All Blacks: A grade above the rest
WHO will stop the All Blacks? That is the question after the first series of matches in this year’s Rugby Championship. All four teams have played two matches and enjoy a bye this weekend before they go into the next round of fixtures next week.
Argentina
It is remarkable how well the Argentines perform when they pull on the blue and white hooped jumper compared to the jerseys they wear in Super Rugby. Sure, Agustin Creevy and his charges have only faced a mediocre Springbok side in the first round of matches, but they’ve looked every bit a team that could finish this competition in second place.
They just came up short in Durban but got their win in Salta at the weekend, deservedly beating the Boks 26-24. They were sound up front and dangerous at the back and they will surely push the Wallabies very close, too, in the coming weeks.
Coach Daniel Hourcade’s men have made big strides in Test rugby in the last few years and they continue to grow. Their big test will come against the All Blacks, especially away from home, and they now have a few key injury concerns, too. GRADE: B
Australia
My oh my, when last did we see such a poor Australia team – and that just a year on from their playing in the Rugby World Cup final? Things have changed pretty dramatically for coach Michael Cheika and his men.
They’ve now lost two on the trot to the All Blacks – and, scarily, haven’t scored a single try against their old enemy. They’ve let in 10 tries in the same time and allowed the All Blacks to score 71 points against them. They’ve only managed 17.
And, let’s not forget the Wallabies copped a 3-0 series hiding by England in June so while the Boks have problems, the Aussies’ issues are far worse. GRADE: E
NEW ZEALAND
What more can one say about the World Cup holders? They’ve lost key individuals, like Richie Mcaw, yet continue to dominate everyone in front of them. Not only did the All Blacks beat Wales 3-0 in a series in June, they’ve started this competition with two emphatic wins.
Steve Hansen and his charges hammered the Wallabies on back-to-back weekends, home and away, and lead the race for the title with a fullhouse of 10 points.
The All Blacks are playing rugby like no other team in the game.
Yes, they’ll be challenged by the Boks in the weeks to come, and Argentina might even give them a go, especially at home, but if we’re honest with ourselves, they’re on their way to winning another Rugby Championship title, and we’re just two games in. GRADE : A
South Africa
There’s not much separating the Boks and Wallabies right now in terms of competence, but the Boks, at least, have a win behind their name. But, matters are not looking good for the rest of the competition as we could argue Allister Coetzee’s men have played against the “easiest” opposition.
The Wallabies, as poor as they’ve been, will back themselves against the Boks, especially in Brisbane in 12 days’ time, while the All Blacks lie in wait in Christchurch.
Coetzee’s men have scored just five tries in two matches – a poor return – and let Los Pumas score four against them. The Boks have looked confused in their two outings so far, unsure of what style to adopt, while several players have simply not lived up to their billing as Test players.
Add a defeat by Ireland in June to the results of 2016 and Coetzee and his men are under huge pressure to get things right ... and it gets no easier from here on.
GRADE: D