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Nine Things We Learned From Last Night's Internationals
Scotty Stevenson emerges from a rugby-watching marathon with nine key talking points.
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1. The Boks Have Zero Imagination
England kicked 39 times to the Springboks and the Springboks kicked it all away. This is a team that does not understand the difference between a kick return and returning a kick. Willie Le Roux used to be one of the most exciting counter-attackers in the game, and yet his ten carries against England netted him just 29 metres. Compare that with England fullback Mike Brown who topped all runners in the game with 72.
English writer Tom Hamilton suggested England didn’t have to get out of second gear to beat the Springboks. He’s right. No team does at the moment. All they have to do is give them the ball and wait for it to come back to them. “Chess on steroids” was how Eddie Jones described their playing style. Not bad, Eddie. Not bad at all.
2. Malakai Fekitoa just played his best game for the All Blacks
I mean, have you seen this guy’s numbers against Italy? Fekitoa, who this week spoke about losing his passion for the game in the middle of the season, carried 15 times for 144 metres, beat five defenders, made four clean breaks, scored two tries, and set another one up. Forget for a moment that the opposition was about as handy as a two-handled hammer and just admire the effort from the All Blacks midfielder.
3. Will Skelton is a liability
The Wallabies lock is 140 kilograms of man with not a clue to be found.
4. Scotland is the unluckiest team in rugby
Just when it looked like Scotland was about to right the wrongs of their Rugby World Cup loss to Australia, they found a way to fold in the last four minutes of the game and let Tevita Kuridrani ruin things all over again. It’s hard watching Scotland lose test matches. Vern Cotter has unleashed a genuine creativity within this team and yet they still lack the killer instinct to be regular contenders.
5. The two best teams this weekend had the two best kicking halfbacks
England and the All Blacks were the two most impressive sides going this weekend and, not surprisingly, they are getting the most value from their halfbacks’ boots. Tawera Kerr-Barlow may not have the snap or the crackle of Aaron Smith or TJ Perenara with the ball in hand but he more than makes up for it with his box kicks.
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Ben Youngs, who deserves far more praise for his play, was aerially outstanding as well. Having halfbacks control the kick tempo allows the tens to play with more freedom. Ford still kicked ten times in the match, but it was Youngs’ kicking game that really stood out.
If you want evidence of how hard it is to combat a good halfback kicking game, you only have to go back a week and watch Connor Murray’s work against the All Blacks in Chicago. He kicked 14 times in the match, while Aaron Smith kicked just three times. Effective halfback kicking is a winning formula.
6. The Pumas need tackling practice
Wales were so ordinary against Australia last weekend that they should have been playing in beige. Yet despite their limitations on attack, Wales still found a way to force 20 missed tackles on the Pumas and win the game. The Pumas averaged 22 missed tackles per game during the Rugby Championship and things haven’t much improved.
7. Facundo Isa is the best number eight in the world right now
You can talk all you like about the nominees for World Rugby Player of the Year but the fact the Argentine number eight is not on the shortlist is a travesty. A beast of a ball runner, Isa topped the metre count for the Pumas against Wales this weekend, and made the most tackles to boot – a stand out statistic given the defensive woes of this team.
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Isa was the best forward of the Rugby Championship earlier in the year – beating the third most defenders of anyone in the competition, running for 361 metres off a staggering 85 carries in five games (5th overall, and one of just two forwards in the top ten. Jerome Kaino was 10th with 233 metres) and offloading at will. Isa would be first pick in a decent fantasy rugby team.
8. Eddie Jones is an Evil Genius
Okay, we already knew that.
9. ALB and Izzy Dagg should have played last weekend
What were the All Blacks coaches thinking leaving two of their best in the stands against Ireland last week? Anton Lienert-Brown may be young and inexperienced at test level but he is an absolute freak show with the best sleight of hand routine in the game. His try assist pop ball to Waisake Naholo deserves to be watched over and over again.
Meanwhile, Izzy Dagg continues to impress on the wing. This is the guy who couldn’t get back to full fitness for the Rugby World Cup and who looked to be all washed up as an international player. Now he is the best right winger New Zealand has, a masterful attacker, a key organiser on defence and still runs about with his tongue hanging out. Glorious.
So, tell me again why they didn’t play against Ireland…
Comments on RugbyPass
I'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
13 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
19 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
19 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
13 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
19 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
13 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
13 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
19 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
13 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to comments