The highly anticipated Rugby Championship got underway yesterday, when the All Blacks visited Sydney to take on the Wallabies. The occasion also marked the first of three Tests in the coveted Bledisloe Cup which is contested annually by the trans-Tasman neighbours.
The loss to the touring British and Irish Lions earlier in the season saw Robbie Deans making way for Queensland Reds supremo Ewen McKenzie. The Australian had been the firm favourite to take over from the embattled Deans, who paid the price for a meekly surrender to the Lions in the final test. Wallaby fans were hopeful that McKenzie, who incidentally served as Assistant to Rod McQueen when they the beat the Lions in 2001, would be able to bring about a change in fortunes against the old enemy.
As expected, Quade Cooper was restored back in the training squad. However, Matt Toomua was preferred at Fly Half with Cooper having to be content with a place on the bench. James O’Connor was selected to play out on the wing. The composition of the rest of the side was pretty much a familiar one. For the All Blacks, Richie McCaw marked his return to International Rugby after his 6 months sabbatical. Stephen Lua Tua, of The Blues was rewarded for an immense Super 15 campaign with the starting spot on the blind side flank.
With the second and third tests both being away in New Zealand, Australia had to come up with the goods in Sydney to catch the All Blacks short. However, it was not to be as the quality, precision, and pace of the men in black were simply too hot for them to handle. Just before half-time, some individual brilliance from scrum half Will Genia where he sprinted a better part of 75 meters to score kept the Wallabies in the hunt at 22-19. Aaron Cruden managed to restore a 6 point gap at the halfway mark. But from them on, the All Blacks went up the gears and the contest was effectively over b y the last quarter. Highlander Ben Smith had an outstanding game, scoring a hat-trick, with Aaron Cruden, McCaw, and Conrad Smith also going over. Despite being shaky with the re-starts, Cruden had a very impressive game at first receiver in the absence of the injured Dan Carter. His timing at drawing defenders was immaculate. O’Connor managed to score a consolation try after the hooter, but it did little to divert from the fact that they had received a hiding from a far more cohesive unit. The try count stood 6-2 with the scoreboard reading 47-29 at the long blast.
McKenzie and his men really have their work cut out for next week’s visit to Wellington. A few positives – they seemed to have adapted better to the new scrum laws, and Michael Hooper was pretty effective in the loose. Adam Ashley-Cooper ran some perfect lines to burst through the mid field but unfortunately couldn’t find men to put into space from thereon. The new Coach will have to find a way to get players such as Israel Folau more involved in the game. The recent league convert saw very little of the ball, and that too off standing starts. At times they seemed to be short of ideas as the All Blacks defense swepped over them like a rash. Skipper Horwill will have to find a way to keep McCaw out of the game. This will give his backs faster ball from the break down and give the likes of Folau and Ashley-Cooper ‘go forward’ ball before defensive lines are formed. I can also see Cooper being restored to the starting fifteen, as the Wallabies must win to keep their Bledisloe hopes alive. He may cost you at times, but one cannot deny that he brings an inventive element to the backline. No prizes for guessing what sort of reception awaits him in Wellington though.
Steve Hansen and Skipper McCaw would have been very happy with their evenings work. I would still like to see them try out a new center in place of Ma’a Nonu. Given that the next World Cup is just two years away, it will be handy to try someone like Crotty, or Rene Ranger in the 12 shirt. Perhaps, we may see something different come the games against Argentina, seemingly the weakest side in the competition. Conrad Smith was outstanding once again, showing no signs of age catching up with him. Julian Savea is looking increasingly more ‘Lomu’ like with his busting runs. The management looks like they have now looked beyond the likes of Piri weepu, and may not be long before Keven Mealamu is phased off as well. The veteran Hooker looked off the pace and struggled to hit his man in the line out. They know the Wallabies will throw everything at them come a week’s time. Ben Smith seems to have taken his opportunity with both hands, and Lua Tua was very effective in open play. What really sets them apart from the rest of the teams in the world is their bench strength. Rugby now is a 23 man game, and it is a huge advantage to have the likes of Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick, and Beauden Barrett to bring on in the last quarter. If the Wallabies do turn the tables on the number one ranked team in the world, it would be a huge upset. Personally I cannot see that happening, though it should be a much closer game. The Bledisloe Cup should remain in New Zealand for an eleventh straight year.
In Soweto, Argentina provided little resistance to the rampaging South Africans who ramped up nine tries in a record 73-13 victory. Without the inspirational Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, the Pumas looked completely out of sorts and were a pale shadow of the side that was quite competitive last year. Matters turned from bad to worse, when experienced lock Patricio Albacete was forced off injured. They were also made to pay dearly for two yellow cards which paved the way for the Springboks to run amok. The score line read 26-6 at halftime, which effectively signaled the end of the contest. The Boks for their part refused to take their foot off the peddle. Outside center JJ Engelbrecht was outstanding with his hard running lines. There was also a welcome return to international rugby for Fourie du Preez, and Bismarck du Plessis. Siya Kolisi looks a great back row find for the Boks, after impressing in the recent Super 15 competition. Jan Serfontein, who has come up the Junior Bok ranks, looks a real leader for the future. A strong ball carrier, he presents Coach Heyneke Meyer with a real selection headache with Captain De Villiers and Engelbrecht, his preferred starting mid field. Though the Rugby Championship is only in its first week, the Springbok / All Black contest looks to be the decisive encounter in determining the winner of the championship. It is indeed a mouth-watering prospect, with power rugby bound to be at its ferocious best. However, the Wallabies may have a lot to say about that. Truth be told, the Springboks were not really tested at any point. Rugby is a funny game and you really don’t know who will have the favour of the bounce on the day.
You also get the feeling that Argentina has taken the approach of saving their best players for their home games. Be assured, they will be hard to get over in their own back yard. The Boks are well aware of this having had to settle for a draw last year corresponding game. It’s still very early days in the competition, and I’m certain there will be many twists and turns along the way. After round one though, you have to say that the All Blacks still look hungry and mightily impressive.
