Effectively, bugger me with a fish fork, G&GRs, who noticed that one coming? Not me. The primary victory over England since 2015, and, to do it at Twickenham in further time. Wow! However that wasn’t the one sport that was nice to observe. There have been plenty of rugby this weekend. For the document, that is revealed early Monday morning so the Scotland v South Africa and Italy v Georgia video games gained’t be lined. I’m positive RAWF will decide that up on Tuesday.
So let’s evaluation these video games and decide aside our ideas on them. Particularly heaps for the Australian and New Zealand followers to be pleased about. Let’s not even faux we’re working this morning, get into the G&GR combine, seize an enormous cup of the elixir of life ☕, and let’s get it into it.
New Zealand 23 defeated Eire 13
In case you haven’t already, have a learn of KARL’s nice write-up of the Paddies v NZ sport right here. I gained’t re-cover the sport however simply take a look at the important thing factors that noticed New Zealand defeat the No. 1 crew on the earth.
This was an amazing sport to observe with two groups eager to play expansive rugby in situations that have been moist and slippery. It was actually at all times going to be about which crew managed their sport plan to go well with the situations. Poor self-discipline killed Eire, with penalties being conceded left proper and centre leading to a 13 to five penalty rely. It’s normally the Nearlies who’re on the incorrect finish of the penalty rely.
The breakdown was actually fascinating to observe on this match. Primarily as a result of Aussie referee Nic Berry simply let it go, it was the ‘farkin Wild West’. Something went. Rolling into the 9, mendacity on gamers and making no effort to roll away, and arms within the ruck. You identify it, it was good to go. I’m usually fairly a fan of ‘Bez’, however not this sport. It was poor refereeing, and I’ll have extra to say about that later.
D-Mac had a superb sport and piloted his crew properly. Sititi had one other pearler, and for such a younger child, this man has a lot potential to develop and that ought to scare all different worldwide groups enormously. NZ managed to type out their lineout, which has been horrible within the final couple of video games. However NZ confirmed methods to take management of a sport and see it out. Eire had some actual difficulties there and I’m positive Farrell senior might be going by means of these sport tapes very rigorously on Monday morning to attempt to piece that one again collectively.
Australia 42 defeated England 37
In case you haven’t already, have a learn of RAWF’s wonderful sport evaluation right here. Received’t dissect the sport play by play, however listed below are the important thing points that stood out for me.
Crew Cohesiveness – Versus our video games within the TRC, the Wallabies demonstrated each in assault a defence a stage of cohesiveness that we haven’t seen in a protracted whereas. They knew the place to be and when, and have been there in help of each other. What ever magic St. Joe and his teaching employees are weaving it’s beginning to come collectively.
The Pack – They have been immense. Looking as a crew and good with their clear outs. When the backs made breaks, they have been there rapidly in help to make sure we didnt flip over the ball. Bell is immense. 7As and Slipper, in addition to Faessler and BPA have been additionally good coming off the bench. Tupou had a hit or miss evening. However as a number of the different G&GRs on the craparatzi community reckon Tupou was unfairly drawing the ire of BOK at scrum time. However anyway, he must carry his sport.
Assault – When the assault fired, it fired in spades. Particularly when peeling the ball out extensive. Our loosies have been immense, and our new centres combo seems to be prefer it may be round for a protracted whereas. Icky and the brand new boy, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, have been unbelievable.
Defence – Whereas there have been nonetheless some patches when our defensive sample grew to become indifferent, it tailored and overcame. This was in all probability essentially the most complete defensive effort we have now seen from the Wobs underneath the brand new regime.
The Gamers – Not one participant had a shocker (besides perhaps Tupou), which is basically uncommon for the Wobs. Some gamers weren’t pretty much as good as others however nobody had an out and out Barry. Choose of the sport on debut must be Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. I do know it’s a pattern group of 1 sport, however towards England, at Twickenham, he had an amazing efficiency. Icky sticky was immense. Angus Bell had an amazing sport. Tom Wright, who I’m usually not the largest fan of, had an amazing sport. The loosies, Bobby V, Fraz, and Soiled Harry performed rather well, working off one another. Tate McD had an amazing sport, with an exquisite cameo within the center whereas Gordon was off getting his face repaired. Tate to begin subsequent week, he was that significantly better than the Commissioner. The Ginger Ninja additionally bought his mojo again. Hopefully this isn’t only a flash within the pan, however the begin of the construct of the brand new period Wallabies.
Argentina 50 defeated Italy 15
Italy’s completely piss poor document towards the FISMs has continued after they bought thrashed 50-18 of their first sport of the Northern Tour in Udine early this morning Aus time. That is the Pizza Eaters ninth consecutive loss to the Pumas, with horrible passing and dealing with errors that make the Wallabies look good on a nasty day.
The Italians weren’t helped when fullback Ange Capuozzo departed early attributable to damage and Los Pumas have been 17-0 up earlier than oranges, however the Azzuri lower the result in 4 factors with a penalty attempt to a penalty both aspect of the break. Nevertheless, a comeback for the Italians by no means got here to be and Los Pumas dotted down one other 5 meat pies within the second half, with Italy simply falling to items within the second stanza.
The Argies will take numerous inventory out of this sport as a superb heat up for subsequent week.
France 52 defeated Japan 12
The return of the Little Grasp to the Froggy 🐸 aspect from the Sevens sojourn was a profitable one, because the 🧀 Consuming Give up 🐒🐒 completely belted Japan by 40 factors on the Stade de France. Dupont had an amazing sport, trying like he had by no means been away from the 15s sport, as his crew ran rampant over the Courageous Blossoms. Whereas I like to see Japan do properly, whereas ever Dr. Evil is their coach I hope they get flogged each sport. Boo hoo fritz to you, evil dwarf!
The 🐸 had an eight attempt victory over Japan, in a match to exorcise the demons of their World Cup quarter-final defeat, and so they performed like their lives relied on it. The Courageous Blossoms simply couldn’t come to phrases with Bielle-Biarrey, who was dotting them down at will, ably assisted by Alexandre Roumat. The hosts have been out of sight by oranges 31-0, and the look on Eddie Jones’s face was priceless to observe.
It seemed just like the decimation was going to proceed for the entire sport however alas Japan have been resurrected by Harumichi Tatekawa who managed to save lots of their pants and get their first rating on the board. The French nevertheless, simply saved winding up, bringing their replacements in with Paul Boudehent approaching to attain a brace of tries.
However whereas it was a rampant victory to the French, there have been some worrying indicators of their defensive construction. They’ll wish to get that sorted out earlier than they face New Zealand. And what a cracker of a sport that’s shaping as much as be.
Previous Man Shouting at Clouds
My ‘Shouting at Clouds’ is geared toward two individuals this week, Ben O’Keeffe and Nic Berry.
Usually these guys are two of my favorite referees. In Tremendous Rugby in 2024 they have been, together with Angus Gardner, the decide of the refs. However this weekend each of those two had Barry Crockers.
Bez – Within the Eire v NZ sport let the break down flip right into a free for all. It was the Whacky Wicky Wild Wild West! Arms within the ruck, gamers rolling intentionally on the 9, gamers mendacity round within the breakdown and never even making an attempt to roll away. It was a colossal ‘💩 combat’! What disillusioned me was that this isn’t the way in which Bez usually rolls. In Tremendous Rugby this yr he was very strict on the breakdown. Which leads me to consider he could have been appearing underneath course. He additionally missed numerous key errors, however fortunately this affected each groups equally. However like final week, was pink sizzling on the obstructions, which once more leads me again to the working underneath orders factor. Thoughts you Eire can’t blame the loss on Bez, their in poor health self-discipline was the foundation reason for this one.
BOK – Similar to Bez, BOK let the breakdown on this sport flip right into a little bit of a free for all. Which in contrast to Bez, BOK is mostly looser on the breakdown in Tremendous Rugby, however on this sport he was speaking the piss a bit. There have been numerous key occasions missed for each side on this sport, which levelled issues out, however there have been some blatant errors missed and he was trying proper at them.
For me, neither of the groups that misplaced can blame it on the whistle blowers. They’ll have to take a superb onerous take a look at themselves and work out the place they dropped these ones. What worries me extra in regards to the officiating in these two video games was the distinction in week to week adjudicating we’re seeing from these southern hemisphere guys. Additionally the distinction in how these guys usually whistle a sport. The truth is, whichever crew adjusts the quickest goes to get the higher of it.
Anyway sufficient of me ranting. Over to you G&GRs. Have at it!