Monday 16 November 2015 15:53, UK
The first weekend of European rugby was overshadowed by the terrible events in Paris on Friday night. Three days of mourning followed in France and, quite rightly, all sport in France was suspended.
But life must go on, in France as in Kenya, Lebanon, Iraq and every country that has been devastated by the terror emanating from the troubled parts of the world. To the credit of Toulouse, they made the right decision to play against Saracens on Saturday night. In the light of the previous night's events it is impossible to be overly critical of their performance but we can start our week's 10 points with Saracens....
1. Whatever the psychological state of Toulouse, the Premiership leaders were excellent. They were every bit as good in the first 40 minutes of this match as they were in that sustained semi-final of aggression against Clermont Auvergne. The home side had their tactics at a perfect pitch; playing with the wind they utilised the conditions cleverly, kicked for territorial control, squeezed Toulouse and were stunning in most things they did in attack. From one to 15 they were outstanding. Wasps were to steal the English headlines in Ireland but this first 40 minutes was the best rugby played this weekend.
2. There was huge encouragement for England. In the front row Mako Vunipola was his usual brilliant self in the loose but it was his powerful performance in the scrum that was so significant. Alongside him Jamie George made the decision to select Rob Webber ahead of him on the bench during the World Cup look as ridiculous as it was.
I made him man of the match even though he was off the field after 50 minutes for the simple reason he was immaculate for those 50 minutes on the field. Maro Itoje, George Kruis and Will Fraser all enhanced their reputations.
3. Jake White is as short as 5/2 favourite to be the next England manager. White is a fine coach; he has won a World Cup and taken the Brumbies to a Super Rugby final, but the limitations of his teams' style of play is ugly on the eye and perhaps looking a little dated as New Zealand and Australia move the game on. White is no more the man for England than Martin Johnson or Stuart Lancaster proved to be. England selected the antithesis of Johnson, now they are considering (so Ian Ritchie intimated) the antithesis of Lancaster - a big name. Maybe what England should look for is the right man, not the opposite which does not necessarily attract.
Jamie George made the decision to select Rob Webber ahead of him on the bench during the World Cup look as ridiculous as it was.
4. The New Zealand influence part one: there are few places more English than Leicester but the Kiwi influence was marked in Friday night's somewhat scruffy win against Stade Francais. Brendon O' Connor would not be regarded as one of New Zealand's top opensides but he was hugely influential for the Tigers. Mike Fitzgerald was a bit-part player for the Waikato Chiefs yet he was superb against the French champions.
Average New Zealand players look anything but in Europe. And then there is Aaron Mauger. The former All Black centre was never average on the field and having learned his coaching trade in the Harvard of rugby, Canterbury, is going to be even better as a coach. Matt Toomua is a tremendous signing but Mauger's return to Welford Road is the key to the Tigers' season.
5. New Zealanders part two: Charles Piatau and Frank Halai travelled north with greater reputations than the Tigers new playing recruits. Both lived up to them in Wasps' wonderful win against Leinster. This was Wasps' finest day since they last lifted the Heineken Cup. They dominated the three-times champions in every facet of the game. Together with the Saracens performance it signalled a superb weekend for English clubs.
6. The Ospreys broke the English winning spell in the Champions Cup with a gritty victory over Exeter. Where the Exeter team lacked experience, the Ospreys had it in abundance with Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar exhorting more effort from their team from start to finish. After some poor recent efforts in Europe this was an encouraging start for the Swansea-based team but the road to the quarter-finals remains a long one; they have miles to go before the last eight but at least they are heading in the right direction. Exeter has ground to make up and little leeway for errors.
Bath's postponed Champions Cup match against Toulon may not be played
7. A small triumph for cynicism at the Gardens on Saturday night. Northampton scored a try that should long have lived in the memories only for the officials to disallow it due to a stamp by George North. Here is the context; the winger is desperately trying to play a positive part in the game but opposing winger, Michael Tagicakibau, hangs onto his calf. One is trying to kill the spectacle, the other enhance it. North is frustrated, he deliberately stamps - on the cynic's shoulder, nowhere dangerous - to free himself. The officials see the stamp and North sees yellow. My eyes see red as cheating prevails again. Did the Saints deserve the try, yes, did Tagicakibau deserve to be stamped on the shoulder, yes he did... what a travesty.
8. Watching the rugby league match between England and New Zealand I noted how league referees are not paranoid about tackles that are below yet near the neck and shoulders. If the arm swings, that is one thing, accidentally sliding up is quite another. An hour spent watching rugby league officials would be no bad thing for their union counterparts. Officials telling referees to show 'zero tolerance' in the tackle, get a grip.
9. Crowds... where are they? After a wonderful World Cup, it looks like we are suffering from a surfeit. A lot of people are bloated by the brilliance of the tournament, crowds are down throughout Europe. It might have been so much different in England had the team done well but as the World Cup was not regarded as an exceptional circumstance by those in positions of power the host nation got what its management deserved. Here ends any talk of 'legacy'.
10. George North, we forgive you (well, I do) for trying to shake a cheat off your leg but not for failing to take your man on in any number of the one-on-one situations in which you found yourself Saturday night. Where is the big man with the balletic footwork? Come back, George, this hemisphere needs your dazzling running game.
