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An English Championship side has left a World Cup team's preparations in tatters
By Liam Heagney
The credibility of the World Cup was dented on Tuesday when an English Championship club beat 2019 finalists Russia in their own Moscow back yard.
The Russians, who qualified for the finals on the back of the eligibility row that wrecked the 2018 Six Nations B championship in 2018, weren’t even supposed to be playing Jersey as they were initially scheduled to face Eastern European rivals Georgia.
However, amid fears about safety in travelling to Tbilisi, the Russians cancelled that Test fixture and were instead left with egg on their face 23 days before they open the 2019 World Cup by taking on host nation Japan in the first match of the tournament in Tokyo.
The Slava Stadium wasn’t supposed to be a scene for a big upset, but the Russians were unable to cope with a first-half Jersey onslaught which laid the foundation for a deserved 35-22 win by the lower league English side.
Among the early blows in a contest where the visitors outscored the hosts by five tries to four was an opportunistic score by Luc Jones, the son of Russia boss Lyn who could only watch in anguish from the sidelines as the Jersey scrum-half took possession from the base of a scrum outside the 22 and raced on to regather his own chip kick over the defence.
Jersey led 28-12 at the break and while the Russians, who also face Ireland, Scotland and Samoa at the finals, were better in the second half, there was no denying the islanders a famous win over a country ranked 20th in the world heading to Japan.
It was the second big setback for Russia in recent weeks as they were walloped 85-15 by 13-try Italy in Trento and their lack of form should leave World Rugby administrators concerned about the competitiveness of the lowest ranked countries who will be making up the numbers in Japan.
The anxiety about the Russians follows last weekend’s home 38-35 defeat in Ontario for Canada, who are ranked 21st, by a second-string Leinster side who are still in the very early stages of their PRO14 pre-season.
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Latest Comments
The first half penalties against NZ were for speculative tackling because England were attacking so flat. If NZ didn't do this then it may have been tries and not penalties conceded earlier. I believe Felix Jones is still helping with the transition online. It was quite clear he wasn't helping in person with Earls in particular shooting up and leaving huge holes. NZ had a few that nearly stuck but the two tries by Telea were defensive errors. Furbank biting on Sititi leaving Genge to mark. Genge wont show Telea the outside again. Poor tacking on Telea for the second. That said he is a hard man to grab hold of.
Isolating Genge was clever for Jordans try. NZ spotted he defended wide too often and they could leave a gap with that switch play. 6 day turnaround for Ireland now.
I imagine NZ will be better, but they will need to be a lot better.
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