2014 England EPS Squad

36 domestic fixtures, 7 Champions Cup matches and 5 Challenge Cup showdowns that is what our England players have contributed to over the past 6 weeks. It has been one of the most exciting starts to a season in recent years as the results have been as predictable as the Great British weather and over that time players have found and indeed lost form. 

Today, at QBE's Head Office in Central London, Stuart Lancaster announced his EPS squad for the forthcoming QBE Internationals. This was the first of a series of announcements leading up to the 8th November and the first clash with the All Blacks. Stuart first announced Chris Robshaw as his Captain and then explained the selection decisions that he and his team had made. As expected there were a few key focus points in particular the selections choices made behind the scrum;  

"Backs wise it has been very competitive across the board, we’ve had long debates in every position but ultimately it has come down to two criteria. One is consistency, consistency over time and the fact that we judge everyone on having very good qualities in all areas but stand out in two and probably the second is getting the balance right in our back line; that blend of pace, power and footballing ability"

After being picked for the first time 27 year old Semesa Rokoduguni will contribute greatly to that blend adding some 'punch and power' out wide which is needed in a squad without Manu Tuilagi. In Stuart's words 'Mike (Catt) and Faz (Andy Farrell) are keen to get him in and spend some time with him'. It was plainly evident that, like all of us, they see the potential housed in the winger and Stuart highlighted that they have already discussed the option of Rokoduguni starting in the first test against New Zealand.

Following his consistent form Stephen Myler's inclusion will have been greeted by cries of delight from Saints' fans everywhere whilst tears of joy for those in the Cipriani and Burns camps, for it was at the expense of Danny and Freddie that Stephen was included. Stuart highlighted that had Stephen been available for selection in the summer, and not been part of the Aviva Premiership Final, he would have started the first test against the All Blacks. This coupled with his consistent form pushed him ahead of the other two and ultimately secured his inclusion. Stuart was keen to point out that Danny was not playing badly, far from it, however he and the team believed that Stephen truly deserved his chance this year autumn.

Stuart stressed explicitly that this is not the finished product, the 33 men on the announcement sheet today may not be the same 33 or so that are announced for the 6 Nations or indeed the World Cup; 

"This is another stage in the development of a team and it is by no means the finished article as we lead into that World Cup; everyone still has plenty to play for and we’ll create opportunities as and when we can."

Today marks the start of an extremely exciting and special time of year, after one final weekend of Europe things step up and notch and International Rugby takes centre stage. The excitement is building already and with the individuals named today and those that remain chomping at the bit to get in the squad we can all see that English rugby is in a superb place and we are posed for a colossal set of matches against the best sides that the Southern Hemisphere has to offer in the 2014 QBE Internationals. 

The Full 33 Man England EPS Squad

Joe Marler (Harlequins) Matt Mullan (Wasps) Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons) David Wilson (Bath Rugby) Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)  Rob Webber (Bath Rugby) Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby) George Kruis (Saracens)  Joe Launchbury (Wasps)  Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)  James Haskell (Wasps) Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, Captain) Billy Vunipola (Saracens)  Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) Danny Care (Harlequins)  Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) Owen Farrell (Saracens)  George Ford (Bath Rugby) Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints) Brad Barritt (Saracens) Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints) Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby) Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)  Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) Mike Brown (Harlequins) Alex Goode (Saracens) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby) Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

The following players will not be available for the 2014 QBE Internationals: Alex Corbisiero (shoulder), Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Tom Johnson (neck), Geoff Parling (concussion), Chris Pennell (groin), Ed Slater (knee), Mako Vunipola (knee), Tom Youngs (shoulder).

Dallaglio Meets Robshaw

Today on the day that Harlequins take their first step on their European journey we have been given an insight from BT Sport into an interview between Chris Robshaw and their man Lawrence Dallaglio. Both Chris and Lawrence are two iconic figures of the modern game and the interview makes for captivating reading which is why I wanted to share it on Out On The Full;

LD - I’m going to ask you about the captaincy because I’m quite well placed to ask this, you’re England captain but not Harlequins captain, how does that feel for you this season?

CR – It’s been a little bit strange, of course initially. But you soon get back into the swing of things, you know if Joe needs a bit of a hand, similarly to how I was before, it wasn’t just me out there by myself leading everything; I had the leadership group around me

LD - Was the area of the captaincy something you approached Conor with or was it a bit of both, he came to you and said you’ve got a big year coming up let’s take a bit of pressure off you?

CR – A little bit of both really; it was one of those things where we’ve actually been speaking for some time and as you’ve seen with various sports in the last year or so, the media pressure does tend to pump up a little bit and especially with the year ahead there’s going to be a lot of things and you (probably know from your own experience being with Phil Vickery, when he was captaining England and you were Wasps captain, did it make a big difference to Phil?

LD - I suppose it means you don’t have to do every team talk, every warm-up, every media session…

CR – Yeah exactly, it’s just little things like that which probably do add up in the long term when you look over big years and big series and tournaments and bits which you think ‘oh that shouldn’t make a difference’ but you do that on the back of potentially a big loss or a big win and the emotions and everything mentally… it’s a big side of the game now that mental side and it’s about making sure you are fresh. Last season I think we played for over a calendar year when you include tours and pre-season so it is important that guys do look after themselves and that’s what Conor’s done.

Next the focus shifted to Europe, with Harlequins’ Premiership form seemingly a little patchy to those on the outside, it was a chance for Lawrence to get a temperature check from a man in the thick of it;

LD – Let’s talk Europe, new competition, massively exciting, how are the guys in the dressing room feeling about it?

CR - Yeah, excited; of course it’s always a bit tougher to train when conditions are like this out there, but the guys love Europe, they love a trip in Europe as well and it is always exciting. I think the great thing about Europe is you’re not always playing against players you normally play against. I can’t remember if Quins have actually played Castres in their previous history, so you are playing a bit of the unknown which is always quite exciting and you’re playing against some incredible players as well. It is a fantastic tournament and it’s great it did stick around and allows players to compete against each other.

LD – if we look specifically on Friday night, playing Castres, a team you don’t know so well, are studying the tapes?

CR – Of course every team around has a big analysis team and knows what’s going on and what moves, and the way they like to play and stuff. A typical French pack, really big, heavy pack who are very set-piece orientated but also with some dangerous backs as well and guys who can kick the ball a long way so again coming back to our discipline. If we are ill-disciplined, a team like this has a strong maul, strong kicker and will be hard to play against.

Finally England have four huge tests this Autumn and they are tests that many are calling defining for this side. So Lawrence delved a little into how Chris is feeling going into these clashes;

LD -  Let’s look at England now you’ve got 4 very big games coming up, massively excited about the autumn series? 

CR - Very excited, looking at the way teams are playing, players are playing, guys are putting their hands up and it’s fantastic for English rugby. I think also the way England finished in the summer we feel we’ve got a little bit of unfinished business, that we didn’t quite put ourselves out there and, the first two games were absolutely fantastic down there in the summer but unfortunately we feel that as a team we let ourselves down in that last game just being slightly off the pace.  And of course New Zealand are up first aren’t they, so we are so excited

LD - Looking at the back-row that is extremely competitive area, do you feel the competition, the noise around you? Or do you just focus on yourself and thrive on the fact that the likes of Haskell is playing well and others at different clubs?

CR – You’d probably be lying if you said you didn’t feel it or notice what’s been written or said out there. As an individual there is always competition and you want to make sure that you are playing as well as possible and how do you go about that? Do you go about that by being drawn into what’s being said or do you speak to the coaches and the guys that matter and can help you and try to improve your game to get better? And that’s the way it’s got to be, you can’t be drawn into all that stuff.

LD – With the World Cup at the end of the year, it’s obviously an extremely big year for rugby, do you dare to dream about the end of next year and the World cup or do you just take it in each individual block? It must be at the back of your mind?

CR – It is, it is… you try not to, is probably the best way of putting it. I think everyone knows what’s happening and when it’s happening because every time we’re interviewed we are reminded. It is extremely exciting, don’t get me wrong and England are proving themselves and improving regularly I think and that it is the main thing. But we still have a little bit of a way to go with this Autumn Series coming, the Six Nations, which we’ve finished 2nd the last three years, we still feel there is something out there we want to grab, we want to claim…

… LD –Actually I was going to ask you about that because under your captaincy England have been improving all the time, winning big games but you’ve yet to win the tournament you really want to. Is that something - your clearly going to target - but that you’ve almost have to do before you take on the World Cup?

CR - Yeah I think so. It just gives you that backing doesn’t it. In the back of your mind you know what you’ve done and as international players and as a team we are judged truly on results, you can say you’ve played the prettiest rugby or whatever but at the end of the day if you’re not winning it doesn’t really matter.

The European Rugby Champions Cup kicks off today with Harlequins v Castres Olympique, exclusively live on BT Sport. BT Sport is the only place to watch top live matches from the new European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup and the Aviva Premiership.

Welcome to the European Rugby Champions Cup

Welcome to 2014 European Rugby Champions Cup, or in old money the 2014 Heineken Cup. After a scintillating opening set of domestic fixtures that have captivated us all for 6 rounds it is now time to cross the borders and test our Aviva Premiership sides on the European stage. This year the competition has a new trophy, logo and name however you can guarantee that the intensity of the rugby will be the same as ever; brutal and eye-watering.

It is eight seasons since a Premiership Club won the competition, the last winners were Wasps who lifted the trophy on 20th May 2007 at Twickenham Stadium. This year Saracens, the Northampton Saints, the Leicester Tigers, Bath Rugby, Harlequins, Sale Sharks and Wasps are the 7 English sides that are ready to try and emulate that victory.  

Saracens’ Pool 1 has been coined the ‘Group of Death’, as Mark McCall’s side are joined by ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sale Sharks and Munster Rugby. As we know Saracens have delivered five out of six wins so far this season and by their own admission they haven’t even reached top gear yet.  On the other hand ASM Clermont Auvergne have put their best foot forward and are currently sitting top of the Top 14. The Sale Sharks must be wondering what they have done to deserve such a draw for based on current form they are likely to find life extremely difficult. Finally we have Munster Rugby, they are the only side in this pool that have ever won the competition and their ability to step up when it comes to Europe is second to none. Which side will top this group!? In all honesty I’m not quite sure, though with my slightly biased domestic hat on I’d love to see Saracens do a job!

Harlequins and Wasps compete together in Pool 2 alongside Castres and Leinster. Castres’ last rugby run out didn’t go so well as they lost 59-7 away to Bordeaux-Begles and that won’t be a confidence booster. As we have all witnessed over the past 6 weeks Harlequins’ season hasn’t been plain sailing and indeed Leinster’s form has also been patchy, certainly in comparison to their usual high standards. Wasps, somewhat surprisingly for some, are the form team in this group. In years gone by Leinster would have walked this pool however now it is slightly more of an open book...

The Leicester Tigers represent the Aviva Premiership in Pool 3 is and they have RC Toulon, Ulster Rugby and the Scarlets for company. RC Toulon are the 2014 Heineken Cup Champions, in spite of their away loss to Toulouse last weekend in which they looked slightly disjointed they remain a force to be reckoned with given the calibre of their squad. Leicester’s casualty list means that they will wish that the competition could start in 6 weeks time and I’m sure that the Scarlets are feeling a tad apprehensive. The Ulster men inflicted Glasgow with their first defeat of the season last weekend and they may just epitomise the phrase ‘perfect timing’. Dare I bet against Toulon winning this group?! In a word, no!!

Bath Rugby will compete in Pool 4 with the Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier and Toulouse. Throughout the summer the focus was on Toulouse as with their new signing Toby Flood they were tipped to take the Top 14 by storm however over the past few weeks quite the opposite has happened and they have stuttered. In stark contrast Gregor Townsend’s Glasgow side have flourished and showed the most consistent form in the Pro12. Montpellier are fourth in the Top 14 although some say that their focus is solely on the Top 14 and Bath, well we all know just how well they have been playing this season. All in all this will be an interesting group however I have absolutely no hesitation in saying that Bath should do very well if they continue their stunning domestic form.

The final group is Pool 5 with the Northampton Saints, Racing Metro, Ospreys and Treviso. It is with respect that I will discount the Italians, whose strength just isn’t on the same level as the other three sides. After that things get interesting for the Saints, Racing and Ospreys all play with brutal physicality and can certainly hold their own when it comes to attacking with intent. This pool starts with a bang as Northampton travel to Paris and that is a fixture that I cannot wait to see.

Conor O’Shea summed up the intensity of the competition perfectly at the recent Champions Cup launch event when he said; “I looked at our pool when it was drawn and I thought: 'That's horrific.' But when I looked at all the others I thought 'well they're horrific as well'.” So really all that is left for me to say is let the ‘horror’ begin....!!

Winning Is All That Matters - Aviva Premiership Round 6 Review

Finishing with a flourish, that is how I would describe the Aviva Premiership Round 6 as we waved goodbye to the first block of domestic fixtures with a bang. Across the country we witnessed brutal physicality, blistering pace and some outstanding individual and team performances, so without any further introduction here is the full Round 6 review; 

(C) Paler Images

The action started at Welford Road where the great British weather meant that it was a match largely dictated by the conditions. After a tough few weeks and continued injury pressures Leicester weren’t too worried about looking beautiful, it was, as Richard Cockerill highlighted before the game, all about the result and gaining that win. Harlequins were without Danny Care who was on Daddy duty in London after his fiancé gave birth and he was missed by a Harlequins side that found the conditions difficult to take. Leicester welcomed back two notable men; Manu Tuilagi and Marcos Ayerza and as expected Manu’s sheer presence gave them confidence. After less than 5 minutes Blaine Scully’s score put their noses ahead and from then on they didn’t allowed Harlequins to wrestle the game back from their grasp. Tigers’ second row; Thorn, Kitchener and Gibson were outstanding and Williams boot, although not totally accurate, proved to be a weapon from anywhere inside his own half. Astoundingly Harlequins only entered Leicester’s 22 once in the full eighty minutes and from that visit they scored however with Brown’s off day out back and a collective difficulty in playing the conditions meant it was Tigers’ that ended the evening smiling and victorious. 

At the Kassam London Welsh were beaten by their closest rivals the Newcastle Falcons. It was a difficult watch for the Welsh fans in the crowd as their side played with a huge amount of desire, heart and intent but lacked the ability to really penetrate Falcons’ line. London Welsh enjoyed much of the possession, particularly in the second half, however the visitors defence held strong, something Dean Richards was extremely pleased about because by his own assessment ‘normally our defence is out biggest weakness’. The sparkles were added in the form of three tries from Mark Wilson, Riki Tipuna and Adam Powell in what was a satisfying day at the office for a side that continues it's upwards performance trajectory. For London Welsh Chris Hala’ufia, Tom May, and Seb Jewell in particular put in strong shifts, however collectively hearts were broken following the defeat. 

The Exeter Chiefs’ Round 5 loss to the Newcastle Falcons was unexpected and their 5 try romp over London Irish showed that it was simply a blip on their otherwise extremely strong Premiership radar. London Irish were struck down by an illness that ravaged the side as much as the scoreline suggested hitting at least five of their players and whether it was the impact of the illness or simply the quality of their opponents, Exeter put in a superior display across the park as they played with urgency and excitement. Henry Slade again gave a timely reminder of his all around game and it was great to see Jack Nowell looking so sharp following his time out with injury. London Irish did come back into the game as they scored two of the final three tries and individually Blair Cowen continued to impress with his work rate, physicality and professionalism however really it was a day that was all about the home side. 

(C) Red Hat Photography

At Franklin’s Gardens Jim Mallinder’s Northampton Saints brushed aside the Sale Sharks with ease, no doubt inspired by their match day mascot Georgia Ghaut, the sister of the late Luis Ghuat the courageous young man whose determination and bravery touched so many hearts. Club Captain Dylan Hartley’s post match tweet summed the match up perfectly “Good day at the office. Survived shark week. Eyes on Europe now. Enjoy your evenings.” It was with that efficiency and poise that his side brushed aside the Sale Sharks, a Sharks side that were described by many journalists in the Sunday papers as ‘toothless’. On an individual note Samu Manoa’s hat-trick was to be applauded whilst the Pisi brothers showed that it runs in the family with a try each and a Man of the Match award for younger brother Ken. In spite of a strong first quarter and pockets of pressure Sale didn’t match or wholly challenge the Saints. Unsurprisingly they weren’t a happy side following the game, Steve Diamond didn’t comment on the loss and the 114 mile journey home must have seemed extremely long. 

The final Saturday game was at Allianz Park where Gloucester pushed Saracens and showed that their development continues to tick along nicely as their new management and players find their feet. It was an Englishman that stole all of the headlines today; Brad Barritt, a man that is fast becoming the super glue for all things polished and poised and Captain Al Hargreaves had what can only be described as a stormer. Saracens didn’t have it all their own way indeed on 20 minutes the scoreline displayed 13-3 to the visitors however the difference was that the home side had another gear to shift into when needed. Gloucester’s Matt Kvesic carried hard and Greig Laidlaw continued to marshal his troops with efficiency and confidence however as a side they’ll rue some of their errors. 

The final game of Round 6 was at Adams Park where Wasps hosted Bath Rugby and I’m sure that many of you will agree with me when I say that they saved the best until last, for it was a cracker of a game. Wasps started with huge intensity, no doubt fired by the emotions of the week and a need to prove themselves following a less than perfect performance in Round 5 and their 29-0 lead was nothing less than they deserved. Bath’s never say die attitude was to be hugely applauded, as George Ford kicked them into all of the right places it made for a breathtaking final half and hour. If Semesa Rokoduguni isn’t in Stuart Lancaster’s EPS squad in just over a week’s time I will eat the only hat that I own for along with Kyle Eastmond he ignited the show when he had the ball. Up front the physicality of both sides was brutal however it was Wasps’ back row that were the most impressive with James Haskell developing further like the great Wasp Lawrence Dallaglio by the day through his outstanding leadership and contribution to the side. In short, Bath were good however Wasps were better, the result topped quite the week for Derek Richardson’s club.

The Morning After - Wasps Rugby

This morning, as the sun rises, there will be many rugby fans across the country that are thinking about the events that unfolded yesterday. It was quite the day in the history of the game in indeed in the history of Wasps Rugby Club. It has never been a secret that High Wycombe and Adams Park wasn’t the forever home of the Club so the confirmation of the move yesterday didn't come from nowhere.

During the course of the Wednesday, we were delivered with the facts regarding the precarious nature of Wasps in terms of its financial situation, both now and during the course of the time that Derek Richardson has owned the club.  Did many realise how truly close Wasps came to going into administration and therefore ceasing to be a Club? I expect not, however in fact there were only a small number of minutes between Wasps falling out of existence and Derek saving the club. Over the past 18 months Derek has absorbed almost £10million of the Club’s losses and currently Wasps are losing approximately £3 million every year, a financially impossible model to sustain. Now in October 2014 Derek is saving the club once again through providing future stability and ensuring that Wasps remain at the heart of English Rugby for years and years to come.  Thanks to the movement and ownership of such a facility like the Ricoh Arena, profitability is on the horizon and with that comes stability, strength and a financial pot that is akin to the ambition and desire of all working at, involved with and supporting Wasps. 

Yesterday when the relocation decision broke emotions ran high; of course they did that is only natural, however now the facts are out in the open and the true picture has been revealed; it is a picture that many of us, me included, weren’t fully privy to and will change many opinions across the country. The comprehensive manner in which Wasps are assisting their fans to digest this move is to be hugely praised; it shows the wholehearted commitment of all individuals that work at the club to ensure that fans are provided with the right information, and the right opportunities to help them continue to support the side that they love. Free transport to and from the Ricoh for the rest of the season, along with upgraded season tickets and of course a brand spanking new 32,000 seater stadium, just think of the atmosphere that is possible. 

An emotional time it may be however personally I whole-heartedly support the bravery of the decision and the manner in which the club has been saved, for the thought of Wasps Rugby ceasing to be, in any form, is one that shakes me to my very core.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other - Aviva Premiership Round 6 Preview

Welcome to Round 6, the final round before we turn our heads to all things European for two weeks. It has been quite the week off the field in the Aviva Premiership, one of the most emotional in recent times, however right now I am going to turn the focus towards the field of play and preview all of the weekend’s fixtures;

On Friday evening Welford Road will open its doors and welcome Harlequins to town. This week there has been much talk and speculation as to whether Leicester Tigers’ Richard Cockerill should be worried about his job however in my eyes it is a little premature to be talking in that manner for as he rightly points out they are ‘in an extraordinary situation’. Marcos Ayerza is on the bench following his return from The Rugby Championship whilst Manu Tuilagi starts in the centre, cue sighs of relief everywhere from Tigers' fans. Nonetheless it will be all hands on deck to deal with Harlequins’ key playmakers notably Marler, Evans and Brown. The form book from Round 5 points to Harlequins prevailing at under the Friday Night Lights however the Tigers will be hell bent on tearing that up book and gaining a much needed, confidence boosting win. 

Whatever the time of the year twelfth versus eleventh is always a huge match up, and this weekend’s game between London Welsh and the Newcastle Falcons is no exception to that rule. Whilst there still is a huge amount of rugby left to play, you do get the feeling that this match could be season defining in terms of the confidence that a win will provide and therefore indicate which side may survive the year. After producing such a gutsy win against the Exeter Chiefs and their overall performance level I believe that the Falcons are heading into the fixture with their noses firmly in front. London Welsh must produce the type of rugby that they played for 60 minutes against Gloucester in Round 4 if they have any chance of competing. At the Kassam nerves may mean that is unlikely to be most fluid game of rugby ever however what it may lack in continuity it will certainly make up for in intensity.

The Exeter Chiefs will be fuming at the fact that they couldn’t spark themselves into life at Kingston Park last weekend and I fully expect them to arrive all guns blazing at home against London Irish. Irish will certainly deliver a contest and the fact that they have lost their last 5 encounters in a row against Baxter’s side means nothing for this season they have come on leaps and bounds compared to last. The breakdown will be suitably brutal with Blair Cowen and Dave Ewers in particular igniting proceedings whilst the Shane Geraghty, Henry Slade, centre clash will be mesmerising. Let us all pray to the weather gods for sunshine for if we get it then with the backs that are housed within both squads Sandy Park is in for a treat!

At Allianz Park Saracens host Gloucester in what I expect to be an intriguing clash, both sides have points to prove following Round 4 and both will go hell for leather in order to do so on Saturday afternoon. This fixture will be a real test for David Humprehys’ new and improved Gloucester side, unquestionably they are building week on week however Saracens remain as one of the best in the business and a side that refuses to let their opponents play. I wouldn’t be surprised if Saracens make a few personnel rotations with one eye on Clermont next weekend and I’m sure that we all can forgive Mark McCall for doing so!! Once again my eyes are drawn up front and the battle at scrum time, the platform is critical for Gloucester and Saracens always deliver up front. Out wide we are expected to see some of the Premiership’s best finishers go ahead to ahead with David Strettle, Charlie Sharples and Jonny May to name but a few, so expect a great blend of power in North Lon on Saturday afternoon.

The final Saturday fixture is at Franklin’s Gardens where the Northampton Saints host the Sale Sharks; neither side hit the heights that they are able to last weekend however both came away with 4 points. Both set of management and players will know that they must up their games significantly if they are to do the same this weekend. Personally I’m not going to bet against the Northampton Saints, for on home soil with the quality of their squad and their 16th man they are quite the formidable package. If he is picked to start I expect Jon Fisher to put in another head turning performance... there is a man that is grasping his opportunity with both hands. Sale must take the positives from Round 5 and build on them; they defended superbly and caused Wasps all sorts of problems at the breakdown and these are two things that they will have to repeat again this weekend. Mark Cueto’s fitness will be a huge boost if he can deliver 60 or even 80 minutes and if Danny’s radar is back on form from the kicking tee I expect the visitors to put up a strong display and make Saints work hard for it.

In the final game of the weekend Wasps host Bath, after such a emotional week it is an almighty task for Wasps to host the current league leaders however I’ve absolutely no doubt that when it comes down to it their players will deliver a rock solid performance. Bath made an almighty statement of intent last Friday night, their blend of forward power and electricity out back is stunning. Anthony Watson and Luke Arscott both played for 40 minutes in the A League on Monday evening so I expect one or indeed the pair of them to be in the squad or even starting on Sunday. Will either side have one eye on Europe next weekend? You bet they won’t, Wasps will be fired by emotion and eager to focus on their rugby and to deliver a first class performance and Bath will know that it is vital that they continue their forward momentum. All in all quite the Aviva Premiership clash awaits...

Making and Breaking Records - Aviva Premiership Round 5 Review

If you are using the word 'predictable' to describe a competition, then you most certainly won't be talking about the Aviva Premiership, for Round 5 again delivered us with drama of the highest order. Records were made and records were broken, it was quite the weekend, so here is the full Out On The Full Round 5 review;   

The action started on Friday night with what was billed by many as the game of the round as Bath hosted Saracens at The Rec and it did not disappoint, it was as impressive as it was physical and truly a great display of England’s domestic game. For 80 minutes we witnessed Saracens, the form team, stifled as Bath successfully blocked their way and created their own chances through the masterful feet of their backs. The Jonathan Joseph and Kyle Eastmond pairing was majestic, and as Ali Eykyn said during the coverage Stuart Lancaster could do a lot worse than to give them a run together during the Autumn. Semsea Rokoduguni was another man that was simply sublime, he created spaces and opportunities for himself that no-one else could see and he's already in my personal England squad!! For the visitors Billy Vunipola played like a man possessed and Kelly Brown was stronger than I have seen him for a long time however it was out the back where they couldn’t quite reach the heights required. A few missed kicks off his own boot will have annoyed George Ford however he shouldn't be too upset as his side made an almighty statement of intent against the one of the best in the Premiership business. 

Image @GloucesterRugby

At Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon it was all one way traffic as Gloucester delivered their best performance of the season against a cowering set of Leicester Tigers. It was difficult viewing for Richard Cockerill and his coaching staff as almost every bit of endeavour that their side showed was erased within a few phases due to their own errors. On the other hand Gloucester's game was pacy and full of tempo led first by Greig Laidlaw and then by young Dan Robson. James Hook looked more settled and certainly enhanced proceedings this week whilst Ben Morgan gave us all a timely reminder of his form with a Man of the Match performance. Leicester remain off colour and stuttering, however let us not forget that in this situation context is everything and I make no apologies for banging on, again, about their injury list. Leicester could field a complete side with their casualties, they have 21 in total including critical men like Ed Slater, Manu Tuilagi and Tom Youngs. It is rotten luck and I fear for them over the coming few weeks with Harlequins on Friday Night followed by Ulster and the Scarlets in Europe. The 6 weeks that Gloucester always asked to be given to see where they are at are almost up and based on Saturday's performance the words 'moving in the right direction' spring to mind.  

(C) Claire Jones Red Hat Photography

At the Madjeski Stadium London Irish hosted the Northampton Saints in what was described by many of the media as 'not a game to write home about'. In their last 3 games London Irish have picked up 7 points which is no mean feat when you add in the fact that they played Saints, Saracens and the Leicester Tigers. The visitors were without Dylan Hartley and Tom Wood and in fact up front missed 4 of their starting pack however their depth saw them through what was a potential banana skin. Stephen Myler continued to go about his business quietly and efficiently as he notched up 14 of his sides points and Jon Fisher returned to the Madjeski with a bang. Irish fans will feel aggrieved regarding the run of the whistle against them however Brian Smith talked about the fact that they have earned the respect of their fellow sides and that will provide some consolation for at this point last year they couldn't even dream of being on an even playing field with the likes of the Saints and co. 

Yarde opened his Quins account (C) Onside Images

Two minutes or to put it in seconds, one hundred and twenty,  was all that it it took for Harlequins to open their scoring account and eighty minutes later they closed it on 52 after a comprehensive day at the office. Across the board O'Shea's men looked much more comfortable in their own skin, led by the work rate of Chris Robshaw and a Kiwi masterclass from Nick Evans who scored 17 points and delivered 100% accuracy. Once again, it was crushing for London Welsh as in every facet they struggled against their fellow London side and with the scenes up at Kingston Park many are saying that already, in only Round 5, the writing is on the wall for Burnell's side. The squad is filled with fighters and fight they must do for at the moment they are breaking the points against record with their leaking defence and inability to compete at this level.  

At the AJ Bell Stadium the Sale Sharks' recorded a win over Wasps, Steve Diamond's men did it the hard way and it was their defence and the words 'there was no clear forward pass' that sealed the win. Wasps suffered, once again, with a spot of travel sickness as they struggled to really find their game away from home. They lacked a spot of precision and whilst Christian Wade's try was pleasing, the fact that he gave Sale theirs was less so. Dai Young's side dominated in terms of all of the major statistics except for the one that truly counts, the scoreboard. Dave Seymour deserved his Man of the Match award for his dogged work on the floor and it was the guts and heart of the whole squad that saw them through 161 tackles in order to finish the game victorious. Question marks over Wasps' away form remain whilst Steve Diamond will hope that this victory kick starts his side and provides a platform to work off for the coming rounds.  

Falcons' Mark Wilson and his lucky charm

The final match of the weekend was at Kingston Park where fans were treated to a match filled with drama and one that went down to the wire. The Newcastle Falcons last won in the Aviva Premiership on the 23rd October 2013 and since then have struggled to get over the line with their noses in front. Exeter's early season form has been strong and that showed in the tries that they scored, Gareth Steenson's boot and hands were on song as were Slade's however the Falcons have been building for a number of weeks now and stayed in touch well, something they've previously failed to do. The moment of the match, bar the final whistle, was Alex Tait's sublime offload to set up what was the winning try. The Falcons were pushed right until the clock went red however they showed almighty resilience and mental strength to finally record that W. No doubt a fair few beers will be consumed in the North East tonight and why ever not!?! However Exeter's plane flight/bus ride home will be a little quieter as they ponder how they let the game slip away.   

Northampton Saints Photos © Claire Jones RedHatPhoto.com all proceeds supporting Restart, the rugby players' charity. 

Sustainability at England Rugby

Today it was announced that Stuart Lancaster and his core team, Andy Farrell, Mike Catt and Graham Rowntree have all had their contracts extended until the 2019/2020 season. When he made this announcement, the Chairman of the RFU, Ian Richie, used the following words; “we believe this is entirely the right decision for the future of England Rugby” and I have to say I totally agree with him and here is why.

When Stuart Lancaster took over as Interim Head Coach in 2011 England Rugby was in a state of disarray, the World Cup hadn’t gone to plan, across the board morale was low and incidents had occurred that had thrusted the side into the public eye for all of the wrong reasons. Now in the year 2014, just 3 years later, things have turned on their head... the elite side are poised in arguably one of the strongest positions that they have been in for a decade and much of this is down to the men that have just put pen to paper on new contracts.  

After being handed the interim position Stuart and the team identified that their key and primary role was to restore the pride in the shirt and build back up a squad that was physically and emotionally battered and bruised. If you ask any member of a Senior Management team in business or a Head Coach in sport developing morale and forming a culture are two of the most difficult tasks, indeed they are much more difficult than developing physical skills. However this is the area that Stuart and his team have excelled at, the pride in the Red Rose and the desire to wear the shirt is greater than ever before and that is not just down to the fact that we have a home World Cup ahead of us. The four individuals are the helm of our sport live and breathe the values of rugby; humility, discipline and hard work and they demand and expect that from their England players too. As fans we can see the results of this on the pitch, England have matured into a hungrier side, a side that demands more from itself and a side that is smarter and more prolific. I'm sure that there are many other aspects that have been put in place by this coaching team that only the players will see and feel the benefits of, for example in regard to training structures, facilities and relationships. Indeed Stuart, Andy, Graham and Mike are all at the top of their game in terms of their people management skills as well as their technical knowledge. However rightly these softer aspects and the man management aspect of the England elite side are private and something that we see the output of in the test performances.

‘Hundreds before you. Thousands Around You. Millions Behind You’ are the words in the tunnel at Twickenham Stadium and those are the words that inspire not only our England players but this coaching team too. To a man they realise what a privilege their role is and it is through their dedication and commitment that English elite rugby has turned itself around in a short space of time. To date this team haven’t put a foot wrong and whilst we all desire England to win the 2015 World Cup if we do not I am in full agreement with Mr Richie that this coaching team should not be disbanded for in my eyes that would be grossly unfair and unproductive. Yes, a contract extension of six years is longer than the norm, however as Ian Richie points out England Rugby’s goal is ‘sustainable success’ and that goal will never, ever be achieved by running at the first hurdle.

A Bunch of Fives - Aviva Premiership Round 5 Preview

Greetings everyone and welcome to Round 5 of the Aviva Premiership, I trust that you all are well and have settled nicely back into swing of all things domestic rugby related? It has been quite the start to the season, teams have been nil’ed, wonder tries have been scored and with the EPS squad announcement later than ever before it is pushing our players to greater and greater heights week on week.  

Rounds 5 starts with a bang on Friday night as Bath Rugby host Saracens. Bath are unbeaten at The Rec in their last five matches in all competitions however Saracens' only away defeat this year in the Aviva Premiership came in Round 22 at Welford Road so we know that playing on the road doesn’t faze them in the slightest. Bath were slow to react against the Saints however they finished with huge intensity and the type of intensity that they must show from minute one on Friday Night. Saracens look cool, calm and collected led by the ferocious Wolfpack and the man that is ageing like a fine wine, Charlie Hodgson they are looked sharper and more clinical than ever. Bath are starting to reach the heights that they expect from themselves in terms of their performances however Saracens’ stifling line speed as said it will be a tough test of character. All in all it has every ingredient possible to deliver for an epic Friday Night Aviva Premiership encounter.

On Saturday afternoon The Stoop opens its doors again as Harlequins host London Welsh. Neither side enjoyed Round 4 as Welsh imploded on 60 minutes whilst Conor O’Shea’s side had a testing day at Sandy Park. A reaction is required from both and it should result in a heated and feisty Derby fixture in South West London. Logic points towards a comfortable Harlequins win and if Harlequins side play to their potential then they should achieve that... however so far this year they haven’t. This week at the Surrey Sports Park there will have been a huge focus on the fundamentals and stripping their game back to its core in order to deliver a cleaner and more polished output on Saturday. London Welsh’s overarching problem is fitness, can that be changed in a week? I think not, however they must find a way around it, whether it is utilising the bench at different times or players simply putting themselves in holes as opposed to giving up because their lungs are screaming. Justin Burnell’s side have the hardest task in the Aviva Premiership because being absolutely pummelled every single weekend hugely takes its toll. Their bodies and minds are being battered on a weekly basis and bouncing back takes a huge amount of strength and determination.

For London Irish there isn’t time to celebrate their historic victory at Welford Road for this weekend they have the challenging task of entertaining the Northampton Saints. The last time Irish beat the Saints at the Madjeski was on 6th October 2012 and Jim Mallinder's side has lost just one match in any tournament since mid April. Personally I believe that this game has the makings of a decent game of rugby for London Irish are riding on a spot of confidence and should be able to make it a competitive fixture. The Exiles’ backs are firing nicely and their forward power has been their strength from day 1. The Saints, well the Saints are gritty, determined and full of flair from 1 to 15 and it will certainly be a test of just how much Irish have progressed over a short period of time. There is likely to be a particularly tasty clash up front between Dylan Hartley and David Paice and it will be interesting to see how Shane Geraghty handles the Burrell and Pisi partnership. An intriguing match at the Madjeski Stadium awaits...

Gloucester Rugby hosting the Leicester Tigers will be an absolutely fascinating watch given the current condition of both clubs. In Round 4 Gloucester finished the job against Welsh however it wasn't a complete or perfect performance whilst Welford Road was shocked to it's foundation by the Exiles. Leicester haven’t been defeated in three successive Aviva Premiership Rugby matches since October 2011 and I expect that it was an honest and tough time for all in the East Midlands this week. In my eyes the lay of the land in terms of this match all depends on players’ fitness, if Leicester welcome back Mulipola up front as well as Allen and Tuilagi in the backs then you simply can't write off them off. However if they are forced to put out the same XV as last weekend then there must be a large question mark against them. Focus and discipline will be critical for both teams, with the characters that are likely to be on the field it will be quite a fiery match, I’m expecting quite a few handbags and a very, very vocal Shed! 

On Sunday afternoon Steve Diamond’s Sale Sharks host Wasps at the AJ Bell Stadium. The visitors don’t have the best track record against the Sharks as their one solitary victory on Sale soil in their last 10 visits was in October 2010, at Edgeley Park. In saying that matches between the two sides are usually extremely close; less than four points have separated them on their last three Premiership encounters. There are a number of individuals that will want to prove themselves playing against their former sides; Chris Bell, Rob Miller and James Gaskell are three former Sharks whilst as we all know Danny Cipriani was once a Wasp and could, if you read the papers, be one again in the future!! The two sides have both shown flair with the ball and produced physical defensive displays so far this season and against each other I expect to see these two elements amplified and a scintillating encounter is on the horizon. 

The final match of the weekend is 'up north' as the Newcastle Falcons host the Exeter Chiefs. The Falcons’ losing record continues, 20 on the bounce and it is now the third worst losing record in Aviva Premiership history. The underlying factor for the Falcons is that that their basics are letting them down, certainly against Wasps last weekend that was clear to see; there were too many unforced errors handing their opposition back possession through knock ons and forward passes. If Dean Richards fixes them then W might arrive. Exeter, oh Exeter, they are maturing before our very eyes and it is great to see. The Chiefs are developing the complete package; they are showing us all that they can play the power game and an up tempo game with their hugely exciting backs! It will be great to see Rob Baxter’s side let loose on the artificial turf, they have won all six previous Premiership clashes with Newcastle and I believe that this will be their seventh.