Start your day with five eye-catching egg-chasing quotes & links from around the ruggersphere.
Terrible new about Felix Jones
Best wishes for his future
Hearing about retirements way too often
"Proud to say i played Rugby with @FelixJones15 .Has incredible values and a never ending appetite for success and hardwork. #hardasnails" - @RonanOGara10
"The style suits the young lads, everyone who's been through the academy and played with the 'A' team over the last few years loves playing the attacking rugby.
Gone are the days when Connacht were seen as the poor relations of Irish rugby and, while they lack the budget and profile of Leinster, Munster and Ulster, they have fostered a formidable team ethic
While it all seems unlikely, it should not be forgotten that English and French clubs overthrew the establishment as it were in abolishing the Heineken Cup
Feel free to share any interesting links you spot yourself about t’internet by email, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, blog comment or carrier pigeon – whatever works for you. JLP
Note - views expressed in "Front Five" links do not necessarily reflect those of HarpinOnRugby
It started with twenty nations and now it’s down to the last two. Many would have predicted that a southern hemisphere showdown was possible at the start of RWC2015, but at least we now know that it will be the All Blacks and the Wallabies trying to claim rugby’s most famous prize on Saturday evening.
Needless to say the money on New Zealand making the final was always going to be a few quid well spent, with the current champions starting the tournament in a slow but steady fashion before the demolition of Tonga in the pool stages at St James Park and the thrashing of France in the quarter finals set up a meeting with fellow Rugby Championship members South Africa at the Cabbage Patch. An attritional battle followed and unusually NZ were undisciplined at the breakdown, but once again the Kiwi’s proved their worth and showed just why they are so difficult to beat, edging the Springboks by a narrow two-point margin. The familiar faces of Julian Savea, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter have all contributed to the All Blacks getting to yet another final, but it’s players such as the likes of Nehe Milner-Skudder that have once more highlighted just how much potential this side has for the future.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies had put all of their previous demons to rest, with Michael Cheika’s squad qualifying from the proverbial pool of death with minimal ease. Both the threat of Wales and England were likely to cause problems for the Australians, yet the script was well and truly torn up, as Bernard Foley took the hosts apart and destroyed their World Cup dream in the process, with David Pocock rightfully stating his claim as not only the tournaments best player, but perhaps the best in world rugby right now. Scotland caused serious problems for the Aussies at Twickenham and perhaps if it wasn’t for Craig Joubert they would have already been on the plane home. Argentina were spirited in the semi finals, but the old adage of tries win games was a true one, with Adam Ashley-Cooper’s hat-trick downing a Los Pumas side that had already embarrassed Ireland in the previous round.
This weekends final would no doubt be open and shut and it must be clearly noted that both teams have been the best at the tournament since the opening day. Australia’s expansive style of play may well catch out their most famous foes, with the likes of Drew Mitchell and Tevita Kuridrani providing pace. Foley will again aim to pull the strings from the outhalf position, the Waratahs man having seventy five points to his name at England 2015 so far. But the forward prowess of New Zealand will be hard to match, Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane will be relentless in the loose, not to mention that Dan Carter has nailed a highly impressive twenty one conversions this championship.
With yet another 80,000 strong crowd expected at Twickenham this weekend, it is with unquestionable doubt that despite the early English exit and the lack of northern hemisphere nations in the later stages of the competition, this tournament has been a total success with some describing it as the best Rugby World Cup since its inception. It’s not easy to pick a winner with these two so closely matched, but no doubt so many will try. For me it’s pretty simple… the head says the All Blacks every time…. But the heart thinks the Wallabies just might nick it.
@Kristian7Ross - 21, Geordie, part time journalist and Irish Rugby fan.
*****
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Moody joins forces with stunt driver Terry Grant and motorcyclist Lee Bowers to create a Guinness World Record™
Greatest Speed Differential between the Throw and Catch of a Rugby Ball
As all eyes hone in on rugby, former England captain Lewis Moody and long term partner of England Rugby and the WRU, NatWest, have taken the art of the interception to new speeds – and set an official Guinness World Record™ along the way.
Moody acted as an advisor on the stunt, working with renowned stunt driver Terry Grant and motorcyclist Lee Bowers to coach Lee of performing a pass, which was required to pull off the record.
‘NatWest presents The World’s Fastest Interception’ starts with two cars travelling perilously along on two wheels heading towards a try line. A local rugby player then emerges from the window of each balancing vehicle and the players begin to complete a series of car-to-car passes as the cars continue onward at 25-30mph.
As the players are about to complete their next pass – already an impressive feat from the precariously balanced cars – stunt rider Lee Bowers bursts on to the scene, takes to his feet on the seat of the motorbike to ride between the cars and plucks the ball from the air before riding off and touching down over a try-line lit in flames.
On helping create the record, Lewis commented: “I thought I had seen just about everything possible in rugby but working with these stunt men travelling at such speeds and pulling off the pass at real pace is definitely something new for rugby!
“NatWest is part and parcel of grassroots, community rugby through RugbyForce so for them to build on that with something so daring and cutting edge is hugely entertaining and I am sure it will inspire many new fans to get involved in the game.”
The interception was carried out under the watchful eye of an official Guinness World Records™ adjudicator and with a closing speed of 51.34 mph, set a new record for ‘The greatest speed differential between the throw and catch of a rugby ball’.
Rhidian Taylor, Head of Brand, Advertising & Sponsorship at NatWest added: “This year has been a big one for rugby and through The World’s Fastest Interception and the Flying Winger content, we hope to inspire new people into the game as players, supporters and volunteers.
“Through our sponsorships of England Rugby and the WRU and our NatWest RugbyForce programmes we have supported over 1,000 local clubs and we hope this will help inspire even more success.”
The Fastest Interception is the second of two unique rugby moments that NatWest have created to inspire fans to get behind rugby. For more information and to stay updated, follow @NatWest_Rugby on twitter or like NatWest Rugby on Facebook.
Also here are Lewis Moody’s thoughts ahead of the Rugby World Cup final…
Who do you think will win and why?
In my opinion, I think you’d be insane to argue against New Zealand because they’ve just been so good for so many years. Their continuity, their offload, their skillset, the individual playmakers they have within in their team are just all so good. They play a wonderful style of rugby and they are so consistently able to win those close and tough games. However in recent times, certainly in The Rugby Championship, Australia’s successes in the last 6 months will give them a lot of confidence because they know that they can go into this match and beat New Zealand. I still don’t think they’ll do it because this NZ side is just slightly too good but at least it will mean that we’ll have a wonderful final.
What will it be like for the players in the lead up to this Saturday’s game? What is their mind-set ?
They’ll be trying to relax as much as possible. They’ll be trying to put their game to the back of their mind and have very few training sessions. They’ll be focused on more analysis than actual training because the bodies have been through a huge number of test matches. They’ve played some of the most intense games of rugby over the last 10 weeks so they’ll just be making sure they’ve got 30 players that they can select from come selection day and come Saturday. It’s very easy to get wound up, excited and overawed by the occasion but I don’t think either of these two teams will. They’ve got a lot of tried and tested campaigners who’ve been there and done it all before like Ashley-Cooper, Giteau, Mitchell, and Pocock.
Will NZ have an advantage having already won?
New Zealand have a raft of players that have played in and won a world cup already so they’ll know what it’s like. I think it’s a huge advantage. I played in a side at Leicester and in England for many years that won everything that it took part in and winning is infectious, as infectious as losing can be in a drought of losing games. If you’re in a winning mind-set you know how to win those big games. You know that the little margins make a big difference so you make the decision you make in any normal game. You don’t make the crazy decision, you don’t try the crazy pass, you don’t revert into your shell, you just know how to handle the occasion and that’s what I think will give New Zealand the slight edge. This team has been there and dealt with the big pressures and come out the other side. I think they are best placed to deal with the occasion of the final.
