10 MONTHS IS a long time in rugby, but already the 2015 Rugby World Cup is in the background of many discussions within the sport.
Joe Schmidt’s Ireland underlined their growing credentials as contenders with wins over South Africa and Australia this month, although with a Six Nations campaign and four warm-up games to be played before they face Canada in Pool D in September next year, it’s early to accurately assess how far they can go.
Here’s how Ireland’s group stage oppenents got on this month.
France
A typically mixed bag from Philippe Saint-André’s side in November, with wins over Fiji and Australia followed by a disappointing performance in defeat to Argentina last weekend.
The try-scoring displays of 21-year-old wing Teddy Thomas lit up the Fiji and Australia fixtures, as the Racing Métro man dotted down four times in total, including a sublime effort against the Wallabies.
Saint-André also introduced fullback Scott Spedding to the international game, with the South Africa native performing solidly. At out-half, Camille Lopez impressed as he racked up three starts, and the Clermont man’s kicking and attacking skills should see him retained for the Six Nations.
Captain Thierry Dusautoir was back in form for les Bleus, while Bernard Le Roux finally showed his quality on the international stage at openside. Overall, those individual performances made it a positive month, even with the step backwards versus Argentina.
- Won v Fiji, 40-15
- Won v Australia, 29-26
- Lost v Argentina, 13-18
Italy
Jacques Brunel’s men opened their month with a hard-fought win over Samoa in Ascoli, as debutant out-half Kelly Haimona – a New Zealander by birth – kicked 14 points. The Zebre man retained the 10 shirt for the two other Tests this month.
Unfortunately for Italy, those games both ended in defeat, first against Argentina and then South Africa. The former result will have caused most regret, with Brunel’s side having controlled the game for long periods.
Italy were relatively impressive as they lost to the Springboks, inspired once again by a brilliantly in-form Sergio Parisse.
In terms of personnel, Brunel made few changes to his starting XV across the month, providing the ever-improving likes of Michele Campagnaro, Leonardo Sarto and Joshua Furno with more valuable international experience.
- Won v Samoa, 24-13
- Lost v Argentina, 18-20
- Lost v South Africa, 6-22
Romania
November began in negative fashion with a 27-17 defeat to the US, a side ranked just one place above them by World Rugby. As ever, the set-piece performed well but Romania’s back play remains a distance off that standard.
Lynn Howells’s side, who have voiced their belief in a promotion/relegation system between the Six Nations and European Nations Cup, were beaten again the following weekend, going down 18-13 to Eddie Jones’ Japan.
The month did end positively for the Romanians, however, as out-half Florin Vlaicu kicked all the points in an 18-9 win over World Cup opponents Canada, a victory which lifted them above the losers to 17th in the world rankings.
Fullback/wing Catalin Fercu leaves the international camp to join Saracens in the Premiership, a boost for Romanian rugby in general with the vast majority of their players still based on home soil.
- Lost v USA, 17-27
- Lost v Japan, 13-18
- Won v Canada, 18-9
Canada
Kieran Crowley’s team got their November series underway with a non-Test match against an English Championship XV, which they lost 28-23 in the absence of several of their first-choice players.
Within the international window, a 17-13 win over Namibia in Wales was a more encouraging start, although it was a result that was anticipated given the Namibians’ ranking down in 22nd on World Rugby’s official list.
Defeat to Samoa the following week was a disappointment, particularly as a crucial second-half try for the Samoans came directly from a Canadian error. The loss to Romania last weekend was the biggest blow of all ahead of the World Cup.
Crowley introduced place-kicking scrum-half Gordon McRorie to the team with regular nine Phil Mack out injured. Scotland native McRorie qualified on residency rules earlier this year and demonstrated that he can push Mack in the coming 10 months.
- Lost v Championship XV, 28-23
- Won v Namibia, 17-13
- Lost v Samoa, 13-23
- Lost v Romania, 9-18
