OH DANNY BOY

Quelle surprise, Cips is in the news for non rugby reasons again, although not sure "rugby player misbehaves after a few pints" warranted the coverage it received. Blame the "quiet news" time of year, when sports reporters are kicking their heels. Danny has history, and he is obviously no saint, but then again, neither is Johan Ackermann, the Gloucester coach, who was involved in a fracas in a Cheltenham club at Xmas.

And does this latest incident mean he is less likely to perform for his new club this season, or deliver for England? No, certainly not. Cipriani, like Finn Russell, is a high risk player, who offers his club and country something different, especially the ability to unlock a well organised defence, invaluable in the over structured games we see in the Premiership. As a junior coach, I had to manage a few similar characters like Danny, although unfortunately, none with his ability, and always picked them to start, and withdrew them when we needed to close out a tight game. But their influence on every match was always considerable. So come on Danny, your club needs you, and so does England, especially in RWC year, so "let your rugby do the talking, not the Staropramen!".

WHERE DOES EDDIE GO FROM HERE?

Dust off the pen once more, a year before the next World Cup in Japan, and ahead of the Autumn Internationals, which see England take on the Big Southern Hemisphere 3 (including NZ) and Japan. Mike Tindall wrote in the Rugby Paper this week that England need to beat all four teams in 2018 at home before the RWC in Japan, a big ask, especially with New Zealand dominant once more plus South Africa and Australia improving as their stars return South in RWC year.

But, yes I hear you cry, if England cannot beat these teams at home, what chances do they have of overcoming them in Japan on neutral ground in 14 months time? England have put in some average performances this year, especially Scotland and France in Six Nations and in the First Test against SA, but they are not a bad side. Eddie's problem has been that he cannot protect his best players like the Celtic and Southern countries can through central contracting. The English Premiership clubs, awash with wealthy ego driven owners, unsurprisingly demand value for money from their international players, and with (very rich) Bristol now (finally) promoted this will not change. Eddie cannot even expect support from the clubs in ensuring key players like Elliot Daly play in England's favoured full back position, as Wasps need him to play 13 or wing.

Eddie, like many rugby coaches at this time of year, is scratching his head wondering what the new (extended) season will bring, one that could see him win the World Cup for England for only the second time ever. An achievement, which if he pulls it off, would be one off the greatest ever, considering the strength of NZ and the relatively poor form they are in versus their 2003 counterparts.

TACKLING CONCUSSION HEAD ON

With rugby introducing contact at U9 age group level onwards, there are valid concerns regards player welfare around injuries like concussion, especially for players of such a young age. I have many friends and family, who have been knocked out cold, or experienced a head injury, playing the beautiful game - one of which had to retire before he left school. As a captain or coach, I always made sure that a parent, friend or wife of any player experiencing a knock to the head was made aware of the incident, and that they were closely monitored that afternoon or evening (and in the morning once the hangover had worn off). The governance around such injuries is much better than 20 years ago, with mandatory return to play protocols in place to allow the brain to recover. This now takes the decision away from the coach or parent, who, under pressure from victim, were always faced with the awkward dilemma of rushing them back too quickly.

So where do I stand on banning contact from rugby at mini or youth level? It's quite straightforward really. Both my lads played football when they were young (not very well it has to be said) as they did not engage with tag rugby, preferring to start playing once contact was introduced from U9 onwards. This did mean their hand catch, passing and game understanding were behind their peers, but their tackling technique was ahead. This was because I had invested time in the lounge at home from a very young age showing them how to tackle properly (cheek on cheek), and having learnt young, it became a real strength of theirs on the field (and helped minimise injury). If players only learn how to tackle as an adult, I am not sure this would mitigate the risk, as most senior players are 90kg+, so the cost of getting your head in the wrong position could be severe. I do agree that the "body wrap" tackle, that has come in recently from rugby league to prevent the offload, could be reviewed. This just rewards the "gym monkeys" who don't have the flexibility or technique to get down to ankle level to "cut the tree" like Joe Worsley used to for Wasps and England.

Interesting and important issue to debate, and one that (like Forrest Gump) will run and run...

MARLER V HASKELL ROUND 1

Nothing like a bit of handbags to get me back on the horse.

To be honest, since the Lions series, have been a bit disillusioned with the game, with NZ hammering everyone, England Premiership being reduced to a series of gym monkeys picking and flopping, Pro 14 inexplicably going global and the amateur game dying on its backside as big clubs struggle to field a 2nd team.

However, James Haskell and Joe Marler engaging in handbags has got me excited - wrestling, pulling off scrum caps, spraying water and grabbing by the throat - all pointless nonsense, resulting in a yellow for Haskell, who then pushes and shoves anyone blocking his exit from the pitch :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVlMmUcP6o8

ENGLAND FALL AT FINAL HURDLE

Just as with the England v Scotland game, after 5 minutes, you could sense it was not going to be the away team's day. Ireland were aggressive, ruthless, England were average, overawed, New Zealand were relaxed, smiling.

The Six Nations is a great tournament, 2017 was especially, with every team losing at least one game, offering supporters of all sides (except Italy) their day in the sun (or on the beer), and 3 teams on 14 points a few behind England, the rightly winners. But, no matter how impressive England were against Scotland (who were awful), they struggled against the rest, winning ugly against Wales, France and Italy, and looking second best against a weakened yet proud Ireland.

The 6N Championship but no Slam

Yes, an improving Scotland, a decent Ireland and Wales, plus a record equalling England should in theory create the recipe for the strongest Lions squad in many years. And, yes (again) Warren Gatland has tough choices to make across most positions (even in the starting XV), but the problem is they are not playing a re-building SA or a lightweight Australia, they are playing a brutal, skilful NZ at home, with two tests in the fortress, that is Eden Park, Auckland.

NZ's Super 18 Rugby franchises make up the top 3 places in the Australasian league, with Chiefs and Crusaders unbeaten, and Hurricanes having lost just one game. Anyone who has started their weekends watching Super 18 rugby games will know what the Lions are up against. If England had convincingly beaten Ireland in their own backyard, overtaken NZ's record, they would have laid down an important marker for Northern Hemisphere rugby, and the Kiwis would rightly be feeling nervous. As it is, they fell at that all important final hurdle, and that will mean the Lions starting the tour as firm underdogs.

SCOTLAND SEE COTTER OFF IN STYLE

Yes, Italy are poor, yes, Italy butchered at least two tries, yes, Scotland were at home, BUT, considering this game has been a potential banana skin for them over the last few years, winning 4 tries to nil was a GOOD result.

Scotland's home form this year has been impressive, beating Ireland, Wales and Italy, scoring 9 tries in the process, demonstrating the strides they have made under Vern Cotter. Even in Paris, despite the physical battering they took against France, they still got themselves in a winning position with Swinson's try - if only Russell had converted it, putting them 5 points in front, France might have gone for the big score rater than the penalties which won them the game. England was a bad day. Still they scored 14 tries in total, level with Ireland and only 2 behind England, who scored 7 of those in one game.

Au revoir Vern...bonne chance

They also have more strength in depth than in previous seasons, as, having lost Strauss, Laidlaw, Maitland and Hardie in Paris, replacements like Barclay, Price, Visser and Wilson really stepped up and help the team beat Wales. A sign of how the times has changed is sensible rugby people nominating Seymour, Russell, Watson and Jonny Gray for the Lions squad alongside the immortal Hogg. If Strauss, Laidlaw and Nel weren't injured there may have been more names in the hat.

So Vern is off to Montpelier (in tears), having moved Scotland from 8th to 5th in the world rankings (their highest ever) and improved their basic skills, game management and mental toughness. It is now down to Gregor Townsend to fulfil this side's potential, and take Scotland to the next level by beating a Top 6 side away (France in Paris would be nice), and making a World Cup semi-final.

FRANCE TAKE HONOURS IN LE FARCE

OATH roving reporter "Mark Jones" watched the France v Wales game on Saturday.

An uneventful 80 mins which Wales won, but "oops" forgot about the last 20. Which I think is best described as chaos and farcical. On the whole both teams are, I think, at about same level both well behind NZ and England (and probably Ireland) now.

Thank god, we can now let the England game kick off....

After 15 mins I thought France were going to blow us away at 10-0 but Wales finally woke up and at last took the points and got the scoreboard on their side. However our attack still looks blunt and we dropped too many balls. Slick passing was something neither side could do. But into last few minutes and Wales solid defence looked good and we just about deserved the win. But down came chaos and suddenly a French prop became injured, although he told Wayne Barnes he was not, but luckily a passing Frenchman with a high vis jacket was there to tell him he had a head injury and had to go off to allow their best scrummager (who had been warming up for 10 mins beforehand) to re-appear.

There followed a farce of a scrum x 9, a returning yellow card issued in injury time, an alleged bite and, oh yes, after 100 minutes of play, the inevitable winning French try. 

Well 6 nations is over, and it is clear Wales have some work to do. Bring on next year :)