Monday Morning FB

Quick international test match wrap from the past weekend...

The Springboks were ruthless hammering England 58-10 at Bloemfontein on Saturday. England was playing without the contingent of London Wasps and Leicester Tigers front-liners who'd competed in the previous weeks' Heineken Cup final, so it's difficult to get a gauge on the lopsided victory.

Australia rebounded from an early 17-0 deficit to beat a weak-ish Wales 29-23 at a half-empty stadium in Sydney. The Wallabies trailed when 80 minutes came up on the clock, but scored a decisive try from Stephen Hoiles in injury-time to steal the win.

Ireland out-muscled and out-thought Argentina for most of 70 minutes at Santa Fe, but were undone by a superlative match-winning performance by Pumas flyhalf Felipe Contepomi, who drop-goaled at the 78 minute mark to guide his team to a 22-20 victory. In a test that was for the most part a tight affair played between the opposing 22s, the final 10 minutes saw an exciting see-saw contest with four lead changes and the Irish pack recycling near the Argentine goal-line at the final whistle to claim the win. Alas, a sorry-looking Geordan Murphy drop-goal attempt was as close as they got.

It has been confirmed that Argentina skipper and fly-half Felipe Contepomi will not play in the 2nd test at Buenos Aires nest Saturday. Contepomi will travel to Dublin next week to collect his medical degree.

Re-capping Friday's Churchill Cup test, the New Zealand Maori strolled to a 59-23 victory over Canada. The result was deserved and never in doubt, but Canada showed signs of progress and areas they need to work on. Rugby Canada's match report here.

.