Monday 25 May 2015 17:32, UK
French domestic mayhem, another Super Rugby star and a crying captain feature in Rupert Cox's weekly blog.
All Pro Finish
We couldn't have hoped for two more exciting finishes in the PRO12 semi-finals. With an arrow-like pass Finn Russell set up DTH Van der Merwe's levelling score, which resulted in a winning conversion from the sideline - boys own stuff. The less said about Niko Matawalu's theatrics to milk a late penalty the better, but Finn's fine finish was deserving of the Warriors getting another shot at a PRO2 title. Heartbreak for Ulster, denied a cup final on their home ground - but it's meant to be a neutral venue, after all.
The end of the game in Limerick was no less dramatic. Ref Nigel Owens again showed his empathy for the game, playing a long advantage on the final play all the way to what the Ospreys believed was a wonderful winning try for Josh Matavesi. Fans of the Welsh region could be forgiven for sending Owens a bill for beta blockers after heart rates soared and crashed, but the decision to go back for the knock-on was the right one, and Munster deservedly progress to the showpiece in Belfast. Should be a great final.
Ring Fence That
All those who still support getting rid of promotion and relegation between the Championship and Premiership in England must have missed the first leg of the Greene King IPA final between Bristol and Worcester. A better quality and more exciting game of rugby we haven't seen all season - both teams turned up at Ashton Gate with a determined intention to play winning rugby. Worcester will take a one point advantage into the second leg this Wednesday, which promises to be another rousing rugby occasion.
Dernier Day Drama
As final rounds go this was about as crazy as it gets - one minute you're demoted to Pro D2 and the next minute you're safe in the big time. Despite running in seven tries past La Rochelle, poor old Bayonne are relegated to the Pro D2 alongside Lyon, because Brive pulled a rabbit out of a hat and crushed Stade Francais 27-0. With Biarritz still slumming it in the second division, the Basque clubs are having a bad time right now. No such problems for Toulon. The double-double is truly on for the champions - only the most foolhardy would bet against them now - after they took care of Oyonnax to finish first. Clermont also get the week off for finishing in second place.
Big improvers Toulouse will host the upstarts from Oyonnax in the Barrage after Bordeaux-Begles somehow managed to mess up a winning kick at the Ernest Wallon (see Brickbat). At least they still have a chance of playing in the Champions Cup next season in a play-off against Gloucester. Racing Metro will play Stade Francais in a Paris derby Barrage, but perhaps the loudest applause should go to 2013 Bouclier de Brennus winners Castres - who have somehow managed to survive in the Top 14 after looking dead certainties for relegation.
Black and Blue
We're running out of superlatives to describe Super Rugby leaders the Hurricanes. After their latest bonus point win, this time over the Blues at their so called fortress Eden Park, the Canes now just need three match points from their remaining three games to wrap up the Kiwi conference. Losing three starting players to injury in the 24 hours before kick-off would shake most teams. Not the Hurricanes.
Most striking was the performance of 20-year-old fly half Otere Black. Like Aaron Cruden, Black is a product of the Manawatu province - the team they call the Turbos - and in just his third game of Super Rugby, Black drove the Hurricanes backline like Lewis Hamilton does a Mercedes. Coach Chris Boyd will doubtless be hoping he gets the injured Beauden Barrett back in time for the play-offs, but with young Otere Black playing in his place it certainly would not be all doom and gloom.
Brickbat
Lionel Beauxis, for missing the easiest of penalty kicks right in front of goal, which would not only have vanquished his former club Toulouse on their home patch, but, more importantly, put Bordeaux-Begles into the Top 14 Barrage next weekend. The kindest line would be: sport at its very cruellest - ground opening up right in front of you and swallowing you whole. It could have happened to anyone; poor wee fella, he must feel terrible.
But the Off Load is impenetrable and unforgiving: missing a kick at goal so basic with so much at stake is a dereliction of duty; take that. Thousands of fans will miss out on at least one day in the play-offs, and the club revenue will suffer, because their handsomely-paid goal kicker didn't concentrate.
Bouquet
Apparently big men don't cry. Well men don't come any bigger than Glasgow's long-time skipper Alastair Kellock, and he was a blubbering mess after his last home game for the Warriors. Walking around Scotstoun Stadium with his daughter Kate after the final whistle, tears streaming down his face, we saw vividly just how much professional rugby has meant to the six foot eight inch Scot. Having announced his plan to retire at the end of the season it was always going to be an emotional farewell for big Al, but this was raw feelings laid bare. Thanks for the memories Alastair, and best of luck in the big one next week.
