The Off Load: Rupert Cox's best and the worst from the world of rugby
Monday 3 November 2014 14:29, UK
Rupert Cox shares his highlights from the week's action in his round-up blog.
BRAND BARBARIAN IS BACK
There's talk that the ol’ Baa-Baas had become a tad dated – old-fashioned and irrelevant in the slick, pro world of modern rugby union. In Hong Kong last year against the British and Irish Lions, they played like they were on a stag do, spending 80 minutes sweating out the Tsing-Tao lager. But then in May, coached by Dean Ryan, they impressively knocked over the England XV, and on Saturday the latest lot, led by Sir John Kirwan, almost did the same to the touring Wallabies. Under an Indian Summer sun, 53,000 were on hand at Twickenham to see some great rugby from both sides. Playing for the Barbarians, the big draw card, Lord Honey of Badger, went over for the most popular of scores against his own country, and set up a late try which gave the Baa-Baas a chance of snatching it. Australia may have won the game, but the famous black and white stripes stole the show – and no one left Twickenham without a smile on their face. Party hard but play well, Baa-Baas.
GOLIATH MANGLES DAVID
Over 61,000 turned up to Soldier Field in Chicago – by a mile the biggest rugby crowd ever to assemble in North America – to see the All Blacks give the USA Eagles a proper rugby lesson. We did our best to hype it up and give the Yanks a fighting chance, but who were we kidding? By half time the All Blacks had racked up seven tries, including a double to Sonny Bill Williams – who was playing just his third game of union since his latest switch from league. The All Blacks off-loading game can be otherworldly against most teams – but against a team a full 17 places below them on the world rankings, they looked like they were on a training run. They could have had a pizza on the sideline and a little snooze, and still walked it. A great audience for a game in America, but no illusions as to the gulf in class between the best – and the rest. See Brickbat.
HALLOWEEN WIN FOR THE MUNSTERS
The most entertaining moment of the Pro12 clash between the Cardiff Blues and Munster at the Arms Park, was an attempted drop goal from big hairy tight head prop Adam Jones – but what mattered was Munster picking up a crucial away win. JJ Hanrahan kicked all six of his first half penalties to give the Irishmen an 18-14 lead, but the truth is that the Blues could have, and really should have, won. The home side were awarded a penalty with just over seven minutes remaining and Gareth Davies calmly put them into the lead, but as Munster prove time and time again – they always go for the full 80. Paddy Butler came round the corner three minutes from time to put the Munstermen ahead, and Johnny Holland curled a tough conversion into the breeze to get them four points clear. Try as they did, Cardiff couldn’t nail it.
But the boys from Swansea remain the leaders – the Ospreys maintained their 100% start to the Pro12 season with a win over Connacht at the Liberty, and are now three points clear of Glasgow at the top of the log.
NEW TALENT IN THE LV CUP
The Anglo Welsh Cup is a development competition – at least until the knockout stages after Christmas. With so many top-flight players on International duty or being rested for bigger competitions, a whopping 59 players made their club debuts over the weekend – and that can’t be a bad thing. Some say it's become a bit of a sideshow, but what the tournament does do is give us a glimpse of the stars of the future, and expose plenty of young talent to first class rugger – Leicester alone blooded nine players in their Round 1 win over London Irish. Sarries went one further and handed the captain’s arm band to 20 year old Maro Itoje, who this summer led England to Under-20 World Championship glory in New Zealand. Itoje ended up wearing the Man of the Match medal at the end of the game, and looks to be a natural born leader.
TOP 14 BACK IN ACTION
After a two week break for Europe, the Top 14 is back in action and already through 10 rounds. There’s a big upset to report, and an awful result for Racing Metro at home against relative minnows Oyannax. The men from the Les Alps produced the shock of the season, knocking over the city slickers 21-17 – a precious first away win for Oyannax. Racing scored two first-half tries, but 21 points from the boot of diminutive Oyannax fly-half Benjamin Urdapiletta (including six penalties and a drop goal) was enough to see the underdogs home. It could be a tough month ahead for the bow-tie boys – Racing will have to sacrifice 12 players to internationals for their match against Bayonne next week.
Bayonne bruised an under-strength Clermont Auvergne – and South African-born recruit Scott Spedding did enough to force his way into Philippe Saint-Andre’s France squad, with another top game at fullback. The Basques now have a bit of breathing space – five points clear of the relegation zone.
After back-to-back wins in the Champions Cup, Toulouse ended Lyon's 18 month undefeated record at home, and picked up a try bonus in their first away win of the season. Crisis over for Guy Noves and the Rouge et Noir. Castres, on the other hand, are back in serious strife after losing their relegation battle with Brive, and next week they host Toulon, the team flying high at the other end of the table. The champions are back in first place after a nine-try demolition of Grenoble at the Mayol – two from two in the Champions Cup and top of the tree in France.
BRICKBAT
The gap between the top tier Test nations and the rest remains wide – the IRB can spin all they like about the developing nations catching up, but the reality is they are as far adrift as ever. The stats don't lie: a scratch RFU Championship XV beat a first-choice Canada side in an ‘International' at Sixways; the NZ Maori put 60 points past the 11th ranked Test team in the world, Japan; and we all saw what happened to the USA Eagles at the hands of the All Blacks on Saturday. All I can say is God help Uruguay at the World Cup, in a pool against Australia, Wales and England. Perhaps the powers that be at the IRB should consider a second-tier World Cup, as they have for the Under 20's? It could give the newer rugby nations a genuine chance of success and, crucially, advancement.
BOUQUET
Dear Honey Badger, what a breath of fresh air you are. In today's world of media trained and 'on message' rugby pros, aka personality vacuums, it’s a true pleasure to see someone cut through all the generic PR mulch. A significant number of the 53,000 who turned up to Twickenham on Saturday, in their tribute wigs, were there to see Nick Cummins –and he didn't disappoint. He not only finished off an exquisite try (set up by the brilliant Tim Nanai-Williams) but supplied us with the quote of the day, saying pitchside to Will Greenwood and Michael Lynagh: "I don t care what they say – you blokes are alright." Badger, on behalf of the entire Sky Rugby department – we salute you.
