South Africa v Australia: Wallabies stun Springboks to open Rugby Championship
Trailing by 22 points after 19 minutes, the Wallabies scored 38 unanswered points for a first victory over the Springboks in the
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1News
8 hours ago
- 1News
Analysis: Pack gets All Blacks home, but questions remain about backline
A dominant pack allowed the All Blacks to finish off the Pumas in Cordoba, but two of their backs were not as convincing, writes Patrick McKendry. One of the good news stories for the All Blacks from their 41-24 bonus-point victory over the Pumas in Cordoba which sent them to the top of the Rugby Championship table is that they outscored their opponents in the final quarter. Scoring two tries – 10 points – against Argentina's seven points during the final 20 minutes should not be underestimated, even despite the fact the home side got the better of the second half 14-10 overall. The All Blacks outscored their opponents in the final quarter only once in six matches during last year's Rugby Championship. That was during the 33-13 victory over the Wallabies at the Cake Tin after they led 19-13 at halftime – a resounding victory which broke a recent hoodoo in the capital and went some way towards making up for their near collapse in Sydney the previous weekend when they led 28-14 at halftime but had to cling on to win 31-28. ADVERTISEMENT Twice they were second best in the final quarter against the Boks in South Africa in narrow defeats and twice more in final 20 against Argentina in Wellington and at Eden Park. So, there was that for Scott Robertson to be pleased with, along with a dominant pack and lineout drive which provided Samisoni Taukei'aho with the two tries to seal the victory. Indeed, the lineout overall was impressive – reliable on the All Blacks' throw and destructive on Argentina's. In the end, the Pumas' set piece was in disarray. Patrick Tuipulotu provided impact from the bench after replacing skipper Scott Barrett and was one of the reasons why the lineout was so successful. Tupou Vaa'i also transitioned well from loose forward to lock. All Blacks midfielder Billy Proctor makes a tackle in Cordoba. (Source: Photosport) Tuipulotu was also extremely solid on defence and the All Blacks needed him to be when the home side narrowed the gap to 31-24 in the third quarter as they rode a wave of noise and passion in the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes. Ardie Savea was inspirational as usual, prop Fletcher Newell and flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi had their moments, and lock Fabian Holland again put in a solid shift. ADVERTISEMENT Indeed, the vast majority of the forwards should be proud of their efforts because it was the pack who got the All Blacks out of potential strife in the second half as the Pumas threatened to over-run them. Clearly, they will be better for the return of prop Tamaiti Williams and No.8 Wallace Sititi, however, and potentially as early as next Sunday in Buenos Aires. There is no doubt that Kirifi, who started at openside flanker, is game, but there is no getting away from his lack of size either. A Tupou Vaa'i-Sititi-Savea loose trio would be better balanced and provide more of a ball-carrying threat. The backline review will not be as positive. Halfback Cortez Ratima scored a well-taken try when backing up Will Jordan, but had an up and down performance otherwise and struggled at times with his decision making when the pressure was on. The two Barretts, Beauden and Jordie, were solid, with the former's goalkicking perfect in the first half. Jordan proved again that he is one of the toughest fullbacks in the world to stop when he has space and is on outside break (although Australia's Tom Wright may have something to say about that), and Sevu Reece finished well. ADVERTISEMENT Which leaves us with left wing Rieko Ioane and centre Billy Proctor, both of whom were underwhelming, with the latter yellow carded for an alleged professional foul breakdown offence. To make matters worse, Proctor's replacement Anton Lienert-Brown wasn't much better – the Chiefs man putting in an aimless kick, penalised for tackling a player on the ground, and then sinbinned for head contact in a tackle. Robertson isn't exactly overflowing with short-term options for the left wing or No.13 jersey. Caleb Clarke didn't make the trip due to an ankle issue and Emoni Narawa is more of a right wing. In terms of the midfield, Quinn Tupaea is a second-five, a position already well covered by Jordie Barrett, and Timoci Tavatavanawai is too inexperienced. Questions also remain about his ability to defend at the highest level. All of which may put more scrutiny on the continued ineligibility of Leicester Fainga'anuku, who is back from France but constrained to representing only Tasman. According to New Zealand Rugby's eligibility laws, Fainga'anuku will be available only in the event of an injury. ADVERTISEMENT A more pragmatic option would be to get him into the squad in time to be available for the two Tests against the Springboks. Overall, the All Blacks' composure was good this morning and there was impact up front from the bench. But there is little doubt the team requires strengthening from reinforcements and potentially a few tough decisions from Robertson and his selectors.
Otago Daily Times
12 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
All Blacks v Argentina: What we learned
By Jamie Wall of RNZ Analysis: The more things change, the more they stay the same - at least for the Pumas and their attempts to beat the All Blacks on home soil. This morning's test, won 41-24 by Scott Robertson's side, followed a now well-established script for those played between the two sides in Argentina and ticked off every box along the way. The All Blacks shot out to a big halftime lead, then fell asleep at the start of the second half, just long enough for the Pumas to get themselves back in the match. A second-half All Blacks yellow card even gave the hosts a sniff of victory, with Billy Proctor now joining the South American sin-bin inmate club started by Joe Moody and Liam Squire in 2016, then subsequently adding Matt Todd, Kieran Read and Sonny Bill Williams. Anton Lienert-Brown punched his ticket too, just for good measure, but his yellow for a head clash with moments to play was meaningless in the wash-up. Not meaningless was the importance of this result. Yes, the All Blacks established that lead, but the way they finished was more impressive, given how clinical and crowd-killing Samisoni Taukei'aho's powerful efforts were. It very much felt like the All Blacks flicked a switch, something that we'd become perhaps too accustomed to them doing during the 2010's. It was one of some pretty notable good points. Halfback Cortez Ratima was under the microscope and stepped up very well, the scrum again earned plenty of key field position and Robertson's stripped back Plan B proved to be very effective. The All Blacks leaned on their forward dominance and Beauden Barrett's boot when they needed to, and it worked, with Ardie Savea's decision-making at the end empowered to go for tries, rather than shots at goal. Importantly, this time last year, the All Blacks' biggest issue was their inability to score at the backend of games, something now in the rearview mirror through this season's first four tests. Not that they probably knew it at the time, but it also sent a serious and ironic message out in regard to what had transpired a few hours earlier in Johannesburg. South Africa had racked up a 22-0 lead after only 20 minutes against a sorry-looking Wallabies side, who somehow got hold of Asterix's magic potion and piled on 38 unanswered points for a famous victory. The Springboks seemed to forget who they were, trying to run it from everywhere, without setting a platform. For a while there, the All Blacks seemed likely to do the same thing, especially after Tomas Albernoz stepped past some very confused defence close to the All Black line to draw the Pumas within a converted try. Where the Springboks faltered, uncharacteristically letting the occasion get to them and losing their heads, the All Blacks screwed theirs back on. All it took was one penalty, one chance in the 22 and, suddenly, Taukei'aho's first try solidly gut-punched the resurgent Pumas. His second was the left hook follow-up that knocked the hosts out, pushing the score to a far more comfortable and familiar looking one. While the cold-as-ice ending should rightfully be lauded, plenty of things remain to work on, before the sides meet again next weekend in Buenos Aires. At times, the backline looked like they'd just met each other before kickoff, heading backwards with possession and bringing back horrific memories of the turning point in last year's loss to the Pumas in Wellington. The aforementioned lack of discipline was concerning, especially since Proctor's yellow came after a frenetically unhinged period of defence, and Ratima's early subbing was a headscratcher, but the impact of Taukei'aho and especially Patrick Tuipulotu off the bench was extremely heartening. Tuipulotu's shift was about enough to gain a man-of-the-match award, with a couple of huge tackles and vital lineout intelligence at the right time. Most of all, coach Robertson will be pleased with the fact that he brought on the right amount of experience to manufacture that clinical finish. Along with the Wallabies win, the result sends the All Blacks back to the No.1 ranking in the world - for whatever that's worth. There were patches in Cordoba where they certainly played like a team befitting that title, but with plenty more to work on, if they want to hang onto it and eventually win back the Rugby Championship.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Springboks v Wallabies: Rassie Erasmus gives blunt assessment of loss at Ellis Park
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has given a blunt assessment of his side in their 38-22 loss to the Wallabies, saying the South African side 'were just really dogs*** on the day.' The Springboks shot out to a 22-0 lead in their Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park in Johannesburg
