#360rugby: European rugby never better, Fiji's Olympic dream

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  • #360Rugby: Lessons learned both domestically and internationally over the past seven days.

    Can Saracens be beaten in the European Champions Cup? Why have Fiji found an extra gear in the World Sevens Series? All these questions and more are answered in this week’s #360rugby.

    What are your thoughts? Tweet us using #360rugby to join the debate.

    CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTERS A GREAT ADVERTISEMENT FOR RUGBY

    Last weekend saw 17 tries scored in a feast of running rugby that saw large crowds entertained by huge hits and a never-say-die attitude from all participants.

    Exeter Chiefs defied their status as quarter-final rookies to give England’s form team Wasps the shock of their lives at home. Rob Baxter’s men suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss after Jimmy Gopperth’s conversion, but it will go down as one of the great European matches.

    Next it was Northampton’s turn to tear up the script at Allianz Park, taking a 10-6 lead into the break against much-fancied Saracens. However class eventually prevailed and Owen Farrell’s game management (in conjunction with a 19-point contribution) steered the Londoners into a semi-finals with Wasps where the Premiership champions must start as favourites.

    Leicester continued their impressive resurgence with a 41-13 demolition of French champions Stade Francais to lay down a serious statement of intent to the other semi-finalists. Of particular note are Tigers’ red-hot backline, where Peter Betham has combined with Manu Tuilangi in the centre to devastating effect.

    Maxime Machenaud and Dan Carter looked like a veteran half-back pairing as Racing 92 saw-off the challenge of three-time European Champions Toulon. However the Parisians’ semi-final date with Leicester takes place in Nottingham and it is difficult to see French representation in the tournament going any further than this match.

    FIJI THRIVING UNDER PRESSURE OF OLYMPIC EXPECTATION

    A victory in last weekend’s prestigious Hong Kong sevens means Fiji have now won three out of seven tournaments this year and are sitting pretty at the top of the standings.

    In the final the Pacific Islanders outscored New Zealand by three tries to one and looked superior to their famous rivals in every department.

    Semi Kunatane’s length of the field effort with two minutes left sealed the contest after Fijian defenders outmuscled New Zealand at the breakdown and he was rightly named player of the final.

    In addition to victories in HK, Dubai and Las Vegas the Fiji have finished second in two other tournaments and it is fair to say that hopes of Fiji winning its first ever Olympic gold medals in August have brought a more consistent level of performance to Ben Ryan’s side.

    EXILES VICTORY COULD BE CATALYST FOR PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE ESTABLISHMENT

    Winning the UAE Premiership title is never an easy task, but Dubai Exiles have earned the right to feel particularly proud of their achievement this year, given the higher levels of competition that now exist in the region.

    Much has been made of the signings that followed Jacques Benade to the club last summer, among them talented South African fly-half Durandt Gerber, who was in Italy’s training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

    However their recruitment policy has been no different to that of their closest rivals in recent seasons to the benefit of the league standard as a whole.

    Doha, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Jebel Ali Dragons and Abu Dhabi Harlequins have all won national titles now and their increased consistency has meant fewer ‘soft’ fixtures in the league.

    With increasingly-professional looking infrastructures being installed into the region’s clubs, it can only be a matter of time before the game turns professional.

    STAPLEY SCOUTING REVEALS POTENTIL UAE DILEMMA

    Exiles youngster Tom Stapley only broke into the first team in January – now the 18-year-old is dreaming of a professional rugby career with Ulster.

    The Pro 12 side were tipped off about Stapley’s talent by Exiles director of rugby Jacques Benade, who enjoyed a stellar 15-year coaching career in Ireland before his move to the Emirates last July.

    “The level of coaching out here is excellent,” said the Jumeirah College student. “To get people out here up to the required standard needed to go back to the UK, I owe a lot to them for where I am now, and I definitely won’t forget that when I’m in Ireland.”

    However one man that may be left slightly disappointed by the Stapley’s move is UAE national coach Apollo Perelini, who will not be able to pick the player if he decides to qualify for Ireland instead as a player cannot represent two international teams under World Rugby ruling.

    Whoever Stapley does decide he wants to play rugby for, his move underlines the rapidly-growing profile of UAE rugby and its ability to produce professional players.

    EXTRA TIME

    This athletic moment from Morocco’s Adil Achahbar has certainly got the world of rugby talking. The playmaker rounds off a try with flip over the advertising boards, a salute and a hop back. With this level of entertainment on (and off!) the field, it’s not hard to see why sevens is back in the Olympics.

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