Dispatches from Europe
Pretty tasty weekend, no?
First off, it’s been a while since I’ve posted on Substack, why is that?
Well, other than an actual job that requires my daily attention (and pays me) I spent my autumn jaunting to Twickenham each week for the autumn internationals, freelancing for iNews.
Besides, busy time of year right? With that said, let’s get into some of this weekend’s interesting tidbits from Europe, starting with…
What The Hell Did The Ospreys Just Do?
When Warren Gatland took charge of his first Wales game, all the way back in the 2008 Six Nations against England, 13 of his 15 starting players came from the Ospreys.
This was of course an Ospreys side who had won the Celtic League in 2005 and 2007, before winning a further two in 2010 and 2012. A squad overcrowded with talent; from Shane Williams and Gavin Henson to Alun Wyn Jones and Ryan Jones.
Today’s Ospreys team are a far cry from the aforementioned side when it comes to star quality, obviously, as any team would be. But they have them matched in one aspect at least, with 2008 being the last, and first, time the Ospreys won a Heineken Cup match away in France.
And one wonders if those boys in Swansea remembered Gatland’s early penchant for an Ospreylian core in his sides, as they beat the Top 14 Champions Montpellier comprehensively at the GGL Stadium.
Montpellier crumbled throughout the evening sure, being penalised 10 times in the first half, but it takes two to tango, and it would have meant nothing if the Welsh side hadn’t reached out and grabbed the metaphorical baton that Montpellier’s indiscipline presented.
It was a performance built on simplistic savagery and shithousery. The former symbolised by Adam Beard’s aggressiveness in the ruck and mauls; the latter embodied by the tenacious Rhys Webb, who controlled the tie whilst being a constant thorn in Montpellier’s side.
Others put themselves on Gatland’s too no doubt, the likes of Morgan Morris and Kieran Williams amongst others. This side may currently sit 14th in the URC - a far cry from former glories - but who knows, we may be seeing a bit more of them in a few months.
Ulster’s Second-Half Defibrillation
It felt like we had been flung back two years into the past as Ulster and La Rochelle took to the Aviva, completely devoid of a crowd save for an “official delegation” from Stade Rochelais.
Not only an eerie and miserable reminder of Covid-19’s effect on sport, but by half-time Ulster were behind 29-points to nil against La Rochelle - an equally gloomy repeat of Sale’s 39-0 drubbing of them a week before. Go back a week before the Sale game, to the second half against Leinster, and Ulster had been outscored 96-7 in their last 160 minutes of rugby. 160 minutes of bleak and uncomfortable rugby devoid of fight.
The physicality of La Rochelle was scary at times and at a level that no team in Europe (or possibly even South Africa) could compete with. Put bluntly, Ulster were helpless. Gregory Alldritt and Will Skelton were impactful with every hit and bullied Ulster’s pack and pinched turnover ball when the opportunity came.
Even when Ulster had moments of comfortability in possession, the hermetic defence of La Rochelle shut them down and made Ulster cough up penalties. And those penalties killed Ulster just as much as the French side’s physical dominance did, with Antoine Hastoy kicking 12 points in the first half. Had the discipline been better, had John Cooney’s slip not allowed such a soft try - who knows what the final score could have been?
The downturn from Ulster’s four consecutive URC wins prior to the Leinster capitulation was sharp and brutal, and threatened to derail their entire season. Yet, by the time the clock hit red against La Rochelle, perhaps a modicum of optimism had been reinstalled after a dismal few weeks. The game ending in the French side’s favour by 36-29, with Ulster coming away with two unexpected bonus points.
And optimism is the name of the game in times like these. Those 160 minutes of dreadful rugby may seem little within the wider context of an entire season, but weeks like those can kill motivation and positivity quick, spreading throughout players and fans like a virus.
But that 40 minute showing has the potential to reinvigorate a mentality which Leinster seemingly broke two weekends ago. Securing knockout qualification will be difficult from here sure, but those two bonus points will be vital to doing so. Either way, Ulster can head back to the URC with their enthusiasm reinstalled after getting the better of the reigning Champions Cup holders in the second half.
Once Again, Racing’s Continental Hopes Are Seemingly Dashed
Billions of eyes across the globe, mine included, witnessed a World Cup final that seemed almost fictitious at times. Lionel Messi and his Argentina side resisted the inevitable burst of of illustriousness from Kylian Mbappe, finally bestowing sport’s ultimate prize on the mythical man from Rosario.
Whilst the most symbolic and meaningful matches played out in Qatar, at the much lowlier surroundings of The Twickenham Stoop, Racing 92 practically said goodbye to their hopes of Champions Cup qualification.
Two of Europe’s most valorous sides met on Sunday - two sides who’s rugby conjures up a myriad of adjectives - and their clashing heralded a banquet of absorbing rugby. Unfortunately, an offensive delight this match was not, as rain fell on The Stoop and flooded it, engulfing anyone’s hopes of a free-flowing game along the way.
Most emblematic of the game’s lack of entertainment was Finn Russell wading his way through the Stoop swamp shortly beyond the hour mark, his evening a challenging one - and hopefully not a sign what is to come for Bath next season.
Kitione Kamikamica was Racing’s sole try-scorer, but saw his good work tarnished by a red card from a dangerous tackle on winger Josh Bassett. The talk of the town, however, was Harlequins’ prop Fin Baxter, who on his maiden start for the club, took home the player of the match award.
The young man, who looks conspicuously like that one overgrown lad that every Under-13s rugby side had, consistently made life a nightmare for the colossal Biyi Alo, who struggled to contain the power of the Quins pack.
Also, have you ever seen a more lovely and down to earth interview?
But for Racing, once again it looks increasingly likely that European silverware will elude them. Forever the bridesmaids - and arguably one usually more beautiful and stunning than the brides.
They sit second in the Top 14 with the annual hopes of domestic gold in their sights, but this is a team built to impress - built to win, yet the plaudits that has befitted their sheer individual quality is nowhere to be seen. The shelves at the indomitable La Défense should be flowing and gleaming.
Instead, this Racing side we’ve come to know and enjoy over the last half-decade may soon be known as one of modern rugby’s great incarnations that could never get the job done.
Welcome back