Hello and welcome to our new feature ‘The Scrum’ ,we’ll be rounding up all the action from over the last week teeing up the upcoming games and dissecting all the latest news in the rugby world.
World Cup Semi-Finals
Of course the big games of the weekend where in the Rugby World Cup semi-final stage.
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Australia showed their offensive prowess, while keeping the leading scorers Argentina at bay. The impressive clinical nature of which the Australians dispatched their opponents, proved my theory that they are the best team in world rugby.
South Africa 18-22 New Zealand
Speaking of the best team in rugby; the All Blacks ground and pounded their way to a victory over South Africa, and while the Springboks were up a man they simply couldn’t keep the ball or string more than two passes together before the Kiwis smothered them.
The 3rd place game
It’s the game no one wants to be a part of, but the game fans are eager to see none the less. South Africa and Argentina will get head to as the losing sides of the 4 southern hemisphere nations which dominated this world cup. Argentina have been sensational when running with the ball, their effort to really play the ball and not rely on their big forwards has worked dividends, their play has called former England players to suggest that England should take notes on how the Argentines work the ball; oh how the mighty have fallen and oh how the Argentines have risen.
South Africa have had an up and down campaign. Losing the first game of the tournament in the game of the tournament to Japan. While also losing their captain DeVilliers for the rest of the World Cup and which also led to his retirement. But still they battles through the group ultimately due to Japan’s failures they finished on top. Then beating Wales after such a shaky start certainly proved that they were still a force to be reckoned with, alas no one gets past the All Blacks.
This will be a fantastic game, the Argentines have been offensively unstoppable, while they may have been knocked down a peg by Australia but no matter. South Africa have been defensively solid and have been almost perfect from the tee. These two should make for an entertaining combination. The two met up in a World Cup warm up in which the springboks were victorious 26-12, but in the last competitive game Argentina ran out on top 37(!)- 25 in the 2015 rugby championship.
The Final
The final ah yes the final, two pacific giants. New Zealand look to retain their crown in the birth place of rugby, despite never having won outside of their home nation. Australia who won in England in 1999, look to be the first nation to 3 World Cup titles. The history of these two sides speak for itself, they simply hate each other, no other way to put it.
Overall they have met 154 times New Zealand winning 105 of those occasions Australia 42. That being said the last competitive time these two met up Australia woke the world up to what a super power they are, winning convincingly 27-19 in Sydney, and thus winning the 2015 Rugby championship. As far as the All Blacks are concerned this is the one that matters, they’re notoriously ruthless, they do not make it easy for teams, they’re tough, they’re smart, they’re experienced, they will defend for 80 minutes if necessary, they will attack for 80 if necessary they’re the best all round team in world rugby no question.
Being that well rounded means that the All Blacks could be criticized for not being the best at anyone one aspect of the game, and that’s where Australia comes in. Australia are the best offensive team, they have speed, power, great kicking, and a great scrum. The Wallabies also have adversity on their side, which I think is criminally under-rated while all of England is crying foul at the group seeding and difficult fixtures, Australia thrived under it. They went through Fiji, Wales, England, then a nail biter against Scotland before taking on and holding Argentina to 15 points. Did they get a bit of luck here and there? sure, that’s needed from time to time, but they did not make excuses and they came through the difficulties. If anything you could argue New Zealand flattered to deceive against group opponents and a France side not up to par, before being shell shocked against South Africa, are they as battle ready as this Australian side? I can’t wait to find out.
McCaw is a cheat, and that’s a compliment
Quote of the day comes from ex England fly-half Stuart Barnes who applauds All Black captain Richie McCaw with a rather bizarre compliment:
“Richie McCaw is a cheat, but that is his job and what makes him great”
Barnes isn’t wrong and I like this strong approach, in what might be his final game in test rugby let’s just call it what it is: the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice. Barnes does not simply pick on McCaw and goes on to say most guys running around with 7 on their backs are doing the same thing, only McCaw is just better at it. He even says McCaw should be brought in to teach the England forwards how to “fix their breakdown”.
I love this type of analysis, McCaw knows what he’s doing he’s anything but “dumb” which is the excuse he used for a trip which stop an argentine quick tap and go. Barnes said “it was, of course, anything but dumb. He hasn’t become the most decorated player by being dumb. He doesn’t not have a dumb instinct in him, but that was how he portrayed in incident ‘a reflex thing’ yes, reflex indeed, but the mind of New Zealand’s captain runs even faster than his instincts” spot on Barnsey.
World Cup Rugby with David Attenborough
Australia flanker David Pocock has invited Sir David Attenborough to attend the World Cup Final saying this
“I’m a big fan of wildlife programmes, particularly those by David Attenborough. He’s a big hero of mine. On Sunday for post-game recovery I put on a couple of Attenborough episodes and put my feet up. I was re-watching the Africa series. If he wants to come to the Final, I’m sure we could organise some tickets” I would love to hear that commentary, Attenborough describing every detail of a World Cup Final between Australia New Zealand, yes please.
De Villiers signs for Tigers
In club news Leicester Tigers have made a huge signing, as the aforementioned Jean De Villiers signed with the English premiership side, he’ll link up with them in December. The centre, had recently retired from international rugby due to a broken jaw.
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said:
Jean brings invaluable experience to the squad. He is among the leading centres in the modern game and has played at the very highest level for a significant period of time. In recent seasons we’ve brought in players like Brad Thorn and Lote Tuqiri from successful environments in the southern hemisphere and they have made a significant contribution here. The signing of Jean is another move in that style and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to the Tigers and to him starting work with us on 1 December.
He’ll hopefully be pairing up with Tigers’ favurite Manu Tuilagi in the centre, who had been probed by England’s richest clubs, Cockerill expects to iron out the details and have him sign a new contract in the next week or so.
Exciting times as the experienced De Villers and the raw Tuilagi could become a devastating partnership, and maybe the shift in power will return to the Tigers who are 2-0-0 to start the season.
Join us next week for another installment of ‘The Scrum’
