New Zealand keep calm to deny the Boks again
Matches between the top two sides in the world have been nothing short of epic in the last few years and the latest instalment did not disappoint. If the Springboks upset the applecart last year with a win over the All Blacks, it returned to the script this year with the World Champions holding their nerve to complete a classic come-back win, the score finishing 27-20.
From the second minute to the 73rd the All Blacks were never in front, and yet there was never a hint of panic in their play. As only they seem to be able to do, they remained calm and trusted their game, eschewing a shot at the posts with seven minutes to go (which would have tied the game), instead going for the corner and scoring with a cheeky lineout move from the ensuing set-piece giving them the lead for the first time since the early stages.
South Africa had the better of the game for large swathes of the 80 minutes. Willie le Roux, who more often than not looks the most dangerous man on a rugby pitch, scythed through to score the game’s first try after some lovely build-up from Schalk Burger – who looked completely at home in the number eight shirt and as captain – and an inside ball from Jesse Kriel.
With the score at 10-3 to the hosts, the visitors hit back on the stroke of half time, Lima Sopoaga proving how he had taken to test rugby like the proverbial duck to water with an audacious break from half way, before throwing a delightful basketball-style pass to fellow Highlander Ben Smith who duly crossed to tie the game 10-10 at the break.
South Africa emerged the stronger, with Jesse Kriel scoring his second try in as many tests, doing what few international centres have managed to do in the past decade or so – finding a gap in between Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, exploiting it with a glorious line and trotting over for the score. Kriel’s partnership with de Allende and Pollard has granted creativity to South Africa’s midfield to match their undoubted grunt up front.
But as is their wont, the All Blacks hit back straight away, a jinking step and well-timed pass from replacement Malakai Fekitoa creating a gap for Dane Coles to exploit, the hooker showing the pace and feet of a winger to carve his way through before rounding Willie le Roux without so much as a hand being laid upon him. Coles could quite comfortably do a job in midfield.
With the scores tied a Handré Pollard penalty 10 minutes later gave the advantage to the hosts, but as the All Blacks gradually applied more and more pressure it felt almost inevitable that something would give – and of course it was that man Richie McCaw, scoring his 27th test try, that benefitted from the clever lineout move to secure the win for the All Blacks.
Australia complete bonus point win to erase memories of 12 months ago
This time last year Australia’s crises – both on and off the pitch – came to a nadir with the exposition of the Dai Patston texting scandal, as well as the ignominious loss to the Argentinians, handing them their first win in the process.
Fast forward a year and with two months to go until the World Cup, that feels a much more distant memory as the Wallabies, under the new, steadier stewardship of Michael Cheika, returned to the scene of the crime to put a bonus point win (34-9) on the Pumas and set up a winner takes all clash with New Zealand in a little under two weeks.
Worryingly for both England and Wales, the Wallabies were largely undaunted by the superior Argentinian scrum and just got on with their game. It took them sixteen minutes to find the try-line, a loose kick from Nicolas Sanchez allowing Israel Folau to gallop into the open field, creating an overlap that saw Joe Tomane ghost down the five metre channel and over for an early five-pointer.
That left the score at 5-3 to the visitors and they were made to wait until the 58th minute for their next try, indiscipline letting both sides down as Foley and Sanchez traded penalties in an uninspiring period either side of half time.
As Australia began to empty their bench early in the second half, momentum shifted back their way. There was a dream return to the Green and Gold for former Exeter Chief Dean Mumm, who galloped down the right hand touchline, brushing off a couple of defenders in the process, to score a fine try with what was his first touch in international rugby for five years.
Foley missed another conversion but added a penalty on 69 minutes to put the game all but to bed at 22-9 before the floodgates opened late on. Kuridrani crashed over from short range in the 77th before a minute later, a glorious, sweeping backline move set Adam Ashley-Cooper free on the left hand touchline and he finished to give the Wallabies a late, and crucial, bonus point.
USA take WC morale boost over Japan; Fiji and Samoa share the spoils in Pacific epic
The Pacific Nations Cup continued apace at the weekend with the USA getting their first win over Japan for 12 years, handing them a crucial morale boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup in which they will do battle again in Pool B. Their 23-18 win was their first over the Brave Blossoms since the 2003 World Cup.
Elsewhere there was a mini-epic played out between close neighbours Fiji and Samoa, a late penalty from Samoan replacement Patrick Fa’apale giving them a share of the spoils in a 30-30 draw. In the third game of the round, Tonga secured a comfortable and impressive 28-18 victory over Canada in Vancouver.
Player of the weekend: Lima Sopoaga could well have been wearing a Highlanders shirt at the weekend, so comfortable did he look in his surroundings. He created Ben Smith’s try with a glorious break and held his nerve to kick some important goals at key times. Welcome to international rugby, Lima.
Try of the weekend: there were some absolute corkers across the board this weekend, but Dane Coles has to take this gong for scoring a try many international backs can only dream of. Skip to 1.07 in the video below.
Video credit: F4Gee
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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No mention of Michael Hooper’s decision to punch Sanchez and the ban he likely to end up with?