Raise a toast to a year of rugby chaos
Saracens collapse, Pumas upset odds and Chiefs reign supreme... this was 12 months like no other
RUGBY was no different to every other sport over the past year, with fans being locked out since March and all manner of bizarre stories and scenarios being thrown up during the pandemic.
The implosion of Saracens now feels like a lifetime ago. Yet, it was back at the start of the year in January when full details began to emerge of their breach of salary-cap regulations.
We also saw a welcome improvement in the Scottish national team across the Six Nations and autumn campaign, following their disastrous pool-stage exit at the World Cup in 2019.
Exeter Chiefs dominated the club game, while Argentina enjoyed their finest hour in the Test arena. Here, Sportsmail’s, CALUM CROWE takes es a look back at 2020 and the year that was...
TEST MATCH OF THE YEAR...
Any time New Zealand suffer a defeat, it invariably sends shockwaves through the entire rugby world — and all the more so when they lose back-to-back games in the space of a week.
It was Argentina’s stunning 25-15 victory over the All Blacks in Sydney in November which sits top of the pile in this category.
It was a famous day for the Pumas (below) as they beat New Zealand for the first time in their history, with fly-half Nicolas Sanchez scoring all of their points courtesy of a converted try and six penalties.
The All Blacks had lost 24-22 to Australia just seven days previously, only reaffirming the feeling that they are not quite the dominant force they once were.
They did, however, get their revenge with a crushing 38-0 win over the Pumas in the final match of the Rugby Championship.
Despite the tournament reverting back to a tri-nations format following the withdrawal of world champions South Africa, it certainly did not lack in drama and entertainment.
CLUB MATCH OF THE YEAR...
It has to be Exeter Chiefs against Racing 92 in the final of the Heineken Champions Cup in October. One of the all-time classic European matches was made all the more special by the fact it happened to be the final.
A thrilling contest between Stuart Hogg’s Chiefs and Finn Russell’s Racing went right down to the wire, with the English side ultimately winning 31-27 at Ashton Gate in Bristol.
The teams shared eight g tries in an epic battle for the ages ges
— and, from a Scottish sh perspective, the e enduring image was s undoubtedly that of f Hogg and Russell l having a beer r together at the end.
Sitting in the stand d whilst still in their kit, it, Scotland’s two best est players just looked d like two old mates having ving a catch-up and a blether her as they raised a toast.
The public show of unity and respect buried the hatchet once and for all following Russell’s controversial exile from the Scotland squad during this year’s Six Nations.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR...
This one could easily have gone to Sam S Simmonds, the Exeter Chiefs C No8 who was crowned European Player of the Year at the end of last season. Simmonds typifies everything about Exeter’s style — a barnstorming forward who has become a try-scoring machine. He was the top scorer in last season’s Champions Cup with eight. He already has six in three games in this season’s Premiership. It is utterly bizarre that he continues to be overlooked by England.
But, in a tight contest, it’s Antoine Dupont who just pips Simmonds to this one. The little Toulouse man has elevated himself to become the best scrum-half in world rugby over the past year.
He has been the brains behind a revolution rev in French rugby which has seen th the rebirth of Les Bl Bleus and dh he was deservedly named Player of the Championship in this year’s Six Nations.
If Dupont (above) can maintain his current level of form, he could be the creative spark for a French team who will be well-fancied to win their first Grand Slam since 2010 in next year’s
Six Nations.
COACH OF THE YEAR...
Rob Baxter wins this one out the park for the way in which he guided Exeter Chiefs to an incredible domestic and European double.
The Chiefs followed their victory over Racing in the Champions Cup final by beating Wasps in the Premiership showpiece at Twickenham the following weekend.
The mark of a brilliant coach is the clear style and identity they are able to impose on their team — and there’s no doubt Baxter has achieved that with the Chiefs.
There is almost a sense of inevitability once they get inside their opponents’ 22. Exeter have turned the job of scoring tries from close range into an art form. Simply relentless.
MELTDOWN OF THE YEAR...
Saracens. They started the year as arguably the best club side in Europe and now finish it not knowing when they will next play a competitive fixture.
Sarries were found to have breached salary-cap regulations, with their punishment being a mammoth £5.36m
fine and a huge points deduction which relegated them to the Championship.
It was a monumental fall from grace for the three-time European champions and one from which they are yet to fully recover.
The new Championship season has now been delayed until March, meaning the likes of England stars Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell will head into the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland in early February with no competitive rugby under their belts.
TRY OF THE YEAR...
Justin Tipuric versus England at Twickenham in March. Straight from kick-off at the start of the second half, Wales cut through England like a hot knife through butter.
The Welsh went the full length of the pitch in a brilliant move which climaxed with flanker Tipuric (left) running in to score under the posts.
It was in a pre-Covid world back in early March, so, thankfully, fans were there to enjoy it in all its glory. England eventually won what was a thrilling match by 33-30.
HOWLER OF THE YEAR...
Stuart Hogg can reflect on what was, all in all, a pretty positive first year in the job as Scotland captain. Five victories on the bounce signalled a definite upturn in form.
Yet, on a personal note, it got off to the worst possible start in Dublin back in February. Hogg’s clanger — fumbling the ball only a matter of inches from the try-line — was by his own admission a ‘schoolboy error’.
What made it all the more painful was that Scotland had actually played well on the day and were looking like they had the beating of Ireland, only for it to slip away. Literally.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR...
Leone Nakarawa has barely been seen since he rejoined Glasgow Warriors back in January. He was supposed to be a marquee signing, but it has been an expensive waste of money.
The Fijian (right) has contributed nothing whilst Glasgow are paying him top dollar in wages. With the club’s budget being so stretched due to Covid, the situation with Nakarawa has become the elephant in the room at Scotstoun.
Danny Wilson has spoken of his frustration at not being able to recruit senior players in key positions. Having so much of the wage bill tied up in Nakarawa hardly helps his cause as he seeks to rebuild the squad.
BOLTER FOR THE LIONS TOUR...
Duhan van der Merwe only qualified to play for Scotland back in the autumn, but his form has been such that he could easily end up on the plane to South Africa next summer.
It would be quite the homecoming for the man who grew up in the Western Cape and represented the Springboks at Under-20 level.
Van der Merwe is the reigning Pro14 Player of the Year and already has three tries in five games for Scotland.
If he can continue that form throughout next year’ s Six Nations, there is no doubt his power and pace will catch the attention of Lions head coach Warren Gatland.
DON’T FORGET SPORTSMAIL’S THREE WISE MEN AND THEIR UNMISSABLE REVIEW OF THE SCOTTISH RUGBY YEAR Only in tomorrow’s Scottish Daily Mail