The first weekend of international Tests for this June period produced many close encounters, with exciting series to come.
Georgia (16) defeat Tonga (15)
The first game of the weekend saw the Lelos take on the Ikale Tahi in Suva, Fiji.
The game was a physical affair, with both teams aiming to stamp their dominance early. The Tongans struggled with their handling and gave the ball away too much, which played right into the Georgians’ hands, whose dominance at scrum time proved a huge factor in the game, as they were easily able to progress down the field through penalties.
The Tongans showed what they could do in the last ten minutes, scoring twice, but it was too little too late, with the Georgians’ boring but effective play getting them the one-point win.
Fiji (24) defeat Samoa (22)
The Fijians were the better team for most of the match and looked like they were going to pull away when they went up 24-3 with about 30 minutes to play, but their ill-discipline (three yellow cards) let their opponents back in, with two tries in the last ten minutes.
Ben Volavola directed play well, while also slicing through the Samoan defence for a try of his own. On the Manu Samoan side, Melani Matavao’s energy and speed provided problems for the Fijian defence.
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New Zealand (52) defeat France (11)
The French looked like they would continue their habit of being the All Blacks’ bogey side, playing a great first 40 minutes, where they physically smashed the Kiwis and took their opportunities.
The second half was a different story.
A controversial yellow card in the 51st minute provided New Zealand the advantage they needed and they proceeded to run away with the game, their ability to score points on show. The home side’s bench was incredible, with Damian McKenzie the stand-out.
For the French, there were positive signs and while they can count themselves a little unlucky, they also completely shut down after the yellow card. Hopefully they can be back to their physical best next Saturday in Wellington.
Australia (18) defeat Ireland (9)
The Wallabies faced a physical, forward-dominant Irish side, but defended well and upped the tempo in the second half to get the win.
The one real area for improvement comes at lineout time, with debutant Brandon Paenga-Amosa struggling early in the game.
Ireland will be disappointed with their performance, having struggled in attack – they didn’t have the x-factor to break the strong Wallaby defence.
South Africa (42) defeat England (39)
The final game of the weekend was a high-scoring shootout, which suited the South Africans more than the structured English.
Engalnd amassed a 21-point lead inside 20 minutes before the Springboks found their groove and began to claw their way back, with halfback Faf de Klerk in everything for the home side.
The English also suffered from poor discipline, giving Handre Pollard too many opportunities at goal.
Questions surrounded the South African back three coming into the game, but S’busiso Nkosi and Aphiwe Dyantyi were standout performers, showing great pace and footwork, while Willie le Roux was at his best at the back.
Other results
Japan (34) defeat Italy (17)
Wales (23) defeat Argentina (10)
USrugger
Guest
LOL! Japan flogged SAfrica. SAfrica doesn't belong in the Champion's Cup. ??
Just Nuisance
Guest
The Pumas were a bit disappointing Carlos. And yes ask any Bok supporter and we will tell you just how much coaches matter.
Hash House Harrier
Guest
+1. What he said! ?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Japan is playing Italy twice and Georgia once this June. Georgia plays Tonga and Fiji. Italy and Georgia will play each other in November. So there are hit-outs between these teams already. Agree that there is a "confidence problem" when mixing it with the big boys on a regular basis. And Japan would no doubt suffer the first couple of years if they were included in the Rugby Championship. But they would get invaluable experience and they would know exactly where the bar is if want to challenge the big boys. One thing is for sure, a team will never ever learn how to mix it with the boys on a consistent level without playing them regularly. There are no shortcuts to the top.
Fred
Guest
I agree and I'm not asking for a closed shop. Encouraging more test matches against middle-tier nations like Fiji, Georgia and Japan is not a closed shop. if anything, the confidence from winning more often might do wonders for Italy. Coming last in the 6 Nations every year is not a recipe for growing the game in Italy. Anyway, I'm not meaning to pick on Italy. My original post had as much to do with praising Japan and Georgia as criticising Italy.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Italy has beaten every nation in 6N bar England since inclusion. Scotland beat Italy 29-27 in this years 6N, and most people who watched the Test will say Italy was pretty unlucky to not win. The main thing is still to grow the game and open new markets. The closed shop attitude doesn't really help anyone.
Fred
Guest
But Italy has shown that just being included is no guarantee of improving. If anything, the traditional poorer nations in the 6 Nations like Scotland have pulled further away from Italy. I think Italy would benefit more from playing countries like Georgia, Japan and Fiji more often, rather than getting spanked by Ireland, England etc on an annual basis.
Londoner
Guest
Agree. I would like to see them in the Rugby Championship. 5 teams, 8 games. Sure Japan may loose all 8 some years, but given time they will start to pick up a win over Argentina ,and even Oz and SA on their day, once every now and then......above all they are showing they are competitive and merit respect. The same all applies to Italy, who Im sure any Pro will tell you are not the Easy Beats some people make them out to be. A win is still hard at the top level.
Londoner
Guest
Thanks for the detailed info from Argentina! I did notice how static the Pumas were compared to the Jaguares and this was not all down to the tough tackling Welsh. Prehaps the players are not only confused by the Pumas coach tactics but also want to get him gone, and as such are not playing at their full potential? Its been said a good coach makes a team 10% better. A bad one 50% worse......hopefully Argentina change soon, You do wonder how good they would be with a decent management set up, and picking the best players... All this said I have a feeling come RWC19, they will make the QFs or better. Ive only seen NZ batter them in the last couple of years, the other losses are far more marginal even when the score had blown out a little. Lastly it was great that a TV channel in the UK picked up the game. Pumas tests are very good TV as it's Somewhere in the Rugby World out of the Anglosphere or France which is rare!
Ex force fan
Guest
Coaches matter a lot. Rassie replaced Toetie and the Boks also look much better.
Hash House Harrier
Roar Rookie
Interesting view on some of the games played. I thought the real standout for the Bokie was FDK, hard to miss the game that he played... and the running battle he had with MI was an interesting sub plot playing out in parallel to the main event! The new second row pairing really stood up, as did DM coming back after a few years away from international rugby- reminding us all how much he'd been missed by the SB pack. onto the AB/Le Blues game, I really don't think the ABs " needed the advantage" to break open the French, if you really paid attention to how things were unfolding the defence was going to start leaking points after being put under continual relentless goal- line pressure for the last 50 mins of the game, without really firing any shots of their own, except the intercept.. The refereeing bungle was harsh on the French but any good side would find a way to overcome those things. Dealing with adversity on the pitch is part of the game unfortunately, you'll never get all the calls your way.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
The blight on the game is less the yellow cards and more the referees who make such game-changing calls without checking, and then literally minutes later fail to be consistent with a similar if not worse challenge. Referees are human and make mistakes, we have to accept that. But this was less about error and more about probity and care. He should have checked the first having decided he was considering a yellow sanction, and having done that, applied the same to the Cane challenge, particularly as it was minutes later.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Spoken like a true scarfie Targa. How many of Japans side are Imported pro’s these days.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Sucked Maro right in didnt he, looked silly flopping on the ground while Faf ducked under and scored.
Old Bugger
Guest
Faf was trying to play rugby at speed, hoping to catch the Rosies out of breath in the high veldt. While MI spent most of his time trying to stop him from doing so and helping his side, manage the altitude. If anything was entertaining, it was the fact that Faf, kept bouncing back up while MI, kept wondering what type of batteries the little fella, was running on.....but, it wasn't a duel at all considering this was probably the first series that MI has played in SA, let alone at altitude. He was cleaned out by Faf - figuratively speaking.
Targa
Guest
With Jamie Joseph, Tony Brown and John Plumtree Japan has the best coaching trio in the world.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Judged on performance only, I can see Italy is moving in the right direction. "Problem" is that Japan is improving a lot faster. Top level coaching, regular hit-outs in Super Rugby, and a pretty strong domestic league give Japan an edge no other Tier Two nation have.
woodart
Guest
very good summation of the game. as you mention, the french lineout and then scrum fell apart. they were living off All Black mistakes and sloppiness for 30 minutes. the yellow card is a yellow herring.
Yes, initially I thought it was going to be a major failure selecting two rookies out wide, but Rassie explained after the defensive structures was misplanned by him
cantab
Guest
Yeah, the good news story here is the driver is Japan getting better. Italy is a good/bad as they have ever been. They have only been getting the donunt in the 6N as Scotland is going through a good patch.