Rugby Championship 2025

[Puja]

Hell of a game to start off with. Was following along with live text, saw SA were 22-0 up after 20 minutes and felt bad for the Wallabies and annoyed that the South African fans were going to get even more smug. What an incredible turnaround from Australia though - 5 point win, denying SA the bonus point, and even getting the 16 point margin to get max points in the World Rankings.

Schmidt can charge whatever he likes for his next consultating job, one suspects.

Puja

[Danno]

Keeping the Boks scoreless for an hour when they started that brightly is no mean feat either

[Galfon]

Quite a turnaround - they showed good fitness v. Lions and the battle-fests would have done them no harm.
The Schmidt-Wilson leadership appears to be the right medicine at this time - HW nearly pulled it off v BIL against the odds with his never-say-die attitude.
Have to see if it was a blip though...

[Puja]

Quite a turnaround - they showed good fitness v. Lions and the battle-fests would have done them no harm.
The Schmidt-Wilson leadership appears to be the right medicine at this time - HW nearly pulled it off v BIL against the odds with his never-say-die attitude.
Have to see if it was a blip though...

I think there's a fairly solid chance they're going to get an absolute tuning next week. South Africa were complacent and cocky before the game, especially around selection, and would almost certainly have become more so when they went 22-0 up with one-way traffic. After getting embarrassed like that, they'll want vengeance and I think Australia will struggle against an angry and focussed Boks side - they don't have the personnel to be able to step up a gear and I expect them to get swept away.

Still, I'm glad it happened and someone has finally punished South Africa for fucking about with rotation and experimentation against sides they don't consider to be on their level. I'd be surprised if we saw Libbok tried again next weekend.

Puja

[Buggaluggs]

BBC were pretty late getting the Aus | RSA report out. Poor form reporting the best rugby being played this weekend.

[Danno]

Mike English must be tired from singing Farrell the Younger's praises for a month.

Looked like lightning might strike twice in Arg v NZ for a bit but it wasn't to be. Made them work for it though.

[Cameo]

I think Australia are as good as anyone from 12 outwards, real pace when given a chance. Some decent talent dotted around the rest of the team, but agree will probably struggle next week.

[Cameo]

As for Argentina NZ, there is something about games in Argentina that makes them a bit unsatisfying to watch. Maybe it's juat never knowing whether Argentina are actually any good.

Slightly funny All Blacks team at the moment. Some good things, but the hands can be a bit sloppy. It also feels like their experienced players make the worst decisions - looking at BB and ALB. Pack is beginning to look inpressive.

[BaldiePete]

The Australia win has seriously consolidated their position at 6th in the World rankings. They pick up 3 points to move 3.48 clear of Argentina in 7th and 3.51 clear of Scotland in 8th. Top 4 is in range if they can repeat that. South Africa lost 3 points and drop from 1st to 3rd. It has seriously dented Scotland’s hopes of getting to 6th place before the RWC draw.

[Spiffy]

As for Argentina NZ, there is something about games in Argentina that makes them a bit unsatisfying to watch. Maybe it's juat never knowing whether Argentina are actually any good.

Slightly funny All Blacks team at the moment. Some good things, but the hands can be a bit sloppy. It also feels like their experienced players make the worst decisions - looking at BB and ALB. Pack is beginning to look inpressive.

The ABs will continue to win with Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, and Ardie Savea plus more or less any other 12 competent players.

[Cameo]

As for Argentina NZ, there is something about games in Argentina that makes them a bit unsatisfying to watch. Maybe it's juat never knowing whether Argentina are actually any good.

Slightly funny All Blacks team at the moment. Some good things, but the hands can be a bit sloppy. It also feels like their experienced players make the worst decisions - looking at BB and ALB. Pack is beginning to look inpressive.

The ABs will continue to win with Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, and Ardie Savea plus more or less any other 12 competent players.

I actually think 10 is holding them back at the moment. I was a huge Barrett fan, but now he has lost his out and out pace, I just don't think he's the same player. He is lauded as great tactically, but too often kicks aimlessly. Still a decent player but slightly diminishing returns.

Mounga back before the World Cup though, and I think Robertson will be hoping he keeps enough form to be his first choice.

[morepork]

Beuaden Motherfunking Barrett’s cover defense…Chur.

[J Dory]

Nice one Argentina, championship shaping up nicely. Bring back Foster?

[morepork]

Great win RG. Easily the best team on the field.

[paddy no 11]

Yeah, argie bombed a lot of chances, credit nz defence when down to 13

Set up for a great championship now with SA insisting on playing dirt ball

Nz were much more threatening with dmac and more accurate off the tee

[UKHamlet]

Is this a changing of the guard, or bumps on the road? I tend to think the latter, but it's great that the Wobblies and the RG are showing some form. My personal tip for the team to watch is England, who are quietly building a fucking big mallet.

[switchskier]

Watching the replay now. Argentina could and should have been well ahead at halftime but bombed a few chances. Lack of composure but also a terrible kicking game from 9 hurting then.

[Puja]

Is this a changing of the guard, or bumps on the road? I tend to think the latter, but it's great that the Wobblies and the RG are showing some form. My personal tip for the team to watch is England, who are quietly building a fucking big mallet.

I've still gotta lean towards France. The amount of talent they have and the depth to which it goes is just ridiculous and if they can't win 2027, then someone needs shooting.

Agreed that it's fantastic to have a good Australian side again, and hopefully they can win one of the Bledisloe games this year, as that is what the Aussie rugby casual will judge them on and what will bring the paying customers back through the gates. I am concerned about how thin their talent pool goes and how many injuries they have though - Wright did his ACL on Saturday; Suali'i and White were concussed (and the fact that they had to call White back out of retirement in the first place speaks volumes); Tupou went off injured; Wilson, Slipper, Pietsch, and Donaldson didn't make the second SA game after getting injured in Week 1; and they had already lost Lolesio and Lynagh before the Championshio even begun. Hopefully some of those will return to fitness soon.

Puja

[Spiffy]

SA v Oz. Shocking display of handling/passing by both teams. Passes fired at head, feet and into touch, many of them no look. Poor display of basic skills from professional rugby players.

[paddy no 11]

Is sevu reece definitely in the top 2 wingers in nz?

[Spiffy]

Is sevu reece definitely in the top 2 wingers in nz?

He may be (he's normally quite a try poacher, but had a poor game against Arg) but Ioane certainly is not. Drop the pair of them for the next game.

[paddy no 11]

SA v Oz. Shocking display of handling/passing by both teams. Passes fired at head, feet and into touch, many of them no look. Poor display of basic skills from professional rugby players.

Pitch was poor too