Wallabies v Boks: the biggest test match of the year
They couldn’t have scripted this one better. This weekend sees the Wallabies and Springboks face off in a test that, for both sides, has a ton riding on it. In fact, you could probably call it the biggest of the year – and it doesn’t even involve the All Blacks.
As far as off-field dramas go, Australian rugby is facing its biggest in years. The axing of the Western Force has been just that, leaving a gaping wound that has festered into talks of a breakaway competition.
The Wallabies themselves are keen to get themselves up off the canvas after two successive losses to the All Blacks. Both were in dramatically different circumstances, although the one positive Michael Cheika can take out of it is that the most recent was the courageous display in Dunedin rather than the horror-show in Sydney.
This is a fight for Australian rugby’s soul, right in the very city where the uprising led by mining magnate Andrew Forrest is happening. His somewhat fantastical claims that the Force will spearhead a new rival competition to Super Rugby have yet to convince most people, but if nothing else it shows just how deeply disengaged parts of the Australian rugby community are from their governing body.
It brings back memories of the tumultuous birth of professional rugby and the role a couple of mega rich Australian businessmen played in it. So it’s hard to think that the Wallabies themselves won’t have thoughts of the whole saga running through their heads when they run on the field.
Meanwhile, the Springboks have staged a rebirth of their own. They were the laughing stock of international rugby for two years running – first losing to Japan at the Rugby World Cup, then inexplicably going down to Italy on last year’s end of season tour, plus a complete thrashing at home by the All Blacks sandwiched in between.
Whatever they did over the offseason worked, though. Well, so far at least. Allister Coetzee has finally found a way to get the best out of his Boks, beating France three times and comfortably accounting for the Pumas in successive weeks.
And it’s been pretty good to watch, too. But this will be the moment of truth, in a city that’s probably as close to a home venue outside of your own country as you can get. Thousands of South Africans have made the journey over the Indian Ocean and now call Perth home, and certainly make their presence felt whenever the Boks play there.
A win in this test will set up a renewal of the greatest rivalry in rugby, as the Boks travel on to New Zealand. It’ll be just a year after the humiliation in Durban, and will show that Bok resilience is proving to be a lot stronger than many would’ve thought.
The story lines behind this one are what is making this the biggest test of the year. The Wallabies last loss was a bitter pill to swallow, but what’s been happening with the breakaway rumours would’ve probably helped them forget about that a little quicker at least.
The redemption of South African rugby can take a giant leap over the weekend. Even though they’ve won five on the trot so far in 2017, there are still question marks over just how far they’ve come.
One nation’s pride versus one nation’s unity. That’s what is on the line in Perth.
Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
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