In terms of public image, rugby union has had another mixed calendar year. From minor financial setbacks to the Supreme Court, there remain well-documented off-field issues, thankfully mitigated by a World Cup full of riveting theater. Rewatch the quarter-finals between France and South Africa and Ireland versus New Zealand and the best gift a fan could wish for this Christmas would be more of the same.
However, what the game really wants is for the club game to be seen by more people. Not least all those floating voters who happily watch the Six Nations from a packed pub, but rarely bother with the Champions Cup or the domestic competitions. If they were to watch a clip or two, they might discover that the modern product bears little resemblance to the old “kick and clap” stereotype that some still like to cling to.
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So here’s a little test for anyone who has a second to spare between wrapping the turkey and cooking the presents. Find the highlights of the weekend’s Champions Cup matches and form your own opinion. Because, from where some of us were sitting, the action was one of the most watched club rugby weekends in many years.
As a starter you can try Toulouse at Harlequins. The French visitors were so good that even the local commentators were sobbing about the quality of their offloads, running corners and support play. As the ever-excellent Nick Mullins put it on TNT Sport: “They just find holes where holes don’t seem to exist.” Bingo. The secret to how great teams produce their best rugby in one sentence.
Then take a look at the tape of Cardiff v Bath. Granted, it wasn’t always a defensive masterclass, but the collective attacking intent was great. If your mood wasn’t immediately lifted by the sight of Finn Russell flying into space, you either had a Cardiff postcode or you were a real Grinch. Despite the home side’s 39-32 defeat, the Arms Park crowd seemed to enjoy the experience, which hasn’t always been the case recently.
Closing finishes? Danger? Exeter fans have witnessed some remarkable comebacks at Sandy Park, but in its own way, Sunday’s final quarter was right there. Recovering from a 24-13 deficit against a Munster side that had collected a try bonus point inside 50 minutes is not something that happens every day, even given the precedent of the Chiefs’ dramatic recovery from 18-5 in Toulon the week before.
And did you see Léo Barré’s try for Stade Français against Leicester in Paris, which was also the closest thing to a last-minute open goal rugby miss? There were the exhausted Tigers, still only fourteen, grimly holding on, when Stade’s fly-half launched an inch-perfect crossfield kick. All replacement winger Lester Etien had to do was catch it and drop over the line. Instead, the ball bounced off the poor man’s chest and that was that.
Next one? Enjoy Glasgow’s efforts in Bayonne: a glorious gallop from man-of-the-match Ally Miller and an acrobatic leap into the corner from Josh McKay. Watch the final act of the Stormers’ latest victory over La Rochelle, sealed by an excellent conversion from the supposedly less reliable Manie Libbok. And marvel at the brilliance of Damian Penaud, currently Europe’s best player not named Antoine Dupont, in Bordeaux’s romp against Bristol.
A number of stylish new talents are also emerging throughout Europe. Lyons teenage backrower Marvin Okuya, Racing’s 21-year-old scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, Saracens’ fast-rising Olly Hartley – the 21-year-old former Wasp is a powerful but capable inside center option who may interest England sooner rather than later – and Sale’s teen prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour all have a potentially bright future. In the English Premiership, there are a number of other exciting young talents – Exeter’s Josh Hodge, Harlequins’ Chandler Cunningham-South and Newcastle’s Guy Pepper – worth keeping an eye on.
In short, there are more reasons on the field to be optimistic about rugby’s appeal than ever before. Exeter are expecting a record crowd for the visit of Leicester on Saturday, while Quins will have their Big Game experience at Twickenham on December 30, now a men’s and women’s double-header. Bristol, meanwhile, have just confirmed that they will take on the Crusaders, New Zealand’s leading provincial side, at Ashton Gate on February 9.
Between now and then, the second half of the Champions Cup pool stage in January promises to deliver another series of great matches. Bad against Racing 92? Ulster vs Toulouse? Toulon vs Munster? Bordeaux vs Saracens? Due to the tournament’s latest modified format, it will be difficult for teams to reach the last 16 if they lose more than two of their four group matches, while a home knockout draw remains invaluable. Parties that do not give everything will increasingly find it difficult.
So yes, rugby still has its imperfections. Yes, clubs dismissing weakened sides in the early rounds of what is supposedly a flagship competition is not ideal. Yes, it can still be a baffling sport for neutrals in some ways. Yes, forward grunt still matters a lot. But from rugby’s recent darkness, some real rays of light are emerging. This is not the best time of year for green shoots or fresh buds, but some are still visible. All that is needed is for more parties to continue practicing their Toulouse-style renditions and for more young imaginations to be tapped. For anyone looking for a sport that gets them off the couch, club rugby at the highest level is an increasingly better choice.
Perfect picture
Sad news from New Zealand, where the doyen of Kiwi rugby photographers, Peter Bush, has passed away peacefully at the age of 93. ‘Bushy’ captured them all in his time, from countless All Blacks to visiting music stars like the Beatles, David Bowie and Eartha Kitt. Earlier this year his photographic collection was donated to the Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North, ensuring his many iconic rugby images will be available for future generations. He had photographed the All Blacks for more than 60 years and in 2020 New Zealand Rugby chairman Jock Hobbs presented him with a gold photographer’s bib that would allow him to photograph matches from the sidelines in perpetuity. All his many friends in both hemispheres send their sincere love and condolences to his family.
One more thing…
Christmas is coming and although we’ll be back next week, this feels like a good time to wish all subscribers and readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you very much for all your messages and feedback over the past 12 busy months and here’s to another stimulating oval-shaped year in 2024.
Memory strip
As Eddie Jones returns to the helm of Japan’s national team, a look back at what has suddenly been eight years ago, as Karne Hesketh shocks the rugby world in the final minute with the telling try for a stunning World Cup result. The Brave Blossoms ran out 34-32 winners – their first in the competition since 1991 – on their way to three wins from four group games. South Africa may have recovered to eventually win the group and ultimately reach third place in the tournament, but the swagger of Jones’ side won over fans and helped pave the way for the game’s rise in the country.
Do you want more?
Luke McLaughlin reports on the match between the Ealing Trailfinders and the Cornish Pirates Championship, which was abandoned after Ben Grubb, the Pirates’ back rower, was knocked unconscious by a high tackle and later taken to hospital, where he has since recovered got fired.
Fly-half Finn Russell talks to Robert Kitson about the difficult Rugby World Cup draw in Scotland and life in Bath.
Eddie Jones begins his second term as Japan head coach after leaving Australia with a reunion with England in June. Gerard Meagher has the story.
And Serena Solomon looks at the challenges at the grassroots of women’s football in New Zealand following a spike in participation following the Black Ferns’ World Cup win last year.
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