Smokin': England - Jokin': Stormers
It's time for our wrap of who has their name in lights at the moment ... and who is making the headlines for the wrong reasons in rugby this week.
They're on fire!
England: Now that they're over the French hurdle, it's hard to see England missing out on the Six Nations crown. Surely Italy will not pose a problem at Twickenham, meaning Chris Robshaw and co. should head to Cardiff with a healthy points difference. Any Championship-winning campaign needs a splash of luck and Manu Tuilagi's fortuitous try on Saturday looks set to be a crucial moment in the title chase.
Scotland: Sunday's success over Ireland at Murrayfield meant that the hosts recorded back-to-back Six Nations wins for the first time since 2001. Victory over Wales next week would even keep them in the hunt for a maiden title.
Thierry Dusautoir and Wesley Fofana: Once again, 'Titi' has been a shining light in the gloomy atmosphere that is surrounding Les Bleus' Six Nations campaign. France's captain is the tournament's top tackler, having made 37 hits without missing a single one. Fofana was finally returned to midfield at Twickers and found his way to the tryline... 'nough said.
New Zealand's Super Rugby conference: This is the way rugby is meant to be played. With so much televised sport on offer these days, it's sometimes hard to choose what to prioritise. So often the 'big' games fail to deliver - on both sides of the equator - but it's a rare thing to witness a boring game involving the Kiwi franchises. If you need convincing, check out the highlights from the Highlanders v the Chiefs last Friday.
The Brumbies: Two from two, top of the overall table, looking solid. The Brumbies revival continues.
The Kings: No team has ever won on debut in Super Rugby - until now. Sure, playing the Force at home is the easiest fixture on the calendar, so things will only get harder. But credit were credit is due because the Kings have already exceeded most pundits' expectations.
Sergeal Petersen: The youngest South African in Super Rugby since 1997 sent the Kings faithful wild by scoring two tries, including what proved to be the match winner against the Force. Just three months ago he was in high school, now he is the toast of Port Elizabeth.
Blues youngsters: Francis Saili, Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua were all outstanding against the Hurricanes. They were also all born in 1991, so they should have plenty of years ahead of them. Add to the mix the likes of Frank Halai, who scored two tries on debut, and the future is looking bright in Auckland.
Saracens: Trailing 17-6 at half-time at Welford Road, Sarries looked down and out. Four second-half tries later, the visitors claimed a remarkable comeback victory - their fourth successive (regular season) win at Leicester - to retain second spot in the standings and close the gap on Harlequins to a singe point.
Treviso: A five-try win over Munster is something to be proud of. Before fans in Limerick start complaining about players on Six Nations duty, they should ask themselves which team provides of the bulk of Italy's squad.
Brrrrr....someone put the kettle on!
Philippe Saint-André: France's head coach was on the verge of tears at Saturday's post-match press conference and we're not surprised. The knives are truly out in the French press corps. The visitors were the better team for about an hour but some curious tactical changes from PSA saw the wheels come off and England seize the initiative. The Wooden Spoon is a real possibility and PSA's job must be under threat.
Ireland: How do you lose a game when you enjoy 71 percent possession and 77 percent territory? Ask Declan Kidney, because we don't know.
Dimitri Yachvili: Biarritz's loss at home to Racing Metro was further soured when the home scrum-half stamped on Racing centre Henry Chavancy's leg, sparking a dust-up. Yachvili saw yellow but deserves a lengthy ban for his disgraceful actions, which were worse than those that saw Cian Healy handed a three-week suspension. Have a look at 1:50:45 here. Unfortunately, France's farcical disciplinary process means he is unlikely to face a hearing before Friday's Basque derby with Bayonne.
Leicester's meltdown: As mentioned above, Tigers blew an 11-point half-time lead on home soil against fellow title contenders. We doubt the tone of Richard Cockerill's subdued comments to the press afterwards would have been repeated behind closed doors.
Elton Jantjies and the Stormers: Heard from a Bulls fan at the weekend: "You don't take second-hand Lions into a Bull fight." 0/4 from the kicking tee was not the kind of Stormers debut Jantjies was hoping for. Coach Allister Coetzee called his team's first-half performance "an embarrassment to the Stormers jersey." They will seek redemption at the 'Shark Tank' on Saturday.
Craig Joubert (if you're French): South Africa's top ref is to France what Bryce Lawrence is to South Africa or Wayne Barnes is to New Zealand as many French fans still hold a grudge in the wake of the infamous final 20 minutes of the 2011 World Cup final. He's no more popular after this weekend's loss to England. "I won't comment on the rucks nor the decision to award (Tuilagi's) try. We know Joubert," said Saint-André. Ouch.
By Ross Hastie
@RossisHastie
Comments
Chubbylugs says...
Problem is that a lot of lower level refs don't speak enough to players during the flow of a game, but agree in the heat of the moment, the last thing you do is listen
Maybe you just need to work on the look of innocence when you get pinged!
Posted 10:01 01st March 2013
lawynd says...
@Chubbylugs - sounds like I need to do some reading...not playing enough these days means I don't do as much research as I used to!
You know as well as I do that it's almost impossible to hear the referee in a ruck, right? ;)
Posted 09:32 01st March 2013
Chubbylugs says...
@lawynd
I'm pretty sure that the tackler is supposed to re-enter the gate if they go off their feet now. The tackler can't do what Heinrich broussouw and macaw used to do very well and enter from an offside position prior to the ruck forming
I think it's an odd one, because if a ruck hasn't formed then there is no offside line
As for entering the side, I could only suggest changing your body angle. If you enter at ruck through the gate, but at 45 degrees you are more likely to get pinged than if you are at 90 degrees
I think one area where the laws could be improved is by determining clearer at what point the ruck is over. If all players involved in a ruck are lying on the floor, is there still a ruck and therefore an offside line? Technically you'd be within your rights to go round and pick the ball up, but no ref would allow it
The fail safe is the referee. If he says hands off then, regardless of right or wrong players need to let go. Something I was never great at doing!
Posted 18:50 28th February 2013
Top_Kat says...
I used to love Yachvilli as a player. Why, Dimitri? Why.
Posted 16:08 28th February 2013
lawynd says...
@chubbylugs - one thing on the ruck/release rules, I don't know if I saw it in the England - France game but I've seen instances of it in other 6N and AP games - the referees are, incorrectly from where I'm sitting, calling players for hands in the ruck before a ruck has actually formed; JP Doyle did it twice in the Leicester - Saracens game. As long as the tackler releases before going back for the ball, I'm pretty sure they can contest it from wherever they like. Another one is players being called for entering the ruck at the side, even though their feet have come from between the outward edges of the ruck...that upsets me as I'm constantly pinged for it myself. =P
Posted 09:56 28th February 2013
ferdie says...
re those tackle stats
to be honest i though the England-NZ match would have had both teams in to 90%+ for making tackles, at 86/84 that's roughly one in six missed at top international level.
One other factor re Highlanders Chiefs - indoors on a perfect pitch. Don't know what the temp would have been but a lot cooler in Dunedin than eg the heat/humidity in Brisbane for Reds Waratahs (exactly 50 missed tackles, 19/31), Dunedin's an artificial environment by comparison.
Posted 14:49 27th February 2013
chubbylugs says...
lyhel - once a ruck is formed you cannot handle the ball. if the ref says hands off you cant re-set and then go for the ball again, regardless of whether you are on your feet - because the ruck isnt over until the ball moves into another phase
Posted 11:17 27th February 2013
lawynd says...
@KiwiRooster - if we're taking Dupuy or Attoub, then we should also remember that they deliberately EYE GOUGED the same player, in Dupuy's case TWICE. And Attoub had already performed the same act previously in his career. Taking all that into account, I don't think anyone except morons like you would have been upset if they'd been banned for life, so who really cares about the specific circumstances of those two? They're scum.
And what, pray tell, has Farrell done wrong in your eyes? Parra was shot by a sniper in the crowd and his tet-a-tet with Huget was after another French player had tripped him...hardly citeable stuff!
Posted 10:55 27th February 2013
GCP_jones says...
@craigster99....
Well said its good for the game to see a Scottish side really making a statement both on and off the pitch. also worth mentioning the highest points scored for an away game against Newport 2 weeks ago .
@ PR.. Come on this is a story worth mentioning
Posted 10:47 27th February 2013
Iyhel says...
@newj4a: why release again when he has already released, got on his feet and started contesting the ball on his feet? Sorry, I really don't get it!
(and I'm not saying this is the reason for France's defeat, as I said there were "defensive" penalties against England that I did not understand at all either)
Posted 10:23 27th February 2013
JayStarr says...
@ melkdave: Did you actually watch the game or did you just watch the highlights? Normally your comments are more well-informed.
@ MaxPower: Exactly !
@ ferdie: I'm not usually a fan of stats, but in this argument they are finally usefull - so thanks for that!
The stats show the defense was not as bad as all the highlights-watchers try to pretend it was - period. Watch the game next time before you decide to criticize...
Posted 10:21 27th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
JayStarr
You should change to league, it's entertaining, for the spectator !!!
Cheats V Hlands was, for a Spectator, was entertaining. My point was the coaches would have been pulling their hair out. Can't recall but Justin Marshall said something along the lines of "very poor defence" !!!
davodiablo:
Same could apply to ABs who lost to Australia in the Tri nats in 2011, or SA V Aus in last 8, thank you Bryce.
Fact is France were the better team on the night, and deserved a win (just happened to be a WC final) but they were robbed. Had the game not been played in NZ even with Jubes one eye, France would have Bill locked away Paris right now.
Posted 10:11 27th February 2013
carpelone says...
ferdie
Excellent post, as always.
Posted 09:56 27th February 2013
carpelone says...
JayStarr
I agree with you. But Joubert is still technically the number one and I do not know why he sometimes gives up refereeing. In the first half, he was so accurate, so quick, exuding authority. At the end, I feel that he always blows with the crowd.
Sasquatch.
Did you see how many Kiwi I fished? It was just a bit of exaggeration. On a serious note, I value our refs the best and I get so annoyed when they underperformed (Peyper was horrible couple of weeks ago).
Kiwilad
Welcom terug, boet.
Posted 09:56 27th February 2013
chubbylugs says...
@lyhel
if a referee calls ruck or hands off, it doesnt matter whether fritz was right or wrong, he had to comply or concede a penalty. he got at least 2 warnings from the ref
i agree the refereeing wasnt the best. i think the scrum was a farce especially in the fiirst half, but open play seemed to be managed ok. you forget this is a far more disciplined england side. perhaps weve just come to expect a high penalty count in recent years
Posted 09:49 27th February 2013
carpelone says...
new_j4a
I will try to do so. I need to see the game again.
Posted 09:39 27th February 2013
craigster99 says...
Glasgow Warriors 4 Victories in 4 Games and the last 3 have all been Bonus Point Victories, the last against the League Leaders Ulster yet still no mention in the Hot Section all while the Bulk of the team is away on Scotland duty. If only they were involved in APL then they would maybe get a mention?
Posted 09:26 27th February 2013
ferdie says...
melkdave - just a stat, but from that match Highlanders made 80% of their tackles, Chiefs 87%. 80% is poor, but far from extraordinary based on other recent matches.
Another match Hurricanes 84% and Blues 89%.
Compare with England 86% New Zealand 84% in December
One more stat - the total forward running metres Highlanders-Chiefs 1294m; in the Eng-NZ test it was 836m. 50% more running in the Super game, reflective of how test matches are played maybe.
Anyway, an enjoyable first-up match for the spectators.
Posted 09:22 27th February 2013
physiodan says...
As a Tigers Fan I am glad to see us in the cold section as this is where we deserve to be at the moment but we are in the top 4 and still not playing well. As for four successive wins for Sarries at Welford Road you would have to have remembered that Sarries Played Quins in the final last season by beating the Tigers at home. Oh hang on a minute, nope, Tigers won and then lost in the final. Come on PR...
The editor says.... @physiodan: You are correct. We were referring to regular season games. We've amended the comment to avoid confusion.
Posted 08:42 27th February 2013
froggy73 says...
"France's farcical disciplinary process": PR you are losing your head ? Where on earth did you get that from. Ask Yohann Huget what he thinks about this!
You are becoming embarrassing !
The editor says.... @froggy73: You are talking about two VERY different situations. Huget was suspended by France's anti-doping authorities, who operate completely independently from the LNR and FFR. Yachivili, who clearly has a case against him, was only cited this morning and will only appear before a discipliary hearing on 13 March...three weeks after the incident!
Posted 08:38 27th February 2013