RWC 2011 - a week in quotes

Six Nations 2011 review

And the moral of the story is, don't count your chickens, as this Nike Grand Slam England 2011 video would testify....



Grand slammers: no-one.
Winners of the Six Nations: England.
Most emotional moment: Italy beating France and Nick Mallet's tears of joy.
Best try: Imanol Hardinordoquy for France against Scotland.
Peter de Villiers award for craziest coaching speech: France's Lievremont announcing that his team has 'betrayed' him after they fall to Italy by one point and branding them as cowards, followed closely by the dour Warren Gatland moaning about Ireland's penalty count when in fact the Welsh had the highest penalty count of the lot.
Best individual performance by a back: Chris Ashton's four try swallow diving extravanganza against Italy.
Most scandalous moment: the illegal throw in by Wales to clinch a try after the ball boy and touch judge got rule 19.2 in the rugby book wrong.
Most huffiest commentator: Brian Moore for the beeb although kudos to him for being possibly the first man in the history of the sport to use the word 'hitherto' while commentating on a game of rugger.
Best match: A dead heat - Ireland V England and Italy V France.
Worst match: Scotland V Wales (I did the unthinkable and fell asleep during an international test match).
Most overrated first five eighth: Toby Flood.
Funniest quote: Keith Wood - 'Ronan O'Gara makes kicking look sexy'.
What referrees really should say: 'Crouch, touch, put the kettle on for a cup of tea, engage.'
Team that consistently has the most internal dramas: Wales, always Wales.
Fading star: Chabal.
Skill quality of the rugby played: 7/10.
Entertainment quality of the rugby played (bar Scotland V Wales): 9/10.
Best performance of the tournament: Ireland in 'that' test.
Teams on this showing that would deserve to make it to a RWC semi or final: possibly Ireland.
Teams that probably will make it to a semi/final even though at this moment in time I don't think they have a hope in hell, but stranger things happen during a knock-out comp: France or England.

IRB rankings after the 2011 Six Nations: 1. NZ, 2. Australia, 3. South Africa, 4. Ireland (up 2 places), 5. England (down 1 place), 6. France (down 1 place), 7. Wales, 8. Argentina, 9. Scotland, 10. Fiji, 11. Samoa, 12. Italy

Six Nations XV:
15. Adrea Masi (Italy)/Chris Patterson (Scotland), 14. Chris Ashton (England), 13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), 12. Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland), 11. Tommy Bowe (Ireland), 10 Jonny Wilkinson (England), 9. Mortan Parra (France), 8. Sergio Parisse (Italy), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 6. Sean O'Brien (Ireland), 5, Paul O'Connell (Ireland), 4. Richie Gray (Scotland), 3. Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 2. Dylan Hartley (England), 1. Thomas Domingo (France).

The Six Nations decider 2011 - England verse Ireland

Mark Cueto is a rare breed -  a winger that doesn't score tries.

Well, it's been great to be back in the Northern Hemisphere, to soak up the wonderful atmosphere that is the Six Nations. 

As an All Black fan trying to gauge what this will all mean for the World Cup, a few interesting things.  England's resurgence after years of dross is exciting for the game. As much as it pains me, I think England, whether they win the Slam and the Six Nations or not this year, have to now be considered as genuine Rugby World Cup 2011 contenders.

The main reasons: they've always had good forwards, but now that they've finally found some men out wide that can chance their arm means a whole new dimension has finally been added to their play (it's only taken about a decade to catch-up).   Chris Ashton brings a frisson when he gets his hands on the ball. And I love their halfback - Youngs. He's dynamic and has a great pass.  At such a young age, he has the world in front of him.

In the forwards, well England have always boasted a strong front row and their locks don't look too shabby either. I think the key areas where they will probably be found a little bit wanting are still in the loose forwards. Scotland had it over them in this department of the game last week, and I don't know whether Martin Johnson's loosies will ever pose a serious threat to the Southern Hemisphere flankers.

England's main weapon however, remains the same as it was in 2003 and 2007. Jonny Wilkinson. He knows how to play tournament rugby, and we all know that he is the best in the world to push a drop goal over when the pressure is piling up. He also is the calm in the storm, he can make decisions under pressure and his team will trust him if the chips are down to know what to do.

For me, the jury is still out on Toby Flood. Sure, he looked good against Italy and found a few gaps. But to be realistic, Italy were shocking the day England played them and I don't think that was down to England's brilliance. Still, with Wilkinson on the bench, maybe Johnson can afford to have Flood out on the field - for although he is not that great, he isn't dreadful either.

Other weak links for England? Definitely Mike Tindall and Shontanye Hape - they lack penetration and just seem a wee bit ploddy out there. It will be interesting to see what Matt Banahan does against the Irish tomorrow. He seems to inject real impact when he is on the field. If I was Johnson, I would have been starting him for every test.

My personal favourite in the England team is Steve Thompson.  When the All Blacks play England, I always hope Steve Thompson isn't on the field.  I think that might be the ultimate compliment for him.

So, England tomorrow against Ireland. I personally of course want Ireland to beat them.  Why? Because I'm a terrible, fickle person, and also because the English media is unbearable about their rugby team when they're winning.

I think the game could be very close. It is being played on Irish soil, and England haven't had to travel to hostile territory in this tournament much (excepting the Welsh game). In fact, is it just me, or does England in general try not to tour very much (it was a few years ago they played the All Blacks in NZ). 

Ireland have a chance. They have Brian O'Driscoll, they have Paul O'Connell. They have a strong back row and backs that can run and break the line.  Where Ireland will struggle is in the scrum.  But if they can get parity there, and if they can maintain their puff through to the 80 minute mark, then this will be a very close game indeed. But too close to call I think. Come on Ireland!

Additional notes:

1. Is it just me or is the England captaincy becoming a bit of a poisened chalice? First for Moody and then Tindall? Will they get their places back in the team let alone the captaincy when world cup time rolls around?
2. I think England will have a good chance of reaching a world cup final, as long as they don't meet New Zealand beforehand. If they do, it will be curtains for them. Let's not forget, for all that English rugby supporters drone on and on about the All Blacks 'choking' at world cups, the English rugby team has never beaten the All Blacks during a World Cup tournament.

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2011 Six Nations - England V France

MJ - happier than usual

So, England have sent out a warning to the rest of the world. Just in time for a world cup tournament too. Bugger.

I was a busy woman this weekend so I had to prioritise what rugby I was going to watch. The first cull was the Scotland V Ireland test (Scotland were so abysmal when they played Wales two weeks ago I just could stomach wasting another 80 minutes of my life watching them). Ditto Italy V Wales. This just left the ‘mouth watering’ test of France and England to behold (if I had a grain of sand for every time a commentator/journalist/blogger said the words ‘mouth watering’ regarding this match, I’d have my own private beach by now).

As much as I hate to say it, England has become a shining light in this six nations. In a game ridden with handling errors on Saturday, they deserved to be the victors against an unimaginative France. Le Roast beefs were beefy. Their forwards were committed and the English backs looked more dynamic than les Bleus (although excuse me for a minute as I fall off my chair. I can’t quite believe I have typed ‘england backs’ and ‘dynamic’ in the same sentence). Also, big kudos to the English defence as the French just didn’t look at all close to scoring a try. (Based on this French team's performance, I don’t think the All Blacks have much to worry about concerning their Achilles heel team of world cup tournaments past).

This was a different test match for England after the glories of Italy meaning they had to win ugly. Toby Flood did not have the chance to shine as brightly as he had done against some school boy Italian defence. And as predicted, Chris Ashton’s swan diving came back to bite him on the bum. I did have a schadenfraude like chuckle when his try was disallowed after Flood’s forward pass. But I hope the new star doesn’t stop the showboating. It gives the rest of us something to moan about with this English team and for all the arrogance, I think he injects a bit of personality in rugby’s often muted emotional environment. A note on France. Thierry Dusautoir was awesome. Chabal not so much - his rugby skills no longer appear to match his looks and legend.

A slight warning sign for both teams. If their passes can’t stick on a drizzly London afternoon, how are they going to cope with the creeping dew nine o’clock at night during the New Zealand spring?

Favourite quote of the game was when Andrew Sheridan came off: ‘His legs just can’t support his upper body’ muttered one commentator. Oh dear. Poor Andrew, what an unfortunate predicament.

Christchurch
The minute silence at Twickenham on Saturday was a very beautiful and respectful moment paid from the rugby supporters in England to the people of Christchurch. As New Zealand continues to come to terms with a rising death toll and the fact that our safe and idyllic country has been shattered, these marks of respect and support from people across the world are a small consolation.

And thank god for Martin Snedden shutting up some rather insensitive people who started rumours online that the RWC should/would be moved to Australia. Christchurch hadn’t stopped shaking and rumours were swirling that it was the end of the Rugby World Cup 2011 for NZ. As Snedds said  – it is a time to mourn our people. Rugby takes a back seat as we get on with rebuilding.

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Six nations round up - week 2 - 2011

If you want a write up from a kiwi point of view about England V France for the Six Nations 2011 - you absolutely must click here

For England's glory moment against Italy...keep reading.

Six things we've learnt after another great weekend of Six Nations rugby.

1. England are looking good. In fact, yesterday they played some of the best rugby I've ever seen an England team play.  Admittedly, it was against a quite abysmal Italian side.  But - was this because England made them look abject?  It's a bit of a chicken and egg conundrum. Only time will tell.

2. France struggle to another win. I didn't see this game but it sounded like the Irish gave the French a good run for their money. I expected this after watching the Irish play the All Blacks in November, who gave the NZers the hardest game of the series.  I was surprised Ireland nearly lost to Italy last weekend. No more so after seeing the way Italy played against England yesterday.

3. Scotland is a confusing team. One minute they are beating the Springboks who in turn, crushed England at Twickenham. The next thing, they're struggling to get over the gain line against Wales.  Strange and disappointing. I was hoping for a Scottish resurgence.

4. Chris Ashton is not a half bad winger. Four tries in one game is rather good. He has the Hosea Gear-esque quality of finding himself at the right place at the right time.  Rugby speak of course is that he runs some good lines.  But his showboating, swan diving malarkey may set him up for trouble one of these days soon. Hopefully this won't happen to him...



5. Mark Cueto is not a good winger. 1 try in 19 games?  Seriously? 

6. There are two teams in the race.  England and France but I still think Ireland could potentially upset the apple cart too.  My money though has to be on England.

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Nick Evans and Engerland

I'm not sure whether it went quietly under the radar or not in NZ.  Nick Evans has signed up with the bloodgate Harlequins for the next few years.  Which means he won't be coming home to have another crack at the holy grail. Which is a great shame.

 I always felt that Evans had the same qualities as Dan Carter. Quick on his feet and the magical ability to slice through a gap (something that Cruden promisingly does have). I'm not sure what the three wise men said to him before he left these shores, but I can't understand why they didn't fight to keep him, or fought to get him back.  He is a class player and I for one am disappointed. Unlike Carl Hayman who was courted heavily by the NZRU but still chose money over the jersey, Evans was always the undrstudy and treated like one. I understand why he's decided to do what he's done. This is our loss.

In England the newspapers (the Times mainly) are starting to hype up that great last bastion of free flowing rugby - the English.  One win against Australia this year  and Laurence Dallaglio and the like are full of the gumption and fighting talk that typically characterises the English rugby clubs and media. The world is in England's hands according to Lol and they should start walking with a 'swagger'.

"A lot of teams are at the pinnacle of their evolution," drones Sir Lawrence. "Can New Zealand get any better? This England team is still evolving. Imagine how good they could be in a year's time, and in four years."

According to the media, England's fresh blood are the new golden boys that are going to lead the white roses into the light of glory..."Our win in Australia (yawn) has told everyone we can beat the best teams." According to Dallaglio, we need to watch out for Courtenay Lawes, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Chris Aston who are leading the way to an England resurgence in the backline.  It's a matter of 'watch this space' or potentially 'more of the same hype but nothing different'.  You decide.

The sad thing is that he is probably right.  A world cup tournament is different to rugby tests played week in and week out.  We all know the All Blacks don't play well in tournament pressure cookers (baring South Africa 1995 when we did play very well indeed but got beaten on the day by a better team - and no - I'm not daring to mention Suzy).

England had a dismal world cup in 2007 losing 40 - 0 against South Africa in the heats.  How any team can lose 40 - 0 and then go on to play in the final of a world cup tournament says something for how well tournaments sort the wheat from the chaff (IMO not much at all) but also, something for England's spirit (and the very wonderful goal kicker Jonny Wilkinson).

I still don't think England deserve to walk with a swagger yet though. One win against an Australian side that has been beaten ten times in a row by the All Blacks? It reminds me a little of that old saying- one swallow does not a summer make.