Ireland's Six Nations victory over France could have subtle ramifications for the World Cup semi-finals next year
Welcome to the circle of rugby life: as one tournament ends, something bigger looms on the horizon. Even with 549 days still to go, the 2015 Rugby World Cup is beginning to feel real. Who is looking good? Who will improve most between now and then? Georgia, who qualified over the weekend for a place in New Zealand's pool, are not the only team looking forward to the experience of a lifetime.
In at least two areas of the northern hemisphere there already exists an air of genuine optimism. Following an enthralling Six Nations, there is belief in both Ireland and England that their improvement is more than just a flash in a parochial pan. Granted, the Irish must now find someone to take over from Brian O'Driscoll – a like-for-like replacement is a forlorn prospect – but Joe Schmidt is proving an extremely shrewd international coach and his side's first title since 2009 has given Stuart Lancaster a not-insignificant World Cup issue.
Much has been made of the English occupying the same pool as Wales and Australia, but Ireland's weekend victory over France could yet have subtle ramifications far beyond this season's Six Nations table. The Irish have the kindest World Cup schedule of any home nation: rolling over France again in their key pool game in Cardiff will ensure a probable quarter-final against an average Argentina. Win that and – drum roll – there is a significant chance of meeting England in the semi-finals if the host nation top their pool. As England and Ireland, now fourth and fifth respectively in the latest IRB world rankings, have also arranged a pre-tournament friendly at Twickenham, Lancaster will be thinking as much about Schmidt and Paul O'Connell in the next 18 months as Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton.
Next season's Six Nations sees England due to travel to Cardiff and Dublin to investigate whether their opponents' senior citizens have the legs to reach September 2015. If this Six Nations proved anything it is that Wales are far from invincible away from the Millennium Stadium; some freshening up may well be required in the months ahead. Notwithstanding the Scotland result, Warren Gatland has a tricky summer assignment coming up when he takes his squad to South Africa for two potentially savage Tests in Durban and Nelspruit. Already he is resigned to being without the injured Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny. Goodness knows how knackered some of his French-based players will be by June, while Alun Wyn Jones has been hammering away for months and will surely need a rest at some juncture.
It scarcely helps that Australia (in the same pool as Wales and England) are accelerating upwards under Ewen McKenzie. The Wallabies' three Tests against France in June should underline this, unless Philippe Saint-André's team solve their tendency to blow hotter and colder than a Baked Alaska.
Scotland also have an active summer in the Americas and South Africa, during which they need to re-sow some confidence as well as a new pitch. With South Africa and Samoa in their World Cup group, new impetus is required if they are to avoid bowing out in the pool stages as they did in 2011. There is still some hope, particularly once the injured Tim Visser and Sean Maitland are fit, but the incoming Vern Cotter will find the Murrayfield mood starkly different from all-conquering Clermont.
If Cotter can bring half the positive influence of his fellow Kiwi and good mate Schmidt he will justify his salary, but all things are relative. While South Africa are improving fast, New Zealand remain the obvious 2015 favourites and will view the forthcoming visit of England as an ideal chance to deliver a few home truths about the relative strength of the Six Nations.
Mike Brown, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees ... if they are brushed aside by Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Ma'a Nonu and co, England can hardly start to make extravagant claims about lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. Lancaster's side for the first Test in Auckland on 7 June, furthermore, will be lacking all those involved in the Aviva Premiership final the previous weekend.
It will be fascinating, even so, to see what the All Blacks make of the fast-maturing Billy Vunipola, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes, all of whom possess the power, skill and nous to demand their hosts' full attention. If England can expand their options at tighthead, hooker, openside flanker and wing between now and Christmas, Lancaster will be even happier.
In a perfect world Alex Corbisiero, Tom Croft and Christian Wade will also return ahead of schedule, and Leicester will help by giving Manu Tuilagi the odd run out on the wing. "You need four centres in your World Cup squad, one of whom can play on the wing ideally," stressed Lancaster. "Of our current centres the one who can play on the wing is Manu."
The time for experimentation, however, is almost done. All too soon the world will be gathering on England's doorstep. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
Welcome to the circle of rugby life: as one tournament ends, something bigger looms on the horizon. Even with 549 days still to go, the 2015 Rugby World Cup is beginning to feel real. Who is looking good? Who will improve most between now and then? Georgia, who qualified over the weekend for a place in New Zealand's pool, are not the only team looking forward to the experience of a lifetime.
In at least two areas of the northern hemisphere there already exists an air of genuine optimism. Following an enthralling Six Nations, there is belief in both Ireland and England that their improvement is more than just a flash in a parochial pan. Granted, the Irish must now find someone to take over from Brian O'Driscoll – a like-for-like replacement is a forlorn prospect – but Joe Schmidt is proving an extremely shrewd international coach and his side's first title since 2009 has given Stuart Lancaster a not-insignificant World Cup issue.
Much has been made of the English occupying the same pool as Wales and Australia, but Ireland's weekend victory over France could yet have subtle ramifications far beyond this season's Six Nations table. The Irish have the kindest World Cup schedule of any home nation: rolling over France again in their key pool game in Cardiff will ensure a probable quarter-final against an average Argentina. Win that and – drum roll – there is a significant chance of meeting England in the semi-finals if the host nation top their pool. As England and Ireland, now fourth and fifth respectively in the latest IRB world rankings, have also arranged a pre-tournament friendly at Twickenham, Lancaster will be thinking as much about Schmidt and Paul O'Connell in the next 18 months as Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton.
Next season's Six Nations sees England due to travel to Cardiff and Dublin to investigate whether their opponents' senior citizens have the legs to reach September 2015. If this Six Nations proved anything it is that Wales are far from invincible away from the Millennium Stadium; some freshening up may well be required in the months ahead. Notwithstanding the Scotland result, Warren Gatland has a tricky summer assignment coming up when he takes his squad to South Africa for two potentially savage Tests in Durban and Nelspruit. Already he is resigned to being without the injured Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny. Goodness knows how knackered some of his French-based players will be by June, while Alun Wyn Jones has been hammering away for months and will surely need a rest at some juncture.
It scarcely helps that Australia (in the same pool as Wales and England) are accelerating upwards under Ewen McKenzie. The Wallabies' three Tests against France in June should underline this, unless Philippe Saint-André's team solve their tendency to blow hotter and colder than a Baked Alaska.
Scotland also have an active summer in the Americas and South Africa, during which they need to re-sow some confidence as well as a new pitch. With South Africa and Samoa in their World Cup group, new impetus is required if they are to avoid bowing out in the pool stages as they did in 2011. There is still some hope, particularly once the injured Tim Visser and Sean Maitland are fit, but the incoming Vern Cotter will find the Murrayfield mood starkly different from all-conquering Clermont.
If Cotter can bring half the positive influence of his fellow Kiwi and good mate Schmidt he will justify his salary, but all things are relative. While South Africa are improving fast, New Zealand remain the obvious 2015 favourites and will view the forthcoming visit of England as an ideal chance to deliver a few home truths about the relative strength of the Six Nations.
Mike Brown, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees ... if they are brushed aside by Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Ma'a Nonu and co, England can hardly start to make extravagant claims about lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. Lancaster's side for the first Test in Auckland on 7 June, furthermore, will be lacking all those involved in the Aviva Premiership final the previous weekend.
It will be fascinating, even so, to see what the All Blacks make of the fast-maturing Billy Vunipola, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes, all of whom possess the power, skill and nous to demand their hosts' full attention. If England can expand their options at tighthead, hooker, openside flanker and wing between now and Christmas, Lancaster will be even happier.
In a perfect world Alex Corbisiero, Tom Croft and Christian Wade will also return ahead of schedule, and Leicester will help by giving Manu Tuilagi the odd run out on the wing. "You need four centres in your World Cup squad, one of whom can play on the wing ideally," stressed Lancaster. "Of our current centres the one who can play on the wing is Manu."
The time for experimentation, however, is almost done. All too soon the world will be gathering on England's doorstep. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.