Matt Giteau's return will bolster reigning European champions
Monday 13 October 2014 15:52, UK
Bernard Laporte obviously didn’t watch the 2013 Lions series win against Australia. Had he done so, there is no chance he would have played James O'Connor as Toulon’s fly-half in Sunday night’s loss in Toulouse.
The Australian is a searing talent of an individualistic nature. In terms of pulling strings and running the show, he is a `no-go’.
The defeat really does not matter in Toulon’s long-term scheme of things. What the game did reveal was a potential Achilles’ heel in the armoury of the form favourites.
The defeat really does not matter in Toulon’s long-term scheme of things. What the game did reveal was a potential Achilles’ heel in the armoury of the form favourites. Should Matt Giteau suffer an injury Toulon are in trouble; please, don’t remind me that Juan Martin Hernandez joins the club in January.
He is another fabulous football player whose career has been hurt by an obsession with playing in a position that does not suit him. Hernandez’s form has been average for years, although he found a new leash as an inside centre in the recent Rugby Championship. But move him from 12 to 10 and all Toulon bets are off.
The European and French champions were in third gear in Toulouse. In contrast, Toulouse who have endured agonies in the first few months of the season, were in overdrive from first to the 80th minute.
This was a game they simply had to win whereas Toulon wouldn’t have minded but, placed second in the league, it didn’t really matter. One team had the deepest urge and one had a fondness for the thought of winning - there’s only one winner there.
Ignore the names on the team-sheet, what we had was a scenario where will and determination will triumph nine times out of 10. That is what happened on Sunday night in Toulouse. As such, it is of far less interest as an indicator of European rugby than the bare result looks.
Toulon will be a different team – the return of Giteau alone ensures that – with their home crowd and their playmaker likely to return the Scarlets should see nothing too encouraging in the game (other than Toulon are mortals like any other team).
Ulster will take more interest. Their scrum blew Glasgow away in Belfast while Toulon’s set piece has been struggling to match the rest of their lofty standards this season. The match at Ravenhill is shaping up to be the game of the entire pool section.
Glasgow will need to find another level at the scrum against a Toulouse team whose strength on Sunday, their scrum, has evolved into a weakness with so much else of their once illustrious game ignored. If a team can survive the ordeal by scrum Toulouse remain vulnerable. One fine win against a disinterested and randomly selected team does not make them the team of old.
But Glasgow will not be the only team in need of shoring up the scrum ahead of a pool with Montpellier and their heavyweight pack also looming as a formidable threat. Bath were battered at the scrum by a Wasps team who are finding some superb home form just as they prepare to move to their world-class stadium in the fantastic city of Coventry, so the Wasps official statements have informed the rugby world.
On paper, Bath were expected to handle the Wasps scrum but on the field they were marched backwards at some rate. Matt Mullan is beginning to look a very good loose head while the dual Italian presence in the front row appears to be an inspired signing by David Young.
Bath are another side at home. They need to find the strength on the road. If they achieve that despite their loss and Toulouse’s win, their chances of winning a torrid looking pool are decent. If Wasps scrum as they did in the first hour, they also have a great chance of progressing from their pool.
Harlequins will not fancy Wasps away from the Stoop while the intriguing team in the pool is Leinster who have a wounded look and a questionable scrum of their own. The absent power of Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy compounds the loss of Brian O’ Driscoll. They look vulnerable in a pool that looks very escapable with Castres in the doldrums and Harlequins far from convincing.
The tournament kicks off with those teams; my campaign in the commentary box begins in Racing Metro with a belter. The Parisians have beaten Munster and Clermont at home in the last two seasons of Europe.
The Saints loss in Castres in round one blew their hopes last season. They appear more rounded and powerful this time around. Throw in the added experience and they could be the greatest threat to a Toulon hat-trick this year.
Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below.
Hi Stuart, what has gone so wrong at Rodney parade with the Dragons and what needs to be done to get it sorted?
STUART SAYS: A weak squad, compounded by injuries, inexperience and a loss of self belief. Time and patience is required.
Hi Stuart, Just a quick question regarding home directors and the influence that they have on the game. I am talking about the South Africa v New Zealand game where the home director chose to show the incident on the big screen that resulted in Lambie landing the penalty. I have no problem with the penalty but was just concerned about how much influence directors could have and if that is something the IRB should be looking at? I would appreciate your thoughts. Richard Gilders.
STUART SAYS: Richard, I cannot recall the timeline of the incident so I will not comment specifically. Referees can request an incident be replayed on the big screen. They should not be making calls from the general television coverage. The vast majority of directors are intent on doing their jobs to the best of their and their TV team's abilities but human nature being what it is...no, if referees can make a decision on the basis of what is replayed (I am away from my office and need to check the facts) without being requested there is a potential pitfall. It must be a requested replay or no replay.
How do you rate the Ospreys chance in Europe this season, Stuart? I know they are in a tough group with Northampton and Racing Metro but their Pro12 form has been very impressive. Can they really mount an attack on two fronts, or would they be better off focusing on the Pro12 and using this year's European campaign as a learning curve? Dione Walker.
STUART SAYS: Dione, of winning it? No. Of being better than the last few years? Let's hope so, but the reality is they are stepping a level up from their domestic league and some of the youth and inexperience that has fuelled them so far may play a detrimental part against teams like Northampton and Racing Metro. The main focus for Steve Tandy, I suspect, is a fine Guinness Pro12 season with the European Cup a bonus.
Hi Stuart, A great result for Ulster over Glasgow and really sets them up for a very tough European pool. How much pressure do you think will be on the England clubs heading into Europe after all their moaning about a 'level playing field'. Can you see anything but another French (Toulon!) team lifting the trophy? Greg Shriver.
STUART SAYS: Greg, I expect them to do well because they are playing with the usual `intensity' but added variety. The players will feel no extra pressure other than the usual one to perform to standards that satisfy their selves and their club. Those are the standards that drive the best teams. Despite Toulon's defeat in Toulouse last night, I think they are strong favourites although Ulster could well bloody their nose. I like the look of Northampton as well.
