Out On The Full Introduces Sevens and The City

Summer is arguably the best season (temperature wise) of the year and if you are a rugby fan then it is the time when your attention is naturally drawn to the beautiful art of Sevens. This year the Sevens Season just got that little bit bigger as Allianz Park, the home of Saracens Rugby, will open its gates for the first ever Sevens and The City Festival. 

Naturally being a fan of sunshine, Sevens and a spot of off the field entertainment I was keen to hear all about this new Sevens extravaganza and who better to speak to than one of the organisers... you may know him fairly well; Saracens, England and Sevens legend Mr David Strettle. The first and most obvious question was where did the idea of Sevens and The City come from?

“Sevens and The City started when we had a few discussions with Edward Griffiths (Saracens CEO) and posed the idea of opening our beautiful stadium for a summer tournament. We are extremely lucky to have such great facilities at Allianz Park and thought that it would be the perfect venue to host a large scale Sevens event.”

David has experience of developing tournaments before having organised Sevens in La Manga, Spain, for a number of years and thankfully Edward gave the idea the green light. After that it was all systems go for David and his organisation partner aka work husband of choice Mr Matt Stevens!

So what is happening exactly!? Well on 12th July, in the blissful sunshine (predicted not guaranteed) there will be 4 rugby competitions, 2 netball competitions and a huge athletic competition; 4 Fittest. From a Sevens perspective we are going to be absolutely spoilt rotten as the top invitational teams will fight it out against each other to progress forward to take part in the Elite Finals against the English, Welsh, Kenyan and Scottish National Sevens Squads that are warming up for the Commonwealth Games. BT Sport will be filming the whole competition and there is no doubt that the standard of rugby will be World Class. As with every great Sevens tournament there are opportunities for all to compete with a strong Social Competition, a Women’s Competition and a Vets 10s. Finally Netball wise there will be two tournaments, one very social one and one where winning is a little more important and as for 4 Fittest well that deserves its own paragraph! 

What is 4 Fittest I hear you say!?! If you are old enough to remember it think Superstars’ Gym Tests, add in a little more complexity and you are there. 4 Fittest is a Mixed Team Performance Competition where athletic ability is everything and over a number of hotly contested rounds teams of 3 men and 1 woman will fight it out to be crowned “The Fittest in the City”.  

You may ask why I’m so excited by this particular tournament; well the fact of the matter is that it is combining a number of my favourite things in life, all in one place; rugby, netball and a spot of off the field fun. The 'entertainment' includes Battle of The Rugby Star DJ’s, a Champagne Tent and so much more and before you ask I have already requested a number of bottles of Bollinger to be reserved under my name!!! 

Speaking to David you cannot help but swept up in his enthusiasm for the tournament, it is clear that Sevens and The City will be one of the events of the Summer and I’m really excited to be part of it. Personally I was extremely impressed by the attention to detail, organisation and professionalism that both David and Matt are putting into this tournament; they have long term plans for Sevens and The City and are committed to making it an absolutely outstanding event. So I suggest that if you are a team you add it to your calendar right now, or if you prefer to spectate then you secure your ground pass ASAP to be a part of the day. Out On The Full will be bringing you all of the action from Sevens and The City, as you can tell I am really very excited by this and I hope that you are too!!

All of the important information and links are here: Website and Tickets and of course Team Entry

 

Legends Rugby Festival 2014

Rugby of the Legends variety has featured in Out On The Full before, I've no doubt that you all remember the match that provided us with Steve Thompson's greatest ever try or the recent encounter the night before England took on Ireland for BOD's last hurrah at Twickenham. Needless to say that our experienced players always deliver therefore it won't surprise you to know that when I heard about the fact there is a whole day dedicated to Legends Rugby I was intrigued to find out more. 

The Legends Rugby Festival is now in its second year after a hugely successful launch in 2013 and once again this year's event will take place at Wimbledon RFC. The festival itself sees the top Aviva Premiership clubs compete against each other to win the Paladin Legends Trophy and already Wasps, London Irish, Bristol, Saracens, Leicester Tigers, Worcester, Gloucester, Harlequins, Northampton and London Welsh have all confirmed teams and more are set to compete for the crown.  

The festival is specifically tailored for our Legends in terms of the fact that the matches are 10 minutes each way so not to burn the lungs too much and there are two types of competition to suit all needs; The Champagne League takes itself a little more seriously whereas the aptly named Beer League has the motto ‘It Is All About The Craic’!!

As you would expect the tournament is extremely family orientated and will have a range of activities and events going on all day; there will be Mini’s tournament, Kids Fun Zone, Family Tag Rugby tournament, a Fancy Dress Competition and naturally once the hard work is over there will be an evening of entertainment to raise your glass (pint or otherwise) too. The post tournament entertainment continues into the evening with Jelly Hammer and Me & Mr Brown, I can't say that I'm well acquainted with their work but I've no doubt that with so many rugby legends letting off steam after a hard day of work it will be a great evening', very much in-keeping with the 'Legends' theme.

The Festival has some great longstanding and extremely well known ambassadors who are integral to making it a huge success; Leon Lloyd, Serge Betsen, Dafydd James, Phil Greening and this year they are joined by Catherine Spencer to raise the profile of the Womens 7’s competition that also take place on the day. Those of you who have the pleasure to meet Serge Betsen will know that he does not mince his words and really says it as it is so for the tournament to have gained his love says a lot about what to expect;

“The Legends Rugby Festival is a unique event that truly highlights the spirit of rugby. Last summer was a huge success and it was great to see so many of the old faces back on the pitch! I’m really excited to be involved for the second year running.”

So there you have it... The Legends Rugby Festival at Wimbledon RFC on 12th July. It will be a day filled with sunshine, predicted, and Legends, guaranteed, with Lewis Moody, Neil Back confirmed and strong rumours that Brian Moore might be playing you'd be mad to miss such a day! One of the Legends Festival's partners the School Of Hard Knocks Charity is having a pre tournament party the night before at Wimbledon RFC, so I hope to see you there before a day of action packed Legends Rugby on the Saturday!

SOHK Summer Party Friday 11th July 6pm onwards. The Legends Festival, Wimbledon RFC, Saturday  12th July. Gates open 9.30am  http://legendsrugby.co.uk 

Brutal - England vs. New Zealand (The Third Test)

On a cold night in Hamilton all forms of English optimism and hope were brutally crushed by a clinical and cut throat performance from the mighty All Blacks and it was heart wrenching to watch.

For forty minutes England cowered in the face of a rampant New Zealand side that were devastating and clinical whilst the men in white were disorganised and overpowered. From 1 to 15 New Zealand had the upper hand, time after time tackles were missed and a 23 point half time deficit was the result. According to Ben Youngs a number of ‘unbroadcastable words’ were exchanged at half time and after the break we saw the result of them as England delivered a much more joined up defensive display however overall it was still some way off their best.

The twenty three point Third Test crushing puts a rather larger dampener on the previous two Test results and now the question on everyone’s lips is has this tour been a failure? In the emotional aftermath of such a result the quick and natural response is to this is yes. Three matches played and three defeats certainly doesn’t make for great reading however if you look beyond the numbers there is an alternative answer.

The Third Test highlighted New Zealand’s killer instinct and ability to rugby play at an intensity that is difficult to match, their brutal efficiency is envied by every side in the world, not just England and there is no doubt that now, on 21st June 2014, they remain the undisputed World Leaders. Failure is a strong word and one that I don’t believe this England side and its coaching staff deserve to have placed at their door. Yes individual's flaws have been exposed and combinations have been tried that haven't worked however this must be done. In June 2013 England are not saying that they are finish article and they are not pretending to be ready to win the World Cup, in fact they are still building and this difficult tour will be a valuable and critical lesson in their development. When was the last time that we pushed the All Blacks so hard? When was the last time that we felt that we produced rugby that eclipsed Hanson’s men?

England’s coaching staff and players will draw hugely from this tour, they will use the feelings of hurt to fuel their fire and make them a better side. Cast your minds back to the end of the 2013 Six Nations and remember the reaction this year at Twickenham and whilst the All Blacks are a different kettle of fish to Wales England’s reaction will be just as powerful and potent in November. England’s comebacks in the Second and Third Test took guts and courage, previous England sides wouldn’t have fought back with so much venom. This squad’s attitude and desire is greater than I have ever seen it and over the next twelve months they will take their game to another level.

Right now the overriding emotions will be hurt, pain and disappoint... today England weren’t good enough, they were exposed and they paid the price. However Stuart Lancaster is building and he is building something special, the road to greatness is never easy, along the way difficult and excruciating lessons must be learned. In the coming days, weeks and even months individuals will be criticised, some rightly, some wrongly and everyone will have a firm opinion on the success of this tour. In my eyes England have not failed this summer, they have merely stumbled and will go onto to achieve greatness in the future. 

England vs. New Zealand - The Third Test

Many of us hoped and prayed to a higher being that this Test in Hamilton would be the decider, however after that narrow 28-27 loss last weekend it was not to be and the tour slipped out of England's grasp. Due to that fact this Test could be called ‘nothing match’ or if I were a Kiwi journalist I might dare to call it ‘a mere formality’ for the home side however being the English lady that I am I beg to differ. This Test should never be placed same sentence as the words ‘nothing’ or 'formality', it is actually rather important for both sides in terms of their current and future development and its result cannot conclusively be predicted prior to kick off. 

Anger, hurt and despair are all emotions that last weekend’s England Test team will have been feeling acutely since the final whistle in Dunedin and one question that I have been pondering over this week is just how do you recover from feeling like you have hugely let yourselves down for a second time in a row? There is no doubt about the fact that it is tough and on Saturday our England side must show that they are as strong emotionally as they are physically, even at the end of their tortuously long season. 

Once again there is a huge call to arms, however it is a focused one since  the previous two tests have shown that the All Blacks are not untouchable and in fact they are eminently beatable. Obviously selection for this final fixture has been dictated slightly due to a couple of key injuries to a Farrell and Care however Ben Youngs and Freddie Burns are two players that will seize the opportunity to ‘do the job’ for their side and in the process showcase their own worth. Elsewhere in the backs Brown, Yarde and Ashton will take care of things from deep with an Eastmond and Tuilagi centre partnership. In the First Test we saw glimpses of how potent this could be and I hope that after 80 minutes in Hamilton we are singing the praises of both centres and their work together. England have a huge amount of power and experience up front and under Graham Rowntree's guidance it is becoming a huge area of strength. A Marler, Hartley and Wilson front three should make for delightful viewing especially at scrum time and England's enforcer Courtney Lawes will aim to cause a destruction from the word go with Joe Launchbury replacing an injured Geoff Parling. Parling was immense in the Second Test, his stats said it all; he made 32 tackles, secured 11 lineout s& hit nearly 40 rucks...! His presence will be missed however Joe Launchbury is World Class and he'll dig deep for this final match of the season. Finally a Wood, Robshaw and Vunipola back row has a great balance to it and certainly a huge amount of go forward. Once again England's bench is jam packed with impact players and every single one will add an extra dimension as and when they enter the match on Saturday. 

Casting our eye over to the All Blacks for moment, finally, after 3 weeks of waiting they are able to play their trump card... welcome to the party IRB Player of the Year 2013 Kieran Read! Read, like his back row partner the great Richie McCaw, adds an extra element to the already star studded line up simply by being there and obviously his positional contribution is mighty too. It is not surprising in the slightest that Ben Smith retains the 15 jersey above Israel Dagg, I'm expecting another masterclass in rugby from him and Malakai Fekitoa is handed his first All Black start. The 22 year old Highlander continues his rise through the International ranks and it certainly will be captivating watching him go head to head with a certain 23 year old powerhouse wearing white!

As previously mentioned English emotions will be high, their desire to prove themselves will be greater than ever before and the fact that they have only one opportunity left to do so will add even more pressure however England must keep their emotions in check. To put it very simply England must deliver from minute one to minute eighty one and critically they must be confident in their collective ability. Over the past two test matches the players in white shirts have shown that Hanson’s men are indeed just men, they are not gods and as mentioned before they are not untouchable. England have eighty minutes of rugby left of this tour and rest assured when every single man finishes their work, be that after fifty minutes, sixty minutes or when the final whistle is blown they will have given it their all and will have absolutely nothing left to give. Will it be enough? Only time will tell, however I sincerely hope that it will be, because this squad's progression and desire truly deserves to return home with a victory under their belts. 

All Blacks; Ben Smith; Cory Jane, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (C), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty
England: Mike Brown, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Eastmond, Marland Yarde, Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Courtney Lawes, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (C), Billy Vunipola Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Danny Cipriani, Luther Burrell

England vs. Crusaders - The Tuesday Test

This time last year we were in the midst of a Lions tour enjoying two Lions' matches a week and loving every minute. 12 months on we now have another double week to enjoy with England's first and only midweek match of this Summer Tour being played tomorrow against the Crusaders. 

England's touring party has been large in number, I believe over 40 in total, and whilst some may think that this is too many, personally I disagree. Stuart is of the firm belief that until he, and his team, get their hands on the players they don't really know them and this Summer will have provided a lot of vital contact time. A World Cup is not won by fifteen or even twenty three players, it is won by a squad and a squad that is filled with depth and fierce competition for places. This competition and depth is exactly what England are building right now and it is why  fixtures like 'The Tuesday Test' are vital. 

At the AMI Stadium England will be led out by Ed Slater, the Leicester Tigers' man that has come into his own this season both as a player and a Captain. When Richard Cockerill first announced him as his match-day Captain some had their doubts, however on the pitch Ed has quickly silenced them and proved to be an inspirational leader. Ed is focused sighting this match as a 'chance to lift the siprit in the squad' and saying that every player is 'desparate to get out there and play'. His Second Row partner is Dave Atwood, a man that many feel should be starting in the Tests let alone this midweek match and I expect him to have colossal game, the type of game that says 'Hi Stuart remember me, I have what it takes'. The front three of Alex Waller, Joe Gray and Henry Thomas should put together one hell of a set piece and with back row that has a point to prove, Haskell, Kvesic and Johnson, England are showcasing a pleasing amount of depth up front and should dominate the game physically. 

Shifting our focus to the backs we have a mighty fine looking 15 to 9, let me remind you of it now; Alex Goode, Ben Foden, Henry Trinder, Brad Barritt, Anthony Watson, Danny Cipriani and Lee Dickson. Every single back has the talent and capability to single handedly change a game and win a match for their team. The battle for the Full Back shirt is one of the most competitive of all, Alex Goode starts ahead of Ben Foden who is shifted out to the wing and Chris Pennell warms the bench. Whilst it isn't his natural positon, at this level Ben Foden shouldn't be exposed on the wing and I say that with respect to he Crusaders, against the All Blacks it would be another matter entirely!!  The combination of Henry Trinder and Brad Barritt will be an interesting one to watch and Barritt's inclusion sparks the distinct possibility that he won't be involved in the Third Test. On the other wing we have Anthony Watson, he man who makes rugby look effortless!! Anthony's eye for space and ability to capitlise on it is stunning to watch and with Dickson and Cipriani dictating things from the half backs England's back line has the ability to expose even the best of defenses with ease.

The excitement surrounding this midweek squad does not finish with the fifteen shirt and eight prolific players will be anxiously waiting on the bench, all hoping that they are given a chance to show what they can do. Ward, Catt, Sinckler, Paterson, Wigglesworth, Myler, May and Pennell are the eight and personally I hope that they are all given a decent amount of time on the pitch... ringing the changes on fifty minutes would be the sensible and I believe fair thing to do to see what they can bring to the White Shirt of England. 

This mid week fixture is a huge opportunity for every single member of this match-day twenty three and of course for the starting XV in particular. It must have been extremely difficult to watch others head out and perform for their country whilst you have been training hard without an opportunity to showcase your worth. The question has already been raised as to whether there should have been more mid-week fixtures? For what it is worth I think that perhaps one more would have been a good idea, as no matter how intense your training is, you cannot replicate the emotions of a match day wearing the White Shirt of England. Tomorrow morning Ed Slater will lead out twenty three fired up Englishmen, no-one needs to remind them about the magnitude of this opportunity, with the intense competition for places chances like this one must be taken and they must be taken well. 

Anguish & Pain - England vs. New Zealand Second Test

With its huge glass roof and electric atmosphere The Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin is known as ‘The Caludron of Pain’ and on Saturday it certainly lived up to its nickname for Chris Robshaw and his men as they ended the Second Test battered, bruised and defeated by a rejuvenated All Blacks side.

It was a game of two halves, the first dominated by a rampant England and the second by the ruthless All Blacks. Once again it was one of the great Test Matches, the type of Test Match that inspires people to play rugby and that makes you proud to be a supporter of both your country and the game. 

England rode the opening 40 minutes well and the half time score line of 10-6 in their favour was a fair reflection of the two sides at that point in time however after 15 minutes of rest New Zealand turned the screw. The All Blacks dominated for half an hour, they were efficient and clinically put the match just out of the reach of the men in White. One man in particular ignited the home side and that was Ben Smith, who owned the 15 shirt and delivered nothing short of a masterclass. Whilst the final roll of the dice went England's way, and their relentless pursuit of that final try should be applauded the night belonged to the home side. 

Now, I’m sure that  Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team will come in for some criticism over the next few days due to the fact that Manu's lack of wing experience scuppered 7 points and the central partnership of Twelvetrees and Burrell didn’t quite sing as much as we’ve all hoped that it would! However I must ask you this... is there ever a good time to try such a switch?? I honestly don't believe that there is...every game is huge, every game has a lot riding on it and to really test out someone in a new position you have to do so against the best, not against a lesser side. I fully expect Manu to head back into the centre and Chris Ashton or Jonny May to start in Hamilton, however it was essential, in Stuart's eyes, that this combination was tried... you may not agree with him but you can't fault his bravery. 

I expect there will be a few disappointed players in terms of their individual performances as well as the result, Danny Care was a tad rusty and Mike Brown and Owen Farrell weren’t at the very top of their games however all will bounce back strongly in 6 days times. Positively, up front Graham Rowntree is developing something special, he is creating a pack that causes havoc for the opposition, whoever they are, both at the set piece and in the loose. Any questions over David Wilson’s inclusion were buried early on as he had one of his best games in an England shirt as did one of the unsung heroes of the side Joe Launchbury, however let’s not focus on individuals, and instead let’s look at this result and what it means for this England side.

Leading into this tour many spoke of the fact that if England won just one match then it would be deemed a success however from the reaction of our England Camp, both last weekend and today, you know that they wanted more. In the immediate aftermath of the final whistle Tom Wood spoke to Sky Sports and his message was simple ‘it just wasn’t good enough and it hurts.’ This England side are devastated and bitterly annoyed with themselves for losing to the All Blacks, at home, by 1 point. Let me just repeat that; England are bitterly disappointed to losing to the All Blacks, at home, by 1 point, I remember a time when that would be considered a monumental effort and a huge result, however not now. I applaud this desire to achieve and desire to fulfill their potential however I also would urge the players not to beat themselves up too much, positives must be highlighted, taken on board and ultimately built on. 

England have one shot left, they have one opportunity to pull it together for 80 minutes and beat the World Leaders... this week once against I expect England to twist and New Zealand to stick when it comes to selection. England will pour every ounce of hurt and frustration in this final encounter and I hope for their sake as much as ours, that it is enough to deliver the result that they so desperately deserve.

England vs. New Zealand - The Second Test

So here we are, the Second Test is upon us and once again Stuart Lancaster’s men have a huge task ahead of them, this time in Dunedin. The fact that it is a must win game is something that we have all been clear about from the moment that the final whistle blew at Eden Park however the starting XV for this match was less of a certainty. Throughout the week speculation was rife regarding a few key selection decisions and the following questions were debated at large; should Manu head out to the wing? Does Ben Morgan deserve to be dropped? Who should start in the Second Row? These questions and more divided opinions and that meant that when the team was announced today at 11.15pm on Wednesday (11th) it was greeted by a mixed reception!!

Billy is back!

Stuart Lancaster has thrown in the curveball, Rugby World phrased it perfectly when they said ‘New Zealand have chosen to stick, whilst England have decided to twist’. Manu Tuilagi will start on the wing, Yarde moves across to the other and Manu makes way for the centre partnership of a fit again Billy Twelvetress and Luther Burrell. Danny Care is back, Ben Morgan retains his place and Tom Wood enters the starting line up. Now the greatest debate is of course around Manu Tuilagi’s move to the wing... there are those that think this is the best way to go and there are others that think this ridiculous. Personally I am going to withhold judgement and simply wait and see... Stuart Lancaster and his team know what they are doing, I believe that this talented England side is in great hands and it isn’t for me to make their selection decisions for them. The movement of Manu to the wing is a gamble, in the First Test he made 84m and carried 14 times... those stats are unlikely to be replicated out wide however his contribution could be just as significant if he delivers in terms of tries. Up front the pack remains the same... Graham Rowntree has put his faith in the front three of Marler, Webber and Wilson and said to all of his forwards; ‘you smashed their house up once, now go and do it again’.  A beautifully simple yet thoroughly effective game plan!! Finally England’s bench is filled with impact in particular that of Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley and Billy Vunipola, what a trio to be able to bring on after 60 minutes!

At this point in June 2014  it is a hugely exciting time to be an England Rugby fan, it isn't just the fact that England are playing with a greater level of precision and attacking intent, it is also their attitude off the pitch it that has should excite us all. Chris Robshaw and his men are more focused and driven than ever before, their desire and determination to achieve their full potential every single time they step onto the pitch was shown by their reaction to last weekend's loss at Eden Park. In the post match press interviews you’ll have noticed that not a single player was satisfied with their side’s performance in spite of it being a very strong one. Instead every man said they wanted to be judged on the result alone and that result was a loss, a failure. As we race towards next year's World Cup comparisons with the squad of 2003 are inevitable and whilst times have changed slightly I make no apologises for comparing the two both now and in the months to come. On the field Martin Johnson's 2003 squad were phenomenally fit, they had a monumental desire to win and the belief that they could do so, against anyone. Last Saturday it was plain for all to see that England already have two of these three critical elements... fitness (in spite of what the Kiwi press think) and desire, what is missing is the unconditional belief. Speaking to the press this week Joe Marler confirmed this when he said ‘Saturday helped us to think, ‘Actually, we can go toe to toe with these guys’. When you break it down, they are 15 blokes on a field trying to do the same as you.’ Collective belief stems from closing out games like that First Test and whilst that didn't happen, a win on Saturday would go some way towards building this vital piece of the England puzzle.

Now we all know that the All Blacks will step up their game this weekend, the whip will have been cracked in training, moves will have been tightened up and a focus on intensity and clinical execution will have been discussed. With the cobwebs dusted off, Ben Smith’s movement to Full Back, the prolific Julian Savea back with his impressive 19 tries in 20 tests record and Kieran Reid returning to the field things just became very, very serious for England. 

For Stuart Lancaster’s side winning this weekend in Dunedin is imperative, in terms of this particular series and in terms of this talented side's progression and development. Stuart has made the bold selection calls and now his side must deliver on the pitch. England must play with intensity, they must stifle Hanson's side from early on and importantly they must not be afraid. Once again it is another monumental challenge, in the words of Henry Fraser ‘the greater the challenge, the greater we become’ and winning this weekend’s Second Test would be another important step towards greatness for this England side.

Intention Clear - England vs. New Zealand (Test 1)

As the lights are switched off tonight at Eden Park it will be done so with a sigh of relief... the stadium's 22 year winning record for the All Blacks remains intact, however only just! Underneath the floodlights England shocked the home side and pushed them every step of the way in a pulsating and captivating First Test. 

Statistically the odds were against the men in white, the majority of people wrote them off months ago when they realised about the small scheduling hick up however a few of us felt that, that was doing both the players and Stuart Lancaster and his team a disservice and backed them regardless.

A focused Chris Robshaw led his team out into a cauldron of noise and emotions and instead of cowering at daunting prospect ahead them they rose to the challenge from the very first minute! As expected England were driven forward by a need to prove themselves and a need to showcase their worth, individually and collectively. For 80 minutes the All Blacks didn’t look their usual imperious selves instead they looked like humans however it says so much about Steve Hanson’s side that they found a way to win the game. If I pointed directly to Nigel Owens’ decision to card Marland Yarde and said that, that was the only difference between the two sides then I would be doing the All Blacks a small disservice, yes they weren’t at their best and yes they were rusty but they closed the game out, when many other sides wouldn’t have done. Aaron Cruden’s decision to take a quick penalty must have caused heart attacks all around the country however in the end it proved to be the difference as Conrad Smith subsequently found the try line. 

Prior to that point you felt that England were the ones in control... from the first whistle to the last Chris Robshaw was inspired, he was the heartbeat of a prolific back row ably supported by Ben Morgan and James Haskell and delivered a true Captain’s performance. Freddie Burns’ selection raised eyebrows and made many question Stuart Lancaster’s decision making however the young fly half was outstanding, it was his game management and his kicking game that enabled England to push on throughout the match. Together Kyle Eastmond and Manu Tuilagi eclipsed Nonu and Smith, Eastmond ignored the fact that he was 28kg lighter and 11cm shorter than Nonu (thanks @LucyLomax16 for that fact) and fronted up phenomenally well. David Wilson’s knock-ons were frustrating, however his contribution at scrum time more than made up for it... Joe Launchbury and Geoff Parling were a sight to behold and how often can we say that England had the upper hand at both the scrum and the lineout against New Zealand?!! England successfully silenced some of New Zealand’s biggest names and they did it in style... Dagg went off with 30 minutes to go, Nonu not long after and many forgot that Richie McCaw was on the pitch... that statement alone showcases just how impressive Robshaw’s men were. 

Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team are in a luxurious position, they have a match day squad that just frightened the life out of the All Blacks and they have a number of his first choice players that are chomping at the bit to get on the pitch. For example at fly half Danny Cipriani entered the game and exerted himself instantly, should he be given the chance start next weekend? What about Owen Farrell? Finally, throw into the mix the fact that that Burns didn’t put a foot wrong... that is just one headache!

Today England showed the world their intentions and they showed that they are a side that is not to be taken lightly under any circumstances. Great teams are never satisfied with a loss and England will believe that they gave New Zealand the victory today instead of New Zealand earning it for themselves and that will fuel their fire heading into the Second Test. 

This First Test was one hell of a test match and one that should warm the hearts of every single fan of English Rugby. Under the leadership of Stuart Lancaster England are moving forwards every single time that they step onto the pitch and now they have a depth to their squad that has been missing in the past. The next stop is Dunedin, there is no doubt about the fact that New Zealand will up their game, but you can bet your bottom dollar that England will too! For now all that is left to say is this; "Congratulations England, the victory may have eluded you, but my goodness me did you make your nation proud!"

England vs. New Zealand - The First Test

11,340 miles away men wearing white shirts with a red rose on them are about to embark on one of the toughest tours of their International careers. The All Blacks have led the way for years and they don't plan on relinquishing their stranglehold on world rugby any time soon, however this Summer with a home Rugby World Cup fast approaching England need to disrupt their Southern Hemisphere rivals and continue on their own coming of age journey.

Let's not beat around the bush here... the All Blacks are brilliant, their fitness, skill set and all around rugby prowess often leaves you open mouthed and silent in awe. In front of a home crowd they are expected to win and they are expected to demolish their opponents without a second glance. Under the reign of Steve Hanson they have managed to bring through some exciting talents without disrupting their momentum, with Dan Carter still on sabbatical starting Aaron Cruden is a given and no longer something that AB fans worry about.

Brode Retallick's shambolic first press conference was well documented this week... for those of you who missed it Brode couldn't name a single England players' name! Could it be that Brode thinks England just aren't important enough to know their names? Who knows? What I do know is that's.  it will certainly add a little spice to Saturday's fixture...  I can't wait for every squad member to personally introduce themselves to Brode in their own 'special way'!!!

The man that has pushed the side forward from the back row has been Kieran Reid, Reid eptiomises Kiwi rugby he is hard working, hard as nails and a phenomenal athlete, however on Saturday his side must do without him as he has suffered a reoccurrence of  his concussion symptoms that have kept him sidelined since April. Julian Savea also misses out due to a knee injury, Cory Jane and Jerome Kaino take their places, Kaino after a two-and-a-half-year absence from the set up... both must step up and fill the large shoes they are substituting for. Hanson's starting XV boasts 779 caps, almost every man has been there and done it all before, none more so than captain Richie McCaw who will receive his 124th cap!

England are not expected to win this first test, the 'seamless scheduling' means that Stuart's side isn't filled with his first choice players however personally I'm not completely writing them off. By now I'm sure that you all realise that I am an optimist, although not I hope that you also realise that I am not unrealistically so. My thought process with regard to not fully writing England off goes something like this; first, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a player with five starts can be just as influential as one with fifty, being totally and utterly written off by most can have it's merits, just ask the 2012 side that ran out at Twickenham against McCaw's men. Second, this England XV has a point to prove, certain individuals more than others and that desire can produce rugby of a level that we haven't seen before. Yes, there are other men waiting in the wings however this XV know that if they deliver, collectively, then individually they may just secure that test jersey for another week. Reviewing the team selection that was announced late last night, I'm surprised to see Freddie Burns starting at 10, we all watched Freddie's nightmare domestic season unfold and is the question lingering is this; is International brilliance possible off the back of such a fragmented and frustrating time!? In an early press conference Stuart did say that fly half would be picked on form and that what panned out on the training field would heavily influence his decision, so let's hope that Freddie is flying! Kyle Eastmond starts at inside centre, I'd really like to see him open up and flourish with the support of a certain wrecking ball he must realise his full potential for 80 minutes. The news today that Danny Care is not fit to play the match due a shoulder injury does sway things further in the All Blacks favour. Ben Youngs starts and Lee Dickson moves onto the bench, both must step their games up another notch or three...! It can be done however the loss of Care could be pivotal. 

Crucially England must not be intimidated, Stuart Lancaster's side must erase any thoughts that they might not be good enough and instead run out of the tunnel confident in the knowledge that they have what it takes beat the competition. England must start well, they must stifle the threats of Dagg, Jane and Nonu early on, deal with the brutality of McCaw and his reliable pack and then flourish in their own game. The experience of Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw and James Haskell and the physicality of Manu Tuilagi all critical elements in a game plan that will be focused on defensive brutality and blistering attacking intent. This weekend England have an almighty task on their hands, they are the underdogs and no-one is expecting them to win. The question is will they surprise us all and produce something majestic or will they fall short? Today, a couple of days before the big event we hope for the former and expect the latter... England it is over to you, show us what you are made of. 


England: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Manu Tuilagi, (Leicester Tigers), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester); Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester) Replacements: Joe Gray (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Dave Attwood (Bath), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester)

New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa

KO 8.35am Saturday - Sky Sports 1

Out On The Full - Summer, Summer, Summer Times

If you are anything like me then your anxiety levels have been slowly building for the past few weeks as the end of the domestic rugby season has crept up on us. Weekends are made for watching Premiership Rugby and now that the season has ended we have a situation to deal with; how to fill that Premiership sized hole in our lives! They say that a problem shared is a problem halved therefore Out On The Full is going to tackle this issue head on and provide some suggestions and dates for the diary to keep you occupied during this challenging time.

This time last year we were gearing up for a tremendous month of British and Irish Lions action and this summer we revert back to the single nation variety. The Junior World Cup has already kicked off and that will reach its climax on 20th June whilst at a Senior Level the matches are just about to start. England have the mammoth challenge of taking on New Zealand in their own backyard, 3 tests and a mid-week fixture will certainly show what Stuart Lancaster's men are made of and I can't wait to watch them unfold!! Equally the other home nations will be tested to the max on their respective travels;  Wales are off to South Africa, Ireland to Argentina and  Scotland have their first tour under Vern Cotter with tests against USA, Canada, Argentina and South Africa. All of these matches take place across on the same weekends in June, 7th/8th, 14th/15th, 21st/22nd and Scotland finish on Saturday 28th. The games will be live on Sky Sports and England's matches are early morning kick offs so watching them with a hearty Full English seems like the best course of action to me.... although having a pint in hand is optional!!

In July, on Saturday 12th, we have the Sevens and The City Tournament at Allianz Park and the Legends Rugby Festival at Wimbledon RFC. The Legends Rugby Festival started last year and showcases the experienced members of our distinguished game. Old club rivalries will be rekindled in a strong top tier competition that includes whole host of Aviva Premiership sides and I've been informed that some rather well known faces will be dusting off their boots for the day. An Out On The Full Legends Festival Preview will be coming soon!  The inaugural Sevens and The City Tournament will take place at Allianz Park, it is the brainchild of Matt Stevens and David Strettle. Sevens and The City will be a great mix of elite rugby and rugby of the more ‘recreational’ variety as well as a Netball and 4Fittest their athletic competition. Saracens’ fans were treated to a taster of the entertainment side of things at their last home game when the Sevens and The City Jacuzzi arrived pitch-side! All in all and it promises to be a day filled with entertainment and enjoyment.  The elite competition will be broadcast live on BT Sport as a couple of the teams are using it as a warm up for the Commowealth Games.

Personally I’d then advice a little holiday for a few days, 4 maybe 5 at maximum before the end of July when everything kicks off again. Obviously if you like the round ball game then you can catch the latter stages of the Football World Cup but for those of you that are like me and find the thought of watching 90 minutes of football extremely difficult to swallow then of rest and recuperation will be the best option!

The Commonwealth Games will be live from Glasgow on 26th and 27th July and then domestic action returns, woooho!! This year the Premiership Rugby 7s Series will be larger than ever before as the Welsh Regions will take part for the first time. The BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park is the venue for the Welsh leg between Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets and then the English stages will be held at Kingsholm, Kingston Park and the Final will be at The Stoop. The Premiership Rugby 7s Series always showcases a whole host of talent to watch out for, for the year ahead, last year we saw the likes of Charlie Walker and Blaine Scully thrive in the sunshine at Allianz Park so expect a few ‘unknowns’ to turn heads again in 2014. Across the other side of the world the Super Rugby Final will take place and in France England Women will embark on their quest for world domination in the Women's World Cup.

Another 7s date for the diary is the World Club 7s tournament, on 16th & 17th August. Over two days Twickenham will host some electric footwork from all parts of the world, the NSW Waratahs, New York 7s and a host of other clubs will battle it out on the hallowed turf to be crowed the World Club 7s Champion. Last year the man of the tournament was Carlin Isles and this year’s tournament is guaranteed to be just as exciting as the last! Finally if you enjoy your Super Rugby then The Rugby Championship starts on 16th August, the annual tournament between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina always delivers absolutely stunning rugby and its fair share of drama.

So I do hope that this article re-assures you that all is not lost during the summer months, there is plenty of rugby action, across the country and broadcast on TV to keep you occupied before the pre-season matches begin in mid August. Premiership Rugby will release their fixture list for the 2014/15 season on Friday 4th July and for those of you with a vested interest in the new European Rugby Champions Cup fixture list that will be launched officially in Switzerland on Tuesday 10th June!

Out On The Full will continue to bring you articles and features throughout the summer, starting with all of the England action this week! So for now it is time to iron those International shirts and get ready for a few early starts as the Summer Tours kick off in earnest in just a few days time. 

The View From Twickenham - England vs. Barbarians

At Twickenham Stadium on Sunday afternoon ‘an England XV’ showed a fierce amount of heart and determination against an extremely experienced and talented Barbarians side. Last year England cruised to victory however under the tutelage of Dean Richards and Mike Tindall the 2014 Barbarians side meant business and used every single one of their 700 plus caps to end the day victorious.

Much was discussed before the game regarding the age and inexperience of this England side and some feared that they would be steamrolled by the likes of Rokocoko, Leguizamon and however in the gorgeous June sunshine thankfully that was not the case. Crucially and indeed pleasingly for all involved in England Rugby to a man every single player took the occasion in their stride and delivered. Now of course we would always want to end a match on the right side of the score sheet however sometimes it is about more than just the result, it is about the performance after the match manager Jon Callard summed things up perfectly when he said; “it was an invaluable experience, even though as a coach you hurt because you we didn’t win, it will pay dividends for the future.” Jon singled out Henry Slade for his contribution throughout the match and I couldn't agree more. Henry is wise beyond his years and once again stepped up to mark and made it look extremely easy. For me another man stood out and that was full back Elliot Daly, now before you all say it I did see him miss a try saving tackle on Hosea Gear mid way through the second half however that was the only blemish on an otherwise impeccable day at the office. Daly’s natural speed and vision shone throughout and with an abundance of riches at fullback it would be great to see him run out at his preferred position Inside Centre next time area. Fanlly Captain Graham Kitchener led the side phenomenally; he oozed class and certainly held his own at the set piece and in the loose.

In his usual calm and matter of fact way acting Barbarian Head Coach Dean Ryan said that “the game was won because people kindly kicked to Hosea Gear” now obviously there was a little more to it than that, however Gear’s class was evident for all to see. On the pitch Ryan’s men put life back into the Barbarians’ shirt, the spirit of Barbarian rugby was never lost however somewhere over the last couple of years the competitiveness had gone slightly, however today it was back! In just one week, 10 nations came together and produced a display of rugby that was befitting of the history and tradition of the black and white striped shirt and they did it with a smile on their faces. Francois Trinh-Duc set a new trend when it comes to the socks protocol mixing and matching his boots and Juan Manuel Leguizamon led like a Champion.

For two members of the England squad it will be a nervous evening, there is just one spot left on the plane to New Zealand for a tighthead either Kyle Sinckler or Will Collier will get it. In the post match press conference Jon Callard found it difficult to pick between the two and he has gladly left the decision in the hands of the Senior Management. Over the next few hours we will find out which will head out to Auckland however one thing that we know for sure is that a tour to New Zealand in that position will be an even greater learning curve than this fixture against the Barbarians.

Today, an England XV taking on the Barbarians at Twickenham had everything that you could ask for from such a fixture, it gave 23 England players the chance to showcase their talents for now and for the future and the Barbarians highlighted their own athleticism and quality. English Rugby is in a good place right now, it is bursting with talent and enthusiasm and in spite of being on the wrong side of the result today’s fixture should be deemed a huge success. 

See all the Out On The Full Photos from Twickenham HERE

England vs. Barbarians

As the domestic season comes to a close it is time for England to take centre stage and this starts in a few hours time when a youthful and exciting England side take on the Barbarians. 

England versus the Barbarians is always a great fixture, it is a time that individuals emerge onto the International stage and show exactly what they are made of, 12 months ago Marland Yarde was handed his first taste of wearing the white jersey of England and today many others will be doing the same. The 2013 side ran out 40-12 winners against their star studded opponents and whilst this afternoon’s match will be tough the hope is that England will record a win.

This win won’t be easy to come by as the Barbarians house an almighty array of talent in their squad, between them they have over 700 International caps and represent 10 nations – on paper and I’m sure in practice they look to be quite a force to be reckoned with. Now you would have thought that with that much experience in the ranks nerves would be a thing of the past however you’d be wrong... the tradition of the Barbarians adds an extra dimension and weight of expectation to every player. This feeling was shared this week by Irish legend Donncha O’Callaghan who will play for the Barbarians for the first time today, in an interview with Nick Heath (@RugbyMedia) he admitted to feeling a huge weight of pressure because he wanted to deliver a performance that was befitting of the shirt. Donncha’s enthusiasm to ‘fulfil his boyhood dream’ of running out for the Barbarians showcased to us all how powerful the tradition name is and I strongly recommend you enjoy the full interview, the link at the end of the article. As mentioned throughout the Baa-Baa's squad the talent is extremely impressive and this week they’ve been training hard as well as enjoying a spot of fun too. The best Tweet that I saw, apart from the vast arrange of multi coloured boots on display during training, was from Juandre Kruger showcasing his and Jimmy Cowen’s #DinnerWithAMassage !! On the pitch this afternoon watch out for the experienced captain Juan Manuel Leguizamon, the feet and talent of Joe Rokocoko and the pivotal scrum half Jimmy Cowen, as I don’t think that we seen him at his very best yet this year! I expect Cowen to be prolific and with team-mates like O’Callaghan and Hosea Gear you can understand why I think this! 

Now, let’s turn the focus onto England and look at what they will bring to the party this weekend! The ‘seamless’ nature of this Summer Tour’s scheduling has been discussed until the cows come home and I am not going to dwell on that, instead I am going to draw your attention to the individuals that will be wearing white today. Some have called this a ‘nothing match’ and I must disagree, the 23 men that have been selected to represent their country will run out all guns blazing ready to do battle and show their worth, a strong performance will add to their credit in the England bank and could see them on the plane to New Zealand tomorrow!

England’s side is a delicious blend of experience and ‘youth’, it is filled with in form, exciting talents... as you all know I’m a sucker for an electric back line and the prospect of; Daly, Rokoduguni, Joseph, Hill, Sharples, Slade and Simpson makes me want to get up off my chair and do a little dance!! Daly sees things few others do, Rokoduguni, Sharples and Simpson all have electric pace and the Chief’s pairing of Hill and Slade finish things perfectly. I’m expecting a lot of meters to be made and eyes up rugby to be played on the bowling green surface that is Twickenham Stadium. All of these men have scored some sublime tries this year and wearing the red rose of England I’m expecting more of the same! The front 3; Harrison, Buchanan and Sinckler will have their work cut out with Taumalolo, Paulo and the Georgian Kubriashvili, however all three have proved themselves for their Clubs in the largest games of the season and will be raring to get stuck in to their opponents. Michael Paterson has had a stellar season at Sale, statistically he finished the season with the most lineouts won and will be a safe pair of hands for Buchanan to throw to. At 6, 7 and 8 we have 3 prolific back row forwards; Jamie Gibson, Luke Wallace and Dave Ewers are three will hit the breakdown like it is going out of fashion and all have work rates that take your breath away. The bench adds further excitement, Dan Robson, James Gaskell and Ollie Devoto are just a couple of names ready to come on and spark even more life into what will be a fast paced and intense match.

England’s side houses a lot of talent, the question is will they have had long enough to galvanise their different styles together in order to deliver a cohesive and decisive performance. For individuals a place on Monday’s plane to New Zealand would be the ultimate prize and that in itself creates pressure however today, 23 men wearing white shirts must go out and play the game that they love to the best of their abilities and if they do that the rest will take care of itself!

Enjoy Nick Heath's Interview with Donncha O'Callaghan HERE

England XV: Elliot Daly (London Wasps); Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Sam Hill (Exeter), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester); Henry Slade (Exeter), Joe Simpson (London Wasps); Ross Harrison  (Sale), Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins); Michael Paterson (Sale), Graham Kitchener (Leicester, Capt.); Jamie Gibson (Leicester), Luke Wallace (Harlequins), Dave Ewers (Exeter). Replacements: Tommy Taylor (Sale), Fraser Balmain (Leicester), Will Collier (Harlequins), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), James Gaskell (Sale), Dan Robson (Gloucester), Ollie Devoto (Bath), Rob Miller (Sale).

Barbarians: Juan Martin Hernandez (Racing Metro & Argentina); Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), Rene Ranger (Montpellier & New Zealand), Benson Stanley (Clermont & New Zealand), Hosea Gear (Toulouse & New Zealand); Brock James (Clermont), Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester & New Zealand); Sona Taumalolo (Perpignan & Tonga), Ti‘i Paulo (Clermont & Samoa), Davit Kubriashvili (Stade Francais & Georgia); Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster & Ireland), Juandre Kruger (Racing Metro & South Africa); Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Lyon & Argentina, Capt.), Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont & France); Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier & Georgia). Replacements: Andrew Hore (Maniototo & New Zealand), Julien Brugnaut (Racing Metro & France), Nahuel Lobo (Montpellier & Argentina), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Roger Wilson (Ulster & Ireland), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano & Argentina), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier & France), Anthony Tuitavake (Montpellier & New Zealand).