Six Nations Final Thoughts – The End is Nigh!

Six Nations Final Thoughts – The End is Nigh!

As the 2016 Six Nations came to a close, Rugby Raconteur is contemplating the future. This blog has now been in place for seven seasons. What began as a bit of fun between friends has become a big task with lots of research to complete and weekly deadlines to meet. This year has been especially challenging with work deadlines and travel making things difficult and challenging. So this may be the very last Rugby Raconteur blog.  Who knows what the future may hold? 

My thanks go to all of you who read my musings every year and the feedback I receive from you – good or bad – is greatly appreciated.

So lets’ sum up the final thoughts on this year’s tournament. I am delighted to finish with an 80% success rate with 12 out of 15 matches correctly predicted.  That is the same as last year. So at least in one area, your correspondent is consistent. In the points aggregate, the accuracy was also 80% up from 71% last season.

Tournament Assessment

All in all a poor Six Nations. One team were clearly better than all the others and after the thrills of last year’s Judgment Day – to have a dead rubber on the final weekend was a huge disappointment. The standards of entertainment in many of the matches were, simply diabolical and that was also matched by the standard of officiating. We have seen far too much use of the TMO and the performances of even the best referees have been found wanting. Wayne Barnes in particular was abysmal in the Wales v France encounter and even Nigel Owens wasn’t his normal self with a below average display in the France v England finale.

The Six Nations teams have not seemed to learn from the World Cup and one doesn’t see either England or Wales causing Australia or New Zealand too many sleepless nights ahead of their summer tours down under.

Apart from England supporters, one tournament to forget and hope for better things next season.

GYPSYGATE - When is a Racist Taunt not a Racist taunt?

England’s Joe Marler showed his lack of intelligence with the now much repeated "Gypsy Boy" comments being a top hit on YouTube. I am not one for Political correctness but frankly this is so blatant a racist taunt that I am a little stunned that no action has been taken against him. It’s simply not right and I hope World Rugby step in and sanction him.

I have to say I am even more disappointed in the RFU and WRU. These two great originations both dealt with this very poorly. England should have taken their own sanction against Marler and dropped him whilst the WRU were pathetic. Warren Gatland trying to dismiss it as banter and then the WRU showing surprise that no action was taken.

Lets hope we never see and hear of this type of behavior again. Rugby is a gentlemen’s game and so it must remain. Keep racism out of rugby. Period.

Team of The Tournament – ENGLAND

I said a lot last week but it has been a great season for England who let’s not forget have finished second for the past two seasons. A grand slam was taken in style in Paris and coach Eddie Jones has galvanized the squad and given them belief.

Mario Itoje is emerging as a real talent and England had a job to do and executed it very efficiently. Still much room to improve but a very promising start, which bodes well fro the future of the Rose for, coach Eddie Jones.

Congratulations and well done to worthy Grand Slam and Triple Crown winners.

Promotion and Relegation

I have never been a fan of Italy in the Six Nations and their failure to ever finish higher than 5th is a ringing endorsement of their failure to progress. Sure they have had some fantastic players – Trencon, Parisse, Castrogiovaani, Dominquez, the Bergomasco brothers - but overall they haven’t improved and have never consistently found a way to win more than two matches in any tournament et.

Several defeats this year by 40 and 50-point margins can’t help their development and one has to start thinking seriously about the Six Nations bringing in a promotion/relegation playoff against the winners of the European Nations Cup. Georgia have been impressive in World cups and won the European title again with an impressive 38-9 win over Romania in front of 55,00 people in the Dynamo Stadium in Tbilisi.  We have a duty to promote the game and gibing Georgia the opportunity to develop their game – who knows what might happen? Can’t be any worse than Italy although most rugby fans will probably favour Rome as a better place for a weekend visit than Tbilisi.

Fond Farewell and Good Luck!

This Six Nations looks like it could be the last for many fantastic performers whom I doubt we will see in Six Nations 2017.

Gethin Jenkins – I rather prematurely said farewell to him last season but honestly, I can’t see him returning next season. His performances this tournament have not been great and he should announce his retirement from international rugby immediately. Geth, I know its hard son - but enough is enough.

Sergio Parisse – Another player I prematurely said goodbye to last season. 119 caps now and still an outstanding player but with Italy in rebuild, does he really need to put his body through yet more punishment? A fantastic player who has been one of the greatest ever international no.8s.

Martin Castrogiovanni – He has announced his retirement and he will be a huge loss to the Azzurri. Another player on 199 caps who always gave his all for Italy and has been a popular figure both on and off the field.

To all those whom we will never again see grace the Six Nations. Thank you and I wish you all the best for the future.

All Star Team

Finally my all-star line up for the 2015 Six Nations. Some controversial selections but that goes without saying

Full back:

Stuart Hogg – Player of the tournament. Truly outstanding for Scotland with five strong and impressive matches.

Wingers:

Tommy Seymour– some sublime performances from Sanjay. Close against Bowe and Watson

George North – A wonderful six nations for George who has been back to his best and some simply wonderful tries and line breaks. Notable mentions to Anthony Watson and Virimi Vakatawa.


Centres:

Jonathan Joseph – Another strong tournament from Jonathan Joseph who was the surprise package last season and continued with a high standard of flair and talent this tournament.

Jamie Roberts  – Another strong tournament for the ‘Doc’ who impressed in both defence and attack. Narrowly shades Italy’s improving Michele Campagnaro and France’s Gael Fickou.

Half Backs:

Jonny Sexton – No real stand out at Outside half. Sexton wins by being the most consistent. George Ford was misfiring and Dan Biggar wasn’t the force seen at the world cup.

Conor Murray – The best as no other scrum half really challenged him. Wales Gareth Davies was an impressive runner but his slow and erratic passing didn’t help Wales.

Props

Rob Evans – One who came from nowhere? He was very poor in last year’s finale in Rome and didn’t feature in the World Cup but has made the Welsh Loose head spot his own with some strong performances.

WP Nel – Dan Cole had the form but poor discipline and several yellow cards cost him the place. Nel was very impressive in both scrums and loose play.

Hooker:

Guilhem Guirado – narrowly shades it ahead of Dylan Hartley for a second season. The French captain was their best player

Second Row:

George Kruis – goes without saying – a masterly display of aggression and power.

Maro Itoje – What a find, what a talent. Outstanding is all his games for England. A true star in the making!

Back Row:

CJ Stander – The former South African U20 star made the number 6 jersey his own with some solid performances. Very impressive against Wales and some well-taken tries. The Munster man is a real find for Ireland.

Billy Vunipola – Narrowly shades Faletau for the place. His barnstorming runs and gain line success were a critical element in England’s game plan. Impressive in every match.

Chris Robshaw – Two blind sides and one has to doff your cap to Chris Robshaw. He was stripped of the England captaincy and has performed very solidly in all his matches. Never a stand out player but solid and consistent and that what championship teams are built from.

Well that’s all folks. Hopefully I may see you all again for Six Nations 2017! We’ll see!