In the world of rugby, it's all about who's hot and who's not, and this week's edition of our Monday wrap is a real rollercoaster. Let's dive into the action and see who's making headlines for all the right reasons, and who's struggling to find their footing.
Will Jordan: The Rising Star
Will Jordan is on fire! The All Blacks' try-scoring record-breaker has taken the rugby world by storm. Jordan's hat-trick against the Azzurri was a sight to behold, with each try showcasing his poacher's instinct and clever support play. But it's not just his scoring prowess that's impressive; his trajectory from debut in 2020 to becoming one of the first names on the team sheet is truly remarkable. Jordan's performance against the Azzurri, where he also wore the captain's armband, was the icing on the cake for a truly special day. In my opinion, Jordan is a player to watch, and his impact on the All Blacks is only set to grow.
Henry Pollock: The Rising England Star
Henry Pollock had a statement performance for England, and his calls to promote him into the starting team are becoming harder to ignore. With 32 minutes on the clock, Pollock took the game by the scruff of the neck, bagging a hat-trick and amassing the second-most metres across the Test. This follows a string of quality performances in big games, including a Man of the Match display in Northampton's PREM final win over Exeter Chiefs. Pollock is in a confident mood, and I believe a start for England is not too far away. His impact on the field is undeniable, and he's a player who can make a real difference.
Sean Jansen: The Connacht Man
Sean Jansen had a debut to remember for Connacht, looking right at home at this level. His performance was far from flashy but was well-executed, with hard carries, solid tackling, and a well-deserved try. Jansen's performance was exactly what Ireland needed on a day that called for a performance like his. With many of Ireland's current crop approaching the end of their careers, Jansen is in the sweet spot regarding his age profile. He's only 27 and has a lot of his best rugby ahead of him. Caelan Doris may still be at the top of the depth chart at number eight, but Jansen showed he can step into that role.
France: The vocal critics silenced
France had some vocal critics ahead of this Nations Championship block, but they seemed to answer all of them with a big win over the Wallabies. The playmaking axis of Maxime Lucu, Romain Ntamack, and Matthieu Jalibert worked beautifully, and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang enjoyed a fine Test debut. If anything, it was exactly how France won the Six Nations, just with some different names in the side. This proves that Les Bleus are in rude health, and you'd be brave to write them off. In my opinion, France is a force to be reckoned with, and their performance against the Wallabies was a clear indication of their potential.
England: The must-win Test
England needed a big win over Fiji, and they got it. While it wasn't absolute perfection, it was the tonic they needed after some hefty losses against Tier One nations. With changes made within the team, including the likes of Henry Slade and Guy Pepper coming into the starting side, and debutants Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori, and George Kloska featuring among the replacements, England got the job done. The upcoming test against Argentina feels like a big one for them, and a win would go a long way. But for now, England needed a big win, and they got it.
Finn Russell: The Scotland Fly-half
Finn Russell had a performance against the Springboks that was described as 'quite possibly the finest Test match of his career'. The Scotland fly-half was excellent in defeat, putting on an all-court game at Loftus Versfeld that was a joy to watch. The scoreboard denied him, but nothing else did. In my opinion, Russell's performance was a testament to his skill and determination, and it's a performance that will live long in the memory.
Pacific Island Nations: The tough weekend
The Pacific Island nations had a tough weekend, with all of them tasting defeat to European opposition. Fiji were whacked 73-8 by England, Tonga fell to a 32-19 defeat to Spain, and Samoa lost 33-12 to Georgia. The fact that none of them picked up any form of bonus point in these defeats will also sting, and it seems they're losing ground in their respective pools. But they do have winnable Tests lined up this weekend, and I believe they'll want to forget about the weekend just gone by and focus on the future.
SA Rugby Drug Scandal: An ugly picture
South African rugby has been hit with yet another unwanted drug scandal, with a urine sample from Junior Springboks and Sharks man Kai Pratt returning an adverse analytical finding relating to a prohibited substance. This comes amid the backdrop of Asenathi Ntlabakanye’s 18-month ban, and it just paints an ugly picture for the union. In my opinion, this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, and it's a black eye for South African rugby.
Wallabies: The loss of mojo
The Wallabies are back in a sticky position, with Joe Schmidt’s side on a run of nine defeats from their past 10 Tests and haven’t won since a victory over Japan in October last year. They pushed the British and Irish Lions all the way in Test Two of the series and could easily have won, before going onto claim victory in Test Three and a week later beating the Springboks. But now, they are back in a sticky position. The ongoing coaching saga might have an effect, but in the here and now, they just need to find a way to win. Then, they can build. In my opinion, the Wallabies need to find their mojo again, and soon.
In conclusion, this week's wrap has shown that rugby is a game of ups and downs, and it's all about who can rise to the challenge. From rising stars to tough weekends, and from drug scandals to coaching sagas, rugby is a game that never ceases to amaze. As we move forward, I believe we'll see more of these ups and downs, and it's up to the players and coaches to navigate them with skill and determination.
