Who’s hot and who’s not!

Adam Kyriacou
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It’s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past week.

THEY’RE ON FIRE!

Sale Sharks v Wasps: After the criticism the Premiership received following the teams’ poor European exploits, it was good to see these two sides show what it can produce. It was a thrilling contest, with Sale coming back from a superb Wasps start to go 23-17 ahead through Rob Webber, Byron McGuigan and Bryn Evans tries. The visitors hit back via Elliot Daly’s effort and Jimmy Gopperth’s penalty, setting up a tense finale. It did not disappoint as a frantic last 10 minutes saw Marland Yarde cross the whitewash with the last move of the match.

Scarlets: They became only the third team this PRO14 season to beat Glasgow as the Welsh side ran out 26-8 winners on Saturday. That win keeps Scarlets in touch with Leinster at the summit of Conference B in what was another confidence-boosting performance from the reigning champions. Rhys Patchell starred with a brace in a win that not only keeps them in the hunt for top spot and a bye to the semis but also lands a psychological blow ahead of a possible rematch in the knockout stages. What fine work Wayne Pivac has done at the Parc y Scarlets.

Michael Tambwe: That was a much better performance from the Lions as they put their recent slump in form behind them with a fine victory over South Africa Conference rivals the Stormers, cruising to a 52-31 win. Tambwe was the star of the show with four tries to his name – the hat-trick coming inside 13 minutes – and will have certainly made Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus sit up and take note. Not bad for 20.

Saracens and Exeter Chiefs: Right now these two sides appear set for home semi-finals after comprehensive victories over Northampton and Gloucester over the weekend. Sarries ran in nine tries at Franklin’s Gardens as their second-half performance blew the Saints away while Exeter dominated the Cherry and Whites up front, scoring six tries, with players such as Alec Hepburn and Luke Cowan-Dickie leading well.

Fiji: Fiji secured their fourth consecutive title at the Hong Kong Sevens after they overcame Kenya 24-12 in Sunday’s final. This victory moves them within just three points of leaders South Africa in the overall standings and is a massive boost to their title hopes and also gives them confidence going into next week’s Commonwealth Games. It’s then off to Singapore on April 28/29 in what’s a fascinating series.

Hurricanes v Sharks: While we’re applauding a contest in the Premiership, it would be unfair not to appreciate what happened in Napier on Friday. The Hurricanes and Sharks played out a thriller too as the Durban outfit came mighty close to backing up their win over the Blues. Unfortunately for the Sharks the Hurricanes showed their championship-winning quality in getting over the finish line with their noses in front, with Ngani Laumape grabbing the crucial try in added time before Ihaia West landed the match-winning kick to end a brilliant game.

BROKEN THERMOSTAT

Denny Solomona and the RFU: It will be interesting to see the official written judgement of Solomona’s ban for ‘verbally abusing’ Worcester fly-half Jamie Shillcock because, if what Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond has said is true, then to suspend a player when there is no actual proof is just plain wrong. Shillcock alleged that the England international made a homophobic slur in Worcester Warriors’ defeat at the Sharks, but it appears to be a case of one player’s word against another, with the panel duly falling on the side of the accuser. The Rugby Football Union perhaps felt they needed to make an example of the wing and, if there was tangible evidence, rightly so but, should Diamond’s claims be correct, the governing body has potentially dug itself a hole. Had Sale wing Solomona been cleared, it would not have proven his innocence, merely that there was not enough to evidence to ban him, but we will no doubt find out more about the case soon.

COLD AS ICE!

Clermont: Following their exit from the Champions Cup, it was back to Top 14 matters for Clermont and suffice to say their domestic form continues to be uninspiring. A close to first-choice side went down to a 50-13 loss at Stade Francais, which is their 13th defeat of the campaign and leaves them in 10th spot. Something appears seriously wrong at les Jaunards as they await the season’s end with open arms.

Harlequins and Northampton: Speaking of issues, to go down 35-5 at home to the Premiership’s basement boys has left the Twickenham Stoop faithful understandably livid. Harlequins were beaten by London Irish, who we must applaud for how they performed, in a lacklustre effort while Northampton Saints yet again were hammered by Saracens, conceding over 50 points against them for the fourth time this season. Ouch.

Video credit: BT Sport

Israel Folau: It has not been a good week for the sport’s inclusivity with the full-back claiming on Instagram that gay people will go to ‘hell’ just because of their sexual orientation, something nobody has control over. Most have rightly condemned Folau’s bigoted remarks, although some have defended his right to stringently follow his religious beliefs. In that case will he be removing all of his tattoos? As Leviticus 19:28 states: “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” Possibly strangest of all, however, is that a few years ago he was on the front cover of a magazine promoting the Bingham Cup, otherwise known as the rugby world championship for gay people. It will certainly be interesting should Nigel Owens referee a Wallaby game in the near future.

Travel chaos: A 55 hour journey to play a game of rugby is hardly ideal but that is what Cardiff Blues had to contend with ahead of their clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Open the Twitter thread below for the story of what a nightmare few days it was for the Welshmen.

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