The Times They Are a-Changin'

How has your team fared?!

It's no secret that rugby has changed dramatically over the past couple of seasons, but how have certain teams responded to this change? Have a read and see if you agree about the status of your team.

Let's first take a look at the current Premiership league leaders Northampton Saints. Known as the bridesmaids of rugby, the Saints were consistently on the cusp of greatness, but seemed to fall short at the final hurdle. Whilst finishing most competitions in fairly good positions, they just could not break through, but over the past two seasons this appears to have changed. The 2012/13 season was a sign that there may be good things to come in the near future for the club, and this came to fruition when they made it to the the highly anticipated Premiership Final. However a red card to Dylan Hartley ended the dream for silverware, and essentially gifted the trophy to champions Leicester. It still looked to be written in the stars for Northampton that they would not make it to the finish line, but they finally put this to rest in 2014, which went on to become the most successful year in the club's history with the winning of the Premiership and the Amlin Challenge Cup. The Saints recorded many massive victories during this season, including a 41-20 win over Saracens, a 43-25 win over Bath, and a 74-13 win over London Wasps in the Premiership – the Saints were playing some of the best rugby that their fans had ever witnessed, and this resulted in a home semi-final to Leicester. Now, when you look at Saints' previous winning record against Leicester, it did not look good – Leicester were unbeaten in 10 matches, something that had created a bitter rivalry between the two clubs. The match was a closely fought contest between the teams, but a 'scuffle' (which is a polite way to describe it) between Leicester's Tom Youngs and Northampton's Salesi Ma'afu resulted in a yellow card for the former and a red card for the latter, which seemingly diminishing Saints' chance of progressing to the final. In spite of that, Northampton produced some quite simply jaw-dropping rugby, and a late try on 77 minutes from Tom Wood secured the victory for Northampton in a match that was labelled as one of the best in Premiership history. This changed everything for the Saints – it ended their ridiculously awful losing streak against Leicester and gave the club another shot at the trophy, a chance that they converted to beat Saracens 24-20 after a wonderful try from Alex Waller in the final minute of the match. So what have the past two seasons shown us? They've demonstrated that the Saints have made some purposeful strides ahead in terms of their game, finally allowing them to take those chances and actually make something of them. Take this season for example, and the round 10 match between, you've guessed it, Saints and Leicester. When Dylan Hartley received a red card after roughly 16 minutes, it seemed that Leicester would go on to record an easy win. But it wasn't to be for Leicester, as a late try by Jamie Elliot gave the Saints the win – virtually no other club would be able to win a match being a man down for 62 minutes. It just is not done. However the Saints did it, demonstrating that times are changing, and clubs are evolving, Saints doing so in an extremely positive way.

I've already started to discuss how things seem to be changing for Leicester, so let's take a look in more detail at their recent performances. Prior to last season, Leicester had been in NINE consecutive Premiership finals. That is a phenomenal achievement by anyone's standards, and just because they failed to do so last season does not necessarily mean that the team's luck is changing. However, I would make the argument that it is – they did play exceptionally well last season, but their defeat at the hands of Northampton in the semi-final clearly effected them and took their dominance away. Currently, they sit in sixth place in the Premiership, a position that is way below their high expectations, particularly as we are already 13 rounds into the season and they are not in the top four. Yes they have had a significant number of injuries, which does not help their plight, but when you think of a team like Leicester, you expect them to be able to handle this with no major problems. Instead, it serves to demonstrate that they don't have sufficient depth in their squad, and this will prove to be an issue for any team. I am not for one second suggesting that Leicester have played really poorly this season, because they haven't. They just haven't played that well, and it shows. For all we know, this could only be a phase and Leicester could make another Premiership final by the time May comes around. However I am not predicting this for them, although I do expect them to fight their way to a top four finish because it is Leicester after all and they will not give up. The evidence shows us that things are changing for Leicester, and they look to have finally been overtaken by teams such as Northampton and Saracens and dethroned from being the team that dominate year after year.

Exeter are a shining example of a team where things are constantly on the up and up, season after season. Their first season in the Premiership was 2010/11 and it resulted in an 8^th place finish. This does not sound that impressive at first, but actually it is, especially when you consider the position of London Welsh, who from the beginning of the season never looked like they were going to retain their premiership place and will get relegated after only one season in the Premiership. What is even more remarkable is that, in only their second season, they finished 5^th – this is spectacular in two ways: first, that they have finished in the top half of the table after only two years; and second, that after only two seasons they have qualified for the European competition. No matter which way you look at it, Exeter have done incredibly well for themselves. Over the past few seasons, they have continued to improve under Rob Baxter, who has run his club efficiently and smartly to ensure success. The pinnacle of their club's history arguably came last season, when they won their first piece of silverware – the LV=Cup. They beat later Premiership champions Northampton to win, and this clearly demonstrates how far they have come in such a short amount of time that they can come out on top over a side that have played well across all competitions throughout the season. This success is not necessarily going to happen to all promoted clubs, but the fact that Exeter have managed to do so well is an indication that times have changed in rugby and that clubs can, if they work hard enough, turn themselves around and really push for that silverware over other established clubs. I would put money on Exeter advancing to the semi-finals or even the final over the Premiership within the next five years, and to do so would make them a great ambassador for the sport. If Exeter can do it after fairly recent promotion, there's no reason to suggest that other clubs cannot do the same.

One team that is currently in a similar position to Exeter in terms of table positions is Harlequins, who currently sit in seventh. Unfortunately, Quins are another example of where the changing times in rugby has had a negative influence. The club hit their pinnacle in the 2011/12 season, where they were crowned Premiership champions over Leicester, and from there they were predicted to continue to push the top clubs for more silverware. However this has not happened. Over previous seasons they have stayed in and around the top four, but this season in particular has been a disappointment. They haven't quite reached their full potential, and their loss to Wasps just last weekend really highlighted this. Quins have been very inconsistent this season, and that does not allow a team to really sink their teeth into a competition. Wasps on the other hand have been on excellent form this season, and are well on their way to getting back to the club of old that used to dominate the sport. Despite all of this, a win for Quins was what everyone expected, especially since the match was being played at the Stoop. Instead, Wasps put in one heck of a performance and came away with a really impressive win, leaving the home side with absolutely nothing from the encounter. To say it was surprising would be an understatement. Whilst I expected Wasps to put in a good shift and really test Harlequins, I was not expecting them to get a win, let alone one of such magnitude. For some reason or another, the club have not been able to keep up the intensity that allowed them to win the Premiership trophy back in 2012, and so they give off the appearance of a one-time club, almost as if their success was a fluke. They have some great talent in their squad, of course including England captain Chris Robshaw and recent England call-up Nick Easter, but as a unit they are not quite cohesive, and it shows in their performances. Whilst the changing tide of rugby has benefited many other clubs, who have managed to keep fighting hard and stay on top, Quins have been left flagging behind at the back, and could be in serious danger of not finishing anywhere near the top four this season.

Bath are the wonder team of this season. They have put in some incredible performances thus far, and it's obviously caught the attention of Lancaster, who has selected 11 of their players for the England squads, the most of any team in the Premiership. I think we started to realise Bath's potential this season when they comprehensively beat Leicester 45-0 at the Rec. Nobody saw this result coming, but it showcased the power of Bath and got everybody talking about how far they can go this season. Right from the beginning of this current season they have been playing consistently in all areas, and this has consolidated itself by giving them the second spot in the Premiership table as it stands. Their European campaign has also been a triumph so far, and the pool match away at Toulouse is one that will stick in the memory for a long time. Year after year Toulouse seemed to be dominant in European rugby, and so they were to expected to win this fixture, especially as they were the home team. But Bath came out all guns blazing, never taking their foot of the gas, and produced some sensational rugby. The highlight for me in that match was the break from Jonathan Joseph to set the team up to score - never have I seen a player manage to side-step and beat tackles as effectively. It summed up just how well Bath had been playing, and it's clear that they are going to keep their intensity levels high for the rest of the season and really push for silverware. They have some immense players in their squad, but of course all of the coverage surrounded the signing of Sam Burgess. Whilst I am yet to be won over, I firmly believe that he will go on to be an outstanding player for Bath, and his arrival at the club affirms Bath's plans to be a consistent team that we see in the top four year after year. The changing times have been good to Bath, who are well on their to cementing themselves as a really dominant side.

The final English club that I wish to consider is London Irish. A consistently mid-table team, Irish have not been able to push for silverware for some time. This season in particular has been a poor showing from the team as they find themselves in 11th spot. If it wasn't for London Welsh, Irish could very well have found themselves in the relegation spot come the end of the season. One reason for this drop must be the increase in high quality performances from other teams, but the main reason is that they are just not playing very well at all. Being a mid-table team does not inspire players to stay, and when they lost Yarde to Quins you couldn't help but feel that this was a big blow for London Irish. The other team down near the bottom are of course Newcastle, but they have stepped up massively this season. They have put in some amazing performances, most notably that against Northampton at Franklin's Gardens. Newcastle did not give up once in this match, and they reaped the rewards when they managed to get a try bonus point. They are definitely on the up and up, and I am excited to see what they can do next year despite the fact that they have recently lost key players to other teams, such as Kieran Brookes. So for London Irish, the changing tide of rugby has led to their crash down towards the bottom of the table, whereas Newcastle are playing some of their best rugby in years.

It's not just English teams that seem to be changing, but some other European teams as well. Take Munster as one example. They are out of this year's European Champions Cup even before the quarter final stage, which is a rare occurrence. They were absolutely dominated by Saracens in round 5, and it left everyone stunned that they could be so comprehensively beaten. Toulouse are another example of a previous giant of European rugby that are not quite performing to the high standards of old. They too suffered a huge shock defeat in round 5, this one to Bath. Not only were they the second best team in every facet of the game, but they let the visitors walk all over them, and Bath did play magnificently. One team that seems to actually get better season after season though is, of course, Toulon. The current European champions, Toulon are breathtakingly amazing in every way. A lot of people make a song and dance about the money they spend, but if your team had access to that kind of money, trust me - they would spend it, and you wouldn't be complaining then. This illustrates that rugby is changing vastly all over Europe, and teams will either respond positively or negatively to this. But rugby is always changing, so who knows how long this current situation will stay this way? 

As to why the times are changing and clubs that once dominated are no longer doing so, and vice versa, it's hard to put my finger on. There are probably multiple reasons as to why this shift has occurred, but that is a whole different debate. All I can hope to do is try and illustrate to you how teams have responded to this new situation. I'm sure money and player retention are two massive factors in how rugby is changing, and these reasons can only continue to shape how the game is played over years to come. Evidence clearly suggests that it is time for some different teams to emerge and run things, rather than the same old clubs leaving no room for anyone else to really cement themselves as a contender for silverware. I hope this analysis of different clubs has provided an interesting insight into rugby today. 

Thank you for reading, ruckers!
Jess.

Saints completely fall apart as Racing go on to qualify in first position

Northampton Saints 8-32 Racing Metro

Neither team was particularly impressive at the beginning of the first half, with both teams not quite tapping into their full potential. Errors were aplenty for Northampton and Racing, but the latter team were the more clinical of the two and a yellow card for Dylan Hartley after 14 minutes allowed them to go into the lead after a penalty made the score 0-3. The line-out in particular for the Saints was a weak point, and a not straight throw from Haywood ultimately led to a scrum penalty for Racing, which they slotted to increase their lead to 6.

Things appeared to turn around for the Saints after this, with Myler kicking a penalty to make the score 3-6 after 21 minutes. Afterwards, a great passage of attacking play from the home side almost resulted in a try, but Burrell knocked on right by the try line after a great kick through from North. It was then Racing's turn to hammer away at the Saints try line, but some simply stunning defence from the Saints, and Calum Clark in particular, allowed them to come out of the situation unscathed. There was then a succession of scrums, with Saints winning the majority of the penalties, but they just could not convert this into any points. Right at the end of the half, Racing continued to push towards the Saints try line, and it finally paid off for them as Imhoff crashed over the line for a well-deserved try. The conversion was missed, and the half ended with the score being 3-11 to Racing Metro.

It seemed that it would be a bright start to the second half for the Saints with Burrell almost scoring a try from the kick-off. But then everything fell apart. A bad pass from the Saints allowed Imhoff to pick up the ball and essentially run the length of the field to score his second try. The conversion was slotted over, and the score was 3-18 after 43 minutes. You would think it couldn't get any worse for the Saints after this, but it could and it did. A terrible response from the Saints after a high kick resulted in Lapeyre picking up the ball and easily crossing the line for Racing's third try. The score was now 3-25 after 45 minutes.

It looked like there was some light at the end of the tunnel though for Northampton, as a try came from North after a good line-out maul, and the missed conversion made the score 8-25. At 55 minutes there then came a yellow card for Lapeyre after a deliberate knock-on, but somehow Northampton seemed to get worse after this. A penalty to Racing for truck and trailer at the maul gave the visitors the chance to attack, and yet again it paid off as Roberts eventually crossed the line after 61 minutes to grant Racing the bonus point. The conversion made the score 8-32, with no way back for the Saints.

Errors continued to come from Northampton, whilst Racing kept up their intensity to stay in charge of all facets of the game. But then Northampton finally got some possession, and a spectacular break from North after 73 minutes signified the highlight of the match for the home side, despite the fact that a knock-on yet again stopped the attack. Knock-ons continued to be a bane for Northampton as every time they marched forward in attack, they were halted in their tracks by silly errors. The final score was 8-32 to Racing, who were fully deserving of the win. They now qualify for the European quarter-finals in first place.

Teams

Northampton Saints: Wilson (15), Pisi (14), Pisi (13), Burrell (12), North (11), Myler (10), Dickson (9); Corbisiero (1), Hartley - capt (2), Ma'afu (3), Dickinson (4), Day (5), Wood (6), Clark (7), Manoa (8), Replacements: Haywood (16), Waller (17), Denman (18), Dowson (19), Harrison (20), Fotuali'i (21), Stephenson (22), Elliott (23).

Racing Metro: Lapryre (15), Imhoff (14), Chavancy (13), Roberts (12), Thomas (11), Dambielle (10), Machenaud (9); Arous (1), Szarzewski - capt (2), Ducalcon (3), Charteris (4), van der Merwe (5), Lauret (6), Le Roux (7), Claassen (8). Replacements: Lacombe (16), Brugnaut (17), Mujati (18), Kruger (19), Gerondeau (20), Phillips (21), Goosen (22), Audrin (23).

Ruck and roll!

Jess.

Wasps produce a stunning comeback to snatch a draw and keep their European hopes alive

Wasps 20-20 Leinster

It was a terrible start for Wasps as Ashley Johnson got a yellow card for a tackle in the air right from the kick-off, probably setting the record for the quickest send off in a European match. Leinster took this in their stride, gaining two penalties within the first two minutes, allowing them to push for an early score which came through a McFadden try after 3 minutes. The conversion from Madigan made it 0-7.

Wasps gained the ball from the re-start, and a penalty against Leinster for offside allowed Goode to get them on the scoreboard, making the score 3-7 after 7 minutes. But Leinster remained the dominant team and, despite Madigan missing two penalty attempts at goal, they had most of the possession. For the next 10+ minutes, Leinster continued to pound away at the Wasps try line after a superb break from Rob Kearney. However, Wasps put in some sensational defence led by captain James Haskell, and they came away from the passage of play lightly, only conceding a penalty that Madigan slotted over to make the score 3-10 after 21 minutes.

Things continued to get worse for Wasps, their play being fraught with errors, including a kick going out on the full. A second hammer blow came after 28 minutes, when Cittadini's attempts to slow down the ball at the breakdown got him 10 minutes in the bin and gifted another penalty to Leinster. Gopperth slotted the penalty, giving them a lead of 3-13 on 29 minutes. However, Wasps managed to nullify the penalty after winning one of their own, with Goode making the score 6-13 after 31 minutes.

In spite of the Wasps penalty, Leinster were given the chance to attack again after a knock-on from Simpson, and after 38 minutes Leinster crashed over the line again, and the Madigan conversion left the score at 6-20. Straight after this, Wasps decided to try and attack the Leinster line, which resulted in a penalty for them and a yellow card for Douglas after a late, no arms tackle. Goode did not make good use of this opportunity, as he missed the penalty and kept the score at 6-20 at half time.

Wasps came out all guns blazing in the second half, and a penalty after 42 minutes resulted in Goode kicking for touch. However, this advantage did not work out and Leinster gained the ball and mounted an attack. They looked poised to score a try, but Leinster were penalised for crossing, relieving the pressure on Wasps. For the next 5 minutes, Wasps pushed hard against the Leinster defence and Varndell looked to have scored on 48 minutes. The referee ruled, however, that there had been crossing this time from Wasps and the try was disallowed.

The penalties continued to come for Wasps, and they pushed for the line off of the back of Leinster's disciplinary issues. Leinster's defence was nothing short of remarkable for a 10 minute period, but Wasps finally broke through and scored on 61 minutes, with the conversion making the score 13-20. It was back on for Wasps at this point, as they were only one converted try away from leveling the scores. They did just that when Hughes stretched over a mass of bodies to touch down, and the Goode conversion (on a second attempt after Leinster charged early) finally put Wasps in contention for a win.

It was not to be for Wasps however, as both Gopperth and Goose missed drop-goals, leaving the final score at 20-20. Leinster have now officially qualified for the next stage in European rugby, but Wasps' fate still hangs in the balance.  

Teams

London Wasps: Miller (15), Wade (14), Daly (13), Jacobs (12), Varndell (11), Goode (10), Simpson (9); Mullan (1), Shervington (2), Cittadini (3), Davies (4), Gaskell (5), Johnson (6), Haskell - capt (7), Hughes (8). Replacements: Festuccia (16), McIntyre (17), Cooper-Wooley (18), Myall (19), Thompson (20), Jackson (21), Lozowski (22), Masi (23).

Leinster: Kearney (15), McFadden (14), Fitzgerald (13), Madigan (12), Kearney (11), Gopperth (10), Reddan (9); Bent (1), Cronin (2), Moore (3), Toner (4), Douglas (5), Ryan (6), Murphy (7), Heaslip - capt (8). Replacements: Strauss (16), Hagan (17), Furlong (18), McCarthy (19), Conan (20), Boss (21), D'Arcy (22), Fanning (23). 

What a rucking good game!

Jess.

Lancaster actually did an okay job!

The squads have been announced! Yippee! Now it's time for the inevitable debate of whether Lancaster did a good job or not, and I figured I might as well get in on the action! I'll be picking out certain players from across both squads, containing a mixture of those I agree with and those I don't. Essentially, it's probably going to turn into a rant - enjoy!

The England Senior Squad:

Alex Corbisiero - I love Corbs, and everyone knows I love Corbs, but his selection does slightly confuse me. He has only recently come back from injury, and I'm not entirely sure that his limited game time warrants him a place in the senior squad. Having said that, he is one of the best around in his position. But I would much rather see him play for the Saxons against the Wolfhounds, so that Lancaster can efficiently judge his fitness and upgrade him to the senior squad if he appears ready. Despite all of that, I'm delighted that he has made it in, and I am sure that we will see some great things from him in the England shirt.

Tom Youngs - I know that Youngs, on the whole, does not have a lot of advocates, and up until recently I was not a big fan, predominantly because of his on-field antics in relation to other players. But it is my opinion that his recent form absolutely warrants his selection. I know that this isn't going to be a popular view, so feel free to get in touch if you disagree with me! Webber, on the other hand, does have a significant amount of advocates, and I must agree that I am disappointed that he was not included in the senior squad, even if he would be a third option behind Hartley and Youngs. However he is of course in the Saxons squad, and I am positive that he will play out of his skin and prove SL wrong. 

Dan Cole - Cole is in the same boat as Corbs; he hasn't had a huge amount of game time since coming back from injury, and his inclusion in the squad is a bit perplexing. Nevertheless, he is a world class player when he is on form, and so I can understand Lancaster's decision to include him in the senior squad. I, on the other hand, would also have put him in the Saxons squad for one game to test his fitness and be completely sure that he is able to compete in a high intensity match, as well all know that the game against Wales is not going to be a walk in the park. 

Nick Easter - Having been pro-Easter in terms of England selection, I am very pleased that Lancaster chose to welcome him back into the senior squad. Many people have referred to his '35k remark' after the 2011 World Cup, but I would suggest that it's time to move on from that and give him the chance to prove to us that he is good enough to have warranted selection. He has been on electric form for Quins this season and, being 36 years of age, it is incredible how fit he appears to be. His selection is exciting, and if he continues on this rich vain of form that he is shown in the Premiership, he will be a force to be reckoned with.

Calum Clark - Cal is a great inclusion in the senior squad, particularly as his form this season has been not short of incredible. He is one of the unsung heroes in the Saints squad, and his breakdown work is seriously good. There have been disciplinary problems in his past, but he seems to be a new person, and his game is all the better for it. I'm very excited to see him in an England shirt!

Danny Cipriani - Cips has been on great form this season, and I am delighted that Lancaster has rewarded his hard work with a place in the senior squad! He is a very intelligent and creative player, as well as being a very consistent kicker, and hopefully he can bring some of that whilst donning the England jersey. If Lancaster had left him out he would have had good reason to feel very aggrieved, but luckily that didn't happen and I can say that I'm very excited to see him play.

Stephen Myler - Myler's inclusion is probably one of the ones that I was most happy about. His form both last season and this season has been nothing short of exceptional, and he is one of the best fly-halves in the country right now. Saints are not the same team without him, and that goes to show you just how great a player he has become in recent seasons with the help of Alex King. My one issue is that Lancaster has the propensity to call Myler up, and then release him at the first opportunity. I'm really hoping that SL at least gives him a chance to prove what he can do!

Billy Twelvetrees - I will never agree with TT's inclusion in the senior squad because he just isn't good enough and there are multiple other players that would perform better in that 12 shirt. In my opinion, if I was to select him to play for England, it would be in the Saxons team, and I am not even convinced that he should have a place in that team either. He has shown that he does have so much potential, but it just does not seem to pay off for him in an England jersey. Out of all the players in the senior squad, I disagree with this one the most.

Luther Burrell - I have to admit here that I was seriously, seriously worried that Lancaster was not going to select Burrell at all. But thank the lucky stars that he has, because Luther has some major talent. An absolute force to be reckoned with, he will take you over the gain line time and time again, and that is just what England needs in order to win some of the tougher matches in the 6 Nations. We all know that Lancaster is still undecided on his 12 and 13 match-up, but Luther should be a shoe-in for that 12 spot in my personal opinion.

Jonathan Joseph - Joseph is definitely worthy of a place in the senior squad, and if you check out his performance against Toulouse last weekend you will see exactly why. He actually had me shouting 'whoaaaaaaa' at my laptop at one point, along with the commentators that were watching. His attacking prowess is phenomenal, and I am really excited to see if SL decides to pick him to play against Wales and give him a chance to show us all what he can do - he could be a revelation for England!

Jack Nowell - Nowell's selection is one that I'm not completely sure about. For the Saxons, yes, but for the senior squad I would have to say no. He has a bright future ahead of him, but I don't think that he is there yet in terms of senior squad ability. Having said that, he has played some astonishing rugby in the past couple of seasons, and it's entirely possible that he may come out and put in one hell of a performance. Definitely an inclusion to keep your eye on.

So that is just a little taste of how I feel about the England senior squad selection - if you agree, disagree or have any general comments, please post them in the comments section below the blog! The squad is a highly debatable area, and I'd love for you all to get involved. Now, it's time to move on to the Saxons squad, which does have an impressive line-up!

England Saxons Squad

Kieran Brookes - Brookes has proved himself to be a very very exciting prospect this season, and I do find myself a bit disappointed that he did not make it in to the senior squad. I feel that the coaches tend to turn their noses up at teams like Newcastle because of their Premiership position, but that would be a mistake because they have some quality players in their squad. Brookes is definitely one of those and, even though he did not make it into the senior squad, I am exceptionally pleased that he has been named in the Saxons squad. It provides him with a great foundation to build into the kind of player that SL wants him to be, and gives him the opportunity to fight for senior squad selection.

Christian Day - Day is one of the most reliable players around, and I consider that a real asset. How he has never broken through into the senior squad will always baffle me, but I'm very happy that he has been given a shot in the Saxons squad! He is another unsung hero for Saints, and his work around the pitch in every match is phenomenal. I look forward to seeing him play against the Irish Wolfhounds.

Maro Itoje - Itoje is a very very exciting prospect, and it is great to see him listed in the Saxons squad. Many of you will remember seeing him play for England under-20's, and his name was constantly mentioned as one of those up and coming players that we expect to be constantly knocking on Lancaster's door. Well now is his chance to shine, and I believe that he will one day be in that senior squad on a permanent basis.

Alex Waller - Waller is another great pick in the Saxons squad, and his form the past couple of seasons completely warrants his selection. His scrummaging ability has come on leaps and bounds in the past couple of years, and I'm glad that Lancaster has recognised this and given him a chance to prove his worth.

Sam Burgess - I, like a lot of other people, refuse to believe that his selection is in any way justified. He has done nothing even remotely special enough to get the Saxons call-up, and I'm disappointed that Lancaster has seemingly given into the hype and put him in the squad. I have no doubt that he is going to go on to be a great rugby union player, but right now he is not, and still may not be in time for the World Cup. Burgess needs time to properly learn the game, and it's unfair to other more experienced talent that he was picked ahead of them.

Chris Pennell - Chris is another great inclusion. I fully expected Lancaster to forget about him after he decided to stay on at Worcester after their relegation last season. But SL surprised me, in a good way, with Pennell's selection. He was great for Worcester last season, probably one of their shining lights, and it will be great to see him play against the Wolfhounds.

Henry Slade, Christian Wade, Thomas Waldrom and Ollie Devoto - I've decided to talk about these four together, as I firmly believe that they are in the wrong squad. All four of them are on excellent form, and have done more than enough to warrant a place in the senior squad. It was a massive oversight from Lancaster to not include them in the senior squad, and I sorely hope that they all put into a good shift against the Wolfhounds to persuade SL to do the right thing and upgrade them.

That is my discussion on the two squads done. I hope my insights make for good reading for some of you, and please do get in contact with any comments you may have! I leave you with the identity of one player who is missing from both teams, yet consensus seems to suggest his inclusion is more than warranted - Matt Banahan. I agree with those who believe he should have been included, he has been immense for Bath this season. What do you all think? Let me know!

#CarryThemHome
Jess.

There's only...well, quite a few No. 8's actually.

As we all know, Stuart Lancaster will be announcing his player selections for the 6 Nations EPS on Wednesday (I would give you the time for when this is going to happen, but I have absolutely no idea). The debate that has been discussed amongst fans and pundits alike surrounds the possible candidates for the No. 8 position, with plenty of names being thrown into the proverbial hat. There is a plethora of English talent in this position right now, with the two on-form players being Billy Vunipola and Nick Easter. However, there is also talk of the likes of Steffon Armitage potentially coming in at 8, rather than his usual position of 7, and of course Thomas Waldrom, who has been on fire for Exeter this season. With the recent injury to Ben Morgan, that looks set to see him unable to compete in any of the 6 Nations matches, the selection for No. 8 has been thrown wide open. So what is there to make of all of the options?

Billy Vunipola - Clearly the front runner for the number 8 shirt, Billy V is probably Saracens' best player right now. He has been immense so far this season, and the epitome of his performances must be that which he put in against Munster last weekend. There was not one mistake on his part, and he was solid in defence whilst being brutal in attack, making metre after metre as well as beating multiple tacklers. His performance garnered him the Man of the Match award, and has cemented him as the obvious firm choice for Lancaster. I fully expect him to be in the announcement on Wednesday, so much so that I would put his chances at 100%. 

Nick Easter - Easter's form this season has unexpectedly propelled him right into the heart of this debate. At 35 years old he is playing as if he has the fitness of a 25 year old, and it shows - he is a force to be reckoned both in an attacking and defensive sense. However, there are doubts as to whether he will make it into Lancaster's EPS because of his age despite ringing endorsements from many fans and commentators. I would put his chances at 50-50 - he might make it in due to his superb form, or not simply because he is 'getting on a bit.'

Steffon Armitage - Without a shadow of a doubt, Armitage is one of the best 7's in the world. Period. He could easily slot into the no. 8 position and boss it, but there's one major problem - he, of course, does not play in England. Lancaster will not pick any overseas players, unless the situation falls under 'special circumstances.' This in essence means that, unless England has an injury crisis, Steffon will not be making an appearance. Personally I would love to see him in the squad, as I cannot conceivably understand how his talent could be overlooked. But, I do understand the arguments that he has chosen to play abroad and that he is aware of the consequences of that decision. I am going to put his chances of inclusion at 10%, but that's only because I really want to see his name in the EPS and not because I expect him to be selected. 

Thomas Waldrom - Lastly, we have Thomas the Tank. Signing on for Exeter seems to have completely rejuvenated him - he is on fire, and is playing some of the best rugby that I have ever seen him play. His form has certainly warranted consideration by Lancaster. He has scored numerous tries and broken through many defenses; he would be a great no. 8 option. I'm not 100% sure of his chances of inclusion, so I'm going to have to go for 50-50 again. If he is selected, it is likely that it would be as a replacement rather than as the starting no. 8, but what a great option to have come off the bench.

So there it is - a brief reflection on the four no. 8's that I hope Lancaster has considered in coming to his choice for the EPS. I'm sure all of you out there have your own opinions on who you would select, so don't be afraid to get in contact with your views. Here's hoping for a highly entertaining and competitive 6 Nations, with the first fixture being that between Wales and England!

View image | gettyimages.com

Work hard, ruck hard,
Jess.

Money, Money, Money

We are all well aware of London Welsh's views on how teams in the Premiership are funded, and so I thought that I would treat you all to my view on the whole situation.

Let's start with the most important fact: London Welsh are given around £1.5 million in funding compared to the other more 'established' rugby clubs, who receive around £4 million in funding from a 'central pot'. If this doesn't already make you think that the system is completely unfair and unjust, then you seriously need to wake up and open your eyes to the situation.   

That is a monumental gap, and one which I do not believe to be fair in any way. How is it even remotely conceivable to not allow all clubs to be able to start on a level playing field at the beginning of each season in order to build up their team and really compete in the sport? I'll tell you how - it's not. There have been reasons given that agree and disagree with the opinion of London Welsh, and I am firmly on the side of the spectrum that agrees with them.

There have been many arguments as to why London Welsh should not have access to the same amount of funding as all the other clubs, and I find all of them equally ridiculous (no offence to those that disagree with the club, but I'm telling it like it is). One of these reasons is that this is London Welsh's first season in the Premiership. So? They fought hard to get promoted and, whether anyone likes it or not, they ARE a Premiership club. What right does anyone have to deny them the chance to properly compete, just because they've only recently been introduced to the Premiership? 

Another reason people believe justifies this gross difference in funding is the fact that the club, after getting promoted, significantly altered the players that they had at the club, getting rid of a fair few that got them to this position. Teams change. Players leave. Players join. Get over it. Just because they decided to change their squad does not deny them the right to be given access to more money. Yes sure, they have pretty much a whole new squad, but they shouldn't be treated at a disadvantage because of this.

The last reason I'm willing to discuss for the disagree side is the fact that their team is not up to Premiership standard. Are you kidding me? They're not up to Premiership standard? I'm sorry, but what sort of standard could you honestly expect them to be at compared to other clubs when they receive around £2 million less than everybody else? There is absolutely no way a club can even begin to get anywhere near the standard of the others without access to equal funding. 

So now let's consider the reasons why people agree with the club. For starters, the club themselves have admitted that they need better facilities and equipment in order to keep their players fit week-in, week-out. This is completely and entirely reasonable, so let them have access to what every team fundamentally needs. Every rugby team should have all possible resources available to them to ensure that their players can stay fit and healthy in order to continue representing in a highly competitive competition, such as the Premiership.

It should not matter whether a team has been in the Premiership for one season or ten seasons, all teams deserve to be treated for what they are - successful clubs that are playing rugby at the top level. Sure, London Welsh may not be an 'established' club in Premiership terms, but they are 'established'. They have been a club since 1885 - that's 130 years, only 5 years less than league leaders Northampton Saints, who were founded in 1880. 130 years is a phenomenal amount of time for a rugby club to be around playing the game, yet people have the audacity to say that the club is not established. I don't think so.

The final argument, and something that I think is really really important, is this - what sort of message does it send to those teams in the Championship, who are working so hard to get promoted? 'Yes you will get promoted to the Premiership, but we aren't going to give you equal funding, and therefore you are unlikely to come anywhere other than 11th or 12th in the table.' That is not in any way a good advert for the Premiership. We all know how incredible the rugby competition is in the Premiership, and I must admit this season has outdone itself in excitement. But this huge flaw in the way that the Premiership is run puts a damper on the competition in my view - it needs to be addressed and sorted out. For the top domestic league, this is one huge oversight that cannot afford to made. 

London Welsh have plans to sue the Premiership, and there is even an Early Day Motion to address the issue (http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2014-15/461). I completely agree with this decision, otherwise how else with the will the club be acknowledged and listened to? There doesn't appear to be any other way to get those in charge of the funding to change how it is regulated and distributed - releasing statements and/or politely talking to those in charge of the Premiership is simply not going to work. So if suing is the only possible way to receive equal funding, then I am all for it. It's time for people to get their heads out from where the sun doesn't shine, and accept that the current system is unfair to London Welsh in every possible way. 

I am very interested in people's opinions on this topic, especially as it seems to be controversial. Please leave comments with your opinions either at the end of this post, or by using the contact form at the bottom of the blog. Alternatively, you can email me with what you think at ruckmegentlyblog@gmail.com, or you can tweet me either directly @JessKebbell or to the official Twitter feed for my blog @RuckMeGently. The best comments will be chosen to go on my blog, so please do get involved! 

Thanks for reading, ruckers! 
Jess. 

Welsh lose yet again as Falcons are flying high

Newcastle Falcons 38-7 London Welsh

It was a bad start for both teams, as the first five minutes consisted of knock-on after knock-on. These errors then seemed to wane slightly as Falcons had possession for the next 10 minutes, and continued to push towards the try line.

This pressure eventually paid off for Falcons, as Sinoti crashed over the line for a try after 14 minutes. Catterick failed to add the extras, and the score was 5-0. The errors from Welsh continued, including dropped balls at re-starts and even Robinson failing to make touch after a penalty was awarded for Falcons not releasing the ball. Newcastle used this to make a break for the Welsh line, with Vickers crossing the line for a try, and the Catterick conversion made the score 12-0 after 20 minutes.

Only a minute later Blair gifted Falcons another try and the score became 19-0 after just 21 minutes. But Welsh hit back a few minutes later after playing some decent rugby for the first time in the match, scoring a try through Scott after a super kick through from Robinson. After Robinson added the extras, the score was 19-7 after 25 minutes.

The two teams exchanged penalties for the next 7 minutes, with Falcons being gifted one penalty for Welsh going in at the side at the breakdown. Catterick went for the corner, and the bonus point try came after 32 minutes for Falcons, as Welch touched the ball down. The extras were not added, and the score stood at 24-7. Newcastle continued to push for the line right up until half-time, and looked poised multiple times to score a 5th try, but some excellent Welsh defence prevented this from happening, and a penalty to them after 41 minutes signaled the end of the first half. 

The second half seemed to start off well for the Falcons as Sinoti almost scored a try after only 41 minutes. But then things for scrappy for both teams, and for the next 15 minutes possession passed from one team to the next with nothing much happening. Finally, at 55 minutes, the line opened up for Hogg, who crashed over the line and the score was 31-7 after the conversion was added.

For the next 5 minutes, it continued to be all Newcastle as they again almost scored, but Wilson was penalised for double movement right by the line. It was then Welsh's turn to try and put some pressure on the Falcons, but they just were not able to get through and silly errors threw any advantage they had away. 

The match then returned to that scrappy nature we saw at the beginning of the half, but it was again the Falcons that brought this to an end through a super break and try from Catterick. He added the extras to make the score 38-7, and this was to be the final score as the match ended three minutes later.

Man of the Match - Sinoti Sinoti. 

Teams

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley (15); Sinoti (14); Powell (13); Socino (12); Tait (11); Catterick (10); Blair (9); Vickers (1); Lawson (2); Brookes (3); Green (4); Furno (5); Wilson (6); Welch - capt. (7); Hogg (8). Replacements: McGuigan (16); Fry (17); Orlandi (18); Thompson (19); Mayhew (20); Tipuna (21); Harris (22); Tuilagi (23).

London Welsh: Robinson (15); Kear (14); May - capt. (13); Jewell (12); Scott (11); Weepu (10); Rowley (9); Trevett (1); Britton (2); Vea (3); West (4); Down (5); Browne (6); Kirwan (7); Fonua (8). Replacements: Morris (16); Reeves (17); Cooper (18); Thorpe (19); Pienaar (20); Lewis (21); Barkley (22); Stegmann (23).

Saints have a shocker as Sale come alive

Sale Sharks 20-7 Northampton Saints

It was a reasonably bright start for the Saints as they got an early penalty, allowing Myler to kick to touch. Saints then put on a minute's worth of persistent pressure, but after 3 minutes were penalised for holding on. This is where the match completely turned around.

There was a whole host of penalties given to Sale in the next 10 to 15 minutes, two of which were knocked through the posts by Cipriani, as Saints played some frankly terrible rugby and Sale played some very clever rugby. The score after 13 minutes was 6-0 to Sale.

Sale continued to put massive pressure on Saints, almost scoring twice, but both efforts were deemed to be help up as Saints put in some good defensive efforts. However, after staying down in the Saints half for a further 15 minutes, the Sale pressure eventually paid off as a yellow card was given to Dickinson and they crashed over to score a try through Eifion Lewis-Roberts after 30 minutes. The Cipriani conversion made it 13-0. 

The next 10 minutes consisted of more Sale pressure and yet more Saints errors until the ball was kicked out, ending a truly awful half of rugby for the Saints and a bright half for Sale, leaving the score at 13-0. 

The second half continued in much the same way as the first, with Sale coming on and continuing to apply pressure. A penalty to Sale after 46 minutes put them back to within the try line, but some great Saints defence garnered them a turnover. Saints then seemed to wake up a bit, and two penalties were awarded to them. However, Myler missed the posts for the second penalty, leaving the score at 13-0.

Sale then came back into it, and a yellow card for Clark allowed Sale to get a penalty and again kick to touch. Braid then crashed over for the try after 60 minutes, and the score was 20-0 after the conversion. The match then seemed to take another turn as Saints finally produced some good rugby to score a try through Harrison on 65 minutes. The score was 20-7 after Myler converted. It was all Saints for pretty much the rest of the game, as Saints pushed to at least get a losing bonus point. But they just weren't good enough, and Sale's excellent defence stopped Saints from really getting anywhere near the line.

A knock-on in the 80th minute of the match by a Saints hand signaled the end of the match, with the final score being 20-7 to Sale. 

Teams

Sale Sharks: Haley (15); Addison (14); Leota (13); Tuitupou (12); Cueto (11); Cipriani (10); Cusiter (9); Lewis-Roberts (1); Jones (2); Cobilas (3); Hines (4); Mills (5); Braid - capt. (6); Lund (7); Beaumont (8). Replacements: Neild (16); de Marchi (17); Harrison (18); Ioane (19); Seymour (20); Cliff (21); Macleod (22); Arscott (23).

Northampton Saints: Foden (15); Elliot (14); G. Pisi (13); Burrell (12); North (11); Myler (10); Dickson (9); Corbisiero (1); Haywood (2); Ma'afu (3); Dickinson (4); Clark (5); Wood - capt. (6); Nutley (7); Dowdon (8). Replacements - Williams (16); Waller (17); Denman (18); Onojaife (19); Harrison (20); Hodgson (21); Wilson (22); K Pisi (23). 

Hook's spectacular boot wins Gloucester the match.

Gloucester 24-23 Saracens

Saracens made the brightest start in the first ten minutes of this match, getting a penalty try after 6 minutes after Gloucester pulled down two mauls right by the line. Goode slotted the penalty, and it was 0-7 after only 7 minutes.

The tides quickly turned, however, and there was a great chance for a Gloucester try after 15 minutes. The only problem? Twelvetrees failed to pass the ball to May, who was absolutely furious, and so he should have been because it was a walk-in try for May. Gloucester did get a penalty straight after, which Hook slotted over to make the score 3-7 after 16 minutes.

A further penalty followed for Gloucester after 17 minutes, making the score 6-7. But, a passage of play ensued that was full of errors for Gloucester, eventually leading to a Saracens penalty after 20 minutes. Goode slotted this penalty, and the score became 6-10. These errors then continued from Gloucester, granting a further penalty for Goode to make the score 6-13 after 25 minutes.

Yet more errors came from Gloucester in the next 5 minutes, including a lost line-out after a penalty to touch. Then, Hook missed a penalty after Hamilton was penalised for not rolling away. But it was then Saracens turn to make some errors. They were issued a warning after consistent infringements around the park, and a penalty to Gloucester was given, which was kicked to touch.

The pressure that Gloucester had been piling on Saracens for the previous couple of minutes finally led to a spectacular try from Dan Robson - he broke through the Saracens defence, and kicked the ball ahead of him. It was then a race between him and Hamilton to get to the ball, with Robson coming out on top and providing a one-handed finish that will be up there with one of the best tries of the weekend, if not the season. However, Hook missed the conversion, keeping Gloucester behind as the score was 11-13.

Saracens retained the ball after the re-start, but a bad kick from Ashton allowed Gloucester to put the pressure back on. This then led to a yellow card for David Strettle after a deliberate knock-on. However, Hook yet again missed the penalty, and the score at half-time was still 11-13 to Saracens.

It was a perfect start to the second half for Saracens, as they got a try through Billy Vunipola from the rolling maul after 44 minutes. However, it was bad news for Gloucester as Savage received a yellow card for going in at the side at the two previous mauls. Goode missed the conversion, and the score was 11-18.

Gloucester then put on substantial pressure, almost leading to a try from Hook, but he was help up. The 5 metre scrum that they were awarded resulted in them getting the ball, ready to attack again, but J P Doyle stopped play immediately after an injury to Ben Morgan. Time was stopped for a good five minutes, as a stretcher and gas & air was brought to Morgan, who's injury looks a lot like a leg break.

After Morgan went off, there was a passage of play consisting of the ball going back and forth between the teams. However, Saracens booted two kicks out on the full, allowing Gloucester to have the upper hand. This led to a penalty, which Hook slotted to make the score 14-18 after 58 minutes. And then, two minutes later, a super break from Jonny May, as well superb offloading and another break from Evans, set up Braley to score a brilliant try. After the conversion, the score was 21-18.

Only a minute or so after this, a tip-tackle from Kruis resulted in a yellow card after consultation with the TMO. Gloucester then took the momentum in their stride and pushed forwards, only to be turned over, putting Saracens back on the attack. This resulted in a penalty, which was kicked into touch. There was then a stoppage in play lasting around 10 minutes, whilst an injury to Nick Wood was being assessed.

Play then re-started, and Saracens were awarded three penalties on the bounce for infringements in the maul - the second penalty led to a yellow card for May, and the third penalty led to a try for Saracens from Mako Vunipola. Goode missed the conversion, and it was 21-23 with 10 minutes to go.

Gloucester were given a chance to potentially take the lead after they received a penalty at the line-out, but Saracens stole the line-out after Gloucester went to touch. There was then a passage of huge pressure from Gloucester that had no result for them. It then looked as if Saracens had scored a try through Ashton, but he was offside and Gloucester were awarded a penalty on half-way. Hook stepped up to take the kick in the last few seconds of the match and absolutely nailed it, securing Gloucester an emphatic 24-23 win.

What a rucking good start to the weekend!
Jess.

The Six Nations is coming! Here's who you would pick:

Let's just get straight into it and see who you have chosen!

Loose-head Prop: Alex Corbisiero

Corbs leads the way in this category by a relatively big margin. He is a great loose-head prop, probably the best in the country when he is not injured, and there is no denying that - but I feel that his limited game time after coming back from injury will serve to get him a place on the bench, rather than in the starting 15. Personally I went for Joe Marler, who came second in this category. He is on superb form for Harlequins this season, despite the fact that the team is perhaps not having their best season so far. His 26 caps for England cement his place in the squad, and it will be hard for Lancaster to look past him for the starting position. There were a few votes for Alex Waller, which shows that people do consider him to be good enough to try and push for the shirt, and I agree - he was on fire last season for Saints, and he has carried this on in the current season. It would be great to see him get on the bench for a couple of the Six Nations matches, and show Lancaster what he is made of.

Hooker: Dylan Hartley

Say what you like about Hartley and his disciplinary problems, but he topped this category by an exceptionally large margin. It just goes to show you that, despite what he has done, people still consider him to be the best hooker in the country, and England would sorely miss him if he was not to make it into the setup. Everything about Hartley's game is solid - his line-out successes are always amongst the best around, and he is a vital part of what makes the Saints' scrum incredibly dominant. This shows itself in his 61 caps for England, the most in the current squad. There is talk that Lancaster should leave him out of the squad as a way of punishment but, judging by this poll, that is only a minority view. There were some votes for Rob Webber and Tom Youngs, and I personally would like to see Webber get the replacement spot. Bath are clearly on great form this season, and Webber is no exception - he should easily be able to push for that bench spot ahead of Youngs.

Tight-head Prop; David Wilson

Wilson is an excellent choice for tight-head prop, and his win margin was an accurate reflection of this. He is on fine form for Bath, and would be my choice in the England starting 15. His 41 caps for England are testament to how well he has played over recent years, and he should be Lancaster's favourite for this position. There were quite a few votes for Cole, which is perfectly understandable - he is consistently good for Leicester, however he maybe has not had enough game time since coming back from his long injury to overtake Wilson. Kieran Brookes also got a few votes and, whilst he probably won't be at the forefront of Lancaster's mind right now, he certainly will be within the next couple of years. He is playing very very well for Newcastle this season, and this clearly shows itself via the interest from other clubs, such as Northampton, who wish to make him a part of their squad, and also through the fact that Newcastle this season are playing some of their best rugby in a long time.

Locks: Courtney Lawes and Dave Attwood

The amount of votes for these two was humongous, and it's not at all surprising. Lawes has, as usual, been amazing this season and is, in my opinion, the best lock in the country right now, and by a fair distance I might add. Attwood has been superb for Bath in the last couple of seasons, and this has carried on into his England performances, in particular the Autumn Internationals of last year. There were also a fair amount of votes for Launchbury and, injury permitting, he could easily make into the starting 15, most likely in the place of Attwood, leaving him at 4 and Lawes at 5. We all know that Lawes and Launchbury make an impeccable pairing in the England setup, but I personally would love to see what Lawes and Attwood can do in the Six Nations.

Blind-side Flanker; Tom Wood

It is not at all surprising that Wood hands down topped this category. He is a supreme player in all facets of his game right now, and there is no conceivable way that I can see Lancaster picking anybody else in the starting 15. There were a good amount of votes for Calum Clark, however I'm not sure if I can see him making it into the starting 15. This is not because I don't think he is good enough because, trust me, he is. The reason for this is that, as captain, Robshaw will always be the first choice 7, leaving Wood as number 6. Wood is too good to not get that starting shirt at 6, and so Clark will most likely only ever be able to get the bench spot. I don't think that this is a fair reflection of how well he has been playing, but that is how it must happen with Robshaw as captain.

Open-side Flanker: Chris Robshaw
Obviously Robshaw won this category being England captain, however he did not win by that big a margin. Personally, this does not surprise me. I may ruffle some feathers by saying this, but - Robshaw is not in the best form and, if he was not captain, I would not have him in this position. Do not get me wrong, he plays very well for England and he is a great captain most of the time, but I would love to see James Haskell starting ahead of Robshaw. I'm not the only one that thinks this because Haskell came in a very very close second in this questionnaire, and is on the form of his life for Wasps right now. The problem is that there is no way that Lancaster will not pick Robshaw, and so I only see Haskell getting the replacement jersey rather than that starting number 7.

No. 8: Ben Morgan

Whenever Morgan plays for Gloucester or England he is excellent, and he did win this category by a fair amount of votes. Lancaster should have Morgan in his mind right now as a potential starting no. 8, and I would not be surprised if he did make it in. However, there were some votes for two other players in particular - Thomas Waldrom and Steffon Armitage. Waldrom would not be a bad choice - he has been playing out of his skin for Exeter this season, and I am expecting to see him at least on the bench at one time or another in the Six Nations. But now we come on to the big debate - does Lancaster use Armitage? I personally did vote for Armitage in this category - I cannot see how anyone can look past his talent when making their squad selection. I must say that I do understand where people are coming from when they say that he shouldn't play for England as he doesn't live over here. But I just think that it is such a waste of Armitage's amazing talent. So yes, I do think that Lancaster should use the exceptional circumstances clause and have Armitage in the Six Nations - although it is completely unlikely that he will do so. All I can hope for is that Armitage signs for an English club for next season, and that he can then play his way into the England World Cup squad.

Scrum-half: Danny Care

Care was the clear favourite for this position, and I too voted for him in this category. He always brings his best when he is in that England shirt, and I am sure that Lancaster has him in mind for that starting 9 spot. Whilst his Premiership form has arguably not been up to his usual standard, he has not dropped enough in my opinion to not be Lancaster's first choice. Lee Dickson did get a couple of votes, however he is not on his best form right now, and so cannot really push for any more than that bench spot.

Fly-half: George Ford

This category was one of the closest out of them all, which makes sense seen as there is an on-going debate as to who should get that England shirt. Ford won by only one vote, with Myler right behind him, and I must admit that, when I came to vote in this category, I was really unsure as to who to go for. They are both worthy of that starting position for different reasons. Ford is clearly the up-and-coming talent in the Premiership right now, and he does have a hell of a boot on him. Lancaster clearly thinks of him as the 'future', and it is understandable that he would be chosen as the 10 for England in order to allow him to keep growing. However, Myler is probably the best 10 in the country right now. His kicking and game management are second to none, and that is why he just pips Ford in my opinion. The Saints play much much better when he is on the pitch, and they would not get as many wins without him - this is why I remain confused as to why Lancaster does not select him, at least in order to put him on the bench. Hopefully Lancaster will see the error of his ways and, who knows, we may see Myler in an England shirt in the Six Nations.

Left-wing; Jonny May

May was the clear favourite in this category, winning by a tremendous amount of votes. He has played exceptionally well for England, particularly in the Autumn Internationals, and that must keep him as the first choice for Lancaster. There may be some questions over his defence capabilities, but you cannot deny that his attacking prowess is amazing. There were some votes for Strettle, who came in second, and he has been on good form this season. But May's performances for England must mean that, if he is picked, he will be getting the starting jersey with Strettle potentially getting a bench spot.

Inside Centre: Luther Burrell

Burrell dominated this category, adding significant weight to the debate that he should be the first choice for that 12 shirt. However, this position seems to be where Lancaster appears to lose the plot - how he could select Farrell above Burrell astounds me. Luther is better in every facet of the game than any 12 in the Premiership right now, and there is no way that he should be missing from that squad come the Six Nations. I mean, what else does the guy have to do?! There were a couple of votes for the likes of Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond, with me personally wanting to see Eastmond get that bench spot and the chance to show everybody what he can do. But if Lancaster doesn't pick Burrell I may just sit in a corner and cry for the whole Six Nations screaming WHY at the top of my lungs.

Outside Centre: Manu Tuilagi

This was another extremely close category, with Tuilagi just coming out on top. He is definitely one of the best players in this position, and England should be including him in the setup. He is a great attacking force, and is not that bad in defence! The player that got close to Manu in the vote was Henry Slade. Slade has been amazing this season, and it would be great to include him in the England squad. People do believe that he would be better at 10, however because we already have Ford as the likely player in at 10, having Slade in at 13 could be a really good option.

Right-wing: Christian Wade

This was yet another close call for this position, with Wade only just being the most popular choice. I myself would pick Wade, purely because his attacking form when he has the ball in hand is phenomenal. Yes, his defence may be sketchy at best, but it is hard to ignore someone as good as him when it comes to breaking the line and scoring tries. A couple of people suggested maybe having Jack Nowell on the wing, as well as Semesa Rokoduguni, however Wade is class on the field, and hopefully he is up there as first choice. In terms of the bench, Roko would be my choice, and I would love to see him try and better his one and only performance that he has already had for England.

Fullback: Mike Brown

It was tight between Brown and Foden, with Brown winning by one solitary vote. I myself went for Foden because, looking at recent form, he is playing better than Brown. However, Brown has of course been the first choice number 15 for a while now, and so it is hard to overlook him. But I believe that the tides are turning, and that it is now Foden's chance to show Lancaster what he can do in that 15 jersey. Brown is a great player and, whilst he has not been on his best for for Quins lately, he does bring it when he plays for England so I am expecting Lancaster to choose Brown as his first choice, and that Foden will hopefully get that bench spot.

Thank you to everyone that voted, and I hope you all enjoy watching the Six Nations in just under a month's time!

Keep calm and ruck on!
Jess.

View image | gettyimages.com

How much do the fans differ from good ol' Stuart Lancaster?

Please feel free to leave any comments underneath about the questionnaire or the blog in general. Would love to hear your thoughts on how the blog is going!

Let's get ready to ruckle!
Jess.

Where are all the women?

2014 was a fantastic year for women in sports, but how much of what these women achieved do you remember being covered in the media for more than a few minutes?

My example today is of course going to be the Women's Rugby World Cup. Now, I honestly had no idea that this competition was taking place until the Semi-Final stage when I saw a very brief mention on a news channel. Whether that is down to my own ignorance, who knows? Nevertheless, I am willing to bet that the reason for this is that all news channels seem to find any stories about men in sport, even minor ones, as more important. I am not, for one minute, suggesting that people don't prefer watching men play sports compared to women in sports because, let's be honest, if we all had to pick between watching women playing rugby or men playing rugby, 9 out of 10 of us would pick to watch the men's game. However, why does that mean that stories about women's achievements have to be pretty much absent in the news, rather than being on par with all other rugby coverage?

Yes, when the England Rugby Women won the World Cup last year, there was coverage in the media. That is not in doubt. But, whilst the coverage did stay in the media for a little while, once the women won Team of the Year at the Sports Personality of the Year awards, it was like the media had decided that enough was enough. They had to go back to covering men, and leave the women behind. Personally, I am tired of turning on the news channel to watch the sports section and only seeing that this men's team have beat this men's team, or that this man is moving from here to here. Quite often you will see mentions of results from the men's premiership, such as that Wasps beat Sale for example. But, have you ever seen a mention of the women's premiership? I certainly haven't.

My main issue is that it cannot be that difficult to make some sports stories a bit shorter in order to fit in a story relating to women in sports. So why don't they do it? Probably because women's sports are not as popular, and so these news channels figure that people want to hear about the men's sports. I am not suggesting that the news channels are inherently sexist, more that people have always been surrounded by sports involving men and that it's now the norm to watch the men and not the women. The only way that this can change is if people make the decision to get more interested in women's sports. And so I'm issuing a challenge, as some sort of new year's resolution, to everyone that reads this: I want you to post on Facebook or Twitter, as soon as you have read this, letting everyone know of your intention to help raise the profile of women's sports by watching as much as you can. And then I want you to follow through on this by watching women's sports for the rest of this year and beyond, continuing to post about it every time that you do so. I'm hoping to get a great response over the next few days in relation to this challenge. So please, if you read this, get involved, and let's give women's sports the coverage it deserves.

I am going to leave you with two things: a quote and a picture that I think sums up what I am saying perfectly.

First up is the quote where, on the 31st December, Katie Scott made a comment saying: "Just watched Sky Sports News and I'm genuinely appalled by the under-representation of women in that feature. About 5% of the entire thing focused on women, despite record breaking women's international football games, mad success in the women's cricket and rugby, and massive achievements at Sochi. Unbelievable." 

Lastly, this picture sums up the importance of covering women's sports. The England Rugby Women won the World Cup, beating Canada 21-9 to become the best team in the world. How often can you say that your country is the best in the world at something? Not that often I'll tell you. So why weren't they covered in the media much more extensively? This has to change, so let's get more interested about women in sport, and do everything we can to raise the profile!

View image | gettyimages.com

Let's get rucking!

Jess.