As the first part of the season comes to a close, and the club game gives way to the fest of entertainment that is the Autumn Internationals, I would like to reflect on my pre-season wish list, and admit that I obviously know nothing about club rugby!
Yes it is early days but already my prediction list is in tatters.
Saracens for the EDF is already out the window (and how long can this unpopular, unwatched runt of a tournament survive by the way?)
Clermont for the HEC was clearly a romantic pipe dream swayed by 40 minutes against wasps last season.
Gloucester for the GP is also as likely as a straight scrum feed. I really thought this time they would have been born again hard. Seems I was wrong.
That is why I don’t gamble.
The furore over ELVs and protocols has been done to death in the press and up and down bars across the country but a few things are worth mentioning. Wasps for instance. Who would have thought they could have begun so badly. The first few defeats were put down to their typical sluggish start, but it is now apparent that they are in some kind of turmoil if not quite yet freefall. A source close to the team has told me that things are not well behind the scenes and that some addition or change to the coaching line-up might be made sooner rather than later. Well we shall see about that but it bodes ill for the Lions unless Geech and Edwards can get to grips with the situation at the breakdown (the venerable Mr. Barnes makes some interesting points here).
I think that some coaches and players have blamed the ELVs for aimless kicking contests when in reality some of the fault lies in poor coaching and poor tactics. Having said that, the law allowing the maul to be collapsed is a farce, as is the rule allowing any number in the lineout. These two rules have in one swoop eradicated a vital aspect of the game. I sincerely hope the maul is returned to its rightful position when the IRB reviews the law trials after this season.
My fear for the Autumn games is that we are going to have a dog’s breakfast at the breakdown. How will referees interpret the laws? How will the Tri-nations teams adjust? By rights, New Zealand and Australia should get whistled into oblivion (seeing as they have apparently ignored the edict imposed on GP teams to stay on feet at ruck time). What are the odds they won’t be? Answers on a postcard…..
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