THINGS WE DIDN’T EXPECT TO SEE BRAD WEBER SPEAKING OUT
ALL BLACKS BEAT ENGLAND AT TWICKENHAM WITH A DROP GOAL
The much-hyped England versus All Blacks test in November was painted as a clash in styles.
The grinding, kick-chase game of England against the dash and pass of the All Blacks. That’s how we all saw it – especially as England had ground South Africa down a week earlier in a 12-11 dog fight and the All Blacks were chasing a world record for consecutive tests where they had scored four tries.
But the rain pelted down at Twickenham and the battle we expected never materialised. England scored two tries and went 15-0 ahead.
The All Blacks then clawed their way back to victory with a 16-point haul that came from a converted try, two penalties and who would believe it...a drop goal?
That’s right Barrett won the test with a drop goal – his first in his career. “It was a no-brainer we had an advantage,” he said.
“We probably would’ve kicked the goal anyway although we had a bit of momentum going.
“It felt instinctive because it’s something that I’ve been working on in training. It was the right option at the right time.”
AUCKLAND WIN MITRE 10 CUP
Come on now, no one saw this coming after Auckland were nearly relegated last year and the Blues had another horror campaign.
We had given up on Auckland and so too had the rest of the city judging by the empty stands at Eden Park early in the campaign.
But new coach Alama Ieremia managed to do the unthinkable and kick out all the crap habits and bad behaviours.
“At one stage there were 12 guys who paid the price and that was made clear in front of everyone,” Ieremia said two days before the final at Eden Park. “The issues were a lack of proper recovery after a match and a failure to do their personal reviews.
“They were told to leave the room even before they could say anything,” Ieremia said. “That in itself is a statement. After that, nobody was late and nobody stuffed up.”
Filo Tiatia toughened the forwards and Ted Henry shaped the defence in the way that only he could.
The players reacted well to the new culture and new demands and showed incredible resilience and character to win what must be the greatest final in recent times.
MA’A NONU BACK AT THE BLUES
We didn’t think we would see Ma’a Nonu back in New Zealand yet alone the Blues. He said all his farewells in 2015 and headed off to play for Toulon where he was all set to extend his stay beyond this year.
And then suddenly he was leaving the French club and speculation started he was heading to the Hurricanes.
Then the Chiefs and before those rumours could really escalate, the Blues announced they had signed him.
A 37-year-old Nonu back at the Blues for a third stint...it would be hard to make up something like this.
SOUTH AFRICA WIN IN WELLINGTON
The Springboks hadn’t won in New Zealand since 2009, which wasn’t in itself any kind of reason to assume they wouldn’t break that streak in 2018.
But the fact they had lost their previous two coming into the Wellington game and were short of confidence and form, probably was reason to believe they were going to lose again in New Zealand.
That and the fact the All Blacks had crushed Australia and Argentina, oh and also the quite sensational claim by coach Rassie Erasmus that he may be sacked, despite having a six-year contract, if the Boks lost.
“Probably just for me to survive it’s fairly important [to win], but that’s beside the point,” he said.
“If we can beat the All Blacks here, everybody will think we have a realistic chance of winning the World Cup next year. People will say there’s growth.”
The omens didn’t look great, but they played superbly, defended with everything they had and fully deserved a win that no one was predicting would happen. However much of a surprise and big story it was that Israel Folau expressed his feelings that homosexuals should be burned in Hell until they repent, it was more of a surprise and more of a story that Chiefs halfback Brad Weber was willing to take a moral stand against the Wallabies outside back.
Professional players are renowned for pretending they live in a different universe where they don’t have views on social issues or bigger picture matters that extend beyond the game.
So it was as refreshing as it was welcome when Weber broke rank and hit back. “I can’t stand that I have to play this game that I love with people, like Folau, who say what he’s saying,” Weber posted on his Twitter account.
“My cousin and her partner, and my aunty and her partner are some of the most kind, caring and loving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
“To think that I play against someone that says they’ll go to Hell for being gay disgusts me.”
IRELAND TAKING TOP SPOT IN WORLD RUGBY ORDER
The Irish may dispute they are now the best team in the world because the rankings still have then at second.
But the way they played in Dublin to beat the All Blacks 16-9, suggested they are indeed the best side in the world game.
They were brave, resilient and creative. They were the better team on the night and the reason they look like the best team is that the All Blacks threw everything at them and they had an answer each time.
A brilliant performance from a brilliant team.