Nu förstår man äntligen varför det varit så tyst så tyst om Moldavien. De ställde upp med sitt sämsta lag någonsin med endast 21 spelare och en blandning av 18-åringar och äldre herrar med ölmage. Tackling upphörde efter 50 minuter och då kunde Sverige göra sitt bästa resultat i mannaminne. Om inte detta är en tillfällig svacka kommer Moldavien att åka raka spåret ned till Conference 2. Deras spelstandard i dag var Allsvenskans nedre del eller kanske Div. 1.

Svårt att värdera det svenska laget, då motståndet var ovärdigt en landskamp. Cirka 15 missade/tappade passningar i kedjan var inte bra men det blev bättre på slutet. Klungan dominerade fullständigt och eventuella brister granskades aldrig. Stämningen verkar vara god i den svenska truppen. Man of the match: utan tvekan Sami Paulsson på hemmaplan.

Europe Conf. 1 North: Ukraine - Luxemburg   24 - 13

Ukraine got a fright as Luxemburg were only 13 - 17 down and pressing hard towards the end. Ukraine pulled themselves together and got the decider with five minutes to go. Neither side world-beaters but both probably too strong for the Swedish selected troupe of 43.

Europe Trophy: Lithuania - Czechia       30 - 10

Lithuania looking good and could be challenging for the Trophy. Czechia continuing the Eastern decline, with two defeats in a row.

Europe Conf. 2 North   Finland - Denmark 22 - 18

Very positive result for Finland. Denmark seem also to be in a bad way.

Ladies Trophy : Finland - Switzerland   5 - 20

Switzerland just a bit sharper, with Czechia the only other team taking part. Why isn´t Sweden in this tournament? They are stronger than these two teams.

Junior Vikings: Czechia U18 - Sweden JV   ? - 23 Sweden won!

Don´t know the exact score, but Sweden put up an excellent display in the first half to lead 20 - 0. They really looked as if they had been properly coached and played with a bit of “jävla anamma”. Well done Andy and others, as well as the players of course. I hope Sweden are entering for the European U18 XV-a-side in the Spring.

Finally some information. We are told that 70 from a possibles group were invited to join two training camps prior to the two approaching internationals. Apparently 43 accepted and 27 declined. The list of 43 is published on the Union webpage today. It contains a number of candidates for selection and a fair number who cannot be regarded as remotely qualified for international honours.

What would be interesting is to see the names of the 27 players (almost 40%) who did not accept the offer to try to make the team. Some injured possibly, but a large number must have refused for other reasons. Is there any other sport where 40% of those invited decline the chance to represent their country? I doubt it.

It is easy to make a list of at least 15 players who should be in the squad, but are not listed among the 43. Either the selection procedure is badly flawed or they have all refused. The selection procedure has certainly been very poor for years but the question should also be asked why so many have refused. The answer to that may explain why we have lost 22 of our last 25 internationals.

15 Swedish clubs have provided players for the 43. Two Swedish clubs (Exiles and Pingvin) have shown themselves to be far superior to all the others for a number of years and almost all of their regular players are eligible to play for Sweden. Exiles have 6 and Pingvin 4 players in the 43. Two from Exiles are useful players but are not normally in their top squad of 23. The remaining four are forwards who should go straight into the starting line-up, they have been outstanding all season, two in the front row two in the back. The Pingvin four include two who are registered with other clubs but who played for them in the finals. I could see three of them getting into the starting lineup. The two players selected which shows some imagination are Exiles´ Georgian prop Giga Khanishvili who passed the three year requirement last year and who has probably been Sweden´s strongest prop for some time. He also scores lots of tries. The other is the young hooker from Wexiö, Anthony Rafael, who comes off the bench regularly for Pingvin. I have mentioned him previously as a future internationalist and I would rank him nr 1 of those in the 43. The other outsider is Alfred Nordgren from Malmö who has also bobbed up with their Skåne arch-rivals. He played well in the GP-sevens and although kept on a tight reign by Exiles in the finals he is also worth a place in the final squad.

The main question mark over the troupe of 43 is the complete absence of the Exiles´ backs. They cannot have been judged to be not good enough (Kanogo was at the final) so the conclusion must be that they don´t want to play, which is very sad. Matt Mitchell and Dustin Eaton are head and shoulders above the other halfbacks in Sweden while Oliver Sharp and Dan Nissala were the two outstanding wingers towards the end of the season. Not to mention our powerful Saffer centres Rikus and Neill.

Moldavia are a far weaker team than a few years ago, they lost all five games in 2017/2018. Their powerful pack seems to have melted away to play in Romania, Russia and even in Britain. They will still present problems up front, however, they lost several games narrowly, and this Swedish troupe seems to have little to offer in the powerhouse of the scrum or at the lineout for that matter. Marini plays flanker for his club, the Hammarby second-rower has disappeared and the Exiles/Pingvin second-rows are out of favour. Sean Burke returning from injury has in recent weeks shown himself to be easily the best lineout jumper in Sweden, but he is also a no-show, for whatever reason.

If I were to pick a Swedish team from the 43, I would be struggling to get 15 adequate players.

This is my framework:

Theo Anthony Giga

         ?               ?

Neets     ?   Sami

Fredrik

         Philip

?       Axel   Erik   Alfred

               ?

If I had access to all the best players in Sweden I would retain these five forwards and Alfred. The remaining nine IMHO are to be found outside the 43.

After a well played and competitive second final Exiles ran out winners 17-3 and with a 7 point win in the first leg, the club secured a 7th straight gold and the 12th gold in a streak of 18 straight finals.

The final kicked off under clear skies on a dry firm field. Chilly, but nowhere near the freezing, raining final of last year.

All to play for at kickoff, Exiles had a 7 point lead, but ended the first final desperately defending their own line. Could easily have been a tied game as the competitive season came to an end.

Exiles started strongly, but strong defense by Pingvin caused an early turnover. Exiles promptly stole the ball back and for a period kept using the strong wind to pin Pingvin back. After a scrappy lineout Exiles were awarded a penalty, well within Jack Andersons range and on the “easy” side for a right footed kicker. Kick slotted and the aggregate lead was now 10 points.

An acrobatic save from Oliver Sharp prevented a long touch finder for Pingvin, combined with a spectacular reverse pass to Ian Gowland, who stabbed the ball back.

The game swung Pingvins way and after a strong period they were awarded a long range penalty. The Pingvin scrumhalf took the attempt, which was short and to the left.

Exiles kept using the strong wind to push Pingvin back and after sweeping play, with the ball moved slickly from side to side, Oliver scored in the left corner with an extra man outside him. Beautiful touchline conversion from Jack made it 10 – 0 and 17 points in aggregate. Not over by any means, but a tough uphill battle for the visitors from the South.

20 minutes in and Pingvin disrupted the Exiles scrum and were awarded the put in. After a high tackle by Exiles another long touchfinder was negated by Oliver, whose placement was perfect.

Another penalty tp Pingvin after Exiles released binding in the scrum. Second attempt made by Pingvin nr 9, second miss.

30 minutes in starting hooker James Derbyshire was taken off for a head injury assessment and did not return. Replaced by Casper Forsberg. Exiles pressing close to Pingvins line, several strong carries by Theo Karlsson and Sami Paulsson, who were excellent throughout the game. Two fine additions of Sweden qualified players to the club over the last couple of years.

32 minutes in, penalty to Exiles, long kick, lineout close to the Pingvin line. Lineout supremo Sean Burke won it cleanly and the whole pack shifted the maul over the line in a great concentrated drive. Casper coming round after the throw-in got the touchdown. Another fine kick by Jack made it a 17-0 game and +24 point aggregate for the defending champs.

Oliver Sharp who was indeed sharp all day almost slipped through in the corner and offloaded at the last second to supporting fullback Ian Gowland, who was unable to continue his talent of scoring tries in finals.

A strip was made by Neil Erasmus, who showed power throughout. Exiles continued to use the wind, but also mixed in powerful bullocking runs by the big man Franco de Lisa, who needed two, three men to slow him down.

Halftime, 17-0 and still +24 points in aggregate.

Pingvin started the second half with energy and power and after a long touchline kick from a penalty they had a great attacking lineout, just 5 meters from the Exiles line. A score could have swung the momentum of the game, but Sean just reached the throw with his fingertips and managed to deflect it down to Theo who had a great big man run to clear the Exiles lines. Theo is an incredibly mobile prop who had a series of powerful runs.

After multiple penalties to Pingvin they were finally awarded an easy kick, 17-3. Still trailing by three converted tries the clock was ticking loudly and quickly for the team in white.

Exiles missed a couple of lineouts due to squint throws, but still continued to pressure Pingvins throws, again mostly through Seans leaping ability, aided by strong lifters.

Exiles miscues led to a strong period by Pingvin, mainly using their powerful and well drilled forwards. A breakout by Ian led to a streaking run by Dan Nissila down the wing, which almost led to a third try, but scrambling defense disrupted the opportunity.

Shortly therafter a third touchline save by Oliver again negated the ability for Pingvin to move the ball up the field after numerous penalties, the origin of which was not always crystal clear to the observers.

Jack Andersson took a shot at a long range drop kick, but it curled left. Jack shortly thereafter was replaced by Gianandrea Giacometti, who entered the centers, with Dustin Eaton moving back to his preferred position of flyhalf. In that role he had an outstanding final 20 minutes where he time and again harassed the defense, creating openings for both himself and others. This after 60 minutes of rock solid tackling as a center. As always a pleasure to watch Dustin play.

Ian Gowland off replaced by Ash Kitchen.

A case of handbags brought on by some unsighted event in a ruck. Only niggly part of the game, which was played in a very sporting atmosphere.

Veteran Rikus van Niekerk came on as flanker to replace Nikorn (Neex) Thammavongsa after a superb day at the coal face, strong runs and low center of gravity tackles to stop big men in their tracks. Rikus was not to be outdone and immediately put in a tackle also.

23 minutes in to the second half and Giga K left the field to be replaced by Mark Beveridge. Both men contributed to exiles having marginal upper hand in the scums seen over the game as a whole.

The benches were being cleared. Jason Keen on for Matt Mitchell, who as always had had a magnificent game, with a spectacular work rate. Jason did not want to be outdone and had a strong showing in the final 20 minutes.

In that period the penalties were suddenly going Exiles way, which meant most of the play was kept out of the Exiles half.

Levan and Chris came on to close out the game in the forwards.

Final ten minutes were inconclusive, with neither team being able to make anything happen.

Referee Rami Aro blew his whistle and the defending champs managed to keep the streak alive. Captain Erik Sandberg, a second generation Exile, was able to raise the silverware over his head. 7 straight golds and 12 out of 18.

Exiles had about as good as team as we have ever seen, with not only a very strong bench, but also 3 – 4 men, who were unlucky to not get into the final 23. Certainly there will be some players contemplating their playing future, but speaking from personal experience, an official retirement is not really binding…

Oliver Sharp gets the nod as the man of the match, but was closely followed by Dustin and Sean. Three saved touchfinders, a try and several incisive runs gives him the award.

A special mention to Ian Gowland, who by my count has 9 gold medals since joining the club in 2008.

Report by Hamish Mabon

Colour comments by Hunter Mabon Sr

Could only make secong half because of another commitment. Arrived to find Exiles leading 42 - 18 on aggregate but now playing into the wind. Pingvin were down to only two imports and had to rely on kicks to get into the Exiles danger area. Their attempts to run big backs and forwards at the Exiles defense was not a success. They seldom got over the gain line. Exiles backs made repeated breaks, but the Pingvin defense was also very solid. The main factor was the number of penalties. I made it 13 - 3 in Pingvins favour in the second half. Conceding a penalty every 3 minutes makes it difficult to maintain sustained pressure and the only scoring in the second half was a penalty for Pingvin. The try count was 5 - 2 over the two finals and an aggregate lead of 21 points. The pattern of the first final was repeated in the second with Exiles just having the edge in the set pieces but being far more creative in the backs. I agree with Hamish that this was one of the best Exiles teams ever and there will be hopes that they can emulate the great run of ten titles by Pingvin in the 1990s. 

It was good to see a sizeable number of supporters making the long trip from Trelleborg; in many ways they are the best organised club in Sweden and I wish them well in the future. The crowd as a whole was around 300. Congratulations to Henry van Niekerk who has now coached Exiles to three titles in a row. Also the whole managemant team which has functioned well. And also to Allan Mabon who has been chairman for 8 or 9 of Exiles´ Swedish titles.

The trophy was presented by th Union chairperson Mia Vargö along with the rest of the Board who were also in attendance.

Exiles had a show of strength at Skarpnäck with their U16 team, current Swedish Champions, playing against Erislund (they lost) and the Exiles´ second team who played Hammarby (they won 19 - 14), also a number of younger members who escorted the first team on to the pitch.

I would like to see many Exiles playing for Sweden in a couple of weeks time. Let´s hope that those in charge would like to see that as well.

Finally, a word about our Ladies. It´s a pity they don´t let us know what is happening. We were all disappointed to see that they lost the home final 5 - 24 to Vänersborg and surprised that they won away 12 - 0 to give an aggregate loss of only 7 points. That score seems to have been unchanged from the tenth minute in Vänersborg. Can anyone give us some information about the finals?

Title decider at Skarpnäck with visitors Pingvin trying to catch up a 7 point deficit. It has to be said that Exiles dominated the first final in Trelleborg,  although Pingvin did well to reduce the gap by the end.

What was interesting was to see the way Pingvinwere outclassed in the set pieces. They were on the back foot in the set scrums and their lineout jumpers struggled to win even their own throw-ins. I would imagine that both packs will be more or less the same this week and there is a strong possibility the outcomes will be the same. The Pingvin trainer in the local paper said that Exiles backs were the best he had seen all season and I can only agree. Possibly the timing of the final scoring pass their only weakness. I don´t know what the final backs line-up will be but there are about a dozen good players all fighting for selection.

Pingvin seem to have concentrated all the club´s resources this year in trying to break the Exiles´ stranglehold on the Swedish title. I don´t think they have quite the capacity to do so, but let´s hope we have a great final as the two best teams clash once again.