As World Cup warm-up matches come and go, we amble closer and closer to the big show which kicks off in just over three weeks. And with teams looking to assert themselves as genuine contenders, we’re starting to get more of an idea about where some 50/50 teams are. With only two World Cup warm-ups this weekend, we were afforded more of an opportunity to see the outcome of different combinations and different team selections.
Italy v Scotland – Turin, Italy – 12-16
It seemed to be almost a step back for Scotland as they arrived in Turin looking to build on their promising performance the week before where they pushed Ireland all the way in Dublin. Searching for their first win of 2015 after a 6 Nations Championship they’d rather forget, where the ball stuck last week, it didn’t this week as there were plenty of penalties and handling errors, especially in contact.
With Scottish coach Vern Cotter making 11 changes to the Scottish side that went down bravely in Dublin, he could hardly expect the same cohesion and running style from his team. However he would have expected a few more players to put their hands up. Instead, what unfolded was a reasonably dull encounter which evoked memories of the similarly uninteresting match-up between the same two teams in the 6 Nations earlier this year.
A win would have meant a lot more to Italy than it would have to Scotland – especially considering that they won the fixture in Edinburgh in February AND that these two teams will match up in the World Cup starting next month. But it was Scotland that emerged victorious through a late try to replacement half-back Henry Pyrgos.
The Rugby Drum’s Player of the Match – John Hardie
New Zealand-born flank John Hardie enjoyed his debut with Scotland and registered a fine performance, especially in defence where he was physical and his work rate was high.
The Rugby Drum’s Ghost of the Match – Matias Aguero
Showing every bit of his 34 years of age, Aguero seemed unfit and lazy around the breakdown. His scrummaging was solid but he’ll do well to lock down a place in the RWC squad after that performance. It may just be that Brunel has noone else to go to.
France v England – Stade de France, Paris – 25-20
In what will definitely be one of the biggest talking points for the next fortnight, a seemingly born-again France dominated almost from start to finish against what looked like something similar to England’s first team. Much was made about the performance of France’s forward pack after the first World Cup warm-up in Twickenham last week and more of the same was dished out to the World Cup hosts in front of a hostile Paris crowd.
To be absolutely fair to the visitors, they were nothing short of dreadful in the first half. Stalling through a lack of physicality up front to a lack of cohesion in the second row, England’s forward pack failed to gain parity as they looked unorganised and unfit (although Billy Vunipola is looking very lean and mean following an intense pre-season). England’s cause wasn’t helped by aimless kicking by pivot George Ford and a flawed game plan against a France team hell bent on showing that they weren’t a spent rugby nation.
Taking nothing away from France, it’s hard to believe they’ve been a team in turmoil for the past three and a half years. And this win might just kick start a rugby machine that has been so sorely missed from the rugby world for the past few years. They were combative in close, very physical at the break down and, in contrast to what unfolded in Twickenham a week ago, their back-line possessed some real bite.
The Rugby Drum’s Player of the Match – Freddie Michalak
He’s been around the block and he’s going to go around the block once more locking in a World Cup berth in the France RWC squad. The way he directed traffic, kicked his goals and ran the ball, he’s definitely one to look for in the big show
The Rugby Drum’s Ghost of the Match – Chris Robshaw
This title could have gone to almost anyone in the England forward pack who were outmuscled and outplayed but it goes to Robshaw for being ineffectual at the breakdown. His team’s discipline sadly lacked and he was played out of the game