In this week’s take on all things rugby, #360Rugby looks at a rejuvenated Chris Robshaw, Toulon’s historic win at Clermont, new Irish powerhouse Connacht and the Dubai Sevens.

– INTERVIEW: New Zealand legend Sonny Bill Williams
– GALLERY: Richie McCaw’s rugby career in pictures
– Lomu: UAE Rugby pays heartfelt tribute to a legend

Chris Robshaw could become the best number six in the world

There are two types of Chris Robshaw critics: Those who don’t rate him as a rugby player, and those who feel he is a good player playing the wrong position.

Last Saturday on a rainy Exeter night the England captain produced an outstanding display that proved the latter correct.

Harlequins were desperately unlucky to lose by one point but Robshaw’s regular hard yards in the tight channels and relentless tackling will have grabbed the attention of Eddie Jones.

While it is fairly certain that the England coach mark his tenure with a new captain, the experience and relatively young age of Robshaw may well see him become permanent fixture in the England 6 jersey.

Free of the burden of leadership and battling specialist openside flankers on the ground, Jones must give the new Robshaw the chance to prove himself in the Six Nations.

Toulon return to best form in historic win

How do you respond to a disastrous start in Europe? By thrashing your biggest domestic rivals in their own back yard.

Following a 26-point thrashing against Wasps a week earlier, Toulon not only recorded their first ever win over Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday, but they routed the Top 14 leaders 35-9.

Leading the charge for the rejuvenated European champions were Delon Armitage and returning World Cup finalist Drew Mitchell, who both scored tries in the bonus-point win.

Clermont now hold a one-point advantage over second-placed Racing 92, while Toulon sit just  two points behind the leaders, tied on 27 points with Toulouse and Brive.

With Dan Carter set to make his debut for Parisian giants Racing 92 next week, expect more fireworks in the Top 14.

Connacht the pride of Ireland
They will have been partying into the small hours in Galway on Saturday night following Connacht’s first win against Munster at Thomond Park since 1986.

On a night when Connacht’s players were wearing one-off Green Lantern jerseys it was only fitting that they submitted a heroic display to live long in the memory of their growing fan base

While traditional Irish powerhouses in Leinster, Ulster and Munster have had a mixed starts to the season, it is Ireland’s newest club who are sitting pretty atop the PRO12 with seven wins out of eight.

The man behind the transformation at the Galway Sportsground is Pat Lam. The Samoan places a high emphasis on ambition and skill, with Bundee Aki’s spectacular finish a perfect example of Lam’s playing philosophy in practice.

Dubai marks the start of most exciting sevens season ever

The Sevens World Series begins in Dubai this weekend and South Africa must be considered favourites to win the first leg of the most exciting sevens season ever.

The 10-tournament competition culminates in the Rio Olympics next year and several teams have bolstered their squad with 15-a-side stars including Henry Speight (Australia) and Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand). 

However it is the South Africa squad who has raised the most eyebrows with Juan de Jongh and Francois Hougaard heading up a very strong squad for the defending champions.

Hougaard (35 Springbok caps) and De Jongh (14) have a plethora of experience playing in pressure cooker environment of Test rugby and coach Neil Powell will use their additional contact skills to steal an early advantage over their rivals.

 

Fiji sevens coach has special affection for Abu Dhabi Harlequins

It was at the Dubai Sevens three years ago that Fiji’s English coach Ben Ryan won his first tournament in charge of the Pacific Island nation.

Fiji broke New Zealand’s four-year stranglehold on the World Sevens Series last season by claiming the title for the first time in nine years.

Ryan and Fiji were in the UAE capital on Sunday night, getting in some early practice ahead of the Dubai Sevens.

They played several friendly games against various Quins teams, as well as a game of touch against a team of students from the British School Al Khubairat. It is this unique community spirit that exists in rugby which makes it so special and one Ryan will always associate with Harlequins.

“Community is everything in rugby,” said Ryan. “It’s important to retain those links so we’re very grateful to Harlequins. It’s a lovely rugby club with some lovely people.”

Extra time

Thousands attended a memorial for Jonah Lomu in Auckland, with former and current stars standing side-by-side to pay their respects to the great man with a haunting rendition of the Haka. Led by All Black legend Buck Shelford, the All Black greats said farewell to the legendary winger.