Ulster, Mark Anscombe and bits and pieces of Super Rugby

 

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Mark Anscombe made an abrupt exit this weekend from Ulster, on his first day of work for the new Season. Give him a one year extension, then tell him to sling his hook. It follows the resignation of David Humphries last month. It’s said Anscombe had ‘lost the dressing room’.  I don’t rate the Ulster lads as prima donnas, far from it, so things must have been pretty bad. Hopefully, they’ll pick up a good coach and go forwards again – Wayne Smith or Robbie Deans would be perfect for the job, if they can get either. There’s going to be some testing times ahead though, the new coach is going to need to stamp his authority pretty quick – player power is all vey well, but someone has to be in charge.  It all just seems a real pity, UIster have come up such a long way, and it needs a lot of patience to get the big results – Leinster played second fiddle to Munster for ages before they finally broke through.
 

Otherwise, there’s still a lot of Super Rugby going on. The Kiwi derbies will probably be the most entertaining, with a very competitive conference, and Crusaders/Blues should be something awesome. In South Africa, Sharks/Cheetahs probably won’t be a thriller, but the Sharks need that one badly. And finally, the Tahs are riding high with Leinster’s old boss, Michael Cheika, and will have a tricky task taming the Highlanders to maintain their good run.
 

Super Rugby
Friday , July 4
Chiefs vs Hurricanes 
Lions vs Melbourne Rebels 
Saturday , July 5
Crusaders vs Blues 
Western Force vs Reds 
Stormers vs Bulls 17:05
Cheetahs vs Sharks 
Sunday , July 6
Waratahs vs Highlanders 16:05

22nd April 2010

Super 14
The match of the weekend has to be the Reds against the Stormers, the best attack against the best defense. Who’s it going to be? I’m going with the Stormers by not underestimating the Reds. See what the Reds have done with a decent coach? Is this not something teams like the Sharks and the ‘Canes should be thinking about? After that the all Australian derby of ‘Tahs and Brumbies looks to produce some fireworks, where the ‘Tahs at home are going to trying to ‘bring the pain’ and should tame those Brumbies. The Sharks should see off the Blues, and the Lions would probably wish they were doing something safer than playing the Bulls, like bungee jumping or swimming with sharks.

Magners League

Connacht came up with a good win against Leinster on Wednesday, which will give their Heineken Cup hopes a shot in the arm. What kind of quality of rugby are we going to see with this kind of fixtures list, that’ll be three games in a week for Connacht and Leinster by the end of the weekend? The Ospreys vs Munster looks good, while Leinster vs Glasgow should still have a bit of an edge from the 6 Nations

Guinness Premiership

Saints and Saracens at Franklin Gardens will be the showpiece this weekend and a real test for both teams. The Saints look as hungry as anything and with Dylan Hartley who has England captain written all over him (if you’re reading Mr. Johnson) leading from the front this could be a bit of a meltdown for the Saracens. Wasps vs Bath looks pretty good too although I can’t see Wasps losing, and at the bottom Sale and Newcastle, and then Leeds and Worcester are all walking a tight rope. How did Sale get down there? Newcastle and Leeds I think.

News

Sounds like there is going to be a shake in the South African coaching set up, with Pieter De Villiers unhappy about rumours he’s not really in charge still circulating. If you judge PDV on his results, he’s a pretty good coach, but if you judge him on what he says then all I can tell you is that east is west and that up is down. Ricky Flutey is going back to Wasps after an unhappy stay at Brive.

8th April 2010

News


I see Jake White and Eddie Jones have teamed up to take over at the Lions in South Africa after Dick Muir was fired. What’s the point? It would take a come back to rival Lazarus at this point in the season, and the Lion’s many problems start with lack of continuity of players and coaches.

Super 14

Chiefs vs Bulls should be an interesting match, can the Bulls bounce back? I’d say yes they can, they won’t be happy with last week’s performance. Blues and Stormers should be good too, and I think the Stormers are going to come to the fore, they are a different team this year and the Blues could easily underestimate them. The pick of the weekend though is the Crusaders against the Waratahs, where I think the ‘Tahs are going to come unstuck against some New Zealand steel. They’ve been riding their luck for a while, and I think it’s about to run out round about now.

Heineken Cup

Looking at the finalists, we have four French teams, two Irish, one English and one Welsh, which meant it was a pretty good litmus test for the 6 Nations. And looking at the stats, England Could Do Better with only one team when Ireland have only 4 four provinces and two of them in the finals. In the top 14 at the moment, Clermount Auvergne are 4th, Toulouse are 5th, Biarritz are 7th and Stade Francaise are 9th. Leinster and Munster are 1st and 2nd in the Magners League, the Ospreys are 5th with a game in hand that would send them 2nd if they win it, and Northampton are 2nd with a game in hand over Leicester.

The first match up pitches champions Leinster up against the nearly men of French Rugby. Clermont have made the finals of the French Championship 10 times but never won it. Clermont are one mean team stuffed with stars like Parra, Bonnaire, Rougerie, Ledesma, Malzieu, Baby, Nalaga – the list goes on and on. No wonder French rugby is so strong at the moment. They also have the best Australian fly half – in the world- in Brock Harris. Leinster have their stars too with BOD, Heaslip, Carney, and Van Der Linde. French sides are iffy when they play away – victory at home is non negotiable, but anything can happen away, so I reckon Leinster will take this in a tight match.

On Saturday, Biarritz will take on the Ospreys in San Sebastien. Biarritz have the normal contingent for French teams of top players like Barcella, Thion, Harinordiquy, Traille and the blistering pace of Takudzwa Ngwenya, as well as Englishmen Lund, Erinle and Balshaw. The Ospreys have talent like Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Holah, Collins, Phillips, Bowe, Byrne and Williams and have underperformed in this tournament. Facing Biarritz at home looks a step too far for them though, so I’m going with home advantage.

Also on Satruday and my pick of the weekend is Munster up against Northhampton. Munster’s talents (and recent failings) are well known, but they will be a different side with Earls and O’Connell back, and they take the Heineken Cup a lot more seriously than the Magners League. The Saints have plenty of stars in the making, and with a bit more adventurous management England should look a lot more like them. They beat Munster at Franklin Gardens and nearly did the double at Thomond Park. But I think there’s still another lesson to be ditched out by the Old Master yet, and Munster should squeak through this one.

Finally on Sunday, Toulouse will take on Stade Francais. Stade Francais are better known these days for their flash but they have their quality too with players like Szarzewski, Marconnet, Roncero, Beaxis and Bastareaud as well as Palmer and Haskell. Toulouse have a staggering array of stars including Servat, Albecete, Dusaurtoir, Nyanga, Picamoles, Kellerher, Michalak, Skrela, Fritz, Jauzion, Clerc, Heymans, Poitrenaud the list goes on and on. The French home team normally triumphs, and Toulouse just look too strong anyway, even if Stade have the carrot of the final in Paris

Amlin Challenge Cup

Wasps vs Gloucester on Sunday looks to be a pretty entertaining match, as will Newcastle vs Cardiff, with Wasps and Cardiff probably edging it. Connacht vs Bourgoin will be a test for the Irish province, but as Bourgoin are 12th in the Top 14, it should be fine French dining for Connacht.

5th April 2010

Super 14, Magners League, Guiness Premiership

Super 14


The news of the weekend has to be the Blues ending the Bulls unbeaten run and doing it in some style too (32-17). But those boys in blue have been creaking the last couple of weeks and they don’t like to stray too far away from mom’s home cooking. The Blues in 8th place probably hold the last chance of making the play offs – anyone beneath them is toast. The Reds are top class in the entertainment stakes running the Sharks close and getting two losing bonus points with a 28-30 loss. The other noteworthy result was the Canes nearly showing us what they’re capable of with a 26 all draw against the Crusaders.

Magners League

Connacht and Edinburgh (22-21) looked like a good match, more revenge for the Irish if any was needed, and Connacht look like hitting some form in time for the Amlin Challenge Cup. But the talk of the town has to be Leinster tuning over Munster in their own back yard! I would have put my house on Munster pulling through – this feels like a seismic change in the Irish provinces, Munster weren’t at full strength but then neither were Leinster. Munster always seemed indestructible, take away one cog and another stepped forward to do the job just is well, but they are looking pretty vulnerable at the moment. They need Paul O’Connell back, and in top form ASAP. Meanwhile, the Ospreys are quietly easing themselves into contention for a play off spot.

Guinness Premiership

Leicester looked pretty emphatic against Bath didn’t they, cantering to a 43-20 win at Welford Road to stay top, albeit with a game in hand. At Kingsholm, Gloucester squeaked home against Saracens (29-28), while Wasps looked the business against London Irish at Adams Park. That sets up both Gloucester and Wasps well for when they meet in the Amlin Challenge Cup next weekend.

Friday 2nd April

News


Rugby World Cup tickets go on sale on the 27th of April…Jake White, the former Springbok coach, has been linked with two Australian clubs…John Mitchell, former All Black coach currently with the Force may be heading the other way after he finishes his contract as he is apparently looking at an offer in the Republic…Just a thought now, but both of these men could do a job for England, Jake White, massive ego aside has an impeccable record. Is it better to be average and patriotic? Having said that, both Toby Booth and Jim Malinder could both do a pretty good job, better than Mr Johnson anyway.

Magners League

Ulster and Cardiff looks like it could be interesting. But the best match is the one that was so good that they had to change the licensing laws for it. Yes, people all over Limerick will be raising a glass tomorrow (on Good Friday!) as Munster take on Leinster. There’s so much recent history here, Munster must still be smarting after their 30-0 drubbing, then there was the Heineken Cup last year…they’re still without Paul O’Connell too. Leinster don’t have BOD, and have gone for Nathan Hines on the flank which I don’t think is their best move. It’s going to be a battle of Biblical proportions, and with home advantage I can see the mighty wrath of Munster smiting Leinster.

Guinness Premiership

Gloucester and Saracens could be pretty entertaining. Wasps and London Irish should be fairly similar to Wasps last match against the Saints, but at home they’ll probably shade it this time. I reckon Leicester and Bath is going to be the most entertaining, Leicester are the pace setters but Bath’s season is starting to rumble again and I think they’ll run Leicester really close at Welford Road.

Super 14

There a couple of very interesting match ups this weekend. First up is the Hurricanes versus the Crusaders, an all New Zealand derby that could be the match of the weekend. The Crusaders are looking good but they are coming off a bye which can upset the rhythm of the team sometimes. The Hurricanes meanwhile have been pretty dire over the last couple of weeks but will be desperate to find some kind of form in front of their home fans and get themselves up the table. It’s hard to see them winning though.

The Sharks versus the Reds is a pretty intriguing sounding match, the Reds have shown a lot of promise, and this is going to be a test for their playoff credentials. The Sharks forwards are starting to look really good but they don’t have too much going on behind them. The Reds have it all going on at the back and are decent enough up front. The Shark’s home advantage and experience should take them through this even if they are tired from the trip back..

Finally, the Blues and the Bulls are going to slug it out. The Blues will probably rightly think they were robbed last week, while the Bulls were not at their best but had just got off the plane. They both have reasonably leaky defences, but I’d rate the Blues better on attack. The Bulls have been riding their luck a bit the last couple of weeks so I’m going with the Blues in a tight match.