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A backfiring All Blacks gamble could pay off handsomely for Wales
Ahead of the All Blacks’ much-anticipated clash with the Springboks on Saturday in Wellington, World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper has shared some very encouraging news for Wales fans.
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Should South Africa win the match by a margin of over 15 points, Wales will become No1 in the world rankings, displacing the All Blacks for the first time since November 2009.
Now the All Blacks still enter this match as slight favourites, but it is not as simple as it was two years ago when they walked over the Springboks 57-0.
Under Rassie Erasmus, South Africa have had a resurgence, winning this same fixture in Wellington last year and losing by the finest of margins at home. South Africa comfortably dispatched Australia last week with what many have described as a ‘B’ team, as their focus has been firmly set on the All Blacks.
What is promising for Wales is that Steve Hansen’s side did not look at their best last weekend against Argentina. They are sometimes slow to get started in their first few fixtures of the season, but the coach has now decided to rest some key players such as Ardie Savea and Sam Cane and has demoted regular scrum-half Aaron Smith to the bench.
This weekend’s @SanzarTRC could see @AllBlacks surrender top @WorldRugby ranking to @WelshRugbyUnion if they lose by more than 15 points. @Springboks will climb above @EnglandRugby into fourth place with a draw or victory.
— Brett Gosper (@brettgosper) July 26, 2019
Hansen is also trialling Beauden Barrett at full-back for the first time since 2013, allowing Richie Mo’unga to play at fly-half. It is a gamble that could pay off handsomely, although it is against red hot opposition.
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Fortunately for the All Blacks, a number of stars return such as Mo’unga, skipper Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock, and more of their Crusaders team-mates after winning the Super Rugby title.
This is by no stretch of the imagination a weak All Blacks team, but they do not seem completely impenetrable, particularly against a Springboks team which is almost at full strength, barring a couple of injuries.
Get ready for an exciting weekend of rugby, kicking off with a massive match between @fijirugby and @JRFURugby. https://t.co/CUx7J19KpU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 25, 2019
This is a titanic fixture, and while the result could go either way, a 15-point margin for the Springboks would require a Herculean effort from Erasmus’ team and the All Blacks to be under par. But it is still a possibility.
The added pressure to this fixture is that this is the last time both teams meet before they face off in the World Cup pool stages.
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Wales could well be richly rewarded for their impressive past 16 months, which has seen them win a Grand Slam, beat South Africa twice, Argentina twice and break their 13-match losing run against Australia on the way to their 14-match unbeaten record.
With Warren Gatland entering the final months of his time in charge of Wales, as he leaves his post after the World Cup, he would have never imagined that he could take them to the No1 spot when he took charge in 2008.
While this is very close to becoming a reality, he is reliant on the Springboks pulling off an impressive victory.
WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary on what the fans can expect to experience at the World Cup in Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments