by In terms of public image, rugby union has had another mixed calendar year. From a low financial blow to the high court there have always been well-documented off-field issues, tempered thankfully by a World Cup full of compelling theatre. Re-watch the France v South Africa and Ireland v New Zealand quarter-finals and more of the same is the best gift fans could have this Christmas.
What the game really wants, however, is for more people to see the club game. Especially all those floating voters who happily watch the Six Nations from the back of a packed pub but rarely engage in the Champions Cup or domestic leagues. If they were to watch a clip or two the modern product might bear little resemblance to the old “kick and clap” stereotype that some love to cling to.
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So here’s a little test for anyone who has a spare second between wrapping the turkey and cooking the presents. Take a look at the highlights of the weekend’s Champions Cup matches and make up your own mind. Because, from where some of us were sitting, the action was up there among the most watched club rugby weekends for many years.
For a treat, watch Toulouse at Harlequins. The French visitors were so good that even the local commentators were raving about the quality of their tackles, running angles and support play. As the great Nick Mullins said on TNT Sport: “They only find gaps when there seem to be no gaps.” Bingo. The secret to how great teams play their best rugby can be summed up in one sentence.
Then watch the Cardiff v Bath tape. True, it was not always a defensive masterclass but the collective attacking intent was great. If your mood didn’t instantly lift when you saw Finn Russell surge into space you either had a Cardiff postcode or you were a proper Grinch. Despite the home side winning 39-32 the Arms Park crowd seemed to be enjoying the experience, which hasn’t always been the case of late.
Close ends? Danger? Exeter fans have seen some great comebacks at Sand Park but, in a way, Sunday’s quarter-final was just that. A comeback from 24-13 down against Munster to collect a try bonus point inside 50 minutes is not something that happens every day, even given the precedent of the Chiefs’ dramatic comeback from 18-5 down in Toulon the previous week.
And did you see Léo Barré’s try for Stade Français against Leicester in Paris, which was the closest thing to a last minute “open goal” rugby final? The Tigers were exhausted, down to 14 and hanging grimly, when the Stade fly-half sent an inch-perfect cross-field kick. Replacement winger Lester Etien had only to catch it and drop it over the line. Instead the ball bounced off the poor man’s chest and that was that.
On with you? Enjoy Glasgow’s effort in Bayonne: a glorious gallop from man of the match Ally Miller and an acrobatic dive into the corner by Josh McKay. Marvel at the final act of the Stormers’ last-gasp win over La Rochelle, sealed by a brilliant conversion from the less-than-reliable Manie Libbok. And the brilliant confession of Damian Penaud, the best player in Europe not called Antoine Dupont at the moment, in Bordeaux’s romp against Bristol.
Across Europe, in the meantime, top-notch new talent is also announcing itself. Former Lyon youngster Marvin Okuya, 21-year-old scrummer Nolann Le Garrec, Saracens’ fast-rising Olly Hartley – a 21-year-old ex-Wasp a d He could have been interested in England earlier. rather than later – and Sale teenage prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour could have a bright future. In the English Premier League there are some other exciting young uncapped talents – Exeter’s Josh Hodge, Harlequins’ Chandler Cunningham-South and Newcastle’s Guy Pepper – who are worth keeping an eye on.
There are more reasons on the field to be optimistic about rugby’s pulling power, in short, than there has been for some time. Exeter are expecting a bigger than ever crowd for Leicester’s visit on Saturday and Quins will experience the Big Game at Twickenham, now a men’s and women’s double header, on December 30. Meanwhile, Bristol have just confirmed they will face the New Zealand provincial leaders Crusaders at Ashton Gate on February 9.
Between now and then, the second half of January’s Champions Cup pool promises another series of finals. Bath v Racing 92? Ulster v Toulouse? Toulon v Munster? Bordeaux v Saracens? Due to the latest tweaked format of the competition, it will be difficult for teams to reach the last 16 if they lose more than two of their four group games while away draws are worthless. The sides that don’t give everything to him are fighting, more and more.
So yes, rugby still has its imperfections. Yes, clubs that send out weak sides in the opening rounds of a flagship competition are, of course, not ideal. It is possible that it may still be a sport for neutrals in some respects. Yes, grunt is still very important up front. But emerging from rugby’s recent darkness are a few real glimmers of light. This is not the best time of year for green shoots or fresh buds but, nevertheless, some of them are recognizable. All he needs is for more teams to continue practicing their Toulouse-style downloads and for more young imaginations to accompany them. For anyone looking for a sport that pulls them away from their sofas, top-level rugby is a bet that just keeps getting better.
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