Weekly Ramble

Well the fifteens season has come to a close and I must say it was quite a season. Midway through the season I started to feel that we were quickly forgetting about what fifteens rugby is about and losing patience with the whole thing. True, some teams could not be bothered, and some other teams have not played a single fifteen a side match this season, but to those that did, congratulations and well done.

My post-Kenya Cup post may have been a bit harsh on Harlequins and they came out to prove me wrong. Even my pre-match prediction was premised on that same belief and they showed me just how mistaken I was. The display this past weekend was one of they took the impala bull by the horns literally and never let go. That their goal kicking has also improved means they were able to turn more of their territory and possession into points and keep Impala scrambling for options. Nonetheless an entertaining and thrilling match.

I am not a fan of the so-called grandslam that is coming up as to me I don't know what it proves. Last year's was the biggest sham in that a team that had not played a competitive match in four weeks beat the one that had just won a final, and through the most difficult route possible! Over celebration perhaps, a flue I think not, but still form does account for something. This time round however, I will not miss this event. The second division is almost becoming stale but it does show the effort the two clubs, KCB and Quins put into their feeder system (?). It also portrays the depth in the two teams.

The first division one will be a match to savour. To me, these were the form teams of the year in terms of structure, pattern, play and purpose. They are the two teams that worked at a system, not just at winning games. And they seem to be the teams with the strongest tacticians. All this will come to a head on Saturday and I do wish there is some decent prize money at stake for the teams to fight out. Because other than playing for pride, the game of rugby sometimes becomes very hard...

Do have a good week and enjoy your rugby.