Good week, bad week: Why Wales are desperate for a win

Whose rugby stocks are on the rise and whose have taken a hit over the last week? Let’s go around the world to find out.

GOOD WEEK

Bristol
It may seem odd that Aviva Premiership basement club Bristol should be considered a positive after a weekend defeat that saw them cast seven points adrift at the bottom of the English top flight. But, while their on-field fortunes remain stuck in the red as they stare relegation firmly in the face, off the pitch they are continue to do some canny business. After tempting Pat Lam across the Irish Sea and prising Steven Luatua from the All Blacks (for all that his week has been far from impressive on both personal and professional levels), Bristol this week announced they had signed Irish international Ian Madigan on a big-money three-year deal and had retained the services of impressive youngster, and Mads’ likely long-term successor, Callum Sheedy. This is one of those slow-burn rugby investments that looks set to offer big returns over the next two seasons … always supposing they don’t pull off a miracle in the remaining few matches of this campaign.

Leinster
Another club, more impressive news on the recruitment front. Pro12 leaders Leinster this week announced that they had signed Wallaby flanker Scott Fardy and Chiefs’ Maori All Blacks winger James Lowe for next season. They would have been tremendous signings individually, but combined they’re a strong warning to Pro 12 and likely Champions Cup rivals that the Dublin-based outfit mean serious business.

Mohed Altrad
No, the construction magnate and rugby-mad Montpellier president who would own Gloucester has not found a way around European Professional Club Rugby’s veto of his plans for Northern Hemisphere rugby domination. But he has signed a deal to be the first official paying sponsor of the France jersey. The players will wear shirts sporting the Altrad logo as well as the France 2023 World Cup bid, for the first time against Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday. The initial deal will run until November 17.

Dans le cadre de ce soutien à la candidature, le nom du groupe sera associé au #France2023, déjà présent sur le maillot du #XVdeFrance. pic.twitter.com/yzgA4G4Iel

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 7, 2017

Dan Carter
After a dismal run of unusually negative press, during which he lost a lucrative sponsorship deal with Land Rover after being arrested for drink driving, Carter has been unveiled as a new ambassador for maker of expensive watches Tag Heuer. If you’ve got one or two freebies to give away, Dan…

Humbled to be a new ambassador for @TAGHeuer #DontCrackUnderPressure pic.twitter.com/UxO9PrAeW3

— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) March 6, 2017

Germany
Two wins from three Rugby Europe Championship games means Germany are in with a strong chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Japan. In a country in which a once-proud rugby heritage never recovered after the Second World War – Germany won a rugby silver in the 1900 Olympic Games – it would be a long-overdue return to the top level rugby fold.

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BAD WEEK

Toulon
To lose one coach can be considered unfortunate. To lose two is probably careless. So far this season, the once-shiny galacticos of the Top 14 have lost three. Well-regarded Australian Steve Meehan this week left the club with immediate effect, following former head coach Diego Dominguez – who was, as Bernard Laporte’s successor, a choice so left-field he navigated the globe before the season started and was returning to port from the other side – and the entertainingly shouty Jacques Delmas. Despite a video vote of confidence from Mourad Boudjellal filmed in front of a toothy cartoon-esque model that would terrify even last season’s Sunwolves mascot, the rumour in France is that Mike Ford’s future at the club is short, with (according to reports in the French media) former Montpellier coach Fabien Galthie and Grenoble’s Fabrice Landreau both set to sign contracts sooner rather than later.

South Africa
Rugby authorities in South Africa last week decided that only overseas-based players with 30 or more international caps will be eligible for Test selection. SA Rugby’s president Mark Alexander said the decision sent “a message to young players that if they wish to play for the Springboks, then they must remain in South Africa.” And, yet, no one was fooled. These days, players can win 30 caps in three seasons – the length of a single contract – and then head off to rugby pastures far more lucrative. Where do South Africa go if this too-little-too-late idea doesn’t stop the player exodus? Besides, that get-out clause which allows the coach to pick anyone, regardless of the number of caps, during a World Cup year renders the whole idea somewhat pointless.

Laurie Fisher
Gloucester’s head coach was so disillusioned with his side’s capitulation at home to Harlequins at the weekend that – less than two hours after the final whistle – he apparently, and very publicly resigned via the medium of Twitter. His comments surprised the head honchos at the club, but after a series of meetings over the following 48 hours they agreed that it was probably best that he should, in fact, leave. While the ever-colourful Fisher was popular with the fans, reports swirling around Kingsholm suggested that his relationship with the players was rather less smooth, with some reportedly less-than impressed with his coaching methods. Jonny Bell will step into Fisher’s role on an interim basis, and a new head coach will be announced within a month, according to the club’s director of rugby David Humphreys.

Chris Masoe
While Dan Carter’s fortunes (in more ways than one) have taken a much-needed upturn recently, the same cannot be said for fellow ex-All Black and Racing 92 compadre Chris Masoe. He lasted all of five minutes of the defending Top 14 champions’ most recent game against drop-fearing Grenoble before being sent off for a dangerous tackle. He could only watch from the bench as Racing lost 19-10 – and, in truth, it was a match so dreadful that he could probably be forgiven for being caught on camera checking his phone rather than see the horror show unfolding before his eyes.

Wales
Wales have not lost three successive Six Nations matches in 10 years, but, following defeats against England and Scotland, nerves really will be jangling ahead of this week’s match against Ireland at the Principality Stadium. Another defeat, and they will be looking at their worst finish in the tournament since 2007. Worse, they could fall further down the World Rugby rankings – they are currently seventh; if they drop to ninth they will be in the third rank of nations come World Cup draw day on May 10 and all the more likely to be dumped in one of those death pools. More pressingly for a number of players, they really need a good performance to reignite fading hopes of Lions selection.