One question. Two very different answers.

The best fly half in Ireland. That at least, from Ronan O'Gara's pre-quarter final comments, is what we were due to discover when the dust settled on the Heineken's last 8 stage. The rivalry between Ireland's record point scorer and his Leinster counterpart, and usurper has tip-toed along the boundaries of sourness. O'Gara's name was booed before by home supporters before Leinster and Munster's clash at the RDS in October. Indeed, O'Gara himself moved in the week to attack the Dublin media (and some of the British) for their insinuations that he was personally high up the list of those responsible for Ireland's torrid demise in Paris during the Six Nations.

It was during this defence that O'Gara took a thinly veiled metaphoric rake of the studs to the performances of his rival; suggesting that Ireland would not have lost the Triple Crown decider, and farewell to Croke Park against Scotland if he, not Sexton, had 10 emblazoned on his back. It is a theory that perhaps holds some credence. Sexton's RBS Six Nations goal kicking percentages regularly rattled around the 30% mark, simply not good enough at the highest level. Under pressure also his kicking out of hand looked less stable but it mask far greater fault-lines in the Irish set up. The line out against Scotland worryingly failed, too many one up tackles were missed throughout the championship (particularly in Paris) and the front row troubles should now have reached code red. You can compete with a front row that is merely ok at scrum time (as England illustrated) but you simply cannot compete with Ireland's. So trying to dictate a game off wonky set piece ball is difficult and naturally impinges on other areas of you game.

So would O’Gara be proven right on Friday? Would Sexton's big game bottle hold as his own had done so many times for Munster at this stage before? Well yes actually. The Dubliner banged over 19 points and ran a sublime wrap-around two free the space for Jamie Heaslip's second score of the night. He tackled everything that moved, took the ball to the line and was at the heart of all Leinster's aggressive intent as they roared back into the game after a dismal first 20 minutes. Most crucially at no point did he lose his head. His nerve. If O'Gara wanted Sexton's big game nerve testing he got it in this one point thriller under the lights; and the young upstart proved he had bucket loads. So this answered the question didn't it? Sexton's jittery form against Scotland and England forgotten. Last minute Magners league drop goals and holding his nerve in the all consuming fog to hold off the World champions in the autumn remembered. Ireland's choice at 10.

Well, no. Because a much bigger question mark came up against his game than people leaping on statistics garnered from less than 2 full Six Nations games. The question mark here is that man from Cork. The city prided on its battling spirit, deliberate difference and outspoken-ness. The rebel county. O'Gara came on at Twickenham to lead Ireland back from the brink to anther historic win on English soil. He is the master of creating pressure and subsequent opportunity for his sides. On Saturday evening, in what has become the house he built, Thomond Park, O'Gara put on a performance that must be filed in the draw marked 'vintage R'OG'. Floating and firing balls into the Limerick corners with the precision of a scratch golfer, he constantly put his Paul O'Connell-less side in areas they wanted to be in. His Garryowen game would have made the old boys on the Thomond terraces from the famous Limerick club blush that a Cork man could make them so his own. Jean de Villiers did have his best game for Munster, Keith Earls was incisive and the hugely under rated Mick O'Driscoll made O'Connell's presence barely unnoticed. Big game rugby is all about pressure. O'Gara builds pressure like no other. And Jonathon Sexton is going to keep on finding that out.

Six Nations Winners and Losers

The XV takes a look at who's reputation is wallowing in the mud and who's broke in to space in the 2010 RBS Six Nations.


WINNERS

Morgan Parra (France) - The stand out player of the tournament. Always inventive without the same propensity to self destruct as many of France's other mercurial talents have done in the past. Fiery enough, assesses what's in front of him so quickly his decisions look premeditated, were it not for their variety and ruthlessness. Always bright and busy makes defences static and always the the enormous French side on the front foot. Perhaps a weakness at ruck fringe defence when a sides going through the phases (most prevalent against the Scottish back row at Murrayfield) but goal kicked with swagger and perfection. A new star is born.

Tommy Bowe (Ireland) - One of the few Lions starts to not only come out of the tournament with his reputation intact but enhanced. Defences maybe aware of where if inside shoulder support running and 10 channel lines but they still can't stop the Monaghan flyer. Improving consistently under the high ball and rarely beaten one on one his defence is solid but it his attacking instincts are what make him special; is there a better line runner in world rugby? The premier finisher in the hemisphere.

Johnnie Beattie (Scotland) - Could have been any of the so called "killer B's" of the Scottish back row that made a mockery of the big reputations elsewhere to prove to be the best unit in the competition. Hard tackling, and quick and incredibly strong over the ball, Beattie has prototype back row skill sets matched with being a fantastic athlete and an even better footballer. In an era of great ogres who like to run into people hard and watch the ball bounce of their creatine inflated chests Beattie's handling and footwork are a joy. Great support runner, lovely pace and a seemingly massive heart he is a throw back of the best kind. If they stay fit Scotland have something to build a team around.

Keith Earls (Ireland) - In a team that often flattered to deceive and was plagued with errors earls really progressed his name. Still armed with the tools that have brought him to prominence he showed that his ruthless finishing form at provincial and AIB level would transfer to the biggest stage. After a predominately uncomfortable time on the Lions tour, with many questioning whether he should be moved to wing or full back Earls showed in Gordon D'Arcy's absence that he is still comfortable at the top table in the centre. His threat from deep or in midfield maintain him as a special talent. Confidence regained, more experience under his belt and many fears about his game being proven unfounded Earls continues to progress.

Clement Poitrenaud (France) - Rob Kearney they said. Rob Kearney and Lee Byrne they said. Possibly Delon Armitage with Rob Kearney and Lee Byrne they said. No conversation about who the best full back in the world might be is complete until this man's name is in the frame. Shook up the doubters once more and burst back in to life in a competition where not a great deal of that when on. Seems to finally be ironing out his inconsistencies. Clement playing like this ends the debate.


LOSERS

Martyn Williams (Wales) - The embodiment of a horrible tournament for the Welsh. Heartbreaking to say but this time it really may be terminal for Martyn at international level after so much tremendous service. Never seemed to be in positions he's made his own; on the ball carriers shoulder in attack or at the centre of the ruck scrapping in defence. The body may explain the worrying number of missed tackles but the mind doesn't seem to be getting him out of trouble and in to the action like it used to either. His performances gave Sam Warburton consideration for the tournament winners. Martyn's fought back before but is this one time too many? In an expected Welsh rethink Williams needs a huge end to the Magners season.

James Haskell (England) - Never has the phrase 'flatter to deceive' ever seemed more apt than for Haskell. Physically he seems to have everything you would want for a 6 or 8. Massive, quick, scores tries reasonable hands yet for some reason he has never delivered not just on the big occasion for England but on the big stage at club level too. It seemed more than a little ironic that after all the bluster over his missing the Tolouse Stade Francais clash he failed to show up at Murrayfield. All bluster hype never an end product. Many have shouldered the blame for England's stale attacking on Wilkinson, but Haskell is at the heart of it. If you are picked primarily for your dynamism and to get quick go forward your place should be under threat if you don't. Offers little else to the back row. Should have been his last chance time to look elsewhere.

Andy Powell (Wales) - Too many silly off field mistakes in conjunction with not learning your lessens on it, equals massive trouble. Perhaps saved by Gareth Delve and Johnathon Thomas' inability to impress in replacing what he brings gives him a glimmer of hope. However very much abetting his late night munchies in the last chance saloon. Time to decide whether he's going to be a serious rugby player or is content as the high school jock caricature he has created.

Euan Murray (Scotland) - The Scottish front row were a huge let down. Normally dependable they too often failed in their assignments at critical times, no more obviously than in Rome. Murray, who heading in to the championship was considered by many (including writing here) to be one of the world's premier scrummagers was an enormous let down and at the heart of penalties and problems aplenty. One of the main catalysts for Scottish collapse in Rome and Cardiff, must rebuild his reputation in the Saints hunt for a treble.

The Worst Grand Slam champions ever?

Is it possible that there has ever been a less impressive set of grand slam winners than France of 2010? This is not to attack France themselves per say. They were efficient, compact and strong going both ways and were rarely if at all in danger of defeat in any of their five tournament matches. But it is exactly this that leads me to the original question; is this the least inspiring Grand Slam of all time?

France never slipped out of third gear at best. They never once needed to. Morgan Parra goal kicked beautifully often and crackled and fizzed with the occasional threat, which showed his potential to explode into life, but was never really required to do so. As France and the tournaments' best player he personified the general performance of our champions; good enough. I constantly yearned to know how good are this French side really? But here were no huge moments to test them, no moments of adversity in which for us to measure the true character of this side, no need to urge themselves to brilliance.

This is to take nothing from France who were clearly the best a generally sub standard tournament had to offer. Their tight five always had them in the game, Francois Trinh-Duc directed solid patterns, the back row was athletic and embodied the general physicality of the side as a whole, whilst Jauzion and Basteraud were by far the form centre pairing. In Morgan Parra and Clement Poitrenaud France had two of the tournaments few stand out players. Poitrenaud's vibrant counter attacking and astute, rather than aimless, kicking game was a cautionary tale to the cautious; the best form of defence is attack. Parra is simply a spiky magician in the most stereotypical French traditions. Alive and open to any option of pass, kick, run, what became most striking was the way he committed defenders. He ran AT players; moved them with footwork, body movement, trickery but he made them make decisions. Too many of the Six Nations 9's first movement with the ball was across the pitch. Scrum Half play is about pace as much as efficiency. This sideways motion buys a defence too much time and makes the decision easy; it puts the decision back on the attacker and at this level of rugby you cannot always beat someone like that.

In spite of these two and the glimpses of promise from Mark Andreu and David Marty, France were no better than fine. Steady, safe. They just simply made fewer mistakes and whilst that should not be a criticism at a professional level, it does leave the mind in a state of limbo when trying to ascertain the actual quality of this French side in the run up to the World Cup.

So congratulations go to France, comfortable champions. We hope that messers Kidney and Robinson, Gatland, Mallet and Johnson are already back at their easels thinking again. We wait to see what they come up with. We do likewise with the true measure of this French side.

The King is dead, long live the Warriors

Chris Latham's end of season departure from Worcester Warriors is the best thing that has happened to the club since...well since the news was announced that Chris Latham was joining the club. Sounds contradictory? It isn't.


When Latham arrived in late August 2008 he was a symbol of Worcester's progress, ambition and success to that point. Having survived by the skin of their teeth the previous 3 premiership campaigns Worcester were again perilously near the drop in the 2007-8 season. Without a win before Christmas the club were staring over the edge. Varying levels of All Black experience had come to Sixways in the shape of Rico Gear, Greg Rawlinson and Sam Tuitupou all on good money. Whilst the ambitious East Stand complex and infrastructure projects on Pershore Lane were already well under way, again at great expense. If the club had faltered, the fall would have been even more cataclysmic than the rise. As it was the Warriors embarked on a fantastic second half of the season run, which saw them pick up 6 wins and a draw out their final 12 fixtures; including home wins over end of season table toppers Gloucester, and beaten Grand Finalists Leicester. Coupled with this relatively comfortable survival Worcester reached the Challenge Cup Final, where they lost out to Bath. The resurgence on the pitch seemed to be mirrored off it. The new stand was completed in 2008 holding 6,000 supporters and extra corporate spaces for increased revenues. Former Welsh U21 grand slam winning stand-off Matthew Jones arrived and, of course, the man described as "the best full-back in the world". It seemed the blend of promising talent and experienced international quality on the field and the opportunity for increased revenues off it meant that 2008-9 would be the year the Warriors took the next step in becoming a Premiership influence.

In spite of all the optimism, this wasn't to be the case. Injuries and what transpired to be poor pieces of business confounded Warriors shaky form. They once again scraped to survival, in spite of taking an absolute pasting at the Memorial Ground against the eventually relegated Bristol. Latham personally played amicably scoring 42 in 20 appearances, but it quickly became apparent that the team had been constructed backwards and with too many risks and reliance’s. Two of Worcester's most influential and highly paid players, Latham and Gear, were for large swathes of games irrelevant owing to the ineptitude of their half backs and lack of go forward in the back row. Offensively the midfield was stodgy and one dimensional and in spite of a good platform the team lacked creativity, clueless as to how best to get the flair players in to the game. To say the side defensively was porous is an understatement.


This season has followed a similar pattern. For all the obvious aesthetic improvements, the rugby still is not winning rugby. The same problems at half back, back row ball carrying and phase retention still persist. In spite of Latham playing in all but one of the Warriors league games this season, the side are not difficult to locate in the standings, sitting, as they perennially do, second bottom. Latham hasn't contributed a point yet. Whether it's an inability of those inside him to create the space or provide the right passes, whether he's a marked man or whether simply some of the zip has gone in those 32 year old legs Latham's contribution to Worcester on the field has continued on a downward trend. Blasphemous though it may be to the Sixways faithful who have turned him in to a cult hero over the past two seasons, Luke Rooney is an immediate improvement at full back.

Standing at 6ft 3in Rooney is impressively physical, solid under the high ball and amazingly experienced across both codes for a 26 year old. He picks lovely lines in the middle of the field and his power helps exploit these in to gain line advantages. His physicality is matched by pace to burn but his most impressive asset is his finishing. The guy is absolutely ruthless. 6 tries in 6 test matches as a Rugby League Kangaroo(including the marvel of malleability that was his last gasp winner against Great Britain in the 2004 Tri-Nations series at Eastland’s), and a regular on canal+ top ten tries of the week show for the French Top 14, Rooney's pedigree should strike fear in to Premiership defences. Pace and power in an outside back has often lead to a lack of imagination in their attacking play but Rooney does not succumb to this laziness. A wonderful 'in-to-out' move particularly off his right foot is perhaps the prize asset in his attacking wares. Age-wise he should be coming in to his peak, and having made no secret of his ambitions to become an England international (he holds a British passport) Rooney has the complete package; hunger, talent, pedigree and even some untapped potential.

The Latham experiment should be applauded. After failures to attract previously linked high profile players (such as Stephen Larkham), Latham proved Worcester could attract the highest profile players. His statement signing took Worcester to a new level in this regard but the step was not significant enough. Worcester must capitalize on what they did right in attracting Latham; and ensnare one of the marquee names such as James Hook and Mike Blair that are being bandied around as potential additions. They must also learn on what they did wrong, and address the team properly, front to back. There is no point having the finishers and the game plan in place to suit them, if you don't have the players to execute inside them. If they are successful in this then Chris Latham and Luke Rooney will both go down as great chapters in a long term Worcester success story.