We’ve come to the end of another enthralling and surprising rugby year. Here’s my report card for each of the teams.
1. New Zealand
The world’s premier rugby nation is still the world’s premier rugby nation. New Zealand won the Rugby Championship with two matches to spare, had a record 57-0 win against South Africa and only lost one match since the Lions series.
However, the gap appears to be narrowing.
New Zealand may have been able to find a way to win almost all of the close matches, which is what champion teams do, but they did not look as clinical as they have since 2011.
The comeback from 17-0 down in Dunedin was very impressive. It showed the confidence, belief and trust that this All Blacks side has in itself.
That said, one must ask to what extent the comeback was the result of the many fragilities of the Wallabies – in defence, decision making, restarts and set-piece – as well as how the All Blacks allowed themselves to fall 17-0 down?
It must be strange as a New Zealand fan. The team seems to be building depth, but they do not look as clinical or self-assured as they have done in previous years. The attack often appears stagnant and overly-reliant on individual brilliance from players like Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Reiko Ioane as opposed to great tactical coaching.
The team seems to be doing too much and to score on every opportunity as opposed to having the confidence to play with patience they have exhibited previously.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
2. England
Eddie Jones’ England suffered some second year blues this year, but overall were very strong.
Like New Zealand for large parts of 2017 England did not look as clinical as they did in 2016. But just like New Zealand England found a way to win all of their close matches aside from a match against Ireland in Dublin, in which Ireland put in a truly great performance.
Jones has built some good depth. They have excellent depth in almost every position, as well as what is probably the best locking depth in the world – along with perhaps South Africa – between Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, George Kruis and Joe Launchbury.
They are well-coached, always playing with purpose and with multiple avenues to attack – both via set piece and forward dominance, and through unstructured attack through their 9-10-12.
They also have a great defence.
Overall, I think that English fans should be very happy with how their team went in 2017. Winning the 2018 Six Nations will be very difficult with Ireland and Scotland both playing very well, but England have earned the right to go in as favourites and I suspect may be confident that they can beat New Zealand when New Zealand travels to Twickenham in the 2018 Spring Tour.
3. Australia
Another year to forget for Australia. A few great highs but mostly crushing lows.
The year started (aside from a match against tier two Fiji) with a record loss to Scotland, in Australia, in June in which the Wallabies played embarrassingly poor rugby. The year ended with a much greater record loss to Scotland in Scotland, in which the Wallabies played even more embarrassingly poor rugby.
They failed to beat an extremely poor Springboks outfit that were embarrassed 57-0 by New Zealand and 38-3 by Ireland.
They almost lost to lowly Italy.
They lost to New Zealand after being gifted a 17-0 lead, and again retaking the lead with less than five minutes to play.
They capitulated and lost by a record margin to England.
The team built little depth in key positions like hooker and halfback as Michael Cheika insisted on relying on Stephen Moore and Nick Phipps. With Tatafu Polota-Nau going overseas it is conceivable he will retire internationally and Australia will need two new hookers in 2018, both of whom will have had almost no international minutes.
We still do not know who our first choice locking pair is.
At the end of the day the only tier one nations Australia defeated were Argentina, Wales and New Zealand (once).
Questions must also be asked about whether Argentina legitimately counts as a tier one nation with the form they are in (they beat no tier one nations in 2017).
This leaves a sole victory against a New Zealand side lacking a lot of star players as the only real high of 2017.
Many of the same problems that were present in the series against England in 2016 – no tactical kicking game, unacceptable goal-kicking in big matches, poor line-out, poor discipline and very poor defence – are still present at the end of 2017.
Australia is also yet to find an answer to our problems at the breakdown when Pocock is absent.
It is difficult to see where Australia goes from here.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
4. Ireland
Ireland must be very happy with how 2017 ended.
After a somewhat disappointing start to the year, suffering losses to both Scotland and Wales, Ireland managed to end England’s winning streak, come second in the Six Nations and embarrass South Africa in Dublin.
Ireland has very good players in almost every position, and players in with a legitimate shot of a world 15 at tighthead prop, blind-side and open-side flanker, halfback, fly-half and outside centre.
Ireland should justifiably believe they have the ability to win the Six Nations and challenge both England and New Zealand for the top spots on the rankings.
5. South Africa
Rather like Australia, a year to forget.
It is simply sad to see such a great rugby nation in such dire straits.
The politics in South African rugby are mind-bogglingly complex.
Even with the politics at work one has to wonder how a team with the incredible players it has, many of whom would be in with a shot of a World XV, can be doing so poorly.
One has to look at the coaching at this point.
Given South Africa’s record since the new coaching staff took over in 2016 unless there is a change of coach it is difficult to imagine how the team can possibly improve significantly in the coming year.
6. Scotland
What a great year for Scotland. Wins over Wales and Ireland.
The team is good in defence and incredibly dynamic in attack. Their emphatic win over Australia in Scotland was some of the most dazzling play from a non-All Black side for decades (although, it should be noted that it was against a dire Australian team).
Like Ireland and England, Scotland must believe they are in with a good shot at winning the Six Nations and continuing their upward trajectory in 2018.
As a rugby fan it is great to see Scotland doing so well after so many years struggling.
Scotland have proven it is possible to improve rapidly with limited talent as long as the team has the right ethos, belief in itself and has tactically astute coaches.
Honourable mention: Argentina (10)
The logic behind letting Argentina into the Tri-Nations and Super Rugby was to improve rugby in Argentina.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Six years into Argentina’s entry into the Rugby Championship and two years into its entry into Super Rugby questions must be asked whether either has been beneficial for Argentina and even whether Argentina still deserves to be considered a tier one team.
Argentina beat no tier one teams in 2017 and are currently on a 17-match losing streak against tier one teams.
Would it be better for Argentinean rugby for them to exit the Rugby Championship and/or Super Rugby? Someone more familiar with Argentina rugby might be able to inform the rest of us. However, something has to change as the current system is not working.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Cheika IS the dead wood.
In brief
Guest
Enever literally cannot tackle and until leaning on someone is re-defined as a tackle in the law book should not be allowed anywhere near the Wallabies.
MitchO
Guest
I reckon the Pooper will be back with Nasarini, Dempsey, McCalman and McMahon and Timani fighting for the remaining spots. McCalman is not Toutai Kefu but at least he is up to test match rugby so lets just give him credit for that and hope Nasarini and/or McMahon can push him out. So long as we have two jumpers at lock the Pooper is probably the best way forward for Australia given that our second phase still needs alot of help. Madness that Stephen Moore was given a testamonial tour. What a waste. Uelese looks okay but of course the more experience he can get the better. I hope TPN can carry on but we need a third hooker because an injury can never be far away. I thought Latu and Ready were the guys putting their hands up. The two starting locks should be Coleman and Simmons. The tough guy and the experienced worker. One of the other locks like Arnold or Tui or Rodda may knock Simmons back to the bench. Tui and Rodda are still very young. They will look different after another season or so of super rugby. Kepu to start at tighthead but we do have a riddle to solve at loosehead. Both Ainsely and Tupou will be good tightheads come 2019 although I need someone to keep an eye on Tupou's scrummaging. Should we bite the bullet and shift Alan A back to loosehead? That is why I liked the idea of shifting Tupou to loosehead to see how he goes. Either way Kepu's back up needs to be the next best scrummager. Tom Robertson, bless him, just can't scrum well enough and hasn't shown me enough improvement. I just don't see him making the leap between now and 2019. 2025 Maybe. The other teams have some decent front rows and our scrum fell apart without Sio and Kepu.
redbull
Guest
6 Nations should go back to 5 nations so there are 2 home-2 away games. Takes one of the draw imbalances away. Italy should join Romania, Georgia, Russia, Germany in a second tier 5 Nations.
Bob Wire
Guest
Ada, yes a year is a long time, yes it's easy to pontificate from the old arm chair. I think in that time AB's wI'll become more settled- and even stronger. Time will tell
Fionn
Guest
Sherry, Nick hasn't seen enough of him yet to be convinced, but I feel that Isi Naisarani will almost certainly start at 8 come the series against Ireland (assuming he wants to play for Australia). McMahon is now gone, unfortunately, and Dempsey is unlikely to be fit in June from what I've seen – additionally, I see Dempsey as more of a stop gap 6 than a long-term one, and Nick seemed to agree when he said he thought Dempsey would be switched to 7 if he played in the Aviva Premiership. As much as I would prefer Timani, or Higginbotham, or Valetini, or Timu, or Dempsey to start at 6 I think we will see the return of the Pooper with Naisarani at 8. Be free to come back to me in June and point out that I'm wrong on everything, but this is my prediction :P . I'm not sure if Nick does think so lowly of Sio as you seem to think though. I've not actually heard him criticise Sio this year since he returned from injury.
Katipo
Guest
Good article. I think that Michael Cheika, as much as I like him, is not developing as a coach. He seems to be too emotional, his emotions get in the way, and at this top level passion is not enough. You have to think smarter than the other coaches. Gregor Townsend is a classic example of this with Scotland. They are playing smart rugby. The big improvers of 2018. Scotland are surely in the Top 4 in the world now on form, if not in the rankings. Argentina is a dilemma. They sought inclusion in a top tier tournament for so long, they wont give it up easily. But they have to be wondering if the Sanzaar tournaments are the right ones for them. Might be better long term to get an America's Super club tournament going (with USA, Canada, Argentina) or joining the Europeans like CheeTahs and Kings have. Either way, they probably should drop out of Sanzaar's Super Rugby at the next negotiation, while staying in The Rugby Championship (which should be expanded to include Japan, and perhaps Samoa and Fiji) Argentina also have many great players in Europe - Isa, Bosch, Fernandez, Herrera, Imhoff etc - who are ineligible for Pumas now. Maybe they can reverse out of that rule for RWC? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/08/29/rugby-debate-argentina-must-relax-overseas-players-rule-halt/
scottd
Guest
mmmm hopefully the AB's don't read your post. They have a poor record at WC's when they start believing the publicity....
scottd
Guest
Don't forget McCalman as another valid 6/8 option. For a guy who has had limited rugby all year through injury I though he looked surprisingly good at 6 last week.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Cheika is still experimenting on players, but saying that I would like to see Phipps and Hannigan & Simmons gone . May happen
Ex force fan
Guest
Fion, I agree - very good review. I also think the gap between the top nations are narrowing, however saw something on facebook to share....apology to the Bok supporters! The Springbok team apparently visited an orphanage in Wales today. They article quoted one saying: "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces struggling with no hope" - said Gareth aged 5
nickbrisbane
Guest
Cheika has a poor record in cleaning out dead wood (Stephen Moore should never have toured) and especially if the wood come from Sydney, so why do you think he will change his tune in 2018
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
The unpredictability is one of the beauties of the 6N tournament - favourites to win games often get turned over. Eddie will start the campaign demanding a clean sweep and every other team will raise their game an extra notch. I’d also be unsurprised at a loss in there somewhere - two would mean the wheels came off.
Rebellion
Guest
Jock may be right Blue If Chieka removes the dead wood and replaces it with class players eg Pocock for Hooper, Higginbotham & Dempsey for Hanigan, Powell for Phipps and maybe even another flyhalf for Foley, then there is every chance this stuttering joke of a Wallatah side will improve. If the likes of Naivalu return ‘in form and injury free’ and a player like Hodge can make a real fist of a position like Outside Centre - heaven forbid they could even become a powerhouse (just not as good as the All Blacks). Realistically though, a coaching change would be required to have any hope for that to come to fruition
adastra32
Guest
"England won’t beat them when they finally clash." Well, we can all pontificate from the comfort of our armchairs about this: my present view is that I doubt it wil be as cut and dried as you infer. And a year is a long time in international rugby - as the WBs know too well....
adastra32
Guest
....and Bath set for a significant fine for releasing him outside of the agreed international window.
Harry Jones
Expert
SA is missing Thor, Flow, and Sous. Wales has Toby back from Bath ...
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I think they will only lose one. It will be a worthy winner this year. All of Eng Scotland Ireland and even Wales are playing good rugby with good coaching and systems behind them.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Great job Fionn, I agree with pretty much you have written. With the situation in Argentina I have written three articles this year for THE ROAR, you can read them acceding my profile, where I express my worries and a must needed change in path. IMO DAniel Hourcade has to go and a foreign coach must take over his position. The current coach has not being able to fix the set pieces, the defensive system is really week , the use of strategic kicks is poor, and they loose the ball to often in offence. He did not develop an alternative fly- half, Sanchez did not have a good year and Hernandez should have retired, so nobody is conducting the team on the field. The coach have not been able to addressed the discipline in and out of the field and does not beleive in psicology help . To many things that should have been fixed for a team that plays over 25 games a year all together ( Jaguares and Pumas are the same with a different shirt). Argentina needs to place a second team in some type of competition ( SR, Currie Cup,Pro 12) to develop depth and shake the confort zone of many players . The have to be some type of competition for every position in the national team. This is only the second year of truly profesonal rugby in Argentina so many mistakes have been made. I hope Mario Ledesma takes the Jaguares to a different level next year and rebuild the much needed confidence of the players.
AussieBokkie
Guest
Great article Fionn - very good synopsis. Scotland's sudden rise (on the back of a very solid foundation laid by the unsung hero, Vern Cotter) has been fantastic to witness. With the exception of Wales, the British Isle nations are looking like the only teams that can stop the All Blacks in WC 2019.