Rugby Union | Blogs | Paper Round

All the latest from the world of rugby

« IRB bosses take note | | Referees need more support »

September 14, 2010

Posted on 09/14/2010

Southern elite playing rugby - but not as we know it

The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley has been watching the Tri-Nations from afar and he has been impressed with what he has seen.

"As well as making sharper decisions about tackling low or smothering the ball, counter-rucking or filling a defensive line, every All Black has to be prepared to stand in at scrumhalf, first receiver or anywhere else in an attacking line. It helps too when every player from one to 15 can take and give a pass, or even break a defensive line with footwork such as Keven Mealamu’s or handling like Brad Thorn’s. Where John Hart, John Mitchell were run out of town for World Cup “failures”, Henry and co were given a second four-year cycle and interestingly, the word rotation has been removed from the All Blacks’ lexicon. You wonder how long more the phenomenal Thorn, Mealamu and their other veterans can keep going, and those of a more pessimistic bent in New Zealand will fear they may have peaked too soon again.
"An ageing South Africa appear to have peaked two years too early, but no less than the over-reaction in the New Zealand media to the All Blacks’ losing three times to the Springboks in 2009 (two away, and one a thriller at home) the Boks were always unlikely to repeat those feats. Why? Because in the expanded nine-match itinerary, it was their turn to play two of three meetings with the All Blacks away from home. The Boks were also obliged to play those two first up, followed by a trek to Australia, and have had to do without the incomparable Fourie du Preez for the entire tournament, as well as Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, as well as being without Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith. In the circumstances, they unearthed some new talent, while Victor Matfield remained simply sensational."

Feedback