Year of Promise: Ten things to expect in 2015

Martyn Thomas 14:20 03/01/2015
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  • Showpiece: England is ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2015, but before the tournament kicks-off, there is plenty of action to look forward to.

    With the World Cup just months away, rugby enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to, between the return of Sam Burgess to union, the elusive 20-year-old Handre Pollard continuing to pull the strings for South Africa, and the Wallabies looking to rediscover their spring under Michael Chieka.

    Here are our ten things to expect in the coming season:

    The biggest World Cup yet

    It is impossible to look ahead to the new year without mentioning the upcoming World Cup in England, and it promises to be a tournament to remember.

    – #Quiz360: WIN dinner for 2 at Media Rotana, Dubai

    – James O'Connor leaves Toulon to pursue World Cup dream

    On the pitch, several sides are shaping up nicely to give defending champions New Zealand a run for their money. Off it, the hosts have enlisted the brains behind the successful London Olympic and Paralympic Games to ensure it goes off with a bang.

    Tickets have been snapped up like never before, justifying the organisers’ decision to hold many of the games in football stadia. Just don’t be surprised to see some empty seats, with the threat from touts looming large.

    Burgess hysteria to reach new heights

    Sam Burgess hopes he can make an impact.

    Since switching codes to join Bath, Sam Burgess’ every move has been monitored, replayed and analysed with the hope that he can make an impact on the World Cup.

    Given his club and country are split on where the former rugby league man will end up in the 15-man code, it is unlikely that he will have sufficiently acclimatised to be included for England during the Six Nations.

    That hasn’t stopped the hysteria, though, with Burgess’ first try in union generating a raft of coverage even though it was scored in an ‘A’ team game.

    Expect that to increase as the quadrennial tournament approaches.

    Northern hemisphere sides to suffer glorious failure at World Cup

    There is a strong chance that a side from the northern hemisphere will reach the World Cup. The draw has been fairly kind, with either France or Ireland likely to meet one of Australia, England or Wales at the semi-final stage.

    Yet with England struggling to discover a formula in their back-line to match up to their forward dominance, France at their inconsistent best, Ireland fairly reactionary and Wales still lacking a Plan B, it would still be a surprise if any of them won it.

    Ireland look best placed to challenge, but South Africa will be a whole different proposition next autumn, while New Zealand will be highly motivated to send Richie McCaw et al off with the Web Ellis Cup still in their luggage hold.

    Slade to knock Farrell further down England pecking order

    Owen Farrell might lose his place in the squad.

    Exeter continue to upset the big boys in England, currently sitting fourth in the Premiership, and one of the major factors in their success this season has been Henry Slade.

    The 21-year-old centre is a supremely talented footballer, blessed with a full range of skills and an intuitive rugby brain. Aggressive in defence, with an eye for a gap and an accomplished kicking game, Slade is exactly what his country have been crying out for in midfield.

    Stuart Lancaster must look at the youngster in the Six Nations, although with George Ford impressing at No10 that would mean diminishing Owen Farrell’s role further.

    French club rugby to eat itself

    Given Sexton was the highest paid player in Top 14.

    The end of year migration of talent from the southern to northern hemisphere has already begun with Dan Carter, James Horwill and Ma’a Nonu agreeing moves to Europe post World Cup.

    Racing Metro have made Carter the first £1,000,000 rugby player, handing him a contract worth more than double his predecessor, Jonathan Sexton.

    Given Sexton was the highest paid player in the Top 14 when he moved to Paris just 18 months ago, it is clear that clubs could struggle to keep up as wages soar.

    The Parisian clubs, Clermont and Toulon have an unfair advantage on the rest in this respect, but the money spent on foreign talent could yet hinder France in the autumn.

    Gatland to become increasingly prickly with the media

    Warren Gatland does not have the best relationship with the media.

    When Warren Gatland and Stuart Lancaster were handed long-term contracts by Wales and England respectively it looked like astute planning.

    Yet both have come under scrutiny since then, with Gatland and his staff growing increasingly irritated by suggestions their team don’t know how to play against the big three.

    Wales’ tight win over South Africa should give them confidence, but given they are winless against Pool A opponents Australia in their last 10 meetings the questions will only intensify.

    Just don’t expect the Wales management’s reaction to them to get any rosier.

    Pollard to mature and give Springboks attacking edge

    Handre Pollard expected to reach his potential.

    Like the Springboks in general, fly-half Handre Pollard endured a mixed autumn, which came at the end of an exhausting year.

    It was a 12 months, though, in which the 20-year-old proved himself to be a potentially devastating player at international level. 

    The experience of Frans Steyn should serve as a warning to South Africa’s latest prodigy, but if the Springboks are to make a dent at the World Cup then they will need the young playmaker to be fit and firing.

    Henshaw to fill void left by O’Driscoll in Ireland

    Robbie Henshaw (pictured) will take over Brian O’Driscoll's place.

    With Australian pressure mounting and Ireland retreating towards their own line with time running out at the Aviva Stadium in November came a moment of rare maturity.

    The hosts were clinging onto victory when the ball found its way to their 21-year-old centre, but with a drop of the shoulder and a booming 40-yard kick up field Robbie Henshaw averted trouble and assured victory was theirs.

    Henshaw is just at the beginning of his career, and has a long way to go to emulate the achievements of Brian O’Driscoll in a green shirt. But it would seem he has the temperament to take on the challenge.

    Referees to continue to struggle at scrum time

    It is a sad indictment of the game, especially in the northern hemisphere, that the majority of scrums end not with the ball in the hands of the scrum half, but with the ref blowing his whistle.

    New laws and calls from the officials were designed to help improve this area of the game, but while the rule changes have limited the effectiveness of some high-profile props, they have done nothing to clean up the set piece.

    Teams in Europe are targeting the scrum as a vehicle for three points like never before, and this is something that needs to be looked at. It is an emotive issue though and little will change, in 2015 at least.

    Wallabies to rediscover their spring under Cheika

    Results may not have been quite what the Wallabies wanted this autumn but there were definitely signs that Michael Cheika’s message was beginning to take hold.

    The former Leinster and Waratahs coach now has an extended break from the international game to plot for the World Cup, and the acid test will come in an abbreviated Rugby Championship.

    With Will Genia, James Horwill and potentially several other players heading to Europe after the autumn showpiece, this could be their last chance to make an impression on the biggest stage.

    Cheika is the ideal person to ensure they reach England in the right shape.

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