The 2017 Rugby Championship Review
2017 saw the All Blacks predictably retain the Rugby Championship, even doing so with two games to spare after the Wallabies and Springboks couldn’t find a way to beat one another in two consecutive tests. Meanwhile, Los Pumas bumbled their way around for six losses, none of which could be described as thrashings – but could never be described as close either.
Let’s have a look at the highs and lows of the tournament:
- All Black depth – The champions finished the competition literally at the end of their depth chart: an untested propping duo, David Havili having to play the entire second half, Damian McKenzie instead of Ben Smith or Jordie Barrett, Tawera Kerr-Barlow unexpectedly having to close a tight game out and Scott Barrett having to partner Sam Whitelock in the second row after Brodie Retallick’s absence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1Fu1W24Ryc
- Michael Cheika should pay a bit more attention – Israel Folau, already unpopular due to his confusing tweet about same sex marriage, didn’t help himself in Bloemfontein when he yanked the flowing locks of Dillyn Leyds in a tackle. Wallaby coach Cheika didn’t help matters either with this take on the incident which was clearly given without him actually bothering to watch a replay. The cringing, ‘please stop talking/you’re embarrassing us’ look from Michael Hooper speaks volumes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o8zM31Arb0
- Wallabies and Boks showing some backbone – Both teams copped 50 point hidings from the All Blacks, with the Wallabies suffering that indignity in front of their own fans. A week later they managed to almost pull off an incredible victory in Dunedin, only thwarted by an even more incredible last minute try by Beauden Barrett.
- Hidings – However, the 54-35 flogging in Sydney and 57-0 apocalypse in Albany did nothing for the competition’s credibility other than showcase some highlight reel material.
- This try by Vaea Fifita – The most notable ‘out of your seat’ moment of the whole tournament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syxfl_hOCho
- The Argentine national anthem – Their team might not be up to much, but the Argentineans certainly have the most entertaining pre match tradition. Their match in Buenos Aires featured a group of guys beatboxing the first instrumental part, while the next game in Mendoza had a bloke with a classic ‘80’s mullet singing the tune.
https://youtu.be/OtpcsktgK_0?t=2m8s
- Aaron Smith – The All Black halfback has been through a lot, but it hasn’t stopped him from returning to career-best form in this tournament. His performance in Sydney may well be his greatest ever in the black jersey, and followed that up with efforts that have settled any debate about him and TJ Perenara’s claims to the number nine jersey.
- Marika Koroibete – There was a lot of conjecture around the former Melbourne Storm winger’s move to union, given the somewhat unsustainable model of simply taking rugby league players and offering them a spot in the Wallabies without seeing them play a game. However, Koroibete has lived up to expectations, scoring a double against the Boks and picking up another try in Mendoza.
https://youtu.be/5bweayWhCCw?t=30s
- Malcolm Marx – The Bok hooker’s performance against the All Blacks in Cape Town wasn’t just a hugely inspiring jolt back to relevance for a proud rugby nation, but also a massive turnaround personally. In the Albany disaster, Marx’s lineout throwing made people wonder if he’s been drinking heavily pre game, and majorly contributed to handing the All Blacks all the ball they needed to shoot out to a big lead.
- Whinging about the ref – Let’s get one thing straight: the colour of the card given to Damian de Allande made no difference whatsoever to the outcome of the Cape Town game. It was, however, a clear cut penalty any day of the week and that’s what put the All Blacks into an insurmountable position. Blame the rules if you want, but Jerome Garces did what they said because that’s his job.
Comments on RugbyPass
Starts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
2 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
2 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to comments