End of season also sees many players heading to the departure lounge with more going than coming as salary caps are cut. Coaches also taste the wrath of failure. I remember sitting in one premier league clubs coaching office when a hugely successful coach was sacked. It was difficult to breathe, no-one raised their head, no one spoke the following day. It is an emotional brutality that can shape your future. I ran the sports psychology at the club and one of the topics I presented was, “How to cope.”
For those players remaining in situ and those going on tour, there is both relief and excitement.
So, who is going where, and are there any “juicy reunions.”
The much-maligned England coach, Steve Borthwick, (he already knows he is not having his contract renewed, win or lose the next World Cup) takes an England squad rich in experience in the forwards but young and eager in the backs to Japan for a one-off test today (June 22) and then to New Zealand for two tests, in Dunedin and Eden Park, Auckland on July 6th and 13th, respectively.
Borthwick’s predecessor, the even more maligned Eddie Jones, lies in wait as coach of Japan. Considering the power of England’s forwards, an England defeat is unlikely, but if it were to happen, I’ll send the “How to cope” paper!
Scotland disappear to the Americas with four fixtures, starting in Canada before a quick dash to Washington DC to face the USA, then Chile in Santiago, finishing in Montevideo with a tough test against Argentina, who I tip to win.
Ireland sends an emerging squad to play two tests against a new look South Africa with several young debutants. Ireland will need to get some semblance of parity in the forwards to stand any chance of demonstrating their attacking prowess.
Wales play South Africa at Twickenham, then Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, before concluding with a final game against the Queensland Reds. Both Australia and Wales are spiralling downward. In previous decades this fixture would have been a must watch, with quality attacking play across the park. Now even selling tickets is a challenge.
France is scheduled to play Argentina and Uruguay, although both are still to be confirmed. C’est la vie!
On return a short break awaits those players that return fit, then it’s back into the slog of pre-season training.
Super Rugby
The Blues defeat of the Brumbies ensured there would be an All–New Zealand final at Eden Park today.
In the second semi-final the Hurricanes made a dreadful start and never recovered. How often is that the case. The Chiefs who have hit a rich vein of form will be no pushover even though the Blues are at home at fortress Eden Park.
In future articles, as well as keeping you up to date with international performances, I will be highlighting the growth of rugby in Asia. 11s tournaments are spreading throughout Asia, and they are hugely exciting.
Here in Phuket, we have just witnessed the Phuket International 11s, a hugely successful weekend with clubs from across the globe attending and Bank Maumalat Bullets from Malaysia the overall winners.
I think it is time Asia hosted a top World rugby competition. I’m asking you to support a campaign for either Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore to host the Under 20’s Rugby Union World Cup. I’ve attended many when only a few spectators watched. I think we can provide both the crowds and the excitement.
Let’s make a statement for rugby Union across Asia.
Coaching thought. “If you want to win big, you’ll need to use every sinew in your body.”
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for dis-advantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com , www.asiacenterfoundation.org or contact mike@globalrugbycoach.com.