The Championship Blog – Week 4 round-up

HERE’S a bit of statistical analysis to kick-off this week’s Championship blog, writes Richard Grainger.
In the Championship — which doesn’t have a sponsor — 355 points were scored in round four. That’s an average of 59 points over six games. Compare that to the Premiership — which is sponsored by Aviva, where a mere 272 points were scored, at an average of only 45 points per game last weekend.
If points mean entertainment, then surely this is an attractive investment for a sponsor, even in difficult times?
An example of the entertainment the Championship has to offer was at Headingley on Sunday, were 81 of those points were scored. Bristol were demolished by the hosts and were out contention after a 27-0 first-half hiding.
Both sides contributed five tries, but that was the only area of parity between the teams. Joe Ford was on target with all of the conversions, as he was with five penalties.
Head coach Liam Middeton told the Bristol website: “We scored five tries but I can’t take any positives from that result. If you score five, you need to win the game… If you lose your focus, then you will take a beating. That happened today and I expect a big reaction on Friday.”
Also on Sunday at the Mennaye Field, Newcastle dropped their first point through failing to score a fourth try against the Cornish Pirates. Rob Vickers, Taiasina Tu’ifua and Tom Catterick crossed for the visitors and Jimmy Gopperth added a penalty and two conversions.
But the Falcons were made to work hard for their fourth consecutive win, in wet and windy Cornish conditions, with Catterick’s try coming late in the game.
Head Coach Dean Richards said: “With the conditions the way that they were it was important that we took our time and picked our plays. They are of course a very good side and we gave them a lot of respect coming into this game as we knew they would be difficult opposition.”
Bedford Blues remain tethered to the Falcons’ claws by virtue of a 27-25 win over Nottingham at Goldington Road on Saturday. They left it very late, and owed it to Ben Ransom’s try in the 12^th minute of injury time added on by referee Mr Darren Gamage, to turn what looked like a losing bonus point into victory.
Indeed, even a losing bonus point looked unlikely at the interval, as the Blues took a 3-22 deficit into the changing rooms.
The Green and Whites were much the better side in the first period but poor discipline in the form of a yellow card for Michael Holford, and a penalty try after Nottingham repeatedly infringed on their own try line brought the hosts back into the game.
Jersey continued to show that can score tries and crossed four times against the Titans at Clifton Road on Saturday, all of which were converted by Mike Le Bourgeois, who also added a penalty.
However, Rotherham scored six through Eamonn Sheridan, Carl Kirwan, Pale Nonu, Alex Rieder, Mike Doneghan and Garry Law, who also added 24 points with the boot, to finish 54-31 ahead.
At the Athletic Ground in Richmond, London Scottish bounced back from a 0-14 deficit, to score three tries and turn round  22-14 to the good.
The Exiles’ scrum again proved itself to be one of the most proficient units in the division, and were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty try to secure the bonus point. However, Doncaster were always in the game and it wasn’t until lock Paul Spivey scored the Exiles’ fifth try that Scottish were assured of the win. The final score was 37-26.
Finally, in another tight game at Billesley Common, Plymouth Albion made it three out of four, recording their first away win of the campaign. Paul Roberts was on song with the boot, and Sam Hocking scored two tries to make it five for the season, to register a 22-24 win.
Pick of this weekend’s matches, all of which with the exception of Jersey V Bedford will be played on Friday evening, should be Leeds Carnegie’s trip to Newcastle to take on the promotion hopefulshttp://www.rugbyworld.com/news/blogs/the-championship-blog-week-4-round-up/

title chasers

Will Man City hold on to retain thier title and will it be as dramatic as last seasons title chase?
Do Man United have the backbone and fight in them to take back the title from Man City that was stolen from them in the last minute of the the entire season last season.
Are Chelsea, Arsernal and Liverpool still contendors in this two sided title chase?

Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has slammed the FA after John Terry quit England

The Frenchman, 44, spent six years at Stamford Bridge after joining in 1998 - the same year Terry made his debut for the club.
Desailly has now issued firm backing to his former protege and insists the FA has made a real mess of the situation.
Terry stood down from international duty on Sunday evening, just hours before the FA started the disciplinary hearing against the Chelsea man as he answers allegations that he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League game at Loftus Road last October.
The 31-year-old had already been found not guilty of the same offence at Westminster Magistrates Court two months ago, but the FA pursued its own charge which was the main cause of Terry's decision to quit.
And Desailly has fully backed Terry, telling France's Sport24: "I'm disappointed for John since he is a quality player who knows the highest level.
"It is a complicated story. It's not just 'I no longer want to'. This is a larger problem with the Football Association
"It is also a way for him to protect himself. You must remember that at Chelsea, players past 30 years of age can only sign contracts for one year. At 31 years of age, John perhaps wants to protect his future as a footballer and try to get himself an extension of two years."
Desailly is also adamant that current England captain Steven Gerrard is not capable of replacing Terry.
He added: "The English team loses a lot. John is a leader. He is the captain, Steven Gerrard is not.
"Gerrard is a soloist, a great player but has no impact off the field. In the life of the group, the leader is John Terry."http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8108730/Chelsea-legend-Marcel-Desailly-has-slammed-the-FA-after-John-Terry-quit-England

Who will dominate the Southern Hemisphere?

Do Australia, Argentina and South Africa have a realistic chance of catching up to the class of New Zealand? What do these teams have to do to even come close to beating them in a match that everyone knows New Zealand will dominate from the start.

Down to the final 8

Who will win the ICC WorldT20?

Australia's pack will provide a formidable challenge in Saturday's Rugby Championship clash in Pretoria, says South Africa forwards coach Johann van Graan

The Springboks scrum dominated New Zealand in Dunedin in their last match but a dreadful kicking performance - 20 points went begging - meant they lost 21-11.
Van Graan wants a similarly physical performance from his eight against the Wallabies in Pretoria on Saturday, and he believes the days of Australia's scrum being regularly dismantled are over.
"We've worked hard the last few weeks and the front row gave one of their best performances (in Dunedin) and the loose forwards got stuck in as well," Van Graan said.
"We can improve on the lineout, where we lost a couple of balls, but the kick-offs were good and so was the ball retention - we had our lowest turnover rate of the whole year.
"I'm really proud of the performance against the All Blacks, we played some of our best rugby and to have 58 per cent territory and 52 per cent possession against them at home is a great effort.
"Australia scrummed very well against us and Nathan Sharpe is one of the best locks of all time, so their line-out is tricky and they kick to different places to put you under pressure.
"Playing against the No 2 side in the world is always a massive challenge."
"The Wallabies are a big threat, especially with their reverse attacking lines, Digby Ioane and Dom Shipperley in particular. We will have to improve our defence and hope our kicking game is spot on."http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/8108357/Australia-s-pack-will-provide-a-formidable-challenge-in-Saturday-s-Rugby-Championship-clash-in-Pretoria-says-South-Africa-forwards-coach-Johann-van-Graan

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on referees not to judge Luis Suarez by his reputation

The Uruguay international was booked for diving during the Reds' draw at Sunderland earlier this month.
He was then denied a penalty by referee Mark Halsey in Sunday's defeat to Manchester United at Anfield despite appearing to be clipped by Jonny Evans in the box.
Gerrard believes the 25-year-old is suffering from the label given to him during a difficult period last season.
"I think even when Luis does get blatant penalties now he doesn't get them," said the skipper.
"It is down to referees to not judge him and give what they see - if it's not a penalty don't give him one but if it's clear give it. It's only fair.
"He was booked at Sunderland but against United it was a penalty."
Reds defender Glen Johnson conceded the match-winning spot-kick at Anfield after Antonio Valencia went down in the area.
He echoed the sentiments of his captain, adding: "Reputations go in front of people at times and because Valencia is not a known diver that is why he got the decision.
"I almost guarantee if it was exactly the same situation and it was Luis and not Valencia then it wouldn't be a penalty."http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/8107982/Liverpool-captain-Steven-Gerrard-has-called-on-referees-not-to-judge-Luis-Suarez-by-his-reputation