Beware of Les Bleus

It was billed as the title-decider of this year's competition-a collision between the two heavyweights of European rugby-but in reality is was a very one-sided affair.

The formidable Ireland of recent-the team that haven't lost a game for over a year- were nowhere to be seen. Knock-ons, missed tackles, and a lack of flair and discipline allowed the French to open them up and tear them apart, making "The Invincibles" look very ordinary.

Les Bleus on the other hand provided their ardent fans, packing out the tiers at Stade de France, with a beautiful display of running rugby that was reminiscent of times of old.  The inconsistency that usually walks hand in hand with Marc Lievremont's side had been ironed out, leaving Ireland to suffer the wrath of a French team high in confidence and hungry for points.

In the team that faced Ireland there seems to be a consistent, functioning XV that are capable of winning this year's tournament.  In the backs, Morgan Parra at no. 9 showed why he is becoming the new "petit general", with his direction and off-the-cuff drop goals giving France a crucial playmaking option whilst outside him, Trinh-Duc played with maturity and calm, cutting the Irish to pieces on more than one occasion.

Yannik Jauzion, having dropped a stone of weight since last year's tournament, was back on form and even contributed a try when a French back-line move carved straight through Ireland's midfield whilst Clement Poitrenaud at full-back added his own flair and invention to the mix, rewarded by a try courtesy of Mathieu Bastareaud.

The young French behemoth Bastareud, continued his dominance on the international stage with another pivotal performance, even against one of the most effective and well-functioning backlines in the world.  Brian O'Driscoll failed to neutralise the threat of the young Frenchman, allowing him too much space to manoeuvre his giant 17-stone frame around the park, resulting in his aforementioned offload to Poitrenaud for a second-half try.

Whilst the backs played the beautiful game, the forwards resorted to one of brute force.  The back-row contest that had been so talked-about in the build-up was dominated by the French combination of Dusatoir, Ouedraogo and Harinordoquay, who romped around the field turning over ball and spoiling lineouts.  Heaslip and co. will be disappointed with their lack of competition, but when France are playing well, it's an unstoppable juggernaught.

So where to now for Ireland? By no means should they be ruled out of another victorious 6 nations, sure enough a grand-slam is out of the question but they must be backing themselves to turn over a lacklustre England side in two weeks time.  They have the quality all over the pitch and with O'Driscoll at the helm, confidence must still be high.  Last year they proved that they can go for an entire year without loss, and with their track record against the French in Paris being somewhat...woeful, last weekend can be seen as a momentary blip to their campaign.

The French however are no longer the enigma of the tournament and are riding the wave of good form.  They showed their hand against the Irish and it was destructive.  On their day they are unbeatable, and with the consistency problems withering away into the background, those days undoubtedly becoming more frequent. Beware of Les Bleus.

Ireland must forget the past when facing Les Bleus

An ice-cold Stade Francais will today play host to a red-hot fixture of International rugby, as the men in green of Ireland cross the waters to face their biggest challenge of this year's 6 nations, France.

Last week's tepid performance from Declan Kidney's men against a woeful Italian side was far from the dynamic, explosive Ireland we have come to know of recent, but it seemed for all teams that it was just about the win, no matter how inconsistent the play.This week's fixture is a different matter all together for the Irish. Away from home and against a buoyant French side, nothing less than a spectacular display will be required when the game kicks off this afternoon.

Historically, the trip to Paris has been the thorn in Ireland's side, with only 4 victories conjured up there since the second-world-war, a fact that O'Driscoll and his men will be trying to forget when they run out in front of the roaring Parisian crowd. 

Besides 2 points in the standings, today's encounter will also signify where Ireland are on the International stage.  Although they won the grand-slam in last year's championship as well as providing a core group of players to the British Lions, they have failed to step up to the plate when the World Cup rolls around, and have struggled when playing away against the big three of the southern hemisphere.

If they can break this run of bad away-form, it will be monumental for their confidence and will send a very clear message with the 2011 World Cup on the horizon, something their captain Paul O'Connell spoke on earlier in the week, “If we beat France away it will be an incredible feeling and a good box ticked,” O’Connell said. “It would be a highlight in my career. Psychologically, going to France has been tough for Irish teams but probably since 2000 the lads have been breaking that down.”

There are a few key battles that will play pivotal roles in today's match, and ultimately decide whether Irealnd can change their luck.  Brian O'Driscoll is arguably the most-feared and most lethal 13 in the world, but he will have his work cut-out against a rampant Mathieu Bastareaud, who scored twice in the victory over Scotland last week.  Bastareaud, despite this contribution , will have not faced as professional an outfit as D'Arcy and BOD, so whether he can withstand the Leinster onslaught will be a key factor in the end result. 

In the pack, the mighty Jamie Heaslip and his fellow back-rowers, David Wallace and Stephen Ferris, will be in for an 80-minute slog against the likes of Imanol Harinordoquy, Fulgence Ouedraogo and Thierry Dusatoir, a back row battle that will be key to possession and momentum for both sides. 

  

England grab the points as Wales suffer first loss

A long, frustrating drive back along a traffic-clogged M4 will have added insult to injury for Warren Gatland’s Welsh side after having been on the receiving end of a resurgent, if not convincing, English performance at Twickenham on Saturday. 

It’s a shame that the impressive pre-match entertainment to mark the centenary of England’s rugby fortress was not mirrored by the 80 minutes of play that followed, but as far as opening matches of the 6 nations go, England will struggle to see the negatives.

Sporting the classic shirt of yesteryear, an injury replenished England side began the match with relative caution, threatening momentarily but rarely capitalising on opportunities.  As the first half minutes ticked away, the 80000 strong crowd feared that all the hyperbole surrounding a “new look” England team may just have been exactly that as an uninspiring 3-3 score line hardly looked like a step in the right direction.  That was until Stade Francais’ James Haskell showed that his time abroad had been worth the bigger pay cheque, as he dived over the line following a dominating bout of English pressure that took advantage of the 34-minute sin-binning of Wales lock Alun Wyn-Jones.

Wyn Jones’ game changing act of stupidity (tripping Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley) began a point-filled period of the match that ultimately cost the Red Dragons their first 6 nations encounter.  17 points alone were scored whilst Wyn Jones warmed the Welsh bench, including a second try from the in-form Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, who skilfully dummied to go over at the beginning of the second half. 

20-3 was the score that greeted Wyn-Jones when he returned to join his fellow morale-sapped teammates, an addition that helped spur a spirited comeback from the men in red in the latter stages of the game.  Adam Jones went over for the first Welsh score, taking full advantage of an overstretched English defence, a try quickly followed by a supreme individual score from one of Wales’ most potent threats, James Hook, who carved his way between Matthew Tait and Tim Payne to make the score 20-17 with 6 minutes to go.

The familiar feeling of disappointment began to spread through the English ranks as once again Warren Gatland’s men looked destined to get one over on their old foes, but where the old England-team would have just accepted the impending defeat, the “new look” had other plans.  As Stephen Jones looked poise to finish Johnson’s men off with a swift counterattack from his own half, full-back Delon Armitage pounced on his floating pass for a decisive interception that eventually saw James Haskell run in his second score of the day.  It was the killer blow to the Welsh jugular. 

As a spectacle, the match lacked cut-throat precision, with both teams relying on mistakes rather than crafting periods of genuinely skilful play.  Wales especially were the architects of their own downfall with a catalogue of unforced errors ranging from a diabolical lineout to poor-discipline, errors that have to be ironed out when they face Scotland at the Millennium Stadium next weekend.

For England however, the match was momentous.  Scepticism surrounding selection was a hot topic in the press on the lead up to their premier match of this year’s competition, and although it was not the full-throttled domination so many hoped for, the team did manage to hold up, even throwing a few tries into the mixer which was a welcome change from the Autumn performances.  Anything other than a victory would have made Johnson’s position as head-coach ever more fragile, so for him, this victory meant more than just points in the 6 nations.  It wasn’t a classic encounter, but for England it was a crucial victory in what they hope will be a year to remember. For Wales, if they carry on as they did on Saturday, 2010 will perhaps be one to forget.

England Captain needs to lead from the front in this year’s 6 nations

Whilst the media continues its furore surrounding England football captain John Terry and his scandalous personal life, another England Captain is enjoying a relatively peaceful existence,out of the spotlight, unnoticed even on the streets of the country’s capital.

Steve Borthwick is the antithesis of the football lifestyle. Relaxed in his demeanour and a self-professed “quiet guy”, he likes nothing more than to slip under the radar and just get on with life. Off the pitch he loves the anonymity, but when on the pitch, Borthwick’s lack of presence has certainly garnered him his critics and is gaining him some unwanted attention.

Now 18 months into his tenure as captain, the man earmarked as the next Martin Johnson is still failing to convince the English rugby community that he is the right man for the job and with few noteworthy accolades on his captain’s CV since he took on the role, patience is beginning to wear thin.

Martin Johnson is undoubtedly feeling the same, having invested great faith in Borthwick with no real returns. On paper he is unquestionably a great player, with his stats alone showing he is the lynchpin to the England pack, but England need more than just a statistical leader, they need an inspirational one.

The value of the captaincy

Former England World Cup winner and outside-centre Will Greenwood recently spoke of what should be required from an England captain, using Johnson’s leadership in 2003 as the benchmark; “It was not about charisma with Johnno, it was all about standards. He led in a manner that made other players raise their game to follow the captain”

Johnson was a player that truly valued the captaincy of England. Every time he wore the rose, he showed just why he was the players, coaches, and people’s choice. He led from the front and struck fear into the opposition, exactly what the current England captain is struggling to achieve.

Occasionally you will see the Saracens second row having quiet words with the referee on the side, but you barely see him adamantly coming to the defence of his peers with a Johnsonesque’ snarl across his face. It’s this lack of passion, or at least this appearing lack of passion, which is providing the cannon fodder for his critics.

Besides the lack of zeal, Borthwick’s play has also got to represent that of a captain. He is a gifted second-row that can ruin the best line-outs on the circuit when playing well and his sheer physical presence in the scrums makes him a crucial part of the England engine room, although he needs to play on these strengths more often. The sooner he realises that he needs to be more than just another player in the starting XV, the sooner faith will be restored in him.

Support of his team

So far, the former Bath captain’s record of 7 wins out of 17 in the international arena is indicative of lack of leadership. The few victories that have been mustered up under Borthwick regime can be attributed to the fact that he has a solid core of leaders around him. Lewis “Mad dog” Moody, Nick Easter, Simon Shaw and Jonny Wilkinson are but a few of the names that have provided him with the support he has needed in gaining these wins as captain, big names that fully stand behind him and inspire at least an inkling of confidence in his leadership.

It is still a while to go before Steve Borthwick receives the sort of flattery from his players that Will Greenwood and co. laid onto his captain Martin Johnson. He still has time left to earn it in the next few weeks, and if he does, England can hope for greater success under the Saracens man in the future. If he fails, his tenure as England captain will undoubtedly be coming to an abrupt end very soon.

The 6 Nations: Europe's Finest are at it again

It’s that time of year again.  The best players in European rugby are once more proudly pulling on their national shirts and getting ready to wage the annual, gruelling 6 nations campaign against their counterparts in a series of games that will showcase the finest talent the Northern Hemisphere has to offer.

After the mixed success of the Autumn Internationals and with the 2011 World Cup on the horizon, all 6 teams will be looking to find some winning form on which to build before next year’s competitions.  So what are their chances? Back Row Rugby investigates...

England

The lacklustre performances in the Autumn Internationals did nothing to strengthen Martin Johnson’s case for England making progress since his arrival back in April 2008.  One try in three matches coupled with convincing defeats to Australia and New Zealand has left the English Rugby Community hungry for success in this year’s tournament, success that is certainly not unattainable, given the return of many key players to the setup.

Riki Flutey, Delon Armitage, Nick Easter, and Lee Mears have all helped reduce what was a considerable injury list for Martin Johnson, enabling the former England captain greater flexibility with his selection for the first match against Wales this coming Saturday.  New call-ups to the squad also include Northampton stars Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, and Courtney Lawes, further adding to the attacking clout at Johnson’s disposal.

With the options available, there has perhaps not been a better opportunity in recent months for England to make their mark on the international scene.  Strength in depth now rules out the selection excuse that the coaching staff have relied on of recent, results are what are needed.  Last year’s tournament saw England place in second and it is expected that anything less this year, maybe Johnson’s last time as England coach.

Player to Watch

Matthew Tait: After his baptism of fire against Wales back in 2005, Tait will be looking to prove a point on Saturday and answer his critics. He certainly has the skills to become world-class but whether he can dazzle at his favoured no.13, is still yet to be seen on the international stage. Watch this space.

Ireland

The Irish are undoubtedly the in-form team heading into this year’s 6 nations.  Untouchable in 2009, the men in green romped to a grand-slamming 6 nations, provided 12 integral players for the British Lions tour of South Africa, as well as completing a successful Autumn Internationals series in which they beat the Sprinboks 15-10.  Simply put, they are the ones to beat.

Declan Kidney’s side boasts some of the world’s best players, including Tommy Bowe, Paul O’Connell, Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip, and not to mention the mercurial Brian O’Driscoll. Their success will hinge on the leadership of these experienced players, but youngsters such as Jonny Sexton and Tomas O’leary will also be welcome options to Kidney’s team sheet.

The talent pool from which the Irish head-coach is able to draw is unparalleled by the other five nations, something which will no doubt lead to another successful 6 nations campaign, but another grand-slam might be too much to ask.

Player to Watch

Tommy Bowe: With Jonny Sexton succumbing to injury, the pace and precision of Tommy Bowe makes him the player to watch.  Having shown his true class on the Lions Tour, Bowe is expected to start this year’s 6 nations in similarly devastating fashion. Defences are already shaking in their boots.

Wales

The Red Dragons are no strangers to success in the 6 nations but more recently they have struggled to find the sort of consistency of previous victorious years. Like Ireland, the Welsh contributed several members of their starting XV to the British Lions cause, with varying success.  Players such as Stephen Jones and Jamie Roberts thrived against the Springboks, whilst others like Lee Byrne and Adam Jones picked up unfortunate injuries; it was a mixed bag of luck for the Welsh.

Now, with Warren Gatland’s squad almost replenished (minus Matthew Rees and more recently Gethin Jenkins through groin and calf injuries respectively) the Welsh rugby machine seems to be back on track, bolstered by 9 British Lions starting against England on the opening weekend. 

In the pack, the calm and steady nerves of Martin Williams and Ryan Jones will provide the leadership, whilst Stephen Jones, Roberts and Hook will make up the 10,12,13 combination, a trio that should rack up the points this championship. 

Player to Watch

Jamie Roberts: After being named player of the Lions tour, the 23 year-old continues to set the standard for the modern day no.12, with powerful running lines and immense defence.  

France

Another case of a wonderfully creative and talented team, plagued by inconsistency.  The French are always a great threat and a huge obstacle to any nation going for the top spot in the 6 nations, but as the Autumn Internationals showed, Les Bleues are still not on their best form.

Sensational against South Africa, pitiful against New Zealand, the contrast between France on a good day and France on a bad one has become ever greater.  Head-coach Marc Lievremont is well aware of this, which is why he is desperate to find what he hopes is the winning recipe in this year’s competition ahead of next year’s tough rugby schedule. 

This search however has led to a lack of cohesion across all 15 positions, such as Beauxis and Nallet being left out in the Autumn series, undoubtedly two of their best players.  Lievremont needs to find his best XV fast if France are to stand a chance of taking this year’s championship, but until he does, the French will remain the “inconsistent” threat.

Player to Watch:

Thierry Dusautoir: A magnificent athlete who combines both pace and power.  He will be leading the French into the series and will be on the radar of every other nation.

Scotland

A memorable win against Australia at a windswept Murrayfield in the Autumn provided a much needed boost to Andy Robinson’s campaign as Scotland manager, yet despite this, the Scots’ game still has a long way to come if they want to be competing for this year’s championship.

Historically Scotland have based their strategy around a big pack that can pile on the pressure and then let the reliable boot of Chris Paterson put on the points, and it is likely that this year will see the same.  But with the addition of some exciting backs, in the form of the Evans brothers and the Lamonts, all led by Phil Godman at 10, tries should be on the cards.

Player to Watch

Thom Evans: Having shown his skills for Glasgow this season, Evans is evidently becoming a potent attacking force and will be looking to get his name on the score sheet.

Italy

Italy’s head-coach Nick Mallet will be hoping he does not have to bring Mauro Bergamasco in at no.9 again after last year’s horror show against England.  It was the low-point in what was another disappointing series for Mallet’s men.

Since joining the competition 10 years ago, Italy have failed to prove that they are doing anything more than just making up the numbers.  Sporadic moments of brilliance across the years such as beating Wales in 2007 do make a positive case for the Italians, but more often than not they are wrestling with Scotland for the wooden spoon. 

That said, they do have some great players and I think the fact that they can cause the occasional upset is what makes them interesting to watch.  The Bergamasco brothers are technically superb, and Sergio Parisse is easily one of the best players in the world, but unfortunately due to injury he will not be able to play this year.

Hopefully Italy will entertain the crowds once more this year and maybe cause a few upsets along the way. We will have to wait and see.

Player to Watch:

Mauro Bergamasco: The Stade Francais superstar and Italy captain will be showing his quality this year, mixing it up with the best of the back rows Europe has to offer.

The missing piece to England's puzzle?

Tom Croft is fast becoming a well known figure in the world of rugby, and might just hold the key to England's consistency problems

As straight-talking as he was tenacious, former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was never one to mince his words. So when on the lead up to the 2003 World Cup Final, he cited England's no.6, Richard Hill, as "the glue holding the England team together", you took notice.

Forever etched in English Rugby's hall of fame, Hill was nothing less than a Lionheart on the pitch. His Herculean work-rate, burning desire and unfaltering resolve were all driven by an underlying fear of failure, making the Surrey born "silent assassin" a pivotal part of the England equation. Now, having undergone two knee reconstructions, the 36 year-old Hill finds himself settled comfortably in the upper tiers at Saracen's Vicarage Road, more corporate schmoozer than valiant foot soldier.

Relinquishing his beloved no.6 shirt back in 2004 was no easy feat for the "most over praised unsung hero", (as fellow World Cup winning compatriot Lawrence Dallaglio so aptly put it), yet with every departure come opportunity. It's the nature of the beast. But who to fill the rupture left behind was the question waiting to be answered.

Well, many applied for the job of next England hero, with somewhat varying success. More often than not the transition from the domestic to the international stage proved too precipitous an ascent. Consequently, players who were earmarked as the next big thing by a buoyant English rugby community were left to crumble on the pitch, leaving many a fan to become disinclined to believe the hyperbole surrounding up and coming talent. That was perhaps until now.

Tom Croft is the spawn of a new generation of English rugby, the modern mobile back row that is just as likely to be found in the centres as he is at the centre of mauls. At 6ft 6in and 17 stone, he defies every stereotype. And with the dexterity of a 12 and the pace of a 13, he is every coach's fantasy. Problems with up and coming talent? The proof is in the pudding.

Still only 24 years of age, the youngster's sporting CV reads like a player 10 years his senior. Six nations, Autumn internationals, and a gruelling British Lions tour in which he scored 2 tries on debut, have given the sprightly Croft a taste for the international game-and if his breathtakingly mature performances so far are anything to go by, it seems he liked it.

In what has been a whirlwind year for the Leicester blindside, Tom has managed to manoeuvre himself from relative unknown to dependable figure for both club and country, an impressive start that strikes an uncanny resemblance to his predecessor.

The ever reticent Croft is slowly but surely slipping into the Hill-shaped mould at no.6. Granted the two players differ in their physical makeup and styles of play, Hill putting strength over speed, but there are some striking similarities. They are both a bundle of contradictions, quiet and restrained in their personae off the pitch, explosive when on it. They enjoy the country lifestyle-Croft in Hampshire, Hill in Wiltshire- but when put in front of 80000 expectant fans at Twickenham, they couldn't seem more at home. They are the Jekyll and Hyde of the rugby world.

The paradoxical lives they lead, some may say, are what allow this breed of player to become truly great, the type who can leave the outside world at the gates of the ground and focus entirely on the game at hand. You only need look at Croft's stint in South Africa to understand this standard of professionalism. He is the exemplary competitor. who will run himself into the ground for his teammates, and then run some more. On the Lions tour he opted out of the third test due to utter exhaustion, which after his first two stirling performances was not suprising. Tom likes to set the benchmark.

Crofty, for all his distinction, is by no means the finished article. Sure enough he is the genuine one, but caution must be taken. England's progress is not only dependent on the special talent of one individual . After all, a team is only as good as the sum of its parts. Who Martin Johnson chooses in the other 14 positions will ultimately decide whether or not England can get the wind back in their sails and rescue themselves from the rugby doldrums. But I think it's fair to see that one thing is clear, England need their heroes, and in Tom Croft they have found another valiant foot-soldier.