Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Rugby World

A LOT can happen in 60 years, in life and in sport. And a lot can change too. Those who have been watching reruns of old rugby matches during lockdown, whether from ten, 20 or 30 years ago, will certainly recognise that. How quick did scrums used to set for a start? And what about those loose-fitting shirts? The game has changed, no question. But has it changed for better or worse? That is very much a matter of opinion – see P18 for two viewpoints – but it’s clear that rugby will never again resemble the game played in the Sixties and Seventies. Advances in coaching, particularly in defence, mean the space players have to work in is far more constrained. The pro era has brought a change in…

WHAT’S THE funniest thing you’ve heard on the pitch? Wasps were playing Newcastle at Adams Park, just after the 2007 World Cup. This young lad, a back-rower, was calling me fat this and fat that, all the usual stuff. He kept on and on. It got to the point, we were at a lineout and I said, “For f**k’s sake, if I knew your name I’d give you some banter back!” His team wet themselves. But I genuinely didn’t know who he was! Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with? I’d love to meet Billy Connolly, I really would. I just love his story telling. Got any phobias? I wouldn’t say I freak out but I’m a bit claustrophobic. Like getting in a lift with a…

MOST PEOPLE would be surprised at the level of performance review done by officials. At elite level, we use fairly standardised processes that most unions follow. Straight after a game, the referee gets a digital copy of the match. Usually they will ‘code’ it on their review software, like Advantage. They will tag all scrums, lineouts etc, plus penalties and areas of interest to comment on. A referee coach or assessor also watches to make notes on the ref’s own review, for accuracy. Next, there will be a review meeting where the salient points are distilled, warts and all, and usually it will come down to a trend in the game or one or two singular decisions. Referees will then get together as a group to share their learnings. The…

FOR A number of Scots my age or younger, success for the British & Irish Lions over the last few outings has felt a bit like a party you’ve watched through a window. You have borne witness to some marvels but you still feel like an outsider. I was ten when the Lions were in South Africa in 1997. That tour was a milestone for so many reasons – the first pro tour, manner of victory and style of play, the fly-on-the-wall documentary that has not been surpassed. But for Scots it was meaningful representation. It felt like Scottishness was a big part of it. There is no ignoring the low standards of Scottish play as rugby ploughed through the Noughties and first half of the next decade, and in…

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIM “He will go down not only as the greatest All Black of all time but the greatest captain we have ever had”Former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen Who was your toughest opponent? George Smith. He was a really smart footballer and always had a big impact on how the Wallabies played. You had to keep an eye on him. In terms of a team, playing South Africa in South Africa was always one of the toughest challenges. Who was your best coach? The mix of Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith for the All Blacks. I was lucky to have those three as a combination, especially when they took us from where we were in 2007 (losing RWC quarter-finalists) to winning the World Cup…

Who was your toughest opponent? There’s not one particular opponent but a team: South Africa in 1980 under Morné du Plessis. They were the opponents when I won my first cap (in Pretoria) and I never played against such a tough side during the rest of my career. Who was your best coach? There were two. Firstly, Michel Celaya, who was my coach when I first started out at Biarritz in 1976. I was a kid at the time but I just learnt so much from him. The other was Jacques Fouroux, who coached France from 1981 to 1990. Who was your favourite team-mate? I played with so many great players that it’s very difficult to name one. Some stand out, players like Jean-Pierre Rives, Pierre Berbizier, Patrice Lagisquet and…

WARREN GATLAND was 34 years old when he first coached against the Springboks, an experience that taught him much and still tickles him plenty, despite the severity of what happened to him back in 1998 when he was in charge of a lowly Ireland against the steepling world champions. The Kiwi was three Tests and three losses into his reign in Dublin at the time. In South Africa – where he returns next year as British & Irish Lions coach – Ireland had already lost tour games to South Western Districts Eagles, Western Province and Griquas (who beat the tourists 52-13) before the Test series. Two more losses later and Gatland was zero from five Internationals. A year later Ireland exited the World Cup at their earliest stage ever. Two…

COMPOSITE TEAMS always provoke debate because selection is subjective. Comparing different eras makes things even more difficult because the game has changed so much over the years. Still Rugby World, in its 60th year, has picked an all-time greatest women’s XV, the best of the best since the first women’s International – Netherlands v France – in 1982. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the following team… 15 DANIELLE WATERMAN Many names deserve mention: France’s Jessy Trémoulière, Niamh Briggs of Ireland, Black Fern Victoria Grant, England’s Paula George and Sue Day. Yet it’s another Red Rose who gets the nod. Waterman’s sidestepping skills are unparalleled and saw her flummox opponents during a 15-year Test career. She’s equally robust in defence, England coach Simon Middleton calling her “the bravest…

THE BOUNCE in oval-ball diplomacy can be fittingly iffy. And as we rounded into a fraught election phase to decide who would lead World Rugby into the next four years as chairman, with incumbent Bill Beaumont, 68, facing firebrand vice AgustÍn Pichot, 45, we pondered the future. Beaumont won a second inauguration in May and Pichot decided to step back from the body. It finished up 28-23 with the World Rugby Council vote tally. Since then, talk of an ailing game’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis has, rightly, dominated agendas. However, as we look ahead, it’s worth considering what came to pass within World Rugby in the last few years, where power really lies and what must be prioritised now. This is a glimpse inside, at ruckpolitik. PICKING SIDES According…

CHAMPIONSHIP NEWCASTLE FALCONS Captains George McGuigan, Michael Young Coaches Dean Richards (DoR), Dave Walder (head), John Wells (defence), Micky Ward (forwards) Newcastle were unbeaten when the season ended prematurely in mid-March, winning all 15 of their league games and securing a try bonus point in 11 of them to sit 18 points clear of Ealing Trailfinders. Then the RFU’s formula to calculate final standings meant they topped the table on 104.5 points – more than 20 ahead of Ealing and nearly 30 ahead of third-placed Cornish Pirates. The Falcons successfully married youth and experience as well as attacking ambition and an impressive tight game. Locks Greg Peterson and Sean Robinson helped deliver a powerful maul while wing Adam Radwan, 22, has improved his defence and maintained his scoring instincts. They…

THERE HAVE been mixed emotions putting this special edition together. On the one hand, it’s been brilliant to reflect on 60 years of rugby (and 720 issues of Rugby World!), to recall iconic players and historic moments. All of that and more is celebrated in these pages. On the other, there is the ever-growing concern for the sport. What will rugby look like in six weeks, six months, six years? This is a defining period in rugby’s history. The ifs, the whens, the hows… All those questions need to be answered and the answers need to take into account the long-term health of the game as well as short-term solutions. This is a chance for rugby to reset and work together – club and country, North and South; to dispense…

EYEBROWS WERE raised when George Kruis announced he was joining Panasonic Wild Knights at the end of this season. Joining the England lock in Japan will be Bath’s Freddie Burns, Wales centre Hadleigh Parkes and Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann, with Alex Goode also poised to sign as we went to press. Kruis has signed a one-year deal and will likely return to Saracens if and when they get promoted to the Premiership. His sights remain set on France 2023. But in this climate of uncertainty created by Covid, might this trickle become a flow? Japan’s Top League has long embraced stars from the South, as well as some of the best coaching talent on the globe. The likes of Carter, Read, Retallick, Pocock and De Allende have played there this…

Who was your toughest opponent? Tim Horan. He was a wily old fox. He was world class. He wasn’t a big guy but was a smart defender, he was explosive, had great hands and was a great thinker. He’s just turned 50! Who was your best coach? Joe Schmidt had a huge impact and was maybe technically a better coach, but from an importance point of view Michael Cheika was the start of everything, so I’d have to say him. What amazed me was, after five years as coach, his team talks were never repetitive. He was always able to captivate his audience. Who was your favourite team-mate? I can’t pick just one; I’ll pick my two very good friends at Leinster – Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan. We played…

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIM “Gareth stands alone. He was never a one-man team but he was the one man every team would have killed for”Former Wales fly-half Phil Bennett Who was your toughest opponent? Sid Going (also pictured left). I played against him more than anyone else, for the Lions, the Baa-Baas, Wales and Cardiff. He was a nuggety player, a really good scrum-half. Who was your best coach? That’s tough. Having a coach was new when Clive Rowlands started with Wales, Carwyn James was one of the finest of his generation and Syd Millar was successful with the 1974 Lions. I’d say Clive in the early days, and Carwyn for the 1971 Lions. Who was your favourite team-mate? Gerald Davies and Barry John. In those days, a Lions…

ACROSS 1 See 6 Down 4 James - - -, Harlequins fly-half capped twice by Scotland (4) 8 - - - Jacobs, ex-Saints and England prop who became RFU president (3) 9 - - - Dods, ex-Gala full-back who lost his Scotland place to Gavin Hastings (5) 10 How to address a teacher, referee or Bill Beaumont? (3) 11 No Regrets: Welsh Rugby’s Plan to - - - the World, 2019 book by Matthew Southcombe (7) 12 Filo - - -, Samoa lock at Cardiff Blues (5) 13 Ex-Saracens hooker who captained South Africa twice last year (6,5) 17 Prince Harry took over from her as patron of the RFU in 2016 (5) 18 Arthur - - -, Clermont flanker last capped by France at Japan 2019 (7) 20 Dancing…

SOUTH-WEST PREMIER BARNSTAPLE Captain Winston James Coaches Jeremy Chugg (DoR), Bryn Jenkins (head-forwards), Pat McManus (backs), Jordan Petherbridge (backs), Verity White (manager) No strangers to National Two South, Barnstaple are returning there after two seasons’ absence having lost at Westcliff in a promotion play-off last year. They made no mistake this time, finishing ahead of Weston-super-Mare after winning 16 out of 21 games. Flanker James, 28, made a major contribution with 16 tries, including three hat-tricks. He’s been at Barum for 17 years, became their youngest captain in 2012 and is now their longest-serving one. Fly-half Haydn Lidstone and Kyran McManus, son of coach Pat, shared the goalkicking while Chugg and White also helped to make this triumph possible. SOUTH-WEST ONE EAST OLD CENTRALIANS Captain Sam Preece Coaches Jack Preece…

LONDON PREMIER ROCHFORD HUNDRED Captain Harry Hudson Coaches Chris Green (DoR), Chris Waring (head-forwards), Danny Cleare (backs-attack), James Kellard (defence) Three consecutive promotions have brought a remarkable aggregate of 68 wins in 70 games, 66 bonus points and a points ratio of 3,341 to 723. It takes Rochford into the unknown territory of National Two South. Green said: “We had forward dominance, an outstanding defence and pace in the outside channels. We needed to be on the top of our game every week against clubs such as Guernsey and Wimbledon.” Around 100 Rochford supporters travelled to watch a vital 19-13 win at Guernsey. Top try-scorers were back-row/centre Hudson (14), hooker Adam Ferrier (11) and No 8 Mac Duaibe (nine). Fly-half Cameron Greenhall notched 117 points. LONDON ONE NORTH NORTH WALSHAM…

1 Argentina AgustÍn Pichot (below) has resigned from the World Rugby Council after losing to Sir Bill Beaumont in the chairman election. The former Pumas scrum-half has stepped down from his roles as Americas Rugby president and the Argentine Rugby Union representative on the Council. “I cannot conceive of occupying a place just for the sake of it,” he said. For more on the election see P70-73. 2 Qatar The Qatar Rugby Federation (national team pictured above), along with the Jordan Rugby Committee and Turkish Rugby Federation, has become an associate member of World Rugby, which now has 127 national unions in its membership. QRF president Yousef Al Kuwari said: “With 40 years of rugby in Qatar, this recognition will support the game’s growth and hopefully improve our competitiveness on…

ED MORRISON is looking back on the moments before he took to the field for the 1995 World Cup final. “I always remember I’d called the teams out of the changing rooms and Francois Pienaar said to me he had never been so nervous in his life,” recalls the only Englishman to referee rugby’s showpiece event. It is well-documented that shortly afterwards the South Africa captain chose not to sing the national anthem, fearing that opening his mouth would result in an outpouring of emotion beyond his control. Remarkably, this month marks 25 years since that extraordinary day in June 1995 when against all odds the Springboks defeated a Jonah Lomu-inspired All Blacks 15-12 with an extra-time drop-goal from fly-half Joel Stransky that seemed to grow wings as soon as…

“Jonah reached heights on the field never seen before, and it’s hard to imagine anybody reaching them again”Former All Blacks wing Eric Rush Who was your toughest opponent? Émile Ntamack of France – he was unpredictable. Most players show how they sidestep and have a signature, but Émile didn’t give anything away. Who was your best coach? Chris Grinter, my first XV school coach. If I hadn’t had him I’d never have found rugby. I was fortunate to have a number of great coaches over the years, including Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and Robbie Deans. I learnt a huge amount from them all. Who was your favourite team-mate? Eric Rush. I first played with him when I was 14 at school. He’s extremely talented, a great team-mate and a great…

Who was your toughest opponent? New Zealand were ahead of their time in preparation and analysis. They played with discipline, intensity and a fierce pride. The 1970s Welsh team shared many of these qualities. Who was your best coach? My parents dedicated the garden to sport and each school coach concentrated on enjoyment, basic skills and the freedom to make decisions. On the 1971 Lions tour I was influenced by Carwyn James. He focused on the mental side, creating confidence by encouraging ambition without fear of failure. Who was your favourite team-mate? I’ve made so many friends, played alongside so many great players, that it’s impossible to single anyone out. What was the best game you played in? My first cap in 1964. Ireland beat England (18-5) at Twickenham for…

SAM WARBURTON “I hardly remember anything about the game (the drawn third Test of the Lions series) – getting potentially concussed, passing my HIA and returning to the field, a penalty decision against me… “Kieran Read and I discussed tossing a coin to see who’d kick off for extra-time – golden point. We agreed we’d find a winner! “I’m really proud of being a part of that photo. It was Jerome Kaino who suggested we should mix the boys together, which was a great idea. It’s an iconic photo that tells us so much about rugby – I’m not sure you would get a photo like this in many other sports. It shows the values of rugby are shared across the whole world.” EMILY SCARRATT “This wasn’t a polished, training…

Team of the Year Leighton Buzzard ONE OF the last games before lockdown was the Midlands final of the National Intermediate Cup, for the RFU’s Level Seven clubs. What a way to sign off. Wright’s Meadow, home of Leighton Buzzard, was abuzz. VIPs mingled with the sit-down diners, outside caterers nourished the excited throngs around the ground. The club hired a bus to ferry fans from the town. By the time the teams ran out, to a guard of honour from the mini-juniors, the crowd was two or three deep on all sides of the pitch. “On a good day we have about 100 spectators,” says Buzzards chairman Lee Beaumont, “and we reckon 750 watched the final. For a small club like us that is absolutely fantastic.” Ten minutes in,…

MIDLANDS PREMIER BOURNVILLE Captain Steve Handy Coaches Dean Lewis (DoR), Mitch McGahan (player-head), Terry Sigley (forwards), Alex Grove (player-coach), Vince Harrhy, Richard Corr (assistants) Bournville’s remarkable rise has brought a place at national level for the first time. After a lengthy spell in the pyramid’s lower reaches, the south Birmingham club have secured a series of promotions over the past 13 seasons and moved to a purpose-built ground in Edgbaston, their first permanent home in 111 years. They won 20 of their 21 games. Grove, an ex-Scotland centre, and Sigley added Premiership experience to the back-room team. Fly-half McGahan amassed 235 points while scrum-half Ben Tibbetts and lock Sam Herrington each scored 16 tries. MIDLANDS ONE EAST SYSTON Captain Klay Chapman Coaches Phil Smith (DoR), Alex White (head-backs), Matt Tuckey…

NORTH PREMIER BLAYDON Captain Jack Davidson Coaches Keith Laughlin (head), Jason Smithson (forwards), Lee Hogarth (backs) Winning 16 of 22 matches in a curtailed season tells only half of Blaydon’s story. Their 21 bonus points were key to only their third league title and their first in 13 years, just two seasons after being relegated from National Two North. The side adapted impressively to their RFU-funded artificial pitch and played an expansive game, which testified to a new coaching team led by Laughlin. Ryan Foreman was top point-scorer with Dan Marshall and Jack Appleton heading the tries. Harrogate were promoted too. NORTH ONE EAST YORK Captain Ross White Coaches Ian Thomson (DoR), Lee Denham (head), Declan Cusack (playerbacks-forwards), Carter Croft (skills) ‘Raising a glass’ turned into a virtual celebration via…

THE MOST unnerving period in a player’s career doesn’t arrive in a tunnel, as you might imagine. No, the nagging doubts wriggle into your mind at contract negotiation time. The last six months of a current deal can be excruciating, with a plethora of questions to be answered. How long will I sign for? Will they give me a decent salary increase to reflect my improvement as a player? Will they dock my wages, since I’ve been injured for eight months with an ACL injury? Will they sign me at all after my ACL? Will they look at academy prospects instead of me? Should I look abroad? I wonder if a decent club would take me in the Top 14 or Pro14? These questions gnaw away at every jobbing pro.…