Rugby Championship gets fantasy treatment as New Zealand Rugby doubles down on fan engagement
Headed by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) – in collaboration with Sanzaar partners Australia, Argentina and South Africa – Fantasy Rugby Championship will
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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks confident improvements are on the way
Pumas v All Blacks Kick-off: 9:10am Sunday 24 August NZT Estadio Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires Live blog updates on RNZ Despite their ultimately comfortable 41-24 win over the Pumas on Sunday morning, it was obvious the All Blacks had a bit to work on before the sides meet again this weekend in Buenos Aires. Some glaring handling errors and a second half slump saw points slip and a comeback from the home side that was a little too close for comfort, something that's not lost the players themselves. "We left a few points out there, we had our review today and we've pointed out what we need to fix," said Tupou Vaa'i, who suddenly is part of an intriguing selection decision for Scott Robertson before the team is named on Friday morning NZT. Not that the 25-year-old Vaa'i is in any danger of not playing. On the contrary, he's been the standout performers in the All Blacks over the last season and his utility value means that Scott Robertson has plenty of options regarding the locks and loose forwards. Not that Vaa'i is bothered as to whether he ends up playing blindside or moving back to lock. "To be honest I'm just happy to be weherever…if it does mean that I slot back into lock this week then so be it. I'm happy either way,' he said. All Blacks loose forward Tupou Vaa'i scores in the second test win over France. Photo: Photosport The question over where Vaa'i will play has been created by a facial fracture suffered by Patrick Tuipulotu in Sunday morning's win "(Tuipulotu) shot over to hospital to get checked out (after the game), just hope his surgery goes well and he recovers well," said Vaa'i. While the combination of a Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland second row with Vaa'i at blindside is likely, the choice now is who to back them up is an interesting one. Samipeni Finau finished the first test at lock so can cover both, while Robertson may be tempted to give Simon Parker a debut off the bench and leave Vaa'i to be the extra lock. It's not as risky as it seems, given that Barrett is the captain and will likely play the entire game, while Holland has been on the field for all but nine minutes of his four tests so far. Billy Proctor. Photo: In any event, the forward pack aren't the ones with the microscope on them. After all, it was two lineout drive tries set up but some clinical breakdown turnovers that clinched the game, but the backs looked uncharacteristically clunky at times. Midfielder Billy Proctor admitted that sometimes things just don't go their way. "There's things we can improve there but you can't expect to win every moment in a test match," he said after a week training session in Buenos Aires. "There's going to be moments in a game we lose, it's how we can adapt quickly and get back on top and control them, get the momentum back on our side. If we can stay on top of them early and take the crowd out of it, we'll hopefully put some momentum on our side." Proctor also finds himself in a selection discussion of his own, with Anton Lienert-Brown also out for the second test. Quinn Tupaea and Timoci Tavatavanawai stand as his logical replacements on the bench, however again Robertson may be tempted to tinker given the amount of dropped ball and blown chances in the first test. The All Blacks name their side for the second Rugby Championship test on Friday morning.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Springboks coach makes 10 changes for Australia clash
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus. Photo: PHOTOSPORT South Africa have made 10 changes to their starting XV for the second Rugby Championship test against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday as coach Rassie Erasmus wields the axe following a shock 38-22 loss to the tourists in Johannesburg last weekend. Erasmus was left fuming by the manner of his side's capitulation at Ellis Park , as Australia scored 38 unanswered points after the Springboks had raced into a 22-0 lead, but fell apart in the second half. Only centre Jesse Kriel, half-back Grant Williams, loose forward Marco van Staden, hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Ox Nche keep their places. The Springboks have lost four players to injury from that test, including captain Siya Kolisi (knee) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (concussion), who would likely have started again. Handre Pollard is back at first-five to provide a steadying hand, while Damian de Allende returns at inside centre to partner Kriel. Cheslin Kolbe is back from injury on the wing along with Canan Moodie, while experienced Willie le Roux, who recently won his 100th cap, is handed the fullback berth. Marx and Nche are joined in the front row by prop Thomas du Toit, while RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje make for a new lock pairing. Jean-Luc du Preez takes over at number eight, and Franco Mostert is the other flanker along with Van Staden. Erasmus has returned to a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, which suggests his side will play a tighter, forward-based game having seen their attempt to play expansive, running rugby contained by Australia as they did not score a point in the final 62 minutes of the fixture in Johannesburg. "We lost four players to injury last weekend, which obviously had an impact on a few of our selections, but we also know where we went wrong against Australia last week, so we made a few changes that we believe will offer us what we need for this game," Erasmus said. "Damian and Cheslin have also recovered from their injuries, and with their experience and knowledge of the Wallabies, it was a logical choice to recall them. "We let ourselves and the country down, so we have all the motivation we need to make things right this week." South Africa team: SPRINGBOKS (15-1): Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden; Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman; Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu - Reuters
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
South Africa v Australia: Springboks ring changes after Wallabies defeat in Rugby Championship
South Africa have made 10 changes to their starting team for their second Rugby Championship match against Australia at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday. Head coach Rassie Erasmus announced the new-look team today and said the Springboks were determined to 'get things right' after their shock 38-22 defeat against
