The verdict from Wasps v Newcastle

By Paul Morgan, editor of Rugby World Magazine

Wasps 6 Newcastle 12

It’s not often a loosehead prop is made man of the match but in Jon Golding Newcastle have discovered a destructive prop and the main reason they beat Wasps to go sixth in the Premiership was their set piece as they pretty-much destroyed Wasps at scrum and lineout in the first half.
Things were slightly different in the second half as Wasps introduced Samoan tighthead, Sakaria Taulafo, into the fray.
Everyone at Wasps will be frustrated and angry by another defeat, but it does go to show exactly how competitive the Guinness Premiership is this season. Any side can beat any side.
When Wasps saw Leeds at home and Newcastle at home as two up and coming fixtures they would have thought eight points minimum, with a possible tilt at 10. But to only get two can only be considered a failure.
Steve Bates though, the Newcastle coach is something of a miracle worker. At the end of the season he lost Jonny Wilkinson, Jamie Noon, and then before that Toby Flood and a host of other players. But he introduced almost 20 new players to a squad. That recipe has no right to work, but it does. He drives the siege mentality into a team and has everyone working so hard for each other. The interesting thing is that they are now sixth, and must look upwards. Will it be so easy for the Falcons when they become favourites in some games. But with the number of new players he had to bring in Bates is already an early contender for coach of the season!

Other things of note:

Sakaria Taulafo: Wasps looked to have plucked another overseas diamond. Of course it is early days as Zak has only played 40 minutes of rugby, but he shored up the scrum and was a threat in the loose. Promising start – lots of hard work to be done.

Danny Cipriani: The most threatening player on the pitch and I think Lawrence Dallaglio is right – Cipriani can play international rugby at full-back. He is very, very unlikely to make it into the England squad for the Six Nations with Wilkinson settled at 10 and Armitage back for the 15 shirt, but it will be a crying shame if this lad cannot show his undeniable ability on the international stage.

James Hudson: Another player London Irish let slip through their grasp he must have a shot at the England A team this season, at least. The England management need to make more trips to watch Newcastle.

Jon Golding: Ok, he has the best prop in the world alongside him (Carl Hayman) but Golding was pushing for an England squad place in November and it is easy to see why. Another who came from National One (Championship) and a reminder to all Premiership coaches that there is gold in them there Championship hills. Look closer to home, first!

Alan Tait: All hail Newcastle’s defence coach. A mixture of the blitz and the drift snuffed out almost every one of Wasps attacks. Very impressive.

Simon Shaw: How does he do it, at 36? He had a huge influence on this game and should be the first name on the teamsheet for England in the Six Nations. Looked to have scored a pretty good try as well, despite the view of the TMO.

The breakdown: Tony Hanks was yet another coach to ‘have a go’ at the way the breakdown is refereed, following the soon to be fined (or banned) Brendan Venter on Saturday. The problem though seems to be with the laws not the referees. The tackler is the problem, as all coaches know. The IRB have a lot to answer for.

Were you at the game? Are you a fan of either club? What is the secret of Newcastle’s success?

Gloucester 13 Worcester 13 – The Verdict

By Paul Morgan, editor of Rugby World Magazine

If Gloucester use this 13-13 draw in the right way I believe it could be the turning point of their season, and take them into the top six where they belong.
I was at Kingsholm to see an awful Gloucester side lose 35-6 to Wasps in October. After that game I thought it was more likely Gloucester would get relegated that finish in the top six. But clearly Bryan Redpath is an astute coach. Without the funds offered to previous Gloucester coaches he is building a good team at Kingsholm and today proved how much effect all the hard work is having.
Ok it was a draw, 13-13, but Gloucester won a mountain of pressure and territory, Worcester only getting into their 22 once in the second half!
Gloucester still have the ability to press the self-destruct button, but I hope players like James Simpson-Daniel sign a new contact and that the owners give Redpath a long contract, because he is clearly the man for the job.
They went in 13-5 down at the break, but could easily have scored four or five tries the amount of pressure they had. But realistically this side hasn’t been used to creating chances this season, so they will need time.
I also must say a word for the magnificent Gloucester fans. Looking down at the relegation zone and losing 13-5 at half time to their nearest rivals I certainly expected a few boos at half-time. But not a bit of it. Not one boo was heard by me an the way they got behind their side in the second half, despite seeing them blow chance after chance, after chance was incredible. Redpath will know Dave Attwood grabbed the try with 10 seconds to go to earn the two points, but at least one of those points needs to be handed to the Kingsholm fans. It must be an inspirational place to play.
Other things that stood out for me:

Tim Molenaar: Proof if it was needed that there is gold in National One. Molenaar. Signed from Nottingham in the summer he is at last getting used to the pace and requirements of the Premiership. He is a straight running outside centre, who did everything his side needed to break the Worcester drift defence.

Chris Latham: I know the Aussie is on around £300,000 a year, but dig deep you money men of Worcester and try and hold on to him for at least another season. The 34-year-old was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch and his incredible tackle on Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu in the first half was incredible, and worthy of two points on its own. He will be a tough guy to replace if he is allowed to leave.

But were you at the game? Are you a fan of either side? What is your view on the clubs?

What’s hot and what’s not – in December 2009

What’s Hot and Not from December!
From Rugby World reader, Larissa Falls

Got any to add?

Hot:

England U18/U19’s… Assured victories notched by both against Australian Schools. With fierce forwards, dynamic backs, the ability to play wide and score for fun; the future’s looking bright. One to watch: George Ford.

Exeter Chiefs…Compassionate and generous in offering to pay for Coventry’s travel costs. In how many other sports would you witness a gesture of such good-will?

Talk of the Decade… A time to reminisce about rugby’s memorable moments and its heroic players. The matches that made us shout, scream, smile and cry. Those triumphant victories and gallant losses. The defining instances of the last 10 years that have captured our hearts, inspired our imaginations, and that will not leave our memories.

‘SIR’ Ian McGeechan… Does it really need an explanation!?

Chris Ashton… Top Guinness Premiership try scorer, tallying eight tries in his last five games, and has the flair and finishing ability Martin Johnson must find hard to ignore.

Attendances… British and Irish club rugby is in fine health if bottoms-on-seats counts for anything. December’s last round saw record crowds for all GP matches, with the Warriors and Scarlets also welcoming their best season attendances. Not forgetting the 76, 716 for London’s ‘Big Game 2.’

Not:

Commonwealth Games…The sport and political relationship has again reared its ugly head, with Fiji’s Sevens team unable to enter the 2010 Commonwealth Games. If only a divide could be drawn to illustrate the positive impact rugby has on the Fijian public.

Eye Gouging… Is unfortunately becoming an all too familiar scene.

June Tests… Would it be too hard to ask the northern hemisphere nations to play at least one game each in a ‘developing’ rugby nation next June; where the much needed funding would go to the home side.

Disciplinary Inconsistency…Dupuy’s six-month ban must now become the norm, not a one-off sanction. For supporters and players to have faith in the system; consistency is all we ask for.

Guinness Premiership Previews

By Rugby World reader, Kate Bamber

London Wasps vs Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle have never won in eight previous visits to Adams Park, whilst the Falcons only previous win on Wasps soil was 33-30 at Loftus Road on 11 November 2001. London Wasps have won their last four encounters in all competitions since losing 6-22 at Saracens in the Guinness Premiership on 22 November. Wasps’ only defeat in their last 18 home games was 9-15 against Leeds on 1 November. Newcastle Falcons have slipped to three successive defeats in the Guinness Premiership since their 15-11 victory at London Irish on 22 November, most notably against basement boys Leeds at home in the last round. Wasps have won their last six encounters with Newcastle in all competitions since the Falcons were victorious 37-11 at Kingston Park on 23 February 2007. With Wasps’ coming to the boil nicely I predict a home win.
My prediction: Wasps by 8.

Saracens vs Leicester Tigers
Another week, another juicy fixture for Saracens, however after last week’s away loss to London Irish, this week they have home advantage over the Tigers. Leicester have won their last three matches against Saracens but the Fez heads continue to be the pacesetters in the Guinness Premiership despite losing their unbeaten record at London Irish on Sunday. Sarries only home defeat in any competition since November 2008 came when today’s opponents Leicester visited Vicarage Road in the Premiership in April!
Leicester Tigers have won just once on the road in the Guinness Premiership this season: 15-9 at Harlequins on 12 September but have picked up at least one league point from every Premiership game since they visited Sale in November 2008.
My prediction: It’s going to be close, but Sarries to edge it by 5 points.

Northampton Saints vs London Irish
This round of the Guinness Premiership is certainly throwing up some tasty treats, and this game between second place Irish and third place Northampon is no exception. The last six encounters between the two clubs have all been won by the home team on the day, whilst London Irish’s last win at Franklin’s Gardens was 21-20 in the Guinness Premiership on 13 November 2004. Northampton Saints are the best team in the Guinness Premiership on current form, having secured 20 league points from their last six matches. The Saints have won their last eight matches in all competitions, and have suffered only one defeat at Franklin’s Gardens since March 2007. London Irish are unbeaten in their last five encounters in all competitions and handed current Guinness Premiership leaders Saracens their first defeat of the season on Sunday. The Exiles are the Premiership’s best away side and amazingly have not lost a game on “opposing” soil since their most recent visit to Northampton in April.
My prediction: Probably the first humdinger of a game for 2010. London Irish to win by 6.

Leeds Carnegie vs Bath Rugby
Bath did the Premiership double over Leeds when they last met in season 2007/08 but how fortunes have changed for the West Country boys since then. Currently languishing in a lowly 11th place, Steve Meehan’s men are slowly getting their Guinness Premiership campaign on track. Leeds Carnegie are the only team in the Guinness Premiership yet to win at home this season but they have won their last three games in all competitions and are out to record a second successive Premiership victory for the first time since November 2005. Bath Rugby’s 24-8 defeat of Gloucester on Sunday brought to an end a seven game winless run in the Guinness Premiership. Bath have not won away from home in the Premiership since a trip to Sale on 18 September.
My prediction: An early relegation dogfight with Leeds coming out on top by 3.

Gloucester Rugby vs Worcester Warriors
Worcester have won their last three clashes against Gloucester. Gloucester’s last seven matches have all been won by the home side on the day. Gloucester have won their last three encounters at Kingsholm since Cardiff Blues won there, 26-25, in the LV= Cup on 8 November. Worcester Warriors are winless in their last seven games in all competitions, whilst their most recent victory in the Guinness Premiership was 24-18 at home to Sale on 26 September. The Warriors are the only side in the Premiership yet to record an away win this season.
My prediction: A home win with Gloucester starting to pick up some form. Gloucester by 7.

Sale Sharks vs Harlequins
This game will be the third between the two sides in the last 20 days, with Sale winning both clashes in the Heineken Cup in December. Quins have won just once at Edgeley Park: 19-13 in the Guinness Premiership on 19 November 2004. Sale Sharks have slipped to back to back defeats in the Guinness Premiership, but at Edgeley Park the Sharks have won their last four matches in all competitions.
Harlequins have lost their last three games in all competitions since their 30-27 victory at Leeds in the Guinness Premiership on 4 December.
My prediction: Looking at their Heineken Cup clashes, it’s got to be Sale by 8.

So what do you think? Am I going to beat last week’s five out of six correct predictions or have I indulged in too much festive cheer?

England women v New Zealand women verdict

By Paul Morgan, editor of Rugby World Magazine

Former England legend Gill Burns (many of the the players are there now because of people like Burnsie) put it so well in her role as pitchside commentator when she said the women’s game was the better one of the England v New Zealand clashes at Twickenham today…and everyone in the 12.500 who stayed on to watch a cracking game must agree.

For the good of the women’s game England emerged victorious, which ensures that next year’s Women’s World Cup (which will be held in England) will not be the usual procession of New Zealand winning it. They clearly have a fight on their hands.

Coach Gary Street and his assistant Graham Smith pulled off a masterstroke in victory. England lost 16-3 to the same New Zealand team last Saturday and the coaches gambled on a no-holds barred contact session on Wednesday to put some devil into their team. The coaches would have their fingers crossed as the tackles when in, but despite some blood and a few scratches emerged unscathed.

And it looked like England were still in that contact session when the game started as they got out of the blocks hitting rucks and getting stuck into the tackles as if their lives depended on it. The New Zealand haka – which is very different from the men’s – has the unfortunate finish of the Kiwis marching 10 or 20 feet towards their opponents. England refused to budged and ended nose to nose with their opponents. That confrontation set the tone.

The first victory for England over New Zealand in eight years was secured by a try from Catherine Spencer and the boot of Katie McLean. That boot didn’t just kick a drop goal and conversion as McLean’s kicking game was a key reason why England won. The Black Ferns simply couldn’t match it and in worsening conditions couldn’t get close enough in the final minutes to think about closing the gap.

But the real heroes for me were props Claire Purdy and Sophie Hemming. When the going got tough, these two got going! Most coaches will say you can’t win a game without a great tighthead and Hemming fitted the bill against New Zealand. putting their side on the front foot. And coach Street has the luxury of knowing he will have props Katie Storie and Rocky Clark back for next year’s World Cup. That is going to be some selection headache!

Everyone who watches women’s rugby has known for some time what a talent Maggie Alphonsi is. But the Saracens openside really came of age in this game, fulfilling the potential she has shown, on the biggest stage. She is set to not only be one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup, but is already setting new world-class standards for women’s rugby. The breakdown has never been more important than it is today and Alphonsi is the team’s hunter, the women’s equivalent of Richie McCaw.

What difference will this make to next year’s World Cup!

England’s message next week will be this victory has achieved nothing. These women’s career will be defined by the World Cup next August. Also they know New Zealand will come back 10 points better. England’s challenge is also to be ten points better.

But crucially this win will give them belief. It is all very saying you believe you can beat a team, but England do believe it now and when their backs are against the wall in next year’s World Cup they will have this match to use as inspiration.

Off the pitch well done to Sky for televising the match. BBC never did! And well done for putting Gill Burns on the pitchside and Susie Appleby in the studio for the game. Let’s hope these two are there again for the World Cup and the commentators also have a woman, like Appleby, alongside them to give expert comment during the games.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “It’s brilliant to win here at Twickenham in front of our biggest ever crowd. Hopefully we have showed the people watching here today and watching on sky what a fantastic sport this is, and how skilful the women’s game is at this level too.
“We won this game because of our physicality, our defence was tremendous and we really believed in ourselves. Catherine Spencer today put on one of the great Twickenham performances. To come out and play as well as she did being captain and earning her 50th cap is amazing. She is a tremendous athlete and brilliant leader of this team.

“From here now the important thing is that we keep moving forward and improving. We know that winning the world cup is not a pipe dream anymore, we can do it and that is our goal for the next nine months.”

England Team

15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Claire Allan (Richmond), 12 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 11 Charlotte Barras (Saracens), 10 Katy Mclean (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 Amy Turner (Richmond), 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 
6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol). Replacements: 16 Sam Reeve (Worcester), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 19 Jane Leonard (Team Northumbria / Army), 20 Georgina Rozario (Bristol), 
21 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 22 Fiona Pocock (Richmond)

Tries: Spencer
Conversions: Mclean
Penalties: 
Drop goal: McLean
Substitutions: Richardson for Burford, Taylor for Essex (HT), Pocock for Barras (53), Crowley for Purdy (61), Leonard for Fisher (65), Reeve for Garnett (67), Rozario for Turner (74).

New Zealand Team

15 Kelly Brazier (Otago)
14 Victoria Grant (Auckland), 13 Huriana Manuel (Auckland), 12 Amiria Rule (Canterbury) VC, 11 Carla Hohepa (Otago), 10 Rebecca Mahony (Wellington), 9 Emma Jensen (Auckland), 1 Ruth McKay (Manawatu), 2 Fiao’o Faamausili (Auckland), 3 Stephanie TeOhaere-Fox (Canterbury), 4 Vita Robinson (Auckland), 5 Victoria Heighway (C) (Auckland), 6 Casey Robertson (Canterbury), 7 Justine Lavea (Auckland), 8 Linda Itunu (Auckland). Replacements: 16 Claire Rowat (Wellington), 17 Kimberly Smith (Canterbury), 18 Beth Mallard (Otago),
19 Olivia Coady (Canterbury), 20 Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury), 21 Renee Wickcliffe (Auckland), 22 Anika Tiplady (Canterbury)

Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties:
Drop Goal: Mahoney

New Zealand Women v England A

By Paul Morgan, editor of Rugby World

A tough night at the office for England’s A team as they were smashed 48-3 by New Zealand at Esher. We should temper the result by saying that New Zealand brought 26 players on their tour to England, so this was a pretty good team and far, far better than a New Zealand A team would have been.

Having said that the Black Ferns blew England away with a power display in the forwards that set the platform for the backs to do the damage. Very impressive stuff. It was the breakdown where New Zealand dominated the most, but it did show England the powerful, aggressive game they will have to play if they are going to lift the World Cup next autumn.

For many of these women it was their first encounter with the Black Ferns, and they now know the real standards of world rugby as opposed to their club teams or the Six Nations. It’s up to them if they have the dedication, passion and commitment to raise their game enough to trouble the Black Ferns the next time they meet them.

It will be a tall order, but this is the sort of game in which England coach Gary Street will find out most about his players. Who is prepared to go away, work harder than ever to get as good as a Black Fern? Or who will become downhearted by such a defeat?

They now know it is not enough to arrive at the breakdown without a plan. The Black Ferns arrive at the breakdown, powerfully, aggressively and with purpose.

England also lost the collisions, and were unable to stop New Zealand’s power runners, so the scoreboard was only going to go one way.

England’s first team meet New Zealand at Twickenham (free entry from 4.15pm) this Saturday and that’s when we’ll see exactly the gap between the teams. New Zealand won the first Test 16-3 last Saturday and I would expect the Black Ferns to be 10 points at Twickenham, so the challenge for Catherine Spencer’s England side is can they raise their game considerably?

The stand out performers for England A against New Zealand were

Sonia Green – The skipper was the main reason New Zealand stayed below 50 points. She filled the job description to perfection – great with ball in hand, good runner and she rucks with the sort of enthusiasm and passion that could teach every rugby player a lesson.

La Toya Mason – The scrum-half turned in a world-class kicking game and her distribution was spot on, even though she was under severe pressure for the whole game.

Laura Keates – A Rugby World hotshot two years ago, Keates is a world-class performer and will be an England regular sooner, rather than later. Great technique and a tough nut!

But what do you think? Where you at Esher for last Saturday’s Test match or the England A game? How do you think it will go at Twickenham on Saturday?

New Zealand 48 (Carla Hohepa 2, Kendra Cocksedge, Beth Mallard, Huriana Manuel, Anika Tiplady, Kelly Brazier tries; Tiplady pen, 5 con) England A 3 (La Toya Mason pen).

England v Australia – Verdict

By Paul Morgan, Editor of Rugby World Magazine

Forget the 19-9 scoreline this was a much, much bigger victory for Australia than it suggests, but with the heart ripped out of the England squad by injuries (just five left from the side that started the last Six Nations game against Scotland!) nothing else was ever going to happen. England are 7th in the world for a reason (8th now) so when you take that many quality players out of the 7th best team they are going to lose to Australia.

Australia basically butchered four try-scoring opportunities and I’m sorry to say England failed to create a genuine try-scoring chance themselves in the whole of the second half. As Rocky Elsom admitted after the game Australia were never stretched or put under pressure at Twickenham.

The reality though is that the cupboard is bare. 

Of the new faces I thought David Wilson was one of the few who showed that he could have an international future. It’s such a shame he got injured, but I can see exactly why the England management think so much of him. He scrummaged well, was hard-working around the field, although he does need to get his hands on the ball more.

Typically Jonny Wilkinson was England’s stand out performer and got England ahead, a lead they kept until the second half. He also tackled himself to a standstill. Remarkable performance from a bloke who was dropped for Danny Cipriani in the 2008 Six Nations.

But putting those injuries aside as none of them are going to be fit for next Saturday Martin Johnson needs to give youth its head, so he can at least learn something about players. If they pick the same team and lose again they’ll learn nothing.

Courtney Lawes must start against Argentina.

James Haskell must start against Argentina

Ben Foden must start against Argentina, with Ugo Monye moved back to wing.

Dylan Hartley must start against Argentina

All those players will give the squad a lift and will feed off the impressive players like Wilkinson, Moody and Monye, who portray the spirit that England need.

If England play like they did against Australia they will lose to Argentina, so they need to be sure about where they are going. If they go into their shells next week and opt for safety first they will lose.

On the plus side against Australia today:

Jonny Wilkinson: Simply the best and has no equal in the world game, even behind a pack that got him such slow ball

Lewis Moody: The turnover king against Australia, he is back to his best and aren’t England lucky to have him.

But what do you think? Who would you have in the team to play Argentina?