The test side that improved the most and the team that went backwards in 2021
The RugbyPass Round Table writers answer the big questions at the end of 2021, looking back at the year that was in context to what lays ahead. Alex McLeod (AM), Tom Vinicombe (TV), Nick Turnbull (NT), Mike Rehu (MR), Ben Smith (BS), Jordan King (JK), Jack O’Rourke (JO) and Finn Morton (FM) weigh in on a range of topics on the international game and more in this end-of-2021 review.
Dave Rennie’s Wallabies swept the World Cup-winning Springboks, Wales surprised with a Six Nations title under Wayne Pivac and South Africa returned to international rugby with a British and Irish Lions series win.
On the flip side, England ended with a fifth placed finish in the Six Nations, their worst finish since 2018, while champions Wales ended up with a devastating injury toll that saw them lose all but one of their Autumn internationals. Argentina went winless against trying circumstances until their away win over Italy snapped a losing streak.
So, which teams impressed and which teams regressed?
Which international side improved the most this year?
BS: There are two teams that really stand out. The first is Scotland, who have continued to grow under Gregor Townsend, securing historic wins over England at Twickenham and over France in Paris earlier in the year. They are ever so close to delivering a Six Nations title with this group who have become a staunch defensive side.
The team they beat first up in the Autumn, Australia, is the second. They had competitive games under Dave Rennie last year but ended with three draws and an overall lack of wins. This year they swept the Springboks at home, had a five-test win streak and made significant strides.
Australia are my pick for not just the improved results but the way the young players have flourished at test level. The Wallabies are executing their game in clinical fashion, which is a testament to Rennie’s staff.
Scotland and Australia are my two most improved test sides.
AM: It’s difficult to get a grasp on which sides have improved more than others given the inconsistency of test results this year.
For me, though, despite their 50 percent winning record and winless end to the year, the Wallabies showed vast improvements from where they were at in their maiden season under Dave Rennie in 2020, when they won just one from six tests.
After a series win over France (an admittedly weakened team) and back-to-back wins over the Springboks, let’s hope Rugby Australia allows Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi to stay onboard with the Wallabies in the coming seasons.
TV: While they’ve not necessarily ‘improved’ since last year, the Springboks’ return to the fold in 2021 means they’re in a much stronger position now than they were 12 months ago.
JO: A team that has slowly been going about their business is Ireland. A respectable Six Nations campaign was followed up with some big wins in November, making a statement against Japan after scraping past them in July, culminating in an epic win over the All Blacks at home. They may surprise a few people in France in two years time if they can continue to build depth.
FM: While they didn’t win any of their three games against European opposition in November, the Wallabies showed this year that they’re capable of challenging the best teams in the world.
Especially with Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi back in the side, the men in gold looked like a new team altogether, beating reigning World Cup winners South Africa twice as part of a stretch of five straight wins.
The Wallabies are definitely a dark horse for the World Cup in 2023, and with another year under Dave Rennie, could be considered genuine contenders this time next year.
MR: Three Pacific Island teams improved on paper overnight as eligibility rules changed late in the year. Even though the Uruguay team underlined the growth in South American rugby beyond Argentina with its victory over Fiji at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, I’ve been impressed with both them and Chile this year.
Uruguay beat USA on aggregate to qualify early and give themselves two years to work with certainty; that meant a South American team ranked America 1 in World Cup qualifiers for the first time.
At the same time, Chile bounced back from a one-point loss to Canada to clean them up on the return leg. This meant they knocked Canada out of a World Cup appearance for the first time, and will go on to battle the USA in July 2022 for the final Americas spot.
NT: Scotland. When we think of who will truly contend for the Webb Ellis Cup in 2023, most think of New Zealand, South Africa, France, England and Ireland. Perhaps Wales and Australia are on the outer of the group.
Considering Gregor Townsend’s side defeated England, France and Australia in 2021, coupled with narrow losses to Ireland and Wales and a respectable defeat to South Africa, the Scots are a side on the rise.
JK: The French have my vote for this one considering how well they played in their biggest test, the talent that has emerged and the combinations that have been formed.
Summary: Scotland, Australia, Uruguay, Chile, South Africa, France.
Which international side regressed the most this year?
BS: Clearly it was Argentina, who last year managed to beat the All Blacks and draw with the Wallabies twice in Australia.
Without a Super Rugby team in 2021 and all the players now playing in the northern hemisphere, getting together with seven days to prepare for the Rugby Championship was never going to be enough.
The demands now placed on Los Pumas far outweigh those of the rest of tier one nations. They had to play all games away from home this year, and their annual tournament doesn’t align with the seasons of their players.
Their standing in the SANZAAR competition has unfortunately diminished and it’s hard to see how Argentina catch-up before the next World Cup. The benefits of most of the squad playing together with the Jaguares will slowly erode over time.
AM: There are probably three sides that stand out as teams that have backtracked this year.
The obvious one is the All Blacks, whose one win from four of their major tests against the Springboks, Ireland and France has understandably sparked fresh concerns about the stewardship of Ian Foster amongst the Kiwi public.
The other two teams are Argentina and Japan. Los Pumas are a long way off from their exceptional Tri-Nations efforts of last year, while the Brave Blossoms endured a disappointing end to their year, with the most alarming aspect of their dud European tour being how close they were to defeat against, of all teams, Portugal.
Given they beat the All Blacks and their undefeated run against the Wallabies last year, though, Argentina have the most ground to make up next year.
TV: Argentina appear to already be feeling the impacts of their players dispersing around the world following the disbanding of the Jaguares.
Last year, they were able to top over the All Blacks for the first time and also go undefeated against the Wallabies, after spending a huge amount of time together in the lead-up to the Tri-Nations.
They were a shadow of their former selves this year and it’s difficult to see how they can turn things around ahead of 2023.
JO: It’s sad to say the Pumas have taken a backwards step at international level. They have been on the road playing all their games away since the start of the pandemic. The loss of the Jaguares in Super Rugby has had a detrimental impact on Argentina. Their good form in 2020’s Rugby Championship has quickly vanished in 2021, and coach Ledesma doesn’t seem to have any answers.
FM: I’m going to twist this question a little bit and say New Zealand Rugby as a hole. In 2021, the All Blacks looked shockingly far off the pace in losses against Ireland and France, and that has to be worrying for them less than two years out from the Rugby World Cup.
But also the Black Ferns who lost to England 43-12 and 56-15 in back-to-back weeks after having beaten the Red Roses by 15 in their last meeting in 2019. France also beat them convincingly in back-to-back tests as well.
MR: Without a doubt the All Blacks. They flattered to deceive with a string of early-season canters against understrength Pacific Island teams and a Wallabies team who tried to take on the All Blacks by playing a New Zealand-style game.
Then, when the heat went on the forward pack to get some go-forward in the South African and stronger northern hemisphere match-ups, they were found sorely lacking. It’s hard to see where some of the fixes will be in the tight forwards but some changes are needed.
NT: Wales. They started the year with narrow victories over Ireland and Scotland, did a job on England and pushed France but have dropped away since their early season form.
Their match against New Zealand is hard to judge as they could not field their best XV. However, they struggled to defeat a 14-man Australian side and were also exposed by the Fijians.
Their performance against South Africa was an improvement but, overall, I didn’t see the end of 2021 as near as good as it started for the Welsh.
JK: As unhappy as I was with the way the All Blacks tailed off towards the end of the year, no side took a bigger backwards step than Argentina.
Less than 12 months on from making history against the All Blacks and toppling the Wallabies, they only dotted down four times in six games in the Rugby Championship and managed one win in 2021 (Italy).
Summary: Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, Wales.
Comments on RugbyPass
100% 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.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments