This weekend sees the second round of the brand new competition the Nations Championship which sees the six Southern Hemisphere playing host to six Northern Hemisphere teams. Each team will play 3 home and way games which will be completed later this year in London concluding with the finals in November. This is more about aligning the rugby season not allowing for rebel leagues such as Rugby 360 which has now been blocked.
What is interesting to see is how a few of the teams have embraced this Nations Championship with an eye on developing their squads by testing out new players. France have many new faces along with Ireland (forced due to injuries), Scotland and South Africa.
The results thus far today have included a decent display by New Zealand overcoming Italy 47-17, France demolishing Australia 42-26, England thrashing Fiji 73-8, Ireland scraping past Japan 36-20 and South Africa squeaking over the line against Scotland 42-28. Argentina play Wales later on this evening and should be a close game with an Argentinian victory. Argentina won 25-21.
The SA game against Scotland was a gamble by the SA coaching staff as they made another 10 changes to the team that won last week. The coach promised the SA players everyone in the squad would get game time and at least he can see who has the temperament and skills for test rugby. This game was there for the taking with such an inexperienced SA team.
What was clear is that this weeks team that was selected was not the best team and there were many weaknesses you do not associate with SA rugby. The defense was leaky along with too many penalties conceded due to poor discipline. The only way players learn is by playing ae the top level so this has to be done. In fairness Scotland were impressive and could have and possibly should have won this match. The Scots were really good and tested the SA team multiple times scoring 4 fantastic tries versus the SA teams 6.
France beating Australia with ease away from home without key players like Du Pont who for some reason does not play in the Southern Hemisphere. How can you be regarded as a great player if you always stay at home? Lucu on the other hand filling in for Du Pont has played very well and must be the unluckiest player around having Du Pont ahead of him in the pecking order. They say Du Pont suffered a calf injury, but being the captain should have been touring with the team. This is about preparing for the World Cup next year in Australia and I think the French missed this opportunity here.
The All Blacks have not learned that much thus far and the only positives one can see is the game time in preparation for their upcoming SA tour next month. I have not been wowed away with last week lucky to escape a loss to the French when they won by two points. The Italian game today was in the balance until half time pulling away in the second half more to do with the lack of Italian depth in their squad than All Black magic.
England thrashing Fiji at home did not help the England team even though this was the first win in the last five matches. Their next match will tell them where they are playing Argentina in South America. The third and last match in the away games for the Northern Hemisphere teams should be the toughest as the Southern Hemisphere teams will now be up to speed from having such a long lay off. Up till now it has been difficult to judge which sides have improved, stayed the same or gone backwards with only Australia looking rather shambolic.
