The Off Load: Rupert Cox's best and worst from the last week in the world of rugby
Monday 9 February 2015 12:59, UK
Rupert Cox shares his highlights from the week's rugby action in his round-up blog...
Sarries too Goode for Chiefs
North London turned on a mid-winter stunner as Saracens' young guns went in search of a home semi in the last round of the LV= Cup. The defending champs, Exeter, brought a near full-strength squad to Allianz Park, and after falling behind 14-0 in the first half, came storming back into the lead early in the second.
It looked likely that the Fez Heads were out of the semi-finals altogether, until Alex Goode, at fly half, turned the sunshine up. Rumour had it Goode wasn't originally part of the coaches’ plans on Sunday, but the England man - desperate to send a reminder of his ability and versatility - asked for a place on the bench and some much needed game time. And what a cameo it turned out to be! The young Sarries backline was a completely different beast with Goode conducting at fly-half. By the time he had the symphony sounding, Saracens were almost 20 points clear and sure of a home semi-final. If they are to break their sequence of four straight semi-final exits in the LV= Cup, then one David Alexander Vallance Goode (for that, indeed, is he) could well prove the reason.
7s Mens
England 7s are back on track. Despite having to make do without the Dans (Norton and Bibby), forward leader Phil Burgess, and also losing new flyer Tom Bowen to injury on the opening day, Simon Amor's boys made it all the way to the Wellington Cup Final against hosts New Zealand. They finished second to the Kiwis in the trophy match, but hauled themselves back into the Olympic race, and gave a couple of new faces a chance to strut their stuff – including former All Black 7 Warwick Lahmert, who has now switched allegiance to England, and former Wasps centre Charlie Hayter. England are now only two points behind Australia with five rounds to go in the Series, and can look to Las Vegas this weekend with renewed optimism. Fear not Team GB – this England team have got your back!
7s Womens
Alas not such rosy news for England as the Women's World Series hots up. New Zealand are well clear at the top of the standings after backing up their Dubai title with another trophy win over Australia – this time in the São Paolo final on Sunday. The brilliant and speedy Portia Woodman (insert Porsche joke here) ran 70 metres to score the winning try in the final – her 13th in São Paolo, a Women's Series all-time record. The four favourites to snap up the Olympic qualification spots are the Black Ferns, Australia, Canada and France. England ended up winning the Plate after being knocked out by Canada in the quarters; they are still locked in fifth place and will need to up their game in Round 3 in Atlanta to keep their Rio 2016 dream alive.
Brickbat
Allowing George North back on the field against England – bad, bad, bad. How can you pass a concussion test when you've quite obviously been knocked out? Apart from putting the player himself at serious risk of further injury, it's a sure fire way to give parents in every living room (i.e. my wife) another reason to stop their kids from playing rugby (as if she needed any more). This echoed the George Smith incident in the third Lions Test two years ago, and it was another backward step for rugby. World Rugby are quite right to investigate.
Bouquet
The defiance of Chris Robshaw as Wales’ mind games backfired. The Welsh had planned to send the English out on to the pitch first, and then to make them wait and wait, like lemons, before running out themselves.
The England captain firmly declined the offer to embarrass his team, and stood his ground in the Millennium Stadium tunnel before kick off on Friday night – he calmly refused to allow his men out, until the Welsh were also in the tunnel. Great leadership from Robshaw, who looks to have truly come of age. As for Wales – #massivefail, as the young’uns might say.
