It’s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons after the weekend.
THEY’RE ON FIRE!
George Horne: It was quite the performance from the Scotland scrum-half, who touched down three times against Sale Sharks as Glasgow Warriors ripped their opponents apart in the Investec Champions Cup. However, it wasn’t just his immense support lines which were impressive but his all-round game as the Sharks failed to get to grips with him. Horne’s tempo at the breakdown, slick service and box-kicking accuracy were elite. His yellow card, which resulted in a penalty try, was less good, but let’s be honest, the rest of his game meant that it proved to be rather moot.
Matthieu Jalibert and Louis Bielle-Biarrey: One player who is out of favour with Fabien Galthie and one who is very much in the France head coach’s good books but, on the evidence on Sunday’s display, Galthie should be trying to mend things with the former. Jalibert was utterly exceptional against Leicester Tigers as he showed that on his club form at least, Les Bleus’ boss should be considering him for the Six Nations. If Jalibert is selected then he will join Bielle-Biarrey, who has become a favourite of Galthie. The youngster is absolutely electric and was instrumental in their victory over Leicester.
Sarries statement: Mark McCall’s men are certainly not the team of old and once again their domestic form has been mixed so far this season, but the result on Saturday could perhaps kick-start their season. Saracens were very impressive against a highly talented Bulls outfit, who put out a strong team in the Champions Cup clash. They rode out a difficult first half, which saw them play against the wind, before they expertly took advantage of the conditions in the second period. The Premiership team dominated the forward exchanges and pinned the South Africans back with their kicking game, while number eight Tom Willis was also once again exceptional.
Kingsley Jones’ departure: The Welshman has very much overstayed his welcome as Canada’s head coach. Hired in 2017, it is quite staggering how long Jones lasted as the country’s boss considering the depths they plunged to during his tenure and the hierarchy has serious questions to answer. However, the 55-year-old’s stint has finally ended and hopefully, they can now find someone who can actually take them forwards.
Ilona Maher coup: Rugby’s biggest star has moved to England having signed for Bristol Bears in which could be huge for the women’s game in the UK. Maher is a social media sensation and is the most followed player on social media, eclipsing the likes of Siya Kolisi, and they will hope to benefit from that. She is due to make her debut in January and they have already switched the venue to Ashton Gate after an “unprecedented demand” for tickets.
Jordie Barrett: What a debut! The All Blacks star made an immediate impact with a try and an assist in his first 15 minutes in a Leinster shirt as he and the rest of the Irish province’s bench blew Bristol Bears off the park in the second half. Barrett’s signing promised so much for Leinster and so far he has already delivered. They look like a scary force this season.
Cats show their claws and rise to the Challenge: The results in the Challenge Cup this weekend were mostly as expected, that is of course with the exception of the Black Lions and Cheetahs. The two cat-themed named sides tackled French opposition that were far more battled-hardened and far better funded this weekend but managed positive results. The Georgian club edged Top 14 newbies Vannes 22-19 in their opening game while the Cheetahs managed a stalemate with Perpignan in Amsterdam.
WATCH: All Blacks star Jordie Barrett shines on debut with a ‘filthy’ try and assist in 15 minutes
COLD AS ICE!
French thuggery: It was just like the old days at Thomond Park as Stade Francais resorted to thuggery when they failed to compete with Munster from a rugby perspective, with two players red-carded in five second-half minutes. Pierre-Henri Azagoh was the first to go after a shocking clothesline on Peter O’Mahony. While the Ireland international was going to ground, Azagoh’s swinging arm was completely unnecessary and connected with the head of O’Mahony. Not content with trying to take an opponent’s head off, Baptiste Pesenti then lifted Craig Casey WWE-style and put him on the ground. Once again it was incredibly dangerous. Meanwhile, in Cape Town, Yannick Youyoutte put Manie Libbok in hospital with a high shot on the Springboks fly-half. It was not as bad as the other two in terms of intent, but it was certainly terrible technique.
South African injuries: It was a rough weekend for the Sharks and Stormers who had their playing stocks severely hit by injuries. The Durbanites look set to be without flankers Vincent Tshituka and James Venter for the next few weeks at least after they sustained injuries in the victory over Exeter Chiefs while Eben Etzebeth suffered a concussion. They add to an already lengthy injury list that includes Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am. Meanwhile, their coastal rivals didn’t fair much better with Libbok taken to hospital after the sickening hit referenced earlier, while Keke Morabe’s rise was brought to a swift halt by another nasty injury. John Dobson didn’t mince his words when describing his playing stocks simply stating “We are running out of cattle.”
Ulster: Even the most optimistic of Ulster fans gave their team zero chance of beating a high-flying and world-class Toulouse outfit but what was really disappointing was the manner in which they lost. Admittedly, Ulster did name a largely changed and inexperienced side but they hardly fired a shot and Toulouse were actually poor to allow them even a sniff at a bonus point. When a diehard like Stephen Ferris struggles to see the positives and laments the performance, then you know it was bad and it was.
Missed chance for Bath: Johann van Graan’s charges faced the mighty task of tackling La Rochelle in their opening game of the Champions Cup. Bath have been tipped by many to be the best hope of a Premiership club to win the tournament and the West Country outfit certainly rose to the challenge despite a poor first half. After trailing 21-6 at the break, they fought their way back into the fixture and had a real chance of defeating the French juggernaut only to cough up opportunity after opportunity inside the La Rochelle 22. That meant that Ihaia West’s sole penalty in the second half was enough for Ronan O’Gara’s men to scrape through by the skin of their teeth.
Another Sevu Reece misdemeanour: The All Blacks’ no d**kheads policy is really being put to the test by the Crusaders winger who this week avoided a conviction after a drunken car crash – this after he was charged for domestic abuse in the past. Reece’s slap on the wrist saw him ordered to pay NZ$1600 in reparations and NZ$500 for emotional harm.
READ MORE: Racing 92 to splash Siya Kolisi cash on Test match animal after failing with Ireland star
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/whos-hot-and-whos-not-sarries-statement-springboks-injuries-and-french-thuggery-headline-opening-champions-cup-weekend
