It is a truism in sport that you can only play the opposition in front of you. So it was at Twickenham when the ‘Red Roses’ England Women’s team inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Irish to set up a decider in Bordeaux against France – English teams can win in Bordeaux, n’est-ce pas? Ask the Harlequins.
Or was it a humiliation – the Irish women are a mix of sevens specialists and recently turned professionals. It is hardly surprising that a fired up England would despatch them with ease and would probably have done the same with their second team. That said, their intensity and skill with ball in hand was something to behold and it is a huge compliment that they could keep the quality up in what became a glorified training session.
You can see why the British and Irish Lions sponsors have granted funds to the other nations to play catch up in the next year or two or else their squad will be 100% English which is hardly the objective. I fear that this will not solve the issue.
England, meantime, will surely see off France comfortably in a forecast rainy Bordeaux and longer term have the World Cup in their sights at Twickenham next year as they are conclusively the best side in the world and have been for a while. Shades of the men’s team in 2003 and the Roses have home advantage. I have no doubt that a full house awaits and frankly, this time, they should not freeze against the expected finalists the Black Ferns. After all, Wayne Smith the finest attack coach in the world, will not be on hand to help them! But that’s for next year and in the dreams.
As I said, you cannot choose your opposition. Bristol Bears found this out as they produced a cricket score against the toothless Newcastle Falcons. It is an embarrassment to see the league carrying this albatross around it’s neck, especially when there is actually some small time drama at the other end. Reaching the Top 4 is the only narrative in town for TNT Sports and helpfully given a lift by a bizarre set of results which has meant seven teams out of ten contesting the final slots and it’s not done yet! One of the basement clubs, Gloucester, have won the Premiership Cup and are in the semifinal of the European Challenge Cup. Stranger still. For some it is a sign of a nascent league wide recovery and I am impressed by the way which the prodigious talent we have in this country has been given room to express itself. For others the concept of an effectively closed league of ten resembles a dream which could turn bad. To be clear this has nothing to do with the wonderful quality of rugby being served up by our top clubs and can continue whatever happens at the bottom.
The case for promotion from the Championship grows stronger by the day. As Chairman of the Championship Clubs and adviser to Ealing Trailfinders I can commit to all that we will relentlessly pursue another type of dream which should be the hope and ambition of any sport. The most important and valuable sporting occasion last year was for promotion into the Premier League and the never to be forgotten experiences of Luton Town. Rugby in this country can ill afford to turn off that light which should shine on the aspirations of every rugby player.
