Good monrning to you G&GRs. What a painful weekend that was for groups both aspect of the ‘dutch’! Final week I mentioned: “This can be a likelihood for Argentina and Australia to show to New Zealand and South Africa that they’ve what it takes!” And one aspect actually did. The opposite, properly that’s a distinct story.
Let’s take a look at the weekend’s video games after which have a little bit of an ‘Previous Man Shouting at Clouds!’ second. So strap your self in, seize an enormous cup of you understand what ☕, and let’s get it on.
The Rugby Championsip Spherical 1
South Africa 33 defeated Australia 7
In the event you didn’t get the possibility right here’s the hyperlink to my miserable assessment of Saturday afternoon’s recreation. Additionally be sure you fill out the participant assessment/rankings there with the outcomes to be included in G&GR’s Tuesday’s information.
Versus Saturday, 36 hours has purchased a few diploma of therapeutic, reflection and a slight coming to Jesus second. What did we anticipate? Versus what did we hope for. Bear in mind it’s the ‘Hope’ that kills you.
Have been we ever going to beat the South Africans? #1 crew on the earth versus #9 (not too long ago elevated) on the earth? The rating’s about proper. The truth that we view ourselves as a crew we was once many years in the past is on us. We aren’t that good, our cattle are missing. Our teaching crew, whereas an unlimited enchancment over the 2014 period onwards, continues to be new and coping with a bunch of very younger and inexperienced gamers, a few of whom nonetheless lack fundamental fundamentals and abilities. You need to play with the perfect you’ve bought.
The inexperienced shoots are there, however they want time and daylight to nurture and develop. This can be a long run mission: there’s the BIL in 2025 and the following RWC at residence in 2027. That’s our development trajectory and our technique needs to be located round that. This isn’t the time to get too upset when somebody pushes us again on the sector. As Helen Keller as soon as acknowledged….‘the error isn’t falling down! It’s not getting again up once more!’
Sure! Sure, right here you say. We had been full and utter 💩. I agree. However in context, we had been made to look very tres common by a crew that’s purely world class. The South Africans have improved because the RWC 2023 in all points of their recreation (maybe apart from self-discipline within the final quarter-hour of the sport). I don’t know when you G&GRs seen within the heat ups, when the beginning tight 5 had been doing their scrummaging heat ups in opposition to the bomb squad, there was a sure Jaco Peyper in a South Afrcian crew coach’s tracksuit, refereeing them throughout their scrum battles. The crew is altering and is wanting to vary. And that’s one thing that each crew on the earth must be cautious of, very cautious.
The Wallabies then again are simply beginning their journey, they usually have a protracted approach to go. However they now clearly know what the benchmark appears to be like like, and the way steep the climb goes to be.
Damage toll: As I discussed on Saturday, we got here out of that recreation with a half full hospital ward. And up to date reporting confirms that Daugunu has a fractured fibula, and Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams each have suffered concussions and must endure the same old protocols.
It’s doubtless that Frost and Williams might be match for the two-Take a look at tour of Argentina, but it surely’s extra doubtless Daugunu’s damage will see him out of the remainder of the TRC. Dangunu has been in a stellar purple patch till his damage, so this can be a large blow. Reporting additionally signifies that Tupou is not going to be again in time for the following recreation in opposition to South Africa. So St Joe has a bit of labor to do in getting newbies into the squad and shortly up to the mark.
Argentina 38 defefated New Zealand 30
In the event you haven’t already, learn our resident Kiwi, KARL’s glorious recreation assessment right here.
To be 100% sincere after the Wallabies recreation I couldn’t abdomen watching one other recreation, for in all probability the primary time of my life. So early on Sunday morning I bought up off the bed, poured myself a large cup of ☕, parked my arse on the sofa and watched the Kiwis and the FISMs. And boy, I wasn’t dissapointed.
The Argies put up a completely spirited efficiency. Congratualtions to them. Beating the Darkness in Wellington is a implausible achievement. I’m undecided the Kiwis will stage one other ABs recreation there, as their ends in Wellington over the previous few years haven’t been good. The Kiwis didn’t look to be firing, and I’ve to be a 100% sincere I agree with KARL. DMac seems to be struggling to regulate to 10 on the worldwide degree. They’re actually having hassle with their locks and lineouts. And for as soon as TJ Perenara simply didn’t look to be delivering at his standard commonplace.
One other attention-grabbing level from this recreation was that it wasn’t till the 60 minunte mark til the primary scrum was packed down. Let’s suppose that by means of. That’s 3/4 of the way in which by means of the sport. I don’t suppose I’ve ever heard of that taking place earlier than, actually not in current historical past.
However understanding the Kiwis they’ll return, make some changes and are available out firing. In contrast to Australia, the All Blacks don’t have two shite video games in a row.
Previous Man Shouting at Clouds
Nicely to be sincere, this isn’t a cranky shouting at clouds, however a shouting for pleasure. I wish to go on the file and say how impressed I used to be with the officiating for each of the TRC video games this weekend. I believed Aussie Angus Gardner and Englishman Luke Pearce had been completely bang on with their whistle work.
The best way they communicated with the captains and gamers was implausible. The best way Angus handled the Argentinian’s head contact with Ethan Balckadder was prime price. He reviewed the footage, mentioned along with his assistants and the TMO. “Nothing to see right here, penalty. Let’s transfer one!” A breath of recent air on this specific case was simply implausible adjudicating.
I might have an interest to know what all you G&GRs thought. However I used to be duly impressed.
Anyway sufficient of this previous man dribbling crap. Over to you. Have at it!
