Rugby Championship Roundup

Well last night the Wallabies and Pumas closed out the inaugural Rugby Championship. The Wallabies dug deep and managed to claim second spot with a gutsy win. NZ won with 26 points, Australia and SA with 12 (Australia win by virtue of winning more games) and Argentina with 4 points.

The final leaderboard makes it appear the ABs won at a canter. But even though SA and Australia were badly affected by injury, the championship was a lot closer than it seemed. To me, defence reigned supreme in the opening 4 rounds. SA were easily the most convincing in their opening match with SA and should have scored more points and got a bonus point for 4 tries or more. NZ shut out Australia but in their opening match Australia somehow still managed to stay in the game. A shock result came in the second round with Argentina drawing against SA at home and even though NZ shut out Australia, they didn't look as though they were clicking.

A vital win for Australia in Perth against SA and NZ were made to work hard for their win against Argentina at home. Both losing sides the following weekend would have been frustrated they were unable to close out games they put themselves in a position to win.

The defensive shackles seemed to be broken in the 5th round. Both SA and NZ put in admirable attacking displays and that continued in the final round. The defensive wall went missing and points came a little easier.

So how did each team perform?

ARGENTINA

Many predicted that they would lose all their matches and would be humbled in their first match with the traditional SH powerhouse teams. That didn't come to fruition because Argentina were competitive in all their matches. Even the score at home against the ABs doesn't really represent how close the two teams were. What became evident after a while though is that Argentina at the moment lack the ability to put teams away. They were 10 points up against SA and even though Fran Steyn's charge down was fortuitous, they seemed to lack composure and control. Contrast that with NZ last night against SA when they were up and SA weren't allowed to get back into the game.

When you have a very solid set piece platform to work from, you are going to be competitive. Couple that with extremely aggressive defence and you can pressure the opposition into mistakes. It was admirable for Argentina to try to move the ball and they do have some dangerous runners in the backs. But it became obvious that they still lack cohesion in that area. They got themselves into positions to win the match on a few occasions notably against SA at home and Australia away. They just lacked control and part of that may be due to getting accustomed to the higher pace of games. They seemed to fall away in the last quarter.

So whilst they would be happy that they played well throughout the tournament, they will come away with a sense of frustration that they had two golden opportunities to close out games against sides that will not be ravaged by injuries every year. A win or two this year would've made life easier for the coming year.

Sad that Roncero didn't get a win to bow out an illustrious career. It's a shame we didn't see much in the way of attack from the talented Hernandez. Amorosino looks like a dangerous runner and players like Bosch don't seem out of place. Their backline is a work in progress but if they can maintain their intensity in the pack, they will only get better.

SOUTH AFRICA

Meyer at the beginning of the year wanted to pick experienced players and saw a Bulls style of play as his most effective chance of winning games. Then injuries started to force his hand and he brought in more than a few young players who largely put in noteworthy performances. The injuries they faced were alarming but one key player for me was JP Pietersen. Burger was a huge loss in the forwards but what SA lacked after the loss of Fourie to Japan was a backline general. JDV was made captain but sadly he is no longer the player he used to be and doesn't know how to offload well enough to provide for players like Habana who came back into a rich vein of form. Morné Steyn was persisted with but after Dunedin it became even obvious to Meyer that he needs to take a break from rugby and come back when he's playing better. Because if you're going to take the limited option of having him in the backline doing what he can only do - kick - you better make sure he kicks his goals. He didn't do that in Dunedin and Goosen rightly came into the side. This kid has a lot of potential but as was evident yesterday, he is not the finished article yet and teams will target his small frame. Goal kicking remained a problem for SA throughout the tournament and the young Janjties looked the most composed of the goal kickers.

Their best game came against the Wallabies but they finished the match with 14 men and that summed up their bad luck with injuries. They had the ABs in Dunedin and so Meyer will have to refine his game now. SA are much more dangerous with ball in hand but they do have obvious strengths. Their pack can compete at the breakdown, their set piece looks very solid but they just don't look composed when the ball goes out wide. They lack confidence and look at their best when they're rumbling up in the forwards. It was great to see Habana back into form but it'd be great to see him finish off moves rather than score tries in broken play. Pienaar has a rollercoaster of form and the backline in general doesn't look at all cohesive. Standout players for me were Louw and Habana.

AUSTRALIA

Rugby is a physical game and injuries are sadly part and parcel of that physical game. But the Wallabies looked like they were going to run out of stretchers at the grounds on a few occasions. The match in SA saw almost every ruck a Wallaby player down in back play. What was obvious right from the beginning of the tournament was that the Wallabies retreated into a defensive shell. They weren't going in with a game plan to win games through their razzle and dazzle but through defence and punishing mistakes. This proved highly ineffective against the ABs who, although looked less than convincing against them, were nonetheless not troubled by them in defence either on the whole. It proved more effective against Argentina and Australia but one wonders how much of that gameplan was down to injuries and how much of it is down to Deans.

What cannot be underestimated is the mental fortitude of the Wallabies. SA suffered badly from injuries but they took it to a next level and name me any side in world rugby who could deal so effectively with the loss of so many frontline players. At one stage they had almost all their entire frontline squad out. JOC probably proved the most crucial player missing for Australia. But take out Genia, Pocock, Horwill and the list keeps going on and on and you're going to struggle for continuity. Players who stood out for me were Timani, AAC and his amazing defence (some would say crazy against SA) and their captain Nathan Sharpe. Sharpe is not a player who makes world team lists but what he adds as backbone to this squad cannot be underestimated. A true warrior who doesn't know how to lay down and surrender. Second place with such a horror run of injuries and you have to applaud that achievement.

NEW ZEALAND

They started with a win in Sydney and even though they won with a cushion in the end, you felt Australia were in the match somehow for all but the entire match. The blackout in Auckland the following week was more convincing from a defensive point of view but the attack still left a lot to be desired. A more fluid display was promised in Wellington and Dunedin and yet that never eventuated. The high tempo game came at the cost of poor handling and an ability to build phases and hold onto the ball. Not much in the way of attack was thrown at the ABs in the opening four rounds but not much came from them either.

Then arguably the two most difficult games in the final two rounds and suddenly the ABs clicked on attack. But how much was due to Argentina and SA strangely changing their tactics with Argentina willing to enter a more open running game and SA not using a rush defence to snuff out the AB attacks early. Both proved crucial as the ABs finally found space and showed that on attack with width and space they prove too difficult to contain. Carter showed how much he can steady the ship when he's playing and Nonu looked a better player for it in the last two rounds. Players that stood out for me were Kieran Read. Huge on defence and such a threat on attack. McCaw got his 100th victory and words fail to describe his input into games. Dagg proved vital in the opening games on attack when things were tight but was happy to let the wings take over when things opened up.

So with all the injuries to SA and Australia, it's difficult to judge this year's championship. They have vital players to come back who will make them much more competitive. Argentina will hopefully get a few Super contracts and get used to this type of play more and more but they are a welcome addition to this tournament and add an extra dimension. They will only get stronger from being involved and will give more frights hopefully next year. NZ will not have Richie McCaw for next year's tournament and Nonu must decide his future this week. There are still a few positions that need plugging but they have largely absorbed the losses of Kaino and Thorn and look to have added strength to the halfback and left wing positions.

Kia ,you are pretty accurate in your summation and the AB`s problem is they will have alot of top players going out together .Injuries certainly hampered both Australia and SApoor goalkicking cost at least one match.NZ there defence was awesome and kept them in the game the whole time.Slow starting has been there problem all year.The difference is Dan Carter on attack,Nonu is the best 12 in the game.Because he combines well with his back line,SBW maybe better as an individual.Mc Caw will play the 4Ns next year nothing more certain,Cane or Todd are good RM just RM it is inconceivable he won`t start next year.
Nonu could negoiate a Japan sabbatical like this year miss France to develop players but start the 4Ns.

Nice work, Kia.

Pretty much agree with you.

Yes very good Kia. I'd have liked to see SA start their rennaissance against England and its a mark against Meyer that he took so long to wake up. But wake up he has, eaten his humble pie and seems to have regained the trust of SA rugby as a whole.

Oz just need to figure out what to do with Deans and really he should probably go. Its gone on long enough. Oz's greater challenge is getting their stars right and looking after them better, at the same time promoting the game at the lower levels more to bring players through.

NZ will have a surplus of players next year if you go by our ITM. Theres some serious talent there ready to push an already crowded AB side, many positions going two deep already. Perenara will star in the sxv and push his claims at 9 as will Barrett at 10. France are ideal as a warm up for the 4N so overall next years looking very good.

Top article kia, you could get a job at the Harold.

Good read Kia Special mention to A Smith

Something that I think no one has mentioned.
Out of those 6 tests for the ABs there were only 2 games where the old crew of Carter, Nonu, Smith played together. Is it coincidence that those were the only two games where the ABs attack clicked?

To start with lets put the Deans must go bit to bed,even the best Coaches when faced with injurie crisises.Come under pressure from the Media remember NZ 2009 "Henry and co must Go".Both Australia and SA are further along the rebuild curve than NZ.
Has it not occurred to any one the key NZ players are McCaw,Read,Conrad Smith,Nonu and Carter.ALL of those bar McCaw were missing at some time that the Chiefs maybe S15 holders.BUT that this squad is built around the Crusaders/Hurricanes still.That the whole back line with the exception of Carter,Aron Smith ,SBW and Dagg were Hurricanes at sometime.Also that bar Read all are unlikely to make 2015 much as we would like it.Also that there replacement s whoever they are won`t as yet be as good?

On the other hand emack stop worrying about 2015 just worry about this season. You old coddgers focussing on WCs at the expense of everything else. I don't know...

Yeah emack, shesh, there's more to rugby than RWCs don't you know.

Gentlemen you obviously have`nt read my past posts very well,I hate RWCs,and this "Old Codger"counts losses not wins for the AllBlacks.
RWC`s are what is counted by others not me and have always maintained
it is not the be all and end all.
That for me a win is a win no matter how obtained,records there to be broken
but not the be all and end all.
That one match and one Tournament at a time is the way to go,and NEVER
sacrifice a tournament[3NS]for a RWC.

Yes emack, we know

Was nice to see you getting pumped up and planning for 2015, 3 whole years away. We have to devise plans and strategies to give ourselves a chance, and the questions you raise are good ones. Hope it's not 91 all over again. But more of the core players than just Read will make 2015, won't they?

ebop It's great to finally have a halfback who can pass like a rocket from seemingly any position without taking twelve steps first. But one shouldn't get carried away. Like in Soweto with his kicking game and sometimes his options, he's still not the complete player. But that's a good thing. I look forward to seeing more sniping runs from him and using the blindside option to link up with a powerful winger back inside. The kid really is good but he can still be so much better.

McCaw and Read for me though were the picture of consistency. They just work so well together and Messam too is growing in the role. But what those two wise heads is relentless defence and go forward ball. Makes you want to be either a Cantab or thank the good lord you already are one.

Bless you Alan. Even if you'd been on this board for one day, you'd know where you stand. They're only taking the mick because you must be chuffed they went through unbeaten this RC. Hope you didn't overdo the whisky. All in moderation my friend. We've got plenty more years of insight from you bigyun.

Kia sadly i`m strictly teetotal,and have never smoked or done drugs either,just worked long hours all my life boring.
Ebop/Ngan did`nt pick you were taking the mick,an as an "Old Codger"remember the times when the All Blacks made the mistake of letting teams get old together the 1970`s,1991,1998.
Don`t want to see it happen again the core of the Team is fine only at hooker should they be looking for replacements .
For the first time in year s there is real replacements at 7 and 10 but there is plenty of life in RM and DC yet.Both are mature enough to no when to go for the sake of the team.

She's right me old mate.
I feel that the Hurricanes of Perenara and Barrett will retain the world cup for us if we can get some decent forwards to replace 1,2,5,7 and a good centre.
Experience has shown that if NZ don't have a specialist 13 we can't win a world cup.

I would say 1 is well covered by Crockett and possibly Ben Franks if he is concentrating at Loosehead.Sam Whitelock has 5 nailed down,but there are back ups around.Conrad Smith is a hard act to follow,Kahui is about the same age but fragile.Fruen if he was more consistent could step up,Ellison at 13 maybe Barrett at 12 perhaps.Plenty of 7`s Luke Whitelock will be in the mix by then,with Cane and Matt Todd.Hooker is the priority.

Julians younger brother Ardie Savea is also making waves here in Wellington...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/7749918/Lions-Ardie-Savea-scores-try-of-the-season

Can play 7 or 8 and only turns 19 this week....geez...

You forgot to mention Leinster, Kia. I thought they came second?

Consistency. Only the ABs rival you for consistency, AWOP and no one can rival your tenacity in the face of adversity.

Good news Alan. You'll probably outlive me then!