SARU Block moves 2023 World Cup into IRFU's sights

The IRFU are now in pole position to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup following an announcement from the South African Sports minister today. Controversial figure, Fikile Mbalula has again intervened in the Springboks affairs, this time outlawing the side from hosting international tournaments for failing to meet ''..transformation targets''. The decision will not be re-visited until October of this year meaning that the SARU will not be able to table an official bid by the June cut-off point. South Africa's Cricket, Netball and Athletics teams have also been affected by the same ruling.
The decision comes in light of government policies in South Africa aimed at increasing the numbers of coloured players and athletes in line with employment regulations across other professions. The 'transformation' targets that the SARU have failed to meet has been a running issue in the South African media. Prior to last year's Rugby World Cup in England Mbalula attempted to seize the passports of the South African rugby team and management in a bid to force the side to abide by race quotas. Under Heyneke Meyer the Springboks saw the fewest number of coloured players receive caps as compared to any other SARU coach in the professional era.
The threat to prevent the Springboks from competing at last year's showpiece proved to be empty but this ban could be significantly more effective. A global event such as the World Cup demands government partnership with the respective union to ensure, among many things, financial security. South Africa simply cannot host the tournament without their governments support. Tipped by many to gain the eventual rights to host the 2023 tournament, the SARU are clearly being strong-armed by their government into action. 
If the issue is not resolved by June then it will leave Ireland competing with Italy and Argentina to host the 2023 World Cup.

Top sides continue to dominate as hunt for final Champions Cup spots heats up

Round 20 of the Pro12 Rugby saw all results go as was widely expected leaving the competition poised for an exciting final few rounds. At the top of the table Leinster, Connacht and Glasgow all recorded impressive bonus point victories. These results see the race for a home semi-final whittle down to just these three teams with fourth placed Ulster six points adrift of Glasgow in third. Leinster's win sees them retain first place while remaining on equal match points with Connacht. Connacht face the Warriors in the final round of the competition in what will more than likely be a play-off for a home play-off semi-final.

The three top sides wins had a sizeable impact on the race for the final play-off spot and the remaining Champions Cup qualifying spots with a lot of movement taking place from 4th to 7th in the league table. Glasgow earned an important win over the Scarlets in Wales, the Warriors let loose to completely dominate proceedings at Parc y Scarlets and leaving Pivac's side in fifth place two points shy of Ulster. Tommy Bowe scored a brace in his return to competitive action against Zebre as Ulster racked up an impressive 47-17 win over Zebre. The win, combined with the Scarlets hefty defeat to Glasgow, sees Les Kiss' mean move into a commanding lead over the Welsh region and into fourth position.

Edinburgh managed to earn a vital losing bonus point at the RDS despite a strong bonus point win from Leinster. The losing bonus point sees Edinburgh move into 6th place at Munster's expense. Anthony Foley's side fell victim to the enduring class of Connacht at the Sportsgrounds, failing to pick up any points as Connacht earned a bonus point win. Munster's drop to 7th place comes just before they face their usurpers, Edinburgh, at Irish Independent Park in Round 21. Both sides are firmly in the hunt for sixth place, the winner in Cork will prove crucial in deciding who finishes the season there.

Edinburgh have their fate completely in their own hands as they face both their rivals for sixth place in their remaining fixtures. After facing Munster the Scotsmen will host Cardiff in a game which could be a play-off for a Champions Cup spot if both sides can get a win in Round 21. The Blues defeated the Dragons at the Arms Park this weekend, but will face a tough clash with the Ospreys before their potentially crucial clash against Edinburgh. The Ospreys took the full points on offer against Treviso to give themselves a chance of Champions Cup rugby next season, however they need many results to go their way if they are to have any chance of qualifying.

Round 20 Full Results:

Leinster 30 - 23 Edinburgh

Ospreys 47 - 10 Treviso

Scarlets 10 - 46 Glasgow

Zebre 17 - 47 Ulster

Connacht 35 - 14 Munster

Cardiff 28 - 8 Dragons

Round 21 Fixtures:

Treviso v Connacht

Glasgow v Zebre

Munster v Edinburgh

Cardiff v Ospreys

Ulster v Leinster

Dragons v Scarlets

Pro12 final standings predictions

Leinster

     Leinster have their fate firmly in their own hands, but a few twists and turns should be expected in their bid to top the regular season table. Despite having perhaps the easiest run in of any of the sides still in the hunt for a home play-off semi-final. Like Connacht and Glasgow Leo Cullen's side face an Italian side in their final three fixtures, but before then they play an Edinburgh side chasing a Champions Cup spot and fifth placed Ulster, who look like a strong contender for the final play-off spot. Perplexingly Cullen has decided to rest the experienced duo of Sexton and Heaslip which could be a costly decision against an Edinburgh side running hot and cold. Nevertheless home advantage should see Leinster take the win this weekend and in Round 22 against Treviso. However, Round 21's trip to Kingspan could be another story altogether. 

Verdict: 73 Points - Second Place

Connacht

     Undoubtedly the story of the season, the Galway side have lead the competition ever since Munster's early season form evaporated into thin air. Two losses in a row following their dramatic 7-6 win over Leinster leaves things a big shaky for Pat Lam's men. Not the best preparation before arguably facing the toughest run in of the sides left fighting for the top 2. They host Munster this weekend in a must win clash for both sides before travelling to Treviso. They host Glasgow in the final round in the match that will ultimately decide who finishes where in the top 3. Connacht should see off Munster this weekend and take the full points on offer against Treviso in two weeks time but it is hard to see home advantage help them see off Glasgow too on the final weekend. Third place will see them likely face provincial rivals Leinster away. At this moment in time no one would bet against Connacht taking the spoils from that potential clash in Dublin.

Verdict: 73 Points - Third Place 

Glasgow

     Written off by many this season following several dips in form Glasgow have re-emerged as favourites to retain their league title. Their moonlighting as the Scottish national team has caught up with them both during and after the Rugby World Cup and 6 Nations. However, Townsend's revolution looks set to continue despite a tough run in for the reigning champions, they face the Scarlets and Connacht away as well as Zebre at home. While they currently lay two points adrift of both Leinster and Connacht and play away from home in their most crucial remaining games it is difficult to not see them take three wins from three and top the table.

Verdict: 74 Points - First place

Scarlets

     The Scarlets are unquestionably the leagues sneakily consistent side having finished in the top 6 every year since the entry of the Italian sides into the competition. They face a series of difficult fixtures to retain fourth spot, first up is Glasgow at home this weekend where a win would take them into third position. They then face the high-flying Dragons, who represent the only Pro12 side left in European competition, before facing Munster at Thomond Park in a potential fourth-placed play-off. 

Fourth place is theirs to lose and the Welsh side might just have to settle for being the sole Welsh team in next seasons Champions Cup if Ulster have anything to say about it.(Unless the Dragons can win the Challenge Cup)

Verdict: 64 Points - Fifth Place

Ulster

     Ulster have their eyes firmly planted on knocking the Scarlets out of fourth place. This weekends clashes will prove crucial in the battle for the final play-off spot as Ulster take on Zebre with five points for Kiss's side almost a foregone conclusion. The timely return of star winger Tommy Bowe along with a confident win against Zebre will raise confidence levels in time for a final push. Round 21 sees Ulster host Leinster, the result mattering a huge amount to both sides. Cullen's tactic of resting Sexton and Heaslip ahead of the interprovincial clash highlights Leinster's focus, but home advantage should see Ulster take home the spoils, as they did when Connacht visited them last month. The Ospreys will provide a formidable stumbling block for the Ulstermen in Round 22, but the prize of a play-off spot should see them win at the Liberty Stadium. 

Verdict: 68 Points - Fourth Place

Munster

     Munster's post-World Cup capitulation has left a lasting impression on their entire season with Foley's men struggling to generate any form since the beginning of the season. A difficult trip to the Sportsground this weekend is the first of three vital clashes for Munster, all of which they must win to keep Edinburgh firmly in the rear view mirror. Home advantage could be a key factor for Munster as they face Edinburgh at Irish Independent Park in Round 21 before a final weekend fixture against the Scarlets at Thomond Park. Three out of three could see Munster squeeze into an unlikely play-off spot, but Connacht should prove too much for the Limerick side and leave them settling for a Champions Cup spot. 

Verdict: 62 Points - Sixth Place

Edinburgh

     Edinburgh's threat to finish in the top 6 and join fellow countrymen Glasgow in the Champions Cup next season looks set to run down to the wire. Their trip to Thomond Park will prove immensely crucial for both sides if Munster fail to beat Connacht this weekend, taking the place of the absent Champions Cup play-off for this season. The Scotsmen host Cardiff on the final weekend, a much more winnable fixture than Munster's clash with the Scarlets. A dogfight for sixth place looks set to emerge if neither Munster nor Edinburgh can pull a critical win out of the bag this weekend, the Scotsmen take on Leinster.

Verdict: 57 Points - Seventh Place

Cardiff

     Like Edinburgh, Cardiff remain an outside threat for the last Champions Cup spot. They face the Dragons this weekend who will almost certainly be looking ahead to their Challenge Cup semi-final next weekend before taking on the Ospreys and Edinburgh. They currently rest five points behind Munster, a margin which should prove too much for the Blues to take sixth place.

Verdict: 53 Points - Eighth Place

Ospreys

     The Ospreys have endured a torrid season by their standards and the final few weekends cannot make up for it. A bonus point win over Treviso this weekend is expected before they face Cardiff in a battle for pride and eighth place. The Welsh side then have the chance to aid neighbours the Scarlets when they face Ulster in Round 22. The Ospreys cannot save their own season but they can have a big impact on the race for fourth and sixth in the coming weeks.

Verdict: 53 points - Ninth Place

Dragons

     Like their fellow regions, with the exception of the Scarlets, the Dragons have nothing to play for the the Pro12 except pride. Their run in sees them take on Cardiff, the Scarlets and Zebre while simultaneously battling for Champions Cup qualification through winning the Challenge Cup. The regions focus will be on Europe with no chance of them rising or falling in the table. Despite recent form the Dragons should not pose a serious challenge to the Scarlets.

Verdict: 32 Points - Tenth Place

Zebre

     This year again sees Zebre in a close battle with fellow Italians Treviso for the coveted eleventh spot and the final Pro12 Champions Cup spot by virtue of nationality inclusion rules. They face Ulster and Glasgow and look certain to take no points from either clash. Zebre will be focussed on defeating the Dragons on the final weekend of the regular season to ensure their place above Treviso.

Verdict: 20 Points - Eleventh Place

Treviso

     Treviso face a much harder run in with the prospects of the Ospreys, Connacht and Leinster on the horizon. A win or a losing bonus point in any of their three remaining fixtures with the Pro12 'wooden spoon' looking set to swap hands from one Italian side to the other this season.

Verdict: 15 Points - Twelfth Place

No quick fix for Rugby's image problems

     World Rugby’s intervention in Joe Marler’s recent disciplinary hearings is part of clear new trend in international rugby. The Harlequins Loose-Head was not disciplined during England’s clash against Wales for his ‘‘gypsy boy’’ comment directed at Wales Tight-Head Samson Lee. Neither referee Craig Joubert nor TMO Ben Skeen deemed the incident a punishable offence. Despite this the 6 Nations committee deliberated on the incident for four days following the match before delivering their verdict, no hearing, no ban, simply a verbal warning. 

     World Rugby quickly responded, “World Rugby is of the view that the comments amount to misconduct and/or a breach of the code of conduct under Regulation 20 and should have been considered by an independent process...”, the statement continued to read, “In the absence of such a process by Six Nations Rugby, World Rugby is exercising its right to take appropriate action before an independent judicial committee.”

    World Rugby’s response, as they argue, is in light of a failure on the part of the 6 Nations committee to hold the player to an independent hearing. Their concerns are valid and a hearing is warranted, but this case is not necessarily World Rugby taking a stand against abuse, it is World Rugby taking note of the public’s opinion. The question remains as to whether there would have been any repercussions for Marler had his comments not been picked up by the referee's microphone. 

     Over the last number of years World Rugby has adopted a clear focus for the professional and particularly international game. This approach has been intent on widening the sports fan base through creating a faster and more exciting game. World Rugby is keen to make the spectators central to this process. 

     At Rugby World Cup 2015 players were warned that diving would be a sin-bin offence for the duration of the tournament. John Jeffrey, Chairman of the World Rugby match officials selection committee, also highlighted appealing to the referee as an example of the undesirable behaviour World Rugby sought to eliminate from the sport’s showpiece event. The logic was simple, present rugby as well as possible while the world watches, when they turn their backs again the rules too can slacken. 

     The issue of Marler’s disciplinary proceedings is another example of World Rugby dealing with an issue that threatens to damage the sports wider image rather than seeking to fix the sport itself. If World Rugby is serious about dealing with verbal abuse within the sport than Marler should be banned and a precedent should be set and kept at all levels of the game. 

     The RBS 6 Nations also brought further problems with World Rugby’s intense committed to the image of the sport. As part of a wider censorship initiative Sam Warburton’s concussion against England wasn’t shown in Television replays. 

     The solution isn’t not showing these injuries, or reprimanding one player or punishing certain acts more harshly when the viewership increases. Rugby has an image problem and it cannot be ignored, but the focus should return to fixing the problems and not simply how the public will react to World Rugby’s acts. The 6 Nations committee excusing of Marler's words due to the incident taking place ''...in the heat of the moment...'' is a ridiculous excuse which could be applied to almost any incident that occurs in the sport. The answer to verbal abuse isn't playing to the public, the answer to concussion isn't blocking it from the public and the answer to appealing or diving isn't heightening the punishment when spectators increase. World Rugby needs to take note and fix the problems properly, not just wherever the public spikes up.