This weekend two international rugby competitions will be contested by teams from only two countries. The Super 14 final will be an all-South African affair whilst the Heineken Cup final is to be contested by two English teams. In a World Cup year, what is the significance of these countries’s club / provincial performances?
South Africa’s Super 14 success will mean very little come World Cup time. In a year of missing All Blacks and mystifyingly bad Australian teams, the best that can be said of the South Africans is that they have taken full advantage of their opportunities.
As they have for several years now, the Springboks will field a handful of players who could vie for the accolade of world’s best in their position. Victor Matfield continues to dominate every lineout he jumps in and Bryan Habana has shown those with pretensions of greatness what it takes to be the best of the best. Note to Lote – Less Jibber, More Deliver.
The South African defense, of which both the Bulls and Sharks are masters, can stifle even the most dangerous attacking teams. Unlike Australians, South Africans don’t put caveats on their appreciation of rugby and will quite happily smash and suffocate their way to the Webb Ellis Cup. Victory is victory is victory, my friend.
The challenge ahead of the Springboks isn’t finding World Cup winning talent but harnessing it.
To the Heineken Cup and the northern hemisphere’s most impressive club team of 2007, Leicester, will be aiming to add to their Anglo-Welsh and Premiership victories when they play Wasps on Saturday. Having finished the Premiership season on equal points with Gloucester, the Tigers showed they are a step above during their seven try, grand final victory last weekend. Wasps will be hard pressed to challenge the Tigers in this weekend’s European version.
Importantly for English rugby, Leicester are playing an excitingly complete style of rugby. Their forward pack has seldom been bettered, led admirably by Julian White up front and Martin Corry at the back. Rolling mauls of ten and twenty meters have been the norm for this team. So strong is their mauling that ball runners regularly choose to stay on their feet, confident that not only will reinforcements arrive but that they will roll on for a good way yet.
Despite this dominance Leicester have not relied upon ten-man rugby – even with the monochrome Andy Goode at fly-half. Leicester have shown a willingness to try their hand and have made good use of their outstanding centre partnership of Daniel Hipkiss and Alesana Tuilagi. Hipkiss has added his name to the list of young English players who have grown into themselves this year, including, David Strettle, Nick Easter, Toby Flood and Anthony Allen.
Much like Australia, England’s poor recent record has forced them to look for the next generation. New coach, Brian Ashton, has shown he isn’t afraid to give young guns a run even to the extent of being accused of preparing for the 2011 World Cup instead of this year’s version. With the shadow of a fit-again Jonny Wilkinson looming large, Ashton’s dilemma is similar to that facing John Connolly. Experiment with youth or return to the alluring comfort of past glory.
If Ashton continues this policy then several young Leicester players can expect to pull on the white shirt in September and lead the way towards a new England. If Ashton reverts to the remnants of the 2003 team he can expect similar results to those the English have become accustomed to during their reign as World Champions.
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