UFC 261: The Return of Captain America?

On Apr 24, 2021Apr 24, 2021 By xvrambleIn MMA, SportLeave a comment

I’ll admit, I’m very biased here. I fell in love with MMA watching Chris Weidman land a flurry of punches on the seemingly invincible Anderson Silva. Since then he had the 2^nd most dominant middleweight championship run in UFC history. The fact that his run gets forgotten so often is a testament to his position after the loss to Rockhold. He was lost in the shuffle of the antics of Bisping, GSP and two stunning Romero Whittaker wars. After a short sojourn up to light heavy to fuel the Reyes hype train, Weidman finds himself in a strange spot. A razor thin win over Akhmedov puts him in place to fight Uriah Hall, a man as uninspiring as Kamaru Usman, without being a top 5 pound for pound fighter.

Weidman is in a must win position, probably not to keep his job but definitely to have a chance of making a run at the title. Fundamentally he can reach those heights again, his grinding style is tailor made for many of the top ten, indeed Vettori is very reminiscent of a young Weidman and he has found great success in the grinding brawler style built on check hooks and heavy hands. It’s this style that saw him break Akhmedov down and indeed has won him the most significant fights of his career. It’s essentially a meme now that Weidman loves wheel kicks after it cost him the title against Rockhold, but attached to the joke is a serious point. Flashiness is costly, especially when Weidman is so dominant as a slower more methodical fighter. He proved against Akhmedov that he’s aware of this and he will need to remain aware this coming weekend.

Talking of fighters in a weird spot Uriah Hall is on a three fight win streak, yet also seems to be flirting with being cut from the UFC. His most recent bout against a man pretending to be Anderson Silva was one of the more phoned-in match ups in UFC history. The lack of enthusiasm was not without reason, the fight itself was simply a stronger, faster and younger man, throwing simple strong techniques against a fighter who should have retired some 10 years ago. The 3 fight win streak rather than inspiring confidence in Hall instead makes me question the matchmaking. Hall has excellent power and legitimate speed in the striking realms, especially the longer ranges where he can launch head kicks as well as the rush attacks he favours, particularly the flying knee.

All this leads to the first two entries in the MMA phrasebook: ‘styles make fights’ and ‘a classic striker/wrestler match up’. This fight is those two phrases taken to their extreme. Weidman is a methodical wrestler who will exchange at close range and will utilise short hooks and dirty boxing to open up takedown opportunities. Uriah hall wants to circle the cage and keep Weidman at the end of his leg reach, rather than just regular jabbing range. It’s an old school battle of ranges and despite many seeing it as a bit of a nothing fight the way it plays out could be a technical masterclass.

For Weidman then it’s about control, and pace. Hall is a slow starter and rather than approaching the fight like Bevon Lewis did throwing everything at him in the first round and hoping to make an early night of it, Weidman needs to be methodical. His approach should be wrestling centric, he needs to take advantage of the slow start of hall to bx in on him work him to the fence. Hall is fairly passive as a fighter and loves spinning techniques. Weidman needs to take advantage of the low early output from hall and get him on the ground early, and keep him there. The Blachowicz, Adesanya fight showed the value that taking and holding down a striker can have especially on the judges’ scorecards which in a three round fight will be a factor. Weidman needs to use top control to drain Hall and take the venom out of his explosive shots, he will be safe in that top position not least because the guard has become less and less dangerous in MMA. Even more so is the fact that the current meta has moved rapidly toward standing up, fuelled in part by the power of the wall walk which as a technique is so effective it leads grappling exchanges taking place almost exclusively on the fence. This is significant not least because Weidman is one of the few men, especially in the middleweight division who is exceptional at keeping the wrestling exchanges in the centre of the cage. The Askren style of control and ground and pound will be the biggest element of Weidman’s game if he is to come away with the win. If Weidman is able to angle Hall away from the fence with some low outside singles, or alternatively or potentially force a sprawl from an old school low between the leg doubles, he might well be able to make it count in terms of draining Hall.

Range for Weidman is also important, whilst Hall is by no means a weak boxer he favours long open ranges for kicking. Weidman can’t afford to spend much time at long range, his strikes need to come in the pocket and the clinch. If there is a finish for Weidman it will come from dirty boxing or close range hooks as Hall retreats. If he can hang in the pocket he will be able to make Uriah very uncomfortable. However the buzzword for Weidman needs to be patience, not looking for a finish early, rather using the slow start of Hall to really take the energy out of him which will pay particular dividends in those longer ranges Uriah prefers.

For Hall, one word should be the only thing he has heard all camp ‘volume’. Hall needs to let his hands go early and often, there’s a reason that the big strikes he ended people with on the Ultimate fighter don’t work against higher competition. Its Hall’s failure to set u these larger strikes that cost him. These techniques work, just ask Terry Etim, but fighters like Barbosa and ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson set up their spinning attacks. Thompson’s hands low style draws in opponents and gets them moving forward which he then attacks with spinning counters. Barbosa throws out a volume of leg a body kicks forcing the lowering of his opponents hands. Uriah Hall needs to throw punches, he needs work behind his jab to force Weidman to hesitate in the area between the pocket and disengaged. The teep kick should be a significant weapon for Hall to keep Weidman at a range where he will be forced to explode to launch any combinations or a shot. For Hall this fight is about keeping Chris right on the end of his jab constantly and force Chris to do more to close the gap on him.

If he’s able to establish distance with the teep and the jab he can then start to work his power kicks, particularly those to the body with the height and looseness that Weidman holds his hand with. If hall is to win he will most likely do it by finish in the last round.

So which style wins? Weidman does seem to be quietly building momentum, and it really is a major turning point in his career, it could well define his future in the sport as well as the promotion. Ultimately Weidman should be able to establish and push a pace on Hall, it’s a familiar task for a man who has throughout his career given his best performances against long range strikers.

Weidman by unanimous decision

European Rugby Round Up: The Best and The Best of the Rest

On Apr 7, 2021Apr 7, 2021 By xvrambleIn Rugby, SportLeave a comment

The first games in the new format adopted due to Covid, delivered in both the champions and challenge cup this weekend. We saw all the quarter finals be decided in one fell swoop and there was some glorious viewing for the rugby minded population. We learnt a huge amount from this weekend’s games, the champions Exeter are here to stay, Racing really are the freight train we all feared they were and out of the blue Sanderson’s Sale pose a real threat. The challenge cup contests meanwhile showed us that if anything the competition is Ulster’s to lose. Whilst Leicester and even saints have been quietly gaining momentum, Ulster, outside of the international window, have so much quality available it is difficult to picture another team hoisting the trophy. With the quarter finals firmly in sight lets go over the best of the qualifying round and where the storylines lie coming into one of the most competitive weekends of European rugby in years.

Racing Ahead

Racing 92’s team sheet is so talent stacked that it can win games before they even start. I saw it first hand when the French side came to The Twickenham Stoop to face a harlequins team that looked defeated before they finished the warm up. Racing have the feel and momentum of the 2011-15 All Blacks, and inspire an “oh well, there’s always next year,” attitude in all but the best of the best in Europe. With the presumed return of Finn Russel to occupy the 10 shirt held dutifully but not spectacularly by Gibert over the international period, Racing will have the best backline in European club rugby. Whilst Edinburgh have been a team on the downward trend recently and thus a win over them was somewhat expected, a 53 point deficit tells of a racing with clinical attacking ability. They have a series of excellent individuals who have enough flare to consistently capitalise on breaks. Their forwards are the right mix of power, abrasiveness and awareness epitomised in Camille Chat and future international backrower Jordan Joseph.

Whilst Bordeaux-Begles do present a genuine challenge for this marauding Racing 92 side, the Parisian side should be heavy favourites going into the quarter final. This is despite Mathieu Jalibert’s incredible form bolstered by international game time, which has seen him rise to being a legitimate starter on the world stage. However Racing have so many weapons available along with a deepening bench that allows them to continue the pressure into the last quarter of the game unlike many French teams. Racing 92 should be favourites not only for the quarters but for the whole tournament.

Sailing past Scarlets

Sale announced their presence on the European stage with a comprehensive 57 – 14 win over a scarlets team brimming with enthusiasm and Six Nations winning players. The suspicious similarities in this game to the, similarly impressive if less high scoring, World cup final dismantling of England by South Africa are a sign of things to come in Sale. Sharks defence was where this game was first won, and then dominated. Scarlets woes were centred in the forwards where the pick of the carriers was Number 8 Kalamafoni. The leading carrier in the Pro14 this season managed just 18 metres on 11 carries. This anaemic output came as a result of Sale’s line speed. I would like to say that I had seen them doing something particularly intelligent, ran some special scheme or attacked a certain weak point. This was not the case. Sale simply spent the entire game in the Scarlets’ faces frustrating the back line which was unable to receive front foot ball and could not launch into the free flowing attacking Scarlets of recent memory. Line speed was very much the story and Sale came to bully the welsh side, preventing the ball getting to the outside, neutralising Liam Williams and McNichol completely.

Sanderson was muted in the post-match interview, claiming they just “caught them [Scarlets] a bit cold,” but it was clear from the emphasis Sale were placing on their line speed, that this was Sanderson’s vision. This Sale side is aiming to become a new version of the Saracens 2014-19 ‘wolf pack’ marshalled by Alex Sanderson then forwards coach at the London club, and they showed that they could on the weekend. The defensive capability of Sale clearly translates from the domestic to the European stage making them a legitimate threat to the competition.

This weekend the Sharks face La Rochelle a team full of confidence and scoring ability, as well as a good dose of muscle. If Sale can turn it into a tight arm wrestle they will more likely than not come away with a quarter final win.

The Eagle Soars

If Andy Farrell could cry, he would have done so watching Sale this weekend. Despite all the think pieces about Sexton being able to carry on till he’s 70 in the international Fly-Half slot, Ireland are in deep trouble in the position. Burns and Byrne are not competitive at the international level, and unless Carberry can put together more than 10 games without injury, there is no one behind Sexton.

This is because the next best option, the son of the headmaster of the most prestigious rugby school in Ireland, Blackrock college, is spoken for. AJ MacGinty has 28 caps for the USA Eagles and is thus unavailable for selection for his home nation. This is frustrating for the Ireland coaching set up, not only because he has shown incredible form with the ball in hand and off the tee this season, but because his style of play is eerily similar to the incumbent Irish Fly-Half. He is a game manager, a label that normally relegates players to the bracket of good but never great. However in the case of MacGinty, as well as with Sexton, it is a high compliment. Sale’s Fly-Half has a sublime control of a team full of powerful but one dimensional players. The Sharks key to victory is no secret, it lies in physicality and game management. Thus AJ, along with his Scrum-Half partner De Klerk, are the most important players on the team. MacGinty’s control of the game is the reason he finds himself second only to Marcus Smith in point scoring in the premiership and saw him grab 32 points against Scarlets. His selfless style maps wonderfully onto Johnny Sexton’s and would make him a perfect heir to the throne. It is the similarity between the two players that is the most frustrating, both have similar kicking statistics both in hand and off the tee, and have an innate ability to bring those around him into the game. Alas Andy Farrell will have to continue to sit in the purgatory of hoping that Joey Carberry is no longer made of porcelain, or work up the courage to pick Paddy Jackson. Neither seems likely.

Paolo Odogwu: this Kid could Play for England…

Wasps forced Clermont to dig as deep as they could on Saturday to come away from the Ricoh with the win. The newly uncaged Paolo Odogwu was a major reason for this down to the wire finish. The wasps flyer was a well-publicised inclusion in Eddie Jones’ squad for the Six Nations however the winger/centre didn’t make it into a single 23 over the course of the tournament. So after 7-8 weeks without any match speed game time could Odogwu have lost the form that saw him selected in the first place? In short, no. Odogwu looked to be at his bullish best with a try just 5 minutes in. He followed it up later in the game with a disallowed effort that was one of the closest calls I can remember seeing, beating three Clermont defenders on the way to the line, unfortunately leaving half a toenail in touch. He was a constant threat with the ball in his hand and showed a cool and collected vision of the game that could well have made a real difference on England’s campaign. Wasps, despite losing out in heart-breaking fashion, will take heart from how good Odogwu looked and indeed how good the whole team looked in what has been a disappointing season so far. Also judging by Eddie’s normal policy around these pseudo-apprentice players they can rest easy in the knowledge that Odogwu won’t ever get called up for England again…

In all seriousness, almost regardless of Lions selection Odogwu should be the first name on the team sheet for England’s tour to America in the summer. He offers a physical combative style of winger that’s almost unique in world rugby. There are not many players with his low centre of gravity combined with genuine pace and a real ability to shrug off tacklers. Especially with Antony Watson likely heading to South Africa Odogwu should be given the chance to make that 14 shirt his own.

Who can Challenge Ulster?

Ulster’s victory over Harlequins is important for everything except the result. The performance of Ulster was far more valuable than the number of points they could put past a Harlequins C team. This game was about reintegrating the bevy of internationals that had returned to the club this week. To say this was done well would be an understatement, Burns, Stockdale and Herring slid back into the Ulster shirt with ease. Whilst the Fly-Half struggled in the international window he is excellent at club level, he has something of the George Furbank about him in that regard. Stockdale for all his up and down form will always be a lethal finisher, an athlete similar to Damian Penaud, in that they have long builds and don’t necessarily jump out at you, until they get near the line. Cooney controlled the game with the class of an international Scrum-Half, and at the age of 30 he will need to continue this form if he stands any chance of being picked consistently during the lead up to the World Cup. Furthermore with Craig Casey showing unbelievable amounts of promise, Cooney will need to stamp his authority on the 21 shirt, especially with the demonstrated lack of depth behind Murray.

With the international class present in the team, as well as the fact that they are competing in the challenge and not champions cup, Ulster should be favourites as we progress though the knockout rounds.

And New: UFC 260 Talking points

On Mar 28, 2021 By xvrambleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. It’s probably the biggest cliché to come out of boxing, but it proved itself to be the case yet again last night. The main event saw one fighter with incredible toughness, come up against a generational talent, with once in a millennia power. The talent and power won out. Elsewhere on the card there was a return to form, a couple rising stars and a few good old fashioned quick finishes. For a card that hinged on the main event to generate interest, the results of the card as a whole gave us a lot more than many were expecting.

Prelim performer: Abubakar Nurmagomedov

Khabib’s cousin’s put on a showcase against Jared Gooden. Gooden opened up with low hands, wary of the Nurmagomedov affect. Turns out that Abubakar didn’t need to dip into his wrestling much at all. Short and aggressive striking helped him cruise to a dominant victory. His movement in and out is reminiscent of ‘The Eagle’ but there appears to be a much greater depth of understanding in the realm of striking for the welterweight than for his retired lightweight counterpart. Strike variety with an exceptional pace left Gooden with no real answer. When Abubakar took it to the floor we saw immediate control of the legs, and the Daghestani handcuff being used to excellent effect. He’s doubtless one to watch, and particularly with a striking performance like that, a main card and a ranked opponent should be next.

The ‘Suga Show’ is back on the road

All the talk going into this bout was that Almeida was being set up to get knocked out by Suga Sean. O’Malley, Dana White and just about everyone except referee Mark Smith, thought that he’d done it in the first round. Credit to Smith, as Almeida rose from the dead to continue the fight well into the third. Ultimately O’Malley had too much to offer. Almeida was stuck in his high Muay Thai guard and couldn’t get anything going. O’Malley did an excellent job of moving southpaw to keep his ‘glass ankle’ away from Almeida’s low kick, and kept him at range primarily with kicks. The front kick to the body was there all night long and Sean used it to great effect maintaining a long range to keep Almeida’s counter right over the jab out of the equation. Some will, and did, criticise O’Malley’s repeated attempts to gain a walk off knockout. Frankly, why shouldn’t he try? He was completely safe in the Octagon, Almeida didn’t pose any real threat. When he eventually did get the finish in the third it was emphatic. Where he goes from here will be interesting to see, the Bantamweight division is stacked with talent. A Frankie Edgar type may well be an excellent test for him, a veteran figure of some kind should definitely be his next test. Almeida looked stunned by O’Malley’s variety as have most he’s fought for any long period of time. A tough test for him will be someone who is not fazed by the variety, and forces O’Malley to work diligently and punish his lapses in concentration.

What to do with Woodley?

‘The Chosen One’ looked to be back against Vicente Luque, a strange statement considering Woodley was caught in a D’Arce choke in the first round. The aggression was back, the power was on display, but he’s lost four in a row, the latest now by finish. It’s an unfortunate circumstance but Woodley would now appear to be fighting for his job. The entertainer in me sees Khamzat Chimaev ranked at 14, but the technical fan in me sees Magny and Neal ranked at 9 and 11 respectively. Both would pose and interesting challenge, and both need opponents soon to stay relevant in an ever moving Welterweight division.

A new Luque?

Luque withstood some serious blows from Woodley, who landed his famous overhand right on the Brazilian a few times flush. Luque looked tough, but we knew that about him from the Fight against ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. Ultimately we have not learnt much more about him from this fight. A rematch with Thompson or a bout with Leon Edwards seems the way to go, and might well gives us a bonafide number 1 contender to face the winner of Usman Masvidal 2.

Patience, patience, patience

Francis Ngannou is officially the baddest man on the planet. Credit needs to go to Stipe’s chin, which dragged this fight into the second round. Many lesser men would not have made it out of the barrage Ngannou threw after the failed takedown attempt from Stipe. Ngannou’s newly acquired defensive wrestling was on excellent display, and left Stipe looking lost. When he disengaged after the failed shot, Stipe seemed to have very little to offer the challenger. This was proved emphatically when in the second round the now former champ threw a right hand that hit Ngannou clean in the temple. The predator shrugged it off, closing and finishing with a clean efficiency and patience. I talked before the fight about the importance of patience, Ngannou limited his work in the first round, vary his target for strikes, not just headhunting. This approach paid off, every strike that Ngannou landed partially at worst, and connected in full at best. From there his otherworldly power took over.

Ngannou will almost definitely face off against Jon Jones in his first defence. Dana seemed hesitant to commit to it in the post-fight press conference, but frankly the matchup is too big to ignore. Ngannou has a chance to dethrone two goats in a row if he fights Jones. His performance was so good last night that I’ve no doubt that Ngannou could easily open as the favourite against the greatest fighter in Mixed Martial Arts history. Whatever plays out over the next year or so, Ngannou proved last night that he is the scariest human being walking the earth.

My Obligatory and Unnecessarily Controversial Lions Team.

On Mar 25, 2021Mar 25, 2021 By xvrambleIn Rugby, SportLeave a comment

A six nations full of surprises is (almost) over. A lots changed in the past 8 weeks, and that is reflected in the lions squad that will now for certain tour South Africa. The team will no longer be England with Stuart Hogg as most people seemed to think before the tournament. Indeed this is probably the most open lions selection in a long time. This leaves Gatland huge opportunity but also huge risk, compounded by the fact he is coaching against the most physical team on the planet who will be looking to solidify themselves as the best in the world. Selection needs to reflect the opposition and with South Africa’s DNA so clearly established Gatland has the opportunity to pick a team that can really attack the defending World cup champions.

Loose Head: Joe Marler

What? How? He didn’t even play in the six nations! Correct and Wyn Jones will doubtless be the first name on the team sheet for most. Marler however was selected for England and turned down the opportunity to better support his family. Had he been a part of England’s campaign there may well have been tangible differences. He is one of the most physical players in the world and is becoming more and more reminiscent of his old England front row partner in Dan Cole. He doesn’t make mistakes on the field, he’s a hard worker in attack and a monstrous presence in defence. Furthermore he is the best loose head in the set piece and tight game in the world. His physicality and set piece quality will be a necessity against the likes of Malherbe and Koch (and potentially Wilko Louw his Harlequins teammate).

Hooker: Ken Owens

Honourable mention must go here to Luke Cowan-Dickie who has proven that he can thrive on the international stage. However Ken Owens has been immense for wales, doubly impressive considering the long layoff due to injury prior to the six nations. He offers an industrious and fast approach to the game but does not lack in physicality and much like Marler is a former tourist. Unlike Marler he has also captained the lions, experience that will be invaluable in a team that will likely feature a large volume of youth.

Tight Head: Tadgh Furlong

Of course it is. The depth here makes it arguably the lions strongest position with both Sinckler and Porter proving themselves world class, the latter for the first time. Additional names like Will Stuart who really stepped up in his limited game time as well as Thomas Francis having somewhat of a resurgence show that Taidgh will be by no means unchallenged. The Irish prop showed in the games he did play just how classy a player he is, the leaving aside the greatest side-step in the history of rugby, he returned to the physical play that has been his hallmarks since he shrugged of Reid and Retallick in 2016.

Lock: Maro Itoje

I have never been the biggest fan of Itoje, and there’s not much new to say about him. He gives away too many penalties and once he gives away one or two he does tend to spiral. However he is on his day anywhere form the best 2^nd row in the world all the way up to the best player in the world. The ability he has in the loose, especially over the ball which will be essential in disrupting the consistency of South Africa’s front foot ball. Aside from that he is a previous lions tourist and will inevitably have a massive role in the leadership of the group.

Lock: Tadgh Beirne

The auto-locking octopus himself, Tadgh Beirne was first a revelation for Munster and this year he has been the same for Ireland. He is my player of the tournament, although Stuart hogg as the potential to pinch that this weekend, and importantly he allows the Lions to have essentially five backrow players when included with Itoje. Beirnes’s inclusion will be a real boon to the lions around the breakdown and will make it difficult for south Africa to maintain the front foot ball that is so central to their physical style of rugby. His inexperience is notable, especially when compared with the other option of Alun Wyn Jones at the position. Although his short but successful international career has shown his cool head and quality under the heat of the bright lights.

Blindside: Justin Tipuric

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Tipuric is up there with his forbear Warburton in terms of who represents the phrase best. Tipuric has been outstanding his entire career and nothing changed this year. Offering the hands of a 13 alongside a savviness around the breakdown that sees him win key turn overs with alarming regularity, his value to the lions is obvious and immense. Hamish Watson has played well this six nations and would probably be the form man to pull on the 6 jersey, Tipuric though is world class and has been for a long time and if the way he played this tournament is anything to go by he will continue to be long into the future.

Openside: Tom Curry (VC)

It’s difficult to pick an attribute of Tom Curry that stands out, a Tipuric has his handling, a Rees-Zammit has his finishing ability. Tom Curry in contrast is just really good at rugby. Its flippant but it is the simplest way to get across the quality of player that Curry is. His well-rounded skill set is reminiscent of the great 7s of the past and I’ve no doubt he will be in that pantheon by the time he hangs up his boots. For me he’s as likely as Itoje to lead England when the captaincy next changes hands, and his work rate in a leadership position will keep the rest of the pack honest. This is an opportunity for Curry to confirm himself amongst the best in the world and despite good tournaments from other options, Hamish Watson particularly, Tom Curry is Just too good to be left out.

No. 8: Sam Simmonds

Sam Simmonds is underrated by even his biggest fans. He for me ranks alongside Vermeulen and Alldritt as the best at the position in the world, not just in England. The decision not to pick him for England is short sighted, not picking him for the lions would be even more so. Simmonds work rate is phenomenal and between him, his fellow backrowers and the 2^nd row the turnover battle easily tilts in favour of the Lions. He has been the only 8 available to the home nations to look utterly dominant. Vunipola is not a consistent contributor and let’s face it size can no longer be the main aspect of a player’s game with the increase in the average physicality of players. Stander may not be available but if he were to be he would be an ok option, but has not stood out as a dominant force, the same for Talupe Faletau. Simmonds offers a back row X-factor and whilst the lack of international involvement is damaging to his cause I think he is good enough to compete on the world stage.

Scrum Half: Connor Murray

Scrum Half is perhaps the lions weakest position, in light of that I’ve avoided pushing the boat out and selecting Allie Price who has really grown into the Scottish shirt this six nations. Regardless it is difficult to look past the ever present figure of Murray, especially after his excellent performance against England last weekend. With no man in the 9 shirt standing out this year, it is logical to take the player who has performed at the highest level for the longest. Connor Murray is definitely that man, he was arguably the best scrum half in the world earlier in his career and has not taken the dive in form that people seem to think he has. He’s the best of an average bunch, but he still is the best option and needs to be pulling on the shirt in that first test.

Fly Half: Finn Russel

There’s not much to be said, that hasn’t already been talked about with Finn Russel. He makes Cipriani look like an Aldi own brand product with what he is able to do on the international stage. His timing and attacking awareness are unmatched at the moment in the game. His surprising turn of pace makes him lethal in a position which has so rapidly shifted toward game management specialists. Additionally if you were to pick a man ahead of time to be voted the best tourist he would be the man.

Left Wing: Anthony Watson

England’s six nations campaign was characterised by incompetency and disappointment. The one truly bright spot throughout was Anthony Watson. His finishing through contact is maybe the best in the world and this Six nations he showed that he was still deadly from close range. Now that the idea of him being moved to full back has been put to bed also he can focus on the being the dominant finisher we sometimes forget he is.

Inside centre: Henshaw

Along with Beirne, Henshaw fits into the category of players who have played themselves into the lion shirt over this six nations. With Jonathon Davies taking a step back accompanied by a move to 12, and no one else really putting their hand up Henshaw is the obvious choice. It is a shame that Redpath suffered an injury so early as his form in the England game suggested that he may have had a similar opportunity. Henshaw however hasn’t put a foot wrong all six nations, and with Farrell regressing significantly I think that the Lions need to play the hot hand.

Outside Centre: North

This was a toss-up between North and Gary Ringrose. For South Africa the physicality of North as well as the speed he has adapted to the position, tips it for me. His move inside was not without its initial issues, but his defense has rapidly been made much more secure, and under Gatland will only improve. Furthermore, the old George North who terrified the rugby world pre-concussion, appears to be returning in earnest. The rampaging north of 2011 would certainly be of massive benefit to the Lions. There is something to be said also for having a centurion in the side, especially one still so young and capable.

Right Wing: Louis Rees-Zammit

Why not? The classic take on LRZ has been “Gatland might even take him on the Lions tour.” The guys age should not matter, he has simply been the best winger in the Six Nations. His speed is his most commonly observed attribute, which is not surprising. I assume with the way he burned Johnny May that he is one of, if not the fastest player in world rugby. Additionally he is not the small winger that many seem to think he is. He’s a sizeable athlete with excellent coverage skills, essential for facing off against the likes of Kolbe. Age and wisdom before youth and enthusiasm is a good mantra to apply to most things, just not to the most in form winger in the Northern hemisphere

Full back: Stuart Hogg (C)

Hogg had a little bit to prove this Six Nations. He had performed well for Exeter in the games he played, but had looked pedestrian on the international stage since his rise to captaincy. This is no longer the case. He proved this six nations that any debates about his quality should around whether or not he is the best Full back in the world. He offers immense counter attacking ability, alongside the lethal finishers in the back three he will put the fear of god in the South African kick chase. His leadership during the rise of Scottish rugby has been clear to see, whilst Gatland does prefer his captain to be in the forwards the selected pack has no shortage of motivators. Hogg is arguably the best full back in the world, and has gained a new lease of life under the captaincy of Scotland despite a rocky start. He’s my lions captain, of a team which has a very good chance to really dominate the Springboks.

Miocic vs. Ngannou 2: Basically an 80s Action Movie

On Mar 24, 2021Mar 24, 2021 By xvrambleIn MMA, SportLeave a comment

Blue collar Cleveland fireman vs superhuman refugee turned title challenger for the title of baddest man on the planet. The Ngannou Miocic rematch really writes its own headlines. Aside from the surreal nature of the backstory to the fight, the matchup itself is very compelling. Ngannou opens as favourite which has rubbed some people up the wrong way, but it’s hard to argue with it, after fighting derrick Lewis in a cagey decision loss, Ngannou has spent 2 minutes and 42 seconds in the Octagon… Over 4 fights.

Teddy Atlas talks about Deontay wilder having ‘the great eraser’ in his right hand, which is so powerful that it erases all his mistakes up to the point it lands Leading to the 48 KOs on his record. Ngannou is this idea taken to its maximum potential in the UFC, and MMA more generally. His win over Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds compared with the 25 minute decision fought by fellow highly touted prospect Cyril Gane to also beat Rozenstruik is testament to the alien otherness of the power in Ngannou’s hands.

The last time Stipe took on the Cameroonian he withstood the hurricane of the first two minutes and comfortably controlled the fight from then until the bell at the end of the fifth. Dominant does not do justice to Stipe’s performance in 2018, and it’s here that this fight becomes so interesting. It’s easy to fall in love with Ngannou’s power, just watch him hit Overeem into orbit, but Stipe has proven that he can nullify that power, and not just nullify it but take it on the chin and tough it out. Ngannou landed an uppercut in the first and a right hook in the third that landed clean and the working man of Ohio shrugged it off with his trademark stony exterior.

There is obviously technical nuances as there are in any fight at the top level, however this weekend’s title bout boils down to one fundamental question: can Ngannou connect clean? If the answer is yes it will be a short night and Stipe will wake up looking up at the lights of the UFC Apex centre. If the answer is no Stipe will have to effect another herculean effort likely even greater than his performance the last time these two met.

How does stipe do it then? Well, pretty much the same way he did it last time, the single leg will be key this weekend. Ngannou will come in lighter than he did in the last fight, hopefully closer to 250lbs than 260lbs. There will however, still be great profits for Stipe in keeping Ngannou on one leg for extended periods of time, not only because of the draining effect it will have on the big man, but it will keep Stipe out of the arc of doom that exists in the striking range. Additionally seeing Miocic use the fence more would restrict Ngannou’s wrestling escape options and it worked extremely well when Stipe went to it in the later rounds in 2018. Where Miocic could really benefit from building upon the last fight would be a greater investment in body strikes early on. So much of the first fight saw Stipe secure a takedown only to follow it up with very little ground work, this led to the muted feel of the first fight where it seemed unlikely that either man would get hurt in any significant way. Investing in the body, especially now we’ve seen how effective his boxing technique is when going to the body in the later rounds of the second and third Cormier fights, could really pay dividends. If he is able to drain Ngannou to the point where it is moderately safe to engage in the stand up, especially in the later rounds Miocic will benefit if Ngannou’s body is already hurting and will open a great deal of striking opportunities in the championship rounds. I’ve no doubt that the referee will be aware of the lack of activity in the first fight, and if it begins to descend into another grinding performance by Miocic you can guarantee there will be constant calls for more work form the official. Miocic will have to work extremely hard to show himself working with this in mind and the body investment is a wonderful way to kill two birds with a series of flurries to the body.

For Ngannou the buzzwords should be maturity and patience. Ngannou’s performances recently have been short lived affairs and it is hard as a result to see them as patient performances. Ngannou has though shown a composure in his more recent fights that hints at his growth as a fighter. His quickest KO of his 2^nd title run against Rozenstruik exemplifies this, he comes out slowly and eats two hard leg kicks and doesn’t return. The first time he throws with malice the fight is over, two weak connections proceed a flush left hand and goodnight. The rushing punches worked because Ngannou read Rozenstruik closing the distance and launched into wild swings that Ngannou knew would connect due to Rozenstruik’s mismanagement of the range. In comparison in the first 20 seconds of the Miocic fight he throws a high kick from completely out of range, then follows with a naked left hook also from out of range, and from there it was a downward spiral accelerated by a clear lack of cardio. Patience then is key, Ngannou only needs one shot, and he should throw them with that in mind, not wasting energy will be key, and if he is able to properly cut the octagon and funnel Stipe into a corner only then should he be unloading.

This is one of those that makes you look and imbecile if you get it wrong. If you bet on Ngannou you’re betting against not just a man whose beaten him before but also the greatest heavyweight of all time. If you back Miocic you’re betting against the most dangerous puncher in the history of the sport. I’m going to buy into the hype train against my better judgement, I’m not sure if Stipe will be able to pull the rabbit out of the hat for another 25 minutes against Ngannou and avoid the great eraser.

Prediction: Ngannou, Round 1, KO/TKO

So where do we go from here?

On Mar 23, 2021Mar 25, 2021 By xvrambleIn Rugby, SportLeave a comment

After Ireland’s comprehensive smashing of England I take a look at the fundamental flaw in the Jones era.

It would be fair to say, that had someone come up to me at the start of this six nations and told me that I would care about seeing Wales lose to France more than watching England lose to Ireland, I would’ve believed them. I would have believed them, only because I really don’t like the Welsh rugby team, and at the beginning of this championship, I expected England vs France to decide the tournament the week before. Instead, I could not muster an ounce of enthusiasm for Saturday’s least significant fixture.

Scotland vs Italy had the intrigue of a Scottish team building momentum into the clash this weekend with France as well as seeing an Italy full of youth run out equipped with my two guilty pleasures, Garbisi and Loane. We learnt that Scotland are a legitimate threat, yes it was Italy, but they looked just as good as any other side in the tournament against the Azzurii.

The Wales vs France match was stacked with tension before the whistle went and maintained it into the 82^nd minute. It was the consummate test match with the drama physicality and excellent refereeing that we had all been hoping for especially in light of the prior games in the tournament. We learnt that Wayne Pivac’s Wales side can hang with the best in the world, and we learnt that this French team, for the first time since Dusautoir and friends in 2007 had the guts to stay in a game till the last.

When Raynal Blew the final whistle, we had learnt nothing about either side. This isn’t a slight to Ireland, we had it confirmed to us that they were a physical team with two all-time greats in the halfback slots, whose game management is nearly incomparable. England’s story is the complete opposite. One doesn’t have to be a genius to trace the trend that has existed in English rugby since the Jones era began. The Australian came in aiming to create a ‘traditional English team’; a team built on the strength of their forwards and the calmness of their game management. I’m loathe to talk about the 2003 world cup win for fear of sounding like Clive Woodward, but the segment leading up to Wilkinson’s drop goal is exactly the sort of team Jones wants to form.

The issue with this formula is it hinges on forward dominance. If you need proof of how integral it is, one only needs to look at each of England’s defeats under the Jones era. South Africa in 2019, France in 2020, any of the losses in the similarly abysmal 2018 Six Nations, and now Ireland in 2021, and all of these losses started in the tight. Cheslin Kolbe’s step in the Final to beat Farrell and seal it for South Africa will forever be the image that resides in people’s heads, but that game was won by the work rate and physicality of Du Toit, de Jaeger and Vermeulen. Eerily similar to Saturday’s game, Keith Earl’s first try against England in some 10 years might well be the image that remains, but the game was won by the work of the player of the tournament in my book Tadgh Beirne, Stander and Van der Flier alongside the rest of the Irish pack. What frustrates us so much as England fans, is that many of us know this, it’s not a ground-breaking observation, yet England keep falling afoul of it.

A strategy that is so reliant on one aspect cannot be relied upon to work consistently. Further, this six nations has thrown the issue into a starker light, not just because of the losses but the selection also. The refusal to pick Dombrandt and Simmonds, despite obvious opportunity and reason, is centred on Jones’ commitment to this style of play. George Martin won his first cap in the loss to Ireland, and whilst he is no doubt a talented player with a great deal of potential, he rose to international status because he fits into the Jones Ideal. Martin, in his limited game time for Leicester proved himself to be a work horse. He’s a hard yards kind of player just as most of the England forwards are. Sinckler is one of the few with an ounce of flair, but he is also one of the better tight players in the world, and so fits into the Jones mould. With so many options in the premiership at the moment being side-lined in favour of the bigger Vunipola and an out of form Farrell, it is easy to see the influence that the Jones vision has had on selection, and the results speak for themselves.

So where do we go from here? It’s a tough question especially as we are mid-world cup cycle, even more so considering what England achieved in 2019 under Jones. However the advantage of the world cup cycle is that it gives teams a chance to reinvigorate after every tournament, to introduce youth and develop the team to new heights. Jones is not using this cycle to do that, the Saracens selections and the refusal to include the most in form players available to him demonstrate an obstinance that is hurting English rugby. The summer tour to the USA, with a lions tour alongside it is the perfect opportunity to rectify this, a change must be seen for Jones to keep the faith of the RFU, the supporters but most importantly the players. The 2021 six nations must be the start of a rebirth, not the beginning of a slow decline.