All Blacks become first team to defend Rugby World Cup title

So it comes to pass. The All Blacks, led by a quartet of retiring legends, became the first team to ever win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, with an assured 34-17 win over Australia on Saturday afternoon.

With a poetic justice that escaped no-one, New Zealand’s third RWC trophy came behind masterful performances by two of their outgoing stars: Ma’a Nonu and Dan Carter. The former was a constant headache for the Australian midfield and in scoring his try, showed pace and footwork that suggests he could keep playing for years to come, while Carter kicked impeccably to rack up 19 points. Not to minimise the fly-half’s contribution to merely points, he also made 12 tackles and kicked wonderfully for territory, subsequently controlling the pace of the game for the All Blacks.

For a RWC final, the tries came thick and fast. Only six tries have been scored in finals since 1999; last night the Bledisloe rivals combined to score fice, and they were a diverse bunch too. Nehe Milner-Skudder continued his fairytale debut tournament, finishing off a slick handling move in the corner, before Nonu turned Kurtley Beale inside out on his way to New Zealand’s second try just after half-time.

Australia’s offerings were a vintage rolling maul finished by David Pocock (who else?), and a free-flowing score from Tevita Kuridrani that came from a well-judged Will Genia box kick. Beauden Barrett underlined the All Black victory by blazing past a weary Wallabies side to gather Ben Smith’s speculative kick and dot down between the posts.

To give Australia their due, they soaked up an enormous amount of pressure and for a 20 minute period in the second half they dominated possession. With just over 10 minutes left they were within touching distance, trailing by just four points, before Carter and Barrett hammered the coffin shut. The hallmarks of a vintage Australian outing just weren’t present; the breakdown assassins of Hooper and Pocock were not quite the force they have been and a spotty performance at the lineout (lost three) and scrum (lost one) meant the All Blacks were handed more opportunities than Michael Cheika would have liked.

Star Man: Dan Carter

Bruised Boks bag bronze

Whereas Saturday’s final was one for the ages, Friday evening’s third-place playoff was far from the tournament’s marquee game, with South Africa beating Argentina 24-13 at Olympic Stadium. Neither was it a suitable send-off for another group of retiring greats of the game with Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and (perhaps) Bryan Habana bowing out of international rugby.

With few people (barring Heyneke Meyer) truly anxious about the outcome of this game, spectators had to find other ways to entertain themselves. Once JP Pietersen had crossed to score on five minutes, the attention turned to Habana on the other wing, and the issue of whether he would become the Rugby World Cup’s all-time leading try scorer.

The Toulon flyer certainly put on a show. Chance after chance came Bryan’s way and each time he failed to convert, even missing an absolute clanger by comically juggling the ball five metres from the line. 66 minutes and four clear opportunities later, the winger left the field niggled both by cramp and by the elusive 16th try.

Handre Pollard kicked four penalties and a conversion to finish with 14 points, with Eben Etzebeth scoring a very well-taken, if not very graceful, try in the corner and South Africa’s lead looked unassailable against a limping Argentinian side. Los Pumas did score a stoppage time try through Juan Pablo Orlandi, which drew exuberant celebrations from the South American fans, a brief reminder that this team is still on an upward trajectory from their recent tier two status.

Star Man: Willie Le Roux

More Kiwi joy as Evans kicks Quins into gear

Exeter’s commanding win over Newcastle was the only anomaly in a weekend of Aviva Premiership action that saw closely fought games across the board.

Friday’s slate of fixtures had Saracens kick things off with a less-than convincing 24-14 victory over London Irish, with Shane Geraghty pushing a penalty kick wide in the dying moments that would have secure an Exiles bonus point. In the West Country, Bath welcomed Harlequins to the Rec for a corker of a game that Quins were able to win thanks to a 28 point tally from fly-half Nick Evans, while Gloucester narrowly overcame Worcester after David Halaifonua’s try put them ahead. Worcester look great value so far this season and winger Cooper Vuna is one to watch in the coming weeks.

On to Saturday, and Exeter picked up where they left off last week against London Irish, running six tries past a hapless looking Newcastle team to win 41-3. The Chiefs are now third behind unbeaten Leicester and Saracens, thanks to their three bonus points. The Falcons meanwhile are still without a win or a point and look to have regressed in relation to last season. Sale Sharks seem to have shaken off their week one drubbing by Saracens, upsetting Northampton Saints 20-13 to sit sixth and Leicester continued their impressive home record against Wasps by winning 24-16 and in doing so, continuing their unbeaten start to the season.

Aviva Premiership star man: Tim Visser

Scarlets make up for Welsh woe

The Scarlets continue to stride through their Guinness Pro12 campaign, dispatching the Dragons 25-15 thanks to two tries each for Phil John and the prolific James Davies, and maintaining both their unbeaten record and their lead at the top of the table.

However with the Ospreys falling to Glasgow 31-19 and Cardiff being overturned by Zebre 26-15, round six sees a net negative for Welsh rugby.

Irish teams fared slightly better with Leinster beating Treviso 27-3 and Connacht winners over Edinburgh 14-9. The real triumph however was a vintage derby clash between Munster and Ulster at Thomond Park. A nine try extravaganza saw Munster snatch victory 32-28 with Simon Zebo among the scorers for the home side.

Guiness Pro12 star man: Ben Te’o

Racing fight back to deny Brive an important scalp

A bumper Friday in the French top-flight saw six matches played, the pick of which was Clermont’s confident 42-11 victory over Castres. Racing escaped a home defeat against Brive, winning 17-14 after being 14-0 down just before the half. Tries from Eddy Ben Arous and Marc Andreu saved Racing’s blushes.

Elsewhere, Agen failed to get off the bottom of the table despite beating Stade Francais 28-23, Toulouse scored three good tries to beat Montpellier and Bordeaux Begles needed Lionel Beauxis’ trio of late penalties to squeeze past La Rochelle 21-16. Oyonnax separated themselves from the relegation battle with a convincing bonus point win over Pau.

Top 14 star man: Louis Picamoles

Try of the weekend: There are lots of great highlights this week. If you can, I would recommend watching the entire Bath v Quins game for Tim Visser’s disgusting sidestep, Danny Care’s length of the pitch effort and Leroy Houston’s try that never was. Sale Sharks centre Sam James scored a beauty against Northampton which would be my pick but I haven’t been able to find a clip so in lieu of that, here is Ma’a Nonu winding back the clock with his cracking score from the final.

Video credit: Sky Sports NZ

Hero of the weekend: This writes itself really. Not content with replacing Conrad Smith in a World Cup final victory AND setting up Ma’a Nonu for a try with an offload that made rugby purists weak at the knees, Sonny Bill Williams then proceeded to gift his World Cup winners medal to a 14 year-old NZ rugby fan who got tackled by a security guard as he ran on the field. I can only assume that this was a cynically pre-planned stunt designed to secure the prestigious ‘Hero of the weekend’ award. I’m kidding of course. You’ve got to love SBW.

Villain of the weekend: The security guard!

By Fraser Kay (@fraserkay)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images