Sarries Squeak Past Glasgow

It all seemed to be going so well as Heineken Cup rugby returned to Watford again.

Despite some early pressure from Glasgow, Saracens' Hugh Vyvyan crossed the line in under 10 minutes, and they began to turn the screws, adding another two before half time, from Rodd Penney and Ben Skirving.

But Glasgow' John Barclay clawed one back, and Dan Parks kept lining up the penalties, so Glasgow were only 25-11 down at the break.

[Dan Parks lines up another shot at goal, this time from inside is own half]

Things started to go down hill in the second half. Sarries defence lots its shape, and the fans were in for a nailbiting time as the clock ticked down. Kameli Ratuvou [left] crossed from a run up the wing, to bring up Saracens' 4th try, so a bonus point was at least in the bag. But then Hefin O'Hare and Ally Kellock scored a couple of converted tries after some sloppy defence.

It was only Glen Jackson's 79th minute penalty that saved the day, so the Men In Black went back into the dressing room 2 points up rather than 1 point down, but they were still kicking themselves for not being more clinical.

[Hugh Vyvyan rallies the forwards during a break in play]

Alan Gaffney is rightly spitting feathers about it. After all, even though they are top of Pool 4 at the end of round 1, they are away to Biarritz next week, which won't be an easy task at all, especially if the defence leaks tries like they did on Sunday.

Cencus Johnston had another great game, and the scrum was still pretty strong, which will be important next week. And the other prop, Kevin "Po Po" Yates was seen sporting a rather fetching scrum cap for much of the game, which is not his usual style. Either he's worried about getting Cauliflower Ears all of a sudden, or the medics were trying to hold on a dressing from a bash to the head early on!

[Yatesy's hat in evidence as Gordon Ross has a go at John Beattie]

You can see the rest of my photos from Sunday's game here.

Match Fit Again

It was getting on for two months since I've seen any live rugby. My broken elbow is now well on the mend, and I'm able to drive again, so I booked up a few Saracens games the other day and enjoyed the Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Bristol at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

It was a bright sunny autumn afternoon, and not too cold for the spectators either. Sarries were on great form, and although things were a little slow in the first half, they lead 19-8 at the break. [Left, Lock Tom Ryder takes a lineout ball]

In the second half, the Men in Black really turned the screw, and ended up with a 45-15 victory. In scoring five tries, they earned themselves a bonus point to top their group after two matches. The best sign was the quick ball which they seemed to be getting - in no small part due to the phenomenal work of Mosese Rauluni. He had a great World Cup captaining Fiji, and seems to have returned to the team with all cylinders firing.

[A Saracen presents the ball quickly at a ruck]

The other thing I noticed was the way the whole team were passing out of the tackle, rather than going to ground with the ball. This speeded things up too, and made for some exciting to watch rugby. And an honourable mention must also go to 20-stone prop Cencus Johnston [leftt], who oustripped Bristol's winger to catch the ball down the left touchline, and set up a pass and try for Kameli Ratuvou, who touched down twice during the game. This, after Cencus had been down injured a few minutes before, holding his ankle and hobbling badly when he first got back to his feet! He's another player who had a good World Cup - and his colleagues in the Saracens Front Row were making mincemeat of the Brizzle boys for most of the afternoon. They even won a couple of scrums against the head, which doesn't happen that often these days.

Listening to the other fans' banter around me, I also picked up Dave Seymour's new nickname - apparently he's now known as My Little Pony, for obvious reasons! [See right]

I was also pleased to see some of the Saracens' replacements making a nuisance of themselves when they came on the pitch. Adam Powell did well in place of Andy Farrell, giving Alan Gaffney a potential selection dilemma for next week's Heineken Cup game against Glasgow. Neil de Kock was his usual scrum-bossing self, and No. 16 Andy Kyriacou was rewarded with 5 points when his forward mates drove him over the Bristol line from a close range lineout in the dying minutes.

[Andy Kyriacou crashes over after a driving maul]

It's good to be back at Vicarage Road, and I'm looking forward to seeing our Scottish friends next week. Meanwhile, you can see the rest of my photos from Sunday's game here. It was the 70th game I have photographed since February 2004 - how time flies!

One Final Too Far

Unlike most of the other World Cup games which I saw at home, I was out at the George in Fleet Street to watch the final. It was crammed to the rafters but I managed to squeeze into a corner to watch the big screen and scream with the rest of them!

After having to play knockout rugby for the preceding 4 games, England did their very best, but the Springboks just seemed to have the edge. Everyone in the pub was convinced Mark Cueto's try should have been allowed, but in the cold light of day, and having seen the replay properly, I'm prepared to admit it was the right call.

The South Africans never really got into top gear, with their supposedly secret weapons Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen not getting much ball and therefore never really cutting loose. But I think the Boks had played the better rugby for most of the tournament, so in the end they were worthy winners and the William Webb Ellis trophy [above] will be going home with them.

Jake White will be in charge for one last game, against the Barbarians at Twickenham on 1st December, but then he'll be looking for a new challenge. Who knows where he'll end up. The game is rather amusingly being billed as "Socks vs Boks", from the tradition that Barbarians' players may wear the black and white hooped jersey, but they always bring their own current team socks with them. It will also be Jason Robinson's last ever game, so I'm sure he'll get a good sendoff from the crowd, whatever the final score.

Le Grand Denouement, Part Deux

Third-place playoffs are normally renowned for being pretty dire affairs, with neither team's heart usually in it. But I gather the France vs Argentina rematch was anything but.

I'm spitting feathers at ITV4, who I thought were showing the match. But when it came time to record the game (I was out on for the evening), all I got was several episdoes of "Police, Camera, Action". Merde alors!

So I'll have to content myself with reading the match reports from BBC Sport and the official Rugby World Cup website. Sounds like I missed a good 'un. [Right, Aurelien Rougerie]

The French must be kicking themselves too; having lost to the Pumas once in the pool stage, the hosts were surely looking for revenge and a chance to save some face. But it wasn't to be - especially with Argentina running in five tries to the Frogs' one! Clement Poitrenaud [left] scored the only French try. Not the way Mad Bernie Laporte would have wanted to end his career as French coach, before ascending to the heady heights of Sports Minister.

Still, the Argentinians can hold their heads up high at a job well done. They've had a momentous World Cup, and have surely done enough for their case to be let into a major tournament to be taken seriously. They have also entertained along the way, showing some superb flair, flowing rugby and silky skills - just a shame it didn't happen against South Africa last weekend!

[Argentina smash a French attack during their pool game on 7th Sept.]

Quite a few of the players from both sides will be retiring now, so it's certainly the end of an era all round. I'm sure the Pumas will remember it more fondly than the French!

Finally, I heard a great joke the other day:
Q: What do you call the playoff for 7th and 8th place?
A: The Bledisloe Cup

80 Minutes From Greatness?

Brian Ashton has made up his mind with his chosen matchday 22. Largely unchanged, apart from the enforced replacement of Josh Lewsey due to his hamstring injury. Here's the rundown:

15 Fullback - Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks)
It will be Robbo's last match, and 51st cap for his country at Rugby Union. He's had quite a remarkable career in both codes of the game, and I've enjoyed watching him play, jinking round defences, making breaks, and scorching up the pitch! It would be great to bow out with another World Cup Winner's medal to add to his collection.

14 Right Wing - Paul Sackey (London Wasps)
Sackey has taken a while to get a regular place in the England team, but this match will be his 10th cap. Let's hope he gets a chance to show his speed against South Africa, in attack rather than in defence!




13 Outside Centre - Mathew Tait (Newcastle)
Some commentators doubted Tait's defence skills at the beginning of the tournament, but he seems to have been effective in the last couple of games. His partnership with Mike Catt no doubt benefits his game, and he will be earning his 19th Cap in the Final.


12 Inside Centre - Mike Catt (London Irish)
The man who kicked the ball off the pitch at the end of the last Final gets another bite of the cherry, and in doing so, will become the oldest player to take part in a World Cup Final game, having had his 36th birthday last month. If Tait is a relative rookie, Catt will be appearing for his 75th Cap on Saturday.


11 Left Wing - Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
Cueto gets the nod in place of injured Josh Lewsey on the wing. He hasn't started for England since their pool game against Tonga, but will earn his 24th Cap. Let's hope he can top up his try tally beyond the current count of 13 in a white shirt.



10 Fly Half - Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons)
There have been times over the past four years, when everyone thought they would never see Jonny play in a World Cup Final again. But he's never been one to give up easily. All that lonely practicing at goal kicking has paid off sufficiently for him to help the team to this final in the first place. Let's hope the match balls don't mess up his kicking stats any further. This will be cap 65.

9 Scrum Half - Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins)
Gomarsall's career looked like it had stalled when he was dropped by Worcester at the start of the 2006/07 season. But since signing for Harlequins, he's had a renaissance and Ashton's faith in him has paid off in the last few games, where he's bossed the scrum and linked well with the backs. He will earn his 33rd cap in the final.

1 Tighthead Prop - Andrew Sheridan (Sale)
The big lads in the front row have been scrumming well in the competition so far. Let's hope Sheridan and Co. can keep Boks' front row in order. Sheridan will be winning his 20th cap on Saturday.




2 Hooker - Mark Regan (Bristol)
"Ronnie" will be propping up the middle of England's front row in the Final, and earning his 43rd cap at the age of 35. He's renowned for his matchday banter, so let's hope he'll be bending the Boks' ears as well as their backs in the scrum.



3 Loosehead Prop - Phil Vickery (London Wasps)
Old "Raging Bull" himself, Captain Phil Vickery looked close to tears after England's defeat of France in the semifinals. A man of few words, his 5-minute captain's speech before that game obviously had the desired effect. I'm sure he'll come up with a few more ahead of the Final. It will be his 60th cap for England, and he's one of only 4 players left from the winning 2003 Final.

4 Lock - Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
The 6'8" second rower will be making his 43rd appearance for England on Saturday. He's been a constant threat will ball in hand, solid at the lineout and great at the rucks. His only little slip up was a silly chip ahead when he really should have kept the ball in hand.


5 Lock - Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers)
Kay's influence as lineout captain has paid off in recent games, with the team having decent possession from lineout ball. He partnered Martin Johnson at the last World Cup, and is one of the four team members who played in Sydney in 2003 - with Jason Robinson, Mike Catt and Phil Vickery. This Final will see him play his 53rd game for England.

6 Openside Flanker - Martin Corry (Leicester)
Cozza had a bit of a torrid time of it during his tenure as England Captain. But he seems to be happy to graft away in the pack and snipe at the edges of rucks for possession, playing the role of foot-soldier somewhat more convincingly. He'll be earning his 64th cap.


7 Blindside Flanker - Lewis Moody (Leicester)
"Mad Mongo" Moody will chase anything, particularly restart kicks, and more often than not, he gets to them in time. Also reknowned for his chargedown attempts, which I'm sure have earned him a few bumps and bruises in his time. As long as he doesn't give away any penalties, he should be an asset to the team, earning his 52nd Cap.

8 No. 8 - Nick Easter (Harlequins)
The surprise find of the Back Row recently, Easter has been effective for England under Brian Ashton and should provide a solid base for the scrum. He will have just a dozen caps when he steps onto the field on Saturday, but I'm sure he's ready for the game of his life!


As for the subs, they will probably be wheeled on around 60 minutes, depending on how the game is progressing:

16 - George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
Replacement Hooker Chuter has been cultivating a healthy growth of facial hair during the tournament, and has vowed to shave it only when England are done in the competition. Having reached the Final, he's now beginning to rival Sebastien Chabal for the title of hairiest man on a rugby field. Beard or not, he'll earn his 19th cap if Ashton brings him on.

17 - Matt Stevens (Bath)
The South-African born prop has nailed his colours firmly to the England mast, but it must feel slightly odd for him to play against his native country. If he makes it onto the field, it will be his 21st appearance for England.



18 - Lawrence Dallaglio (London Wasps)
After his horrendous ankle injury during the 2005 Lions Tour, it's a wonder he was able to get back to match fitness, let alone regain form for Wasps and push for a place in Ashton's World Cup squad. Not time to write off the old man yet! He would earn his 85th cap if he's brought on for some impact and fresh legs on Saturday.

19 - Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
Worsley's tap tackle on Vincent Clerc was monumentally important - saving a try and therefore probably the game, to take England through the semifinal and onto the Grand Day Out on Saturday. It will be his 65th cap if he gets called up from the bench.


20 - Peter Richards (Gloucester)
Richards has played second fiddle to the more experienced Andy Gomarsall during the tournament. The coach has often opted for experience rather than youth, but he's not done badly when he's come off the bench. It would be his 12th Cap on Saturday.



21 - Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons)
The young centre has been used sparingly so far, with Mike Catt the preferred option in big games. But Flood plays regularly with Newcastle team mate Wilkinson, so he makes an excellent first receiver and can read Wilko's game plan well enough. If he comes onto the pitch, it will be his 12th Cap for England.


22 - Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
A lot of people thought he might get the nod instead of Mark Cueto as cover for Josh Lewsey, but instead he'll have to content himself to Shine The Pine on the bench... if he makes it onto the field, it will be his 6th appearance.



So, all that remains between these boys and the William Webb Ellis Trophy are 80 minutes on the field. Throughout the TV coverage of the tournament, Guinness have been running adverts with the tagline of "You are but seconds from greatness". That's 4,800 of them, to be precise. I don't think I can hold my breath for that long, boys...