Going strong: Exeter Chiefs
It is time for Planet Rugby's weekly wrap of who has their name in lights right now...and who is making the headlines for the wrong reasons...
They're smokin'!
Grenoble: First some applause for Clermont and Biarritz following their respective victories over Perpignan (53-31) and Toulouse (22-17). But the stand-out result of Week Three came on Friday evening as Top 14 new-boys Grenoble caused an upset against Stade Français. In what was their second victory of the term, the new-boys crossed for two tries to zero as the likes of Morgan Turinui, Paul Williams, Paul Sackey, Felipe Contepomi and Sergio Parisse were left red-faced.
Warren Gatland: The worst kept secret in rugby was finally confirmed on Tuesday. Gatland will be lead the British & Irish Lions in Australia later in 2013. The 48-year-old becomes the second New Zealander to lead the Lions against the Wallabies, after Graham Henry's side lost 2001's series 2-1. One feels a series victory is imperative to the Lions' future and with a reported £100,000 bonus for winning 3-0, Gatland could cash in in more ways than one.
ITM Cup: We had a plethora of player and team nominations from New Zealand's domestic league on the table this week but instead we have gone for the collective. The ITM Cup has been entertainment personified once again, with one reader's take on the competition leading to a chorus of mmms and nods. "The amount of natural flair and inhibition they play with allows them to develop their skills." 22-37, 46-34, 22-42, 49-40 tells its own story.
Exeter: Ahead of 2011/12, some said there could be 'second season syndrome' at Sandy Park. They ended the season in fifth position. A week ago, we also wondered whether the Chiefs would struggle to better or even match last term's efforts. But low and behold Rob Baxter's men have silenced their doubters once more after opening up the new campaign with a 43-6 victory over Sale. Message received, write off this Chiefs side at your peril.
Get these guys a cup of warm soup!
Jake White: The Brumbies head coach blasted the Springboks, for not scoring four tries against Argentina in their recent Tests in Cape Town and Argentina. White disrespecting los Pumas shows how easy it is that rugby enthusiasts can forget (or ignore) that even the All Blacks failed to score four when they beat Santiago Phelan's side in last year's RWC.
Blue Bulls: The men from Pretoria were humiliated by their arch-rivals, Western Province, in Cape Town. Not only did Pine Pienaar's troops fail to score a try but they allowed the home side to cross the whitewash on five occasions! A memorable feat for Allister Coetzee's charges as it was the first time they have managed to clinch a try-scoring bonus this year.
London Irish: The Exiles were blown away by a rampant Saracens team in their encounter at Twickenham. Irish were comprehensively outplayed in all facets with the most damning statistic being the four tries scored against them and not once did they manage to score themselves. Although it is still early days, new head coach Brian Smith knows that such a performance falls well below the expectations of the Aviva Premiership club's supporters.
Golden Lions: Things seem to be going from bad to worse for this team. After it was announced that they were being relegated from Super Rugby, the Johannesburg-based outfit's players are heading to greener pastures. Several players have already signed to join other teams when the Currie Cup finishes and to add insult to injury, the Currie Cup holders handed bottom-placed Griquas their first win of the season in Johannesburg last week.
Comments
sandal says...
So Gatland stands to get "a reported £100,000 bonus for winning 3-0".
Is it thought that Gatland and the players lack incentive to beat the Wallabies?
Talk about throwing away good money, and amateur administrators playing at being professionals.
But what is the likelihood? There is no more resourceful team on the planet than the Wallabies. Just ask any Welshman.
Posted 11:26 08th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
@ ruckingkiwi : is it becoz of the MOney or the lack of it?
in Sri Lanka , where i come from , the game is still amateure and only played among 8 club sidesON WEEKENDS !!!!
the professional game will(/is) overtax the players, as is happening in international cricket. in cricket already 2 things are happening.
1. a lot players have recurrent injuries and sides are wekened.
2. top players are chosing when and where to play (but not all have this option).
Posted 08:31 08th September 2012
Ferdie says...
ruckingkiwi - agree, some of the itm scheduling is madness, eg hawkes bay play canterbury 10 oct at home then travel to waikato to play on 13 oct - tough v what are both top sides, but same for all teams with 2-3 day gaps between matches
Posted 23:41 07th September 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
I may have been reading between the lines but Brian Smith seemed to be singled out for a little criticism by Jonny Wilkinson in his book - sounded like he tiptoed around a few of the bigger personalities within the Englsnd squad which was perceived in part as the reason for a few lacklustre displays from them.
Hope the loss of Booth and Catt doesn't expose him at Irish.
Posted 16:20 07th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
3 games in 8 days, most players in the ITM cup are too tired to tackle.
Posted 01:41 07th September 2012
JayStarr says...
@ lawynd: lol - thanks for that, was just about to say..! I think that person was heading for "uninhibited" but got lost along the way...
Posted 23:40 06th September 2012
JayStarr says...
You are so negative! Putting the Bulls on the "not" list for being well-beaten by Province - as if it was due to them not showing up, rather than them just being outplayed by a team who (finally) started playing positive rugby... Province and Alistair Coetzee should have been on the "hot" list for having the balls to completely change their attitude and game plan from the conservative mindset they've had over the last two seasons...
So PR is on my "not" list this week!
Posted 23:38 06th September 2012
Lucasrg says...
What?! no Treviso to beat Ospreys? I know the game was awful but it should be mentioned?
Posted 19:50 06th September 2012
lawynd says...
I hope that wasn't the exact quote from 'one reader' - playing with 'inhibition' implies they were apprehensive and played with restraint!
Posted 18:17 06th September 2012