Back To Life, Back To Reality

As I waved goodbye to a New Zealand in full celebration mode last Tuesday, having spent the last day looking for bargains (!) in the Rugby World Cup superstore - those two don't belong in the same sentence given the over-inflated cost of everything and anything in them... they didn't make you pay to wipe your feet on the doormat, but probably only because they hadn't thought of that, it was with a heavy heart, as I had loved my four weeks in the rugby mad country. They had given the rugby world a tournament to be proud of, with memorable games, wonderful organisation, friendly welcomes and a self-deprecating humour which will live long in the memory.

27 hours later, when the rain of Heathrow greeted the pristine 767 I flew in on, it was a case of hitting the ground with a bump (metaphorically if not literally). The prospect of work, holidays done for the year, didn't fill me with joy as you may expect, the thought of no rugby till the weekend didn't help either.

The good news was that, Friday saw me in front of ESPN watching Sale take on Leicester. World Cup stars back, I had Leicester to sneak this, but when they plummeted to a half-time deficit, that was way from the case. However, a 4 try burst in 3 second half minutes, and a competent kicking performance from Toby Flood, turned the game on its head and saw Leicester romp it 34-13.

Meanwhile, over on Sky courtesy of the iPad/Sky Go combination, I was attempting to get interested in Rugby League once more. I can't. Enough said.

Wasps edged past Worcester on Friday night as well, leaving 4 games for Saturday, the pick of which was the late kick-off between Gloucester and Saracens. In the afternoon, Harlequins continued their perfect start against Exeter and Northampton benefited from the returning stars of RWC2011 Ashton and Artemyev (2 tries each) to heap pain on Newcastle. Newcastle were the least affected of all the top sides in terms of World Cup player losses, yet still they find themselves cast adrift in the Premier League. A long season ahead for Falcons fans, who look destined for the Championship already. In the third game, Bath scraped past London Irish with a late Vesty penalty. Irish shot themselves in the foot, with this late penalty and a yellow card for Armitage, during which Bath took the lead, being crucial.

To Kingsholm then, where Sky offered coverage of a game between a side with 22 home games without defeat against a Saracens side who hadn't lost away in donkey's ages. Gloucester started much the better, and Morgans try was no more than they deserved, but a below par Saracens refused to give in, and thanks initially to Hodgson, and ultimately more convincingly Farrell, they stayed in the game, chipping away with penalties. A feisty game, saw yellow cards to Gill and Wood for fisticuffs, and the odd flashpoint around the ruck and maul, where Saracens effectively got away with murder, holding players in and out as they saw fit. One moment of class decided the game though, as a Farrell grubber, more often seen from his father in the 13 man game, was perfectly weighted for Barritt to pick up and go over. Lawson and he disputed possession, and a difficult decision ensued for the TMO, who eventually, somehow, opted for the try, which Farrell converted. Gloucester stuck with it, but could neither break through stubborn Sarries defence, or draw the penalty, and a knock-on in midfield eventually saw Saracens clear and hold on for a 19-17 victory.

Needle seemed to continue after the final whistle, both at the ground and on Twitter where Eliota-Sapolu has been at his entertaining and controversial best since. Ultimately though, Saracens showed why they are Champions, just doing enough to scrape home in the cauldron like atmosphere, even though they were not at their best.

I felt for Jim Hamilton, the Scottish second row, who, both during the World Cup and here, has been putting in immense performances, which somehow keep coming up short. Freddie Burns also showed well, even if he was ultimately outshone by the rapidly improving Farrell, who must surely be banging on the door for International honours already....

Whose door he is banging on is a big question. To summarise the situation, the RFU say they haven't given Martin Johnson an ultimatum; he hasn't made a decision; the Independent inquiry starts this week; Johnson is up first.... Is there an Omnibus edition on Sunday mornings? We could do with one for this soap opera.

I remain convinced, as I wrote here in the wake of England's disappointing exit from the World Cup, that Johnson should stay till the end of his contract. The 6 Nations will be do or die for him. Anything other than a Grand Slam will be curtains though I think. Sir Clive Woodward waits in the wings, and he along with a couple of proper English "coaches" should be the answer for 2015. I suspect a coaching line-up of Woodward, Catt (backs) and Edwards (defence) may not be far from the mark, but we will see whether that transpires and who he would get in for the forwards.

The Future For Europe
I've said I will comment on this for a few weeks now, and I guess now is the first chance I have had. European rugby is now at the biggest crossroads it has ever been at. 6 Nations compete annually for the honour of becoming unofficial European Champions. 6 Nations, which were until relatively recently 5, and were once 4. Italy and France having been invited to join the original 4 home nations. It may be a moot point, but French rugby may well not have developed to the point it has had they not joined the 5 Nations after the Second World War.

Looking at where we are now, it is generally accepted that Italy were let in to the 6 Nations 5 or 6 years too late. Argentina were left in the wilderness 4 or 5 years too long too, before they were allowed to join an extended Tri-Nations tournament in 2012. This World Cup, and the World Sevens Tour, have thrown up Romania, Russia and Georgia as European teams who need to be given regular opportunities against the bigger boys sooner rather than later. Once every four years is not enough, that is clear.

However, we are faced with a tricky situation, as traditionalists, and the money men, need to see the 6 Nations continue in its current form, as European Rugby earns a lot from the 5 international matches each winter, to say nothing of the additional spend around the games in the host cities. That said, if rugby is to grow, the door needs opening now. So what to do? It isn't an easy decision, and I suggest a certain amount of lateral thinking is required. How about this for a potential solution?

There are currently 2 blanks weeks in the 6 Nations tournament. Might I suggest that we make it a 7 Nation tournament, with the 7th Nation alternating between Romania, Georgia and Russia for the next 3 years? This would mean 6 Internationals in 7 weeks, 3 home and 3 away and is effectively one more game than the current tournament gives the players, and one less than they experience in a World Cup. It would appear to be a nice intermediary solution, which cocks a hat to the new boys, and gives the traditionalists what they want. It isn't perfect, but then little is in life, and I just feel this is the fairest way to extend a hand to the smaller nations and to continue with Europe's flagship tournament. I welcome any thoughts on this here, by e-mail to marktheeggchaser@googlemail.com or on twitter via @theeggchaser.

There we go, as Soul II Soul sang, Back To Life, Back To Reality. I'm sure I'll get used to being back... just don't rush me.