Ireland v. Italy: PreJudgement

Despite beating Australia in the biggest Rugby World Cup result in Irish history, the men in green still have it all to do against Italy in their final game in Group C this weekend.

AVIVA Premiership Final Recap:

Well, well, what is there to say! Lots actually. What a cracker of a game this was and the second GREAT final in two weeks. You always wonder how the final will turn out, as it could fizzle away to a boring game, not this time!

There was an early scare for the Tigers as scrum half Ben Youngs got carded after 5 minutes. Leicester were however not punished for being a man down as after 15 minutes the scores were tied at three all. I thought having Neil de Kock start ahead of Richard Wigglesworth at 9 for Saracens was a great move. The benefit of that was watching the 19 year old Owen Farrell dominate at flyhalf against Toby Flood. In fairness he did miss a few kicks but as I said in my PreJudgement of this fixture, he is the best thing to come out of English Rugby since Jonny Wilkinson.

James Short opened the try scoring in the 29th minute and broke the 6-6 deadlock. Both teams went into half time with Sarries 16-9 ahead. I am sure that stern words were exchanged in both changing rooms and one felt that early points in the second half were needed. Owen Farrell obliged and slotted a penalty in the 42nd minute. Penalties seemed to be more forthcoming for the Tigers as the game went on. Saracens always seemed in control , Leicester however, were always in the hunt and never stopped threatening. Who wanted it more?

What followed is something I have never witnessed and will forever live in my memory as a story of inches. Leicester needed a try to win and were running out of time. Six minutes remained and they trailed by 4, where do they go and what do they do? The answer was simple. Keep it tight and wear the opposition down with phase after phase of rucks and malls. what the didn't bank on was Saracens never say die and fight until the final whistle attitude. The Tigers put together 33 continuous phases in the Saracens 22 in the quest for the winning try. It was the best discipline I have seen from any team. Attacking discipline and belief from Leicester  vs the defensive discipline from Saracens. It all ended with Saracens turning the ball over and kicking it into touch after 87 minutes, 7 minutes after the game should have ended. What a performance.

A very well deserved win for Saracens and it couldn't have come against better opposition. Leicester deserved to be there and the history between the two teams goes back a few years. Saracens are also the only team ever to beat Leicester 3 times in one year.

The loose trio of Saracens were great and Ernst Joubert, Jacques Burger and Kelly Brown were great. Up front Matt Stevens did a great job again and I would be shocked if he doesn't join the English Squad sometime soon. My man of the Match undoubtedly has to be Schalk Brits. What a machine and what a good sportsman. He runs awesome lines and runs so hard, takes the big hits gets up and does it again. 

Saracens winning this epic final 22-18

Congratulations to Saracens 2011 AVIVA Premiership Champions  

AVIVA Premiership Final PreJudgement:

Twickenham, you couldn't ask for a better place to play a final. Today is the last day of the Aviva Premiership and a day of mixed emotions for two teams, Saracens and Leicester. One will walk away victorious and have great reward for months and months of grueling work with the top club prize in England, the other, well nothing!

 

 There is no doubting who I am supporting today and I would give many things for Sarries to take this down today. With their extremely mobile pack and the unmistakable danger that Schalk Brits brings to the table you would expect the game to be spread wide. Matt Stevens has also be in great form and has to be a contender for a recall to the English National Squad. whether that happens or not remains to be seen. Neil de Kock will start today and you would expect that to be very settling for the rest of the team as his experience is tight games is unquestionable.

You can't question this powerhouse that are the Tigers. They have an extremely well balanced and skillful team. They are captained today by New Zealander Craig Newby for the first time and what a stage to make your mark. Scott Hamilton, Toby Flood, Ben Youngs and Tom Croft are going to be the danger men today.

Today has match ups that definitely do justice to this epic battle. The half back pairings have two youngsters at 10 and I believe Owen Farrell is one of the best talents to come out of England since Jonny Wilkinson. He should have the beating of Toby Flood in my opinion. The Loose forward battle is going to be colossal, Croft, Newby and Crane for the Tigers versus Brown, Burger and Joubert (and Schalk Brits because we all know he is another loose forward) for Sarries, WOW!
I can't wait for this game and we are not in for a boring final, this one will have at least 3 tries in it.

PreJudgement: Saracens by 6

Rare North & South Double Medal- FAIL!!!

In my first article on this subject (Rare North & South Double Medal) I spoke about four players that were on target for a very rare achievement.
Scott Hamilton, Pedrie Wannenberg, George Smith and Campbell Johnstone all were inline to win the Heineken Cup with their respective Northern Hemisphere Clubs. They all play for separate clubs in England, Ireland and France and WERE (operative word here) all in the Heineken Cup Quarter Finals this past weekend.

My thinking went along the lines of featuring some Southern Hemisphere players and seeing , at least one make it through to the final. The Rugby Gods, however, had something else in mind. All four of the teams featured and players concerned were unceremoniously dumped out of the top European Rugby Competition.
Not only that but at the start of the weekend we had 10 South Africans to watch in the tournament and come sunday night we now only have 4 left.

Watch this space for Heineken Cup Semi Final action at the end of the month.

Heineken Cup Quarter Final Results:
Biarritz 20 - 27 Toulouse
Northampton Saints 23 - 13 Ulster
Leinster 17 - 10 Leicester Tigers
Perpignan 29 - 25 Toulon

Rare North & South Double Medal

There are Eight teams chasing European glory in the Heineken Quarter Finals this weekend. There are however four players that have a very special and rare opportunity to win the top rugby competitions in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. A SupeRugby medal as well as a Heineken Cup Medal. This has only been done twice before by Rod Kafer ( ACT Brumbies & Leicester Tigers) and Doug Howlett (Blues & Munster)

The four players chasing this honour are:

Pedrie Wannenberg - Ulster:
Wannenberg has three SupeRugby medals in his trophy cabinet from his time at the Blue Bulls (2007, 2009, 2010) and is looking to help Ulster over the line against Northampton Saints.

Scott Hamilton - Leicester Tigers:
Hamilton has two SupeRugby medals with the Crusaders (2005, 2006) and will be facing Irish opposition Leinster on April 9 2011.

Campbell Johnstone - Biarritz Olympique:
Johnstone was teammates with Hamilton at the Crusaders franchise and collected two SupeRugby medals in 2005 & 2006. Johnstone will be propping for the Biarritz side against Toulouse on April 10 2011.

George Smith - Toulon:
The great Aussie flanker, with 110 appearances for the Wallabies, will be facing off against Perpignan on Saturday for a place in the Heineken Cup Semi-Finals. He has already pocketed two SupeRugby medals with the Brumbies in 2001 & 2004.

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