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| André Esterhuin |
Off colour Boks get the job done, All Blacks bounce back, and world ranking ruckus are Shaun Goosen’s main talking points in this week’s what we learned from the Rugby Internationals piece.
Off colour Boks get the job done
Aside from two sensational Sbu Nkosi tries, there was nothing pretty about the Springboks’ 24-18 win over Argentina at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Test was marred by stops and starts with the hosts lucky to come away with the goods in the end after the Pumas threatened to snatch it late on.
While the performance was anything but smooth, it would have allowed Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff even more insight into the players they will look to take to the World Cup. Also, with the Boks having kept their 2019 unbeaten record intact, they will be full of confidence as they prepare to depart for Japan.
All Blacks Bounce back
This past week may well have been one of the toughest Steve Hansen has had to endure since his assumption to the role of All Blacks head coach in 2012. Following a record 47-26 loss to the Wallabies in Perth, his side came storming back to demolish Michael Cheika’s bunch 36-0 in Auckland on the weekend and retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th-successive year.
With so many quick to criticize Hansen after last week’s result, the win at Eden Park sent out a timely reminder that his Kiwi side is far from finished and will be as big a threat as ever in Japan.
World Ranking Ruckus
There’s no doubting how good Warren Gatland’s Wales have been over the past two seasons. Their Six Nations Grand Slam win this year only underlined their status as legitimate World Cup contenders with the Dragons well on course to stage their biggest assault yet on the Webb Ellis Cup.
That said, the fact that their slender 13-6 win over England on the weekend propelled them ahead of the All Blacks into first place on the world rankings has been met with mixed reactions. Sure their record over the last several Tests has been on par with, and arguably better than the reigning world champions, but the last time the men in red bested an All Black side was in 1953. In future, perhaps more than just a pinch of salt may need adding to World Rugby’s ranking equation.
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
