About 13 months ago, all four Rugby World Cup semi-final spots were taken up by Southern Hemisphere teams. Last weekend, Australia, South Africa and Argentina lost to Home Union sides, and the World Champions beat France by just five points.
By contrast, New Zealand beat France in the quarter-final of the World Cup 62-13.
Yes, it’s the end of a long season for the travelling teams, but after four or five weeks of Spring Tour action, we’ve seen the home teams put in enough strong performances to suggest the gulf between the two hemispheres has narrowed or closed.
Ireland beat New Zealand to break their world record streak of wins. Last year Ireland couldn’t get past Argentina in the quarter-finals, let alone touch the All Blacks. That’s a huge improvement.
In the return match, Ireland forced New Zealand to completely narrow their focus to win – they reduced the flair, ground it out and relied on a few moments of brilliance. No one has forced the All Blacks into that kind of tight game plan in a long time.
A week later, the Irish snuffed out the Wallabies.
A bit of a lull or fall off after two tough Tests against New Zealand, coming off a tough home loss might have been expected, but Ireland were on the ball. From the first minute they made it hard for Australia to find their feet.
After 14 minutes – around the time you can take the game statistics seriously – Ireland had retained 81 per cent of the possession.
Watching the Wallabies try to compete and stay in the game, surviving on scraps, was fascinating. It was admirable and some solid defending was the only thing stopping the game from being over by halftime.
But the Irish were more like an All Blacks opponent, squeezing and suffocating, while the Wallabies couldn’t weaken their hold by flipping field position or running through extended phases.
Some people have complained about the refereeing in the match. The Irish were allowed to lie around the ruck a lot, but the referee did not lose the Wallabies that match. That is taking too much away from a strong Ireland outfit that didn’t give their opponents any breathing room all night.
Australia aren’t performing badly, but their win against Scotland was tighter than it should have been given the two sides’ pedigree – but, it turns out not based on the world rankings. Their win in Paris was squeaky as well.
South Africa have been a wobbly mess all year. And a loss to Wales is another blemish on a poor tour from them.
They opened to a 37-21 loss against England. That match was enlightening because England were able to win very comfortably, despite not playing well themselves and hardly getting out of second gear.
It was an early market that England, and perhaps the Northern Hemisphere, have their house in order and the tourists were in for a tough month.
But following that with a loss to Italy and a dismal, 14-point loss to Wales was poor, if not actually shocking.
Allister Coetzee’s team has performed so badly that he doesn’t appear to be given any first-year leeway now. The fire under his coaching seat is red-hot, with speculation John Mitchell – ex-All Blacks and Western Force coach – might take his spot.
In some ways a coaching change is inevitable, but the player performances have been poor as well. Many Springboks matches have lacked the same physicality and intensity (the real key) you would expect. That isn’t just the coaching, that’s players not giving it that extra effort in important moments.
Argentina don’t usually offer the same cohesion and intensity on the Spring Tour as they do in the focused and intense atmosphere of the Rugby Championship. But their results are still below par compared to what they’d have hoped for.
Two close losses to Wales and Scotland kicked things off poorly. Then they lost by 13 to England without troubling the scorers for the last 30 or so minutes of the match.
Yep, you can’t deny that the Northern Hemisphere teams are having their moment in the sun this tour.
If we ran back the World Cup right now, it’s hard to see any way four Southern Hemisphere teams would make the final four. New Zealand might be the only team that got in.
England and Ireland would be odds-on to meet them there, and the Wallabies would be clawing for the fourth spot to even up the north-south tally. But it’d be a stressful play-in match against any of Wales, Scotland, France or Italy from what we’ve seen of late.
The first year after a World Cup is always an odd one in the cycle, but there might be more at play here for the form and performance guides to have so comprehensively flipped in one year.
Daire Thornton
Guest
If he wanted to go back to New Zealand he already would have. He just signed a new contract to remain in Ireland after the world cup having turned down good offers in New Zealand. All his kids support Ireland over New Zealand now and he is officially an Irish citizen. Steve Hansen's contract is up in 2019 after the next world cup the same time as Schmidt so when he stands down someone with experience coaching in New Zealand will have to be appointed. That will not be Schmidt because he will be still in Ireland. He has never broken a contract in his whole career. You wouldn't be a wise man to take that bet.
Daire Thornton
Guest
No they were definitely weaker. They had the yips. In the semis they barely let Cruden who was more of a skateboarder than a rugby player at the time; have the ball and Weepu took all their kicks at goal. In the final New Zealand were a shadow of the side that thrashed France 37–17 in the group stages with Carter leading the way with three penalties, two conversions and a drop goal. They scraped past France in a very tight game 8-7 with more than a bit of help from a very sympathetic Joubert. So yes in summary they were noticeably weaker.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
JimmyB! I don't intend to lower myself to your substandard ill informed literary standards, Until you folk from your neck of the woods stop telling the World about how good they are and how you deserve to be where the Top team is, and which has dominated rugby for around 110 years, you're always going to get the short stick from this little area from 'way down South'! You my friend have the typical blowbag Pom attitude which is so obvious in your posts thus far. A typical Pom', never likes the truth when it be told whether it be on here or anywhere else and that's obviously what you've got your 'jugs in a tangle about' buttercup. you don't like the truth shoved at you, do you?, because it hurts that anybody outside Mother England could have the temerity to call a guy such as yourself out when the typical bravado and bull' gets bandied about by guys such as yourself and the disgusting British Press. I just got off the BBC rugby site and it's all about the Pom rugby sides apparent ability to kick the All Blacks backside, and tomorrow to boot, then I read an article by an ordinary rugby player name of Guscott who blows on and on and on about the Poms' beating the All Blacks any old time at all they're that good now, and he goes on to say that his boys are worthy of the number 1 spot! yeah well! It's funny that the Poms' in the last six games played have beaten the All Blacks once, so how the hell do you think that's going to change any time soon? It is bravado at it's worst sunshine and you and your lot have done it since time immemorial and it's a way of saying that you'd like to be but in reality you never will be, (the best at rugby that is) If you keep on like you are you may stay in second spot but I doubt it as Ireland are a better side that England and a lot better Coached also!, ~ You'll no doubt have your own opinion on that but that's your prerogative. I can't remember if it was you that called me out on the Pom win against the All Blacks in 2003 or not because after I'd read and deleted all the posts in my Inbox, I couldn't find that thread on the Roar, so I couldn't get back at you straight away like I would as a rule! So rosebud! I was at the Stadium in Wellington in 2003 (forget what it's name is now) to watch the All Blacks play England and the All Blacks played great stuff and the Poms played their usual dour crap they always play, so Doug Howlett scored a try, and Carlos Spencer did the rest of the points and Wilkinson scored 15 points consisting of 4 penalties and a drop goal meaning a 15/13 win to the Poms! As I said the Kiwis really got into it as they always do and the English were very ordinary indeed and it was because of the shockingly bad calls by the Referee who I won't name, (but to be fair he caned the Poms just as badly) who absolutely blew the pea out of his whistle that made it into the dreadful game to watch it was, particularly as the All Blacks were all over the Poms but there was no way they could EVER have won that game! The whole of New Zealand was in shock to think that an English side which played rubbish against their boys and to win the game and the reason because of it! The Referee knew that the Bosses of World Refereeing were in the stands and were assessing the quality of Refereeing in this game, ~ he only got a minor game in the World Cup proper and retired shortly after it! I'm not going to answer any more from you rosebud so carry on as much as you are doing and it surely won't bother me. Could I just say to you though that "I've possibly been around longer than you and have been involved in rugby for many years and I've very likely forgotten more about rugby in general than you'll ever get to know about" not that it matters, but if I want to put anything up on this Forum I will, and if you don't like it, don't read them, after all it is a democratically freedom of speech type World we live in these days and as long as any posting gets the OK from the Editors at large on this brilliant Sporting Blogsite it won't change on my part one bit.! So Rosebud cut down to the local hat shop and get an All Black cap to wear just so as you can remember who the Number 1 Rugby Team is and in my opinion will be into the immediate future! Have a good arvo' Rosebud! and Carn' the All Blacks!!
JimmyB
Guest
Twerp is one that gets printed fella. And my god you're an arrogant so and so. I couldn't care less about whether English coaches may or may not be good enough to work in NZ. I just thought I'd call you out for the arrogant blow hard you are. You're quite a prevalent poster and it's the same thing every time...you know that YOU'RE not the ABs right? You might be right about the Wallabies kicking our butt, but if that happens you'll find that I'll congratulate the Wallaby fans on the win...then go about my day. I won't be a nincompoop about it, maybe you should try it mate...not being a nincompoop that is.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Jimmy you Pom boy you!! Who the hell do you think you are rosebud! - I wouldn't be game to say what I would like to call you it probably wouldn't get through! - Twerp now that is a good solid Pom term of endearment but I reckon you're a Rahohead mate and that is a Maori term of endearment so just ask the first Kiwi Maori boy what it means, sums you up perfectly! I'll say again, that any Coach from England would never ever get a major Coaching job in New Zealand beccause they're notngood enough, if you choose just ask any Kiwi and I bet you they'll say the same! If you had any quality Coaches in the UK, why don't they use them? You have the Irish, , the Welsh, and the Scottish coached by Kiwis and you Poms are Coached by a clown Aussie! If you're so sure of yourself tell me why those 4 Countries don't use their own? New Zealand has the best rugby Coaches in the world and the fact they're spread all over the World including Georgia, Spain!, Canada, USA, Japan, and likely many other places also should tell you where the top Coaching talent lie, check them out! - So there's no reason at all that New Zealand would ever consider English Coaches, full stop! Anyway Rahohead you have a great day at Twickenham and I hope the Skippys kick your boys butt,and hard!
JimmyB
Guest
Gee, you're an arrogant twerp aren't you Kirky?!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
The Lions as good a side of players they invariably are, have only won a series once in New Zealand of all the Tours there. They'll possibly win most of the Provincial games but even they won't be easy as they're all laced with All Blacks, but they'll be hard pressed to put one up the All Blacks at home in any TEST MATCH!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
The European Coaches need not worry about how much they may get paid, 'down South' because they haven't got a bolters show in hell of getting a job Coaching in New Zealand at least, and I doubt Australia would employ them either. The simple reason for that is, they're not good enough. New Zealand has the best Coaching structure and quality of Coaches in the game, ~ you only have to look around to see where they're plying their wares, they're everywhere around the globe; ~ One of the top guys could've been the Coach of England as several were approached but all turned it down, wouldn't go near it and wouldn't say why!! The Coaching from way down in the lowest grades to the very top is a major undertaking in New Zealand and they only ever get anywhere near the top after an arduous period down in the grades, so it's not as if you can rock up and declare you want to Coach.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Poth!, they do it every season mate, and some of the travelling is horrendous, just using the New Zealand teams as an example, the Highlanders which are the Southernmost of the Kiwi sides travel to the top of South Africa, Argentina, all over Australia, and the Aussie Super sides travel say from Brisbane to Perth and vice versa which is around an eight hour trip each way! (Correct me if I'm wrong) The Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby is a joke for travel sense and the air miles they all clock up is immense as you could imagine! It's a massive undertaking and none of them like it, but it is what it is!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Dave SA!, Get it right mate the current Pom' side can only dream of players like those mentioned,, the guys you speak of were some of the very, very best rugby players I've ever seen, and there's no one player in the current squad that could match that lot! The majority of those very same guys beat the All Blacks at home in 1971, (I think) the only Lions team ever to do so! I also remember the 1950 Lions in New Zealand and they had some of the most truly brilliant players I have ever seen, think Jack Kyle, Bleddyn Williams, Noel Henderson, Lewis and Ken Jones, Jack Mathews, Gordon Rimmer, Malcolm Thomas, Jon Robins, Karl Mullen, Peter Kininmonth, Roy John, Don Hayward, Dai and Cliff Davies, just to name a few, they drew the First Test and lost the other three Tests but never lost another game on Tour, that was rugby played at it's absolute best, with players in that Team possibly the best in their position of any player that I've ever seen! ~ wonderful side and a host of characters also, New Zealand has always had a love affair with the Lions sides, the Kiwis love them for their flair and all round brilliance which was generally unmatched I've seen every Lions side since 1950 play that toured New Zealand and the whole lot were just brilliant to say the least!, ~ I hope this upcoming tour is the same.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Wales should've beaten Australia in the qualifiers in the 2015 World Cup as with an injury ravaged side they played well, but you can't beat the old 6 penalties to win trick by Foley, which is the Pom way of doing it, do they know any other way! The six penalties were just too much under the circumstances, but to keep the Aussies' tryless was an achievement in itself!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mr Thornton, I bet you anything you care to put up that Joe Schmidt will be back in New Zealand after the next World Cup, as he's no different to any other Kiwi Coach of note, he'll be wanting to Coach the All Blacks don't worry about that and who could blame him as Coaching the Premier International Rugby team in World Rugby, is a major and all New Zealanders as Coaches top ambition is to one day "coach the All Blacks" Hansen retires after the World Cup next and if Joe Schmidt want the top job in rugby Coaching, he's got to'be back home in New Zealand to qualify, I do know that there's a heap of top Kiwi Coaches putting their name forward, and I think Joe would stand a chance actually as he's turned Ireland into a pseudo New Zealand team, almost dead ringers!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mr Thornton: The All Blacks were not in any way ''noticeably weaker'' in 2011 when Carter went missing! For a start the All Blacks are never weak and they won the thing didn't they?. They've always got at least five players of capability who could fill any spot on the Park if needed, and that's what happened!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
P2R2: and certainly not the Poms either, they got lucky when the Kiwi boys left town early!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Chook! Oath mate!! ~ Carn' you boys of OZ, My Spy in Aotearoa tells me that every Kiwi interested in rugby is going for our Bros' from over the ditch! Go you good things you lovely Aussie boys!! It's gotta' be a yellow victory!
the newbie
Guest
I agree with the traveling side europeans only travel between france ingland ireland wales and scotland. the southern hemesphire travels around 4 continents with the same amount of matches. not your 3hour flight on a comfortable plane. well if you think a vacation to australia takes its told wait untill you have to travel to argentina stay a week run on sunday to get to south africa play travel back to australia and if you are unlucky play in japan... exactly the same as playing in europe! i think that the teams in the south will have to expand their teams because of the traveling. also the south teams are experiencing a lot of changes south africa is on turnoil and it has been for a while. Argentina, without the european players, expected too much from such a short squad and they have a lot of lessons to learn after being accepted on super rugby. i don't think that the northen hemesphire has gotten better (only england has) the south is experiencing many changes that will take a bit to adapt!
Daire Thornton
Guest
Wales can be a bit like that. They tend to be terrible in the November tests and summer tours and then raise it up a level in the six nations and world cups on occasion.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Insane! I thought there was a rule that you couldn't play in frozen grounds. A safety concern. I have played with some snow but never anything like this. I have gone running with -20oC and a blizzard, sometimes with m,y old dog (she was a Welsh Springer Spaniel who loved the snow) and people would stop to ask me if I needed a lift. But I was very covered up. The video is actually terrifying as rugby does not allow long leg coverings (for men).
Dave
Guest
so what
richard
Guest
That may be,but you have to admit,their talent pool is a lot deeper than it has been for years.I can't pick a winner this far out,but one thing is certain,they will be a lot stronger than the motley crew that toured in 2005.