Saturday 6 August 2011
This week I will mostly be concerning myself with the loss of a legend, national crises and urgent management tasks...
Ferrasse was a fearsome lock, who helped Agen to a French Championship in 1945. But his great legacy was as an administrator, beginning with his refereeing of the 1959 final between Racing Club and Mont-de-Marsan.
He became President of Agen in 1965 - staying in the role for 20 years - and three years later took on the Presidency of the French Federation, a post he held for 23 years.
Ferrasse was also President of the IRB from 1979-87, overseeing the conception of, and build-up to the first Rugby World Cup and presenting New Zealand with the trophy after they had beaten France in the inaugural final. He oversaw France's accession to full IRB membership in 1978 and he was also the first Frenchman to receive the Vernon Pugh award from the IRB for his services to development of rugby. In 1990, still close to the players, he created the Foundation Albert Ferrasse designed to manage the aftermath of serious accidents associated with rugby.
Ferrasse was also a great sympathiser with South Africa during their isolation, once famously declaring on French TV that he 'knew nothing' when asked about South Africa's occupation of Namibia. He was also afforded the Legion d'Honneur by the French state.
His iron-fist style did not always win fans in France, but there is little doubt he contributed immensely to both France's position in the game today and to the controlled onset of professionalism. His is a great legacy left to the game.
"A part of French rugby has gone," said current FFR president Pierre Camou.
"As the French team prepares for the World Cup in New Zealand it is important to remember that it was Albert Ferrasse who paved the way for the first World Cup in 1987 in New Zealand. That just adds to the sadness."
RFU President Willie Wildash added: "Albert Ferasse made a huge difference not only to French rugby but the game as a whole both through his commitment to the development of the game and to player safety. His work with FIRA and the IRB was recognised by all. He was a friend to many across the world, was a fantastic ambassador for rugby and will be hugely missed."
Fiji's World Cup preparations lurch from the catastrophic to the disastrous still. Having lost several key players to personal reasons, been threatened by the NZ immigration control about military-connected players, and seen their Pacific Nations Cup undone by a glut of red cards in Japan, the union now appears to be in a frantic last-gasp scrabble for money.
While the government - which came to power in a military coup a couple of years ago and is thus the source of all the friction for the NZ immigration office - has been generous enough and the IRB has contributed as well, the team still has no sponsor, and the drubbing in New Zealand a fortnight ago is hardly making them an attractive proposition.
It's a shame. Fiji were the revelation of the French World Cup, but drawn as they are in the pool of death with Samoa, Wales and South Africa, it seems they are destined to take a couple of steps backward after the huge step forward.
South African fans have grave cause for concern this week after the hammering in New Zealand, but the return of 21 players from their secret training camp in Rustenburg ought to put a few things right (did we say training camp? sorry, we meant rehab centre, it definitely was not a training camp) over the next three weeks or so.
But of perhaps the most concern going into the tournament will be the form of fly-half Morné Steyn. Steyn has slipped tackle after tackle, has taken nearly all of his ball either standing still or shuffling sideways, now he is even shanking kicks at goal.
Steyn has been the go-to man for South Africa for yonks now. He kicks the goals, he hoists the up and unders. He used not to be averse to scoring a few tries and making a few breaks himself, especially when South Africa's runners had created the spaces inside.
But without him, South Africa look stuffed. Butch James is still a question that needs answering, Patrick Lambie's undoubted talent needs more time to develop before he can be the answer, Frans Steyn is not sophisticated enough. There are no other realistic options we can think of.
Peter de Villiers said at a press conference last week that Steyn was looking at his last chance for World Cup selection, which is a horrible thing to say when your number one fly-half for so long is going through a dip in form - the pressure is perpetually etched all over Steyn's face at every moment. Moving him to full-back just before the match hardly gave him room to answer that threat either.
Somebody perhaps needs to get inside Steyn's head a bit and look after him more, for if he does not get out of the slump in time, it looks as though the Boks may go about defending their world title without a proven number one fly-half.
The All Blacks shut out the Wallabies in a first-half blitz to win their opening Bledisloe Cup encounter 30-14 at Eden Park on Saturday
Due to a shortened version of the Tri-Nations (because of the World Cup), New Zealand's three-tries-to-two victory also sees them secure the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
It was a clinical display all round by the rampant All Blacks, who are now in pole position to claim yet another Tri-Nations title.
The Wallabies started and ended the match with plenty of promise, but it was the space in between that saw Robbie Deans' men capitulate to some ferocious defence from the home side.
The All Blacks knocked the stuffing out of their trans-Tasman rivals, often reversing the Wallabies' key strike runners and kept playmaker Quade Cooper quiet all night - New Zealand's steady pressure and suffocating defence denied the Aussie pivot the chance to regularly set his backline in motion.
Australia's cause was further undermined by poor goal-kicking, with James O'Connor' missing three successive penalties. But the same couldn't be said of Dan Carter, who was immaculate with the boot as the Wallabies were put to the sword.
Digby Ioane and Rocky Elsom did get on the board for the Wallabies in the second period, however it was merely consolation tries and they never looked like threatening New Zealand's 23-match unbeaten streak at the Auckland venue.
The opening passage of play played at a fast and furious pace, with both sides going at each other hammer and tongs. However, All Blacks centre Conrad Smith then affected a turnover in midfield which led to the opening score of the match.
Instrumental scrum-half Piri Weepu raced down the touchline, before linking with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu who got the attacking team close to the line. Flanker Jerome Kaino kept the ball alive and it was centre Ma'a Nonu who picked up the ball to drive through the legs to score.
Weepu's excellent work in keeping the ball in play was crucial in the All Blacks next try where as loose forwards Kieran Read and Richie McCaw powered their way towards Australia's tryline. Held inches short, hooker Keven Mealamu got low and had the strength to place the pigskin on the chalkdust for the try.
The home side took a seventeen-point lead into the break, and Carter extended the All Blacks lead just after the restart with a drop-goal which was only the third of his 82-Test career.
The Wallabies gave a vivid reminder of their threat from broken field when they turned over possession in their 22m and shifted the ball to Digby Ioane, who stood up full-back Mils Muliaina en route to goal.
With O'Connor relieved of the kicking duties, Cooper landed a touchline conversion which would have galavanised his side.
However, it would be shortlived as the All Blacks struck back with their third try straight from the restart after Australia failed to control the ball.
Read put the pressure on the Wallaby jumpers, and the ball - which seemed to have been knocked on by the number eight - bounced and landed in Conrad Smith's hands. The centre set off down the sideline before passing inside to Sivivatu who couldn't believe his luck.
Carter's conversion took New Zealand out to a 27-7 lead, which was soon stretched with another penalty goal before captain Elsom claimed a late consolation try for his beaten team.
Friday 5 August 2011
England Manager Martin Johnson insists that the captaincy of his World Cup squad is still up for grabs just five weeks ahead of the tournament
Lewis Moody, who will lead England against Wales this weekend, is widely expected to be named the skipper when the final squad is announced on August 22 but Johnson says that no man is guaranteed a place the 30-man group. "I've always said guys have got to get their place in the team," said Johnson.
"If any player isn't playing as well as another guy then is that other guy going to play? Well, yes.
"When we name the squad we will name our captain. Everyone is judged on merit and one of Lewis' merits is his leadership.
"You need that quality in the team and I think we missed him and Mike in the final Six Nations game in Dublin.
"Lewis, being who he is and what he has done, brings a huge amount of intangibles to the team but also adds to the collective."
And Moody welcomes the challenge.
"I am excited about this. Everyone is fired up and so they should be," said the 33-year-old Bath flanker.
"Every game leading into the World Cup is a trial for the squad and the individuals.
"I have always felt I have to prove myself, no matter what stage I am at in my career. There is always competition and that is what makes for a good squad.
"You have to make sure you are playing as well as you can do - and if you are captain that is an honour on top of that."
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Friday named a 24-man squad for the home leg of the Tri-Nations series
Six players remain on the injured list and are unavailable for selection, although three of them will join the squad in Durban to continue their rehabilitation.
The Springboks play Australia at Kings Park on August 13 before meeting New Zealand at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth a week later.
Nine of the players who appeared in the away leg of the Series have been retained, led by captain John Smit.
"We still have a number of injury concerns but the majority of the players who were in rehabilitation have recovered well and are now available for selection," said De Villiers.
Schalk Burger (hand), Juan Smith (Achilles) and Willem Alberts (shoulder) will be part of the squad but are not fit enough to be in contention for the match against Australia, said De Villiers. A fourth looseforward - Heinrich Brüssow - would be assessed with a view to joining the squad, following his planned appearance for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup on Saturday.
Lock forward Johann Muller remains on the injured list and with Andries Bekker ruled out of the Rugby World Cup tournament, Test newcomer Gerhard Mostert is named in the squad. The 26-year-old made his Test debut against New Zealand a fortnight ago.
"It's very satisfying to see that Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha have now largely overcome their injuries but they still require management as we have a shortage of fit locks at the moment," said de Villiers.
"We also have injury problems among the looseforwards but I am hopeful that all of the four who are not currently in the playing squad will be ready for selection by the time of the World Cup."
Scotland hooker Ross Ford is relishing the chance of taking on Ireland in their World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield on Saturday
"I'm excited to get on with it now," Ford told Press Association Sport.
"We've put in a lot of hard work over the past six to eight weeks. We're now looking forward to putting everything we've been doing into practice.
"It was a close game in the Six Nations. I'm excited to see how we've developed from there and I'm just looking forward to getting a hit out against another team.
"It's a good benchmark to see where you're at."
The Edinburgh stalwart was one of five Scotland players who were withdrawn from club service at the end of the Six Nations.
Ford's break came at an opportune time after he was also diagnosed with overtraining syndrome, due to to an elevated heart rate and persistent fatigue.
Up to then, he was playing continually for two years. This included the British & Irish Lions' tour to South Africa in 2009 and Scotland's trip to Argentina in 2010.
"The past two or three years have been pretty full-on. I've enjoyed it, but it's just built up," said Ford.
"It was good to be given that opportunity at the end of the season to go away and take it easier for a couple of weeks. I was a little bit surprised but I was quite pleased because I wasn't performing as well as I like.
"I was feeling quite tired, so it was good to have that chance to get over the bumps and bruises and be able to improve my fitness and work on skills.
"There was still training to be done - I got the same amount of time off as the rest of the boys - but while they were training for the games at the end of the week, I was only doing three days a week."
Scrum-half Rory Lawson will captain the side on Saturday, while Ford has been named vice-captain and pack leader.
He believes the role will have little impact on how he approaches the match.
"If there's something that needs saying during the game, I'll bring the forwards in and speak to them," said Ford.
"Bar that, not much else will change for me. I'll try and lead from the front and put in a solid performance."
When pivot Jonny Wilkinson plays for England against Wales on Saturday, it could be his final appearance for his country at Twickenham Stadium
Wilkinson, who has signed a new contract with Top 14 side Toulon, said it was not easy to know that it could be his farewell Test at Twickenham.
"It's a tough one," Wilkinson told Eurosport.
"It has been an incredible part of my life to date. To have been on that field so many times and have experienced all the highs and lows has been amazing.
"The thought of not having it any more is not one I wish to consider. It is a difficult situation. You don't want to deal with that kind of emotion."
Wilkinson has been a crowd favourite at Twickenham since his making his debut there against Ireland in 1998.
The 32-year-old fly-half said he hoped to reach an agreement with the RFU, which would designate him as a special case.
"I don't like this idea of restriction. I always want to have that open-ended feel to my career. I always like to keep doors open and if I can keep improving, I will keep doing that until someone shuts that door," he said.
"If I am playing in a way where people feel I need to be involved then great - if not, I will just be doing it for Toulon."
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