Philippe Saint Andre and Rob Howley have reacted to the events of the weekend in very different ways, while Chris Robshaw’s missus revealed very disturbing information about his domestic habits.
Good news for France, bad news for Ireland. Clerc is back
The throwing of litter onto the pitch and the scathing front cover of L’Equipe tell you all you need to know about how the French rugby public reacted to the defeat to Wales on Saturday and Philippe Saint-Andre has wasted no time wielding the axe on his underperforming charges.
Out go Maxime Mermoz, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Damien Chouly, Yannick Forestier and Romain Taofifenua and in come Antonie Claassen and Cristophe Samson as well as Ireland’s bête noire, Vincent Clerc, who missed the opening two games with a thigh injury.
Clerc will be in the frame for France’s clash with England at Twickenham the weekend after next and his return should allow Wesley Fofana to return to his favourite role in the centre. If Clerc does start or even come on against England he’ll probably figure against Ireland at the Aviva the following week, but after nine tries in ten games against Ireland already, he couldn’t repeat the trick again, could he?
Sam staying put as Howley keeps the faith
Wales coach Rob Howley reacted just as quickly to Saturday’s game as his French counterpart, but instead of ringing the changes, he has assured all of the players that started in the Stade de France that they will retain their places against Italy if they stay fit between now and next weekend.
“I have told the players the same XV will start in Italy,” Howley said.
“I think it is pretty important from a coach’s perspective that we reward the players who have gone out on the field.
“I thought Ryan Jones was outstanding in terms of his leadership and it is a just reward that he captains the side against Italy.”
The retention of the same starting team means that Sam Warburton, who was a shoo-in for Lions captain not long ago, will have to settle for a place on the bench if he returns from injury on time, and picking splinters out of his backside beside him will be Alun Wyn Jones, who made his comeback from a shoulder injury for the Ospreys against Ulster at the weekend.
Should an England captain really wear a onesie?
Yesterday’s Daily Mail features an interview with singer Camilla Kerslake, also the girlfriend of England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, and in fairness, the supposedly teak-tough flanker comes out of it pretty well.
Camilla describes Chris as a ‘complete gentleman’, who insists on paying all of the household bills and even chips in when it comes to the housework, doing the hoovering while Camilla looks after matters in the kitchen.
Bless Camille’s cotton socks, however, she probably went a little too far when discussing the couple’s domestic habits, or at least provided plenty of ammunition for Robshaw’s teammates and indeed, his opposition, the next time he takes to a rugby pitch.
“At the end of the day we just prefer to stay in, put on our onesies and watch television,” Kerslake said.
Stall the ball there Camille. Onesies? We’re reliably informed that Sean O’Brien only takes off his lifting straps and shoulder pads when he goes to bed so at least the Irish forwards haven’t been affected by this curse – at least not yet – but this might be disturbing news for English rugby supporters who had Robshaw down as a tough as old boots back row forward straight out of the school of hard knocks.
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