Who's hot…and who's not!
It is time for our weekly wrap of who has their name in lights at the moment…and who is making headlines for the wrong reasons.
It is time for our weekly wrap of who has their name in lights at the moment…and who is making headlines for the wrong reasons.
They're on fire!
Toulon: And so Bernard Laporte and his armada march on. 'Clinical' is sometimes a word overused in rugby columns, but RCT are very, very good at cashing in on their opportunities. You won't find too many punters betting against an historic Euro-French double for Wilko, Basta, Big Joe and co. this weekend.
Chiefs: Despite a raft of back-line injuries, the defending Super Rugby champs and current league leaders look set to top the Kiwi conference and are on course for a home semi-final after last weekend's hard-fought victory over the Crusaders. Dave Rennie's team is striking the perfect balance between using their big pack and unleashing their killer backs. It's a pleasure to watch.
Joe Schmidt: Two trophies in the space of a week – it's hard to imagine a better way to make an exit. After four seasons, the new Ireland coach leaves the RDS having won two Heineken Cups, an Amlin Challenge Cup and a PRO12 title. He can look forward to facing his former boss at Clermont, incoming Scotland coach Vern Cotter, on the international stage in the future.
Leicester: Tigers confirmed their status as the greatest English club of the professional era with their tenth title – four more than either Bath or Wasps – after their ninth straight final. You can't argue with those numbers.
Ben Foden: Saints didn't have much hope of winning the Premiership Final once their skipper had been given his marching orders but a certain England full-back still managed to shine with an outstanding performance. He may have missed out on a spot in the Lions squad, but Foden looks set to make life hell for the Pumas in June.
Castres: The biggest upset of the year? In terms of knock-out games, certainly. Against all the odds, Castres completely dominated Clermont in their Top 14 semi-final. Another ogre awaits at the Stade de France on Saturday, but as the saying goes, “anything is possible in a final.”
England: Sure, that wasn't the most impressive Barbarians team ever assembled, but Stuart Lancaster's team – full of new faces – really put them to the sword in ruthless fashion.
Rory Best: Better late than never, ey Rory?
Broken Thermostat:
Wayne Barnes: If Barnes was 100 percent certain that Dylan Hartley's comments were directed at him – which he obviously was – then we have no issue with the red card. Absolute respect for the referee is a pillar of our game as it's crucial in maintaining order in a sport that involves physical confrontation and aggression. But was the whole scenario avoidable? Of course, Stephen Myler should know the laws of the game, but surely it would have been clear to Barnes that there had been a misunderstanding when the Saints fly-half started trotting towards to touchline with the clear intention of kicking the ball straight out. Good refereeing is about communication and when there was obviously broken telephone situation Barnes could very well have reacted differently, whether it be before of after Myler connected with the ball. Surely he couldn't have believed that Myler purposefully disregarded his instructions? By no means can we condone Dylan Hartley's outburst – especially considering the warning of only a few minutes earlier – but we can definitely understand why the Saints players were frustrated.
Bbbrrr….someone turn the heater up!
Clermont: Who would have thought les Jaunards would make the “not hot” section two weeks in a row? Clermont's knack for stumbling at the last hurdle or two has become the stuff of a tragic comedy. Without doubt the best team in France and Europe for almost the entire season, all those wonderful tries now count for nothing. The capitulation at the hands of Castres on Saturday had fans of open rugby pulling their hair out as their latest failure calls into the question their attacking style – so attractive, so exciting, yet so ineffectual (or so the evidence suggests) when it comes to knock-out games. Will Vern Cotter's departure signal a change?
Bulls v Sharks: If Clermont needed a lesson in getting the job done without frills, the Bulls would be the perfect example. They got four points out of Saturday's clash in Durban, but heaven help us, it was painful to watch. Both teams blamed the wet ball for their kick-first approach but here's some food for thought: Blues full-back Charles Piutau gained 94 metres with ball in hand in heavy rain on Friday, while the entire Bulls team made a combined total of 97 at the Shark Tank. At least we can count on the Cheetahs to always keep us entertained.
Ulster, Northampton and Toulouse: Losing out on silverware isn't hot, obviously, but these three all did very well at shooting themselves in the foot. We still can't get our heads around why Ulster chose the RDS as their 'home' venue (to replace the under-construction Ravenhill) for the PRO12 Final when anywhere else would have been a better idea. We're all for attacking rugby but Toulouse seemed allergic to rucks in their loss to Toulon, throwing the ball about like it was a game of touch rugby. It was really entertaining for about an hour until the pressure told and the inevitable knock-ons cost them the match.
Dylan Hartley: The only person who knows the truth behind the scandal that almost overshadowed the result of the Premiership Final is Hartley himself. Whether his outburst was directed at Barnes or not, it was ill-advised, as mentioned on this site before.
SANZAR inconsistency: Graham Henry publicly calls officials “blind” and their decisions “bulls***” but gets away with simple reprimand…? The Blues assistant coach probably had reason to feel aggrieved but other coaches, players and referees and been suspended for far, far less. The rules should apply, equally, to everyone.
Richard Cockerill: Another outspoken coach who is lucky not to be in hot water. Rushing down from the stands to raise your voice at officials on the touchline is unlikely to be met with a friendly response. It's not the first time Cockerill's pitch-side behaviour has raised eyebrows, and probably not the last.
Compiled by Ross Hastie