Tri-Nations: Wallabies v Springboks Preview (30/08/08)

Oh how the wheels of the rugby world turn. South Africa have gone from being World Champions, to defeating the All Blacks in New Zealand, to being on the verge of a hat-trick of home losses. The Wallabies have gone from being bundled out in the quarter finals of the Cup, to a team with new hope after the appointment of a new coach and a run of victories. They then flipped back to a team that doesn’t perform on the road but now it is attempting back to back victories in South Africa – at altitude no less. Not only that but they have a strong chance of winning back the Tri-nations title, with only the small matter of a Brisbane date with some team called the All Blacks still to come. Read more

Tri-Nations: Wallabies vs Springboks Preview, Bledisloe Cup Review

Thanks for nothing All Blacks. The Wallabies do you a favour by showing you your deficiencies with your worst loss for… ever? I’m still trying to find an All Blacks supporter who can ever recall their team being so comprehensively beaten in the physical confrontations.

So of course they come out and smash the Wallabies in New Zealand. Just as predictably the Aussie media lambaste the team. Read more

Tri-Nations: Wallabies vs All Blacks Bledisloe 1 Preview and Springbok Review

Australia has passed its first true test by defeating the Springboks. Immediately you must ask yourself – how switched on were the Springboks? To go into a Test match without a true number 7 set them back. By attempting to strengthen their line-out capabilities the Springboks damaged their ability to compete at the breakdown. When this is coupled with an inability to dominate at scrum time the South Africans were ripe for the picking. Of course a couple of Tests against the All Blacks didn’t hurt to soften them up. Read more