Monday 28 September 2015 15:51, UK
Stuart Barnes reflects on another incident-packed week of Rugby World Cup action, including England's loss to Wales and the retirement of Jean de Villiers...
1. It is a global game and we can't allow ourselves to overly obsess with the small matter of national rivalries between two countries on a little island somewhere in the more northern parts of Europe. A star of the world stage and one of the sport's finer statesmen has been forced into retirement.
Jean de Villiers broke his jaw against Samoa, the last in a line of sickening injuries for the Springbok captain. He has been a fine player throughout his career but perhaps more importantly, a true leader for South Africa and an outstanding ambassador for his country in times that have sometimes been inspiring on the field, but always troubled off it.
And yet the loss of their leader does not necessarily act as a hammer blow for the Springboks. In 2011, John Smit's overwhelming presence as the 2007 World Cup-winning captain prevented another De Villiers, this time Peter, the manager, from selecting Bismarck du Plessis when at a career peak. Had he played, they may well have beaten Australia and with New Zealand so nervous, who knows after that?
Yes, JdV is an outstanding presence in this team, but recent injuries had hampered his comeback. He was poor against Japan, but Heyneke Meyer was going to stay with him through thick or thin. It might well be that South Africa's best centre partnership - Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel - are now united.
As for the leadership issue, any team that has big Vic, Schalk Burger and Fourie du Preez are hardly short of experience and leadership. We salute Jean's mighty career, and look forward to the next wave of Springbok centres.
2. Which brings us nicely to the subject of leadership, or the lack of it... and yes, I am talking about that rivalry between two countries in that little northern European island.
Chris Robshaw has failed time and again to make the right call - to kick or not kick has been an issue for years, but also to change tactics in mid game. He is not the only one but as captain, he is the main culprit.
Criticism has to be shared, and the England management's failure to find a way for the team to think itself out of a fish-and-chip package leaves me mystified.
A draw would have sufficed in a game where Wales did wonderfully well to wrest the initiative from an England team that dominated the first hour.
Criticism has to be shared and the England management's failure to find a way for the team to think itself out of a fish-and-chip package leaves me and - so I heard on the radio on Monday morning - Will Carling mystified.
3. My dear friend and colleague on the Sunday Times, Stephen Jones, informs me that somebody on social network or whatever you call it is comparing the pair of us to Lord Haw-Haw, the World War Two traitor; it's funny, but can we get this straight - we are not critical of England because we are subversive. We are trying to do our jobs.
If everyone wants to believe the spoon-fed nonsense that comes from the mouths of authority, good luck. Journalists have to question, not support. Any criticism comes, rather, from the fact that both care deeply. The easy thing is to reiterate the latest line, and take the Queen's shilling.
I want England to do well, as does Steve. That is a reason to doubt this management, not blindly support it.
4. Well done Wales; Sam Warburton's team started the game with several key players missing, lost a few through the course of the game, yet finished strongly.
We talk tactics etc, but sometimes the heart and soul carries teams beyond any cold-blooded analysis of the game. This was sporting character at its very best. Warburton's leadership was exemplary.
5. What a performance from Alun Wyn Jones. The man is a colossus of our times. If any single Welshman can be trusted to repeat the heroics only five days later against a dangerous Fijian team, he is the man.
A win for Wales (and it is hard to see them losing, with a nation behind them), and England are walking a World Cup high wire with no safety net to catch them if they fall.
6. Uruguay are probably the worst team in the tournament and nothing can be read into performances against them, but didn't the second string Australian team play some sweet stuff at a time when we should have been tucking into our Sunday roasts?
7. After Australia's Sunday best came Scotland, as they backed up the win against Japan with another second-half blitz, this time against the USA. The four-day turnaround cannot prevent Vern Cotter's team from marching onwards towards the quarter-finals.
8. Scotland v Samoa might not be the showdown we expected pre-tournament. With a 10-day break, Japan will test an underwhelming Samoa side this weekend, while Scotland could yet make the Springboks sweat. It is turning into a tremendous pool.
9. Less riveting as a pool is the one with Ireland and France. With Italy struggling as ever at a World Cup, it appears a question of who wins the final match to avoid the All Blacks.
What this pool is big on is atmosphere. A World Cup record attendance in excess of 89,000 for Ireland's second team against Romania. Hats off to the partying Irish; with their bid for 2023 taking shape, the sheer numbers and joy Ireland's fans bring to the competition, World Rugby cannot fail but to note it.
10. The breakdown is the battle line for Saturday's epic England v Australia clash. England are leaking penalties at it, while Australia gaining turnovers with their dual threat of Hooper and Pocock.
The management has been saying for years that this area of the game is not about specialists, rather collective expertise. Reputations will be redeemed or ruined forever at Twickenham.
Finger nails? I can't remember what they look like... enjoy, if you can.
