WRW FRIDAY: BRING ON NEXT SEASON
COULD IT HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER?
I’m struggling to think results could have been improved by much….
I obviously haven’t seen the win over Wasps (that pleasure comes later tonight my time), but I have seen the final regular season table…
There are several emotions that become evident when I see that table, not least of which is that there are only two seasons in the history of league/merit table rugby where Tigers have finished outside the top 6.
The patient is much healthier and stronger now after radical and brutal surgery. Good people have walked away or been forced to leave thanks to some ruthless actions these last twelve months. With this level in improvement with results, only the most embittered would claim that it has not worked.
The main emotion though is relief, that we have got to the end of the season. I do hope that those players not involved in the summer internationals get a chance of a good break - especially the overseas contingent who must have had it harder than most. Having experienced the rigours of quarantine myself now, I’m full of admiration for them.
But there is another sensation - sheer, unalloyed excitement at what is to come next season. As much as Steve Borthwick will continue to dampen down expectations in public, it will be fascinating to see a revitalised squad after a full pre-season with all that Aled Walters can throw at them.
A reshaped squad (and coaching team?)
At the time of writing, we’re still to see what Tigers produce what football would call the retained list, but it promises to be further reshaped beyond those four arrivals and around a dozen departures already announced.
I make it around 25 contracted players have not featured in the Premiership or Europe this season at all, or have played fewer than 5 games. The bulk of those will have come direct from the Academy this season, with many going out on loan. They would have hoped to have shown their worth in the Premiership Cup or even the Development League of course.
That leaves a core of around 35 players who have received the lion’s share of opportunities and there are more leaving than arriving from that section. Like most clubs, there are more leaving than coming in, which hints at the tightened purse strings in the Premiership and the comparatively better gigs elsewhere.
I suspect there are more to leave. I would not be surprised if it ends up being close to 20 departures by summer’s end - possibly more - with only 3-4 more to come in, but few from that core.
The coaching team may yet be further reshaped with general manager Leigh Jones soon to act as General Manager at Oval Park. We shall see whether new coaches arrive or established names stay but there is now a core in place, dedicated to seeing Leicester improve under this management.
Turn three of some narrow losses this season and Tigers would be a top four team. The belief has to be that with some consolidation, they can get even closer next time around.
The new season - even longer than this one with 13 teams - cannot begin soon enough.
THE ENGLAND SIX
So let’s get the qualifications out of the way.
To put this England squad in context, from the 40 originally named for the Six Nations in January (the 28-man official squad, plus 12 in a “shadow squad”), there are just nine here, including three - Robson, Obano and Underhill - from the official squad.
This England squad doesn’t include those 13 away with the Lions, any from the semi-finalists - Bristol, Exeter, Sale and Harlequins - or the three long-term injury victims from Wasps - Jack Willis, Odogwu or Launchbury.
And this is just a training week ahead of an England A fixture which is at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. There are no guarantees about playing against the US or Canada, let alone in the Autumn.
But you have to be in it to win it. Think of it as English rugby’s equivalent to Survivor - who will still be there for next week?
Well done to the Leicester six, especially the four uncapped lads - Joe Heyes, Harry Wells, Dan Kelly and Freddie Steward.
This is the training squad in full, per position:
Looseheads: Genge (Leicester), Obano (Bath), Davison (Newcastle)
Hookers: Singleton (Gloucester), Blamire (Newcastle)
Tightheads: Heyes (Leicester), P Hill (Northampton)
Locks: Ewels (Bath), Wells (Leicester), Robinson (Newcastle), Munga (Irish),
Backrow: Underhill (Bath), Martin (Leicester), T Hill (Worcester), Ludlam (Northampton), Reid (Bath), Ludlow (Gloucester), Chick (Newcastle), Tom Willis (Wasps)
Scrum-halves: Spencer (Bath), Robson (Wasps), Mitchell (Northampton),
Fly-Halves: Umaga (Wasps)
Centres: Lawrence (Worcester), Dingwall (Northampton), Kelly (Leicester), Ojomoh (Bath)
Wings: Cokanasiga (Bath), Bassett (Wasps), Radwan (Newcastle),
Full-backs: De Glanville (Bath), Parton (London Irish), Steward (Leicester)
For some in this group, this will be as good as it gets in international terms, with Jones getting to see who thrives or drowns in his own uniquely intense environment.
Bear in mind that the squad will be refreshed to include those from the losing Premiership semi-finalists ahead of Scotland A. So do not assume that any from here will play at MTWR on the 27th.
If it’s Sale and Harlequins missing out on Twickenham, expect names like Rodd, Ben Curry, Smith, Marler, Marchant to be in the mix. Given his form, I’d have a look again at Marland Yarde. When Exeter and Bristol emerge, Malins, Randall and Slade may just be the tip of the iceberg.
So as great as it is to see so many Leicester players in the squad and we wish them all the best, this is just one week. Good luck to them all.
GOODBYE ANOTHER NO.10
So both Zach Henry and Jonny McPhillips take their leave of Leicestershire and head for France - Henry returns to the Top 14 and Pau, McPhillips to Pro D2 and Carcassonne. We wish them both well.
Both have played their part in the two years they have spent in the East Midlands and both were unfortunate enough to be here in the midst of the pandemic, no crowds, wage cuts, etc, etc. I’m just glad they both got to experience Welford Road with some fans in.
There have been highlights - Henry’s step for his try against Connacht in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final and McPhillips’ recent steering of the win against Worcester - and while both never looked like challenging Ford for his place, neither were expected to and they filled their roles well.
Need to replace?
There need not necessarily be a need to replace either or even both, in the short term.
Freddie Burns arrives shortly from Japan and while there has been no official word yet, Tito Bonilla has been linked with a move away. Those reports may yet prove to be true.
Bonilla’s selection was stalled because of Montoya’s earlier than expected recruitment with his move to Western Force breaking down. Too many Argentines but for how much longer..?
Lavanini is off to Clermont-Auvergne and Montoya’s installing as Argentina captain means he will not be back until December at the earliest.
So if Bonilla is sticking around, he may get more opportunities next season.
WELL, NOW…
This US bid to host the men’s version in either 2027 or 2031 is no accident, modelling Japan’s successful bid for 2019. Given the US and Canada’s success in the women’s game, then it’s difficult to argue against a 2029 World Cup too.
Now headed by ex-RWC General Manager Ross Young, USA Rugby is refreshed and thinking big, following a feasibility study.
They are certainly not short of massive arenas, be they in the NFL, college football or within Major League Soccer. Given the importance of the European TV markets, games on the East Coast could be easily be scheduled, be they in Boston, New York or Miami - taking care to find NFL venues which are available.
Old world v new world again?
FWIW, I desperately want to see this come to North America, but unlike Australia who are likely to have the race clear to themselves in 2027, the 2031 field may yet be a little more cluttered.
There is already talk of a Home Unions bid in 2031 to repair the pandemic’s financial damage. That might be achieved, but I cannot think of anything that would damage the game’s wider interests more.
South Africa may have greater need to do the same and if the UK can stage some elements of a World Cup in 1999, 2007 and 2015, then South Africa are most definitely due soon.
Notice I haven’t mentioned potential new hosts such as Argentina and my dark horses for 2035 or 2039, Italy.
As Martin Pengelly hints in his piece, the Americans (and hopefully Canadians) may need to bid for both to get in, but to miss out on both, would be a nightmare for the entire game.
Thanks for your company once again .
That will be that from me for the next couple of months. After last summer, when Adam and I were wondering whether we would get a break, there’s bound to be the odd bit of mischief but I am sure that even with that finish to the season…we all need a break.
WRW will be back in some form on a regular basis in late August/early September. I’ll put a note out on @EgertonSport to let you know when that will be.
Have a great summer
Chris
Cheers for all of your hard work Chris.
As you say, for all involved with Tigers, let's hope for a good recharge n refresh all around and season 2 of Borths Journey.
What i did see of Tito I was not impressed with , he seemed like a lot of Southern Hemisphere players very slow . But seen a post saying he was leaving from one of the Argentina players.