Each game week Paul Williams ‘Black & White’ column will take a look around the world of the Guinness PRO14 and beyond. Known for his contributions to Rugby World, his obsession for the game and his notorious tennis elbow, as an independent columnist Paul will bring his unique takes on rugby to pro14rugby.org. With no grey areas, entertainment and enlightenment are assured. A must follow on Twitter @thepaulwilliams Rassie Ticks a Boks Few Others Could As much as Japan coach Jamie Joseph deserved to have picked up World Rugby Coach of the Year, you cannot argue that Rassie Erasmus has done an immaculate job. When Erasmus took over, Bok rugby looked diluted in style and personnel. Stacks of players were moving oversees, the South African Super Rugby teams were struggling to cope with the Kiwis and the professional model in South Africa looked as shaky as Donald Trump’s moobs. But then Erasmus took over. "In South Africa, pressure is not having a job. Pressure is one of your close relatives being murdered. Rugby shouldn't be something that creates pressure, it should be something that creates hope."A moving message from Rassie Erasmus.#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/Mr810TyaBd— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) November 2, 2019 Not only did he take the job of director of rugby, but he also became head coach. That he was able to turnaround, essentially, the same group of players, in half a Rugby World Cup cycle, was stunning. But perhaps his greatest achievements are that he has reinforced the Bok brand whilst also changing it at the same. Unlike many other nations, The Boks haven’t tried to copy the All Blacks style of play. They reverted to their strengths and once again become the lords of power rugby, as they always have been. But whilst the Boks have dug their heels in with regards to playing culture, they have taken a massive step forward with regards to their wider rugby culture. The Boks feel like a team for all races in South Africa. Not sure Rassie could have done much more. Rugby Doesn’t End with the World Cup The Rugby World Cup is completed and perhaps more saddening than the actual event being over, is that many will now leave rugby untouched until the Six Nations. To many, rugby is the BBQ of sport. You bring it out two or three times a year, make a big song and dance, and then stick it back in the shed. But that is the real tragedy of our sport, and why it can struggle commercially. There were some delicious hands in #GuinnessPRO14 Round 5 👐🔥Some looping passes, inside balls, plenty of pops and outstanding offloads – even a cross-field catch 👌Here are some of the top moves of the week, which was your favourite?? pic.twitter.com/DzctRM9OOF— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 4, 2019 Rugby is a six-month sport, but to many other it is a six-week sport – 13 during RWC or Lions year. The problem affects some countries in the Guinness PRO14 landscape more than others. This issue affects rugby in a way that simply doesn’t affect football, especially in Wales, and is one of the key causes for the huge financial disparity between the sports. If you enjoyed watching the RWC, you’ll enjoy watching club rugby. You really will, so get involved. Cardiff Blues are Need Their Heavy Artillery All teams miss their Test players. Some miss them more than others. And whilst squads like Munster are deep enough to cope during the Test windows, Cardiff Blues have struggled. The lack of ball carriers was particularly evident against Munster in Round 5. As broad as Nick Williams’ shoulders are, he can’t carry the heavy carrying workload alone – and this is a man who is so big that when injured, he requires a vet. It would be harsh to suggest that they team don’t have carriers, they do. But the whole squad is built on a fast offloading game. Half of the pack consists of rapid, agile backrow forwards, which are fantastic in certain circumstances, and may be not in others. Adding to the carrying issue is that most of their centre options are steppers and ballers – not big heavy recycling bins that can process what ever is thrown at them. This paragraph may paint an overly grim picture, for Cardiff Blues, which it shouldn’t. Josh Navidi and the half man, half monster, Dillon Lewis will return soon and will add some much-needed ballast in the tight five. Cardiff Blues haven’t been blown away in any of their recent loses, they have been competitive affairs, but you can’t help feeling that they’re lacking a lump of two. The Kick Through is the Perfect Wet Weather Tool The kick through was rather neglected during this World Cup. Even in humid conditions teams persisted with box-kicking, carrying and passing even the ball was as slippery as a Whitehouse press officer (The President’s residence, not Ben). Niyi Adeolokun with the WHEELS 🏎💨@connachtrugby take an early lead, how will @ospreys strike back??#GuinnessPRO14 #OSPvCON🇬🇧 Watch Live Now on @PremierSportsTV & @S4C🇮🇪 Watch Live Now on @TG4TV🇿🇦 Watch Live Now on @SuperSportTV pic.twitter.com/zVr1SBVE75— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 2, 2019 But, as we saw in Round 4 of the Guinness PRO14, in wet weather, the chip through is hyper effective. Both Glasgow’s Nikola Matawalu and Connacht’s Niyi Adeolokun executed perfect chips when scoring two of the tries of Round 5. Niko behave 🤭 @NMatawalu hit some serious speed to chase his kick and dive over for @GlasgowWarriors in Round 5 🏎 The winger earns this week’s @Ronseal Perfect Finish 👌 pic.twitter.com/tEJxze6GNO— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 4, 2019 The chip through makes so much sense in wet weather. It not only minimises the time that the ball is in hand, in which you are more likely to turn it over, but you are placing all the responsibility on the defensive player. A dry rugby ball is a deceitful little swine, a wet one is about as trustworthy as a stag party in Vegas. High Tackles Seem Like Yesterday’s News Remember when high tackles were ruining rugby and the game had gone so soft that it had turned into Boris Johnson’s backbone. That was just four weeks ago, and the problem has already drastically reduced. The early rounds of the World Cup were littered with high shots, the latter rounds not so.
