Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals

Junior World Cup will be a final between England and France. England have sacked the u18 coaches which is surprising considering how many youngsters they have brought into the first team. A lot of dissatisfaction from many players and coaches with this decision. However the two coaches should have no issue finding employment elsewhere.

The u20 tournament has highlighted the improvement in Italy and most especially Georgia who beat Ireland and ran South Africa very close. Argentina were impressive if inconsistent while Scotland, Ireland and Wales looked rather weak.

Ireland make a raft of changes for their second Test against the Wallabies. And it should see a much improved performance. France badly done by a referee last week after holding NZ for much of the game until their yellow card will look to bounce back and are on the up under Brunel while conversely Eddie Jones is under a lot of scrutiny.

Scotland will not have learnt much from their match against Canada who continue to struggle in the professional era. Scotland now play an improving US team this Saturday. Wales B beat Argentina B also known as the Jaguares last week and have unearthed a couple of very decent prospects for their back row like Ellis Jenkins. The dismal performance of the Pumas shows the importance of a coach. Under Mario Ledesma the Jaguares have been playing scintillating rugby winning in NZ and Australia in Super Rugby but under Hourcade the same players looked awful. Poor discipline, poor defence, competition at the breakdown, kicking, in general they were dismal. Unless they get rid of Hourcade who has no real experience of top flight rugby they will also struggle in Japan at the WC. Which makes the pool of England, France, Argentina, Tonga & the USA a bunfight on current form.

Japan themselves earned a 34-17 win over Italy. Jamie Josephs the former AB is an excellent coach and a well oiled Japan performed and executed his gameplan to perfection getting the ball quickly from rucks and utilizing their mobile backs. A possible successor to Jones ? Elsewhere in the Pacific Nations Cup Fiji edged out Samoa and Georgia continue to underline their credentials as the best up and coming team by winning in Tonga. Not an easy thing to do.

 

I cannot agree with Gloucester's view on this with him being their player. A rule has to be set on acceptable behaviour and his overstepped the mark as with a few union professionals in recent months. Saying his behaviour is acceptable sets a poor example for younger professionals. Cipriani has never fulfilled his potential and his lapses like this have cost him dear.

 

NZ after a very poor first half cruised to a simple win over Australia in the opening game of the Rugby Championship. The offloading, spatial awareness and skill level is simply on another level and if they do not win the RWC in 2019 I will be very surprised. South Africa trailed Argentina at half time but went on to win 34-21. Encouraging signs nonetheless for the Pumas after the disastrous spell under former coach Daniel Hourcade who is now replaced by former national team hooker Mario Ledesma. Also boosted by the decision of the UAR to allow European based players to play once more for the Pumas with Juan Figallo of Saracens being one of the first call ups.

 

ABs took the Rugby Championship. What a surprise. Although the Boks beat them for once and ran them very close in the return it was more of a case of a casual AB side than anything done differently by the Boks. That casual attitude was not in evidence in the Bledisloe Cup where they easily swept aside the Wallabies. Still WC favourites.

Of the four Championship teams Australia are the weakest despite coming back from a 31-5 deficit in Argentina at half time to win (once again down to the Pumas relaxing far too early). The group of death will clearly be between England, Argentina and France with each side capable beating the others and Tonga ready to ruffle a few feathers as well with several players in the Mitre Cup in NZ and Super Rugby ready to play for them.

Rugby England are also keen to limit the playing season in terms of games for players. A sensible decision given the ferocity of the modern game. More players continue to retire prematurely usually with neck injuries and multiple concussions with Wolrd Rugby clamping down hard on any challenges to the head and neck area with red cards.

Namibia unsurprisingly qualified as Africa 1 for the World Cup. Kenya were runners up in the Gold Cup a six team tournament with Morocco due to be relegated to the Silver Cup. Kenya therefore advance to the repechage to take on Canada, Germany and Hong Kong in Marseille this November for the very last spot for Japan 2019. Morocco were amazingly reprieved from relegation as the African Rugby President decided to alter the Gold Cup format. Morocco will now stay in a new eight team tournament with Algeria (Silver Cup winners) and Senegal added. No nepotism of course. Morocco and Tunisia despite many French born players are struggling while Algeria is on the up rugby wise.

Zimbabwe continue to be hampered by players (playing abroad) refusing selection like Eli Snyman of the Blue Bulls although the former quotas seem to have been abolished. The side in recent times could have field Brian Mujati, Tendai Mtawira, David Denton, David Pocock, Dave Ewers, Don Armand and Ngenwya to name just seven and more than capable of being the second team in Africa behind the Boks.

 

Scotland with a comfortable win over Fiji. Played at a high tempo and their back line is fiercesome. Fiji were hampered as usual by a poor scrum, absent players and poor discipline which always seems to hamper them. Not too much to learn about this. Italy overcame Georgia 28-17.

Once again depth was crucial on the bench and also discipline. Georgia suffered a yellow card to Tsutskiridze which cost them a whole slew of points while Italy's better defensive patterns ensured their yellow card was not as costly. Georgia still have a very good case for admittance into the 6N as their u20's are on par with those in the 6N and are being filtered into the senior side.

Decision making was poor from England at times. The conditions did not help looking at the highlights and that goes for both teams. One has to bear in mind they are coming off the end of a long season and still remain favourites for the World Cup. That young England back row could be spectacular though. Underhill, Sam Lewis and the Curry twins are outstanding prospects.

Argentina will be pleased with a 28-17 loss given that their former strength the scrum has declined over recent seasons. Great defence, some surging breaks and solid lineouts and game management against the worlds number two team. Ireland did oiwer on in the end which once again highlights the importance of the bench in such a physical match. Ireland will be there or thereabouts next year in Japan as I can't see Australia being much of a challenge. Argentina as I said will be pleased given that theu could field eight first choices who were absent being contracted to European clubs but will be available in Japan. Someone like Facundo Isa. Sean O'Briens unfortunate injury curse also continues. Possible fractured wrist.

Samoa also lost to the USA. A result which might be a surprise but Samoa were fielding the equivalent of a B team. It is still disappointing that European clubs manage to get Pacific Island players not to play during IRB sanctioned international breaks many years after the issues was raised only for the same players to turn out with no issues for their club (usually in the Top 14) as soon as club fixtures resume. Fiji today were without Nadolo and the giant Tuisova for instance who play for Montpellier and struggling Toulon.

 

All the results yesterday mean little in relation to the World Cup next year. There will be injuries and teams certainly those that are not Tier One will have decent preparation and maybe even get the chance to hire a top class coach for the tournament not to mention have all their best players available.

Wales may have thrashed Tonga but it is worth remembering Tonga were missing a dozen players like Veainu and Kalamafoni. And usually several players born in NZ of island heritage declare for their parents nation knowing they won't be picked by the All Blacks. Perhaps someone like Edwin Maka at Racing.

Japan are improving all the time and scored some wonderful tries against NZ a couple of weeks ago and have an excellent coach in Jamie Joseph. However their domestic structure and schools rugby is still not at the level required. Leitch deserved a MOTM of the award and Kazuki Himeno was excellent too.

It will be very close among the top ten ranked teams next year. Ireland will be there and thereabouts as will Scotland, Argentina and Wales. Eddie Jones will have a lot of work to do to get England out of the group but then again it was more of a concern that the depth on the bench which is critical in Test rugby looks thin.

Canada are in prime position to be the final team to reach the World Cup after thumping Kenya last week while Germany beat HK . The Canucks then beat the Germans 29-10 and only need one more point against Hong Kong to make it. However aside from van der Merwe, Ardron and Olmstead they are miles from the team they used to be in the late eighties and early nineties.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2018...tay-on-course-for-world-cup-with-germany-win/

 

IRB rankings before the Six Nations.

# Team Points
1 New Zealand 92.54
2 Ireland 91.17
3 Wales 87.24 (+0.54)
4 England 86.22 (+0.68)
5 South Africa 84.58 (-0.54)
6 Australia 82.40 (-0.68)
7 Scotland 81.84 (+0.28)
8 (?10) Fiji 77.95 (+1.55)
9 (?8) France 77.33 (-1.55)
10 (?9) Argentina 77.05 (-0.28)
11 Japan 75.24
12 (?13) USA 73.66
13 (?15) Georgia 73.42 (+0.82)
14 (?12) Tonga 73.02 (-0.82)
15 (?14) Italy 72.75
16 Samoa 68.78 (+1.38)
17 (?18) Uruguay 66.82 (+1.45)
18 (?17) Romania 65.45 (-1.45)
19 Russia 65.20
20 (?21) Canada 62.95 (+1.11)

21 (?20) Spain 62.24 (-1.38)
22 (?23) Namibia 60.34 (+1.22)
23 (?26) Netherlands 58.45 (+0.38)
24 (?22) Hong Kong 58.11 (-1.11)
25 Belgium 58.09
26 (?28) Germany 57.83 (+1.06)
27 (?24) Portugal 57.08 (-1.22)
28 (?27) Brazil 56.81
29 Chile 54.36
30 (?32) Korea 53.59
31 Switzerland 53.24 (-0.38)
32 (?30) Kenya 52.79 (-1.06)
33 Poland 52.29
34 Lithuania 51.53
35 Ukraine 50.25
36 Colombia 49.84
37 Czechia 49.60
38 Paraguay 49.59
39 Malta 49.48
40 Zimbabwe 49.28

Canada made it to the World Cup winning their repechage group against Germany, Hong Kong and Kenya. Refereeing in football is often criticized but in the past certainly at World Cups Tier One teams have often had the favour of officials. This game back in 1999 was one of the worst examples of a team being robbed by the official. Who was then promoted to a senior role in charge of referees in the IRB.

​