Almanac Rugby: Week 3 of The Rugby Championship
Wallabies 25 Springboks 17
Los Pumas 25 All Blacks 18
Another jolt over the weekend knocked the rugby world off its axis. Los Pumas of Argentina created history with a stunning upset and the Wallabies gave home fans a lot to like in their win.
There was sunshine aplenty bathing the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon for the Wallabies v Springboks test. Rennie made six changes to the starting XV. The ones that struck me were Lolesio at 10 and Hodge at 15. I was happy with the former, not so much with the latter selection. In the end, they both had solid games, as did the others given their chance.
Going with a 6:2 bench suggested the Wallabies were going to match the Springboks up forward and wear them down with a territory game. It turned out that Rennie had pulled a three-card trick. The Aussies played expansive footy from the outset, resulting in a try within a few phases of play. The tone was set for the rest of the game and the visitors never really settled.
Prior to this Test, the South Africans hadn’t won a game for nine years on Aussie soil. The key to success in that time has been exerting early dominance. Once the Wallabies had points on the board on Saturday their control of the game was impressive. They did the basics well and refrained from any wild plays. Hodge was safe under the high ball, thus denying the Boks those turnovers they rely on.
The biggest talking point of the game was a try-saving tackle from Marika Koroibete. Its legality will be debated for a long time to come but its effectiveness is beyond dispute. There was a noticeable lift in spirits from that point. He has been a real talisman lately and is having an impact on the team unrivalled since the days of Israel Folau.
The other game, well, let’s just say has caused fissures in NZ rugby that are going to be hard to reconcile any time soon. Not only did Argentina get their first win ever in New Zealand, but this All Blacks team has now become the first team in 119 years of Test rugby to lose three straight at home. Ouch!
I’m still coming to terms with the capitulation of a group of players who clearly have the talent to beat anyone, anywhere. Los Pumas are well drilled. Cheika has done a great job with them. They deserve to be respected, but the All Blacks at home putting up a performance like that is mystifying.
Thankfully, this new format of a sequence of series in the TRC means the ABs get their shot at redemption straight away. It would not be surprising if they bounced back as they did in the series in South Africa. However, their vulnerability to a committed hard running team with strong defense (the Irish beat them the same way) must be addressed.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, have secured the Mandela Plate but will want to ram home the advantage at the sparkling new Sydney Football Stadium on Satuirday.
The Championship’s race is still wide open but one thing seems certain that, after nine consecutive wooden spoons going back to the inception of the tournament, the men in the blue hoops will get that monkey off their book. Buen Suerte, Los Pumas.
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Some big results in recent tests – might make for a cracker of a tournament in 2023!
P.S. Might have to slip the 7s lads in to a post after their first win today.