Blood & Mud

Yachvili was brazen in the Amlin Final, but cheating is an integral part of Rugby

There have been many examples of blatant cheating down the rugby years. Neil Back's slap at the ball in the Heineken Cup final may stand out as the most infamous, but it is not an isolated incident, and that's leaving aside the many punches thrown over the years.

In last week's Amlin Cup final Dimitri Yachvili blatantly fouled his opposite number, it was missed by the official and Toulon were robbed of possession at a crucial moment.  Was it blatant?  Yes. Was it illegal?  Yes.  Does Yachvili deserve to be vilified?  No.

We love our game for many reasons, uppermost is that there are certain standards that are expected on the field.   These are so respected that officials or governing bodies generally do not need to enforce them.  Talking back to a ref will bring a rebuke from your own team stronger than any from an official; injured players from either side are applauded off the field by both teams; and at the final whistle handshakes and tunnels are made without prompting to acknowledge mutual effort and respect.

On the flip side of this, cheap shots and violence were prevalent for a long time and everyone is glad that this is being addressed via the citing system, tougher sanctions and a shift in culture in the modern professional era.  While this change is a welcome one, one thing that will never change about rugby is that cheating, or more specifically technical cheating, is a fundamental part of the game.

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Rugby Video: George Ford, chip off the old block?

Much of the talk after the weekend's semi-final win for Leicester has been about GOODness of George Ford, and they are right to wax in such a way about an obvious talent.  However, for those who are getting a bit too overexcited about the young man I offer two words of warning: Danny Cipriani.

But he didn't get this talent out of the back stone.  As you can see, his dad wasn't always a dour faced defence coach, he knew his way to the line as well.

The Exit Lounge: Martyn Williams

Beyond singing at a karaoke night in a busy pub, your author has not had many brushes with fame.  However, one night a decade or so ago I ended up spending a couple of hours with Martyn Williams during a night out - occasioned by me being out with a mate who knew him and bumping into him in a private room in a Cardiff club.  One of the lovely things about rugby in Wales is that this is not that unusual an occurence. 

I only mention this event as it gave me a chance to get close to the 99-cap man.  The most remarkable thing about him is how unremarkable he looks and behaves.  Quietly spoken, humble, not particularly big, receding copper hairline, conservatively dressed - if you didn't know who he was you would never guess he was a genuine rugby great.  Those of us in the know are well aware that this is exactly what he is.

Martyn reaffirmed your love of the game every time you saw him play; canny at the breakdown, comfortable in the loose, vision of a fly-half, bravery of the hardest of forwards, he could even kick - the type of player we all wished we could be.  It is testament to him that one of the few reasons I would criticise Ian McGeechan is for his selection of David Wallace ahead of Williams on the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa.  When fit, the Welshman was the best seven in Britain & Ireland, there was no debate.

Ever humble, Williams said in an interview with Paul Rees today "When I look at the likes of Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric contesting the seven jersey, I am glad I started when I did: I am not sure I would win a cap now."  I'm sure he would, and so is everyone else that saw him perform.  

This greatness is about to retire, and with his swansong for Cardiff Blues denied by injury Wales have a chance to do the right thing and select him for the Barbarians match later in the summer, which would allow the Wales fans to say a farewell and him to reach 100 caps.  

If anyone deserves such an indulgence it is Williams; the fact he does not expect it and would not seek it is all the more reason to give it to him.

 

Win a pair of tickets to the Marriott London Sevens on 12th & 13th May

Chris Cracknell and Michaela Staniford wearing the new England Rugby Sevens kit to be worn exclusively at the Marriott London Sevens

The world’s finest rugby sevens talent will be on show at Twickenham Stadium in the Marriott London Sevens on the 12^th and 13^th May. This year thousands of fans in flowing flares and groovy afros will embrace the 1970s disco theme, while enjoying the fast, expansive rugby at one of the top events in the London social calendar. 

Last year’s festival of rugby saw a world record  100,000 fans head through the gates over the two days. With 35,000 tickets already sold, the 2012 event is on course to be even bigger and better.

During March weekend tickets for all the action on 12th & 13th May are available from just £20. After that, weekend passes start from £30, single day tickets from £18 and kids tickets at £5 each day.  Visit www.rfu.com/tickets or call 0844 847 2492.  (Tickets are subject to availability and booking fees apply)

But, if you and a friend fancy going to the event courtesy of your favourite rugby blog, then simply send your name and address to this email, and please put Sevens Comp in the subject line.  Good luck!

Check out the video after the jump

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Gameplans Explained! Tom Varndell, defending

Change of club will not change view of Chris Ashton unless he develops some self-awareness

Let me state straight away that I like Chris Ashton; as a player he's talented, a finisher of rare quality (as 91 tries in 109 appearances for Saints testifies). He is decent value in interviews and a different character to a lot of pros who often come across as wooden.  However, many others do not share this view, seeing the former RL man as arrogant and irritating.

Ashton has stated in a Telegraph interview that he is aware of this latter view and hopes that a new start at Saracens will give him a chance to change what he believes is an unfair perception.

“It does hurt that I’m seen as arrogant by some people and it’s beyond me how it comes to that at times,” Ashton says. “There’s nothing much you can do about perceptions apart from keeping on doing your best. I do care. I don’t want people thinking negative stuff about me.

"There was me, scoring tries, glad to be doing so, and then I’d get slammed for celebrating too much."

Ashton focusing on the 'Ash Splash' as a reason for many people's negative opinion of him is erroneous, most saw it for what it was - daft over-exuberance - and the witch-hunt that followed it at the time was mostly media created.

The statement that most undermines his attempts to change the attitudes towards him is, "it's beyond me how it comes to [being seen as arrogant] at times."  Ashton's biggest flaw is that his level of sledging, mouthing and niggling goes up inversely to how he is playing in a match - the worse the performance, the more off the ball nonsense he engages in.  He could dive over the try line all he wants if he shut his gap and cut out the cheap shots for the rest of the eighty minutes. 

If this awareness is "beyond him", then a new shirt for next season will not be enough for a new affection from the rugby public. 

Friday Fun and win some training gear with Canterbury NZ

Canterbury are currently running a weekly game where they ask for puns on rugby players' names along a different theme each week, this week’s theme was a Racing XV in light of the Grand National, and here is the lineup.

1.      Johnny Golding Cup
2.      Schalk-alakaboomboom Brits
3.      Comply or Dai Young
4.      Quintin Gelding-huys
5.      Neigh-than Hines
6.      Tim Jodhpur
7.      Bobbyjo Worsley
8.      Zinzan Beechers Brooke
9.      Piri Whip-u
10.     Felipe Conte-pony
11.     Bruce Reins-hana
12.     Yearling Mortlock
13.     Billy Twelve-Ain-Trees
14.     Mark Cueto Star
15.     Hugo Southwell Racecourse

Keep an eye out for the weekly UltimateXV game from Canterbury by liking them at www.facebook.com/canterbury or following them at @canterburyNZ

And because the guys at Canterbury are so generous they've given Blood and Mud some kit to give away to the readers. For those gearing up for the summer months, and looking to keep fit during some (hopefully) warmer weather, Canterbury's range of 'hot' baselayers are designed to keep you cold in even the warmest temperatures. Made from BaseLayer fabric which uses the technology of a moisture wicking transport system, the tops conserve energy that would otherwise be utilised to maintain a consistent body temperature.

We've got three tops to give away, so to be in with a chance of winning one,  then send an email to this address.  Good luck!  If you're not luck enough to win this time don't fret as they're available at http://shop.canterbury.com

 

If Andy Farrell can't "get the backline going", then how is it achieved?

Andy Farrell's decision to turn down a backs role with England to remain with Saracens to continue a job that he says, "isn’t anywhere near half done, and ... I want to help finish" has been met with mixed opinions among fans.

Those that believe that Farrell was the wrong appointment for England have pointed to 'failing to get the backline going' in the recent Six Nations as the primary reason for their doubts about the former RL man.  While we all know that 'getting the backline going' means at least getting over the gainline and ultimately scoring tries regularly, how is this best achieved?  What was Farrell doing wrong?  

The reasons why a backline doesn't get going are easy to spot; ponderous service from scrum-half, static position when receiving the ball, poor angles of running, badly timed runs, alignment not right.  (Don't even get me started on the standards of alignment in the pro game, it is almost universally terrible).  But identifying the specifics of creativity is a little more difficult.  Let's start with a a team that have done it well recently. 

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Scottish Rugby Union want "a chat" with Andy Robinson when they should be showing him the door

Scotland have lost their last seven matches, a record of Waspsian proportions, with the enduring image of their Six Nations being Andy Robinson thumping the plexiglass is his Glass Cage of Impotent Fury. On top of this there are now rumours of rifts between the coach and some of the players.  

The SRU, deciding that they need to do something about this, have invited Andy Robinson in for "a chat".  A very informal chat, they are keen to stress, which is PR code for "this is not a performance review and we won't be sacking him.  At least not yet.."

But are they right not to consider his position more formally at this time?

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RBS 6 Nations 2012: SHIT team of the tournament

Rougerie looking not his best on or off the field.

15.  Clement Poitrenaud - The good thing about Clement is that he runs a lot of ball back.  Unfortunately, in this tournament this was not really working for him and so he started kicking; it was at this point we realised why he runs so much ball back.

14.  Andrew Trimble - Didn't transfer his club form to the big stage.

13.  Aurelien Rougerie - Spent many years looking like a plank of wood; suprised everyone last year by looking a lot better, went back to full coated with Ronseal form this time around.

12.  Nick De Luca - What can we say that's not been said so many, many, many, many times before.

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