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Jean de Villiers and Agustin Creevy sported the biggest smiles in international rugby over the weekend.
In chronological order, centre De Villiers led the Boks to a 27-25 win over the All Blacks at Ellis Park in a magnificent game of rugby.
It was their first win over the men-in-black for three years, and the first loss for the All Blacks in 22 internationals.
Hooker Creevy went one better, leading the Pumas to a shock 21-17 victory over the Wallabies at Mendoza – the Pumas’ first win in the Rugby Championship in 18 games, and their first over the men-in-gold for seven years.
In rugby currency, Ellis Park was a cracker from start to finish, Mendoza was a spine-tingling and deserved win for the Pumas, but an utter embarrassment for the Wallabies.
The Boks led 24-13 at the break after scoring three tries of superb construction – two from their quality fly-half Handre Pollard – as they controlled play and commanded attention.
To their credit, the All Blacks came back strongly in the second session, as you would expect. Tries to Ben Smith, and Dane Coles on debut, having witnessed the birth of his first child during the week, saw them lead for the first time in 71 minutes by 25-24.
Bok replacement fly-half Pat Lambie had a crack at a drop goal five minutes from time to regain the lead, but even though he was well balanced, he missed to the left.
Then disaster struck the All Blacks when replacement Liam Messam let go an irresponsible stiff arm to Schalk Burger, and ref Wayne Barnes had no option but to award a penalty.
It was 55 metres out, with just 90 seconds left on the clock, but that didn’t deter ice-cool Lambie as he used the rarified air of Johannesburg to sail the ball truly over the black dot, clearing the crossbar by at least seven metres.
Boks 27-25, as the chockers Ellis Park crowd of 60,000-plus erupted.
All Black skipper Richie McCaw, playing a record 134th Test, summed up the 80-minutes of classic rugby best with, “that was one helluva game” before congratulating the Boks on their win.
It was indeed one helluva game, comprehensively proving the All Blacks and Boks are the two best teams in world rugby, leading into a Rugby World Cup year.
The Wallabies had the chance to throw their Rugby World Cup claims into the international mix, but blew it big time.
Having led 14-nil after just 13 minutes with no possession to speak of, it took another 33 minutes before the Wallabies scored again with a Bernard Foley penalty. But for the final 34 minutes, the Pumas kept the Wallabies scoreless through their indiscriminate penalties, lost possession, and missed tackles.
Yellow cards for Nick Phipps, and skipper Michael Hooper were proof enough Welsh referee Nigel Owens had had enough of the ill-discipline. Don’t blame Owens, he had a great game in control of two teams who were hell-bent on having a crack, but loose on law.
Only Israel Folau and Scott Fardy were beyond criticism for the Wallabies as their underdog opponents took both the spoils, and the accolades.
Excuses?
There were none, even though the Fox Sport commentators in Mendoza and Sydney were quick to make many excuses, and often, on behalf of the Wallabies.
The 243 tackles in Cape Town last weekend, the long debilitating flight, the Kurtley Beale-gate, and the lost luggage were all thrown into the excuse ring.
Meaningless.
But the Beale affair will have far more repercussions, and ramifications. The problem with the Wallabies goes far deeper than the t-shirt incident.
It all depends on what we see from the the ARU in relation to the results of its investigation. Which would then raise the question, who will be on duty at Suncorp on October 18 for Bledisloe 3?