Tour time for rugby nations
As domestic rugby seasons end across Europe and the Southern Hemispheres, emphasis switches to national team selection and tours overseas, with club supporters subsequently averting their adrenalin focus, often showering their selection venom on social media.
End of season also sees many players heading to the departure lounge with more going than coming as salary caps are cut. Coaches also taste the wrath of failure. I remember sitting in one premier league club’s coaching office when a hugely successful coach was sacked. It was difficult to breathe, no-one raised their head, no one spoke the following day. It is an emotional brutality that can shape your future. I ran the sports psychology at the club and one of the topics I presented was, “How to cope.”
For those players remaining in situ and those going on tour, there is both relief and excitement.
So, who is going where, and are there any ‘juicy reunions’?
The much-maligned England coach, Steve Borthwick (who already knows he is not having his contract renewed, win or lose the next World Cup) takes an England squad rich in experience in the forwards but young and eager in the backs to Japan for a one-off test tomorrow (June 22) and then to New Zealand for two tests, in Dunedin and
Eden Park, Auckland on July 6 and 13, respectively.
Borthwick’s predecessor, the even more maligned Eddie Jones, lies in wait as coach of Japan. Considering the power of England’s forwards, defeat is unlikely, but if it were to happen, I’ll send the “How to cope” paper!
Scotland disappear to the Americas with four fixtures, starting in Canada before a quick dash to Washington DC to face the US, then Chile in Santiago, finishing in Montevideo with a tough test against Argentina, who I tip to win.
Ireland sends an emerging squad to play two tests against a new look South Africa with several young debutants. Ireland will need to get some semblance of parity in the forwards to stand any chance of demonstrating their attacking prowess.
Wales play South Africa at Twickenham, then Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, before concluding with a final game against the Queensland Reds. Both Australia and Wales are spiralling downward. In previous decades this fixture would have been a must watch, with quality attacking play across the park. Now even selling tickets is a challenge.
France is scheduled to play Argentina and Uruguay, although both are still to be confirmed. C’est la vie!
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.