Who’s hot and who’s not: Relief for Italy, Six Nations returnees and Bristol Bears

Colin Newboult
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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 after the weekend.

THEY’RE ON FIRE!

Relief for Italy and the Six Nations: News broke earlier this week that the makeup of the prestigious tournament would be changing. The Daily Mail said South Africa were set to join the Six Nations Championship from 2025 onwards in the place of Italy. This caused uproar among rugby fans for numerous reasons but, following a statement made by Six Nations Rugby, all chatter was quashed. They announced that all of the rumours were false and that the competition would stay in its current format. Italy remaining in the tournament is beneficial to the sport and the development of Italian rugby, especially when we consider the strength of their age-grade teams. Fans around the continent will be pleased that the Azzurri are here for good as the future looks bright for Kieran Crowley’s side if we’re patient with the team’s progress.

Simon Zebo rolls back the years: He might be getting on in years for a wing now at 31 but you wouldn’t have known it on Friday as Zebo claimed a well-taken hat-trick in Munster’s win over Edinburgh. Playing for his beloved team once again after a stint in France, Zebo looks to be enjoying being home as he showed his finishing prowess at Thomond Park. He wasn’t the only left wing to impress in the United Rugby Championship round, however, as Leinster and Ireland‘s James Lowe scored a wonderful solo try against Ospreys. Well done both.

Waratahs break their drought: After 488 days, the Australian outfit finally won a match. They have endured a rather stark decline over recent years, culminating in 13 successive defeats during the 2021 Super Rugby AU and Trans-Tasman campaigns. Of course, we don’t truly know where the ‘Tahs reside at the moment, given that they were facing unfancied Super Rugby newbies Fijian Drua, but it was a convincing enough start as they claimed a 40-10 triumph. They were too good for the visitors, touching down five times via Will Harris, Dave Porecki, Lalakai Foketi, Angus Bell and Jake Gordon. Sterner challenges await but this was an important victory for the Waratahs to start the season.

https://twitter.com/StanSportAU/status/1494628939502784513

Another big name joins Sharks: The Durban side are gathering quite the collection of Springboks at the moment. With Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and captain Siya Kolisi already there, they have been bolstered further by the signing of world-class lock Eben Etzebeth from Toulon. That list isn’t even counting those on the cusp of the Bok first team such as Sbu Nkosi, Thomas du Toit and Aphelele Fassi, and perhaps even the likes of Jaden Hendrikse and Curwin Bosch, which makes them a frightening prospect at full strength. Second-row is a weaker part of their squad but, with Etzebeth joining ahead of next season, they will have a very strong team and will be a significant threat to the rest of the United Rugby Championship and the European Champions Cup in the coming years. Watch this space.

https://twitter.com/SharksRugby/status/1494257862092206087

Injury boosts for Six Nations sides: It is great to see Manu Tuilagi back after his hamstring injury and he will surely play some part against Wales next weekend. He’s joined in the England squad by Courtney Lawes, who has been given the all clear after concussion, and he will boost the Red Rose back-row. Another international star set to return is Johnny Sexton after he missed the clash with France due to a hamstring issue. Sexton returned to training during a two-day camp and should be available to face Italy this week. We all want to see the best players feature and, although Ronan Kelleher will unfortunately be absent for Ireland, the news is generally positive on the injury front.

Jack Willis’ return to the rugby field: Talking of injury returns, how great was it to see the talented flanker coming on and featuring for Wasps at the weekend? It is just over a year to the day since he suffered that horrific injury playing for England against Italy, but Willis has worked incredibly hard to get back fit. The back-row is a potential international star if he can stay on the field and hopefully he will now have a consistent run. After two serious knee injuries, a hugely promising career has been hampered, but Willis has shown tremendous spirit to get himself back fit and give himself an opportunity to fulfil his potential. Judging from his showing on Saturday, he won’t be holding back.

COLD AS ICE!

Bristol Bears: After reaching the Premiership semi-finals last season, Pat Lam’s charges have found the going tough in that competition during the 2021/22 campaign as they have only managed five wins in the tournament so far. The Bears must have fancied their chances of returning to the victory trail against fellow strugglers Worcester Warriors but it wasn’t to be as the home side held on for a deserved 19-14 win at Sixways on Friday. Bristol’s defeat was their 10th out of 15 matches played this season and they currently occupy 10th place in the standings with 28 points amassed so far – just three ahead of Worcester, who are in 12th position. There’s no getting away from this, it’s been a major dip in form from Bristol.

Shock Mark Wilson retirement: The Newcastle flanker has struggled to get onto the field this season but it still felt rather sudden when Wilson announced that he would be retiring last week at the age of 32. The back-row was one of the most durable players in the game, but he has struggled with injury since the 2019 World Cup – where he helped England to the final. Wilson, given his form for Newcastle, should’ve earned more than 23 caps but, when he did finally earn Eddie Jones’ trust, he excelled, both at flanker and number eight. We wish him well.

Heartbreaking news about Steve Black: There was incredibly sad news on Sunday as Newcastle announced that much-loved coach Black had died. One of the great characters, ‘Blackie’ was admired and highly thought of across the game and the news hit everyone who knew him hard. He worked at the Falcons on two separate stints, as well as Wales, British & Irish Lions, Newcastle United and Sunderland. His relationship with England great Jonny Wilkinson is also well known and we want to wish those who knew Steve our deepest sympathy.

Justin Tipuric setback: The flanker is likely to be out for the rest of the season following the shoulder injury he sustained for the British & Irish Lions last June. Tipuric was forced to miss the tour to South Africa after going off against Japan in a warm-up game, but it was initially hoped that he would be back by the start of 2022. In fact, Tipuric was pencilled in to play for the Ospreys in their Welsh derbies over the Christmas and New Year period, but the medical team realised that it had not healed fully healed. According to coach Toby Booth, his injury resembles a “road traffic accident,” which obviously sounds utterly horrific. We wish Tipuric all the best in his recovery and a healthy return.

Dragons’ woes continue: It was October 9 when the Dragons last won a game in all competitions and on Sunday they couldn’t end that nightmare run as Ulster came out on top. Granted, few expected the struggling Welsh region to get the better of one of the United Rugby Championship’s strongest sides, but there’s no hiding from Dean Ryan’s men’s woeful form. As shown in the below tweet, their record at home is abysmal and simply must change and soon if the Dragons are to keep supporters coming back and attract new fans to the ground.

 

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Steve Black passes away aged 64

James While pays tribute to a coaching legend, Steve Black, who died today.

Bristol