WE’RE IN FOR a grand finale to the shortened Rugby Championship. Australia’s 9 – 34 win away to Argentina has them level on 9 points with New Zealand. As ever, the All Blacks trip to South Africa gave us a game that will live long in the memory.
If you have time, you should watch that one in full, but here’s the highlights.
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South Africa’s staying power
If rugby matches were just a little bit shorter – say, 72 or 73 minutes – then we would be looking at a South African outfit nearing the peak of their powers and sitting top of the Rugby Championship table with eight points. And with their two rivals going head-to-head while they face Argentina next, the Springboks would have the lids off the trophy polish and the straight batters out to dampen World Cup hype.
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Instead, the ‘Boks have two losing bonus points after getting overpowered and, this weekend, out-thought as they tried to close out victory. However, it’s still far too early to write off Heyneke Meyer’s side as an easy touch in the final minutes. For a start, just staying with them for those first 70 minutes is a monumental task. The All Blacks rode their luck against the early Bokke onslaught and just managed to keep pace thanks to two brilliant scores.
All Blacks always seem to find a way
The magical breaks of Lima Sopoaga (leading to Ben Smith’s try) and Dane Coles are what we expect from New Zealand though. What they don’t get enough credit for, is how they think their way around the field.
Right from the first minute, the visitors in Ellis Park shunned the challenge of a direct contest with South Africa’s line-out. They either quick-tapped penalties or shovelled the ball back in to play before a rigid set-piece was called. The result was a 10/10 return off their own throw.
The most important one of the 10 was Codie Taylor’s 73rd minute throw: the second-cap hooker was given an easy call to float the ball in at shoulder height. Flip van der Merwe and Eben Etzebeth followed the concentrated All Black threat of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick lifting Kieran Read, leaving only Ruan Pienaar standing between Richie McCaw and victory.
Australia timing their run
How ’bout them Wallabies?
It’s a World Cup year, so it only seems right that the green and gold are finding – if not exactly wonderful form, then – a winning habit.
On paper, Argentina have all the tools needed to pick apart Australia, yet they continue to put an all round game together, including some powerful late scrums, to prevail.
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With five minutes remaining, it looked as though Michael Cheika would have to settle for a straightforward, hard-fought win. Instead, their innate belief and the relentless Israel Folau claimed a bonus point that allows them to into their home ground on 8 August as New Zealand’s equal. The Wallabies are well-prepared for the Pool of Death.