As domestic rugby returned, so did the shop window for international coaches, and with precious little time left for players to impress before the end of the season and World Cup squads are announced, whose stock went up and whose went down?
GOING UP
Chris Ashton
Saracens & England
Ashton’s England career was a lengthy and, in the latter years, painful one, but he appears to be back to top form for Saracens. He put in a sublime performance against Harlequins, showing the arch-finishing instincts that made him such a threat when he burst on to the scene all those years ago. He also showed impressive top end speed when chasing his own kick through to dot down his first try. It’s difficult to see Lancaster regressing and picking Ashton again, but more performances like this will see him firmly in the selection conversation.
Isaac Boss
Leinster & Ireland
Conor Murray quite clearly has the Ireland scrum-half shirt sewn up, but his back-up place is certainly up for grabs. Boss will likely make the World Cup squad and battle with Leinster team-mate Reddan for that spot, and on the evidence of the weekend the more diminutive member of the Leinster duo has an excellent chance of taking it. He was man of the match, starting a set piece move from Leinster’s own half that resulted in him darting over for a try that sparked the Irish side’s comeback.
Hamish Watson
Edinburgh & Scotland
Watson chose a poor time to win his first Scotland cap, in that dire loss at home to Italy in the Six Nations, but that is not likely to be the last time we see him in a Scotland shirt. At the weekend he excelled again for Edinburgh, making 13 tackles without missing any and carrying strongly to beat three defenders and make 35 metres from eight carries. His most impressive involvement, though, was a deft pass in the build-up to Phil Burleigh’s well worked try in the opening exchanged. All in all, a good outing from the promising youngster.
Iain Henderson
Ulster & Ireland
Henderson, it is widely believed, will be Paul O’Connell’s long term replacement in the Ireland engine room, but if he continues his recent rich vein of form then he could and should be in the mix for a starting berth for the World Cup. At the weekend for Ulster he lined up on the blindside flank, and proved how well rounded his game is with a performance that encompassed some fine lineout work, near-perfect tackle completion rate and some powerful carrying – the most eye-catching of which came in the dying minutes as he set up Paul Marshall with a strong burst and sublime offload.
Christian Wade
Wasps & England
It was, in the end, in a losing cause, but Christian Wade’s weekend hattrick was nonetheless of the highest quality. More than his devilish dancing feet, it was his rapid acceleration that caught the eye as he scorched away from the covering defence for each of his tries. Wade is a cause celebre of some England fans, who argue his unparalleled attacking threats outweigh the sense of defensive liability that sometimes surrounds him. More displays like this, and Stuart Lancaster may well be persuaded to give him a go.
GOING DOWN
Henry Slade
Exeter Chiefs & England
There’s no doubt that England representation is in Slade’s future, quite possibly even at the World Cup, but he had an off day at Welford Road, most worryingly from the tee. As opposite man Freddie Burns slotted everything presented to him, Slade walked away with three from six including one absolute sitter of a conversion from bang in front of the posts. He is young and will learn from what was a chastening day for the Chiefs.
Manu Tuilagi
Leicester Tigers & England
Manu Tuilagi’s rotten luck with injuries continued in the past week as Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill admitted the hulking centre would not return in time for the end of the season. There is a chance he will be fit for England’s warm-up matches, but after almost a full season out, is it worth throwing him into the mix when other partnerships could be tested and gelled? He is certainly a unique attacking talent but it might be too much of a gamble for Lancaster, who has shown himself to be a pragmatist in the past.
George North
Northampton Saints & Wales
The more concussions you suffer, the more susceptible you become to suffering them in the future. That is the vicious truth of head injuries and George North’s latest – his fourth this season – has thrown the rest of his season seriously in doubt, and as he sees a neurosurgeon this week there will be many that think he shouldn’t play until at least the World Cup. He is such an asset for Wales that they will want him to play, and he will obviously want to play, but such is the furore around concussion at the moment that neither Northampton nor Wales will rush him back. The World Cup would be a worse spectacle without him, but there’s no doubt that this latest head-knock has people rightly concerned for his future in the game.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
6 replies on “Rugby World Cup Stock Check: 171 days to go”
I think the issue with Tuilagi is that the England 12 shirt is still a real problem, meaning that if he is fit we may as well throw him in!
Twelvetrees – all the attributes but just can’t seem to put them all together at test match level
Eastmond – just can not consistently offer the game management we need next to Ford
Burrell – lacks a rugby brain, can’t play 12 at international level without one
Barritt – awesome defensive leader, limits our attack
Slade – inexperienced, not near finished article for an international 12 and removes a lot of bulk from an already small backline
Anyone I’ve missed?
This is the one where I really feel sorry for SL. He has tried all of these bar Slade for a pretty consistent period at one time or another and I have no idea who the best option is. Looking back at the 6 nations I genuinely think I’d pick Barritt from that list. He is a brilliant defensive leader and our back line has enough to do well even if we do consistently miss 12 for all attacking moves! The only time we have defended will is with one of Barritt or Twelvetrees in the centres, who both lead. 12T’s may not be the best actual defender, but he does lead and organise well which is why I think him and Burrell worked well in defense even when Barritt wasn’t about to organise things.
Farrell will always remain an option Jacob. Not sure where I stand on that one, as I do think there may be some mileage there (even though I thought he was awful against Samoa).
I am actually coming round to the idea of Barritt – which is not something I would have considered in pre-Joseph days. Ford-Barritt-Joseph, just seems to fit – as opposed to Farrell-Barritt-Tuilagi.
the other real outsider is Sam Hill. He was being talked up at the end of last season, and does seem a decent bet – although clearly he is behind all those mentioned already.
I have never been a big Farrell fan but after some of Ford’s missed kicks (tactical as well as at the sticks during the 6N), I am beginning to wonder whether having Farrell at 12 might offer some additional options on that front. He’s also pretty solid defensively, and we know he can distribute so having him at 12 wouldn’t cut Joseph out of the game.
Kept looking at that list thinking I’d forgotten someone – Farrell! Definitely like that option to be fair. Takes the kicking pressure off Ford which is the one area of the game I’m not sure about with him.
Personally I’m a fan of Farrell, but he definitely needs an extra play maker around him, which he’d have in Ford.
If Tuilagi isn’t fit, either him or Barritt for me. Both have their limitations but when you put them in between Ford and Joseph the balance comes out ok.
171 days & who is England’s 12? The central ?
Well, with Ford, a ‘genius’ apparently, inside @ fly1/2 & Joseph, ‘world class’, @ outside centre, surely England need to make up their mind about HOW they’re going to play. Then pick 12.
Trouble is England (&1/2 the 6N’s) only really ran it all out when they HAD to shate or get off the pot. If England are going R1, ‘D’, then pick Barritt. If they want a shot for glory, then they must be prepared to score tries (when in possession… & stop the oppo when they ain’t), but thereby lies their dilemma. Twist or stick? For me, with the WC blow torch on, they’ll go ‘D’.
Personally, (after tightening up their ‘D’) I’d go for it with Eastmond & practice, persevere & progress the guy with the dancing feet to express himself. If England find they’re under the pump later (or early) on in the tourney (presuming they go through), they can always pull on the yeomen in midfield as stoppers if nec.
The ? that needs asking is; can Eastmond offer more than he can’t? But I’d coach & make Eastmond a better, a consistent, all round player. He potentially offers more than the others on attack in midfield, in conjunction with the other aforementioned 2, in & outside him.
The team which wins the Cup will likely have to do that; win it. No point in trying not to lose it. Invites defeat.
From a selfish point of view, I hope they revert to type & go for the set piece, maul & kick for the corners. From a purists pov, I hope they don’t.
Going up
– Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, should start at 9 for Scotland
– Cian Healy, another powerful display at the weekend, he will probably have wrestled his 1 shirt back from McGrath firmly
Going down
– Gareth Davies, red card after two minutes on the park for a headbutt. Absolute plonker.
– Nick Williams, should’ve been red, slapped with a well deserved ban