While in our previous post we raved on about France’s TOP 14 as probably the premier rugby club competition on the planet, we now turn our attention to our favorite club competition and how players from its various countries are likely to influence the eagerly anticipated Autumn Nations Series. As you know, if you follow this blog, the United Rugby Championship featuring teams from Ireland, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, and Italy keeps our attention week in week out over the long fall and winter months. Its international flavor is producing a consistently high standard of rugby, and there is no doubt that the exposure players get through it is excellent preparation for International Duty.
So, without any further ado, let’s get into how the URC season so far will have a bearing on who is likely to be making the headlines as the International Season in the Northern Hemisphere gets underway.
While Leinster continues to dominate the URC, albeit without any silverware to show for it recently, it’s proving to be a mixed bag for other Irish teams
Leinster, the superstars of the modern-day URC, are a conundrum. Week in week out, they put on thrilling displays with a player base that consistently makes up the bulk of any Ireland squad. However, for the last three seasons, they have singularly failed to reach the finals and hoist what is an increasingly cherished piece of silverware in rugby circles. The quality of their squad is not in doubt, and when seamlessly blended into the national side results do come their way, albeit not the most cherished one of all, life beyond the Quarter Finals at a World Cup.
Nevertheless, Ireland head into this Autumn Nations Campaign as the number one side in the World and with it a huge target on their back. Their rivals for this prestigous number, South Africa, will not get a chance to spar with the Men from the Emerald Isle this fall, but Ireland did manage to deny South Africa a series win when on their summer tour to the Springboks homeland, ending it with 1 apiece. Ireland will be looking instead for revenge against New Zealand this November, who last year handed them yet another Quarter Final exit at the World Cup. Clashes between these two sides have now become the stuff of legends, and Ireland have become a genuine problem team for the All Blacks, particularly when the Irish are on home soil. Consequently, this will be the game Ireland will want to win the most.
That’s not to say that the rest of the month is without its challenges. For us, the real wild card is that game against Argentina, immediately following the All Blacks game. If getting one over New Zealand seriously depletes Ireland’s resources given an already troubling injury list, Argentina if they have one of their “on” days could catch Ireland unawares, much as the Pumas did against South Africa and New Zealand this year. Even that final game of their Autumn campaign against a slowly improving Australian outfit, with their former Coach Joe Schmidt and his intimate knowledge of Irish rugby running the Wallabies game plan, could become a problem for Ireland if the medics have been busy throughout the month.
We’ve always felt that Ireland have lacked a leader with the stature of the mighty Paul O’Connell, but in Leinster’s Caelan Doris, we have a hunch they are rediscovering it. Johnny Sexton and Peter O’Mahony have been fine leaders of men able to galvanize that Irish fighting spirit, but all too often the red mist got in the way of objective leadership in the heat of battle, something that Doris seems to manage exceptionally well. He’s no pushover, and his charges rally to him in a heartbeat but he knows when to play the nuances of the ebb and flow of a game and how to manage the officials – a trait we always felt O’Connell was particularly gifted with.
Leinster, as always, are heavily represented in the forward pack, but there are the usual Munster suspects there as well. Munsterman Tadgh Beirne is always a natural choice for Andy Farrell and even if his form at club at present is not quite at his normal barnstorming best, he invariably transforms into a loose forward from hell popping up ALL over the park once he dons the green jersey. His club teammate and epitome of the Irish fighting spirit, Peter O’Mahony, also finds himself in the mix once more, despite rumors of retirement. However, for us, it’s the Ulster contingent of new cap Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, and Tom O’Toole that we’re most excited to see in action. These three have been a large part of Ulster’s steady grind in the URC, which still sees them holding onto 7th on the log. Meanwhile, Cian Prendergast and U20s legend, along with Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham, bring some reliability in the forward battles that have put Connacht fifth on the URC log.
In the backs, though, all the talk will be centered around the debate as to who should ultimately be developed to fill the boots of legendary fly half Johnny Sexton. Will it be current incumbent Jack Crowley from Munster, or Leinster’s Ciaran Frawley, whose pedigree is growing with every outing and which helped Ireland draw the series with South Africa this summer at the death. However, for us, it’s the return to form of Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale that’s proving to be the most exciting for us. Remember his exploits in that first epic win over the Men in Black in Dublin in 2018, which cemented the current rivalry between the two sides which kicked off in Chicago in 2016. The man has some genuine gas and extraordinary athleticism, now allied to some improved defensive skills. Leinster’s Hugo Keenan, who is almost impossible to tackle on a good day, also returns to the fullback role after Olympic Sevens’ duty and is already making his presence felt on the URC circuit. Connacht’s Mack Hansen also returns from injury, and we all know what the maverick winger can do given a hint of space.
Ireland have the potential to have it all their own way this Autumn, but a growing injury list could scuttle their plans and New Zealand, Argentina and even Australia know that at times the medics and consistency can be Ireland’s greatest Achilles Heel. Also the Fiji game should be a chance for some of the younger Irish guns who have made such an impression at the under 20s level to get their names under the lights on the big stage at the Avivia. Either way, these have the potential to be some of the best games of the series.
Defending URC Champions Glasgow continue to look the real deal, but can Scotland’s two teams in the competition produce enough depth for a challenging run of fixtures this November?
Scottish teams, both at URC level and Internationally, now have a reputation of consistently punching above their weight. Scotland has a mere two teams in the URC, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the former being defending Champions. While there are a host of players plying their trade in the English Premiership and a sprinkling in France’s TOP 14, Scotland despite its relatively small player base has an exciting group of players to call upon for International duty.
Glasgow Warriors, who are defending URC champions and currently sit a comfortable second on the log, are providing Scottish Coach Gregor Townsend with the bulk of his Autumn Nations squad. Glasgow are just back from a tour to South Africa, which saw them lose narrowly to South Africa’s “super” team the Sharks and claim a solid win against the Stormers. Consequently, they will be primed and ready to go for the game they no doubt want to win the most this autumn, that fixture against the Springboks on November 10th. Their ever impressive Vice Captain and Glasgow loose forward Rory Darge has shown that Glasgow’s forward pack can compete with South Africa’s best. While Edinburgh are not having a dream start to their season, they still add value to any Scottish selection and are well represented in Townsend’s picks, and not just to make up the numbers.
In the backs, Glasgow have been a revelation this season, and as a result, their own Sione Tuipolotu is given the Scotland Captaincy this Autumn. In addition to his raft of dynamic Glasgow speedsters he’ll be ably assisted by Edinburgh’s try scoring sensation and South African import Duhan van der Merwe, and Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn who has found life in France a revelation. Bath’s Finn Russell will be weaving his magic in the ten jersey and assisting Tuipolotu as the other vice Captain, while the scrum half berth looks set to be hotly contested between Toulon’s Ben White, Glasgow’s George Horne and Edinburgh’s Ali Price.
Scotland are an exceptionally exciting side who, on their day are capable of beating anyone. Consequently, as a benchmark for their progress ahead of what should be a hotly contested Six Nations next February, they are likely to be setting the South African game as their ultimate prize. Fiji should be a good measure of the less experienced squad members, while Australia should be a real chance to blend the young and the old, especially if things go well against South Africa. We regard Scotland as the Northern equivalent of the Flying Fijians, so you won’t want to miss any of their four games this Autumn.
South African teams have had a massive impact on improving the quality of the URC, and their exposure to it has meant that the Springboks arrive for November’s fixture list with an intimate knowledge of many of their opponents. Everyone in the URC is already painfully aware of the fact that it’s dangerous to swim with Sharks
Despite the initial scepticism voiced by some over the introduction of the four South African franchises, the Bulls, Lions, Stormers and Sharks into the URC a few years ago, there is little doubt that it’s been a huge success and transformed the competition into one of the most exciting brands out there in club rugby. We are sympathetic to some of the logistical concerns involved, but so far, that seems to have been managed relatively effectively. Players and fans seem to be thoroughly enjoying an experiment that has become a runaway success.
What we’ve found fascinating this season is that while the Sharks and their heavyweight contingent of Springboks, are graudally clawing their way up the URC ladder at a rate of knots and we have a strong hunch we’ll be seeing them in the final, the lesser known Lions have been THE surprise package of the competition so far. The Men from Johannesburg sit fourth on the log at the moment and have a raft of superstars in the making. Meanwhile, the Bulls, long a powerhouse of Super Rugby, sit third. The only South African team genuinely struggling to make a dent in the competition are ironically the one team who has one the title, Cape Town’s Stormers.
Despite the runaway success and sheer entertainment value of the Lions, we were very surprised to see none of them make it into Coach Rassie Erasmus’ selection lists. It’s our opinion that at this stage in South Africa’s World Cup cycle that is a mistake, but then the Springbok Coaching Maestro, is rarely wrong in his calls so whether you agree or not you have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Keep your chins up Lions supporters, you’ll be seeing your boys sooner or later in the Green and Gold.
Erasmus is clearly looking for a clean sweep this Autumn Nations series to knock Ireland off their number one perch in the World Rankings. As a result he is leaving little to chance, and for his forward pack is drawing heavily on his tried and trusted Sharks Springbok contingent, the emerging stars from the Bulls and a host of players plying their trade predominantly in Japan but also a sprinkling from Europe. All the Sharks heavyweights are there Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, but so is the Japanese gang of Pieter Steph du Toit, Kwagga Smith, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert and Jaspar Wiese. However, of note are the Bulls relative newcomers who are playing an increasingly dominant role in the Springboks ever present physicality such as second rower Ruan Nortje, prop Gerhard Steenkamp and back rower Marco van Staden. This is a unit that is going to leave plenty of dents on the pitches at Murrayfield, Twickenham, and Cardiff next month.
In the backs, it’s no surprise to see the Sharks once more making up the bulk of Rassie’s picks. We’re delighted to see a player who we tipped for big things a few years ago, finally coming into his own. The Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi is speed personified, but now also has some superb game management and a clever kicking game to add to his bow. The other Sharks who are increasingly grabbing the headlines for us are scrum half Grant Williams and his partner in the nine jersey at the Shark Tank Jaden Hendrikse, both of whom also possess remarkably accurate and handy boots, particularly if fly half Manie Libbok is having one of his nightmare days off the kicking tee. On the fly half question, Erasmus has loaded his options with the Stormers brilliant playmaker but unreliable goal kicker Manie Libbok. Leicester Tigers Iceman Handre Pollard is naturally in the squad for those big games and is likely to take center stage in the ten jersey for the game South Africa will want to win the most against England. Also, look out for the Bulls duo out wide of Canan Moodie and Kurt Lee Arendse, along with Japan based legend Cheslin Kolbe. All three of them are finally being integrated into an exciting free-flowing Springbok game plan that is allowed to exercise its remarkable talent off the back of South Africa’s traditional physical dominance up front.
This is a VERY exciting Springbok unit that is destined to cause some genuine heartache in the pubs around Murrayfield, Twickenham, and the Principality Stadium this Autumn. They no doubt will set their sights on rubbing England’s nose in the turf yet again at Twickenham on November 16th as their most important game, but a clean sweep across the board, will be key if they are to settle their score with Ireland in the World Rankings after the summer, even though the two are not meeting this month. Their opponents have been warned, and it may be time to find some shark repellent!
After a few years in the doldrums, this URC season is showing some genuine hope for Welsh rugby, which will be a delight to beleaugered Welsh Coach Warren Gatland
It would probably still be a stretch to say that Welsh rugby is in a happy place, but based on this URC season, there may well be reasons to be cautiously optimistic about this Autumn Nations series. Albeit it’s early days in the season, but there are two Welsh teams in the top eight spots on the log. Scarlets sit sixth, and Cardiff currently occupies the eigth spot. Even traditional no hopers, the Dragons have a game in hand and, at times, have looked genuinely competitive. The Ospreys despite some genuine talent in their ranks and the fact that in every other season they have tended to be the dominant Welsh side, appear to be struggling but Welsh Coach Warren Gatland knows that once they pull on the red jersey their club form becomes irrelevant.
As a result, it’s a healthy spread across the four Welsh URC teams in terms of Gatland’s selections, with some notable additions from the English Premiership. The Dragons Aaron Wainwright and Ospreys Jac Morgan become men possessed once they pull on a Welsh jersey, and the same can be said of Leicester Tigers “Turnover” Tommy Reffell. However, it’s Exeter Chiefs’ second rower Christ Tshiunza, who we find we’re constantly looking for in the Welsh starting 15 on matchday. The Congolese born lock has a manic physicality to him that reminds us of New Zealand’s Ardie Savea and his whirling dervish antics on a rugby field. In short, it’s an exciting package.
In the backs, a player we are genuinely excited to see in action is a newcomer from Gloucester Max Llewellyn. The increasingly impressive center tackles like a demon and already has five tries to his name in the English Premiership for his Gloucester club. We’re already huge fans of Cardiff fullback Cameron Winnett, whose appearances have shown a maturity and ability well beyond his 21 years.
However, perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s lips in Wales is the future of fly half Sam Costelow. Although he looks as though he’s just come out of primary school, it’s clear to see why Welsh Coach Warren Gatland feels he is the future of the 10 jersey in Wales. It’s just that the consistency isn’t there sometimes, especially under pressure. As a result, Cardiff’s Ben Thomas is rapidly stealing his limelight. The Cardiff Blues playmaker is also highly effective in the centre channels, so if Costelow can make a positive impression this Autumn then in theory the 10 jersey is safe in his hands and Thomas’ considerable abilities can be used elsewhere on the pitch. Waiting in the wings if all else fails is Gloucester’s Gareth Anscombe, who has had an equally chequered time of it in the Welsh number 10 jersey.
Wales, given their own lack of confidence, will see the game against an equally unsure Australia as their biggest prize this fall and just retribution for the misfortunes they suffered in a Land Down Under this summer. Do well here and emerge with a solid win, and their date a week later with powerhouse World Champions South Africa may be less of a humiliation. Time will tell for a side very much in the process of rebuilding, but Wales’ efforts next month may be some of the most interesting to watch in terms of a team’s development at this stage of the World Cup cycle.
Italian Rugby is showing signs of finally coming of age with some players benefitting from the frenetic pace of France’s TOP 14 while Benetton continue to get better with every year in the URC
Yes, you guessed we can’t wait to tune into the Ange Capuozzo show over the coming weeks. The Toulouse try machine is rapidly becoming an International sensation, and although he looks like at times you can snap him in two with just a wind gust, the youngster is not shy of the physical side of the game, and has put in some try saving tackles that his brother in stature, South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe would be proud of.
However, enough of our fan boy adulation of Capuozzo, justified as it is. Italy are finally starting to look like a side genuinely emerging from their unfair tag of the last twenty years, of simply being a side there to make up the numbers. Their best Six Nations ever this year has translated into a continued strong showing in the URC by Benetton, even if as they head into the Autumn International break, they remain outside the top 8. Nevertheless, they have put in some strong performances, including a win over the Sharks and a narrow loss to the Bulls last weekend. Even traditional whipping boys Zebre Parma, while although sitting bottom of the URC table managed to pull off the upset of the season by beating Irish giants Munster and almost got a win against emerging South African super side the Lions two weeks ago. The promise that Italian rugby has always held is slowly starting to awaken at long last. Under the guidance of new Coach Gonzalo Quesada, Italy are set to have the most positive buildup to a World Cup they’ve had in years.
It’s also worth pointing out that Italian players are gaining increasing interest from overseas clubs, and that is reflected in Gonzalo’s forward selections for November. Exeter’s loose forward Ross Vintcent is making serious waves in the English Premiership and caught the eye in Italy’s summer tour of the South Pacific and Japan. Dino Lamb impresses week in week out for Harlequins, and Hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi is often in Toulon highlight reels, while Marco Riccioni is becoming a consistent feature of the Saracens front row. However, Benetton, as usual, takes the lions share of votes, with the Cannone brothers, Michele Lamaro, and for us, one of Italy’s best players, the irrepressible and exceptionally dynamic second rower Federico Ruzza. We’re also really looking forward to seeing relative newcomer loose forward and U20s superstar Manuel Zuliani really come into his own this Autumn at the International level in the same manner which he is doing so at his club Benetton. He is the club’s most prolific turnover master and is likely to be a genuine problem for opposition defenses.
In the backs, once again, it’s no surprise that Benetton once more dominate the lists, but there’s also a healthy sprinkling of overseas based players, most notably the outstanding Ange Capuozzo from Toulouse. Opposite him on the other wing expect to see a lot of Lyon based winger Monty Ioane. The scrum half contest will be equally tasty with fly half and Toulon based Paolo Garbisi’s brother Alessandro being Quesada’s preferred staring nine, but Lyon’s Martin Page-Relo is making everyone sit up and take notice of his role in the nine jersey. For us, though, one of the most exciting things in Italian rugby right now is the Benetton center pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex and arguably Italy’s player of the year Tommaso Menoncello. Menoncello is superb at breaking up opposition defenses and allied to the equally destructive Brex gives Italy huge traction in both attack and defense in the center channels. Menoncello also has a blistering turn of speed, making him very hard to bring down once he’s built up a head of steam. Allied to Capuozzo, Ioane and Benetton’s electric Louis Lynagh (son of famous Wallaby Michael Lynagh) out wide, Menoncello could end up being a genuine handful for Argentina, which is likely to be the game they are targetting the most this November.
This is a VERY respectable Italian side and one that shows great promise for the future. They will definitely fancy their chances against a strong but wildly inconsistent Pumas side, and as a result, this is likely to be their biggest game of the Autumn series. Should they emerge victorious from that match and find themselves facing an All Black side that is at the end of a 2024 season they would rather forget, could this be the biggest Autumn Nations series in Italian history? We can’t wait to find out, but either way, Italy will want a strong campaign to prove that their dramatically improved Six Nations performance this year was no flash in the pan. Oh and while you’re at it Italy please make sure that Ange Capuozzo gets to see plenty of ball!
The Lineout 