Who Jersey is facing
Nottingham Rugby
Head Coach: Martin Haag
Home Ground: Meadow Lane
Founded: 1877
Last season: Second
Nottingham: Last season:
Nottingham had a hugely
successful 2012/13 season in stark contrast to this campaign. They began with a
fantastic 34-29 win over Leeds in a pulsating match, their first opening day
win since 2005, and this set the tone for the season. A second win over Moseley
followed before a brace of defeats brought the Green and Whites back to earth. This
preceded one of the finest runs of form seen in the division all season as they
scored over 250 points in six games, with Jersey, London Scottish and Doncaster
receiving heavy beatings, not to mention a quite remarkable 63-7 win over
fancied Bristol. A narrow defeat against the Cornish Pirates still left Nottingham
handily placed come the turn of the year, and they kicked on with eight wins in
ten matches. Nottingham finished second in the table, their highest ever
Championship finish, and faced off against Bedford for the chance to win
promotion to the Premiership. In the first leg at Goldington Road, Nottingham was
10-9 up at half time. Bedford raised their game in the second half and looked
set for a comfortable win, but a last gasp penalty try and conversion by
Nottingham reduced the gap to only nine points in a 26-17 defeat. Back at
Meadow Lane, there was hope that the deficit could be overcome but in front
over 3000 supporters (one of their biggest attendances at this ground) a first
half collapse meant that they were 30 points adrift on aggregate at the
interval. Three second half tries and a late near miss were not to be enough as
a 21-23 defeat on the night and 38-49 on aggregate, meant that it was Bedford
that faced the Falcons in the final.
Nottinham's season so far:
Nothing could prepare the Green
and Whites faithful for the season of struggle that was to follow. Turmoil off
the pitch created its own problems, a massively reduced budget could only mean
cuts, and seeing many of their top players leaving, replaced by relative
unknowns in Championship circles, meant that a side that finished with the
second highest points scorer in the league (James Arlidge), and two of the top
six try scorers (Captain Brent Wilson with 13 was only one from the top) was
destined to struggle in a division in which all the sides had strengthened
considerably. Despite this a quite stunning opening day win, again over Leeds,
was one of, if not the highlight of their season to date. They then went on a
run of six straight defeats, starting with a 46-19 drubbing by London Welsh and
included a hugely significant defeat to Jersey; the Islanders only away win of
the campaign so far. A poor performance in defeat at Moseley was sandwiched between
two tight home wins, against fellow strugglers Bedford, and Jekyll and Hyde
side, Plymouth. A losing bonus point was gained away at high-flying Rotherham
in a fine performance, before a 27 all draw with the Cornish Pirates as the
Green and Whites began to find some form. A draw was the least Nottingham
deserved, but it was only gained with the last kick of the game. Stirling
County were beaten in the British and Irish cup, home and away, with the 50
points scored in the game in Scotland marking a season high. With results off
the pitch improving, (four wins and a draw from seven games), the off pitch troubles
were looking healthy also. New owners stepped in on Christmas Eve, a 15 strong
consortium called ‘The Friends of Nottingham Rugby’ stumped up the money to
save the club from liquidation and ensured that they could compete in the
Championship for at least another three seasons.
On the pitch however, things have
continued to be painful. After Leeds exacted some form of revenge, a home defeat
by bottom side Ealing has dragged Nottingham down into the relegation mire,
despite a Brent Wilson hat-trick gaining both a losing bonus and try bonus
point. Two defeats in the cup ended their involvement with a whimper, before a
bonus point was gained in an unfortunate defeat to Bedford. A great win at home to Scottish last weekend in the mud has
given them a great platform but Jersey has a great chance to get a result here
today.
Previous with Jersey:
It was a far different Nottingham
side that greeted the Reds to Meadow Lane on Ladies Day, than the side Jersey
face today. In a rich vein of form, and playing with power pace and with bags
of experience, Jersey were ripped apart, conceding five tries to one in a 48-16
defeat. A Michael Le Bourgeois try and conversion, plus two penalties
kept Jersey in within ten points at the interval, but the second half was all
one way as Nottingham inflicted Jersey’s sixth straight defeat in their debut
season.
The return match at St Peter was
notable for an initial postponement due to bad weather making pitch one
unplayable, so there was added interest when the sides did eventually clash.
Jersey was a vastly different side than in the first encounter, both in
personal as well as confidence. The much-feared Jersey pack had found their
feet in the Championship, and they had the home side in front, with a penalty
try, and a second could and possibly should have been awarded. But with
Nottingham on the back foot and with two men in the sin bin, Jersey strangely
refused the scrum and took a lineout, which came to nothing, losing momentum
and the advantage. Two second half tries from the visitors put paid to a win
that was definitely attainable, but a losing bonus point was salvaged with two
penalties from Le Bourgeois, the second with only minutes left and from fully
40 yards out, against a side who were to finish comfortably in the play-off
positions.
The away fixture this season saw
a depleted Nottingham score an early try, but were never in control of a
fixture they had dominated a year previously. Three Niall O’Conner penalties
kept Jersey within striking distance and were only 13-9 down at the break.
Jersey began to turn the screw and when Nott’s were reduced to 14, Mark McCrea
took advantage to give the Islanders the lead for the first time. With the
score 22-19 to the Reds, a massive show of strength in the forwards saw two
yellows awarded to the home side once again. But like last season no points
were gained and momentum swung back to the hosts. With only a couple of minutes
on the clock, Nottingham turned down a pair of kickable penalties, instead
going for the winning score from lineouts. But Jersey’s defence held firm, as
the win continued their fine start to the season.
Ones to watch: Nottingham
Brent Wilson
Position: Flanker
DoB: 09/09/1981
Height: 191cm
Weight: 110kg
New Zealander Wilson is perhaps
best known for his time with Newcastle Falcons where he spent four Premiership
seasons racking up over 100 appearances between 2006 and 2011. The former NZ
sevens star then signed for Nottingham and quickly became club captain. His 13
league tries last season, placed him second in the try scorers charts and
earned him player of the year at Nottingham and a place in the Championship
Dream Team. This season, despite all their struggles he has continued to lead
from the front with fine performances and has crossed the whitewash an
impressive eight times, despite a barren start of none in the first eleven
matches.
Position: Fly-Half
DoB: 25/08/1990
Height: 193cm
Weight: 98kg
Former
Wales U18 and U20 international Jarvis, joined Nottingham Rugby at the start of
the 2013/2014 season from RaboDirect Pro12 outfit Connacht. The Welsh fly-half,
who can also play at full-back and centre, has Heineken Cup experience from his
time there, and has an incredible kicking boot from the tee. Despite Nottingham’s
struggles, he is currently third in the Championship point scorers chart and
second for penalties kicked overall. With distance rarely an issue for Jarvis,
the Meadow Lane faithful have already been treated to some spectacular kicks at
goal from the half way line this season. Jarvis’ boot has already gained
Nottingham points on several occasions this season. Any Jersey indiscipline will
be punished.
Position: Second Row/Back Row
DoB: 10/09/1983
Height: 196cm
Weight: 118kg
The powerful Australian is in his second
spell for the Green and Whites having starred for Bristol for three seasons at
number eight, where he notched up 82 appearances, scoring eight tries. The ex
Aussie-rules player was signed by the Leicester Tigers academy on arriving in
England. Nottingham pounced to re-sign the player who had scored eleven tries
in 75 appearances for them before leaving for Bristol, who then decided to
release him two months after he penned a one-year extension to his contract. The
powerful second row has now played over 110 games for Nottingham, where his
versatility has become vital to his club. The former back row has both strength
and commitment, and this makes him irreplaceable in a side struggling for form.
Position: Scrum-half
DoB: 27/07/85
Height: 178cm
Weight: 87kg
Another New
Zealander in the Nottingham ranks, the former Highlanders Super Rugby player forged a
strong partnership with the prolific fly-half James Arlidge last season. The
26-year-old has started all but one game since he signed last season, and was
also employed by the world's most famous invitational side last month as he
made a fine debut in the Barbarians' win over Loughborough Students. Born in
Christchurch, Romans played in the New Zealand Provincial Cup, for Otago, as well
as Super 14 Rugby. He also has two international caps, having played for the
Junior All Blacks in 2009 in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
Scoring four tries this season, three in the cup, he is a key player in the
Nottingham rebuilding process.
Interview with Nottingham's Chairman Alistair Bow and Head Coach Martin Haag.
Much like
Jersey this season, the management at Nottingham Rugby genuinely believes this
season has been one of underachievement. Rewind 18
months and the club was set for one of its best seasons, finishing second in
the Championship. That disappointment paled into insignificance when the major shareholders
could no longer fund the shortfall at the club, leaving Nottingham precariously
placed. With little to no funding, the club had no option but to cut costs
drastically. Reaching Christmas their standing had become untenable and they
faced the very real prospect of liquidating the club. Fortunately, a consortium
of Nottingham Rugby fans and businessmen pooled their resources, and saved the
club from oblivion.
Nottingham
Chairman Alistair Bow was open and honest about what has been arguably the most
tumultuous period in the clubs recent history. ‘For the last twelve months it has
been a very difficult time,’ he said. After the shareholders made their
decision it was backs to the wall.’ Bow stated, ‘The club was funded by the
previous shareholders and the current board of directors. It got to the stage
at Christmas where it had become untenable as there was no more money to put
in. If we hadn’t have done what we did, the club would have folded. A new
consortium of 15, which included the previous shareholders and directors,
called the Friends of Nottingham Rugby, took custodianship of the club and agreed
to fund it for the next three years.’
Since
finishing second, there have been few good days on the pitch, with only four
league wins to date. Bow disagrees that the downturn has been purely to do with
a lack of money. ‘Funding has got a part to do with that,’ he said, ‘But it’s
not the only reason. Last year came on the back of two or three very good seasons.
The squad was playing at the top of their game, but at the end of last season
we lost four or five players to Premiership teams, and quite a few first team
players to retirement, which put quite a strain on the first team squad.’
Just as
Jersey has found out this year, a good team cannot just be thrown together and
expected to play cohesively. Bow agreed both clubs have similar issues. ‘We do
not have the finances available to pay the big bucks to replace the quality and
caliber of player we have developed over the last three or four years, and it
takes a good while to get the squad to gel and learn to play together.’
Nottingham Head Coach Martin Haag agreed that it was
always going to be a transitional season for them. ‘It’s no secret that there
were things happening behind the scenes which have meant us having to be
careful with our resources,’ he said. ‘But we were still happy with the players
we brought in. We bought in some good pros, and supplemented them with a
number of young talents who were eager to cut their teeth at this level.
We have had to work with a much smaller squad, so we’ve been on a learning
curve this season.’
Whilst Haag agrees Saturday is an important match, the
result would not define their season. He stated, ‘A win against Jersey would be
a big plus for us, but we won’t be looking at it from a relegation
perspective. We know that we can compete with, and beat any team in this
league on our day, so we’ll trust in our processes to get the results we need.’
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