2013 has been a strange year in rugby, with moments of brilliance often overshadowed by politics and the laws of the game. The scrum, new TMO laws, European rugby crisis, this years list of issues in rugby seems longer than normal. However, there have been moments on the field to talk about, many of these moments were of the very highest quality.
If we're talking quality then the only place to start is down under. New Zealand created history going the entire year unbeaten. Winning 14 from 14, a feat never previously achieved in the professional era. They were also involved in two of the best games of the year, and two of the best games in recent memory. The game against South Africa at Ellis Park and the game in Dublin which broke Irish hearts were both mammoth test matches. The question is can they continue their dominance for the next two years?
South Africa have had an unfortunate year. They have been incredible, mixing power upfront with a scintillating back line. Yet, they are not the best, in most other generations they would be but New Zealand on a different level. Although they lost they helped to create that incredible game at Ellis Park. The next step for the Boks is to continue their rise over the next two years and lift the Webb Ellis trophy an unprecedented third time.
Its not all smiles down under Australia and Argentina are in a phase of rebuilding. Australia had a dreadful rugby championship and Argentina even worse. They are light years behind South Africa and New Zealand. Ewen McKenzie has taken the reigns for the Wallabies and has brought Quade Cooper back into the fold. As good as this is for Australia it is even better for the rugby world, to see Cooper at his best is something everyone wants. That is unless you are playing against him. Argentina have changed their coach after five years with Santiago Phelan. Big things will be expected of Daniel Hourcade, but the national game is not the number one priority in Argentina right now. That has to be getting a team into the Super 15 and expanding that franchise. That move would boost the game in Argentina more than any coach ever could.
Back in the Northern hemisphere things have been a little more complicated. The Heineken Cup row has been on going for months with no sign of a conclusion. So the new years resolution this side of the equator has to be to resolve the problem quickly so that matters on the pitch can take centre stage again.
On the few occasions that the politics was put to one side some good rugby did break out. In Wales expectations weren't high going into the Six Nations after losing seven games in a row, including a dreadful Autumn series. After a poor display against Ireland one bounce of the ball against France would help change Welsh fortunes. The ball bounced nicely into George North's arms when it could so easily have skidded out, but as North crashed over, Wales rediscovered how to win.
England have remained to the same track as they always have done under Stuart Lancaster and this year were it not for one of the great Welsh performances they would have been celebrating a Six Nations win. They are growing in confidence as a team and after several missed out on the Lions tour there are players with a point to prove. One of these is Chris Ashton, once considered one of the worlds top wingers the last few years have been poor for the Saracens wing. However, at the start of this season he has found his try scoring touch and is on a hot streak in the premiership, the 'swallow dive' could be back for the Six Nations.
Scott Johnson has given Scotland something to cheer this year a third place finish, with Italy finishing fourth. The Scots unearthed a real talent in Stuart Hogg and now look to be on the right track for the future. The worry for Scotland is with the club game as they are in a precarious situation with not enough people watching Edinburgh and Glasgow. This lack of money has left them with no power in the European row and they are being forgotten in it all, the game needs protecting at the lower levels in Scotland. In Italy they are going from strength to strength and in has improved the Six Nations no end, there is no 'easy game' any more. The major bonus for Italian rugby is not in how they've played but in how many have watched them. This year they moved the national side to the Stadio Olimpico from the Stadio Flaminio, going from a 25,000 to 70,000 capacity stadium. They have done it and sold it out for most games, support for the game in Italy is certainly on the rise.
Ireland have had a strange year. Closing it with the dramatic loss to the All Blacks and opening it with a win over Wales. It was book ended with two magnificent performances but in between this something went wrong. They slipped to fifth in the Six Nations and only beat Samoa in the Autumn. The change of coach to ex-Leinster boss Joe Schmidt will make a difference, an 2014 is bound to be more successful. Going to Dublin is still a difficult trip for any side, the All Blacks proved that. If the boys in Green perform like that in the Six Nations they can win it.
What is the left to say about France. They don't turn up but when they do they are sublime. After being given the wooden spoon in the Six Nations they lost a clean sweep in the Summer tour of New Zealand. Le Bleu have won two games all year, against Tonga and Scotland. Not the performance we have come to expect from a team with the individual quality that France possesses. Yet, bizarrely it is exactly what we expect from France, inconsistency. This Six Nations they will be a team to watch as the Lions players tire after a long season the French will be ready for the fight. The last three Six Nations after a Lions series they have won, but you just never know with the French.
All in all its been another great year in rugby, but the sooner the politics is sorted out and on-field matters become the centre of attention the better. Lets hope that 2014 is just as good as 2013 has been.
No comments:
Post a Comment