Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i Rugby World

JOHN FISHER, from Surrey, are a state school with a difference – they put out 500-600 students every Saturday in sports fixtures because their teaching staff are happy to give up their time. “We think that’s unique,” says U14s coach Andrew Dean, “but it’s also about who we’re playing. In rugby we play Whitgift and Dulwich, Brighton and Warwick. And we’re the only state school to play Eton.” Bailey Marshall-Telfer, Luke Couchman and Dom Hughes are among the leading lights for the first XV, which was recently denied a chance to face Whitgift after their local rivals raised concerns about crowd safety. “Two or three thousand watch and normally it’s well segregated. But last year a Whitgift boy came over to the John Fisher side with a substantially-sized flag and…

THERE HAS been a lot of debate about the injury crisis in the Premiership. Playing too many games, apparently. Tackling should be banned in kids’ rugby, say Newcastle University academics. Strikes from players if it’s not sorted, possibly. Come off it. If we changed two things, injuries across all levels would reduce dramatically: 1. Improve technique. 2. Apply breakdown laws. I watch a lot of rugby across all levels and tackle technique needs to improve. I see coaches put videos on social media showing terrible technique. If they can’t see what a correct and safe tackle looks like, how can the player? The majority of injuries sustained in a tackle are due to bad technique: a head down, a hit with a straight not a wrapped arm, feet too far…

Why not let Argentine players develop their games and their cultural knowledge overseas? THIS IS a sad story. It could end in tears and sporting grief, and depress further those areas of rugby where Argentina are seen as everyone’s second team. What has happened to them? Why have they not kicked on? How far will they fall? Why do they not choose their first XV? Why have they abandoned their own thunderous heritage? The affection for this wonderful rugby country is of long standing. You are not supposed to clap and cheer in the media box, not at rugby nor any other sport. Only once to my recollection have I grievously transgressed the convention – and I did so, spontaneously with a large group of colleagues, in 2007 as the…

Age 28 (23 Feb 1989) Born Hackney, London Club Northampton Position Lock/ blindside flanker Height 6ft 7in Weight 18st 2lb England caps 58 (1T) Lions caps Two Twitter handle @Courtney_Lawes HE’S A good sport, Courtney Lawes. Upon apologetically brandishing a copy of Rugby World with Saracens on the cover – days after Northampton’s heaviest-ever home defeat, inflicted by that very team – he resists the temptation to pile-drive me into the Franklin’s Gardens turf. Instead, he smiles, albeit a little wearily. This season Saints have shipped 112 points to Mark McCall’s team, with only 37 scored in return, but Lawes still gamely attempts to explain the apparent chasm between the sides. “Our games against Sarries…” he trails off. “Well, some sides you just don’t seem to pair up well against…

ATMOSPHERE  Pleasant, but not too lively. The hubbub of the Freshers’ Fair distracts a bit. The game does deserve more eyes on it. 6 FOOD At the fair, students loved the free slices of fast-food pizza, but the pitchside pulled pork roll did a real job. Satisfying. 8 PINT Difficult. Bottles of IPA were good. But in the ‘lounge’ you can see through to people on exercise machines. Awkward. 7 TOILETS No complaints. The facilities everywhere are impressive, though outside you do have to search for the loos a little bit. 7 OVERALL 28…

QUICK-FIRE PROFILE Age 33 (31 Jul 1984) Twitter handle @AmyRTurner2 Position Half-back Personality Social and sassy. I’m older now and I’ll say if something is not up to scratch Day job Police officer Favourite TV show Planet Earth. I love a documentary Favourite film The old Beauty and the Beast. I love Disney films; it’s good to put one on after work Last book read A Thousand Splendid Suns (by Khaled Hosseini) Dish you like to cook Tuna steak and noodle salad. I’d like to think I’m a good amateur cook Toughest opponent “Amiria Marsh. She was 95kg (15st) and like a rocket. My first experience at 12 internationally was in New Zealand in 2005. She ran at me and I split my head open!” Best rugby moment “Beating New…

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RUGBY IS in a pickle. Fatigued players talk of bold measures; linking arms and striking – those that can climb off the treatment table that is – in universal dismay at their paymasters’ incessant demands. In the centre of this swirling malcontent, clubs struggle to keep up with wage demands and unions seem unsure where to put stretched resources – take the IRFU advertising a part-time women’s head coach role in a retrograde step. These are uncertain times, even the Six Nations finding it hard to secure a lead sponsor – yet hope and expectation still flows freely among the masses. In the coming weeks, hundreds of thousands of hardy souls will share pints with old friends and sing with new ones before traipsing towards stadia to regale as the…

8 Denmark Denmark beat the UK 23-18 to win gold in the wheelchair rugby event at the Invictus Games in Toronto and Prince Harry presented their medals. In the bronze match, the USA overcame Australia. 9 Japan Ticket details and prices for the 2019 World Cup will be announced this month. Tour packages go on sale in January but fans can register their interest now at rugbyworldcup.com/tickets 10 Canada New Canada coach Kingsley Jones (above) has four games this month to build up to the RWC 2019 qualifiers with Uruguay next year. The winner on aggregate of the home-and-away Tests will go to Japan as Americas 2.…

WHEN I went to play for Clermont in 2011, I made sure I got a full release clause because I was still desperate to play for Wales. Sadly it wasn’t needed as I wasn’t picked, but I do know it allowed the likes of Mike Phillips and Jamie Roberts to get the best of life in France and playing for their country. When Gatland’s Law was introduced, along with the National Dual Contracts (NDCs), it did seem to stem the amount of players leaving Wales. But with the amount of money coming into the English and French games, I’m not surprised they’ve now had to move the goalposts. Players have to think about the fact it’s a short career and one injury can end it. When you hit 28 or…

ON ENGLAND training camps in Club La Santa, Lanzarote, we stayed in small semi-detached bungalow-type suites, writes former Test hooker Brian Moore. One New Year was seen in by an epic piece of cabaret from two members of the front row. John Olver was sharing a room with Moseley prop Mark Linnett and they formed a lethal combination when it came to ‘thinking outside the box’. Unannounced, Olver and Linnett suddenly appeared in the bar wearing mini yellow Lycra outfits, like sleeveless leotards, and proceeded to perform a dance routine that can’t be adequately described. Obviously, given their build, this was not a good sight, because they really were bulging out of everywhere. It turned out that in the apartment next door to theirs was Merlene Ottey (Olympic sprinter) and…

INCOMING BOSS South Africa assistant coach Johann van Graan is succeeding Rassie Erasmus as Munster’s DoR. Scarlets lock Tadhg Beirne will also join the province next season. WINNING TRIO RWC winners Ben Kay, Jason Robinson and Kyran Bracken have been inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame. NEW GROUND The Barbarians have launched a women’s team and they will play their first game against Munster on Fri 10 Nov. Giselle Mather will coach the side. EXTRA TIME HIAs in England’s Premiership and Championship can now run from a minimum of ten minutes to a maximum of 13. MIXED BAG All Blacks flanker Sam Cane has extended his NZRU contract until 2021, while wing Nehe Milner-Skudder faces six months out after a shoulder dislocation. KAY CALLS IT QUITS England wing…

Age 25 (31 March 1992) Born Brisbane Club Edinburgh Position Lock Height 6ft 7in Weight 18st 4lb Scotland caps Four Twitter handle @bentoolis MORE THAN four years have passed since Ben Toolis swapped Brisbane for Edinburgh but it is in more recent months that he’s made the biggest strides, starting Scotland’s wins over Italy and Australia in June. Ahead of the November Internationals, he talks Scottish heritage and volleyball… I started playing rugby aged six and always had a passion for it. I played other sports through school and at 15 took up volleyball and all my focus went on that (he played for Australia U18 and U20). Having played in competitions throughout Asia, I decided to give rugby another crack at 19; it was my first love. I started…

THE NAME’S BOND… “He’s not someone you expect to celebrate a Lions victory with, but it made things a little bit more special. I recognised him and said, ‘There’s James Bond’ as opposed to Daniel Craig, which was embarrassing because he heard. He’s a lovely guy and a massive rugby fan. He spent some time with us in the dressing room and bought us champagne. “Being on a Lions tour was a dream, then to start the Tests and win a series… When I was younger I just wanted to play for Ireland but when you do that you think, ‘Wow, I could play for the Lions’.” DEBUT DELIGHT “This is one of my most treasured games – my first cap. I was on the bench the week before against…

 bands – Metallica, Nirvana and The White Stripes – with practised ease. He used to be in a band with school friends and is a keen guitarist, although his repertoire is not quite as broad as coach Dave Rennie. “Dave plays most things,” says Gibbins. “You shout out songs and he’ll play them. I’m into rock and roll, so some requests I can’t do.” “The team is playing to win. We’re going hard to win both competitions” It was the imminent arrival of Rennie and assistant coach Jason O’Halloran that persuaded Gibbins to leave the Hurricanes for Glasgow. He had worked with the pair at Manawatu and they had a big influence on him. He also fancied “a bit of a change in lifestyle” and he has settled well in…

Mignot move France captain Gaëlle Mignot (below) has joined Richmond. The 30-year-old hooker, who signed from Montpellier, will also provide coaching sessions for Surrey Rugby and says: “I’m coming to help the team achieve their highest ambitions.” Wasps buzzing Five members of England’s World Cup squad have joined Wasps – Rochelle Clark, Amy Cokayne, Justine Lucas, Harriet Millar-Mills and Danielle Waterman. Official landmark Spain’s Alhambra Nievas made history in October, becoming the first woman to referee a men’s 15-a-side Test – Finland v Norway. Joy Neville, of Ireland, followed suit when she took charge of Norway v Denmark. Teen dreams England beat Wales 31-0 to win the U18 Sevens European Championship while Germany triumphed in the Trophy event, overcoming Belgium 17-15.…

Touch of class The Puffins – made up of colleagues from Principality Building Society, friends, and staff from the charity School of Hard Knocks – have completed their third season in the WRU/Touch Rugby Wales Cardiff League. It was another good season with nine squad wins. Touch rugby is such a great sport for building fitness and bringing people of all ages together. Being called the Puffins, every time we win a game we adopt a puffin bird on Skomer Island with the Wales Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales. Over three seasons we’ve adopted 30 puffins, with soft toys and educational resources about each donated to primary schools. Here’s to even more wins in 2018. James Harper, Cardiff RW says: Congrats on a great initiative. Schools being selfish…

4th See the All Blacks at Twickenham when they take on the Barbarians to mark the 125th anniversary of the NZRU. It’s the first time since Bryan Habana’s hat-trick in 2009 (below) that the two sides have met. Visit ticketmaster.co.uk for tickets or watch it live on Sky. 13th  The new Lions DVD is out today. It’s unlikely to be as raucous as the 1997 classic Living With Lions, but there’s sure to be some tasty titbits from the behind-the-scenes footage of this year’s New Zealand adventure. Get your copy of the Lions Uncovered DVD from amazon.co.uk for £14.99 – and Sky Sports customers should look out for a sneak peek. 15th This is D-Day for France, Ireland and South Africa as the hosts of RWC 2023 are confirmed by…

Most important person Chloe, the missus, obviously Last person you texted That would have to be Eddie Jones Sports app That’s an open goal. I’ve got to be loyal, the new Wasps app Music app I use Apple Music. The last track I downloaded was I’m Hot! by Late Nite Tuff Guy Social network Instagram. I find it a lot more positive than Twitter News app It’s either the Sky Sports News or the Daily Mail online app Favourite What’s App group Wasps Classic, which has a few of the old boys on it. We have a giggle Last app downloaded Be-AT.TV. It records DJ gigs, so I’ve been watching Glitterbox in Ibiza Streaming app Has to be Netflix. The two things I’ve been into lately are IcarusandShooter Travel app…

1 JORDAN LARMOUR Age 20 (10 June 1997) Born Dublin Province Leinster Country Ireland Position Back three How did you get involved in rugby? I started aged seven at my local club and I played for my school, St Andrew’s College, too. You also played hockey at age-grade level for Ireland… Yes, U16s and a bit of U18s. I played rugby and hockey up until sixth year (17), but after that I focused on rugby. I just enjoyed it more. I’d always wanted to play professional rugby. Who was your childhood hero? Brian O’Driscoll. I remember watching the 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster and he scored an interception. He was one of those guys who could just change a game and make something out of nothing. What positions have…

“I’m part of the Nando’s club at Exeter. We go there to talk business over a nice chicken dinner. I’m also in the poker club . When I joined Chiefs I’d never played it but I looked it up on YouTube and I’ve won a few games. The most I’ve won is about £200.” “ Jonny Hill is always cracking jokes, life seems easy to him. Recently he bleached his hair for a laugh. He’s that sort of guy.” “I look at other sports for inspiration. Muhammad Ali is No 1 and Michael Jordan is a freak of nature. I enjoy watching Serena Williams’s career, especially when she won a Grand Slam whilst pregnant.” “I love technology – video games, my PlayStation, cameras. There’s a gaming group at Exeter and…

Age 37 Position Back-row Teams Lions, Saracens & Barbarians “I HUNG up my boots in December 2015. I was getting close to 36 and realised that it was a good time to call it a day. I also had a great job opportunity in South Africa. We moved back that December and took three weeks’ holiday – just like everyone else in South Africa. Then I started my new job in Stellenbosch in January 2016. I work at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, a high-performance facility. We started a rugby division and I’m in charge of the International Rugby Institute. We get boys from all over the world and also in South Africa to do a five-month, high-performance programme. I then try to find exits (through elite pathways) for the…

THE BASICS Home Loughborough. You might assume that the only thing to mention is the uni. Wrong. Corrie’s Roy Cropper is from Luff. Team colours Bruise purple. Let’s not lazily lean on the whole royal purple thing. Ground Loughborough University. A place where the unhealthier amongst us (me) can feel self-conscious, sipping a beer while yet another lithe young person runs past. Greatest player There are nods all over to the number of men’s heroes to play here – Ben Kay has a plaque! – but everyone loves alumnus and player-coach Sarah Hunter. THERE IS a sharp intake of breath and then Yi He smiles. Bemused but impressed, he is snapping off pictures of the action on his smartphone as Shaunagh Brown crunches into contact with yet another brutal carry.…

“I really want to enforce myself more in attack” FACT FILE Age 25 (23 Oct 1991) Place of birth Tenterden, Kent Series debut Dubai 2015 Height 6ft 2in Weight 14st 4lb Twitter @ruaridhmcc I ACTUALLY got it recently,” Ruaridh McConnochie says, shooting a quick glance at the Olympic rings tattoo on his right inner bicep. England captain Tom Mitchell jokes that being an Olympian has gone to McConnochie’s head, but the younger man simply laughs about that. It’s all been too much of a blast. The only tough bit was picking where to put the ink. Whatever happens in his life, McConnochie has an Olympic silver medal. The reason the jokes fly about that is because a year before the Rio Games, McConnochie was just a student – a familiar…

“First, look at the way a person is running with the ball. It’s ideal when they run straight at me. Running upright gives you a bigger target to aim for. The optimum place to aim is between the hips and the chest area. You don’t want to commit too low or too early.” “Personally, I don’t look to dislodge the ball but, similar to rugby league, if you can get them landing back on their chest, it gives a jackler like Sam Warburton or Justin Tipuric the chance to steal a ball. My tackle on Nathan Hughes in the Six Nations was pretty much textbook. Luckily I got the upper hand, but I’m sure he’ll be coming after me this season!” “You get a sixth sense when you get a…

1 Are these pre-called plays? They can be but the All Blacks like to use their wings coming off the flanks and trailing behind rucks. This allows them to run on the shoulders of the scrum-half, as well as be that inside pass option for the fly-half as he takes the ball to the line. The timing of these comes down to practice and the relationship that can be built between the wings and half-backs. Simple practices before and after training with just these players in motion will help. 2 How do I get my No 10 to time his run correctly? Only by replicating the line speed of a live defensive line can you practise finding the depth and pace with which to run. Add to that the timing…

In August I had a day in Belfast for the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup. It was excellent; the rugby was skilful and exciting, and after the matches the players took time to talk to fans. I was disappointed when I saw the venues for the forthcoming England v Canada matches. Not only will all three be played in the South-East but two will be at Twickenham. I’d have thought, with three matches against the same opposition, it would be a good opportunity to spread the game around the country with one in the South-West and one in the North. Come on RFU, there are rugby union fans outside the home counties. John Throup, Heaton Mersey, Cheshire The RFU says: A number of venues nationwide were considered and we…