Giteau and O'Connor prove there is life after Wilkinson...
Tuesday 28 October 2014 11:07, UK
Stuart Barnes picks his team and performance of the round as he looks back on week two of the European Rugby Champions Cup...
Toulon stood head and shoulders above the other 19 teams in round two of the European Cup. In terms of both control and intensity the manner in which they defused the tribal threat that emanates from Ravenhill was hugely impressive.
The twice European champions stamped themselves as the team to beat yet again. The breakdown work was brilliant with their back row masterful. Chris Masoe, Juan Smith and Steffon Armitage produced one of the best back row performances of the season to date – and Smith only played as an early replacement for the injured Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. The prospect of Lobbe and Mamuka Gorgodze NOT starting in the latter stages of this competition is very real. That is a frightening illustration of their strength in depth.
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The big question mark before the tournament started was what would happen without Jonny Wilkinson? Matt Giteau has answered most of those questions but he limped off with muscle problems after 27 minutes. James O’Connor, his replacement, is a wonderful rugby player but he is not a wonderful fly-half. He lacks the breadth of vision.
Yet at one of the trickiest venues in Europe, Ulster did not get a sniff at exposing any weakness. After Christmas O’Connor heads back to Australia to bid for a place in their World Cup squad and will be replaced by Nicolas Sanchez, the Argentine fly-half who had such a fine tournament in the Rugby Championship.
Suddenly the options of playing either him or Giteau at ten with the Australian at 12 becomes a live one; this creates just the one problem for Toulon, how do they leave out Maxime Mermoz who is flourishing between the Australian and the giant Bastareaud in the midfield? That is the sort of problem a team wants.
The French team’s grip on the pool was strengthened with Leicester’s defeat against the Scarlets. Well beaten in a poor match, the injury list is no excuse this time. Even with their injuries the Tigers are as formidable as the Scarlets on paper and with a host of significant injuries themselves no-one could say Leicester was beaten by the overpopulated medical room.
I thought the Scarlets were the weak link in this pool. After a competitive effort in Toulon and a comfortable win at the weekend I am delighted to have been proved wrong by a rugby region of the British Isles for whom I have never hid my long-standing affection.
Rivals
Meanwhile in what was a fine weekend for the Pro 12 teams, Munster made a mockery of their early season slumbers with an ugly but intelligent win against Saracens at Thomond Park. The win at Lansdowne Road in the Pro 12 brought Munster to life right on time with Europe looming into view. The timing had to be perfect because this remains a horrible pool to escape.
Saracens will be fraught at failing to get a bonus point, especially as Clermont came away from North London with one last weekend. But Saracens are hardened European pros and are not to be written off. Clermont, anything but hardened when the pressure has come on in the last few years, are going well.
They got the bonus point win against Sale to go with their losing point at Saracens. Defensively strong in the domestic league they are finding some attacking flow in this tournament. There is no better back-to-back fixture in rounds three and four than their collision with Munster, who will seek to slow them down and eke out wins as only Munster can... well, Munster and Leinster.
Their great rivals deserved to win in Castres on Sunday but boy was it ugly. They controlled territory but failed to utilise that control and relied on a fine kicking display from Ian Madigan to see them home. Three times champions know that beauty prizes are less important than points and with a substantial injury list still, wins any way any how are vital to keep them going until the troops return. It was not a good game but it was a good result.
Flattened
Pride of the Pro 12 goes to Glasgow, however. Montpellier had nicked a bonus point in Toulouse in round one. They looked up for the tournament but Glasgow tackled and scrapped their way to an important away win that sets them up for two mega matches with Toulouse.
As Bath and Montpellier are struggling, two home wins would keep these teams on schedule for qualification. Glasgow’s destruction of Bath looks more important than ever after that win in France. If Munster versus Clermont is the back-to-back of the round, the Glasgow versus Toulouse matches are not that far behind.
Is Toulouse out of the doldrums? The results suggest so but Bath were stripped bare in the back row; the French may not be quite as good as they look after two rounds, Bath not quite as bad. Harlequins’ win at Wasps was their result of the season and puts them in good shape while the best of the English is saved for last. Well, I say English but four tries for George North adds a sizeable Gallic touch to proceedings.
The Ospreys lost their 100 per cent record and were flattened in the process. The Saints are a powerful side; we know they have the capacity to smash teams when they take control up front. What happens if they meet a Toulon team to match them on the gain line? That is my question of the week, Toulon are my team of the week and Glasgow’s was performance of the week.
Stuart answers your emails...
Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below.
Stuart, with the injuries to Scott Williams and Jon Davies do you think Warren Gatland will use George North in the centre with Jamie Roberts for the Autumn internationals?
Ross Dreuvers
STUART REPLIES: Ross, Warren likes a bit of power and North outside Roberts provides that. It would be a seismic partnership wouldn't it?
As a Munster supporter, I was impressed for the first time by Madigan's maturity and coolness under real pressure. Is he a 12 to replace D’Arcy?
Jim Riwett
STUART REPLIES: Jim, Madigan is in fine form and with the greatest flaw in Jonny Sexton's game goal-kicking under pressure it is an appealing option for Joe Schmidt.
Stuart, what do you make of the appointment of Gary Gold as Director of Rugby at the Sharks, and how do you see him gelling with their new with Technical Director Brendan Venter? Very interesting times for the Sharks.
Gary Mallons
STUART REPLIES: Gary, These are two experienced pros and two guys that go back a long way. Venter is never afraid to search for something new while Gold is technically assured and as calm as Brendan V is volatile, the balance looks good.
Hi Stuart, centre seems to be the big 'problem' area for England. Who would you like to see playing there against NZ?
Neil Neville
STUART REPLIES: Neil, I would like to see Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph but I think we'll see Eastmond and Brad Barritt. Given the problems of the third Test in Hamilton, BB's defensive expertise is a fair shout… I’m looking forward to seeing what this fella Burgess can do in the months ahead though...
Stuart, what do you make of New Zealand playing against the USA when they have NEVER visited Samoa? On a similar note why have Japan now got a Super rugby franchise - surely we need to look after the likes of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and it developing the game here would have been a far better option?
Colin Durant
STUART REPLIES: Colin, If New Zealand's sponsors were based in Apia they would have played against Samoa. It's not personal, just business... the sport is professional now and will say one thing and do the other. Money truly does corrupt... still Chicago is a great city and I am sure a few of the ABs will relish its rejuvenating delight ahead of their final push in 2014.
