Rugby Championship

First topic message reminder :

Couldn't see a thread.

Must say its quite good in a weird way to see Hooper being very honest on his reasoning to pull out of the match. Talking about mental health slowly getting there.

I'm going to go rogue and pick 2 away victories today. Watch South Africa win by 50 now.

Springboks have had to apologies to the headmaster of Randwick school as one of their players peed next to a tree while training there and the headmaster saw him!

Rugby Fan wrote:Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am are out of the rest of the Rugby Championship.

https://www.planetrugby.com/springboks-handre-pollard-and-lukhanyo-am-ruled-out-for-remainder-of-rugby-championship-sent-to-leicester-tigers-and-sharks/

Thats a big blow for them. Am is the only player with some spark at the moment, almost single handedly keeping them going. As an aside he must be well ahead of most others for player of the year.

It's remarkable given how much success they've had how little depth the Boks have at 10.

Any of the backup options past Pollard would struggle to get into a 23 of any top 10 team!

Two huge blows.

Am is up there with Dupont in the best player in the world debate in my opinion.

A bit harsh on Jantjies there though RDW. He can be flaky and is a big step down from Pollard but he's still a decent 10. Blairhorn has started tests at 10 recently as well...

Lukhanyo Am is definitely best in the world in his position. Elton Jantjies I've never rated.

king_carlos wrote:Two huge blows.

Am is up there with Dupont in the best player in the world debate in my opinion.

A bit harsh on Jantjies there though RDW. He can be flaky and is a big step down from Pollard but he's still a decent 10. Blairhorn has started tests at 10 recently as well...

I'd have Russell and Hastings over Jantjies!

He looks flakey behind the SA pack never mind the Scotland one

Reports that NZ are struggling to sell out a 20k seater stadium for this weekends game. Rugby really isn't as popular as we think it is down there, it won't take much for the game to go the way it has in Aus.

It's probably the same as a lot of things, people flock to successful sides, and desert them when they're on a downwards slide. Cricket is massively popular in Aus when Johnson is bowling us out for 70 but grounds are empty when we're winning the boxing day tests bar the barmy army.

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's probably the same as a lot of things, people flock to successful sides, and desert them when they're on a downwards slide. Cricket is massively popular in Aus when Johnson is bowling us out for 70 but grounds are empty when we're winning the boxing day tests bar the barmy army.

As true as that may be, it's only a 20k seater stadium in a place that hasn't hosted a test in 6 years. This is alarming given it's coinciding with the downfall of super rugby. For context there were Journalists and fans going crazy when wales got "only" 60k against France.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's probably the same as a lot of things, people flock to successful sides, and desert them when they're on a downwards slide. Cricket is massively popular in Aus when Johnson is bowling us out for 70 but grounds are empty when we're winning the boxing day tests bar the barmy army.

As true as that may be, it's only a 20k seater stadium in a place that hasn't hosted a test in 6 years. This is alarming given it's coinciding with the downfall of super rugby. For context there were Journalists and fans going crazy when wales got "only" 60k against France.

I've lived here in Christchurch for 6 years now and the atmosphere is terrible in the city, it's not just a rugby thing. People don't go out much in the evenings and there's a very limited nightlife compared to the UK.

Kiwi's just want to stay home and drink, and the lack of public transport, high price of beer and rubbish parking all add to that.

Most people will live at least 45 minutes from the stadium - there isn't a train service, limited buses if any.

And yep, most fans are used to winning, they are not good at losing (not all of them).

The super rugby games always looked like they struggle for a crowd, in spite of the rugby on display (which is very good). The population must be too sparse. The ABs travelling support always looks good though.

Tough game to call this one, but I think all blacks will win.

Looks like Argentina are trying to set a record for most knock-ons in a game.

My first Wallabies game in Australia tonight - looking forward to seeing the new stadium!

All Blacks bouncing back in style early on in the poor conditions.

They needed it. Can’t see the pumas turning this round.

RDW wrote:My first Wallabies game in Australia tonight - looking forward to seeing the new stadium!

Looking for ward to this. Great win for the wallabies last week, be great if they can get another w.
Always had a soft spot for Australia, despite Michael ‘bloody’ Lynagh breaking Irish hearts at Landsdowne road all those years ago

Argentina 17-0 down, finally put some pressure on the Kiwi defence, win a few penalties...and they kick 3 points.

Not going to get back into this one by kicking 3s.

Wallabies haemorrhaging penalities so far

RDW wrote:Wallabies haemorrhaging penalities so far

Jinxed them by showing up didn’t you.

Been a pretty dire game of rugby so far!

Comedy moment from Mehrts claiming that O'Keefe was being harsh on the Boks as the replay shows the player entering almost from behind the Aussies' back feet.

Lovely try from Moody, though. Great reactions to see the space and claim the ball.

Wallabies have been truly awful tonight. Kicking has been completely aimless

This is where I don't get rugby. Australia have 3/4 penalty advantages in a phase of attacking play, but it gets reversed because of one (minor) infringement by Aus at a ruck. It shouldn't be allowed to overrule Australia's penalty because the original infringement(s) by South Africa were earlier.

That infringement probably would have been Red with a NH ref.

This is the worst I've seen Australia play in a very long time.

RDW wrote:This is the worst I've seen Australia play in a very long time.

No side can put consecutive good performances together this year.

Ireland ?

geoff999rugby wrote:Ireland ?

Peaked too soon…

geoff999rugby wrote:Ireland ?

Second and third tests were very good, first test however...

It does appear anybody can beat anybody at present. Should mean a very interesting world cup it things don't change.

formerly known as Sam wrote:It does appear anybody can beat anybody at present.

Has anyone beaten France this season?

Rugby Fan wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:It does appear anybody can beat anybody at present.

Has anyone beaten France this season?

Probably France.

Duty281 wrote:

Rugby Fan wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:It does appear anybody can beat anybody at present.

Has anyone beaten France this season?

Probably France.

Took a couple of moments to get that!  Shows how the mind slows on a holiday weekend when I don't have to work.

Rugby Fan wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:It does appear anybody can beat anybody at present.

Has anyone beaten France this season?

Not yet but their summer tour was to Japan as opposed to any of the significant SH powers. Scraping past Wales in the 6N shows they can be got to. If they see off Australia and South Africa in the Autumn we can talk about them being significantly ahead of the pack. A home world cup and their form already has them as obvious favourites.

mikey_dragon wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Ireland ?

Peaked too soon…

Whether or not they peaked to soon wasn't the point being made.

The Question was who has played two good games in a row - Ireland have

Are Australia playing NZ tomorrow, Thursday? Seems a really wierd day for an international match!!

There are rugby league matches over the weekend which are clearly more important to Aussies.

It has still sold out the stadium TBF.

And it's an AFL and NRL penultimate finals weekend which completely dominates.

Collapse2005 wrote:Are Australia playing NZ tomorrow, Thursday? Seems a really wierd day for an international match!!

Glad you mentioned that - I had no idea. Now I have something to watch at work in the morning.

Galted wrote:There are rugby league matches over the weekend which are clearly more important to Aussies.

Don't blame 'em, I prefer rugby league these days.

Duty281 wrote:

Galted wrote:There are rugby league matches over the weekend which are clearly more important to Aussies.

Don't blame 'em, I prefer rugby league these days.

This country's fallen apart since the queen's demise.

Aussies prefer watching their teams win, and their rugby has consistently been below the best for some time.

doctor_grey wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Are Australia playing NZ tomorrow, Thursday? Seems a really wierd day for an international match!!

Glad you mentioned that - I had no idea.  Now I have something to watch at work in the morning.

Youre welcome I figured most peope didnt notice, watching it now.

Its been one of the best championships ever so far. In the past there were stand out games that I would watch and take or leave the others. This year all matches are potential thrillers.

Hell of a pre-game show anyway!

Although not the best idea to have so many fireworks in an indoor stadium...

Thought Kellaway had scored there. The game needed it.

For such a good finisher that's pretty remarkable that Kelloway somehow didn't score that

Andrew Kelloway just held up his own try, never seen that before.

10-10. Game on now.

There are many things I'd rather be hit by than Koroibete, including sledgehammer, horse, car and bus!

Kelloway having a shocker tonight.