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Celtic Challenge title race on the boil but silverware isn’t the only prize on offer

Katie Corrigan for Wolfhounds in the Celtic Challenge. Credit: Inpho Photography ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

With just one round of the regular season to go four teams remain in the hunt for the Celtic Challenge title. But the expanded cross-border tournament has been about more than just on-field results for many of the players involved.

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Last weekend, Irish side Wolfhounds became the first team to secure their place in the play-offs, with a seven-try 41-10 win against Brython Thunder at Kingspan Stadium.

The six-team tournament will split in two following Saturday’s fifth round, as the top three compete over three weekends to be crowned champions in the play-offs while the bottom three bid to avoid the wooden spoon in the play-offs.

Points from the regular season will be carried over, meaning that Wolfhounds cannot afford to slip up against Welsh side Gwalia Lightning in Dublin on Saturday as they attempt to hold onto the top spot.

Fourth-placed Lightning, meanwhile, who lost in heartbreaking fashion to Edinburgh Rugby last Sunday, must inflict a first defeat on their hosts if they are to force their way into the top three.

Watch Wolfhounds v Gwalia Lightning LIVE on RugbyPass TV here

Crowned by four tries from winger Katie Corrigan, Wolfhound’s win against Thunder was the latest high point in an impressive season in which they have racked up 129 points in the course of their four victories, the only team to break the 100-point barrier thus far.

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“We’re over the moon, we’re delighted [to be top of the table],” Corrigan said. “We wanted to get that match and get up more to look like more of a threat, but no, we’re just enjoying it even more.

“Sure, it’s good craic when you’re winning but, it’s nice that individually we’re all improving anyway. So yeah, we’re happy.”

Corrigan is a shining example of the opportunities this tournament can provide young players in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

A member of the Ireland squad that competed at the Women’s U18 Six Nations Festival last May, the teenager is now excelling alongside senior internationals such as Aoife Dalton, Grace Moore and Brittany Hogan.

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“Even if you don’t get to play, the training is class. The managers, they’re all so great. Everyone is so interested in you and the girls are great and it’s just such a nice atmosphere to be in,” Corrigan said as she reflected on her time with the Wolfhounds.

“I think I’ve come along good. Getting tries like that as well is such a confidence boost for us. Even the training, [working on] speed, getting faster and we’re doing gym every time we train which is really helping.

“And the programme is just so good that the coaches have set up for us. So, you’re learning every day [in] a different way.”

Whether Corrigan makes the step up to the senior Ireland squad in the future remains to be seen but it is not only young players who have taken advantage of the opportunities available through the competition.

Thunder captain Alex Callender was one of many players left without a club when Worcester Warriors Women folded in October, just a month before the Allianz Premiership Women’s season was due to start.

“I’ve benefited a lot to be honest,” Callender said. “I didn’t really have a club, so this Celtic Challenge has given me game time.

“I’ve got game time under my belt now ready for Six Nations and it’s a really competitive competition, which I’m loving.”

Thunder have found results hard to come by on the pitch, gaining only a solitary point ahead of a fifth-round meeting with the similarly winless Glasgow Warriors.

Watch Brython Thunder v Glasgow Warriors LIVE on RugbyPass TV here

However, Callender – who has won 32 caps for Wales and was in New Zealand preparing for WXV 1 when news of Worcester’s demise came through – has enjoyed the Celtic Challenge experience and helping the younger players in the Thunder squad find their feet.

“It’s been brilliant. I think we’ve got a really young squad coming through; some international players, some really young players,” she said.

“So, to have that mix and balance between international [players] and the grassroots is really good because they’re learning from us and also, I’m learning from them as well. It’s a really good balance.”

Callender added: “It’s amazing, the environment that Ashley [Beck, head coach] and all the coaches have created has been brilliant.

“I thrive in a really positive environment. I play my best rugby as well. So, when I’m enjoying it and I think all the girls, when they’re enjoying it, they play their best rugby.

“So, for us, it’s just about that accuracy and discipline. If we can really tidy that up, then we’re going to come away with wins.”

Callender is hopeful the tide will start to turn in Colwyn Bay this Saturday. “We need to reflect and move forward for our game against Glasgow at home,” she said, “which I think is a really good opportunity for us to hopefully take the win.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
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