After eight previous stops, in five continents, over six months; the 13^th World Sevens Series reached its final destination at the home of English rugby.

Fiji were crowned winners in London, while New Zealand’s third place finish was enough for them to defend their world crown.

With a record breaking crowd of over 60,000 filling Twickenham, there were many great matches, and performances to go with it.

However there were some performances that stood out over the two days and brought the event to life.

Cesar Sempere – Spain

Now the Spanish aren’t known for the rugby, but Cesar Sempere showed there was talent to be seen in the Spanish game.

Currently plying his trade for Championship side Nottingham, Sempere helped his side to their first Cup Quarter-Final in their sevens history, a route which included the scalp of rugby giants Wales.

Having failed to beat the Welsh in seven attempts, Spain won 22-7, and alongside a respectable 19-5 defeat to Fiji and a 38-0 mauling of Zimbabwe, qualified to play Samoa where they….

Sempere contributed five tries in a total of 31 points to seal a memorable weekend for the rugby minnows.

Tomasi Cama – New Zealand

For those well informed in the Sevens scene, this selection will surprise few. Cama has been around a long time and is 10^th on the all-time Sevens World Series appearance list.

Cama has been awarded the title of IRB Sevens player of the year ahead of team-mate Frank Halai and England’s Mat Turner.

Cama scored 29 points on day one of the tournament (three tries), and top scored in their Cup Quarter Final drubbing of South Africa with 11 of his side’s 36 points.

Despite being beaten by eventual winners Fiji, New Zealand breezed past Argentina in the 3^rd/4^th playoff and were crowned World Series Champions for a tenth time – A match which saw Cama top score with 18 points as he contributed a pair of tries and converted four times, on his way to finish leading points scorer with 60.

Tom Mitchell – England

While there has been much talk about James Rodwell and Mat Turner, Tom Mitchell has been the star of this weekend’s sevens for England.

Though the hosts haven’t had the best of times, losing to Samoa in the Pools on Saturday before being knocked out of the Quarter finals by Fiji; Mitchell has been Mr. Consistent over the two days in London.

Scoring two tries and slotting 5 kicks, Mitchell created chance after chance for his team-mates and was unlucky not to score a few more times.

Mitchell also broke the line to provide the score that saw England past South Africa in the Plate Semi-Final on day two.

England were unfortunate to lose in the final against Australia, but have plenty of promising talent to be encouraged by.

Branco Du Preez – South Africa

No team had a more up and down time of things in London than South Africa.

Blitz Bokke finished second in the pool after losing to a last second conversion against Australia, and were then pummelled by New Zealand in the cup quarter-final.

This was rounded off by another last second defeat, this time to England, though one constant throughout, were the performances of Branco Du Preez.

Du Preez was superb with ball in hand and provided a number of line breaks and key offloads for his opponents to create scores from.

DJ Forbes – New Zealand

If ever you could describe a sevens player as having been there, done it and got the t-shirt; then D J Forbes is definitely that man.

The 29 year old from Auckland has played in 51 sevens World Series meetings and crossed the line for his 100^th try in London.

He also has a commonwealth games gold medal to go with the title of Sevens player of the year in 2008.

Forbes was central to New Zealand’s successes over the weekend and has played an integral part in their winning of the World Series.

He finished the weekend with 103 scores and converted the final try of his side’s 40-0 drubbing of Argentina in the third place playoff.

Dan Fish – despite winning the bowl final against Scotland, Wales’ tournament was wholly disappointing.

However, Dan Fish was a shining light in an otherwise dull weekend for the men from the valleys.

At just 21, Fish has been involved with the international set up in both sevens and the fifteen man game when he was named in the U-20s squad.

He is also involved with Cardiff Blues and showed his class by scoring five tries over the two days – his sides leading scorer.

Special Mentions:

Mat Turner- the IRB sevens player of the year nominee had another good tournament, touching down five times to finish joint third in the try scoring charts.

 Tom Iosefo – the Samoan was instrumental in seeing his side to the cup final, scoring a tournament high eight tries in the process.

‘One after the other.’ A short and simple statement that tells you all you need to know about Ian Evans’ desperately unlucky record with injuries. But ever since the Ospreys lock made his return from his most recent setback, he has proved any doubters wrong and he has proved how vital an asset he is to Steve Tandy and Warren Gatland.

Evans made his Ospreys debut in 2005 in a 37-10 defeat to Munster at Musgrave Park and he went on to feature in 20 of the region’s matches in the 2005/06 season.

The 6ft 8in second-rower’s performances earned him a call-up to the Wales squad and he made his international debut against Argentina in 2006, a game in which he ran in a try from over 50m to score his first and only points for Wales to date. Everything was looking bright for the now 27 year old forward but things soon changed with crushing consequences.

Unfortunately things did not go according to plan and Evans suffered a shoulder injury meaning he missed the majority of the 2006/07 season, but this was just the start of a torrid few years of injury problems for the Johannesburg born forward.

After returning from a prolonged spell on the side-lines, Evans was dealt another blow as he suffered a knee ligament injury in Wales’ 29-9 defeat to the All Blacks in 2008, an injury that kept the Osprey out for the remainder of the 2008/09 season.

The frustration continued for Evans and the forward was dealt yet another setback as he struggled with an ankle injury.

Evans finally made a return to the international stage in December 2011 after a three year absence, but he was unable to help Wales to a win as they were beaten 24-18 by World Cup bronze medal winners Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Shane Williams’ farewell match.

Evans’ impact on his return has been phenomenal after making a total of 19 appearances for the Ospreys this season, with another likely to come when the Ospreys face Munster in the Pro12 semi-final at the Liberty Stadium, in addition to his international cap against the Wallabies that he earned at the end of last year.

Even more impressively was the fact that he played in all five of Wales’ Six Nations matches, a feat that not even the most optimistic of rugby fans could have predicted a few years ago, as they went on to secure the Grand Slam for the third time in eight years.

This achievement is all the more impressive when you consider that Evans, prior to the World Cup in New Zealand, was behind Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris in the second-row pecking order.

Evans has shown throughout the season that he is more than capable of stepping up to the plate when it comes to the big tests and that is why he is very likely to add to his 22 Wales caps in the near future starting with the Barbarians in June.

His strengths in the line-out will be vital to Wales as they continue their search for a regular number two. Matthew Rees’ injuries ensured that he would miss the World Cup in New Zealand and his replacement Huw Bennett performed admirably. But Evans’ Ospreys team-mate Bennett, who is due to leave for Top 14 side Lyon at the end of the season, also struggled with injuries at the beginning of the Six Nations tournament and he was replaced with Scarlets hooker Ken Owens.

The continuous change at number two failed to disrupt Wales’ Grand Slam hopes but this was largely down to the great work of the other forwards including Ian Evans who was rapidly becoming Wales’ unsung hero.

He is now all but certain to feature for Wales, under the watch of Rob Howley, in their tour of Australia this summer after a truly remarkable campaign at club and international level.

They are the hidden men of rugby. The officials we rarely see. Their job seems simple, yet the Television Match Official is often the cause of great frustration. They slow the game down with endless replays. Often cannot make a decision due to a mass of bodies covering the balls. Not forgetting that without one perhaps England would have won the 2007 World Cup!

The TMO’s role is simple. The referee can call of their judgment during the act of scoring within the in-goal area, to judge whether a player was in touch in the act of scoring and for to judge the success of a kick at goal. They may not officiate on any aspect of play in the lead up to scoring unless one of the above criteria are met.

Still things do go wrong. I can think of two occasions over the past year where the TMO has acted outside his remit. Firstly during a Scarlets vs Ulster fixture and subsequently in last year’s Tri Nations. In both occasions the TMO denied tries because of infringements before the act of scoring (knock-on and forward pass respectively). It is clear that both instances the correct decision was made, but it was done so outside of the TMO’s remit. Frustrating as that is (especially the Scarlets incident) it is important that the right decision is made whether that is within protocol or not.

The question raised by the aforementioned incidents is whether the TMO’s powers should be extended. In rugby league, where TMOs have been used since 1996, their role is much bigger than in the union code. The major difference is that in league video referees may adjudicate on incidents from the last phase of play before a try is scored. Although interestingly they cannot pass judgment on forward passes due to camera angles (and a nice bit of physics that means passes thrown backwards can end up travelling forwards). So should these sort of powers be used in union as well?

The simple answer has to be yes. In fact referee’s chief Paddy O’Brien has indicated that trials will take place with regards to the TMO’s remit. The finer details of this have yet to emerge officially, but it seems like the new powers will allow adjudication on knock-ons, offsides and foul play during the final phase of play. Provided it is introduced properly there is no reason why this system should not work.

Another development with regards to the TMO is the recent announcement by the Aviva Premiership. To date only televised games have benefitted from having a TMO available. This leads to inconsistency across the league. What may be given as a try in one game may not in another due to the role (or lack of) a TMO. However moves are afoot to introduce a TMO at every premiership game. Trials have been conducted this season and costings drawn up for a full implementation. The final decision is to be made over the coming weeks.

What is clear is that the TMO is here to stay. What’s more is that their role is set to become more significant. With so much at stake, on the pitch and financially, anything that can ensure correct decisions are made should be welcomed to the game with open arms.

At 25 years old and a rugby education very much deep rooted in the south west of England (having played for Bristol and Gloucester), I embarked on a journey to the land of Frogs legs and baguettes to play for the LOU – One of France’s oldest clubs in the city of Lyon, at the gateway to the south of France. Three years on I will share with you my experiences on what has been a humbling and awesome challenge, and give my insight into French rugby.

Unfortunately for my LOU teammates and I, our fling in the big league is over. Officially relegated from the TOP14 in what can only be described as a big shame.

After winning France’s 2^nd tier championship “Pro D2”, a new stadium and a stack full of new signings including World cup winning scrum half Ricky Januarie and all action Argentinean back rower Juan Leguizamon, things had looked promising to say the least. But superstar players, celebrity spectators, and mid season sackings (our coach got the chop mid season and our fly half captain became head coach. All very Francais) were not enough to save us from relegation. Hopefully the signings of  L’Homme des cavernes -the caveman- Sebastian Chabal and his Racing  metro team mate Lionell Nallet will help the team bounce back next season and no doubt keeps bums on seats.

What has made things even more frustrating on personal note is that I’ve been largely out of action this season with injury; sitting in the stands has not been good for my hairline. So with Lyon’s fate sealed to be playing back in ProD2 next season, it looks like Brive will be dropping down with us after losing at home to Bordeaux at the weekend…unless of course they can pull of a miracle and get a bonus point win at the mighty Clermont. Not looking promising!

What I find equally exciting as the pending last few games of the season, is what happens behind management office doors at this time of year. It is this time of year that the clubs do their recruiting and negotiations. I can almost hear the simultaneous slapping of agents lips as we speak. With huge stars already plying their trade in France, it’s always exciting waiting to see which Galacticos will be packing their bags and moving to France.

This year it has even more significance to me as my contract at Lyon runs out at the end of the season. It’s always a funny time for a professional rugby player as your life can literally turn on its head in a matter of a few phone calls. For example like when I signed for Lyon. After landing at Heathrow Airport after a relaxing 10 day break in the south of Spain, I turned my phone on to receive a message from my agent telling me that Lyon had made me an offer and would I be interested. Two days later I flew to Lyon to meet the coach and have my medical, and as Sunday drew to a close I had moved to Lyon ready for training in the morning…all in a matter of days. As excited as I was, I was heading to a new team, in a new city, in a country, I begun wishing that I had studied French instead of German for my GCSE’s. ….So you can see – this time of year can be slightly unnerving, but equally exciting, as you await to find out where you are going to be calling home next season….

….So after three seasons of playing for Le LOU, a new language learned and a truckload of memories, the big question is where will I be running down the wing next season?  Will it be in here in France, back in the UK or in some other part of the world? My next move is out of my control now, and in the hands of the agents!

David Wallace is the latest Ireland legend to announce his retirement. I thought I’d share one or two memories of his days with Munster and Ireland. Hopefully, you have a few that you can contribute too. If you do, leave a comment at the end of the piece and share the love for Wally!

My first ever Munster match was a Heineken Cup pool game in 2001 against Castres. Munster won 21-11 thanks to a try from Anthony Foley and 11 points from the reliable boot of ROG. But it was David Wallace’s performance that stood out. He was named Man of the Match for what was fast becoming a typically powerful display. I still have the match programme and I wrote in ‘MOTM’ beside his name, along with a little star!

It was immediately clear to my uneducated rugby eye that Wallace was a genuine star. He would be called up to the Lions tour later in the year to replace the injured Lawrence Dallaglio. Of course he scored a try there too. The Limerick man was almost impossible to stop from five metres out. As soon as Munster or Ireland got within sniffing distance of the tryline, there was only one man they looked for.

Wallace’s power in contact was second to none. As his career progressed, and his thighs grew ever larger, he became harder and harder to stop. His try-scoring record was prolific for a back-row. He scored 40 tries in his 203 appearances for Munster. For Ireland, he dotted down 12 times in his 72 caps. It may not read as particularly impressive, but to give a quick comparison, centre Gordon D’Arcy has 7 in 68 caps. Wally’s pace and freakish strength made him a serious finisher.

Anyone who ever saw Wallace live, in the flesh, will know just how strong he was. The collisions he was involved in were nearly always accompanied by a sickening thud. His ability to accelerate into contact should not be underestimated. Any rugby player will tell you how hard it is to consciously do. The natural instinct is often to simply accept a tackle. Good coaches constantly remind their players to accelerate into the contact zone and battle to stay on their feet. Wallace didn’t need to be told. He relished the physical battle and always burst into tacklers.

One of the most enjoyable games I’ve ever been at was that famous bonus point win over Sale in Thomond Park in 2006. It was into injury time when Wallace picked from a ruck and strolled over for the try that guaranteed Munster’s progress. Interestingly, there was no one in front of him that time, but if there had been they wouldn’t have stopped him. It was one of the days where I truly understood just how special Munster rugby was and Wallace played the starring role.

He wasn’t simply a bosh merchant though. Wally was an intelligent player with a phenomenal work-rate. His support play from 7 was underrated. He scored plenty of tries by simply being in the right place at the right time, the mark of a great player. His fitness was unquestionable, with the big carries and hits coming for the full 80 minutes. On top of that, he always came across as good craic and a nice guy.

Two Heineken Cups, two Magners Leagues, a Celtic Cup, three Triple crowns, a Rugby World Cup, a Grand Slam and two Lions tours. That says it all really. A legend of Irish rugby.

Credit – Rugby Picture

Garry Irwin - @girwin90

15 - Isa Nacewa – Leinster

14 – Alex Cuthbert – Cardiff Blues

13 – Ashley Beck – Ospreys

12 – Paddy Wallace – Ulster

11 – Tim Visser – Edinburgh

10 – Dan Biggar – Ospreys

9 – Ruan Pienaar – Ulster

8 – Ben Morgan – Scarlets

7 – Chris Henry – Ulster

6 – Tom Smith – Ospreys

5 – Dan Tuohy – Ulster

4 – Tom Ryder – Glasgow

3 – John Afoa – Ulster

2 – Richart Strauss – Leinster

1 - Jon Welsh – Glasgow Warriors

Murray Kinsella - @murray_kinsella

15 – Stuart Hogg – Glasgow Warriors

14 – Isa Nacewa – Leinster

13 – Ashley Beck – Ospreys

12 – Fergus McFadden – Leinster

11 – Tim Visser – Edinburgh

10 – Ian Madigan – Leinster

9 – Rhys Webb – Ospreys

8 – Chris Henry – Ulster

7 – Justin Tipuric – Ospreys

6 – John Muldoon – Connacht

5 – Devin Toner – Leinster

4 – Dan Tuohy – Ulster

3 – Ronan Loughney – Connacht

2 – Richard Hibbard – Ospreys

1 – Jon Welsh – Glasgow Warriors

Ian Mitchelmore - @Ian_M_92

15 – Stuart Hogg – Glasgow Warriors

14-  Tim Visser – Edinburgh

13 – Casey Laulala – Cardiff Blues

12- Ashley Beck (Ospreys)

11 – Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)

10- Ian Madigan – Leinster Rugby

9- Ruan Pienaar – Ulster

8 – Ben Morgan – Scarlets

7- Justin Tipuric – Ospreys

6- Dave Denton – Edinburgh Rugby

5 – Dan Tuohy – Ulster

4 – Tom Ryder – Glasgow

3 – BJ Botha – Munster

2 – Richart Strauss – Leinster

1 - Jon Welsh – Glasgow Warriors

Bethan Borrett - @missborrett

15 – Isa Nacewa  - Leinster

14 – Tim Visser – Edinburgh

13 – Casey Laulala  - Cardiff Blues

12 – Ashley Beck – Ospreys

11 – Alex Cuthbert – Cardiff Blues

10 – Rhys Priestland – Scarlets

9 – Ruan Pienaar – Ulster

8 – Ben Morgan – Scarlets

7 – Justin Tipuric – Ospreys

6 – Dave Denton – Edinburgh

5 – Paul O’Connell – Munster

4 – Dan Tuohy – Ulster

3 – BJ Botha – Munster

2 – Richardt Strauss – Leinster

1 – Duncan Jones – Ospreys

With England’s tour to South Africa just around the corner, players up and down the country are fighting to be part of Stuart Lancaster’s squad. With three test matches against the Springboks and two mid-week games to play, Lancaster has already indicated he will select a large squad for the tour.

The new head-coach showed during the Six Nations that he isn’t afraid to pick young talented players and give them a chance. So with that in mind here are four players who could make a real impact in Africa.

Rob Miller (Sale Sharks)

The young full-back has had a terrific season for the Sharks and tops the Aviva Premiership scoring charts with 10 tries. The switch from fly-half to full-back has been effortless for the former Newcastle man, and he has been one of the most exciting players to watch this season.

Miller’s ability to beat the first man and open up the space on the counter, make him an extremely dangerous player. His two tries against Gloucester last week showed he also has the ability to join the line and tackles. He faces tough competition from the likes of Ben Foden and Mike Brown, but if his dazzling form continues then he has every chance of making the squad.

Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)

Jonathan Joseph is one the most promising centres that England have produced in a long-time. The 20 year-old possesses a great combination of speed and footwork, something the England midfield has been lacking for quite some time.

Mike Catt, who is expected to coach the England backs in South Africa, has spoken highly of Joseph saying “He reminds me of Jeremy Guscott.”It is clear that his coaches think a lot of this young man, and if he lives up to the hype England could have a star on their hands.

George Robson (Harlequins)

The Quins second-row has had a terrific season for Connor O’Shea’s side. Robson has a tremendous work-rate and carries the ball with great power. His defensive work is superb, and he combines this with great play at the breakdown where he clears players out with ease.

Along with England skipper Chris Robshaw, Robson has been at the heart of everything that Quins have achieved this season. His style of play seems to fit perfectly into Stuart Lancaster’s system, and with Courtney Lawes out of the tour this may be his best chance to step up to elite level.

Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)

With England back-rowers Tom Croft and Tom Wood already out of the tour, there is a hole at blind-side flanker that needs to be filled. Young Worcester flanker Matt Kvesic could be the man to fill that shirt.

The 20 year-old has been a regular for the Warriors all season, and has been nominated for the Young Player of the Season award. His all action style of play has certainly caught the eye, he carries well and is a clever player at the ruck.

Lancaster has already shown he isn’t afraid to throw talented players in to the international stage, and Kvesic could very well be the next to earn his first cap.

Garry Irwin – @girwin90

15 – Rob Miller – Sale Sharks

14 – Horacio Agulla – Leicester Tigers

13 – George Pisi – Northampton Saints

12 – Jordan Turner-Hall – Harlequins

11 – Alesana Tuilagi – Leicester Tigers

10 – Nick Evans – Harlequins

9 – Haydn Thomas – Exeter Chiefs

8 – Nick Easter – Harlequins

7 – Chris Robshaw – Harlequins

6 – Steve Mafi – Leicester Tigers

5 – George Robson – Harlequins

4 – Tommy Hayes – Exeter Chiefs

3 – James Johnston – Harlequins

2 – George Chuter – Leicester Tigers

1 – Nick Wood – Gloucester Rugby

Nik Hughes – @nikhughes23

15 – Mike Brown – Harlequins

14 – Christian Wade – London Wasps

13 – George Pisi – Northampton Saints

12 – George Lowe – Harlequins

11 – Alesana Tuilagi – Leicester Tigers

10 – Toby Flood – Leicester Tigers

9 – Dwayne Peel – Sale Sharks

8 – Thomas Waldrom – Leicester Tigers

7 – Chris Robshaw – Harlequins

6 – Tom Johnson – Exeter Chiefs

5 – Ed Slater – Leicester Tigers

4 – George Robson – Harlequins

3 – James Johnston – Harlequins

2 – Schalk Brits – Saracens

1 – Marcos Ayerza – Leicester Tigers

Danny Till - @dannyjt10

15. Rob Miller – Sale Sharks

14. Christian Wade – London Wasps

13. George Pisi – Northampton Saints

12. George Lowe – Harlequins

11. Alesana Tuilagi – Leicester Tigers

10. Nick Evans – Harlequins

9. Haydn Thomas – Exeter Chiefs

8. Thomas Waldrom – Leicester Tigers

7. Chris Robshaw – Harlequins

6. James Scaysbrook – Exeter Chiefs

5. George Robson – Harlequins

4. Steve Mafi – Leicester Tigers

3. Dan Cole – Leicester Tigers

2. George Chuter – Leicester Tigers

1. Joe Marler – Harlequins

Sam Verralls – @the_verralls

15. Mike Brown – Harlequins

14. Marcel Garvey – Worcester/Jonny May – Gloucester

13. George Pisi – Northampton

12. George Lowe – Harlequins

11. Alesana Tuilagi – Leicester Tigers

10. Nick Evans – Harlequins

9. Neil De Kock – Saracens

8. Thomas Waldrom – Leicester Tigers

7. Chris Robshaw – Harlequins

6. Sam Betty – Worcester Warriors

5. Geoff Parling – Leicester Tigers

4. James Hudson – Newcastle Falcons

3. Dan Cole – Leicester Tigers

2. George Chuter – Leicester Tigers

1. Matt Mullan – Worcester Warriors

With the June internationals just around the corner, the All Black selectors have a conundrum on their hands, where to fit their surplus of talented midfield backs? Robbie Fruean has been in amazing attacking form for the Crusaders, but does he have the allround game to knock established players like Chiefs Sonny Bill Williams and Richard Kahui or the Rugby World Cup winning combination of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith off their pedestal. The other options are utility players like Highlanders Tamati Ellison and Ben Smith who could be preferred options off the bench. Will the selectors choose players who won’t be around in 2015 at the Rugby World Cup? Will they select combinations of players from Super Rugby teams? It will also depend on the squads and how many specialists and how many utilities are required.

Contenders:

Sonny Bill Williams has been an integral part of the All Blacks since late 2010 and has played in 14 test matches. He leads the Super Rugby 2012 in offloads and has the fourth most running metres. Sonny Bill Williams has developed a good combination with Richard Kahui from the Chiefs. His defence is huge and he is lethal on attack. I think you can’t leave out Sonny Bill Williams unless he decides that he doesn’t want to be an All Black and wants to focus too much on other things like boxing.

Richard Kahui has silky skills and has excellent distribution. He is a smart player, but also has enough speed to be able to play on the wing or midfield. He is defensively good and has developed a great combination with the rejuvenated Chiefs. Kahui and Sonny Bill Williams are both 26 years old so will be around for the next Rugby World Cup and are the best looking midfield in the game. Injury has curtailed Kahui’s career so far with only 17 tests so far despite debuting in 2008.

Conrad Smith is a consistent performer for the All Blacks and has forged a great partnership with Ma’a Nonu in recent years. Smith is known as an intelligent player who is actually a qualified lawyer and he plays a smart game which allows him to read situations on both attack and defence, despite not being the biggest or quickest candidate. He is 30 and probably won’t be around for the next Rugby World Cup. His 55 test matches provide experience for the All Blacks, but you wonder if it is worth retaining him knowing that he will be 34 at the next Rugby World Cup. Plenty will depend on the attitude of the selectors.

Ma’a Nonu has been in a disappointing Blues team this season, but he is such a devastating player with ball in hand. Nonu’s consistency has improved in recent years and he has been one of the All Blacks first names on the team sheet. He is the ultimate foil for Conrad Smith. Nonu has tested many defences in recent years with his blockbusting runs, but he has also developed his passing and even his kicking game. Nonu is 29 and so could be tempted to go overseas soon, so you wonder if the selectors will select the combination of Nonu and Smith, even though neither will probably be playing at the top of their games in 2015.

Pretenders:

Robbie Fruean has been electric at times this season for the Crusaders, but there are still question marks over his defence at times, but you can’t question his attacking ability. He adds life to the Crusaders backline. Does he read the game well and have the ability to unleash the outsides? Fruean is only 23 and must have a future in the All Blacks jersey, but I think he is a bit inconsistent to make the team until the End of Year Tour. Some people even think he would be better on the wing with less decision making and reading of the game required while he would also have more of a chance of making the bench.

Tamati Ellison has been in remarkable form for the Highlanders this season in the midfield and at fullback. Ellison is light on his feet and seems to always threaten the defence, yet shows up in the right place at the right time on both attack and defence. Ellison can play in most positions in the backline and with Isaia Toeava out injured he could come into contention as a bench player. Ellison is a one test All Black from 2009 but amazingly has been in Japan for the last few years. Ellison is 29 and so may be doubtful for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Ben Smith usually plays at fullback for the Highlanders, but has the ability to play on the wing or at centre. He has been in sensational form for the Highlanders this season with an ability to spot the gap and his deceptive pace. He is still only 25, yet plays with a maturity beyond his years. Smith’s ability to cover fullback, centre and wing make him an ideal candidate for the All Blacks squad as bench cover. He has played two tests before.

Dan Carter has been playing at second five eighth for the Crusaders and could provide cover for the All Blacks there. Carter started his career in the midfield and would take the pressure off the starting first five eighth by offering an alternative kicking option. His groin injury won’t be as badly affected by less kicking at second five eighth. Could DC still be around for the 2015 Rugby World Cup?

Other options include the enigmatic Rene Ranger from the Blues and the hard running second five eighth Shaun Treeby from the Highlanders. I think that Sonny Bill Williams needs to decide what he wants and Robbie Fruean will probably be saved for the End of Year Tour. Nonu and Smith may not be seen much more in the All Blacks after this year. Kahui should be there. Ben Smith is a good option for the squad. Of course, there will always be injuries.

Who do you think be in the All Blacks midfield? I think it will be Smith, Nonu, Kahui and SBW, although Ben Smith may sneak in as a utility. Fruean should be saved for the All Blacks End of Year tour/Autumn Internationals.

www.superrugbytips.com

There has long been a debate surrounding which is the elite club rugby competition in the world – the Heineken Cup or the Super 15. Both undoubtedly have their positives and negatives, but with both competitions coming to critical points in their schedules; the Heineken Cup final and the race heating up for a place in the playoffs of the Super 15, there is perhaps no better time to discuss the merits and drawbacks of these enthralling competitions.

One of the most important differences to note between the two tournaments is that clubs involved in the Heineken Cup arguably have to deal with more demanding interests outside of the cup itself. With the majority of competitors also plying their trade in the Aviva Premiership, Top14 or RaboDirect Pro12, they are also under huge pressure to perform in their domestic divisions, a pressure which is perhaps not magnified to the same extent with South African and New Zealand sides in the Currie Cup and ITM Cup respectively. Southern Hemisphere sides are also comforted by the knowledge that they will perennially be competing in the Super 15, allowing them to field full strength sides throughout the season, a luxury not enjoyed by their Northern counterparts, who must perform well enough in their domestic divisions to once again qualify for the Heineken Cup in their next season. As such, this can often lead to squad rotations when an important domestic fixture is looming, to the detriment of the Heineken Cup itself.

The excitement factor of the Super 15 is also hard to deny, with the expansive style of play and multitude of tries scored through quick hands and incisive angles enough to please all but the most ardent of old forwards. The Heineken Cup also has its’ fair share of exquisite back play, look no further than the likes of Gloucester and Leinster, but there is no denying that it is a forwards-driven tournament, in much the same way the Northern Hemisphere is in general, at both club and international level. While the perfect execution of scrums (on the rare occasion they don’t collapse) and lineouts are a pleasure to watch for the purists, to many they are a means to an end, a platform for the more ‘exciting’ aspects of the game. The reliance on an accurate kicking game in the Heineken Cup also divides opinion, with many finding it frustrating to watch, whilst others appreciate its’ necessity in a knockout tournament, where a close game decided by the boot and a stoic defence can be just as thrilling as free-for-all of try scoring.

It is almost unfair to pick apart the Super Rugby sides for the formatting of their competition, but the importance of games in Heineken Cup usually far outweighs those of the Super 15 (certainly pre-playoffs that is). One poor performance, or even an awkward bounce of the ball, can spell the end for a side in the Heineken, even in the group stage, a facet of the tournament which makes it so exciting to watch. A similar loss in the Super 15, although far from helpful, rarely rules a side out of title contention, unless coming very late in the season, and takes away some of the anxiety with which we watch the game.

It is not just the importance of each game which promotes excitement in the Heineken Cup, but also the coming together of very contrasting styles of rugby. The free-flowing, almost Southern Hemisphere-style of the Welsh and Irish sides crashes headlong into the forward dominated play of the French and English, and can often make for exhilarating games. There are of course exceptions to the rule; Munster for one would more than match up with any French or English side in the forwards, and this variety just goes to further differentiate the tournament from its’ rivals. It would be foolish to presume there is little-to-no difference between the playing styles of the Southern Hemisphere sides, but the differences are less measurable than in the Northern Hemisphere, and games can be more predictable to a certain extent.

For a fast and expansive style of rugby, there is no doubting that the Super 15 is the elite rugby competition in the world. The level of skill displayed by the average player does surpass that on show in the Heineken Cup, and although the Northern Hemisphere is starting to close the gap, a fact which could be attributed to the exodus of players from the South to the North, there is still a significant difference. As is often the case in rugby however, it is not always the most skilful and exciting team which wins a game, and therefore it would be wrong to base an assumption on the premier club competition on this factor alone. The pressure and importance of fixtures in the Heineken Cup certainly makes up for what it may lack in expansive play and high score lines, and surely this should be one of, if not the most, important aspects to consider when judging the merits of a competition.

For me, there is very little difference between the levels of enjoyment I experience when watching both tournaments, with the Heineken edging it in forward play and game importance, whilst the Super 15 possesses the more incisive backs, and as a result, a higher prevalence of ‘breathtaking’ rugby. The dominance of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the international arena is arguably the most compelling evidence to say the Super 15 is the superior tournament, with almost all of their players being drafted from Super Rugby. Similarly, you would struggle to find many players representing the likes of England and France who don’t also play in the Heineken Cup, and their fortunes on the international arena have waxed and waned over the years. This is a criticism which is perhaps more suited to be levelled against the domestic divisions in the Northern Hemisphere, but the style of play, which Northern Hemisphere sides are often admonished for when playing against the Southern Hemisphere, are certainly propagated within the Heineken Cup.

Perhaps the only way to ultimately solve the argument would be to devise a way in which the champions of both the Heineken Cup and Super 15 could play against each other on a date which is fair to both teams and at a neutral venue. It is certainly not a possibility in the near future, but as support grows for a global rugby calendar, it is certainly no longer a ridiculous suggestion.