressive.

Portugal dismissed Poland with ease and Spain were relatively comfortable at a very well attended match in Madrid against the Black Eagles of Germany.

Unsurprisingly WR have allowed Scotland to host the World u20 Trophy so they don't gave to qualify despite their poor performance in last years event in Kenya. It remains an eight team tournament again another poor move fron WR which means several teams u20's muss out on a chance of high level tournament experience.

 

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Italy have called up Louis Lynagh son of the Wallabies legend Michael. His mother is Italian.and he could have played foe Australua or indeed England. I think.he was an u20 for the Red Rose.

Spain are looking at getting Segonds and Rey both of whom have one Spanish patent. Both have been doing very well in the T14.

 

Australian rugby in crisis again. Melbourne Rebels is being wound up. What happens to their spot in Super Rugby ?

The ARU should have stuck to it's core franchises. Over extending when not ready was a mistake that has happened to other unions.

The Rebels did do a lot of work in schools meaning Victoria in recent years has produced more players than ever before for the Wallabies.

A salutary warning for unions like Wales and England about poor leadership and planning from those at the top.

 

So the Rugby Europe semifinals were decided.

The top 4 sides will fight it out in Paris. Georgia will play Romania and there will be an all Ibetian clash.

Belgium.just missed out by one F A point thanks to rhe late try conceded against Ronania. But both they and the Netherlands have ex cellent u20 programmes.

The Ronania Portugal mat h ended 20-49 to rhe Wolves against a Romanian team at their strongest for two years in terms of players in the squad. Adrian Mitu the 20 year old lock and son of former Oaks scrumhalf Petre was very impressive. He's an espour at Bayonne. His father sadly is suffering from MND.

Romania were sloppy, defence fra turned at times but the teams were separated by just a point until the last 15 minutes.

The Wolves if Portugal were superb ball in hand. Young Hugo Camacho a scrum.half based in France looks more than a handy replacement for Samuel Marques while Lucas Martins younger brother of Nicolas is yet another electric trick winger.

Both stars of the RWC side Marta and Storti were not released by their French clubs.

The Martins try is superb.​

Georgia were comfortable against Spain who have brought in Gonzalo Bontempo at flyhalf a former Argentina u20 at flyhalf. Richard Coxkerill gas already brought in a heavier pack for the Lelos. The line out still needs work. He will also take over the coaching of Black Lion. He also has brought in McPhilips as the backs coach (he was rhe Bristol attack coach). Shawn Sowerby who coached Biarritz is ghe new forwards coach. An excellent team.rhat should push Georgia further.

Belgium saw off Poland relatively easily too. Rugby in Poland is growing in popularity and it's well run, has a TV presence and decent sponsorship but they have a while to go before they catch up with the other sides in the ERC. Indeed Russia would have been in the ERC instead if them.

The Netherlands waltzed past Germany 39-13 again highlighting how their development programme is going from strength to strength despite several players based in France being unavailable. I am sure they will qualify for YSA 27.

One great bit of news is that Georgia and Portugal u18s will play in the u18 6N tournament in April. A small step but one that will hopefully lead to their inclusion in the full u20 6N.

 

Super League rugby started again in Souyh America. As usual 2 franchises from Argentina and one each from Chile Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and the Raptors from.the USA.

The opening round saw a surprise home defeat for two times champions Penarol against the Brazilian Cobras who are based in Sao Paulo.

Brazilian rugby is a bit behind Uruguay and Chile but the potential.is enormous. On this showing it looks like they have upped their gane although both Penarol and Selknam have lost players to MLR in the US and several have earned contracts in Europe notably Diego Escobar at Racing 92.

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Germany's leading points scorer flyhalf Raynor Parkinson has retired. He was part I'd the Black Eagles squad that were one game away from qualifying for the 2019 WC. That was before the billionaire backer behind German rugby pulled out after an argument with the German union on how to develop the sport. Idiot union ? No surprises there.. Many players walked away , several clubs disappeared and it's been a dark period for German rugby.

Signs are they are on the way back. Germany baxk in the 1930s were on a oar with France and Italy.

U fortunately young Anton Segner who was playing for the Tasman Makos in NZs NPC was very impressive and is now a starter for Auckland Blues. It's unlikely he'll ever represent Germany. Which is also a reminder Super Rugby us about to start shortly along with MLR in the US.

Forgot to add look out for Taniela Rakuro of the Drua. Highly reminiscent of the legend that was Rupeni Caucau. I hope Fiji xap him soon just in case NZ get any ideas.

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u20 6N saw England beat Scotland, Ireland trounced Wales and Italy beat France. Which just highlights the idiocy of those who would wish for Italy ro be removed from.rhe 6N when it actually requires expansion.

In no other European sport is it such a closed shop. Even the u18 addition of Portugal and Georgia was on an invitational basis.

Super Rugby commenced with a surprise defeat for the reigning champions the Crusaders at rhe Chiefs. Melbourne Rebels somehow hanging on as an entity were thumped by the Brumbies.

In the Super League if the Americas the Glendale Raptors time may well soon be up. Another heavy defeat against the Argentine franchise the Pamoas 54-17. It us a young side but I can see WR pull their funding either into the Colombian Cafeteros to enter SLAR, fund more HP for Uruguay and Chile or move the funding into the MLR Carolina Anthem which also contains young American and American qualified players. More so as the new CEO of US Rugby is closely aligned to MLR.

 

Italy miss a chance to win in France with a last minute penalty that hit the post !

 

Excellent win for England .

Dramatic.

Fantastic from Italy .3

 

Another Welsh stalwart retiring from International rugby .

George North .

Generally been an excellent player for Wales.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68552219

 

Wales with the wooden spoon .

Ireland uncomfortable at times but win.

 

Very good game though.

Topsy turvy