Comfortable Monday G&GRs, and welcome to the previous mad mans wrap up of the weekend of rugby assessments. And what was distinctive about this spherical? It was a results of the San Francisco Conference, the place in a submit World Cup 12 months, within the mid 12 months check season, Tier One groups should play a Tier two group. Therefore why many of the matches we’ve seen up to now are solely two sport sequence as a substitute of three like they ususally are.
I for one, have been actually impressed with the Tier Two groups this 12 months. With a few of the sport having the potential for actual ‘Banana pores and skin’ moments for the tier one groups. Sure Wallabies I’m trying firmly at you! With many of the Tier One groups tinkering closely with their beginning line ups to blood younger gamers, and experiment with mixtures. These video games have supplied an actual ‘showcase’ of the generally poorly labelled ‘growing’ rugby nations. And there’s a lot to love! Georgia I’m you!
So, let’s pour into the video games, do a mini-review, after which talk about the Wallabies and their efficiency. So strap your self in, seize an enormous cup of you understand what ☕, and let’s get it on.
Worldwide Rugby Exams
New Zealand 47 defeated Fiji 5
The Nearlies barely needed to get out of second gear to mud off the Flying Fijians with a 47-5 victory at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. And to cite that legendary Information Man Ron Burgundy “Found by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which after all in German means ‘a whale’s vagina”. The AB’s went into the match with 11 modifications to their beginning line up from the England assessments, and to be sincere I believed it regarded a greater group. (KARL what are your ideas?)
The primary ten minutes of the sport was a good contest with huge our bodies slamming into each other, earlier than lastly Billy Proctor was on the top of good little strive. And from there the flood gates just about opened up. Semi Radradra was the one Fijian to attain, on the recieving finish of a pleasant crossfield kick.
Each groups got here out of this sport with some severe accidents. The Fijians misplaced Frank Lomani to what appeared to be a severe shoulder damage, and the Kiwi’s misplaced their 9 Cortez Ratima with a knock to the pinnacle. That is proving to be an actual downside for the New Zealanders, having simply misplaced TJ Perenara final week, and having misplaced Cam Roigard throughout the Tremendous season. Appears like Finaly Christie’s shares have simply risen!
Australia 40 defefated Georgia 29
Effectively wasnt {that a} Rocks and Diamonds sort of sport. Should you havent already, go and skim Georgia Satellite tv for pc’s glorious reveiew of the sport right here.
There’s a lot to debate on this one and I’ll add my two bob’s price within the gamers scores part beneath.
South Africa 64 defeated Portugal 21
We head to Bloemfotein subsequent to take a look on the Dutch Filth Farmers giving the Portugese a little bit of contact up in a 64-21 victory. The Saffa’s fronted up with a wee little bit of an experimental aspect on this 10 attempt to 3 strive victory. However I dont suppose Rassie can have been pleased with the referumping on this sport and I’m positive all of the South African followers, who’re dangerous losers, and even worse winners, can be apoplectic. However to be sincere they have been all truthful selections made by feminine Scottish whistle blower Hollie Davidson, the primary feminine referee to adjudicate a Springbok sport. And so might it proceed.
The Bokke determined to do that sport the exhausting approach with one serve of shiraz 🍷and two serves of cheddar cheese 🧀. Which means they performed all however three minutes of the sport with both 13 or 14 gamers. Self-discipline will definitely be one thing the Bokke might want to get sorted out earlier than the beginning of the Rugby Championship. Andre Esterhuizen was given a 🧀 simply three minutes into the sport, and that was upgraded to a 🍷 upon evaluate. Kurt-Lee Arendse, within the dieing minutes of the primary half, and alternative again Quan Horn have been additionally given 🧀. And studying the great previous social media it’s nice to see South African followers being balanced in regards to the points.
By oranges, the South Africans have been up 29-7. And that was actually the tennant of the remainder of the sport. Portugal had plenty of key gamers injured throughout this sport, and the South Africans had most of theirs on the naughty chairs. However the DDF’s left fairly just a few extra factors on the market with Libbok lacking quite a few photographs on the sticks. And while this wont harm them in opposition to Portugal, aginst the New Zealanders and Australian it’d / can be a unique equation.
Scotland 52 defeated Chile 11
The Haggis Eaters have given the Tarts (Portugese not NSW) a little bit of a spanking, popping out victors 52-11 in Santiago, with Jamie Dobie and Kyle Rowe each scoring doubles. However it didnt all go Scotlands approach because the scores suggests. Chile have been prepared and ready opponenets and began strongly, holding the Scots contained intially, with Scotland spluttering and probably not getting out of first gear. However alas issues didnt keep that approach, with the Wee Bonnie Scots getting their act collectively after about 20 minutes or so.
From there it was just about a technique site visitors, aside from when Diego Escobar, the Chilean hooker ploughed his approach by site visitors to cross for Chile’s solely strive. This despatched the 25,000 robust house crowd completely nuts. Scotland Face Uruguay subsequent week.
Argentina 79 defeated Uruguay 5
The ultimate evaluate sport had the FISMs journey to Uruguay on the Domingo Burgueño Miguel stadium in Maldonado in what turned out to be a one sided beat down with Argentina prevailing 79-5, in what is usually a T20 cricket rating.
Los Pumas managed to attain 12 tries, in a sport that the momentum was undoubtedly heading in a single route solely. And so the second half continued with strive after strive from Los Pumas and Uruguay desperately attempting to hald them out, however alas it wasnt sufficient. In the long run Uruguay have been in a position to cross for a comfort strive. BUt that was too little too late.
Wallabies Participant Scores
Effectively, welll, nicely! #InJoeWeTrust has a number of work lower out for him, within the coming three weeks main as much as the Rugby Championships. There have been some actually good components about Saturday afternoons efficiency, but additionally some actually beneath par performances. Lets have a look:
The Forwards – General the piggies carried out fairly nicely. Hitting rucks exhausting, good set peice, and a a lot better maul defence. They supplied nice entrance foot ball for the group to go on the assault.
The Again Row – Effectively that is the place I believe Joe doesnt have to look any additional. Right here we’ve our 6,7, and eight combo. Bobby V was immense and continues his wealthy vein of kind. Soiled Harry was strong, combining nicely with fellow Queenslander Fraz to help with an important strive. Fraz himself, a person of the match efficiency, with 2 tires, loads of turnover and plenty of metres made.
The Halves – That is the place we’re having severe issues. The Good – Tate McDermott had a great sport with crisp passing and and fast service to take care of the fashion of the ahead pack and maintain fast ball persevering with, in addition to some good sniping runs. The Dangerous – Our 10’s are shite. Donaldson demonstrated he isn’t what we’re in search of and we have to shut the e-book on this experiment. His in sport kicking was poor, his kicks for contact have been shorter than PopGun Foley, and failing to search out contact twice was simply sub-standard. He was changed by Lolo who 💩 the mattress as nicely. We’d like Lynagh again, and if I have been Joe I’d be reaching out to JOC 2.0 (who had a great sport in opposition to Wales on friday night time), and perhaps even QC 2.0 as nicely. Dont get me mistaken they don’t seem to be long run choices (besides Lynagh, who’s the Wobs long run 10 going ahead) however we want somebody mature to information Lynagh and get us by this 12 months.
The Backs – The backs have been a bit hit or miss on this sport. Filipo acquired a Purple card, which by the letter of the regulation is appropriate, and in actuality was in all probability about proper. However till them was having one other cracker of a sport. The Centres have been okay. However Tom Wright had a foul sport and after being smoked down the wing by the flying Georgian, in addition to lacking tackles, and him and Darby Lancaster jogging again into place, he wants to check out himself. I believe Kellaway is our 15 shifting ahead.
Winners – Fraser MacReight (MOTM), Bobby Valentini, Soiled Harry Wilson, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost and Tate McDermott have been in all probability the stand outs for Australia. Our again row seems to be fairly set now.
Losers- Ben Donaldson, Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright, Darby Lancaster, and Filipo (solely as a result of card in any other case he was good) are in all probability on the dangerous aspect of the ledger.
Anyway G&GRs. Sufficient of this previous man ranting and raving. Have at it!
