The thirteen rounds lined up smartly before the Chief Organiser and announced they were all complete, all in order.
This was the first time since Round 5 (see table below).
Quins v Worcester Warriors (Round 10 rearranged match)
Both sides were desperately short of playing strength, a matter I’ll touch on later.
A game marred by too many unforced errors saw the champions outplay Worcester. The Warriors’ pack more than held their own, winning two consecutive penalties at the scrum to earn a penalty by Sarah Nicholas, but carelessness in distribution left them well behind by the end.
Despite this, there were periods of high excitement and skill. For Quins Lagi Tuima and Rosie Galligan put in fine performances, Galligan reminding us of the form that earned her a debut England cap three years ago (and alongside Sarah Beckett).
Nearly a quarter of the match passed till Quins made their first move, Heather Cowell scoring a fine try in the corner. Two more efforts by Tuima and Izzy Mayhew put them well in charge by the interval. (15-3)
A regulation try by Amy Cokayne and a second by Tuima made sure of the vital bonus point before Warriors remembered they had one of the greatest wingers in the world on their side. Lydia Thompson seemed to evade half the opposition before accelerating over the line for the game’s best score. El Febrey, in only her second match back from long-term injury, drove over for a second, but by then Beckett and Jade Mullen had added to Quins’ harvest.
Ellie Green, starting for the first time in three months, was allowed the final strike, a penalty in front.
Warriors have frequently been referred to as a youthful side full of promise, but it’s high time that promise turned into something more concrete. Far too many self-inflicted mistakes undid their best work.
Result: Quins 42 Warriors 15
Officials:
Referee: Max Weston
ARs: Connor Boyle and Frank Venner
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Availabilities
The RFU runs the AP 15s, so the Red Roses’ management fit their schedules in with as little inconvenience to the clubs as possible. Not so all the other unions who have players in the league. So it is that Scottish and Welsh players were prominent by their absence from this game. In previous rounds North American and Irish players have gone missing as calls came from their national managers.
That is all quite understandable, and club coaches accept it with good grace, but it affects them differently. If it’s a call from Cardiff, then Bristol, Gloucester-Hartpury, Sale and Worcester will be hardest hit. If it’s from Edinburgh, then Loughborough Lightning will feel the draught.
A different call comes from the world of Sevens, which is taking a long time to settle down after a period of extreme Covid-led disturbance. It’s made worse by the constant changes in selection of the England and GB Sevens squads. The hardest hit by far are Wasps, who lose Abi Burton, Amy Wilson Hardy, Celia Quansah, Ellie Boatman and Meg Jones from the strength. They currently lie fifth, but their points total of 319 ranks them below even Glos-Pury who lie seventh.
Recent rounds have seen clubs struggling to put out complete 23s. Even when the maximum was 22 (in the first three seasons) I can rarely recall squads so obviously short-staffed as now. Injuries are a constant concern; only the managements will know just what their overall position is, but few can have predicted this shortage when the rules changed and clubs were restricted to 40 players.
Rosewatch
It’s enough for me to start up my Rosewatch again. The Six Nations starts in six weeks time. The following Red Roses who have played for England over the past year and more have been absent this last fortnight: Breach, Cleall P., Cornborough, Fleetwood, Harper D., Kabeya, Kildunne, Macdonald, McKenna, O’Donnell, Scarratt, and Talling. Others have appeared on the bench, as if to reintroduce them gently: Cleall B. and Infante.
Other nations will mock this concern: England have such strength in depth.
Table P W L D Pts
Saracens 13 12 1 0 57
Bristol 13 10 3 0 50
Harlequins 13 9 4 0 45
Exeter 13 9 3 1 45
Wasps 13 7 5 1 39
Loughborough 13 7 6 0 36
Gloucester-H 13 6 7 0 35
Worcester 13 3 10 0 19
Sale 13 1 12 0 7
DMPDS 13 0 13 0 0
Round 17 will be salty: the current top four will meet head to head.
Afterthoughts
The three U20 Six Nations matches (men only, of course!) were all officiated by women:
Italy U20 v England U20 Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Wales U20 v Scotland U20 Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
France U20 v Ireland U20 Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Congratulations to them
Is it wise to predict hoped-for attendances? Quins offered 5.000 for the Game Changer clash with Sarries. The figure announced was 3.900 – a splendid effort, but spoilt by over-optimism?
