Who’s hot and who’s not!

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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 this past week.

THEY’RE ON FIRE!

Scarlets: Wayne Pivac’s charges showed why they are the PRO14 champions as they delivered a superb all-round effort to claim a richly deserved victory over French outfit La Rochelle in the first ever Champions Cup quarter-final at Parc y Scarlets. Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny led the way with a 19-point haul, courtesy of five penalties and two conversions. The Welsh region’s triumph means that they will now play in their fourth semi-final in Europe’s premier club competition, but it will be their first for 11 years.

Du Preez brothers: After losing to the Brumbies and Rebels, Sharks head coach Robert du Preez will be happy that his side have returned to the victory trail, after beating the Blues, but he will be equally delighted with the performances of his sons Robert Jnr and Jean-Luc, who were two of the Durban-based outfit’s standout performers in Auckland. Robert Jnr contributed an incredible 38 points in the win courtesy of a try, seven penalties and six conversions and Jean-Luc also crossed the whitewash and was superb in attack and defence throughout.

Ben Lam: The former All Blacks Sevens’ flyer was in superb form in his side’s emphatic win over the Rebels in Melbourne and crossed the whitewash on four occasions, which equals the Super Rugby record. Lam’s achievement was no fluke as he also touched down twice in the men from Wellington’s win over the Highlanders last weekend and he is the tournament’s leading try-scorer at the moment with eight from five matches played.

Andrew Conway: Keith Earls injured? Simon Zebo withdrawn? It is evidently no problem for Munster. The Irish province have a lengthy list of absentees, particularly behind the scrum but, against a star-studded Toulon, the incumbents duly stepped up. While a first choice regular, Conway is rarely talked about in the same breath of those Irish stars, but he produced when they needed it most. Toulon could probably count themselves unfortunate to be out, considering the chances they had, but Johann van Graan’s men tend to find a way and Conway delivered.

PRO14: After finishing in the top three positions in the Six Nations, the Celtic nations proved their strength in the Champions Cup at the weekend. Both Leinster and Scarlets were magnificent in dispatching their opponents, while Munster displayed their spirit to grind out a result against Toulon. Although the PRO14 as a league perhaps lacks the intensity of the Top 14 or Premiership, it certainly allows them to contend at the highest level on the European club scene, as well as at international level.

Racing 92: An excellent display from the Parisians, who held off a resurgent Clermont in the first-half to control the final quarter and qualify for the semi-finals. They also scored one of the best tries you will see his season when a Marc Andreu-inspired move saw Leone Nakarawa cross the whitewash. They appear confident and will be a significant threat for the title. A word too for Dan Carter, who has endured plenty of criticism for his performances this season, but was exceptional when he came onto the field.

Video credit: BT Sport

COLD AS ICE!

Melbourne Rebels: Their game with the Hurricanes was the first Australian-New Zealand encounter of the season and it suggests that the sides to the left of the Tasman Sea are in for another long season against their rivals. Having failed to overturn any of the New Zealand franchises last year, the Melbourne-based outfit, who are still top of the table, were duly thrashed by the ‘Canes. If this is the best team in Australia then, well, God help the rest of them.

Officials at Thomond Park: The early decision not to penalise Simon Zebo for his act in knocking the ball from Chris Ashton’s hands was controversial to say the least. Nigel Owens took control of the situation and believed the Munster full-back made a legitimate attempt to claim the ball. We disagree, but let’s move on. Then another crucial moment in the game came when Conor Murray scored a poacher’s try. That was all above board but why were the officials debating if he’d knocked it on or not? That does not matter. Guilhem Guirado played at the ball with his hand and then fumbled it which means the ruck is over and the ball is live. It was another embarrassing moment for the team of officials.

Clermont: In fairness to Clermont this was, by and large, one of their better performances over recent times, playing with a physicality and tempo they have struggled to produce this season, but that intensity duly seeped away following Andreu’s controversial try. Les Jaunards’ supporters were incensed by the final pass from Carter, which they thought was forward, but it also seemed to affect the players. Instead of refocusing and going for the score that might have won them the game, they dropped off and a minute later the game was over following Boris Palu’s effort. That is the campaign finished for the defending Top 14 champions.

Blues: The Blues crashed to their fourth defeat in five matches this season after they were clouted 63-40 by the Sharks. Disjointed and disappointing, the Blues look a team of individuals, desperately lacking in cohesion. Unfortunately for such a well-supported team, they are the perennial underachievers of New Zealand rugby. Dark days in the country’s biggest city.

Eddie Jones’ training methods: Earlier in the week, talented Wasps flanker Sam Jones was unfortunately forced to announce his retirement from the game after suffering a horrific ankle injury while on duty with England during the 2016 November internationals. Head coach Jones is renowned as a tough taskmaster but is he possibly too tough? Several players, including the back-rower, have returned to their clubs with injuries while training with the national side. It doesn’t seem to have benefited the team either with the Red Rose looking lethargic during the Six Nations, so perhaps it is time for a rethink from the Australian?

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