England vs. Scotland (RBS 6 Nations)

As the last of the sunshine set over Twickenham Stadium England and Scotland completed their final preparations ready for the 2015 Calcutta Cup. England hadn't lost against Scotland at Twickenham for 29 years and after the hurt of Dublin the expectation was for them to deliver a ruthless, show stopping performance whilst Scotland needed to prove that they are light years better than their bottom place in the table indicates. Personally, I believe that across the eighty minutes of rugby both teams did make their points; Scotland proved to be great warrior’s and delivered positive rugby whilst England didn’t make theirs as empathically as they should have done but the opportunities created  were some of the best of the Championship, even if they all weren’t converted, in short they did right many of the wrongs of two weeks ago. 

The theme of the match from an English perspective was making and indeed breaking chances, the opportunities and breaks created resulted in roars of approval from the 82,00 strong crowd. George Ford dictated from the Fly Half jersey as he ran some sterling lines, distributed with precision and kicked strongly out of hand and off the tee. The line breaks were delivered from all over the park; Mike Brown, Ben Youngs, Luther Burrell and Jack Nowell in particular all exploited Scottish defensive holes. However the pertinent point is that many a time a pass went forward, a strong Scottish cover tackle came in or a decision to go to the wrong side was made. Naturally this is disappointing and the sentiments of all the coaches and players I spoke to afterwards, Stuart Lancaster, James Haskell, Luther Burrell, echoed this however the disappointment and frustration is a positive one and it is a different type to that felt following the Dublin defeat. Stuart summarised this perfectly following the game; 

‘From a performance point of view we are delighted with the opportunities that we created but equally we’ll look back at the tape and think, about the the tries that were disallowed, and the opportunities that we missed and it is frustrating without a doubt. You don’t get try scoring opportunities without good attack, and I think you could see by the shape, the way we played and our intent to play, our breakdown work was much sharper and more effective. We created twelve line breaks I understand but only to convert three obviously is frustrating. The boys are frustrated in the changing room and we’ll definitely review the game, honestly as we always do and we’ll need to sharpen up to beat France.’

If England hadn’t created any opportunities then we should worry, if England have been static, stuttering and nervy, then we should be throwing the sword at them, however England weren’t. The over arching feeling from the players  was that those final errors were the result of it being ‘one of those days’ where the final glue just doesn’t quite stick. Anyone that has played sport to any level, professional or otherwise, knows that those days are a fact of life and it is the way in which you deal with that, that is the most important factor.  

Following the game Stuart proclaimed a clean bill of health for his side and this is hugely important going into the final game, where I expect him to name a largely if not fully unchanged side. The few mistakes from James Haskell may mean that Tom Wood is given a run out however it depends how costly the coaching staff believe them to be and how much they weighted the positivity of his work elsewhere on the field. The men that came back into the side in my eyes were phenomenal and did exactly what they were asked by the coaching staff which was ‘to impart their own game on proceedings’. Courtney Lawes’ physicality and work rate were World Class and Mike Brown’s splendour in the 15 shirt shouldn’t be skipped over. 

Overall we all know that it was not a pristine performance, there is no doubt England should have put at least 6 tries on the board and at times defensively they were looser than they should have been. The missed tries may prove to be costly in terms of the Championship however England must take the positives and press on. Stuart shared that, as always, they will ‘honestly analyse the game’ and you can guarantee that they will be tough on themselves, and will get to the crux of why they were so inaccurate with the try line in sight. 

England would be more annoyed if they didn’t create any opportunities at all, if their set piece was shaky and if they didn’t show the coolness of mind to continue to press and press when final passes didn’t stick. Next weekend France will be an altogether different challenge, England have the luxury of playing however they must focus solely on winning the Test Match. Today at Pennyhill Park they’ll be some sore bodies and pensive England players however their hearts and minds will be in a much better place than they were this time two weeks ago knowing that they have laid the foundations for one final Six Nations' showdown. 

The Bounce Back - England vs. Scotland (RBS 6 Nations)

Shortly the Calcutta Cup will return to Twickenham Stadium for another year and to date England’s home record against the Scots is an imperious one having won every single fixture against their local rivals in London since 1983. Now without appearing to be too arrogant, for we all know that English arrogance has been a hot topic this week, I for one expect them to retain that delightful record on Saturday afternoon. However, I also expect that Scotland will be a handful and will make England work for every single point that they score.  

My confidence is not based on pure patriotism or un-sustained optimism instead it rides on the pertinent point that England let themselves down in Dublin, they did not deliver to their capabilities and on home soil I expect them to. Faltering in Dublin has left a strong, nagging and uncomfortable feeling of disappointment, a feeling that is shared by every single English player and coach. Graham Rowntree admitted it took him until Monday of this week to get over the defeat and that prolonged amount of time to compute what happened was shared by the players. The English feeling of disappointment is also coupled with an even stronger emotion from the players; frustration. The frustration is driven by knowing how much better they are than their output in Dublin portrayed and it stems from the fact that not only did they fail to execute their meticulous preparation and analysis, they were unable to turn things around during the game. England’s loss in Ireland has emotionally fired them up and really got under Stuart Lancaster's team's skin.

Lawes' last HQ action

The reintroduction to the starting XV of Mike Brown and Courtney Lawes adds a tremendous amount to the side. Mike Brown is a fearless competitor, as he has shown time and time again and has the ability to single handedly change games. His solidity under the high ball provides reassurance and his aggression and out and out attacking threats should scare Scotland. Courtney, like Mike, brings multiple attributes to the Twickenham party; his lineout calling ability and subsequent security in that area of the game is vital alongside his almost unrivalled physicality and intensity. Elsewhere the familiar faces of this 6 Nations tournament all must step up and deliver; dominance at the breakdown, a pin point kicking game and intense scrummaging are all non-negotiable outputs for Saturday's match. 

Switching to focus to the visitors; Vern Cotter’s Scotland will know all about the aforementioned feelings of frustration and disappointment. The Scots' rugby output as has sky rocketed in recent months, they have potent attacking threats across their back line and have sured up their set pieces beyond recognition. However, right now, after three rounds of RBS 6 Nations action, they find themselves in a familiar position at the bottom of the table and that will hurt. Andy Farrell described the situation perfectly at Twickenham;

‘We’ve got a wounded animal coming that was beaten by a side that they wanted to beat so it makes it dangerous for us. We can see what type of game is coming, it will be an intense feisty, fiery one, and they’ll try and stamp their authority on the game. A 6-2 bench, the introduction of Hamilton and Denton, all of the boys know what Jim brings to the party and what Denton does, so it is pretty obvious what is coming our way.’

This game means a tremendous amount to Cotter's men, if Stuart Hogg’s statements around respect, are shared by the whole squad then the Scots believe that England don’t take them seriously and that coupled with the frustration of losing to the Italians has the power to ignite a performance beyond what we have seen to date. Finn Russell's return is timely and an essential one to provide that stability from the middle and the ability to push them into the right areas on the pitch. With, Hogg, Seymour and Bennett Scotland they house their own dynamic threats and men England must not take their eyes off for a second.

An intense week at Pennyhill Park

This week, every single member of England's coaching team have stated that this week  has been an intense training week. Stuart described how he had to calm things down a bit when the 15 on 15 boiled over slightly and Andy Farrell's assessment was that training has been 'sharp, on point and had a bit of an edge to it'. This all bodes well for Saturday afternoon, prior to kick off no thought should be given to what is going on in Cardiff instead the focus should be on an English performance. This weekend, a failure to turn up or a failure to deliver to their potential is not an option, instead it is time for England to show exactly what they are made of and remind us all of their excellence against the strongest Scottish side that they will have faced in years. 

The LV Cup Semi Finals

After 32 matches and hundreds of points scored there are just four teams remaining in this year's LV Cup Competition; the Exeter Chiefs, Saracens, the Northampton Saints and the Leicester Tigers. This week Luther Burrell shared with Nick Heath (@RugbyMedia) at  Pennyhill Park the importance of the competition and looked forwards towards his side's Semi Final tomorrow; 

The matches between Saracens and the Northampton Saints are always feisty affairs for there is little love lost between the two sides. Saracens have enjoyed a clean sweep in the competition to date having brushed aside, Harlequins, the Ospreys, London Welsh and most recently the Exeter Chiefs. The Northampton Saints don't share the record of a clean sweep having lost to the Leicester Tigers in a heated East Midlands Derby in January however their final outing was a comprehensive victory over Wasps. Both sides have played sublime rugby during the course of the competition and both have named tremendously talented squads to take on this fixture. Saracens' Ben Spencer has been  excelling at Scrum Half and watching him and Kahn Fotuali'i go head to head will be delightful. The Northampton Saints will look towards the collective physicality of their forwards to impose themselves and provide the platform for their game and their front row of Corbisiero, Haywood and Ma’afu will challenge Saracens. From one to fifteen the positional match ups are enthralling and it has the makings of being one of the best matches of this year’s LV Cup competition. 

On Sunday afternoon the second Semi Final takes place at Welford Road where the Leicester Tigers will host the Exeter Chiefs. Leicester, like Saracens, won all four of their group matches whilst the Chiefs only lost to Saracens. Last year the Exeter Chiefs picked up their first ever piece of silverware thanks to the LV competition and they have their eyes firmly on the target of making it two in a row. For the home side Tommy Bell has been flourishing in the competition after he signed from Jersey, last time out he scored a try and two conversions from Full Back and this weekend at 10 he’ll have even more of an opportunity to influence the game. The man wearing the opposite 10 jersey is Ceri Sweeny, the Chiefs’ Captain and the 35 year old has a number of experienced men with him including Moray Low, Kai Horstmann and Haydn Thomas. Exactly like the game in London this should be an exciting fixture and competitive affair. Home advantage could be an influencing factor in proceedings however the Chiefs have to keep their heads and stick to their game plan of playing positive, inventive rugby. 

These two knock out fixtures of the LV Cup should deliver us with some scintillating rugby of the domestic variety alongside the International action this weekend. The competition continues to provide an all important platform for squad members and younger members of our domestic clubs’ academies to shine and this weekend the intensity will notch up a level as only two sides can make it through to the final at Franklin’s Gardens next Sunday afternoon.

Hanging In The Balance - Aviva Premiership Round 17

Heading into Round 17 there was little room for error for many of our Aviva Premiership side's and after 480 minutes of action that remains the same. This 2014/15 season is one of the most intense ever and it will certainly be the most exciting run ins in recent history. The competition remains on a knife edge, thought we'll have to wait for another Here is the full round review;

(C) Bath Rugby

There is a valid case to argue that Bath’s win on Friday night was one of their most impressive to date, of course that victory over the Tigers supersedes it however in terms of the mental strength required and the manner in which they delivered the result few could have pleased Mike Ford more. It wasn’t a vintage game of rugby, instead it was intensely physical and slightly compact in it’s output. Bath enjoyed the lions share of possession however Sale’s heroic defensive efforts and ability to slow the ball down at the breakdown meant that the scoreline game remained tight. Tom Homer delivered all of his side's points however he did miss 3 other kicks and his understanding of The Rec’s elements will need to improve going forwards. For the Sharks Mike Haley continued to highlight this prowess at 15 however collectively the side looked weary and worn out. Steve Diamond confirmed this following the final whistle due to their small squad numbers and they'll welcome the LV rest. It was essential for Bath to put to bed the demons of this time last year and headed into their run in with a victory whilst Sale will be bitterly disappointed to leave without a losing bonus point.

Loving life up in 2nd.

At Sandy Park the Exeter Chiefs delivered a ruthless performance against London Welsh as they scored 10 tries against a London Welsh side that are going through rugby hell. The Exiles made the opening twenty minutes a competitive and interesting contest however after that the home side turned on the after burners and never, ever looked back. Will Chudley’s opening try for the highlighted Welsh’s ongoing defensive issues and at the set piece it boarded on men against boys as the Exeter pack had a field day. Nathan Trevitt’s and Seb Stegmann’s tries were well worked for the visitors however they found it horribly tough going. Take nothing away from the Chiefs, their performance was ruthless and impressive, individuals delivered and impressed; Hill, Slade, however their real test will come following their LV Semi Final as they have Tigers, Saints, Wasps, Saracens and Sale standing in their way of a Top 4/6 finish. For Welsh the pain continues, how they must be hurting and personally I find it tremendously difficult to see. 

In London Harlequins delivered their fans with another emotional rollar-coaster however for the first time in 3 rounds this one ended in victory. It was a gloriously sunny day in London on Saturday and the home side started strongly; Nick Evans’ boot kicked them to a 9-3 lead thanks to their endevaour in attack however Glenn Delaney’s London Irish weren’t there to make up the numbers and they worked hard to get themselves back in the game with James Short's opportunist try starting proceedings just before the break. Young Tom Fowlie had a delightful day at the office as he gave the visitors real go forward and thoroughly deserved his try along with a pack that really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second forty. It was one of the closest encounters between the two sides in recent years and Harlequins will be ecstatic with the fact that they dug deep and held on for the moral boasting victory.

(C) Gloucester Rugby

The home fans at Kingsholm also went on a rollar-coaster of their own as their side gave away a 23 points to 6 lead against the Northampton Saints and ended the day sharing the spoils. For forty minutes Gloucester had all the tricks and the Saints couldn’t quite match up. James Hook and Greig Laidlaw highlighted what a formidable force they can be together, from scrum time to the breakdown and everywhere in between Gloucester were on song and playing delightful rugby. It is fair to say the visitors received a Jim Mallinder rocket at half time for they were a different outfit after the break, led by the physical force of nature that is Samu Manoa and the boot of Stephen Myler. Down to the wire it went, it was a match filled with end to end excitement with dynamic work from Billy Twelvetrees, Charlie Sharples and James Wilson to name but a few. Saints' show of determination will have sent shivers down the spines of the rest of the table and Gloucester know that their chances were there for the taking. In short, it was thrilling and compelling Aviva Premiership rugby. 

To start the Sunday Service Wasps hosted Saracens at the Ricoh Arena and delivered another blinder of a rugby game. Exactly like Gloucester, Wasps raced ahead from the offset, they looked sharper and more sprightly than their opponents; Christian Wade's finish for their first try was out of this world and Elliot Daly's own solo try shortly after was up their too. However, as you'd expect from Mark McCall's men they fought back, Saracens were calm and considered and thanks to the delightful half back pairing of Richard Wigglesworth and Alex Goode they pushed themselves right back into the game. Physically it was a brutal encounter and one that cost Brad Barritt of his fitness as he was taken off and now will be out for a prolonged period of time. The breakdown resembled a war zone such was the intensity of the contest, as you'd expect with Jacques Burger, Ashley Johnson and Jackson Wray on the field. Wasps didn't push on how they would have liked and in spite of weathering a period with Guy Thompson in the sin bin they never looked to have the upper hand in the second. A timely reminder of Saracens' brawn and steel, hugely impressive from the London outfit. 

(C) Falcons Rugby

The final game of the weekend was in the far North of the country as the Newcastle Falcons welcomed the Leicester Tigers to town. The home side's position in the table betrays their strong recent form and coupled with a spot of family rivalry it was always going to be a hugely competitive fixture. In front of their second highest crowd of the season Newcastle again played expansive and positive rugby and outscored their visitors in terms of tries, two to one. This is something that they have done during many of their Premiership losses this season and it remains a huge frustration that they cannot find their killer instinct to finish these games. Leicester had the upper hand at scrum time and once again they 'won ugly' and remain firmly poised for their playoff charge. The win was tainted the loss of Tom Croft who suffered what looked to be a dislocated shoulder and he is now out for the foreseeable future. 

Spotlight On; Nathan Hughes

At the beginning of January 2013 it was announced that Wasps’ physical and bulldozing back rower, Billy Vunipola would be leaving the club for Saracens, naturally it was a piece of news that didn’t sit too well with the Black and Gold faithful and indeed even Dai Young was quoted saying that he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ with the decision. However, the very large shoes that Billy Vunipola left have been more than filled by the outstanding rugby player that is Nathan Hughes.

Nathan’s introduction to the sport differed to many of his Premiership compatriots, he didn’t grow up spending hours running rings around others on the mini rugby field or progressing through the age groups, instead he was a talented hockey player and fell into rugby. Nathan was offered a rugby scholarship immediately after he finished a game in which he was asked to play as a ‘ringer’ for his local side, for such an offer to be handed  after 80 minutes of rugby you can only imagine how impactful he must have been. However Nathan is a humble man and when pressed about what he did during that game he simply said that he ‘carried the ball hard, made some line breaks and drove through the gaps’. It was only the third or fourth game that he had ever played for rugby and his ‘informal’ entrance to the sport highlights the enormous amount of natural talent that the Wasp has. 

‘The signing of the century’ are words that I have heard many a Wasps’ supporter say about one third of one of the most impactful back rows in the competition. Nathan’s blend with James Haskell and Ashley Johnson has propelled Wasps forwards this season and his personal contribution is outstanding. After 16 rounds of Premiership action the statistics speak for themselves he has contributed the second most carries of any individual in the competition (188), has made 890 meters, beaten 55 defenders and has made more offloads than any other man, 31. The manner in which Nathan attacks games sets the tempo for the rest of the side however it is the competition from others that is driving him forwards;

‘We have outstanding depth in the back row and week in week out we are fighting for our position. As a back row we need to lead the boys with the carries and lacks and it is the balance that we have between our back row that makes us difference from other back rows in the league. Dai always challenges us to be ‘better than your opposite number’ and that’s what we strive to do.’

Nathan has been credited by his team mates as ‘being a breath of fresh air’, indeed Captain Haskell has openly said that Nathan made him 'revisit and polish' parts of his own game and has been a critical part in 'reinvigorating his passion' for the nuances of the back row. Nathan takes rugby very seriously however if you ask anyone at Wasps they will tell of his great sense of humour and character. Nathan understands how much the Club means to its fans, something I’ll never forget that highlights this is when he gave his boots to a young fan mid way through a team lap of honour. It was a bitterly cold day and had been a hugely physical game however Wasps' Number 8 ignored the elements and continued to take the time to speak to every single fan, shoeless. A small act of kindness that meant the world to that Wasps' fan and something that epitomises the heart of Hughes. 

With more Man of the Match performances than you can count on two hands it is no wonder that all of our thoughts have turned to the 'larger stage', International recognition and Nathan was open and honest about his thoughts on the subject;

‘I haven't set any goals International wise England, I’m playing it match by match and focused on delivering for Wasps. However, when the day comes, on 26th June next year, we will have to see if the coaches like me and if they want to select me.’ 

I think that it is a very safe bet to say that Stuart Lancaster and the entire England set up know all about Nathan Hughes and like us they are counting down the days until he is available. In the immediate future the focus turns to Saracens, completing a strong Aviva Premiership season and learning the ropes of parenthood when Nathan and his wife Ella became parents to a little boy in Early May. They’ve already been told to expect a 10lb baby and if Baby Hughes is anywhere near as proficient at our great game as his Dad is then his future will be just as bright as Wasps' signing of the century. 

Sink Or Swim Time - Aviva Premiership Round 17 Preview

The Aviva Premiership is the competition that just keeps on giving, this weekend Round 17 arrives at the party and with a single point separating second place and sixth place every single move and every single point scored this weekend could be critical to a side's future in the competition. If one side slips up now then they could be kicking themselves for a very long time... the stakes have never been higher and I for one am totally and utterly absorbed by this year's competition. 

To commence the round, the Friday Night Lights return to The Rec as Bath Rugby will host the Sale Sharks. Bath’s recent run of form hasn’t been up to the very high standards that they set themselves this year, they have slipped to three defeats in a row and to all concerned with Mike Ford's side this fixture is marked as a 'must win'. Sale didn’t enjoy themselves in Round 16 as they had a tough time against the Leicester Tigers however the return of Danny Cipriani from Pennyhill Park is a huge boost. We all know that rugby is a team sport and that Sale have strength in a number of areas however Danny's presence provides every single Sale player with confidence and makes every member of the opposition more than a little wary. I have high hopes that this will be one of the game's of the round, both side house men that love to run the ball and forwards that are hugely physical and proficient when it comes to the set piece and breakdown. On a final note we must say congratulations to the man in the middle, Wayne Barnes, as he will become only the third referee to take charge of 150 Premiership matches. Congratulations Wayne!

In Sandy Park the Exeter Chiefs will host London Welsh and aim to continue their stellar run of form by securing their fourth Aviva Premiership victory in a row. The Chiefs have made it clear that they are going to focus on securing their set piece and starting hard from the offset in order to deliver a solid five points and press on at the top of the table. Exeter are alive and kicking in three competitions and with the confidence that is driving their game they should look to replicate their impressive Round 1 victory over the Exiles. London Welsh are continuing with their quest for points and that elusive 80 minute performance. For Welsh the writing has been on the wall for a number of rounds and now they have to focus on the small margins and the small wins in their game in order to continue driving forwards. 

At The Stoop there will be a good old fashioned London derby as Harlequins take on London Irish. Both sets of supporters always enjoy this one, a well known phrase amongst the Irish faithful is ‘I’d Rather Be A Paddy Not A Quin’!!! Harlequins thoroughly deserved their losing bonus point at Franklin's Gardens, their performance was brave and gutsy however they still need to focus on their precision and execution. London Irish delivered their strongest output of the year against London Welsh and they’ll be itching to press on and secure their first win at The Stoop since May 2009. In 2009 Mike Catt orchestrated that victory and this weekend all eyes will be on the two men wearing the 10 jerseys, Nick Evans and Shane Geraghty to deliver the same prowess from the middle. In short, all roads point to a heated local derby in South West London! 

At Kingsholm Gloucester Rugby will welcome the Aviva Premiership leaders, the Northampton Saints to town and will also welcome back Greig Laidlaw from Scotland duty. In Round 16 the Cherry and Whites played some great rugby however they continue to miss that vital ruthless edge. Conversely, Jim Mallinder’s men found their ruthless streak a long time ago and are setting the blueprint for how Aviva Premiership rugby should be played combining enforcing, strong forwards with creative and inventive backs. The memories of Round 1 will be fresh for both sides, Gloucester must show how far they have come since that 53 points to 6 loss whilst the Saints will want to show that they are stronger than ever, in their quest to become the first side to secure a home Semi Final spot. 

The first of the Sunday fixtures is at the Ricoh Arena where Wasps  welcome Saracens for their first visitor to their new home. Saracens were pushed hard by the Newcastle Falcons in Round 16 and they’ll be stronger for it. Wasps didn’t deliver a complete performance in Round 16 but nevertheless they secured an important five points. Both sides will need to be at the top of their games in order to outsmart the other and with Alex Goode, Brad Barritt, Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth all returning for the away team it is going to be Wasps' toughest task to date in order to retain Fortress Ricoh. Both sides have dynamic backs and powerful forwards so expect fireworks of all varieties in the Midlands. 

The final game of the weekend is at Kingston Park where the Newcastle Falcons host the Leicester Tigers. The Falcons have been building and building performance wise and fruits of Dean Richards’ and Dave Walders’ labour are clearly evident in their flowing and ambitious rugby. However the crux of the matter is that they have only won one of their last eight Aviva Premiership matches. In contrast the Leicester Tigers haven’t played vintage rugby this season however they have delivered the results regardless. On home turf the Falcons always raise their game, as they highlighted against Saracens they have more than enough invention out the back to pick holes through defensive lines however the question will be whether they have produce a secure enough set piece against the ever building Tigers’ pack. 

It Doesn't Always Have To Be Pretty - Aviva Premiership Round 16 Review

In Round 16 teams across the country had to work extremely hard for their victories,  there were few truly vintage performances and instead heart, guts and a spot of luck in places delivered the results.

12 points clear for Mallinder's men
(C) Red Hat Photo

Franklin’s Gardens was the venue for the opening match of Round 16 as the Northampton Saints hosted Harlequins. Jim Mallinder’s men were made to work extremely hard for their victory as Harlequins battled against their opposition and their own demons. Harlequins have struggled with their precision and finishing off their endeavour and although this continued it was a much more encouraging performance from O’Shea’s men. Marland Yarde and Charlie Walker in particular provided the sparks and collectively they dug deep to make Saints think at the set piece and work for the full eighty. Courtney Lawes returned for the home side and was inspired, he didn't show a single sign of rustiness and on the back of that performance I expect him to be starting for England's game against Scotland. Saints’ collective physicality and accuracy delivered another win, it wasn't vintage Saints but it did the job nicely. 

Ben Kay's inventive score card
(C) Nick Mullins

In the West County Exeter ticked off the last remaining Aviva Premiership team that they had yet to beat as they ran out 16 points to 6 winners over Bath Rugby. It was a victory that meant a huge amount to the club and the emotion they had invested in the fixture was highlighted in the manner in which they attacked the game. After an evenly matched opening forty the Chiefs threw everything at Bath and for almost half an hour Bath repelled them. Bath's defence was heroic from the smallest man on the field to the largest they put their bodies on the line and held strong, however eventually the boot of Henry Slade and the feet of Will Chudley dealt the killer blows. Exeter’s endeavour, purpose and all around intent was sensational, and right now in March 2015 they are the real deal and if this form continues a goal of a Top 6 finish should be the bare minimum. Bath missed their grand masters in the backs but given their run in you still expect them right in the mix come Round 22.  

Smiles pre-kick off
(C) London Welsh

London Welsh’s Aviva Premiership nightmare continued as London Irish flew into town and broke hearts on St David’s Day weekend. For the Irish Exiles it was a performance to build from as they enjoyed throwing the ball around and dominating at the set piece. Shane Geraghty reminded us all of his prowess as he played every trick in the book from precise cross field kicks to beautifully weighted missed passes, in short he and Alex Lewington another stand out performer had fun! London Welsh did enjoy a few of their own moments in the sun thanks to James Tincknell and Taione Vea both crossing for tries however it was much of a muchness for Welsh as their own knock ons and imprecision cost them.

(C) Leicester Tigers

In the Midlands Richard Cockerill’s Leicester Tigers put in their best performance for a number of rounds as they comprehensively beat the Sale Sharks. Sale had been building well but at Welford Road they took a step back as they were squeezed by a Tigers side that dominated from the opening minutes onwards. Two yellow cards in the opening half highlighted Sale’s frustration whereas the Tigers showed the brawn that they have been historically famous for. Captain Jordan Crane and England man Geoff Parling led the way in terms of their individual performances. The Sharks showed more of themselves in the second half, Tom Arscott's try scoring finish was an absolute corker and Josh Beaumont continued to turn heads and Magnus Lund put in a physical shift however they lacked bite for the full eighty. 

At Allianz Park Saracens were pushed all the way by Dean Richards’ Newcastle Falcons. The Falcons arrived in London in an imperious mood, ready for their first big scalp of the year however agonisingly they didn’t quite finish things off. Saracens were dealt a huge blow in the first half as they lost both Charlie Hodgson and Neil De Kock to injuries, however Ben Spencer seized his opportunity at scrum half and took on the kicking duties. Ben has been patiently waiting for an opportunity, he has delivered consistently in other competitions and his command of the game, along with Man of the Match Itoje, made the difference.  The Falcons continued to show huge improvements, they are far from the nervous, stuttering side that they used to be, instead they played their part in a riveting game.

The final match of the weekend was at Adams Park where Wasps hosted Gloucester Rugby. It was fast paced game of rugby and Wasps were made to work extremely hard for their victory. The home side's drive and impetus came from the man filling the boots of James Haskell, Thomas Young and he did so with some style, scoring two tries and delivering his best performance of his Wasps' career. Gloucester were quickest off the blocks and appeared to be ready to ruffle feathers with James Hook, Mark Atkinson and Dan Robson all delivering some outstanding rugby. Gloucester meant business however so did the home side. By Wasps' own admission they weren't as fluid as they would have liked to have been however their quick thinking and key men; Simpson, Goode, Wade and Thompson all delivered what was required. Wasps' 100% Premiership record at the Ricoh Arena remains and they move up into fourth position. 

Irish Eyes Are Smiling - England vs. Ireland Review

The build up surrounding England Rugby's trip to Dublin had been intense, for two weeks we had discussed the match ups, pondered on the strategies and come 3pm on Sunday 1st March expectations were high. Hearts across the country predicted an English win by 3, based on the character they showed on the road in Cardiff and the flair showcased in both of the opening fixtures it delivered high hopes of a fourth consecutive victory over Ireland. However after eighty minutes of rugby, those hopes were dashed, England were beaten and they were beaten well by an steely Irish side. 

(C) Accenture Rugby

England’s ‘curse of the slow start’ continued, Ireland enjoyed 95% of the possession in the first ten minutes and whilst this did even out as the half and indeed the game wore on, it had set the tone for proceedings. Ireland opening points were delivered by the master, Jonathan Sexton. For the 52 minutes that he was on the field of play, along with his half back partner Conor Murray, he dictated the game. The aerial bombardment that we expected was delivered and it was delivered with accuracy and intent. They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice but in the case of Sexton and indeed Murray it will strike again and again, regardless of the opposition. 

The breakdown was another area that Ireland excelled at, they were brutal masters of proceedings whether that be from O’Connell, O'Mahony or indeed any Irish forward.  England’s set pieces, the ones that were so sturdy against Italy and Wales were meddled with, lineouts were disrupted and scrum time was not the source of positivity that it has been. 

It has to be said that England did not lack for brawn, work rate or physicality. English tanks were emptied, Billy Vunipola in particular worked himself until he had nothing left to give and the same could be said for a number of his colleagues. Across the board English bodies put on the line however critically they were masters of their own undoing with 13 penalties given away to Ireland’s 8. The kick chase, some important agains the Irish didn't quite cut it and that is a disappointment. There were positives, Jack Nowell looked more secure on the wing than the man he replaced, his eyes were bright and he was hungry for work. Mike Brown was always going to be a huge loss to the side however Alex Goode, in spite of being out elevated at a critical moment by Henshaw did do exactly what was asked for me, provide a secure presence and like Nowell looked for work. 

In the aftermath there will be a number of questions being spoken about, none more so than whether or not the man wearing the 22 shirt should have taken to the field? Would he have made a difference, well frankly we will never know. Now England will return to Twickenham, hurting both physically and mentally. The Grand Slam has again alluded them and in spite of the fact that Stuart Lancaster’s side were well beaten in Dublin, one defeat does not make them a bad team. For sure, it makes them a team with areas to develop and work on however it should not throw everything into turmoil. 

On 1st March 2015, Ireland had all the answers and the questions that England asked of them weren’t taxing enough. It will be a long road home, they’ll stew on this game, on their individual performances and they will learn from it. 

The Dual in Dublin - Ireland vs. England (RBS 6 Nations)

Strength is depth, it is a phrase that we have been itching to be able to use to describe England Rugby for a long time and if I'm brutally honest the words never quite fitted perfectly, instead England had depth but only in pockets, in one or two positions. However now in March 2015, in a World Cup Year the shoe fits, just look at the quality of the individuals that were released back to their Aviva Premiership Clubs Of course,  form and injuries have played a part in that however you have to be excited by the resources that are now available to Stuart Lancaster.

Every side has their defining matches, the games in which they take themselves to another level for 80 minutes and as a result it flicks a switch of belief and provides a high base to work off.  Cardiff two weeks ago was one of them and should England deliver and triumph over Ireland tomorrow, it will be another. At the start of the year when Stuart Lancaster announced his England Rugby Training Squad he highlighted very clearly that the development stage is over and this year it is all about winning. Now, a month of so on he has shown this with a pleasing ruthlessness in his selection as Jonny May is not only dropped from the starting XV, he is out of the squad entirely. That action highlights to the entire squad that mistakes simply won't be tolerated, England mean business and if you are to retain your shirt then you have to deliver, without exception.

In Dublin England must be controlled and play clever rugby, against Ireland territory is paramount and that is why there has been so much focus this week on the English backs. Precision off the boot is vital, England must play in Ireland’s half and with a back line in which nearly all of the 7 players are known for their proficient kicking games you hope that would be possible. The back three, Nowell, Goode and Watson may not have played Test match rugby with each other before however they have the advantage of all knowing the nuances of the Full Back position well having each delivered matches there for their clubs. This understanding, coupled with the thorough analysis that has gone on this week means that positionally they have no excuses, even against the master that is Johnny Sexton. 

Of course a huge spotlight falls on George Ford to dictate the shape of the game, it is a large ask for the man deemed to be ‘the apprentice’ to Sexton opposite him the however Ford has done this many a time for Bath and has the temperament to absorb that expectation and deliver. Up front England have the measure of Ireland, the English set piece is a weapon of mass destruction and should be a source of confidence and power for the side. Marler, Hartley and Cole will face into the McGrath, Best and Ross and every dark art will be utilised. All of the men behind them, from both sides, play the game with gladiatorial physicality and on the green grass of the Aviva blood will be shed for the cause and the breakdown will be a fearful place to be. 

Exactly like Twickenham twelve months ago this game will require every ounce of physical and mental effort from the Northern Hemisphere's two top sides, it will be an arm wrestle of seismic proportions and a one of the great test matches of the tournament. England must start fast, they’ll head out onto the pitch 12 minutes before kick off to take part in the formalities of meeting the president however they cannot let that impact them for a slow start at the Aviva simply won't cut it, not in 2015, not against Schmidt's men. This will be a game that is won by the side that delivers their game plan, cooly, precisely and with intelligence. Start preparing yourselves for it is going to be emotional...

Patience Is A Virtue - Spotlight on Alex Goode

Goode's last start - Cardiff 2012

‘It’s a dream’ those were the words of Alex Goode as he started to describe how it feels to be back in England’s starting XV and they are far from an exaggeration for Alex has waited patiently, behind the majestic Mike Brown for two long years in the quest to wear to England’s Number 15 jersey again. On Sunday, the Aviva Stadium is his stage and prior to leaving for Dublin he shared how he was feeling ahead of this Championship defining RBS 6 Nations fixture. 

Throughout, what must have felt like the longest two years of his rugby career as he has waited patiently for his opportunity, Alex has been the model professional, he has been the first to congratulate Mike Brown on his tremendous form and has never shown any sign of resentment or dejection. Privately I’m sure that he has felt both of those feelings and had his dark moments; for when you are faced with one of England’s most impactful players ahead of you, you wouldn't be human if that didn’t hit home and hurt just a little. Alex articulated how he focused during the time that he has spent waiting; 

‘It is always tough when you are very close and you are right there, but all I could concentrate on was my form and what I could affect. I looked at it in the way that I can’t affect how Mike plays or how the team is performing all I can do is impact how I play. I’m very lucky that Saracens is a very positive environment and that allowed me to focus week in week out and keep putting in good performances. From there you simply hope that you keep knocking on the door...’

So now the door is open, due to the clock running out for Mike to safely return to play following his concussion. When Stuart Lancaster confirmed his final XV he described Alex as a 'more than capable replacement’ for the man that has been instrumental for England for so long. It is true that Alex's attacking threat is slightly less overt or in your face than Brown's however he still should make Ireland think twice for his threat is that of a different kind. Alex is tremendously difficult to tackle and has worked extremely hardly personally on his physical fitness and attributes to boost this all around game. In short eyes up rugby comes naturally to Alex and Andy Farrell had nothing but praise for the Saracen earlier in the week;

‘Alex is a senior figure too and knows how to get the best out of people around him. His all-round game is good, and with his fly-half background he is another decision-maker for us, another voice. He has a good feel for a game, takes the right options and is composed under pressure.”

One third of the
back three - Anthony Watson 

That composure will be vital this weekend for England’s opponents house a tremendous kicking game and will be bombarding Goode and his fellow backs with a huge amount of work for the full eighty minutes. As a trio Goode, Nowell and Watson have no formal test match experience together so you can understand why Ireland have overtly said that they’ll target them, however that isn’t something that worries the Full Back;

‘They pride themselves on their high balls and their aerial battles but you know that already when you play Irish teams so there is nothing new there. Also I’m very aware also that I’ve got two guys in the back three, that have played Full Back and it is a part of the game that is one of our strengths too and hopefully we can go and enforce that. For me, it is all about communication in the back three, I’m quite loud naturally and it is going to be a loud environment but as long as we can see each other and communicate, that’s vital.’

Alex thoroughly deserves his opportunity, he is exactly the sort of man that Stuart wants in his squad, the ultimate team player, a steely competitor and a man with the temperament to step up onto the largest of stages and deliver.