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The Springboks have their infamous Bomb Squad, the combustible clutch of six forwards and two backs that come off the bench against tiring opponents and blow them away.
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The strategy was certainly one of the major reasons they won the 2019 World Cup.
However, with the selection of a new back three against Argentina at Suncorp Stadium this weekend, New Zealand has formed its own Bomb Squad.
It’s shaping like a handpicked platoon to defuse the missiles and torpedoes that will come raining down on the them in their important clashes against the world champions for the last two rounds of the Rugby Championship.
With Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan and George Bridge being selected in the back three in the next test, you can see the selectors have got an eye on the bombardment that Handre Pollard or Elton Jantjes are set to launch as we will find out who is the number one team on the planet.
At fullback this weekend, Jordie Barrett has shown he’s matured as a leader and influential player, firstly for the Hurricanes and then with his chances in black.
Despite the minor hiccough with the red card against Australia, of which he was exonerated, he has been a rock not only under the high ball in defence but also on attack, narrowly missing out on two tries in the in-goal area from his brother Beauden’s kicks last weekend in the 39-0 victory over Argentina.
Also he picked up placekicking duties just before halftime, slotting four kicks from four.
The Springboks place a high premium on physicality and intimidation and Jordie’s size and attitude is the perfect plinth to place the outside back’s efforts on.
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On the right wing, Will Jordan has been a revelation in test rugby. He’s scored 11 tries in seven tests, five of those in one match against Tonga.
Jordan came to prominence as a fullback for New Zealand under-age teams and Tasman in provincial rugby, but has spent extended periods at the Crusaders on the wing and certainly his rapid pace has seen him excel in the role.
Combine the speed with good hands and elusiveness, and it’s a brave team that punts the ball to wonderful Will.
On September 5, George Bridge made the perfect return to rugby, he came off the bench against the Wallabies and seconds later got on the end of a superb cross kick from TJ Perenara to touchdown.
Courtesy of some heavy rotation, a significant number of key #AllBlacks will earn physical respites this weekend. There are no breaks from the mental challenges of a massive tour, however. #ARGvNZL
?? Justin Marshallhttps://t.co/j4dyX8nkvo
ADVERTISEMENT— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) September 16, 2021
After an extended run of injuries, he’s brought his energy and expertise back to the left wing.
Renowned for his work under the high ball, he safely answered any questions the Pumas asked of him last weekend and looked formidable in his work rate and strength, narrowly missing out on a try, running for 114 metres in 11 carries and now he tops the competition table for clean breaks, alongside Akira Ioane.
With Anton Lienert-Brown under an injury cloud and Rieko Ioane making every post a winner at centre, this trio is shaping to be important cogs in the All Blacks’ campaign to win the Rugby Championship on neutral soil.
With the Argentinians struggling for territory last weekend, you’d expect they will try to exit out of their half more this weekend. This could be the perfect rehearsal for the Pollard pounding they’ll be bracing for the week after.
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Hey. Stay home and play for Mooloo.
1 Go to commentsTighthead was always going to be our weakness this year with Ryan going home to Ireland and the Cashed Up Blues taking a third All Black prop from us - nobody else in SR does that. Numia is the exciting one. He used to be a lightweight but he's really improved. Do you have stats on the All Black hookers’ lineouts for the game? I seem to remember a few misses.
2 Go to commentsFergus Burke isn't tier 1 player quality…but guess what, he'll be playing amongst them for Saracens…. all going well and Steve Borthwick is still the head coach, England...Scott Robertson’s hint of amending NZRU’s offshore AB eligibility clause, would mean that players like Josh Moorby who show potential might get a call…
4 Go to commentsThe movement of quality players back to SA is remarkable.
2 Go to commentsInteresting article, Nic. Am enjoying seeing the Rebels doing well, partly just to spite those who are working to wipe them off the face of the Australian rugby planet. But it is also good to see a team with somany good players beginning fire. LSL has benefitted so much from his move up to Northampton for the one year. I wonder why he did not stay on for another year. Does he now looks north and see his teammates of last year now doing so well, and have some regrets.
44 Go to comments“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
2 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
2 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
44 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
44 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
4 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
8 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
44 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
8 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to comments