Sport360 reporters Andrew Binner and Matt Jones take in five lessons from the week in rugby, including England’s hooker debate, Chris Ashton’s red hot form, bilingual referees and the latest UAE action.
– South Africa: Third successive Cape Town Sevens crown
– NORTHAMPTON: Complaint over coach considered
– Rugby: George Ford aiming for trophies with Bath
Race for England hooker shirt not over yet
Press reports that Dylan Hartley is hot favourite to become Eddie Jones’ first England captain (and preferred hooker) cannot have made easy reading for Tom Youngs this week.
However, being written off clearly put some much-needed fire in the belly of the Leicester Tigers number two, whose magnificent performance against Munster will have given Jones food for thought.
Frustrated Tom Youngs determined to prove he’s England’s best option at hooker https://t.co/uCmkUCYLeB pic.twitter.com/uszpynhhej
— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) November 29, 2015
Never one to miss an opportunity to sing his players’ praises, Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill announced after the game that Youngs should be the “first name on the England team sheet”.
True, Youngs is England’s most dynamic hooker and has improved the weakest area of his game in his lineout throwing.
But with Jones’ former Saracens colleague Jamie George improving with every game, competition for the role with England has never been better.
Chris Ashton knocking on Jones’ door
Saracens have returned to their rampant best this season and no area has their improvement been more pronounced than in the performances of Ashton.
England’s forgotten winger scored a hat-trick of tries in Sarries’ one-sided win over Oyonnax in a fine run of form that has reminded rugby fans that he is still one of the best finishers in the northern hemisphere.
5 – @ChrisAshton1 made 5 breaks v Oyonnax, the most by a @Saracens player in the @ChampionsCup since 2010. Dancer pic.twitter.com/mEmnmBUIIu
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) December 21, 2015
While Jack Nowell must have one of the two wing berths sown up ahead of February’s Six Nations, Anthony Watson’s recent lull should see Ashton recalled to England’s Elite Player Squad.
While it is important that teams discover their own identity, England must try and shift towards New Zealand’s high intensity, high scoring style under Jones, and this fits Ashton down to a tee.
The 28-year-old won the last of his 39 caps 18 months ago, but if he can maintain his current hot streak of form then the Wigan-born flyer should be confident of adding to his 19 Test tries at the start of next year.
Clermont hand English clubs a reality check
English clubs have made an unusually strong start to the European season, but any hint of complacency was firmly extinguished as Clermont cooly dispatched Exeter Chiefs.
The ruthless 42-10 beating at Stade Marcel-Michelin served not only as retribution for the French team (who were beating at Sandy Park the week before), but also as a further reminder to the RFU on what they are missing out on.
The returning Jonathan Davies is among the @ASMOfficiel scorers in their 42-10 win over @ExeterChiefs. #ChampionsCup https://t.co/ICUCikspPW
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) December 20, 2015
David Strettle was once again imperious on the wing and at 32 years of age, showed the much younger James Short a clean pair heels en route to an impressive try.
Despite losing outside-half Camille Lopez to the first of the game’s four yellow cards, Les Jaunards turned on the style to run in five tries and are now firmly back in the race for a quarter-final spot.
Time for referees to become bilingual
In many areas of professional life it is considered an advantage, and in many cases imperative, that an individual can communicate in more than one language in order to optimize their efficiency.
In order to referee top flight European rugby, fluent English and at least a working proficiency in French must now become a mandatory requirement.
L’arbitre italien Marius Mitrea au Michelin dimanche ! #ASMEXE https://t.co/XtvEfdCnOi via @ASMOfficiel pic.twitter.com/vqcPFVh3ol
— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) December 14, 2015
Italy’s Marius Mitrea was the man in charge of Clermont’s game against Exeter at the weekend and the official’s perfect command of both rugby dialects was imperious, making for a much better spectacle.
So often in recent memory have we seen French players left scratching their heads after a decision, and then proceeding to repeat their infringement in the next play.
In a sport that commands increasingly complicated rules that are often open to interpretation, communication is key to providing a fair contest and a new standard must now be set.
Dubai Exiles eye UAE Premiership title with secret weapon
JP Goosen is not a name many opposition players would have been too familiar with before the start of this season, but that’s certainly changed now.
The 22-year-old is a formidable looking specimen and he’s already been a destructive force in the Exiles’ front row as they have powered their way to six victories out of seven in the UAE Premiership.
@DubaiExiles and @Abudhabiquins on 28 points but Quins top on PD Premiership rugby takes a break now till February. pic.twitter.com/z9kzdMVpza
— Gulf Rugby Paper (@GulfRugbyPaper) November 8, 2015
After a disappointing debut season in which they ambled into the Gulf Conference after finishing fifth in the 2014-15 Premiership, Exiles have been an entirely different team following the arrival of the club’s new director of rugby, Jacques Benade.
“I play prop but I really want to play back row,” said Goosen. “They don’t want to change me at the moment so I’ll stay there.”
With Exiles improving with every game, the metaphorical bookmaker would be advised to slash those odds on Goosen’s men now.
Extra-time
Firstly, an apology to Exeter Chiefs fans for this week’s extra-time clip.
After Saracens, the English west country side have been the form attacking team in Europe, which made their thrashing at the hands of Clermont all the more impressive last weekend.
Take a look at the finishing skills of David Strettle and his clear hunger to take players on with outrageous pace.
Can anyone really suggest that England can do any better? Tweet us using #360Rugby.
