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 over the past week.

THEY’RE ON FIRE!

Crusaders v Hurricanes: What a game! These teams showed why they are heavyweights of the New Zealand game as they dished up an entertaining spectacle in their Super Rugby semi-final in Christchurch. Momentum swung both ways throughout and the result could have gone either way. Although they were under the cosh for most of the first half, the Hurricanes showed plenty of character to launch a superb fightback and did well to score four tries to the Crusaders’ three. In the end, the Crusaders had to dig deep for the result but showed why they are the champions and held their nerve to clinch the game.

Jaguares: A wonderful achievement from the Argentinians, who secured their place in their first ever Super Rugby final following a dominant victory over the Brumbies. While the Australians were abject, it should not detract from Gonzalo Quesada’s men who produced an outstanding display in Buenos Aires. The pack were exceptional, regularly disrupting opposition ball at the lineout and forcing the visitors into reverse, while the half-backs controlled the game magnificently. They have bizarrely had their critics this season – mainly from jealous former Wallaby players who think they should not be allowed to compete in the competition – but the Jags are worthy finalists.

Danny Cipriani: It still seems a long shot for the Gloucester playmaker to make the trip to Japan, with Eddie Jones evidently not a fan of the fly-half, but at least the Premiership Player of the Year is in the reckoning having been named in their latest training squad. It is just reward for Cipriani, who has been outstanding in 2018/19, and hopefully the pivot gets the opportunity to show what he can do in the warm-up games, which take place in August and September.

Chiefs’ Warren Gatland appointment: Quite the coup for the New Zealand Super Rugby franchise after they announced the current Wales head coach as their next boss. Gatland will take charge ahead of the 2020 campaign and has signed a four-year deal, with a break in 2021 to lead the British and Irish Lions in South Africa. It will also be interesting to see how this story develops in relation to the All Blacks job. It is no secret that the 55-year-old wants to coach the national side so is he looking towards post-2023 World Cup for that honour?

England and New Zealand: These two countries are on a collision course at the Women’s Rugby Super Series in San Diego after starting off their campaigns with victories. The Red Roses, who are the defending champions after winning the last tournament when it was held in New Zealand in 2017, beat tournament hosts the USA 38-5 in their opener and the Black Ferns secured a hard-fought 35-20 triumph over Canada in their first match.

COLD AS ICE!

Brumbies: The Jags may have been magnificent but the Australians didn’t really turn up. Of course, they were hampered by the shorter turnaround and significant travel time in getting to Argentina, but Dan McKellar’s men will still be disappointed by their efforts. The opening quarter set the tone, with the hosts dominating the contest due to the away side’s errors and taking a 20-0 advantage. Although the Brumbies hit back via Folau Fainga’a’s try, they had too much ground to make up and started forcing the game, leading to further mistakes and tries for Matias Orlando and Emiliano Boffelli.

Stade Francais’ Sergio Parisse statement: For those who don’t know, it was announced that talismanic captain Parisse would be departing the French club after 14 years in the capital, but they thought a mere three lines would suffice in their press release. It was rather disrespectful to a player that has served them so well having helped Stade to lift the Top 14 title on two occasions, as well as a Challenge Cup. Their supporters certainly made their feelings known and it is rather sad for a genuine legend of the Parisian outfit.

Leicester Tigers up for sale: Since the game turned professional in 1995, Leicester have won 10 Premiership titles and two Champions Cups, which makes them England’s most successful club. But they haven’t won the Premiership since 2013 and last tasted success in Europe’s premier club competition way back in 2002. The Tigers have struggled recently – they finished second from bottom in the 2018/19 Premiership campaign – which has led to them being put up for sale as they bid to reclaim their place amongst England’s and Europe’s elite again. That’s a sad state of affairs for a club with such a distinguished history.

David Pocock’s injury: There are genuine concerns about the star back-row’s calf injury and he is in a race to be fit for the Wallabies’ campaign at the Rugby World Cup later this year. Pocock initially suffered the injury in January and it has resulted in him finishing his six-year stint at the Brumbies prematurely after playing in just three matches for them this year. The 31-year-old is now focused on ensuring he is fit for the global showpiece in Japan and is working with the deputy director of Australia’s Institute of Sport in Canberra, Craig Purdam, in a bid to make a full recovery from his injury.

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