Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56871396
Friday, 30 April 2021
Women's Six Nations: England show winning character but need plan B for World Cup
Head coach Simon Middleton hails his England side after they win a bruising encounter against France to claim a third successive Women's Six Nations.
Thursday, 22 April 2021
Red card replacements for new Rainbow Cup
Teams in the inaugural Rainbow Cup will be able to replace dismissed players under trial laws being brought in for the tournament.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56763899
https://rugby-store-temp.securedsite.cloud/red-card-replacements-for-new-rainbow-cup/
Wednesday, 21 April 2021
Former Wallaby Scott Fardy announces retirement from rugby
Former Wallabies forward Scott Fardy has announced his retirement from rugby union.
Currently playing with Leinster after joining the Irish club in 2017, the 36-year-old will hang up the boots at the end of the current European season.
Fardy was capped 39 times by the Wallabies between 2013 and 2016 and was an integral part of the 2015 World Cup squad, forming a potent back-row combination with David Pocock and Michael Hooper en route to the final at Twickenham.
But it took him a long time to establish himself in the professional game. It wasn’t until 2012 when, aged 28, he made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies, and he would go on to make 97 appearances for the side.
Since moving to Leinster, Fardy has enjoyed considerable success, winning the Champions Cup once and PRO14 four times.
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“I’ve loved every minute of this adventure, not only the last few years with Leinster but all of it and of course there is still a lot of rugby to be played this season,” Fardy said in making his announcement.
“We are still on a high after the weekend and we’ve a massive few weeks ahead and that is our focus right now.
“We’ve a week off at the moment and then we’ll begin our build-up with a game against Munster Rugby and then the massive challenge of facing La Rochelle away in France.
“There will be time to sit back, reflect and to thank the clubs and the people that have played a part in my playing career when the season is done and maybe even in person.
“It’s been a hard year for everyone in society and playing without our fans has been difficult but hopefully off the back of Monday’s news, I might be able to say thank you and goodbye at the RDS in front of our supporters which would be special.”
A future in the coach’s box could yet await Fardy. Speaking to The Roar last yeah, the forward said it was something he would consider after his playing days.
“I’d like to consider coaching when I finally hang up my boots – that is, if I’m not too worried about getting my weekends back,” he said.
“You’re either all in or you’re not, so it’s a back and white situation. I’d recommend any young Australian coach come to Europe because so the environment is so foreign. You can look at doing the same things a different way and I think that is very important.”
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/16/former-wallaby-scott-fardy-announces-retirement-from-rugby/
Super Rugby tipping panel Week 9: Golden point
How good is golden point?! The panel deliberated during the week, and overwhelmingly, two favourite moments from last weekend’s mad run of extra time and heart-stopping finishes emerged.
The first is that moment of panic that sets in with teams as they try to do something, anything to get into position for a drop goal, only to not quite get there and still try and kick that drop-goal anywhere.
And the second is that moment of panic when, shortly after kick-off in a period of extra time, a captain realises he’s just given up the wind. In sudden death.
So golden point is good, but it makes us wonder, will we get a game with golden try extra time in Australia?
Could it be this week?
LAST WEEK: Geoff 3; Harry, Dan, and The Crowd 2; Brett and Digger 1.
OVERALL: Harry, Dan and Geoff 23; The Crowd 21, Brett 19, Digger 18.
Geoff
TIPS: BLUES, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
If we call last weekend’s New Zealand results what they really were – draws – then only three points separated the sides across four matches. Is ‘unprecedented’ still a buzz word? Is it too much to ask for a repeat this weekend?
The Dunedin match certainly feels tight, but I think the Blues have the edge in the pack, particularly if Portuguese chicken sauce, Pari Pari Parkinson, is out for the Highlanders.
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
I’ve been making tipping hay off the back of the Chiefs in recent weeks, but I don’t think I can stretch the friendship another week. And despite the Waratahs’ gutsy showing in Canberra, I don’t think that stretches to tipping them against a Force side with the Fremantle Doctor blowing in a sniff of finals footy.
There’s a good performance lurking in there somewhere for the Rebels. I’m just not sure it’s this Sunday against a rebounding Brumbies.
SURE THING: While everyone else rejoices at the addition of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua to Super Rugby, Blues CEO Andrew Hore, seeing the prospect of a huge chunk of his revitalised supporter base switching allegiances, dusts off his rolodex and gives Roger Davis a call. It seems that Waratahs job wasn’t so bad after all.
Harry
TIPS: HIGHLANDERS, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES.
The Blues will score. The Landers will keep pace, with two-second rucks. Kicks will stick. Chicken wings will be hot. Kids will scream. The home team: 55-52.
The Chiefs will scratch and claw. The Crusaders will sadden them. Speed in the right moments, at the right places.
The Waratahs will score about 13. The Force, too. But a drop goal at the death – still and forever the quintessential rugby play, with beauty in the formation, the flight of the woeful ball, piercing the sky, taking our hopes and wishes with it – will settle it, for the home team.
The Brumbies by 25 over Wessels’ raggedy bunch.
SURE THING: Some forward passes will be adjudged flat, and some flat passes will be deemed illegal. We’ll get over it.
Dan
TIPS: BLUES, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
The Blues, with bye-freshened legs, should manage the journey to Dunedin capably indeed. Their strong pack will get them to within touching distance of a spot in the final, a cause which will only be further helped by the Crusaders doing what the Crusaders do best and win their match this weekend.
The Chiefs have shown a lot more starch than last year, but they’re not up to beating the champs without Sam Cane.
Back on this side of the ditch, I have a small sneaking suspicion the Waratahs might – just might – have an upset in them when they travel to Perth on Saturday night.
I also have an inkling they could be thoroughly pasted by the Force, who are now in with a real shot at making the finals. What I’m getting at here is that I haven’t the slightest which way it’ll go, but form and home-ground advantage says the Force, so I’ll side with the hosts.
Kyle Godwin. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
No such dilemmas for the Sunday arvo match: the Brumbies are clearly the next-best side in the AU competition, and while the Rebels tend to get up for these encounters, they were completely impotent with ball in hand last time out. Ponies by a few tries.
SURE THING: After a quartet of thrillers last weekend, we’re due a blowout this round.
Brett
TIPS: HIGHLANDERS, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
Let’s just acknowledge this and be done with it: last week didn’t go well, and I just bloody know the Blues are somehow responsible.
Obviously, I was backing the Highlanders in this game months ago, but extreme Smurf prejudice aside, I can’t help but think that the mountain men have suitably learned their learnings are now working on their work-ons, all for the sake of getting back in the good books with Tony Brown. And the best way to do that? Beat the Smurfs.
A question for the Chiefs: have you used up all your luck? Yes, I’ve assumed you have, too.
The Force have two home games to win their way into third spot and I reckon it starts this weekend. Beating the Waratahs without Will Harrison is within their ability, but the test will be the gain what will be an all-important bonus point. Thankfully, I don’t have to tip that.
And I’m not sure this is the week the Rebels wanted to face the Brumbies coming off a heartbreaking loss.
Playing for your season is hard at the best of times, and playing for your season at home is least something, but playing for your season at home against the reigning Champions coming off the back of a second straight two-point loss in the final minutes of a game is not the way you want to be playing for your season.
SURE THING: You know full well what the sure thing is. This hardly even needs to be said any more…
Andy Muirhead. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Digger
TIPS: HIGHLANDERS, CHIEFS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
The Blues should win, if they are too truly live up to this season’s expectations and I do love Tom but a sneaky wee feeling the up and down Highlanders will sneak this even without the good Garden Bachop.
The Crusaders should also win, one would imagine after a few hurry ups in the past few weeks they will start to pull their socks up, it’s not like it would be unexpected however again, I think the Chiefs might just be ready for the fight and knock them over.
Across the soon to be bubble ditch, in the now included Perth of said bubble I simply cannot make my mind up. I suspect the Force should get this done at home, a bit more experience in the pack I think should prove the difference.
I simply have no faith in the Rebels right now, Brumbies will (should) be stinging after last week’s result and will be looking forward to putting that result in the rear-view mirror.
SURE THING: Don’t copy my tips or utilise my reasoning at all as my current table placement should reinforce. You have been warned.
| Harry | Brett | Dan | Digger | Geoff | The Crowd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIG v BLU | HIG | HIG | BLU | HIG | BLU | ? |
| CHI v CRU | CRU | CRU | CRU | CHI | CRU | ? |
| FOR v WAR | FOR | FOR | FOR | FOR | FOR | ? |
| REB v BRU | BRU | BRU | BRU | BRU | BRU | ? |
| Overall | 23 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 23 | 21 |
| Last week | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Get your tips in now.
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British and Irish Lions 2021: English may miss out but more Scots on trip hints Gatland
Some England players may miss out on the British and Irish Lions tour because of poor form but there will be more Scots than in 2017, says Warren Gatland.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56731932
Super Rugby tipping panel Week 9: Golden point
How good is golden point?! The panel deliberated during the week, and overwhelmingly, two favourite moments from last weekend’s mad run of extra time and heart-stopping finishes emerged.
The first is that moment of panic that sets in with teams as they try to do something, anything to get into position for a drop goal, only to not quite get there and still try and kick that drop-goal anywhere.
And the second is that moment of panic when, shortly after kick-off in a period of extra time, a captain realises he’s just given up the wind. In sudden death.
So golden point is good, but it makes us wonder, will we get a game with golden try extra time in Australia?
Could it be this week?
LAST WEEK: Geoff 3; Harry, Dan, and The Crowd 2; Brett and Digger 1.
OVERALL: Harry, Dan and Geoff 23; The Crowd 21, Brett 19, Digger 18.
Geoff
TIPS: BLUES, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
If we call last weekend’s New Zealand results what they really were – draws – then only three points separated the sides across four matches. Is ‘unprecedented’ still a buzz word? Is it too much to ask for a repeat this weekend?
The Dunedin match certainly feels tight, but I think the Blues have the edge in the pack, particularly if Portuguese chicken sauce, Pari Pari Parkinson, is out for the Highlanders.
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
I’ve been making tipping hay off the back of the Chiefs in recent weeks, but I don’t think I can stretch the friendship another week. And despite the Waratahs’ gutsy showing in Canberra, I don’t think that stretches to tipping them against a Force side with the Fremantle Doctor blowing in a sniff of finals footy.
There’s a good performance lurking in there somewhere for the Rebels. I’m just not sure it’s this Sunday against a rebounding Brumbies.
SURE THING: While everyone else rejoices at the addition of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua to Super Rugby, Blues CEO Andrew Hore, seeing the prospect of a huge chunk of his revitalised supporter base switching allegiances, dusts off his rolodex and gives Roger Davis a call. It seems that Waratahs job wasn’t so bad after all.
Harry
TIPS: HIGHLANDERS, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES.
The Blues will score. The Landers will keep pace, with two-second rucks. Kicks will stick. Chicken wings will be hot. Kids will scream. The home team: 55-52.
The Chiefs will scratch and claw. The Crusaders will sadden them. Speed in the right moments, at the right places.
The Waratahs will score about 13. The Force, too. But a drop goal at the death – still and forever the quintessential rugby play, with beauty in the formation, the flight of the woeful ball, piercing the sky, taking our hopes and wishes with it – will settle it, for the home team.
The Brumbies by 25 over Wessels’ raggedy bunch.
SURE THING: Some forward passes will be adjudged flat, and some flat passes will be deemed illegal. We’ll get over it.
Dan
TIPS: BLUES, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
The Blues, with bye-freshened legs, should manage the journey to Dunedin capably indeed. Their strong pack will get them to within touching distance of a spot in the final, a cause which will only be further helped by the Crusaders doing what the Crusaders do best and win their match this weekend.
The Chiefs have shown a lot more starch than last year, but they’re not up to beating the champs without Sam Cane.
Back on this side of the ditch, I have a small sneaking suspicion the Waratahs might – just might – have an upset in them when they travel to Perth on Saturday night.
I also have an inkling they could be thoroughly pasted by the Force, who are now in with a real shot at making the finals. What I’m getting at here is that I haven’t the slightest which way it’ll go, but form and home-ground advantage says the Force, so I’ll side with the hosts.
Kyle Godwin. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
No such dilemmas for the Sunday arvo match: the Brumbies are clearly the next-best side in the AU competition, and while the Rebels tend to get up for these encounters, they were completely impotent with ball in hand last time out. Ponies by a few tries.
SURE THING: After a quartet of thrillers last weekend, we’re due a blowout this round.
Brett
TIPS: HIGHLANDERS, CRUSADERS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
Let’s just acknowledge this and be done with it: last week didn’t go well, and I just bloody know the Blues are somehow responsible.
Obviously, I was backing the Highlanders in this game months ago, but extreme Smurf prejudice aside, I can’t help but think that the mountain men have suitably learned their learnings are now working on their work-ons, all for the sake of getting back in the good books with Tony Brown. And the best way to do that? Beat the Smurfs.
A question for the Chiefs: have you used up all your luck? Yes, I’ve assumed you have, too.
The Force have two home games to win their way into third spot and I reckon it starts this weekend. Beating the Waratahs without Will Harrison is within their ability, but the test will be the gain what will be an all-important bonus point. Thankfully, I don’t have to tip that.
And I’m not sure this is the week the Rebels wanted to face the Brumbies coming off a heartbreaking loss.
Playing for your season is hard at the best of times, and playing for your season at home is least something, but playing for your season at home against the reigning Champions coming off the back of a second straight two-point loss in the final minutes of a game is not the way you want to be playing for your season.
SURE THING: You know full well what the sure thing is. This hardly even needs to be said any more…
Andy Muirhead. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Digger
TIPS: HIGHLANDERS, CHIEFS, FORCE, BRUMBIES
The Blues should win, if they are too truly live up to this season’s expectations and I do love Tom but a sneaky wee feeling the up and down Highlanders will sneak this even without the good Garden Bachop.
The Crusaders should also win, one would imagine after a few hurry ups in the past few weeks they will start to pull their socks up, it’s not like it would be unexpected however again, I think the Chiefs might just be ready for the fight and knock them over.
Across the soon to be bubble ditch, in the now included Perth of said bubble I simply cannot make my mind up. I suspect the Force should get this done at home, a bit more experience in the pack I think should prove the difference.
I simply have no faith in the Rebels right now, Brumbies will (should) be stinging after last week’s result and will be looking forward to putting that result in the rear-view mirror.
SURE THING: Don’t copy my tips or utilise my reasoning at all as my current table placement should reinforce. You have been warned.
| Harry | Brett | Dan | Digger | Geoff | The Crowd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIG v BLU | HIG | HIG | BLU | HIG | BLU | ? |
| CHI v CRU | CRU | CRU | CRU | CHI | CRU | ? |
| FOR v WAR | FOR | FOR | FOR | FOR | FOR | ? |
| REB v BRU | BRU | BRU | BRU | BRU | BRU | ? |
| Overall | 23 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 23 | 21 |
| Last week | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Get your tips in now.
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https://therugbystore.com.au/super-rugby-tipping-panel-week-9-golden-point/
Tuesday, 20 April 2021
British and Irish Lions 2021: English may miss out but more Scots on trip hints Gatland
Some England players may miss out on the British and Irish Lions tour because of poor form but there will be more Scots than in 2017, says Warren Gatland.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56731932
BREAKING: Two Pacific Island teams given green light to join Super Rugby in 2022
New Zealand Rugby has granted provisional licenses to two Pacific Island teams, allowing them to join Super Rugby in 2022.
Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua are the two sides who will join the ten existing Super Rugby clubs in an expanded and combined 12-team competition next year.
The duo’s inclusion is not yet completely confirmed, with final approval of their licenses conditional on sign-off from Rugby Australia, and their final business plans.
The latter were given a large boost last month when World Rugby committed an annual funding package of ￡1.2 million ($AUD2.12 million) for three years to support the two sides.
“We are moving into the final phase of planning for 2022 and beyond, and we have confidence that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua will be able to meet the conditions of the licence, which includes final sign-off on a sustainable business plan by 30 June,” NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said.
“In the next two months we will be working with Rugby Australia and the two Pasifika teams to formalise their place in the new competition for what we believe will kick off an exciting, new era for the professional game.”
The inclusion of a Pacific Islands team in Super Rugby has been a discussion for some time, with Auckland mooted as a potential location for a Pasifika side. Moana Pasifika played their first game last year against the Maori All Blacks, a match that ended in a narrow 28-21 defeat for the new outfit.
The Drua, who joined Australia’s National Rugby Championship before its demise and won the competition in 2018, will play some of their matches in Fiji, but according to the Sydney Morning Herald could also be based partly in western Sydney.
“Obviously Fiji is a small market. We would definitely look at playing matches externally. Whether that’s in Australia, New Zealand or whatever other opportunities become available to us,” Simon Raiwalui, Fiji’s general manager of rugby, said to the Herald.
“With the Fijian and Pasifika communities in both countries and throughout south-east Asia, there are huge communities and huge support for anything Fiji rugby. That’s definitely an opportunity.”
Michael Jones, who played for both the All Blacks and Manu Samoa and is now an NZR board member, lauded today’s decision.
“We are now on the cusp of realising a long-held desire to include Pasifika in our professional game and the opportunity to embrace all that comes with that,” Jones said.
“With the approval of licences, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua can now forge ahead with the final stages of their business plans and crucially start to lock in their playing and coaching rosters for next season. It’s an exciting time for rugby.”
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/14/breaking-two-pacific-island-teams-given-green-light-to-join-super-rugby-in-2022/
Women's Six Nations 2021: IRFU told France game will not be impacted by quarantine rules
The IRFU has been told Ireland's Women's Six Nations game against France on Saturday will not be impacted by new quarantine rules
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56748323
Women's Six Nations 2021: IRFU told France game will not be impacted by quarantine rules
The IRFU has been told Ireland's Women's Six Nations game against France on Saturday will not be impacted by new quarantine rules
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56748323
Monday, 19 April 2021
Will Springbok pride come before the fall?
“Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he is grown so great?” ― William Shakespeare.
The British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa is but a few months away, scribes and pundits are already beginning to debate, argue, and select their picks for their respective teams starting XVs for the first Test and the eventual result of the series.
However, while the European leagues and cup competitions have continued uninhibited (to an extent), the worry for the Springboks brains trust will be the lack of game time the Springboks (collectively) have had in gathering momentum for the Lions tour. Although you’d never say so reading some of the bullish articles coming out of South Africa.
There is a sweeping and prevailing wind of assuredness or cockiness from some of South Africa’s most respected rugby scribes that the Lions will lose the series 3 nil, especially with the possibility that they will be without their travelling horde of red-clad vociferous fans.
Scribes have also pointed out the lack of progress and result’s from the home nations during the 2019 World Cup and on their current form during the Six Nations tournament this year. While these points may have some validity in assessing and gauging the make-up of the Lions team, to use them as cornerstones for a prediction of total domination from Springboks is foolhardy, errant, and ultimately arrogant.
That arrogance is something we as South Africans are not accustomed to and do not subscribe to, we are not a nation of trash talkers before major sporting events, quite frankly we do not how to even if we wanted to.
The Springboks have produced their most remarkable results when they have been written off, the underdog tag is something that fits comfortably with us, it always has. The motivation it provides has been used on many occasions when the Springboks haven’t been given a snowball’s chance in hell at securing a result.
Being written off for the 2019 Rugby World Cup final made it a personal issue with the Boks regarding the English player’s media attempts to meet the Boks challenge at the coal face, England’s defence coach John Mitchell said as much after the final.
The Lions have been installed as the bookie’s favourites and are predicted to win the series in South Africa, and will certainly be looking to win the series for the first time since 1997.
The Boks haven’t played a Test match since the final in 2019 in Japan and while key players are performing superbly well at home, in Europe and Japan for their respective clubs, that will not necessarily translate into immediate success when they run out against the Lions.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The home unions have been battle-hardened during their Test matches in both Six Nations and Autumn Cup in the lead up to this year’s series, whereas the Boks will be well short of game time. Both teams will play warm-up fixtures, but I can’t help but feel that the Lions will be better prepared for the series.
The Boks still have injury concerns none more so than the availability to star flyhalf Handre Pollard who is recovering from a serious knee injury.
Unlike the Boks forwards stocks which are packed to the rafters, the flyhalf position stocks will keep Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber up until the late hours of the night. The Lions will also have the added motivation of exacting some of their own revenge on the current World Champions, as such the Boks have a major target on their back and likely won’t be able to use the underdog tag for the upcoming tour.
Much has also been made of Warren Gatland’s season at the Chiefs in New Zealand last season whereby they equaled their club record for consecutive losses under his tutelage, however, it would be naïve to look at that as a gauge for how the Lions will fare in South Africa.
Gatland is in charge of his third Lions tour with a rather enviable record, he has overseen the last two previous Lions series (win in Australia 2013, drawn in New Zealand 2017).
While the home nations may have somewhat flattered to deceive during the past Six Nations, you best believe when Gatland assembles his squad they will be more than prepared and mentally frothing at the thought of taking on the Springboks and a shot at immortality.
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What we as Springbok fans should be acutely aware of is providing the Lions with extra ammunition through the news articles published about a series whitewash and the like.
Remember the English press wrote similar articles in the lead up to the 2019 final – and we all know how that ended…
If I was Gatland I would be printing various articles in the Lions change rooms before the series kick-off, telling them this is what they think of you, South Africa doesn’t rate you.
Let us hope the Boks fly under the radar with humility and as Shakespeare alluded to, I hope the meat will be on a braai hopefully after a series victory as opposed to chocking on it with a series loss after having been so very sure of a Springbok victory.
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/13/will-springbok-pride-come-before-the-fall/
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Why Jordan Petaia can be a better rugby player than Israel Folau
The difference between them is paper-thin: Brumbies and Reds, Reds and Brumbies. Over the seven games so far in Super Rugby AU 2021, the Reds have scored only three more points, and conceded five fewer.
The Brumbies have scored three more tries than the Queenslanders, and two more than the Reds in their head-to-head contests. They are running neck and neck.
The tightness of the competition harks back to a more general truth about modern sport at the highest level. When Sir Dave Brailsford became the performance director of British Cycling, he introduced the theory of marginal gains, which insisted that a mere one per cent improvement in multiple areas would result in a much more dramatic advance overall.
“The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improve it by one per cent, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together,” he said in 2012.
When Brailsford first started work, the reputation of British cycling was so bad that top bike manufacturers refused to sell their gear to British riders, for fear that it would hurt their commercial sales.
Five years later, the British cycling team won 60 per cent of the available gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
In the top provincial and international games of rugby, the big outcomes seldom happen in a way that is unconnected to the smaller, barely visible events which went before them. In reality, they represent the sum of the one-percenters.
Likewise, weaknesses seldom look like more than a tiny leak at the start. It is the task of a gameplan is to keep digging them out until they become first a steady drip, then a gush, and finally a raging torrent that cannot be stopped.
The Queensland Reds succeeded in making the marginal gains count in two important areas in their match against the Brumbies in Brisbane on Saturday evening. One of those areas involved a significant step for Jordan Petaia.
Jordan Petaia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
But first, the scrum. With six active Wallabies shared among the two front rows, you would expect a roughly even contest. Among all of that green and gold royalty, there was one small but significant weakness that the Reds were able to identify and pull apart over the course of the game.
In an early issue of Coach’s Corner, I identified how important the hooker is to the impetus of a modern scrum. It is no longer about the battle between one prop and his opposite number mano a mano, more often it is about the relative scrummaging strength of the hookers. That is the difference-maker.
The Reds started one of the two top scrumming hookers in Australia in the shape of Brandon Paenga-Amosa. At the very first set-piece (and with the priceless benefit of spider-cam), a small leak appeared in the middle of the Brumbies scrum:
The ball is played away from the set-piece and there is no penalty given or even any ground conceded by the Brumbies front-row. However, a split has already developed between hooker Folau Fainga’a and his tighthead prop and captain, Allan Alaalatoa:
Whenever you see a hooker struggling to maintain the bind with his right arm, it means he is feeling the pressure, and that spearhead of pressure has Paenga-Amosa at its tip. The two Queensland props are doing little more than tucking in underneath him in support.
The leak dripped a penalty at the first Queensland feed of the game:
It is also worth noting how the Queensland scrum has abandoned the walk-around technique observed earlier in the season. Since then, loosehead props Dane Zander and Harry Hoopert have disappeared from the picture, with Feao Fotuaika and Richie Asiata preferred against the Brumbies, and Paenga-Amosa returned to his rightful position as the starting rake.
With Fainga’a again struggling to maintain or regrip his right-arm bind on Alaalatoa, the Reds jolt forward with a second shove and Fainga’a disappears beneath the waves. The scrum is moving forward on both sides, as opposed to rotating around one corner.
The drip became a gush only eight minutes later:
Fainga’a folds under the pressure from Paenga-Amosa and becomes completely disengaged from his tighthead prop:
All Fotuaika has to do is follow the big chief right through the middle of the tunnel.
When the Reds eventually decided to wheel the set-piece at the end of the first period, they had already established Nic Berry’s perceptions at the scrum and were rewarded with a penalty.
The big event arrived in the 76th minute with the game on the line, and it was here that all the one-percenters impacted the referee’s decision-making process:
With Paenga-Amosa off the field and replaced by Alex Mafi, Taniela Tupou takes a calculated risk by turning in on a sharp angle towards Lachlan Lonergan, the replacement Brumbies hooker. He has done his sums correctly and the referee does what he has learnt to do in the course of the match, which is penalise the men from Canberra. The small gains reach a tipping point, and the three points from the scrum penalty won Queensland the match.
The second aspect of the marginal gains theory related to the rebuild of Jordan Petaia on the right wing. Petaia has had to absorb a lot of criticism recently, due mostly to the unrealistic level of expectation surrounding his rapid rise in the Wallabies.
The manner of his performance at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday bodes very well for the future of Australian rugby. He took the sensible path back to form, getting the ‘invisible’ details of his performance spot on, starting with defence.
The Brumbies had profited greatly from the presence of their back-rowers in the wide channels on attack in the first game. With a defender of Petaia’s speed and physical presence on the wing, they got no change out of play down the Queensland right-hand side:
First Rob Valetini then Pete Samu are unceremoniously stopped in their tracks down the tramlines. The stop on Samu leaves an especially powerful impression, because ‘Pistol Pete’ is handed just the scenario he loves the most – finishing a break with a one-on-one against a back in plenty of space.
Jordan Petaia made those marginal gains in all aspects of his defensive work. When Jock Campbell missed the ball after a short kick close to his goal-line, Petaia was on hand to pick up the pieces and save the situation:
The good work starts with an excellent read, anticipating the kick before it is made. Petaia is in position A1, equally ready to move out with the attacker outside Noah Lolesio, or cover the grubber in behind.
The small gains on defence kept on flowing in a steady stream:
Petaia times the hit from a defensive scrum just right on Len Ikitau, and there is a little bounce and a skip in his step afterwards. The body language was all positive as his confidence returned.
The gains accumulated to the point where a big event was duly triggered in the 63rd minute of the game. When it came, it was a double serving:
First, Petaia shows his quality as an acting fullback with a long, raking, diagonal kick rolling into touch deep within the Brumbies 22. The 50:22 wins back the lineout throw for Queensland.
Then, he Petaia hints at an Israel Folau-like ability in the air, hanging above Tom Banks to regather a speculative lob from James O’Connor’s boot. He runs the perfect L-shaped line to get there, closing from a position on Banks’ blindside and well away from the would-be blockers:
Summary
In terms of pure talent level, there can be no higher praise than to compare Jordan Petaia with Israel Folau. The two are of comparable physique and athletic ability.
But Petaia has a deep root in the game which Folau – as a three-code collision sports athlete – perhaps never truly understood. Petaia is rugby union through and through, and he understands the need to work hard at the small details of his game in order to make incremental improvements.
It was that attention to the one-percenters which paid out the ultimate dividend in his performance against the Brumbies. Petaia defended well and dominated the wide channels which had proved so costly for the Reds in Canberra. He read the play ahead of time, he kicked to the corner at a critical moment and he evaded the Brumbies blockers – who had proven such a nuisance on kick-chase throughout the game – for his try. It was a complete performance, built from humble beginnings.
The other area in which marginal gains reached a tipping point was at scrum time. At the set-piece, the Queensland ace in the hole was their hooker, Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The Brumbies simply had no answer to his power in the gap between Folau Fainga’a and Allan Alaalatoa, and the game-winning penalty was the outcome of his influence earlier in the game – even if he was not on the field when it was awarded.
There is nothing to choose between the two premier sides in Australia as the knockout stages approach. The Reds may have learnt how to beat the Brumbies, but they still have to prove they are ready to win a championship. That is a story for another day, when the tale will start from scratch.
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/14/why-jordan-petaia-can-be-a-better-rugby-player-than-israel-folau/
https://therugbystore.com.au/why-jordan-petaia-can-be-a-better-rugby-player-than-israel-folau/
Shaunagh Brown column: England will rise to the occasion in the Women's Six Nations final
In her second BBC Sport column of the 2021 Women's Six Nations, England prop Shaunagh Brown explains why she is not worried about the side's final.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56709964
Shaunagh Brown column: England will rise to the occasion in the Women's Six Nations final
In her second BBC Sport column of the 2021 Women's Six Nations, England prop Shaunagh Brown explains why she is not worried about the side's final.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56709964
Will Springbok pride come before the fall?
“Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he is grown so great?” ― William Shakespeare.
The British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa is but a few months away, scribes and pundits are already beginning to debate, argue, and select their picks for their respective teams starting XVs for the first Test and the eventual result of the series.
However, while the European leagues and cup competitions have continued uninhibited (to an extent), the worry for the Springboks brains trust will be the lack of game time the Springboks (collectively) have had in gathering momentum for the Lions tour. Although you’d never say so reading some of the bullish articles coming out of South Africa.
There is a sweeping and prevailing wind of assuredness or cockiness from some of South Africa’s most respected rugby scribes that the Lions will lose the series 3 nil, especially with the possibility that they will be without their travelling horde of red-clad vociferous fans.
Scribes have also pointed out the lack of progress and result’s from the home nations during the 2019 World Cup and on their current form during the Six Nations tournament this year. While these points may have some validity in assessing and gauging the make-up of the Lions team, to use them as cornerstones for a prediction of total domination from Springboks is foolhardy, errant, and ultimately arrogant.
That arrogance is something we as South Africans are not accustomed to and do not subscribe to, we are not a nation of trash talkers before major sporting events, quite frankly we do not how to even if we wanted to.
The Springboks have produced their most remarkable results when they have been written off, the underdog tag is something that fits comfortably with us, it always has. The motivation it provides has been used on many occasions when the Springboks haven’t been given a snowball’s chance in hell at securing a result.
Being written off for the 2019 Rugby World Cup final made it a personal issue with the Boks regarding the English player’s media attempts to meet the Boks challenge at the coal face, England’s defence coach John Mitchell said as much after the final.
The Lions have been installed as the bookie’s favourites and are predicted to win the series in South Africa, and will certainly be looking to win the series for the first time since 1997.
The Boks haven’t played a Test match since the final in 2019 in Japan and while key players are performing superbly well at home, in Europe and Japan for their respective clubs, that will not necessarily translate into immediate success when they run out against the Lions.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The home unions have been battle-hardened during their Test matches in both Six Nations and Autumn Cup in the lead up to this year’s series, whereas the Boks will be well short of game time. Both teams will play warm-up fixtures, but I can’t help but feel that the Lions will be better prepared for the series.
The Boks still have injury concerns none more so than the availability to star flyhalf Handre Pollard who is recovering from a serious knee injury.
Unlike the Boks forwards stocks which are packed to the rafters, the flyhalf position stocks will keep Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber up until the late hours of the night. The Lions will also have the added motivation of exacting some of their own revenge on the current World Champions, as such the Boks have a major target on their back and likely won’t be able to use the underdog tag for the upcoming tour.
Much has also been made of Warren Gatland’s season at the Chiefs in New Zealand last season whereby they equaled their club record for consecutive losses under his tutelage, however, it would be naïve to look at that as a gauge for how the Lions will fare in South Africa.
Gatland is in charge of his third Lions tour with a rather enviable record, he has overseen the last two previous Lions series (win in Australia 2013, drawn in New Zealand 2017).
While the home nations may have somewhat flattered to deceive during the past Six Nations, you best believe when Gatland assembles his squad they will be more than prepared and mentally frothing at the thought of taking on the Springboks and a shot at immortality.
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What we as Springbok fans should be acutely aware of is providing the Lions with extra ammunition through the news articles published about a series whitewash and the like.
Remember the English press wrote similar articles in the lead up to the 2019 final – and we all know how that ended…
If I was Gatland I would be printing various articles in the Lions change rooms before the series kick-off, telling them this is what they think of you, South Africa doesn’t rate you.
Let us hope the Boks fly under the radar with humility and as Shakespeare alluded to, I hope the meat will be on a braai hopefully after a series victory as opposed to chocking on it with a series loss after having been so very sure of a Springbok victory.
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/13/will-springbok-pride-come-before-the-fall/
https://therugbystore.com.au/will-springbok-pride-come-before-the-fall/
Are the Springboks ready for the British and Irish Lions?
The first question on most British rugby fans’ minds this year has been: will the Lions tour go ahead? And where?
But a more pressing question, noting the complete lack of game time for South Africa, should be: will the Springboks even be ready?
South Africa have not played a game of international rugby since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Tokyo in November 2019.
The global pandemic has brought with it many unintended sporting experiments, and rugby is no different. Curtailed seasons, extra midweek games, thorough testing protocols and no crowds have all been a huge test for the sport.
However, one of the biggest experiments in the last season came not from COVID-19 but from the Saracens’ salary saga. The result of Saracens being relegated along with their large England rugby contingent brought about the question of whether long rest periods between competitive games can create more opportunities and better performances.
(Photo by Francois Nel – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Those Saracens players, who formed the backbone of the hugely successful England team over the last year, became unwilling participants in the experiment, testing this hypothesis when England coach Eddie Jones selected five of them to start the Six Nations. Almost all of them played absolutely no club rugby until very recently and played no competitive games between the autumn Nations Cup and the Six Nations.
The unfortunate result of that tournament very much supported the notion of so-called ‘ring rust’. England suffered their worst Six Nations performance since Italy joined the competition in 1999 and the five nations became six.
Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly were heavily criticised for their lack of accuracy and poor decision-making, Jamie George lost his starting spot to Luke Cowan-Dickie and Billy Vunipola, despite continuing to carry like a bulldozer, admitted his own performance wasn’t up to scratch.
The potential outlier, Maro Itoje, who at times performed at his freakishly good levels, still conceded a table-topping 12 penalties – with his Saracens counterpart Mako Vinupula coming in second with nine – which one could argue was due to being out of touch with the current referee’s idea of legal and illegal, a vital ability for a world-class jackler.
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If we take the findings of this two-month experiment and look at South Africa, at the time of writing the national side has not played a Test in 17 months. That’s almost certainly the longest gap in the international schedule since the game turned professional. Compare that to the home nations who since the Rugby World Cup final have played the 2020 Six Nations tournament, the autumn Nations Cup and the 2021 Six Nations, tallying up 14 games apiece, with Wales playing a whopping 16.
At the club level a good number of the South African World Cup winners are now plying their trade in Europe and afar. However, almost half of the starting squad that last ran out in the green and gold play for the national clubs such as Lions, Stormers, Sharks and Bulls. Since the pandemic hit these sides have played in only two tournaments, the Super Rugby SA and the recent Franchise Cup, totalling a meagre ten games apiece.
Compare that to their northern hemisphere counterparts and the likes of Premiership clubs Exeter, Sale and Bristol, who’ve played over 30 matches. Pro14 clubs like Munster, Leinster, Edinburgh, Blues and Scarlets have played roughly 20 games. The clubs likely to supply players to the British and Irish Lions squad have all played double and in some cases triple the number of games as the South African clubs.
To add further worry for the Springboks, the newly incepted Rainbow League between the South African Super Rugby franchises and the Pro14 unfortunately looks like it may be cancelled, which will again leave a good portion of Springboks players with little valuable game time prior to July.
So will this hypothesis be further tested during this tour? Will the South African players show the same ring rust as the Saracens in the Six Nations with so many players having had much more time away from the highest level of the support? Or will Rassie Erasmus’s men prove why they hold the world No. 1 spot and, with the superstars such as Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk and Damian de Allende causing a storm in Europe, still provide the competitive series all Lions fans are hoping for?
The Rugby world waits with great anticipation, particularly, I’m sure, Eddie Jones.
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/12/are-the-springboks-ready-for-the-british-and-irish-lions/
https://rugby-store-temp.securedsite.cloud/are-the-springboks-ready-for-the-british-and-irish-lions/
Sunday, 18 April 2021
Brad Thorn says the ‘Lomu rule’ applies to Jordan Petaia
Not one to be bogged down in debate over what position suits Jordan Petaia best, Brad Thorn is keeping it simple at the Queensland Reds.
Fullback, centre or wing? It doesn’t really matter when it comes to Petaia if you ask his coach – as long as you stick to one rule.
“There was a move in the All Blacks: pass the ball to Jonah because he’s good,” the 56-Test New Zealand lock said.
“That’s a good move…and I just think he’s (Petaia) one of those special guys, they’re just good.
“He’s played for Australia at 13 and he’s done very well for us there and done very well on the wing and I reckon he’d do very well at the back (No.15) as well.”
The 21-year-old has been shifted from the centres to wing for the last two Reds victories, starring in Saturday night’s 24-22 win against the Brumbies.
He was safe under the high ball, intimidating in defence and soared high to catch a bomb and score the game’s final try.
But it was his pinpoint 50-22 kick from open play to set up that try that pundits will remember as the developing talent continues to show signs of evolution.
Injuries have done their best to slow his rapid rise but Petaia has already played eight Tests, most recently slotting in alongside Reds teammate Hunter Paisami at No.13 for the Wallabies.
Making the best use of his talents has become a talking point of the Reds’ seven-game Super Rugby AU winning streak that will see them host the final on May 8 at Suncorp Stadium.
With Paisami (calf) a late scratching to face the Brumbies, Thorn could have moved Petaia back into the midfield and promoted another Wallaby winger Filipo Daugunu off the bench.
Instead, he left Petaia on the flank and trusted 19-year-old Josh Flook to fill Paisami’s boots at No.13.
The extra space at the back, and the heightened kicking responsibilities, allowed Petaia to show off his returns from regular sessions with kicking guru Dave Alred.
The performance and mind coach helped England great Jonny Wilkinson develop his now-famous kicking technique and was in Francesco Molinari’s corner in the lead-up to his 2018 Open Championships golf major win.
Alred is now in Brisbane, having also worked with the Brisbane Lions’ AFL team and now teaming with the Reds’ kickers.
“Isn’t it great to see him develop his game with his kicking? It hasn’t come by chance, it’s come by hard work and working with good people,” Thorn said.
“Jordy, you give him the ball, if you give reasonable footy to him, he can beat defenders and if you put a kick up, there’s a good chance he’ll come down with it.”
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/11/brad-thorn-says-the-lomu-rule-applies-to-jordan-petaia/
https://rugby-store-temp.securedsite.cloud/brad-thorn-says-the-lomu-rule-applies-to-jordan-petaia/
Women's Six Nations: IRFU seeks clarification on France game amid new quarantine rules
Ireland's Six Nations game against France on Saturday could be in doubt because of new quarantine rules introduced by the Irish government.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56709569
Women's Six Nations: IRFU seeks clarification on France game amid new quarantine rules
Ireland's Six Nations game against France on Saturday could be in doubt because of new quarantine rules introduced by the Irish government.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56709569
Are the Springboks ready for the British and Irish Lions?
The first question on most British rugby fans’ minds this year has been: will the Lions tour go ahead? And where?
But a more pressing question, noting the complete lack of game time for South Africa, should be: will the Springboks even be ready?
South Africa have not played a game of international rugby since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Tokyo in November 2019.
The global pandemic has brought with it many unintended sporting experiments, and rugby is no different. Curtailed seasons, extra midweek games, thorough testing protocols and no crowds have all been a huge test for the sport.
However, one of the biggest experiments in the last season came not from COVID-19 but from the Saracens’ salary saga. The result of Saracens being relegated along with their large England rugby contingent brought about the question of whether long rest periods between competitive games can create more opportunities and better performances.
(Photo by Francois Nel – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Those Saracens players, who formed the backbone of the hugely successful England team over the last year, became unwilling participants in the experiment, testing this hypothesis when England coach Eddie Jones selected five of them to start the Six Nations. Almost all of them played absolutely no club rugby until very recently and played no competitive games between the autumn Nations Cup and the Six Nations.
The unfortunate result of that tournament very much supported the notion of so-called ‘ring rust’. England suffered their worst Six Nations performance since Italy joined the competition in 1999 and the five nations became six.
Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly were heavily criticised for their lack of accuracy and poor decision-making, Jamie George lost his starting spot to Luke Cowan-Dickie and Billy Vunipola, despite continuing to carry like a bulldozer, admitted his own performance wasn’t up to scratch.
The potential outlier, Maro Itoje, who at times performed at his freakishly good levels, still conceded a table-topping 12 penalties – with his Saracens counterpart Mako Vinupula coming in second with nine – which one could argue was due to being out of touch with the current referee’s idea of legal and illegal, a vital ability for a world-class jackler.
Sports opinion delivered daily
If we take the findings of this two-month experiment and look at South Africa, at the time of writing the national side has not played a Test in 17 months. That’s almost certainly the longest gap in the international schedule since the game turned professional. Compare that to the home nations who since the Rugby World Cup final have played the 2020 Six Nations tournament, the autumn Nations Cup and the 2021 Six Nations, tallying up 14 games apiece, with Wales playing a whopping 16.
At the club level a good number of the South African World Cup winners are now plying their trade in Europe and afar. However, almost half of the starting squad that last ran out in the green and gold play for the national clubs such as Lions, Stormers, Sharks and Bulls. Since the pandemic hit these sides have played in only two tournaments, the Super Rugby SA and the recent Franchise Cup, totalling a meagre ten games apiece.
Compare that to their northern hemisphere counterparts and the likes of Premiership clubs Exeter, Sale and Bristol, who’ve played over 30 matches. Pro14 clubs like Munster, Leinster, Edinburgh, Blues and Scarlets have played roughly 20 games. The clubs likely to supply players to the British and Irish Lions squad have all played double and in some cases triple the number of games as the South African clubs.
To add further worry for the Springboks, the newly incepted Rainbow League between the South African Super Rugby franchises and the Pro14 unfortunately looks like it may be cancelled, which will again leave a good portion of Springboks players with little valuable game time prior to July.
So will this hypothesis be further tested during this tour? Will the South African players show the same ring rust as the Saracens in the Six Nations with so many players having had much more time away from the highest level of the support? Or will Rassie Erasmus’s men prove why they hold the world No. 1 spot and, with the superstars such as Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk and Damian de Allende causing a storm in Europe, still provide the competitive series all Lions fans are hoping for?
The Rugby world waits with great anticipation, particularly, I’m sure, Eddie Jones.
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/12/are-the-springboks-ready-for-the-british-and-irish-lions/
https://therugbystore.com.au/are-the-springboks-ready-for-the-british-and-irish-lions/
Saturday, 17 April 2021
Heineken Champions Cup: Exeter Chiefs knocked out by Leinster
Leinster fight back after conceding two early tries to beat Exeter Chiefs 34-22 in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup at Sandy Park.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56689384
Brad Thorn says the ‘Lomu rule’ applies to Jordan Petaia
Not one to be bogged down in debate over what position suits Jordan Petaia best, Brad Thorn is keeping it simple at the Queensland Reds.
Fullback, centre or wing? It doesn’t really matter when it comes to Petaia if you ask his coach – as long as you stick to one rule.
“There was a move in the All Blacks: pass the ball to Jonah because he’s good,” the 56-Test New Zealand lock said.
“That’s a good move…and I just think he’s (Petaia) one of those special guys, they’re just good.
“He’s played for Australia at 13 and he’s done very well for us there and done very well on the wing and I reckon he’d do very well at the back (No.15) as well.”
The 21-year-old has been shifted from the centres to wing for the last two Reds victories, starring in Saturday night’s 24-22 win against the Brumbies.
He was safe under the high ball, intimidating in defence and soared high to catch a bomb and score the game’s final try.
But it was his pinpoint 50-22 kick from open play to set up that try that pundits will remember as the developing talent continues to show signs of evolution.
Injuries have done their best to slow his rapid rise but Petaia has already played eight Tests, most recently slotting in alongside Reds teammate Hunter Paisami at No.13 for the Wallabies.
Making the best use of his talents has become a talking point of the Reds’ seven-game Super Rugby AU winning streak that will see them host the final on May 8 at Suncorp Stadium.
With Paisami (calf) a late scratching to face the Brumbies, Thorn could have moved Petaia back into the midfield and promoted another Wallaby winger Filipo Daugunu off the bench.
Instead, he left Petaia on the flank and trusted 19-year-old Josh Flook to fill Paisami’s boots at No.13.
The extra space at the back, and the heightened kicking responsibilities, allowed Petaia to show off his returns from regular sessions with kicking guru Dave Alred.
The performance and mind coach helped England great Jonny Wilkinson develop his now-famous kicking technique and was in Francesco Molinari’s corner in the lead-up to his 2018 Open Championships golf major win.
Alred is now in Brisbane, having also worked with the Brisbane Lions’ AFL team and now teaming with the Reds’ kickers.
“Isn’t it great to see him develop his game with his kicking? It hasn’t come by chance, it’s come by hard work and working with good people,” Thorn said.
“Jordy, you give him the ball, if you give reasonable footy to him, he can beat defenders and if you put a kick up, there’s a good chance he’ll come down with it.”
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/11/brad-thorn-says-the-lomu-rule-applies-to-jordan-petaia/
https://therugbystore.com.au/brad-thorn-says-the-lomu-rule-applies-to-jordan-petaia/
Italy 3-67 England: Red Roses through to Women's Six Nations final
England secure their place in the Women's Six Nations final as a flurry of late scores helps them to a nine-try victory in Italy.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56703317
Force head home with Super Rugby finals in sight
The Western Force feel they are in the box seat to make a real dent on the Super Rugby AU finals after snatching victory against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night in Melbourne.
The Force won 16-15, only taking the lead in the 77th minute at AAMI Park after Tim Anstee’s try was converted by Domingo Miotti.
“We didn’t really assert any dominance in any areas of the game but we had the belief that we could still get the job done,” said coach Tim Sampson.
“That was a very crucial game to win and the next few weeks is in our hands now – we know what level we can get to.”
The victory moved the Force level on the competition ladder with the Rebels, with two rounds remaining.
The Force play both of those games – against the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds – at home in Perth, where they hope to ride a swell of support to join the Reds and Brumbies in the three-team finals.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Rebels play the Brumbies in Melbourne and then the Waratahs in Sydney.
“We have two home games in front of our great supporters… it’s set up well for us and the guys know where we’re heading,” Sampson said.
While Sampson rated their defensive effort – keeping the Rebels from scoring a try – as one of their best, but he said they still had plenty to work on.
As well as losing a couple of crucial lineouts he felt their attack would improve with more time, after a number of personnel changes.
“We need more continuity and flow in our attack but I don’t think you can underestimate the amount of changes we’ve had,” Sampson said.
The Force suffered one serious injury with winger Byron Ralston stretchered from the field after being knocked out making a tackle.
“He’s a bit crook in the change rooms, poor bugger,” Sampson said.
“He should be okay.”
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/10/force-head-home-with-super-rugby-finals-in-sight/
https://rugby-store-temp.securedsite.cloud/force-head-home-with-super-rugby-finals-in-sight/
Friday, 16 April 2021
Italy 3-67 England: Red Roses through to Women's Six Nations final
England secure their place in the Women's Six Nations final as a flurry of late scores helps them to a nine-try victory in Italy.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56703317
https://therugbystore.com.au/italy-3-67-england-red-roses-through-to-womens-six-nations-final/
Force head home with Super Rugby finals in sight
The Western Force feel they are in the box seat to make a real dent on the Super Rugby AU finals after snatching victory against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night in Melbourne.
The Force won 16-15, only taking the lead in the 77th minute at AAMI Park after Tim Anstee’s try was converted by Domingo Miotti.
“We didn’t really assert any dominance in any areas of the game but we had the belief that we could still get the job done,” said coach Tim Sampson.
“That was a very crucial game to win and the next few weeks is in our hands now – we know what level we can get to.”
The victory moved the Force level on the competition ladder with the Rebels, with two rounds remaining.
The Force play both of those games – against the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds – at home in Perth, where they hope to ride a swell of support to join the Reds and Brumbies in the three-team finals.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Rebels play the Brumbies in Melbourne and then the Waratahs in Sydney.
“We have two home games in front of our great supporters… it’s set up well for us and the guys know where we’re heading,” Sampson said.
While Sampson rated their defensive effort – keeping the Rebels from scoring a try – as one of their best, but he said they still had plenty to work on.
As well as losing a couple of crucial lineouts he felt their attack would improve with more time, after a number of personnel changes.
“We need more continuity and flow in our attack but I don’t think you can underestimate the amount of changes we’ve had,” Sampson said.
The Force suffered one serious injury with winger Byron Ralston stretchered from the field after being knocked out making a tackle.
“He’s a bit crook in the change rooms, poor bugger,” Sampson said.
“He should be okay.”
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/10/force-head-home-with-super-rugby-finals-in-sight/
https://therugbystore.com.au/force-head-home-with-super-rugby-finals-in-sight/
European Challenge Cup: Bath 26-13 London Irish - Will Stuart scores twice at The Rec
Prop Will Stuart scores two of Bath's four tries as they defeat London Irish in the European Challenge Cup.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56663094
Women's Six Nations: England captain Sarah Hunter on return from injury
After a long-term nerve injury and 13 months away from international duty, Sarah Hunter is finally fit and ready to captain England in the Six Nations.
Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56676267
https://therugbystore.com.au/womens-six-nations-england-captain-sarah-hunter-on-return-from-injury/
Quade Cooper says Aussie rugby should go to Japan
Former Wallabies teammates Quade Cooper and Will Genia believe Japan is a fertile breeding ground for rugby stars, but it needs more global competition.
Cooper says Japanese rugby is so strong that Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby teams should consider playing in their competition, rather than the other way around.
Cooper and his former Queensland Reds teammate Will Genia currently play for Japanese second-division side Kintetsu Liners, and they’ve been blown away by the quality of rugby in that country.
The progress was reflected by the national team’s success at the 2019 World Cup, where they beat Scotland and Ireland on the way to making the quarter-finals.
The Japanese-based Sunwolves were introduced into Super Rugby in 2016, but the team struggled each year and it was eventually announced they would be cut at the end of 2020.
The Sunwolves notched a total of just eight wins in its four completed seasons.
Cooper agrees the experiment didn’t quite work, and he has come up with an out-of-the-box solution: let some Australian and New Zealand teams play in the Japanese competition.
“A lot of the time we think of it as putting a team in Japan to have an opportunity to compete in Super Rugby,” Cooper said.
“But the competition that is very strong at the moment is the Japanese league. So in my mind you would be inviting a team from Super Rugby to come over here and join into that.
“We’ve tried it the other way around, we put the Sunwolves in, and it wasn’t the best experience. But the fan base here (in Japan) is amazing, the strength of the companies is amazing.
“Everything here seems to be going in the right direction. I feel like at some point it has to be taken into consideration.
“You might incorporate two of the Australian teams and two of the New Zealand teams.”
Genia is also keen to see some type of cross-nation competition featuring teams from NZ, Australia and Japan.
“There’s an abundance of talent here,” Genia said.
“Japan at some point has to be incorporated into Super Rugby. We’re in the same time zone, you’ve got quality players.
“And if you look at some of the strong top league teams – Suntory, Kubota – as their rosters sit, they’d be competing with Super Rugby teams, I have no doubt.”
Genia and Cooper have loved their time in Japan, and both are keen to extend their stay there.
The duo will be in action again on April 17 when the playoffs begin to earn promotion into the Japanese Top League.
Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/04/09/quade-cooper-says-aussie-rugby-should-go-to-japan/
https://therugbystore.com.au/quade-cooper-says-aussie-rugby-should-go-to-japan/
Beginner's Guide To Rugby - How to play Rugby.
How to Play the Game of Rugby Union
Welcome to my beginner's guide to rugby with 2015 being such a huge year for British rugby, I've noticed influx and people wanted to understand what is seemingly a complex sport which Actually, when broken down is not so confusing, as you might think, I'm here to take you through everything, from the history of the game, the players, their positions on the field, the playing of the game scoring match officials and much more.
So let's get started. History of rugby has always been something of a legend and it ' S believed that in 1823 a young boy by the name of William Webb Ellis at a game of school football, picked up the ball and started running toward the opposition's.
Goal line was at this moment the sport was born. Although this story was never officially told until after Williams death, he's, recognized as the founder of rugby and a statue was erected in his honor in the town of rugby in 1997.
Where is a game played by people of all shapes and sizes? Making incredibly accessible sports as a result, in 2003, a set of core values were developed to enable people to understand the character of the game and what makes it different to other sports.
The core values identified were integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. Rugby Kip for players is pretty simple: let's start at the bottom and work our way up. Rugby boots differ slightly from football boots, in that they have better toe protection, higher ankle support and for those using screwing studs as opposed to molded blades.
Getting Involved in the Game of Rugby Union
You have the option to increase the length of your studs slightly for better traction, depending on position. You're playing moving up, we have knee-length socks like football. Shin pads can be worn, however, it is less common and certain not mandatory.
It's, part of the game. We move up to the shorts and onto the shirt. Nothing special to really tell you here. What you might be surprised to know is that there's, actually body protection available to rugby players.
It goes under the shirt depending on things like the position you play and maybe, if you're carrying a slight injury, you may choose to wear this. We then come to the gun shield, and this is probably one of the most essential pieces of equipment for the rugby player being tackled constantly clashing heads with one another, tackling others all put you at risk of getting a knock to the face.
So a good quality gum shield is absolutely essential and finally, we come to the scrum cap. I've, been such a physical sport through constantly taking knocks on your head and are asked to put your head in difficult contact areas so as Cronkite offers.
You some protection from this as well as protecting you against the dreaded. Cauliflower is so let's, have a look at who's on the team and how the formation works. A rugby union team is comprised of 23 players, 15 on the field and 8 subs one thing that is unique about rugby.
Then it takes all shapes and sizes to make up a team, and often this will help determine the position you play within the team. The 15 players can we split into two categories: the four woods and the banks.
Numbers 1 & amp, 3 to 8 are the forwards and 9 through to 15 other backs. Each number represents unique positions within the field, so let ' S. Have a look at those positions we'll start with numbers, 1 & amp, 3 players wearing these shirts are known as props.
Their primary role is to anchor the scrummage and provide lifting strength and support for the lineout jumpers. They are also pivotal in rocks and moles as a prop. You need upper body strength to provide stability, the scrum endurance, ability and safe hands to maintain continuity of play.
The number 2 is known as the hooker. These guys have two very unique roles on the field. The first as the player who wins, possession the scrummage and the second is the player who usually throws the ball into the lineup.
In this position, great strength is needed to withstand the physicality of the front rope covered with a speed to get around the pitch. The good throwing technique - numbers 4 & amp 5 - are the locks it's, the locks job to win the ball from line outs and restarts the drive for momentum in the scrum rocks and malls providing a platform for attack a key characteristic.
These players is height, the locks are the Giants of the team and combine their physicality and mobility. Number 6 and 7 are your flankers. Their key objective is to win possessions, return overs using physicality in the tackle and speed to the breakdown.
How big do I need to be to play Rugby Union
These guys have no fear in their approach to winning the ball when going into a tackle combination of speed, strength, endurance and handling is essential to play in this position. Finally, for the forwards, we have what is known as the number eight number eight must secure possession at the base.
The scrum carry the ball and open play, provide the link between the forwards and backs in the tackle phases and defend aggressively. They must have power and pace over short distances to be able to gain territory and fill position for quick release the backs during an attack.
Now let's, move on the backs, starting with the number nine we have our scrum-half. Their role is to provide the link between forwards and backs at the scrum and lineups a true decision-maker. The scrum-half will judge whether to distribute a quick ball to the backs or keep it close to the forwards.
It's, a multi-faceted position. Scrum heart must be powerful, have explosive speed, will run, handling and kicking skills. Great scrum half is often a highly confident player with excellent game understanding.
Our number 10 is the fly-half. This crucial player orchestrates the team's performance. They receive the ball from the scrum half and will choose to kick past or make a break based upon a split-second interpretation of the phase of play.
It's essential. They have the ability to kick well out of hand, ideally off either foot. They also must have great handling skills, pace, vision, creativity, communication skills, ability to perform under pressure numbers 11 and 14.
Are your wings. They're on the pitch to provide an injection of pace needed to outrun an opponent and score a try, as well as being solid in defense. Wings will often find themselves in open space and their priorities to press forward at speed and run for the line.
Strength and good handling skills are big advantage here, but speed is the key to success. Next, we have the 12 and 13 and they are known as your centers. They're key in both defense and attack in defense.
They will attempt to tackle any attacking players and, whilst an attack, they will use their speed power. Creative flair to breach defenses the modern-day center is lean, strong and extremely quick. The position demands great attacking prowess, coupled with an intensity in contact to either retain or steal possession, and finally, we have our number 15 or food back.
This is your last iron defense. The full-back must be confident under a high ball, have a good boot to clear the lines and not be intimidated by the physicality required to make try saving tackles a fullback must have great handing skills, pacing attack and power in defense.
They need the ability to join the line of pace, to create an overlap and provide try scoring opportunities for the winners. It is very much tactical role with bursts of flair throughout the game. With the team completed, you can see the number of different positions and roles available within the rugby team.
There is literally something for everybody, and each roller has its own set of core attributes that contribute to making up a successful rugby team. So we've. Looked at the history of rugby, we've, taken a quick look at the kit.
You need to play and identify the different roles within the team. Now let look at how the game is played. There are a few terms you will want to familiarize yourself with when understanding the game of rugby, but before we do that, let's.
Have a look at a rugby field itself. A rugby field is typically between 94 and 100 metres in length, from goal line to goal line beyond the goal line, and at each end we have the Tri scoring areas which range from 10 to 22 metres in depth.
A full rugby pitch is typically 68 70 metres in width. The line running down either side of the pitch is known as the touch line and anything outside this line is known as in touch working from the centre.
We have the halfway line. The 10 metre line for 22 metre line and various other markings, such as the 5 and 15 metre line which are used in plays such as scrums and line outs. Now we are familiar with the pitch.
Let's. Take a look at how we play the game. We'll start with a kickoff. Each half the match is start with a drop kick from the center of the halfway line. The non kicking team must be 10 meters back from the ball when it is kicked and the kick must travel 10 meters towards the opposition goal line before hitting the ground from here.
The game moves into open play. The term open play refers to any phase in the match where the ball is being passed or kicked between teammates. Both teams are contesting for the ball in open play. The team of possession tries to get the ball to players in space who can make forward progression towards the opposing goal line.
Alongside running toward the opposition's goal line, there are two main techniques to put the ball into open space passing and kicking. We'll start with passing, as many people find this part a little confusing a player may parcel throw the ball to teammate, who's in a better position to continue the attack.
It must travel either directly across the field or passing them all backwards to advance for words. If a forward pass is made, the referee will stop the game and award a scrum with the throw-in going to the team, which was not in possession at the time of the pass.
In this way, a forward pass is punished by that team. Losing possession of the ball, but we will look at that more when we focus on Scrubs. The second method is kicking a player, may kick the ball instead of passing and the ball can travel forwards, but any teammates in front of the ball at the moment.
The ball is kicked out of play until either they retire behind the kicker or play it on side by a teammate retain the ball after kicking can be challenging. So there are three main strategies with kicking the ball.
The first is kicking into space so that teammates have time to run to the ball or for an opponent can get to it. The second is kicking out wide and an oblique angle to the field, so a wing or outside center can catch the ball.
We call this cross field kick. The third is kicking the ball to touch or off the field of play, resulting in a line out with the throwing going to the opposition will look more at line outs later, but what's important? Is that, although this concedes possession of the ball, it allows the kicking team to contest the ball in a much more advantageous position on the field close to the try line of their opposition? Now that we have look to open play, let's.
Look at what happens between this. We are familiar with a rugby tackle, but many are not familiar with what can result from a tackle and often why the game is stopped. We'll start by looking at the tackle itself.
Only the ball carrier can be tackled by an opposing player. A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground. The player being tackled must either have one or both knees on the ground, be sitting on the ground or be on top of another player.
Who is on the ground to maintain the continuity of the game? The ball carrier must release the ball immediately after the tackle. The tackler must release the ball carrier and both players must roll away from the ball.
This allows other players to come in and contest the ball, thereby starting a new phase of play. A familiar sight in the game of rugby is a rock, a game of pushing and shoving where both teams are trying to contest and win possession of the ball.
A rock is formed if the ball is on the ground and one or more players from each team. On their feet close around it, players must not handle the ball in the rock, but must use their feet to move the ball or drive over it.
So it emerges a team's, hindmost foot, which point will be picked up and they have taken possession. Another familiar scene is what is known as the mall. The mall needs at least three players. It occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carriers teammates holds on or binds as well.
The ball must be off the ground at the time. The team in possession of the ball can attempt to gain territory by driving their opponents back to their own goal line. The ball can then be passed backwards between players in the mall and eventually past a player who is not in the mall or a player can leave them all, carrying the ball and run with it.
We've got to open play and how the team works together to advance the ball or defends when the ball is being advanced towards them. During this open plate, infringement of the laws occur resulting set plays such as the scrum.
The scrum is a means of restarting play after a stoppage which has been caused by a minor infringement. The scrum serves to concentrate all the forwards and the scrum hands in one place on the field provide the opportunity for the backs to mount an attack using a space created elsewhere.
The ball is thrown into the middle of the tunnel between the two front rows, at which point the two hookers can compete for the ball, attempting to hook the ball back in the direction of their team. The team who throws the ball into the scrum usually retains possession, because the hooker and scrum-half can synchronize their actions once possession has been secured, a team can keep the ball on the ground and in the scrum and attempt to drive the opposition downfield.
Alternatively, they can bring the ball to the hindmost foot of the scrum, where the ball is then passed into the back line and open play resumes again. The key player at the scrum is the scrum half this player throws the ball into the scrum, moves the hindmost foot of the scrum and is usually the player, who picks the ball up and passes out to the fly-half, who then distributes the ball to the backline.
As soon as the scrum half picks the ball up, the opposition may can test the ball and attempt the tackle whichever player is in possession. Another option at the scrum is for the number-8 to pick up the ball and either pass it to the back line or carry the ball into the opposition.
Waiting for support to clean the rug. Lineout is another means of restarting play after the ball is going to touch or off the field of play at the side. The line that concentrates selection of forwards in one place near to the touch line, so the backs have the rest of wits.
The field in which to mount an attack, the keeper forwards, is to win possession and distribute the ball effectively to the back line. The forwards assemble in two lines, perpendicular to the touch line.
One meter apart. The hooker throws the ball down the corridor between these two lines of players, because the throwers teammates know where the throw is like to go. That team has an advantage in retaining possession.
However, with the speed of thought and movement, the opposition can contest the ball and the line out. Freaking results are turnover or possession. An important part of the line out is the line out lifters to allow players to catch high throws in the line out.
It is permissible for the catcher to be supported by teammates, while jumping to catch the ball. Safety is a prime concern here, and any player who is off the ground must be supportive. Until that player returns to the ground, a player may not be tackled, while in the air and holding shoving or all offenses punishable by penalty.
Kick we've spoken about various plays positions and restarting the game. The most important aspect of rugby is scoring a try scoring and rugby is actually pretty simple and there are four key numbers to remember.
If you score a try, you get five points. If you score a conversion from that, try, you score an additional two points and if you score a drop goal, you score three points and if you score from a penalty, you score three points.
Let's. Take a look at each one of these scoring methods a try, it is scored when the ball is grounded over the opponent's, goal line in the goal area, a penalty try can be awarded if a player would have scored a try, but for Foul play by the opposition, he was stopped.
A try is only scored when the ball is put down over the line with downward pressure. If a player loses control of the ball and there is no try after scoring a try, that team can attempt to add two further points by kicking the ball over the crossbar and between the posts from a place in line with where the try was scored.
A drop goal is scored when a player kicks for goal in open play by dropping the ball onto the ground at kicking it on the half volley as it bounces from the ground when awarded a penalty after infringement by the opposition at may, choose to kick a Goal to secure three points before the match, the referee will usually speak to the front row: players, the props and hookers, from both teams to run through the scrum engagement procedure.
This helps to focus the minds of all concerned on this essential phase of the game. The referee then organizes the coin toss with the captains prior to the match, to the side who kicks off during the match itself.
The referee is the sole judge of fact and of law. It is essential that all players respect the referees decisions at all times to judges, one on either side of the field of play assists the referee in matters of when and where the ball goes into touch and any other issues, as required by the referee, such as Foul play the touch.
Judges also adjudicate on the success or otherwise of kicks at goal. Foul plays anything a player does, which is contrary to the letter and spirit of the laws of the game, including obstruction, unfair play, dangerous play and misconduct.
The referee must sanction appropriately for foul play advantage can be applied to either minor infringement, such as a knock on, for example, or fences which would result in a penalty. So something like offside.
The decision has to be made by the referee as to whether there may be more benefit to the non-offending team. If play continues, if no advantage occurs, the referee will blow the whistle and bring play back to the place at the original infringement which occurred prior to advantage being played, sometimes an attack which seems to be heading towards a trial and will be stopped by the referee's whistle the pass has gone forward where hand the error has resulted in a knock on a scrum will have been awarded to the non-offending team.
You will often hear when players are handling the ball. The term knock-on. This is where a player mishandles the ball, so it may drop it while they allow it to rebound off a hand or arm and effectively the ball travels forward.
This is punishable by scrum to the opposition and therefore a turnover of possession rope is offside. Rule restricts where players can be on the field to make sure there is space to attack and defend, meaning that players are given a fair chance to play.
The ball in general, a player is in an offside position when that player is further forward than a teammate who is carrying the ball or in front of the hindmost foot or a breakdown in play. Ie a rock or a mall.
After a tackle, the tackler must immediately release the ball carrier and Karen must immediately release the vault failure on either of these counts limits. A fair contest for possession if release does not occur within a reasonable timeframe.
The referee will award a penalty, the non-offending team, any players on the ground when a rut or more what is formed must immediately roll away from the ball so as to allow continuity of play for the team in possession.
Failure to do so will result in an award of a penalty to the non-offending team when joining a ruck or mall. All players must do so from behind the hindmost foot of their hindmost teammate. We call this going through the gates if they join from the side.
They are in an offside position and taking part in the game, and this will immediately be penalized with the award of an a'penalty. If the ball becomes unplayable iraq, for example, under players who are on the ground, the referee will award a scrum to the team going forward before the ball became unplayable for a mall.
The scrum goes to the team, not in possession when them all began when saving for a scrum, the referee will form a scrum with his hands and point either left or right to which team has possession for minor infringement.
The referee will award the team a free kick, they have three options available to them. They can either form a scrum, they can either tap and go or they can kick the ball out on the fall or kick the ball in play.
If they kick it out. On the full, the opposition will get the ball. I hope you ' Ve enjoyed my beginner's guide to rugby and got a better understanding of this amazing game. Please comment below and if you have any questions, then contact us using the email address info at James Haskell comm.
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https://therugbystore.com.au/beginners-guide-to-rugby-how-to-play-rugby/
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