Weekend international Test wrap

November 16, 2005

If you'd been reading all the news on those links (top-right) you'd know that the New Zealand All Blacks new XV destroyed Ireland 45-7 at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. The dominance was complete, from props to fullback. The possession, territory, ball-handling and skills were all in New Zealand's favour. It's easy to call this a training run more than a test match, but you can only beat the opposition in front of you. Ireland's flyhalf Rohan O'Gara's weak tackling was completely exposed, and fullback Geordan Murphy made a number of bonehead line kicks which did his team no service. New AB flanker Sione Lauaki had a mixed bag -- one minute he looks like the most physically imposing ball-runner in world rugby, the next he's acting like a ridiculous David Campese turning the ball over with stupid theatrical decision-making. The game's big controversy was All Black centre Ma'a Nonu supposedly "spear-tackling" Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy. With memories of the O'Driscoll clearout earlier fresh in their minds, the incensed Irish crowd were baying for blood, and a pound of flesh! Nonu took D'Arcy's legs from beneath him, lifted him high and gently dropped him -- it was a dangerous tackle, but there was no evidence Nonu drove D'Arcy into the ground, it was NOT a spear tackle. And it certainly didn't look any worse than Shane Horgan's cynical WWE powerslam on Lauaki when Doug Howlett was scoring in the corner. (It looked like The Undertaker taking down Jimmy Superfly Snuka. Fleet Street has been remarkably quiet about that indescretion, but if you'd like to see the replays for yourself, cue the game film to 73:22 and re-live memories of Eddie Guerrero (RIP) for yourself.) Nonu was cited by the IRB, but a judiciary panel has just convened and given him a pass -- there will be no further punishment. That's a decision that will have Brits crying foul, but on the face of the evidence, it seems the right and appropriate decision. In more late news, the All Blacks have just announced their starting lineup for next week's test against England.

England should prove the ABs toughest opponents, after the whites forwards dismantled the Wallabies pathetic scrum at Twickenham, so much so that the referee declared scrums to be uncontested, that's how damaged Al Baxter was. Embarrassing! The Australian backs however, had the measure of the home side and nearly pulled a rabbit out of the hat. In the end, England pulled off a well-deserved 26-16 win and set up next week's massive confontation.

On Friday night, Wales were ready to put the All Black demolotion of last week behind them and put the screws to Fiji. In a game that can only be described as UGLY, the Welsh snuck by the Fijians by the slimmest of margins 11-10. I suppose Wales can consider themselves lucky that Caucau wasn't dressed against them. The less said about that the better. So too Canada's tough contest against France, falling 50-6. I haven't seen any highlights of that match, and I'm not sure that I'd want to. Argentina got themselves another great result downing Scotland 23-19 at Murrayfield. This is a team with a formidable home record, and now learning to beat old unions away from home. How much longer can the IRB nations continue to disresepct and ignore the strength of Argie rugby and get more test tours to-and-from the premier nations? And lastly, Italy got themselves a great result thrashing Tonga 48-0.

The Springboks start their northern hemisphere tour on Saturday. Details and previews to come...