Ahead of the World Car Rally Cup in Japan, competitors took their wheels in for a final tune-up over the weekend. Results were mixed.
First into the garage was South African driver, Rassie Erasmus, who will feel delighted with his 41-7 scorecard. His car is a Hummer and, right now, it’s humming.
Erasmus’ Springboks weren’t forced to reveal any of their modifications, and simply played it by the numbers is attack, while looking very organised and efficient in defence.
As impressive as things stand today, triple try-scorer Makazole Mapimpi showed that there is room yet to pimp the ride even further over the next two months.
Question marks about the availability of an important member of Erasmus’ crew, Eben Etzebeth, being involved in a road rage incident back in South Africa, have seemingly been put to bed, and the green machine will rightly enter the event as one of the strong favourites to win.
Kiwi Steve Hansen’s ride is a Black Rolls Royce, the same vehicle that won back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015. Despite numerous calls to trade it in for a newer model, Hansen has remained faithful to his proven machine, electing only for a minor parts replacement in the front row of the engine, and adding fancy new spoilers on the wings.
(Photo: AFP)
For an old car, the black unit breezed through its final inspection with a deal of zip and panache, although it is fair to say that the Tongan assessor could have posed a tougher test on the day.
In fact, so easily was the black Roller cruising, Hansen took it upon himself to take the air out of one of his own tyres: Ryan Crotty leaving the field in 66th minute without being replaced, just so that he could work the engine a bit harder.
It was a significant day for Crotty, who fully deserved his early mark. He showed no ill effects from being off the scene for nine months, some silky touches and his trademark decision-making stamping an impressive return.
While some of Hansen’s counterparts prefer to keep their cards close to their chest, Hansen is leading from the front, telegraphing how his team will play in Japan, and challenging his opponents to match or better him.
Like car racing, rugby is all about who handles their machine best at the highest speed, and in the right conditions, all teams will have trouble staying with the All Blacks, if they are able to keep the pace of the game high.
But everybody knows that sometimes surface conditions can be treacherous, or the safety marshalls are keen to slow the cars down and red flag over zealous drivers, and it remains to be seen if Hansen’s Roller has enough horsepower to muscle its way through the hilliest and muddiest sections, when in a match race situation against, say, the power of Eddie Jones’ Sweet Chariot.
The only blip on Hansen’s tune-up card came right at the end – a try for Tonga good reward for them hanging tough despite the class chasm, but also a good outcome for Hansen and his crew to be heading to Japan thinking more about the final ten minutes rather than the first 70.
Super Mario Ledesma chose an interesting location for the final tune-up of his blue Argentine Mercedes Benz GLA – a small suburban garage in Coogee, one of those places where, to get a better price, you pay with cash and a wink, and after the job is done, everyone in the neighbourhood crowds around to admire the handiwork.
Argentina faced Randwick at Coogee Oval. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
There were concerns early when unexpected music blared out of the car’s sound system. Not content with saving the planet or infecting everyone’s iPhone with a ho-hum album, it seemed that Bono had taken it upon himself to claim the Argentine national anthem as well.
But normal order was restored soon enough, and the tune-up proceeded without a hitch for the visitors. It’s unlikely that Ledesma discovered anything about his car that he didn’t already know, except perhaps that his scrum goes better against a club Datsun 180B than it does against a Hummer or Roller.
What was clearly apparent is the vast gulf that exists between professional players and amateur players. On every measure – size, physique, conditioning and skills – the disparity should serve as a stern warning for any Australian rugby supporter who still believes that Australia can maintain a credible international rugby presence using the Shute Shield as its base.
In 1984 certainly, but in 2019? Forget it.
Despite Randwick being unable to christen their sparkling new scoreboard, there were two significant events to delight the home crowd. Firstly 45-year-old Andrew Walker, who debuted for the club in 1991 (think about that for a second), one minute strolling down to Coogee beach for a game of touch with his mates, the next taking the field as a replacement against a Test side.
The other bright note was provided by fledgling Waratahs fly-half Will Harrison. He will probably carry a weight of expectation over the next few years far heavier than what is good for him or Australian rugby, but there is no denying that he has the measured quickness and skill set to his game that really good players have.
The problem for Michael Cheika and his tune-up was that he left his Lexus at home and decided to tune up his old FJ Holden instead – unlike his competitors, using up some of his oil and grease on parts that won’t even be making the trip north.
Regular wheelman Michael Hooper sat this one out, because it was important to see if David Pocock, after what seems like an eternity up on blocks, could still drive. Without setting the world on fire, the answer was yes – an important box ticked for the weeks ahead.
(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
It was a similar story for hooker Jordan Uelese, another who has had very little rugby this year, but who contributed positively, carrying often and with enthusiasm, and defending with starch.
Cheika is another who has been transparent about his preferred style – continuity at high pace – but once again here was his engine, just when it looked like it was starting to purr, coughing and spluttering at inopportune moments.
His second unit scrum ran into difficulty, horribly conceding a try, and the increasing number of handling and kicking errors in the second half suggests that yet another wheel alignment is in store before the World Cup begins.
Concerningly, tall timber Adam Coleman jammed his thumb in the car door, an injury he has suffered previously, although encouragingly for Wallabies’ fans, he did appear to have movement in it after the match.
Not so lucky was Samoan and Queensland Reds halfback Scott Malolua, who got his arm into an awful position in trying to prevent a try right on half time. A talented player who promises big things for the Reds next year, Malolua’s brave action looks likely to have cost him a World Cup experience.
Perhaps the Wallabies who played will be better for the run, but the jury will remain out on whether Cheika might have been better placed to put more time into enhancing some of his developing, first-choice combinations.
Certainly, letting this opportunity slide seems like an expensive price to pay to reinforce things that he already knew – for example, that kicking at 33 per cent, Bernard Foley is not the man to entrust with winning a World Cup from the tee.
Thirty-three per cent was also the mark for Samoa’s malfunctioning line out, the visitors winning only three of their nine throws. One key difference between tier-one and tier-two sides is consistency at set-piece, a reflection of how little time the coaches of the smaller nations get to tinker with their cars, relative to the richer nations.
Note how Samoa had done well to work themselves into the game, kicking a penalty for 10-3, but then promptly muffed the kick-off to allow Adam Ashley-Cooper to score – just as Tonga had allowed George Bridge a clear run onto the second-half kick-off in Hamilton for a gift try.
If these sides are to cause any headaches for the higher-ranked nations in their respective pools, they simply can’t afford to drop their concentration like this.
With all of the tune-ups completed, World Rugby scrutineers met to rank all of the cars for the final time before the event kicks off in Tokyo on Friday week.
Joe Schmidt’s Paddy Wagon has been awarded top ranking which, depending on how one views these things, is either just reward for consistent performance, or evidence that World Rugby’s clipboard men have been caught out acclimatising to the Japanese sake a little too over-enthusiastically.
(Photo: AP/Peter Morrison)
Whichever, if the Paddy Wagon had been quietly sneaking into the event under the radar, it is no longer.
Recent top fancy, Warren Gatland’s Red Dragon Mobile has fallen further out of favour, now number five with a south-facing bullet, while anyone wondering how last weeks’ number one, New Zealand, could win by 85 points yet slide down to number two might be better off taking up astrophysics.
Or else washing the car, just for the fun of it.
Finally this week, a short mark of respect for Chester Williams, who, at the tender age of 49, suffered a heart attack and passed away on Friday.
The 1995 World Cup was iconic for the reason of it marking South Africa’s re-admittance into the international rugby fold, and the symbolism around new president Nelson Mandela and captain Francois Pienaar, pre and post-Apartheid, black and white, embracing as victors in every respect, on the field and off.
My recollection of that tournament is dominated by two things, firstly Jonah Lomu’s individual performance against England in the semi-final, his run over the top of fullback Mike Catt doing as much as any single act by any player to place rugby onto the world stage.
But even more symbolic was the inclusion of Williams as the only black player in the South African squad – a massive honour in itself, but one that also placed enormous personal pressure on him, given that previous selections of black players for South Africa had widely been considered tokenistic.
Williams not only proved that his selection was worthy, he went on to become one of the star players of the tournament, scoring four tries in the quarter-final against Western Samoa, and of course playing an important role in the win in the final against New Zealand.
The make-up of the South African squad of today owes itself in great part to Williams’ role as an ambassador and inspiration for young black players across South Africa to take up rugby as their sport.
Widely admired as a rugby coach and as a gentleman, Williams is a tragic loss.
Fox
Roar Guru
“My problem is the implication that somehow all this innovation is beyond the NH teams”….my god funbus – when the hell did I say ït was beyond’ the NH teams? Or even inferred that it was “beyond’” them? read what i have said which is that it could be a factor for goodness sake. It is not the only article there are several over the NZ newspapers, I merely use that as an example. …”England and Wales for sure, and Ireland probably, are fitter than the WBs.” – quite possibly and unless they start to really gel – I cannot see them getting past the quarters – unless that is – they top their group and that is a much easier run. I think the four teams too beat are NZ, SA, England, and to be honest I am not totally convinced by Wales or Ireland at WC competitions. But one of them in 4th favourite position – take your pick – Wales just at this point for me.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
None of which I dispute. My problem is the implication that somehow all this innovation is beyond the NH teams. I’m told that Eddie Jones knows a little bit about conditions in Japan. England were training for the Ireland game by taking high balls smothered in soap. They’ve had 6 weeks warm weather/humidity training in Treviso (average temp 28-30 with 80% humidity) and have picked a base camp in Japan specifically for the heightened levels of humidity there. The other main NH challengers have done something similar. I will also make the claim, that England and Wales for sure, and Ireland probably, are fitter than the WBs. England and Wales may well go in with two ‘7s’ and I’d be happy to put up the mobility of England’s tight five against anyone, including the ABs. I read the Stuff article. It consisted of a Kiwi professor saying some fairly obvious things about playing in humidity and the ABs saying how well prepared they are. Not entirely sure what this is evidence of. In fact, as much of the AB preparation appears to have involved spending a lot of time in saunas (the RC will have dictated this), I reckon England and the others will not feel disadvantaged by preparations given they’ve had many weeks actually training in a similar environment.
Fox
Roar Guru
No you are mistaken - they have at times struggled to realign their defense but the north have other strengths that bettered the Wallabies - off the T for start and their pack - and the Wallabies have had coach who until recently made some very poor selection and game tactics. He has the worst record of any Australian coach in recent memory. As I have already said, it is not by definition going to mean victory but in the heat it could be a factor. The humidity there is extremely high in the typhoon season - and that is another problem - there will be no rematches for games canceled because of typhoons and they are apparently a distinct possibility in some places where games are on. And Smith has had a hit and miss 18 months that is all and it all began after he got caught at the airport and he had to take leave because his girlfriend - now wife - was not amused. Those around him said his head was in bad place for a long time. But according to the AB's he is back to his best ( he just had baby) and the Wallaby game sure showcased that. At his best, he is the best 9 in the game bar none - and he has awoken again rest assured. Hansen has been giving Perenara more game time to get him ready and to protect Smith from injury before the WC. His game is crucial to the AB's. The kiwi and SA media are already talking about the humidity factor. And there is over 100 - yep 100 - nz coaches working at various levels and jobs in Japanese rugby some of whom gave Hansen so real insight into the weather and condition this time of year and apparently the humidity was the big one - wet ball - wet grass but very firm under foot. The AB's have been training with wet and oiled balls so they say and intend to play a very fast game that is extended on how they already play to knacker opposition sides. It also had huge barring why Owen Frank was not chosen - why they are using Artie Savea at 6 - plying two playmakers at 10 and 15 and picked a bench front row that is extremely mobile with exceptional ball handling.https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/115697053/rugby-world-cup-all-blacks-adamant-japan-heat-perfect-for-their-style?rm=a
FunBus
Roar Rookie
But, you weren't just talking about whether Smith is or isn't the best scrum-half in the world. For what it's worth, I don't think he's been that good in a number of tests over the last 18 months, but he certainly was the best scrum half in the last RWC. Your point seems to be that the NH teams won't be able to live with the speed and tempo of the SH teams (not just the ABs). This obviously goes way beyond Smith or the ABs. I have not noticed any of the main NH sides struggle, for example, with the 'searing pace' of recycling of the WBs for years. It's a stereotype pretending to be an analysis.
Fox
Roar Guru
That is fallacious argument as neither Faf nor White grew up playing in the Uk and learnt the game in the South so of course they take those trademarks north and sarcasm makes your argument no better or stronger. We are talking seconds here so yeah maybe you didn’t miss it you just don’t really get it. . And Smith was quicker in the lions series – he only slowed down at times in game two when the AB’s were down to 14 men for most of the game and that was for tactical reasons and the AB’s played off 9 for that series not 10 so Smith was used as the primary tactical kicker. the speed and accuracy of his pass is the best in world and both sides of the ruck. Maybe you should hear Gregan and Tim Horan talk about Smith. Horan thinks he is the best 9 in the world game because of his speed at the ruck and ridiculous passing game and that, as he says, completely allows the AB’s to play the way they do over and above other sides in recent years. He was immense at Eden Park – the best player on the park and back to his very best at long last.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Well, the Ireland scrum half was Murphy who didn’t seem to be notably slower than Aaron Smith during the Lions series, and the SA ‘9’ is Faf de Klerk who plays most of his rugby in England, as indeed does White who may well be the WB scrum-half. Maybe when I’m watching these players play in the English Premier, they must be moving so fast that it seems like a blur and I miss it.
Brett McKay
Expert
Thanks, Captain Obvious..
Fox
Roar Guru
Ah funbus not once have I said by definition they win - only that i might be a factor. Yes we all know that their a number of reasons balls can be cleared from rucks slower but in Irish Wales game the 9's were often slow even when the ball was clear of the ruck - not something you see Aron Smith do who is without question the fastest 9 at doing that and the speed and accuracy of pass on both sides is unmatched in the world game - even stated exactly that on SA TV last week when going over the sides for the WC...The SA 9 is also very quick. Too often in the Wales v Ireland game the sides attacks were slow to align at times or the 9 for no obvious reason, took his time getting the ball to the pivot - by that I mean a few of seconds or so longer which if everything in rugby. Anyway we shall see won't we.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
‘If the humidity is high Ire, Eng and Wales will struggle in that order.’ Absolute nonsense. In fact, given that there’s much more flexibility in the scheduling of RWC warm-up matches than the RC, I would bet that the three teams you mention have done a significant amount more warm weather/humidity training in the run-up to the RWC than Australia or NZ. For example, England have had about 4-6 weeks on and off in Treviso where the average temp this time of year is 28-30 with 80% humidity, training at the hottest and most humid times of the day.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry, the idea that Kiwis have an in-built genetic superiority to play in conditions of high humidity over, say, England is something I would need some convincing about. It was 32c and humid at pitch-side when England played Ireland at Twickenham the other week. Anyway, high humidity is only likely to be a factor in the pool stages. Wales are certainly one of the fittest sides in the world, and if the WBs (who I think are noticeably less fit than Wales) think they're going to 'run them off their feet' they're in for a shock, and I say that as someone who would dearly like to see Wales crash and burn. There are a number of reasons why the ball might be moved slower at rucks in, for example, the Ireland-Wales game, not least of which is the spoiling abilities of the respective backrows, something the Aussie backrow couldn't replicate at Eden Park. I thought I watched most of the RC games, but I must have missed the ones played in Borneo rain forest conditions. You'd think given all this light-speed recycling that the WBs would have blown England and Ireland away in the two home series.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, ojp. You may have one or two strike moves up your sleeve, but the idea that you 'hold back' an entire pattern of play to, for example, out fox a rush defence seems fanciful to me. That involves a lot of work and practice. The idea that you can just say as you're going out in a QF 'right, lads, now do on the pitch that which you've never done before in a game' would be 'bold' to say the least.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I saw nothing in the Bok-Japan match to suggest that the Boks won't be one of the favourites for the RWC.
RobC
Roar Guru
Loved it, thanks GP RIP Chester. Still too young to depart this world
concerned supporter
Roar Rookie
Brett, 1/Why have only 30% of households subscribed to Foxtel? A/ The cost. 2/ Why has Foxtel introduced KAYO ? A/ The lower cost.
Brett McKay
Expert
Of course it's a matter of choice, even with the cost. They've chosen to spend their money over ways. And again, that's not rugby's decision, that's these people's decision (which they're well entitled to make). (But good work on the deflection, by the way. There's quite a few changes of tack along the way here, as you move from one tenuous argument to the next..)
Jacko
Guest
Geoff, maybe he meant you are wrecking Aus rugby and using the parts to make a better, more roadworthy Aus rugby vehicle for the future.....yeah....Nah...sorry...
Jacko
Guest
TBH I think the fact that he is both an 8 and a 6 is a major bonus for the other selections of 3 flankers.....And thats not a guy who can play both, its a guy who is a genuine talent at both positions....
Jacko
Guest
Yes well if he is out then I would also be happy for you to be proven wrong but if he is in then he is certainly one of the best in the world....real rugby smart with a great engine...a rarity
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Yeah very true with Australia. We saw a prime example of that in the two Bledisloe Cup test matches. Probably the main reason why I left them out was it was 11pm when I did the post. In all honesty they could be a surprise package.
Jacko
Guest
Reverse!!!!!!!! better get used to that one........