TRU's Rugby Stock Watch - Week 7

Europe’s premiere club rugby tournament returned this week in its new guise, the European Rugby Champions Cup. As close to international-standard rugby as you can find in the club game, it often proves the perfect testing ground for players looking to establish their international credentials.

Stock Rising

Graham Kitchener, Leicester Tigers and England
The lock narrowly saw off competition from teammates Jamie Gibson and Ben Youngs for this spot, but his complete and all-round performance against Ulster will have been a refreshing watch for beleaguered Tigers fans. He led his team in lineout takes, seriously disrupted Ulster’s set-piece and seemed to be constantly on or near the ball in the loose. With Ed Slater done for the season and Leicester rightfully playing it safe with Geoff Parling and his concussions, this kind of form from Kitchener is exactly what the East Midlands side need.
Kitchener is unlucky to play in a position so well-stocked at international level, but with the aforementioned Slater and Parling both out at the moment, he could sneak in as England’s fourth lock, behind the trio of Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes and Dave Attwood.

Jake Ball, Scarlets and Wales
Ball was one of the standout performers for Scarlets in a gutsy performance down in Toulon, but it was made all the more impressive by the fact he played on with a clear knock, picked up early in the game. Despite this, the lock was still a towering presence at the lineout, as well as a committed defender in the face of the behemoths of Toulon’s pack. The determination required to play on in that kind of situation will have been as pleasing to Warren Gatland as the performance itself.
With Bradley Davies finding both fitness and form with Wasps, the Welsh engine room is becoming a real area of strength for Gatland, as Davies and Ball join the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Ian Evans and Andrew Coombs in contention for a starting jersey.

CJ Stander, Munster and Ireland or South Africa
Stander’s second appearance in Stock Watch this season is even more richly deserved than his first, as he was in truly domineering form against Sale. Attention will understandably be drawn to the big run he had in the first half, where he powered his way through two Sale defenders, but it was his constant, shorter yard making in the second half, that really helped bring Munster back into the game. Every time Stander got his hands on the ball, Munster were guaranteed to make ground, something which Conor Murray exploited with his high-tempo and sharp distribution.
As eye-catching as his performances have been this season, the quality and depth of South Africa’s back row is considerable, almost certainly ensuring that the Springbok’s loss will eventually become Ireland’s gain. Stander will qualify for Ireland in a year’s time, so barring a surprising South African u-turn, the former Bulls back rower will likely be donning the green of Ireland following next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Mark Bennett, Glasgow and Scotland
There were a number of Scottish players who put their hands up for selection this weekend, but none as emphatically as Bennett. The centre scored two of Glasgow’s five tries against Bath, caused the Bath defenders no end of trouble with his powerful carrying and was solid in defence against one of the more proficient attacking sides in Europe. It’s a testament to Bennett’s performance that he saw off the likes of Kelly Brown, Tommy Seymour and Jonny Gray for this spot.
A compelling case could be made for Scotland’s back line to be Glasgow’s back line come the autumn internationals. Competition looms for Bennett from outside and within, though, with the likes of Duncan Taylor and Alex Dunbar eager to press their own claims. If Bennett keeps turning in performances such as the one he put in against Bath, though, he will certainly be in pole position for Scotland’s 13 jersey.
Other Risers – Luke Wallace, Jamie Gibson, Ben Youngs, Tommy Seymour, Kelly Brown, Duncan Casey, David Strettle, George Kruis, Jonny Gray, Charlie Sharples, Hallam Amos, Robbie Henshaw, Rhys Patchell, Nicky Smith, Joe Launchbury, Rhys Ruddock, Sean Cronin.

Stock Falling

Mike Brown, Alex Goode and Ben Foden, Harlequins, Saracens, Northampton Saints and England
Overall, it was a satisfactory weekend for the English clubs in Europe, but the play of England’s three premiere full-backs will have been a concern. Brown was again quiet and flat for Quins against Castres, Goode had some nice moments in attack but looked suspect defensively against Clermont, whilst Foden, whose form had been good coming into the weekend, struggled against Racing, including a charged down kick which denied Northampton a losing bonus point in Paris.
Stuart Lancaster’s goal of continuity could see Brown retain his spot at full-back come the autumn internationals, but it’s hard to say his club form merits it. The game against Racing aside, Foden has been in good form and is unlucky to be included here, but his performance on Saturday was no better than those of Brown and Goode.

Rory Best, Ulster and Ireland
The Irish hooker was given a torrid time at Welford Road on Saturday. Of the 17 lineouts he threw, six were lost, whilst a few of the ‘successful’ lineouts were also off the mark, but his Ulster teammates were still able to secure possession. His contributions in the loose were also not up to usual standards, as he missed almost 40% of his tackles and was fairly ineffectual with ball in hand.
Past performances at the international level will play in Best’s favour, but there is competition for Ireland’s number two jersey, not least so from Munster’s Duncan Casey. The young hooker was pivotal in Munster’s historic comeback against Sale and his performance will only have compounded Best’s nightmare against Leicester.

Other Fallers – Alex Waller, Gavin Henson, David Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Rory Pitman, Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson.