Stuart Barnes gives his views after round two of the Six Nations
Tuesday 16 February 2016 07:09, UK
Stuart Barnes discusses the main themes after round two of the Six Nations including the form of George North and how England's campaign is only going to get tougher...
1. After two rounds it has not been much of a showpiece for European rugby. It is intense, aggressive, all those nasty snarling things but for class, it's a different and inferior game to what we see south of the equator. That is why the highlight of the competition so far has to be that magical moment in the 70th minute in Cardiff when George North awoke from his slumbers and scored his superb solo try.
He was OK against Ireland and solid enough in the Scotland game but that try may have ignited his stuttering recent last year or so - not to mention the Six Nations itself. To see someone of North's size moving so quickly, with such balance, is a thing of rugby beauty. We need our stars shining brightly.
2. Sunday afternoon is a perfect reminder that selection is a long-term issue and not a knee-jerk reaction to current form. Jonathan Joseph scored a hat-trick and was acclaimed England's hero. Never mind if two of the finishes were as routine as they get. Yet only a few weeks ago the only outside centre's name being mentioned in England was Elliot Daly. No wonder Eddie Jones was happy to give his Bath man the big rap.
3. We can talk tactics and selection as much as we like but sometimes Lady Luck intervenes and there's nothing a coach can do about it. Joe Schmidt and the good lady once seemed to be close but from the day Ireland beat France in the World Cup she has turned her back on him. Ireland and Schmidt have done wonders in the past few years but with so many injuries they were left struggling to hang on against the depth of the French squad in Paris.
There was nothing unlucky about poor Irish hands when they were building pressure close to the French line in a first half of complete domination and there was nothing Schmidt could do about it. The Irish coach hasn't become a bad coach overnight, he has become unlucky.
The good news for England came from the bench. The old guard may still splutter but Maro Itoje looked the part from the minute he stepped onto the Test match stage.
4. Let's not pretend the action has been riveting on the field. Non-rugby fans would wonder what all the fuss is about but for the crazy lovers of this frequently frustrating but often beguiling game, it is the atmosphere that draws them to the tournament.
On Saturday afternoon, four hours before kick-off in Cardiff, the wind blowing and the media centre locked up for another hour, I was heading for the shelter of a restaurant and a burger in the company of my old mate John Cleave, a substantial voice among Cornwall's finest Sea Shanty singers, Fisherman's Friends. Then, from nowhere, six men of indeterminate sobriety jumped me. They were the Zaragoza veterans, Spanish fanatics. One of them recognised 'Stuart Barnez' and demanded a chat and photo. Every year, he explained, the Zaragoza veterans head for a Six Nations match and a weekend of revelry. All hail the Zaragoza veterans and rugby's smiling supporters everywhere.
5. Staying continental, France may be two for two under Guy Noves but they are not playing well. The strength of their pack from the bench prevailed against Ireland but as a team there is absolutely no coherence. Having belittled their form, selections and management, is it time to 'reverse ferret' as we call it in the press and cover my 'non, Monsieur' position? Is it heck; Wales will beat them Friday week unless we see a completely different France.....hmm, that 'unless' lacks conviction doesn't it? Wales will beat France.
6. Four years ago England had a new regime. They had played two and won two. They had beaten Scotland without playing well. They beat Italy without playing well. That regime went on to win 16 Six Nations games but never a title and most importantly, it fumbled the ball at the World Cup. Beating Scotland and Italy away is the easy part. "Two games (played) and two won and no major injuries. We're sailing along pretty well at the moment." Note Jones keeping the facts to the bare limits, which is pretty much where England's game has been. The waters will get choppier from here. Ireland look very beatable at Twickenham unless they get several players back fit and at full tilt. Then it is Wales at Twickenham which will be interesting, to say the least.
7. The good news for England came from the bench. The old guard may still splutter but Maro Itoje looked the part from the minute he stepped onto the Test match stage. The combination of his carrying the gain-line, Danny Care receiving front foot ball, George Ford unleashing a late pass with Italy in retreat, Jamie George running a perfect late angle onto it and popping a lovely pass into the waiting arms of Owen Farrell for a try was lovely rugby. The present remains muddled but the future looks bright. The big question is how quickly will England reach for tomorrow?
8. A word in defence of rugby referees. I confess, I am an Arsenal fan. I watched the referee give Arsenal nothing in Sunday's first half and everything in the second - bar a straight red card after a Leicester tackle which he contrived to miss. Leicester escaped a penalty call against them when a defender had his arms out like a scarecrow to deflect the threat of an Arsenal cross. Later in the day, Manchester City conceded a penalty when their player tucked his arms almost behind his torso, incredible inconsistency from the two leading referees in England…it's a tough job, whatever the sport but this cross-sport musing is a reminder that our lot aren't as bad as we make out…not always anyway!
9. The player of the tournament to date has to be Jamie Roberts. Defensively he was titanic against Ireland. He repeated that effort in Cardiff and added a try-scoring gain-line bashing element to his 80 minutes against Scotland. As someone who had no left hand either I'd love to see him pass off his weak hand...still, you can't have it all. He is playing superbly.
10. Spare a thought for Tommy Seymour. He chased and won everything that was put in the air. He scored a smart try, he did everything you could have asked of a winger but the Glasgow star only makes an entry in 10th spot this week and George North steals the headlines. No one said this world was fair, Tommy, but crikey, you played well.
P.S. My real moment of my weekend was Danny Welbeck's goal but this is a rugby column so my Arsenal emotions have no place here. But here they are anyway. Have a great week everyone, referees, Cornish Shanty Singers and Zaragoza veterans all.
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