The temperature hit -3 in West London as the captains and coaches arrived at the famous Hurlingham Club along with the rugby media for the official launch of the Guinness 6 Nations 2019.

For Joe Schmidt of Ireland and Warren Gatland Of Wales this will be their final 6 Nations tournament as coaches of their respective countries.

Proud new title sponsors, Guinness, provided endless free pints of their product from midday onwards sadly most of us were too professional to be able to partake in even a drop of the black stuff.

Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones went out for a curry the night before the launch indeed all the coaches were very quick to pay respect to each other and there were none of the verbal hand grenades that so often have accompanied these types of events.

Italy coach Connor O’Shea spoke of the need of some consistency from his team

“The skill of the players is there but we have to create a habit of intensity”

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones when asked about Warren Gatland’s final campaign replied in his own typical forthright manner “There will be no cakes and candles in our camp its business as usual”

Ireland v England on the opening weekend is a crunch match Eddie Jones emphasised that England had two battles to win, one in the air, and one on the ground, whilst Joe Schmidt said “You know if you don’t get things right England can get a long way away from you”

Scotland are looking to end their dismal away record of results and coach Gregor Townsend is confident his side can do this when they visit Twickenham and Paris

.

As for France there is the feeling that on their day they can still be a threat to anyone and their opening game against Wales on a Friday night in Paris could be just catalyst to get them going.

It was a long day for players coaches and journalists all united in the child like excitement we all get at the anticipation of the start of this wonderful annual winter festival.

A Neuf is enough for France as they enter the 2019 Guinness Six Nations with a wealth of talent available to fill the number nine shirt.

There used to be talk of a fly half factory in Wales, but there is no doubt that the production of the scrum half model has been well and truly established in France, so much so that a monopolies commission may need to look in to the situation.

Who will start for France in their opening match against Wales on February 1st is very much open for debate.

Baptiste Serin of Bordeaux would appear to be the current holder of the number nine shirt but he is only holding on to it by his finger nails,

Antoine Dupont has been in storming for for Top 14 high flyers Toulouse, who also have former French international scrum half Sebastián Bezy in their ranks.

Hot on his is tails is Teddy Iribaren of Racing 92 who is in the form of his life since taking over from the injured France scrum half Maxime Machenaud, as Machenaud has now recovered the duo will be battling it out for top chien for both club and country.

The man from Metz, Clermont legend Metz Morgan Parra although one of the older candidates cannot be ruled out of international contention either, also Rory Cockott of Castres who can start a fight in a phone box has never let his country down when asked to don the Blue Neuf jersey, would readily step into the fray.

 
But the conveyor belt of talent doesn’t end there, the next generation are already snapping at the heels of the established half backs, Louis Carbonel of Toulon guided France to the junior World Cup in 2018, scoring twenty three points in the final against England, a match won by Les Bleus 33-25 on a glorious summers day in Beziers.

The two other scrum halves in that France U20 squad are also making big names for themselves, Arthur Coville, aged 20, the Captain of that World Cup winning side is making big strides at Stade Francais, and Jules Gimbert is going down a storm at Bordeaux.

France are certainly not going to be short of scrum half  options for many years to come.

France 2019 Guinness Six Nations Squad was announced just as I was finishing this article, the three scrum halves chosen by coach Jacques Brunel are:

Morgan Parra (Clermont)

Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux)

Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)

The Women’s Championship starts next Friday with last year’s runners up England travelling to Dublin to play Ireland, while Scotland host Italy in Glasgow on the same night.

Reigning champions France will get their title defence underway in a Saturday-evening clash with Wales in Montpellier. 

The 2019 edition of the Women’s Six Nations will be another landmark Championship in terms of growth and change for women’s rugby, with England competing as full-time professionals for the first time. 

And England captain Sarah Hunter is keen to build upon that progress at this year’s Championship by boosting the profile of women’s rugby across the country. 

She said: “Our preparations have been going well, especially with the news at the beginning of the year that we were going to be full-time professionals. 

England Women have home matches in Doncaster, Exeter and at Twickenham this year, with Sarah enjoying touring around: “It’s hugely important for us to go and showcase the Red Roses around the country, when we play in Doncaster and Exeter, and show what we are all about. 

“Last time we played at Castle Park (Doncaster) the fans were amazing. Wherever we go we’ll have the Red Rose support along the way.”

Quins and Richmond co-exist 3 miles apart, the A316 road being the artery that divides and unites them.

This afternoony at Twickenham Stoop, Harlequins Ladies won the bragging rights and more importantly five points in an exciting and colourful local derby in front of 1200 fans at the Stoop.

Rachael Burford may have been at sea in the Caribbean over the Christmas period, but there was no cruising from the Quins skipper on this occasion, as she marshalled the defence, stoked the attack and subtly guided the referee using all her skill and experience.

In freezing temperatures an excited passionate Stoop crowd roared Quins on to the pitch and they did not have to wait long for the home side to rattle the scoreboard.

After just 3 minutes Leanne Riley burst over for a try converted by Emily Scott, just nine minutes later Leanne got over for her second, I don’t know what she had for breakfast yesterday but she was on fire.

Richmond were under the cosh as Quins played with pace and accuracy behind a pack that looked like it had been fed raw meat and barbed wire all week.

Fiona Fletcher, Davinia Catlin, (after a sumptuous give and go), and Jess Breach went over for further first half tries and a penalty try right on half time gave the home side a 36-0 lead at the break.

In the second half, to Richmond’s credit, they kept Quins out until the 62nd minute when Jess Breach touched down, Emily Scott put on the after burners for a try before Jess Breach completed her hat trick, Quins 90th try of the season.

On 79 minutes Ellie Green slipped back into the pocket to slot over a sweet drop goal and on full time Emily Scott went over for her second of the match, giving Quins a 59-7 victory.

As hundreds of young girls flocked to meet the players after the final whistle the true winner here was women’s rugby, autographs were signed, selfies taken, and with matches and occasions like this, the womens game will continue to grow and encourage the next generation, the future of the womens game is looking brighter by the week.

It is fourteen miles from Inverness to Loch Ness, a place known around the world for its mythical monster, but Nessie’s neighbour is a sporting monster and a very real one that is frightening the life out of everything that crosses its path.

There have been many reported sightings this season, both north and south of the border, and the conclusion is that Nessie is a lightweight compared to the Inverness version.

I am in my cryptic way referring to Scotland and Harlequins number eight Jade Konkel who has been knocking the living daylights out of the opposition since her return from a long term shoulder injury in the latter stages of 2018.

She returned to international duty after only a handful of club games, and hit Canada like a guided missile, Scotland lost on that occasion but Jade had a storming game tacking, as the great Bill McClaren once said “Like the crack of doom” and launching those “Rhino” charges from the base of the scrum as if her life depended upon it.

Jade Konkel was born on December 9 1993 in Inverness, and lived on the Black Isle an appropriately named location for any respectable monster to reside.

Inverness lies on the Great Glen Fault, where there are minor earthquakes, usually unnoticed by locals, about every 3 years, I have a theory they nearly always occur when Jade is home doing some tackling practice, but geological confirmation is difficult to come by.

Fortunately off the field Jade is one of the most modest and friendly individuals you could wish to meet, a smile is always close to hand, and her soft highland brogue could charm the birds from the trees.

With the Six Nations approaching, whilst taking one game at a time, she is delighted that Scotland will be playing France in Lille, and at a ground that became her home whilst excelling in the colours of Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois

Jade won her first cap against England in 2013 and thirty three caps later she is nailed on to start in Scotland’s opener against Italy in the 2019 Womens Six Nations.

The basketball skills honed at the top level following two seasons with the Highland Bears, are evident on the rugby field, I do not recall witnessing her dropping a single ball during the current Tyrrells Premiership campaign, where she has worn the Harlequins shirt with such pride and passion.

The dictionary definition of Jade is ” A semi precious stone” maybe that should now be changed to “An extremely precious Scottish rugby player”, a monsterous Six Nations awaits.

As the pigs in blankets made their way from freezer to oven, and you roasted your chestnuts on an open fire, there is little doubt that no one had earned the right to a few cosy fireside evenings with their feet up more than Harlequins Ladies.

As the final remnants of the turkey are gobbled up  we can reflect on the fact that Quins have delivered a few stuffings themselves, carving up defences and in the process scoring 77 tries in the opening thirteen rounds of the 2018/19 Tyrrells Premiership.

So as you tuck in to the Christmas chocolates you may discover a few soft centres, something you will never find at Quins, Jade Mullen, Rachael Burford and Emily Scott maybe silky smooth but they are tougher than the nut clusters and twice as effective.

Ellie Green has achieved more conversions than St Paul with 39 in a total points haul of 92, whilst Heather Cowell has touched down 15 times

The last match of 2018 at Surrey Sports Park saw Quins once again at their imperious best against bottom of the table Worcester Valkyries, and in the process they gained their tenth win in a row.

If the premiership title was awarded on attitude human decency and rugby values, Quins would hold the title already, the fact that they are a skilful intelligent entertaining team to watch makes them the complete package, it seems the only team that can beat Harlequins Ladies is Harlequins Ladies themselves.

As an old-timer what gives me most satisfaction is the fact that I have never seen, or heard, them resort to the sledging and underhanded tactics one or two of the top teams in the Tyrrells Premiership resort to, they would not stoop (if you’ll pardon the pun) so low.

Am I biased ? You bet I am, the dedication these young women have for the game is staggering, and the majority do not get a single penny for playing the game.

When your Saturday consists of a 5.30am start, five hours on a coach, a rugby match played in freezing rain and mud, followed by the news there is no hot water for a shower, a five hour coach journey home covered in mud feeling cold wet and shivering, you have a taste of how the elite women’s game can sometimes feel.

This was Quins experience a few weeks ago it was no surprise to turn up to training the following week to find the players scouring the anti doping website to find any remedies they are allowed to take.

Looking back on the whole of 2018 Quins Ladies played 22 Tyrrells Premiership matches between January 3rd and 22 December, winning 17, drawing 1 and losing 4, three of those defeats were by 4 points or less, a remarkable record.

2019 starts against old foes Saracens away on January 12 a team Quins faced three times in 2018 winning twice, but losing in the Premiership final 24-20.

The following week, on January 19th, Harlequins Ladies face neighbours Richmond in a rip-roaring derby at the magnificent Stoop, and players fans and everyone connected with the team cannot wait.

No one knows what 2019 has in store but whatever happens this group will give it everything, and when all is said and done trophies gather dust, but memories last forever.

Happy New Year everyone.

Twelve months ago many people in Wales were in a state of despair, an opening autumn stuffing by Australia, and a notion felt by many that Wales, in rugby terms, were stagnant and going nowhere.

A last minute victory against Japan, and a win against one of the poorest Springbok sides of all time, did little to paper over the cracks.

What a difference a year makes, at the tail end of the 2018 6 Nations Wales beat Italy and France on consecutive weekends in Cardiff.

Summer arrived and South Africa were defeated in Washington, by a Wales squad en route to a two test victory over the Pumas in Argentina.

As Autumn arrived, Wales beat Scotland Australia and Tonga to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

On Saturday the Springboks arrived for the final match of the Autumn series.

Wales had won five out their last six meetings with South Africa, the only blot on the copy book being the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter final, which Wales were leading 19-18 with 74:06 on the clock.

Now Welsh fans are not wholly comfortable with success, we find it in our melancholy way a pre curser to abject failure, we dare not celebrate it too vociferously for fear of tempting fate, in the same way as we dare not purchase sun cream on a hot summers day, as it will inevitable bring a deep depression sweeping in from the Atlantic the moment our bodies have absorbed that first smear of lotion.

But there is something different happening here, Wales strength in depth is surely the best it has ever been, and on Saturday they achieved an autumn clean sweep for the first time.

It is not that long ago that just a single injury to either Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn, Leigh Halfpenny or Rhys Webb would have the nation rubbing its collective hands in despair, with the almost inevitable certainty that any tournament success was dead and buried at that point.

But those days seem a distant memory, Wales have now learned how to close out matches against the big guns from down south, and such is the strength in depth it can be done in a variety of ways.

Wales win on Saturday was their fourth in a row against the Springboks, and the ninth consecutive victory overall, heady days indeed.

So after the most successful Autumn series on record we can look forward to the 2019 Six Nations, and dare I say it, even the Rugby World Cup with optimism.

Wales open the tournament in Paris, on Friday 1st February, and the poor Welsh fans who have justifiably complained about all the 8pm fixtures they have been dealt over the years, have at last been listened to, this one kicks off at 9pm.

The men in red have eight further international matches before their opening Rugby World Cup match against Georgia on 23 September.

World Cup hopes have never looked better, but for now we can deservedly celebrate and bask in Wales Autumn successes, but like the sun cream application , dare we risk it ?

The odds of being struck by lightning are one in 960,000, so pretty slim all things considered, whilst the odds of being struck twice by lightning are one in 9 million.

The old adage of Lightning never striking twice was put to the test at Surrey Sports Park today, and the theory was well and truly confirmed.

Loughborough lightning had already struck Harlequins Ladies earlier this season, when they beat them 41-17 in just the third match of the Tyrrells Premership.

However the team that visited Loughborough on September 22nd was a shadow of the current crop, and today it was Quins who provided a Storming start from which lightning never recovered.

Playing with a strong wind behind them Quins built up a first half lead of 19 points to nil.

After just 6 minutes Heather Cowell went over for a try brilliantly converted by Ellie Green, and just 7 minutes later scrum half Leanne Riley scored a try, once again superbly converted by the “Green Machine”

Quins third try came from Georgia Newman on 34 minutes, giving the home side a 19-0 lead which they took in to half time.

As the Dark clouds gathered overhead for a gusty second half, Harlequins, playing into the wind, continued where they left off before the interval, and a break from Leanne Riley, who played an absolute blinder, led to try on 50 minutes for Emily Scott, before the England scrum half broke from her own half and scored a wonderful individual try on 53 minutes.

Lighting pulled back a converted try on 57 minutes to bring the score to 31-7, but this was a temporary reprieve as ruthless Quins scored two further tries through Heather Cowell on 69 minutes, and replacement Chloe Edwards in the 78th minute. which Ellie Green converted.

Make no mistake, this was a comprehensive victory for Quins against one of the best teams in the league, Lightning barely had a sniff, such was Harlequins dominance and accuracy in all phases of the game.

The home team’ seven tries gave them their third bonus win in a row, and Heather Cowell’s brace makes her Quins top try scorer with ten from eleven matches.

Harlequins win moves them up to second in the table.

As the game ended the wind dropped, and the rain came, but the threat of lightning had been extinguished.

Scoring sequence 5-0, 7-0, 12-0, 14-0, 19-0 Half Time 24-0, 26-0, 31-0, 31-5, 31-7, 36-7, 41-7, 43-7.

From Sydney to Swansea, or Canberra to Cardiff, Wales and Australia are not just at opposite ends of the planet geographically, they appear to be at opposite ends of so many things.

Australia wear gold shirts epitomising a bright warm climate, a young country full of hope, optimism and derring-do.

Wales inhabit the scarlet blood-red garb, a dark hue reflecting historic struggles and bloodshed, a country that has had to withstand invaders, battle for recognition from its near neighbour, and indeed the world at large.

Next Saturday in Cardiff Gold meets Red on the field of dreams.

Wales will be dreaming of a first victory over the Wallabies since 2008, having lost the last thirteen matches against them.

As history reminds us, Wales have gone oh so close, in 2012 Wales and Australia met three times, the Aussies won all three, two tests were lost by a two point margin, and one by a solitary point.

To make matters worse, Wales were leading in all three games until a Mike Harris penalty (8omins) a Kurtley Beale try (80+1 mins) and a Berrick Barnes penalty (75mins) decided the outcomes.

It remains to be seen whether Warren Gatland’s men can turn dreams into reality in a fixture that was once so rare, but had now become as regular an autumn event as Beaujolais nouveau day and Bonfire night.

The mystery of thirteen successive defeats against the green and gold, would baffle even the great Sherlock Holmes, but maybe the key lies with his arch-enemy.

When Wales defeated Australia at the Arms Park in 1981 (18-13) one of the try scorers was named Moriarty (Richard), incidentally Wales scrum half that day was Holmes (Terry).

At the 1987 Rugby World Cup, when Wales beat Australia 22-21 in the third place play off, one of the try scorers that day was also named Moriarty (Paul).

It must therefore seems elementary to suggest that all Wales have to do is pick yet another Moriarty (Ross), to face the Wallabies on Saturday.

If the case was that simple, but sadly Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be writing the script for this one.

As appears to be the case at virtually every Rugby World Cup, Wales are in the same Pool as Australia in  Japan 2019, there is no doubt a win for the men in the blood-red shirts would be a huge psychological boost.

As Sherlock Holmes once said “There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you “, after thirteen straight defeats Wales will be hoping that “A study in Scarlet” will prove to be the perfect bed time reading come Saturday night.

There was a real buzz at the Stoop yesterday, and with the visit of Wasps you would expect nothing less.

Wasps started lively but it was Quins who took an early lead with an Ellie Green penalty after 5 minutes.

Lizzie Goulding equalised for Wasps with a 19th minute penalty.

There is an old rugby adage, that states forwards win matches, and the backs decide by how much.

A quote that sums up this match in a nutshell.

The Quins pack began to dominate proceedings with bullocking runs from Shaunagh Brown along with line out dominance from Abbie Scott and Zoe Sayner.

On 25 minutes that dominance bore fruit as Davina Catlin crashed over at the back of a rolling maul for a try which the “Green Machine” converted.

With the score at 10-3 to the home side Catlin crashed over in the 38th minute, with a carbon copy of her first try, which Ellie Green converted.

A half time lead of 17-3 was no more than Quins deserved.

In the 53rd minute the dominant Quins scrum went over from five metres, and Fiona Fletcher touched down for a try once again converted by error free Ellie.

Four yellow cards in 14 minutes disrupted the flow of the game.

Quins Ellie Green got the first on 55 mins, before Wasps Lizzie Goulden and Quins Emily Scott were dismissed, after attempting to exchange jerseys rather earlier than is the usual custom, Wasps Claudia MacDonald also saw yellow in the 69th minute.

Wasps looked livelier when Danielle Waterman switched to scrum half, and they were rewarded with a try on 79 minutes from Garnet Mackinder

As Twickenham’s finest launched their Waitrose fireworks, providing a colourful backdrop to proceedings, Quins pushed for a fourth, and bonus point gaining, try but it was not to be.

Quins will be delighted to go into the autumn break with a fifth consecutive win, they are improving game by game and have a mean old pack that will be a huge asset when winter truly arrives.