Almanac Rugby: Week 2 of the Rugby Championship

 

All Blacks 35 Springboks 23

Los Pumas 48 Wallabies 17

 

 

Reminiscent of the second week of the July Tests, this round of the Rugby Championship was all about the bounce-back wins. The All Blacks proved that you should never write them off (I, for one, certainly never do) and Los Pumas taught the Wallabies a lesson or two on how to play Test rugby.

 

The fabled Ellis Park was the setting for the rematch between the two titans of international rugby. It is a fortress for the Springboks, rarely losing to visiting interlopers. The team that has had the most success there, unsurprisingly, is the team that ended up inflicting the third loss of the last four on the Boks. After their first-round loss, Ian Foster’s team had been stewing in their juices all week, desperate to show the rugby world they are still the benchmark. From the opening, they were on.

 

The basic skill errors and telegraphed moves from last week seemed a world away as the men in black controlled tempo, territory and the general vibe of the game. They looked every bit like an AB side throughout the 80 minutes. Conversely, the side believing they had one hand on the Freedom Cup simply couldn’t fathom their game plan was being thwarted at every turn. They believed their defence would be as impenetrable as it proved last time out. The masters worked new lines to break through.

 

It was a complete performance from the All Blacks. They will be formidable when they host Argentina for the next two rounds.

 

Their guests-to-be will take to the field in the Shaky Isles in a fortnight’s time absolutely cock-a-hoop. Los Pumas put the Wallabies to the sword in their second Test.

 

In the first five minutes, the hosts had scored two converted tries and looked as if they were just getting started. The Wallabies clawed back and would have gone ahead if not for a disallowed try midway through the first half. That misfortune changed the mood among the players.

 

For the remainder of the game, the men in hoops ran rings around our boys. We really needed our skipper, Hoops, to counteract theirs. It was so disheartening to see so many simple errors and defensive lapses lead to easy points. There weren’t too many positives for the Wallabies.

 

Argentina, on the other hand, can hold their heads high after that effort. Rather than being an add-on to this tournament, the South Americans are proving to be one of the showpiece teams.

 

We have a week off before hostilities resume. The Springboks here and Argentina in NZ for another set of two-week ‘series’ is something to salivate. It will be easier to wet the whistle with kickoffs at appropriate imbibing times too. I’ll drink to that!

 

 

 

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About

Grew up playing the rugby codes in suburban Sydney. Moved to Melbourne during the Carey era so becoming a Shinboner was the natural call. Still love the game they play in heaven. Took an interest in MLB a few years back and have become infatuated with America's pastime.

Comments

  1. Ian Hauser says

    And there we were hoping that the AB’s might finally be vulnerable come Bledisloe time! Ah, well.

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