Wales Fails, England Changes and Scotland Grow.

(Carter put in a Phenomenal  performance) 

Here we go. Well I have to say it’s been an exciting rugby day. My alarm was set for 7.30am so I was ready for the big game, Wales V New Zealand. If you want proof of the high intensity that rugby is played at in the South, this was the game. Wales it has to be said were on fire in the first half, even though they went in 15 – 9 down, they had produced some great pressure. Also creating opportunities for themselves to get points, however if you can only do it for 40 minutes then the second half battering they took is all that will happen. The second half of rugby the All Blacks produced was devastating, clinical and soul destroying if you happen to be Welsh. Carter, Rokocoko and McCaw were rampant and the Welsh were reduced to a shambles they didn’t help with shocking tackling, or lack of it, for 2 of the try’s. This was a statement of intent from New Zealand and I am not sure how many teams can stand up to it. It would be wrong of me to dismiss Wales here; they did do some great stuff. Ryan Jones looked like the player we saw on the Lions in 2005 and all round they were filled with endeavour. The truth is though pride and endeavour simply are not enough at the top level it has to be more than that. Wales simply did not look fit enough for 80 mins of top flight rugby a t this tempo and I don’t know how you cure that.


Right here we go……..England. I have to start with a Private Eye type apology. Contrary to what you may have read on this blog about England being a shower of incompetent buffoons they are actually a well-coached and well drilled team brimming with talent……Ok humble pie over.

I had no expectation here, yet I did feel England could win. They did everything that we wanted them to do. They put the ball through the hands; Hape and Tindal combined well and pressured the Aussies. Ben Foden ran some great ball in. Most importantly when they kicked it was accurate. The pack worked its socks off and the gem of a player, Ben Young’s, announced himself on the international stage with a bang. He out shone the much vaunted Will Genia giving England the quick ball they have failed to produce for a long time. There was edge to this game and credit has to go to Australia’s forwards for the work they must have done last week, because the pack that got shunted around last week held itself up to great effect. They stood their ground against the bullying England scrum and it was a joy to see. Now before we get carried away by this win let’s put some perspective on it. Australia could easily have won this game had Giteau not been so inaccurate with the boot. It’s hard on the man who scores all 20 of Australia’s points, including 2 trys, to be the man who misses the ones to win, but that is rugby I’m afraid. England may have started something here. I hope they have but the hard work has to continue as we saw in the wales game this is a tough place to play and England have to keep improving. They face the Māori next week and they will need no motivation to turn over an England team. Boyed by a great performance over Ireland they are a real threat. I don’t think you can underestimate the positives of a win against the Maori next week. It will be seen as the most successful summer tour for 8 years. For now let’s celebrate the win because boy did we need it.

PS. An interesting observation I have of this fixture, England has only won 3 times in Australia and in each occasion Nathan Sharpe has played.

Italy contested the Springboks very well down in South Africa and they could easily have rolled over to this powerful side. Parisse again showed his world class and people really do have to take Italy seriously. England always gets criticized for stuttering against Italy but they are a tough side who grind it out in the forwards and make every game tough.

In closing I have to mention Scotland. Again I couldn’t watch the game which I think is a shambles, but two wins in Argentina against a nearly full strength Pumas side cannot be underestimated. This was a team possessing Gonzalo Tiesi, Felipe Contepomi, Rodrigo Roncero,Mario Ledesma, Martin Scelzo, Patricio Albacete,Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe

and replacements like Leicester Ayerza. This was without doubt a world class pack and some great backs, playing at home. This was a win that sees the end of a long season and one I should imagine sets Scotland on a good footing for the next season. I hope things to continue to improve for Scotland because this series should not be a one off. Maybe next year someone will broadcast it!