One year on from the World Cup...

By WYNNE GRAY


It's easier to say who is NOT playing rugby in Europe this month.

A year on from the fifth World Cup, 14 of the sides who played in that tournament will reconvene in Europe. The only RWC absentees are Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Namibia and Uruguay. Georgia will not be playing either.

As hopes and talks about a global rugby season continue, the rugby spotlight has shifted, in a huge way, to the Northern Hemisphere.

The International Rugby Board has made cautious noises, with chairman Dr Syd Millar warning about careful management of matches.

However, while consultants chew over the global-season theories, Europe is preparing for a rugby watching bonanza.

It is an enthralling fixture list headed by the Springboks who are bidding to be the first team since the Wallabies, in 1984, to take the Grand Slam with tests against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Springboks have been heavily criticised for picking 11 black players in their 34-man squad while there are also doubts whether they will be able to handle tough winter conditions in England.

However, as Tri-Nations champions, the Springboks will have top billing for their tour, and there is serious expectations surrounding the Wallabies who play a weakened Scotland twice and France before their World Cup final rematch against England on November 28.

That will be a massive weekend with the All Blacks in Paris that same day for what looms as the toughest international on their truncated tour.

Since their victories against England in June, the All Blacks have been ranked the top side in the world by the International Rugby Board, followed by the Wallabies and England.

However, two away defeats in the Tri-Nations sullied the All Blacks' record in a season where their form has drifted.

Should they stumble on this end-of-year tour to Italy, Wales and France with a match against the Barbarians to finish, it is likely they will slip out of the IRB lead. That position though will depend on a variety of other results.

The side with the most to prove in November is England.

Less than a year ago, captain Martin Johnson was holding the Webb Ellis Trophy in Sydney after England saw off hosts Australia in an epic extra-time World Cup final.

As a clutch of those England players faded or retired, so did the team's stature. Sir Clive Woodward bailed out after an underwhelming trip Downunder and five losses in their last six tests.

Assistant Andy Robinson has moved to the top rung on the England coaching ladder and there is optimism he can get the England chariot rolling again.

But his plans have already hit one sizeable snag, with World Cup dropkicking hero Jonny Wilkinson re-injured and uncertain about his elevation to the captaincy.

The Wallabies are buoyant and, apart from lock Nathan Sharpe, at full strength. They will be fresh too with their players involved in only some club play and training camps since the Tri-Nations.

Coach Eddie Jones has also refreshed his "baiting" ability after years tangling with Woodward.

Jones has taunted England, suggesting they cannot use any more rebuilding excuses.

"You are the world champions and you've got to face up to the fact that every time you are on the field you've got to defend that title," he said.

It may be more a case of Jones' bravado speaking, as the Wallabies have not beaten England at Twickenham since 1998. And before they tangle with England, the Wallabies have to overcome France.

The Tricolores will be the All Blacks' most difficult foe.

France have not lost since their World Cup playoff loss to the All Blacks, they have completed a Six Nations grand slam and invariably, are a more difficult opponent on their home turf.

They will fancy their chances against an All Black side who will be using at least one inexperienced first five-eighths and others who do not have permanent places in the side.

But by then, the All Blacks will have benefited from a few weeks together and the progressive difficulty of the matches against Italy and Wales.


…and what a change

NOVEMBER 2003: Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal at the death takes England to their first World Cup victory.

DECEMBER 2003: John Mitchell's journey ends as All Black coach and Graham Henry (right) appointed as his successor.

JUNE 2004: The All Blacks unleash new-found mongrel to thrash England 36-3 at Carisbrook.

AUGUST: The All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup but capitulate away to Australia and South Africa. The latter win their first Tri-Nations title since 1999 - further evidence of the Springbok renaissance under coach Jake White.

SEPTEMBER: Lawrence Dallaglio (left) finishes as England captain. Sir Clive Woodward (below left) resigns as coach after a bitter dispute with the national union. Andy Robinson takes over, but Woodward still has control of the Lions for his revenge tour next June.

NOVEMBER: The world's top teams are in Europe a year after the World Cup. The cleanouts, debates over clubs versus country and efforts to stitch a global season together continue - but who's going to clean up?



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