RUGBY MATTERS
A weekly look at the game's other talking points
FIVE BEST MEMORIES OF 2022
1: Italy's Ange Capuozzo cutting an absolutely perfect diagonal line through half the Wales team, straightening up, executing a textbook in and out to dismiss the final defender and then having the presence of mind to deny himself a memorable try and release Eduardo Padovani on the inside to make the match winning conversion easier. Italy's greatest moment since their opening day win against Scotland in their Six Nations debut in 2000. Huge credit also to Josh Adams for handing on the MOM award that had been announced seconds earlier to the brilliant young Italian and just to complete the most poignant and nuanced of moments this was also Eddie Butler's last ever Six Nations commentary. He did it proud.
2: Munster hardman Peter O'Mahony, having put in a monstrous shift before being substituted, breaking down in tears on the touchline at Wellington in the final second of Ireland's series winning 32-22 win. A blubbering wreck! Back home an entire nation was doing likewise. A magical moment, although more emotional for O'Mahony who has known tough times in New Zealand, not least being dropped as both flanker and captain after the first Test on the 2017 Lions tour.
3: Henry Arundell's extraordinary length of the field try for London Irish down at Toulon and especially the almost unique marking time shuffle he produced not once but twice at the death to dismiss the final defenders. Groucho Marx on speed. Every try Arundell scored last season appeared a little special and rugby fans generally, not just the Exiles in England, should hope he makes a full recovery from his current ankle injury.
4. Unconfined Portuguese joy in Dubai when veteran captain and scrum-half Samuel Marques smashed home a 40m penalty in the final seconds to secure a 16-16 draw with the USA Eagles to secure qualification for the RWC 2023 finals by virtue of points difference. It has been some journey for Los Lobos beginning with promotion back to REC 1 and then a last-minute reprieve after last season's championship, when they finished fourth, behind Georgia, Spain and Romania. Spain's expulsion for fielding an ineligible player saw them receive a late invite into the repechage tournament and it all came down to that final game against the Eagles.
5. Any interview with Black Ferns superstar Ruby Tui. The Kiwi of Samoan, Irish and Scottish heritage is one of life's glorious enhancers and feel-good characters. It's impossible not to smile when Ruby is giving her take on rugby and life.
MY FIVE NEW YEAR WISHES
1: That Steve Borthwick selects his England teams on current form. Now I am well aware that there is such a beast as a “Test animal”, players that raise themselves for the ultimate test and are better suited in any case, technically and mentally, for Test rugby but frankly they are very few and far between. For me one such player was Sam Warburton and another his Wales centre Jonathan Davies but I don't think England currently have any such individuals. So England need to pick on form which also helps bring a squad together. The top players know who is running hot or not and will resent those who get treated with kid gloves.
2: That referees not only stop ‘coaching' players but that they also stop giving them countdowns when they are trying to run the clock out when looking to slot over penalties or conversions. I'm not really sure what has changed with the introduction of an official shot clock, all major matches have had match clocks for years now, kickers should always have been held accountable. Whatever, it is not for the ref to help the kicker finesse this gamesmanship. Stop being partners in crime. The jeopardy of faffing around must be the kicker's.
3: That by hook or by crook the lightweight and inexperienced Portugal pack can win enough ball to allow their brilliant young backs to strut their stuff at RWC23. One or two of them will become big stars if this can happen. They might not win any games but they will win a host of friends.
4: That Italy, having bottomed out, continue their steady upward curve. I'm not expecting a host of spectacular wins but they are playing a pleasing style of rugby and it now seems possible that every one of their Six Nations games could be a real contest.
5: That the RFU rescind the always nonsensical rule that you become ineligible to play for England if you're good enough or ambitious enough to get a T14 contract. The thought that this could somehow weaken the Premiership just doesn't make sense and internationally it can only help England. The success of England's white ball cricket teams was built on the small but then growing number of players who earned IPL contracts and also played in the Big Bash and other Leagues in Pakistan and the Caribbean.
FIVE TO WATCH 2023
Rodrgio Marta (Portugal): Portugal's first superstar player? Possibly. Marta reminds me of the brilliant Samoa centre To'o Vaega of yesteryear. He is all try scoring try making class in midfield with Dax where he has already scored eight tries this season. T14 clubs Bayonne and Lyon are both chasing his signature for next season. Will shine at RWC23 given the chance.
Tom Pearson, above (London Irish): Brilliant barn storming all-purpose back rower who should already have been capped by England – last summer in Australia would have been the perfect opportunity. Another product of Cardiff Methe could yet overtakeanother Cardiff Met old boy Alex Dombrandt in theback row stakes….. or might Steve Borthwick select both?
Luke Crosbie(Glasgow): Scotland never lackfor likely contenders in the back row and the competition is fierce but they must start finding room for Crosbie who has a raw bone strength and driving physicality that is well suited to Test rugby. There is a touch of Jason White's power and David Leslie's kamikaze courage and determination about Crosbie, he as some X factor and now could be his time.
Allesandro Garbisi (Benetton): Younger brother of Italy fly-half Paolo, starred at scrum-half for Italy U20 for the last couple of seasons and arrived in senior rugby looking very much the finished article. Canny, nuanced and strong. Ideally would partner his brother at half-back although with Tomasso Allen playing so well, Paolo might be starting at 12.
Ollie Hassell-Collins, left (London Irish): Another London Irish stand out who was given short shrift by Eddie Jones but just does too many great things and scores too many memorable tries to be ignored any longer. Yes there are a couple of faster England wings around, although not many, but none also possess his physicality and his try scoring instincts are spot on.
Five predictions
Rugby World Cup……………… France
Six Nations …………………………Ireland
European Champions Cup… Leinster
European Challenge Cup …..Toulon
Gallagher Premiership ……Leicester
