Pacific Nations Cup
Australia A 39 Tonga 22
Samoa 23 Fiji 20
Tier 1 Tests
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
Wallabies 17 England 21
Springboks 30 Wales 14
Los Pumas 34 Scotland 31
By early afternoon on Saturday, SAMOA had held off a determined FIJI to claim the Pacific Nations Cup 2022. AUSTRALIA A put in a solid performance in the previous game to give themselves a chance of snatching the silverware should the Samoans stumble. However, the team that had gone through undefeated rightly took their places on the dais.
The stage was now set for epic finales to the four tied series between the Tier 1 Southern Hemisphere hosts and their guests from Europe. The first match of the quartet proved to be the one destined for rugby folklore for generations to come.
The dominance of the All Blacks at home has been underpinned by their astonishing records in three-match series. They have never been whitewashed and have only ever lost a series twice – the Springboks in 1937 and the Wallabies in 1986. Now there is a third.
In a stunning display, IRELAND controlled the Third Test in Wellington from the outset to produce a win that will transform the Emerald Isle into a rugby powerhouse. As they had done in the first two Tests, the Irish got off to a flyer. Their ‘catch me if you can’ credo blew up in their faces in the first Test but worked well enough in the Second Test. In the decider, it became clear they had a meticulous game plan that would bring them glory. The ALL BLACKS hit back early in the second half, as expected, but the composure shown by the men in green was simply awe-inspiring.
Recriminations have begun in New Zealand. They don’t take failure particularly well and losing a series to a team that doesn’t have the talisman of a Campese, Slack or Poidevin from the 1986 Wallabies, Johnny Sexton notwithstanding, will be hard to reconcile. The Irish deserve enormous credit, though. The humiliation of Eden Park spurred them on to produce two 80 minute efforts that will reverberate through the rugby world for years to come.
Reverberations and recriminations have resulted from the WALLABIES loss too. There were passages throughout the game where our boys took the game up to ENGLAND to show them that the first Test at the SCG since 1986 (what a year, huh?) was going to end in green and gold glory. Unfortunately, that cursed breakdown ill-discipline reared its head far too often in the second half and we just couldn’t put them under enough pressure.
Just like 2016, the Eddie Jones coaching masterclass was a sight to behold. He never stretched his charges too far. They played within themselves mostly, with just the occasional burst of light to put the Wallabies on the back foot.
Dave Rennie, on the other hand, is going back to the drawing board to look at his squad and the game style that can bring success in the upcoming Rugby Championship. It kicks off in August with two Tests in Argentina. They will be formidable opponents.
As for the other tied series, the SPRINGBOKS reverted to form and put WALES to the sword. With the last play of the day, LOS PUMAS snatched victory over SCOTLAND.
We’ve ended up with two series wins and two defeats for the four Southern teams. The balance of power between the hemispheres is finely attenuated at the moment. That bodes well for the Spring Tours in November and next year’s Rugby World Cup. The game is in a healthy position. Chile has just qualified for its first RWC to highlight the growth of the game in South America. Muy bien.
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