On the one hand, the past weekend’s international fixtures were thrilling to watch for the most part (hey, didn’t you used to be the Springboks?). On the other hand, while the games were entertaining, the results were generally within the realm of predictability. Let’s have a look at the major results:
Instead of oranges, New Zealand decided to dine on lasagna and egg nog at halftime
Rather than re-hydrating and recovering at halftime against France, the All Blacks clearly decided to speed-eat a heavy dinner and then lumber back onto the pitch. How else do you explain what we saw in Paris? New Zealand dominated the first half against the French (as they should), only to have Les Bleus score 13 unanswered to the open second half. New Zealand did absolutely everything wrong in the second half, culminating with Sonny Bill Williams intentionally batting a cross-kick out of the try zone, resulting in a yellow card for SBW and a penalty try for the French (shouldn’t have been a penalty try, but whatever).
While the All Blacks ultimately came away with a 38-18 win, the terrible second half will do nothing to calm the recent talk of All Black vulnerability. It’ll be interesting to see how the All Blacks look this week when they visit Murrayfield to play Scotland. France gets a visit this week from the team formerly known as the Springboks.
South Africa had their lasagna pregame, and then busted out the Jameson at halftime
It’s often said that if you’re going to do something, you should do it right. Well, it would be tough for a team to embarrass itself more than South Africa did against Ireland, so congrats to them on maximizing the day.
During the reign of Allister Coetzee, the Springboks’ results have been uneven, at best. By my count, Saturday’s 38-3 debacle in Ireland lowers Coetzee’s record as coach to 9-11-2, not exactly what you’d expect from the mighty South Africans (New Zealand accounts for four of those losses by themselves, but even then, 9-7-2 against everyone else isn’t very good). Saturday’s new low might have betting sites setting lines as to whether Coetzee makes it to the World Cup as South Africa coach. Right now, I’d bet against it.
For Ireland, this match becomes a part of their now-seemingly annual series of triumphs over Southern Hemisphere sides. Last year it was the dramatic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago, while this year they open their November fixtures with a demolition of what was supposed to be one of the world’s top sides. Ireland cut through the Boks like a buzzsaw through butter. Hell, it was worse than that.
Ireland will have to stop down the celebration long enough to beat Fiji next week, while South Africa goes to Paris to play a game against France they had better dominate for their own good. Replacing the halftime whiskey with Gatorade is a good start.
Hey, anyone want to tackle that guy with the ball running toward our goal line? Nah, let’s just watch him
Last I heard, NATO was tracking Wallaby Kurtley Beale as he continued to run free after stealing the ball from Wales on Saturday and galloping untouched (unwatched, even) for a late try. Apparently, he’s just passed Maidstone traveling East on his way to Dover, so look out for him if you’re driving in that area. No word on when his path will intersect with Santa Claus.
Beale’s steal and try was the finishing blow in a 29-21 Australia win in Wales. While Wales controlled much of the possession in this one, Australia controlled the scoreboard for the majority of play. Wales’ back line full of British & Irish Lions couldn’t manage much in the way of offense once entering Australia’s half, while Australia’s forwards arranged several celebrations in goal for the Wallabies (tries by Polota-Nau, Coleman, and Hooper).
Australia’s win in Cardiff comes of on the back of having defeated the All Blacks in their last match. That’s a win streak. Give the Wallabies some credit, they seem to have figured out who should be playing in most spots after months and months of searching. Adding Beale and Marika Koroibete to the backs seems to have solidified the attack, while all of the forwards not named Hanigan have played positively for the most part over the past couple of games.
For Wales, they might be the most puzzling side in the world. For all of their big names, including a big name coach, the divide between them and the top five or so sides in the world is clear.
Wales gets a chance to right the ship this week as Georgia comes for a visit, while Australia goes to Twickenham for the game of the week. The Wallabies-England match will speak volumes about both sides, make sure you catch that one.
This is what happens when you go from Jekyll & Hyde to just Hyde
Much like P. Diddy can’t stop and won’t stop producing subpar music and products, the Argentinians can’t stop and won’t stop assassinating themselves with unforced errors. After numerous consecutive matches with foibles like terrible discipline and ball-handling, on Saturday the Pumas decided they would refuse to make a kick. And I do mean “they” – Argentina marched three different kickers to the tee at Twickenham, with all of them missing at least once. The result was a 21-8 England victory in a match that should have been much, much closer.
Much of the talk last week, as it is before any recent Pumas match, is whether the formerly solid international version of the Pumas will show up, or whether it will be the haphazard Jaguares Super Rugby version that appears. That talk is bound to quiet a bid moving forward, as the “bad” Pumas have been version appearing for much of the past two years. It seems like a pipe dream to hope for the good Pumas at this point.
All is not rosey (get it?) for the victors here, either. England did not perform at a level befitting their anointing as the closest challenger to New Zealand for world rugby supremacy. Prior to Semesa Rokoduguni (who should be a regular in England’s lineup) dotting the ball down in the 65th minute, England led this match only 14-3, and they had that lead only because of the missed goal kicks by the Pumas.
England’s match against the Wallabies next week will provide the most extensive commentary available on the status of the two sides. If England’s performance against Argentina was a precursor to a loss to the Wallabies, alarm bells will sound in England, while there will probably be parades in Australia commemorating the resurrection of the Wallabies. If England manages to win convincingly, well then we’re back to where we were a couple of weeks ago, with England the clear No. 2 in the world, and Australia back to the drawing board.
Incidentally, the Pumas will be in Italy next week for a game you’d have to think they must win for their own psyche.
The Eagles join the fray this week
After perhaps forgetting that November begins on the first, the US has their first November international on Saturday, a week later than everyone else, in Germany.
The Germans, who only recently remembered they have a rugby squad, will enter the match ranked 22nd in the world. For the 17th ranked Eagles, this match will mark the debut of interim coach Gary Gold.
The Rugby Falcon Blog 