With a little over a year to go, who enhanced their chances of featuring at Rugby World Cup 2015 at the weekend, and who did themselves no favours?
GOING UP
Danny Cipriani
Sale Sharks, England
So much has been written about Cipriani this week that you’d be forgiven for forgetting that his side actually lost at the weekend. Still, all his praise has been richly deserved as he had a hand in all of Sale’s tries, including scoring one himself. His defence looks solid, and he does not have the armchair ride behind a dominant pack that some of his contemporaries are enjoying. If he carries on like this, he’ll be tough for Lancaster to ignore.
Ian Madigan
Leinster, Ireland
Two tries and 22 points for Madigan at the weekend in what was a breathtaking individual display. On his day, he is one of the best players to watch anywhere in the world – it is now about finding a way to make it his day more often. There’s still the issue of whether he should be a 10 or a 12, but turning a negative into a positive, that versatility could be very useful in a World Cup squad with limited numbers.
Will Fraser
Saracens, England
Up against current England openside and captain Chris Robshaw, Fraser couldn’t have picked a better game to shine. He seems to have bulked up a bit in the off season, lending him a great physicality, but is still just as mobile. He was a deserved man of the match in Saracens’ demolition job at The Stoop, and will be pressing hard for a first cap this Autumn.
Jules Plisson
Stade Français, France
It’s tough to remember the last time fly-half wasn’t a problem position for France. Plisson’s club form was excellent last year and it seems to be continuing this season, with an individual masterclass contributing heavily to Stade Français’ shock away win over Toulon. He didn’t always look comfortable for France last Six Nations, but translating club form to the international arena seems to be a problem endemic to French rugby as a whole. If Saint-André continues to ignore François Trinh-Duc, Plisson is his best bet.
Eli Walker
Ospreys, Wales
Walker’s injury-ravaged season last year looks firmly in the past, as he reminded everyone why he is one of Wales’ hottest properties with some scintillating attacking play for the Ospreys against the Dragons. He finished his try well, and looked a danger whenever he got the ball, finishing the game having made 128 metres from just seven carries, beating four defenders and making as many clean breaks in the process.
Dan Baker
Ospreys, Wales
Baker was the other of the Ospreys’ standout players, and it looks as if, for the first time in… well, almost ever, Toby Faletau has some competition for the Wales no.8 shirt. The Dragon will rightly still be first choice, but Baker, still just 22, will be snapping at his heels. At the weekend there was further evidence of his strong ball carrying, and you sense it won’t be too long until he adds to his two caps won on the Japan tour.
GOING DOWN
Kyle Sinckler
Harlequins, England
It feels harsh putting Sinckler on this list two weeks in a row, but again he was severely troubled on Friday night. Granted, the rest of the front five was also bullied by Saracens, but other than Marler he’s the most likely to play for England any time soon. Tighthead is not one of their strongest positions – Dan Cole seems to have been injured forever, David Wilson is nailed on first choice, but the likes of Henry Thomas and Kieron Brookes are still hugely untested. Sinckler is so devastating in the loose that if he can sort his tight game out, he could press a very strong claim.
Alex Cuthbert
Cardiff Blues, Wales
With the likes of Walker and George North impressing on the opening weekends of the season, Cuthbert needs to start upping his game. He was fairly anonymous against Glasgow, on his home patch, other than giving three penalties away, and was caught off his wing when opposite man Sean Lamont went the length of the pitch for a stunning opening try – although that might be a bit harsh as he had been dragged into a ruck.
Marland Yarde
Harlequins, England
The move to Quins hasn’t quite made him the free-running revelation we were all hoping for. He saw a reasonable amount of ball against Saracens, but didn’t do a great deal with it – and it was a similar story a week ago against London Irish. His lack of urgency (or fitness?) to track back and ground the ball for Chris Ashton’s try, despite having a heavy lead over him, was even more worrying. It’s still early days – too early to pass proper judgement – but with other wingers impressing, he needs to step his game up, quickly.
Freddie Michalak
Toulon, France
Tough day at the office for Michalak for two reasons – he was part of a side that lost at home (sacrilege in the Top 14) and he suffered a nasty-looking shoulder injury that could have ended his chances of featuring at the World Cup. While the goal-kicking issues didn’t really start until he’d left the pitch, he didn’t really set the world alight while on it, and with a few months (at least) on the sidelines ahead and the likes of Plisson and Trinh-Duc in impressive form, he’ll do well to get back in Saint-André’s good books before the tournament next year.
Who were you impressed/disappointed with this weekend?
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
12 replies on “Rugby World Cup Stock Check: 367 days to go”
Surprised Haskell hasn’t had a mentioned here. For me, he is more likely to be taking the England 7 shirt from Robshaw than anyone. He was unbelievable towards the end of last season and has looked ever better as captain.
Really harsh that we constantly question Robshaw though. For me, he was one of our best players in NZ this summer. Wood has started the season well, and Croft is regaining fitness.
For those reasons, I can’t actually see Fraser getting a look in any time soon (injuries permitting).
Robshaw > Haskell > Wood (with Croft at 6) > Fraser
I know Wasps are playing him at 7, but at best Haskell is a 6.5 – like Robshaw
In my view, England lack weight on both the ball carrying front (where they are overly reliant on Morgan or Vunipola) and at the breakdown (where we lack a big man in the Retallick / Etzebeth mould).
Playing Haskell at 6 could go some way towards remedying this. For all his qualities, Wood is not a great carrier of the ball
I would agree Haskell started his career in that way – but ever since he spent time in NZ with the Highlanders, he has become an out-and-out 7 in my opinion. I have no stats to hand, but he creates a lot of turnovers. He is so strong over the ball – I really can’t see what attribute he lacks that would stop you calling him an ‘true’ 7.
Is Launchbury not our guy in that mold? Certainly come breakdown time he is excellent. He produced a lot of turnovers in the 6 nations. One thing I have noticed with Launchbury is that he tires. End of 2013, he missed out on the Lions tour because he looked spent come the end of the season – it was the same come the NZ tour this time around. I’d back him to be on top form again come the AI’s and he will prove he is that man for us.
On Wood – I personally have him down as one of the most important players in this England side. He is such a good breakdown player, and offers a really strong line out option. I’d sooner lose Robshaw than him.
That is a really true and really worrying point about Launchbury seeing as the world cup is at the end of the year. I’m pro Datwood anyway but thought our second row was no where near as good as it could have been in NZ not when you compare it to the 6 nations.
The World Cup is September/October – so very much at the beginning of the season! So I wouldn’t worry about Launchbury on that front.
taking into account training camps and pre tournament games I’m not so sure
Pablito, I actually think that Haskell is a decent 7. He never used to be – too bulky, and seemed to lack the ‘nous’, but he appears to have become a little more adaptable physically (not less bulky) and added some game sense to his game.
Maybe a 6.75 ?
🙂
Not sure that I agree that England do lack another ball carrier (though I accepte that Wood is not a great carrier). Locks are all decent carriers (even Parling), and LH (whoever it is) and Hooker also carry well.
If the big fella from Rugby League joins Tuilagi in the midfield I think that will be another great option.
’twas ever thus Jacob.
New season, new doubts about Robshaws ability/form etc, etc
Always the way until we have a ‘true’ 7. So far I’ve worked out that this means you have to turnover the ball come ruck time. Which of course Robshaw actually does just as often as Warburton. But we won’t mention that.
It’s early in the season, Robshaw and Wood were both outplayed by Fraser and Haskell respectively last weekend, but have performed well for England generally under Lancaster. It’s great to have competition for places, and I would like to see Haskell get a start against one of the big 3 in the AI’s, with Fraser getting a start against Samoa.
I think the England back row is lacking a player who can carry in the wider channels. Read and Hooper do this a lot for their countries, with great success. Could be a real opportunity for Croft to fill this role if he can get fit and a good run of games under his belt.
Totally agree about having a back row ball carrier in the wide channels- for me, a fully fit croft is world class and has to be included. Though Cockerill said the other day when playing Croft you need someone who does a bit more dog in the ruck (think Salvi at Leicester), as whilst Croft does plenty, if hes going to be in the wider channels from time to time we need to compensate. Fraser is that man for me in the future- Haskell right now on current form. Think Haskell made two turnovers in the first NZ match? Wood and Robshaw I think are an effective duo, but bringing Croft in unbalances the back row. If Croft stays fit and playing well, I think he will force change in the back row.
Also been really disappointed with Yarde in the first two games, looks uninterested, not timing his runs right… I know it’s a new team (who have not been playing well) but he should be punching holes of Care’s inside shoulder. Quins are a perfect set up for him to work in. Right now, if they can keep fit, I think Nowell and Wade as my two wingers. Though hoping Yarde can prove me wrong.