Gary Lemke looks back on the weekend’s sporting action as Eddie Jones’ Australia dished up another RWC disasterclass, the Boks need a rethink and more!
BOKS MUST REVERT TO TRUSTED FORMULA
Now that the dust has settled, a personal opinion is that Ireland’s Andy Farrell outcoached Rassie Erasmus, sorry, Jacques Nienaber. Unless it is a massive gamble to rather play France in the quarter-finals than New Zealand, therefore rendering the 13-8 defeat a blessing in disguise.
I believe Ireland were more flexible in their approach and had a bulletproof response to the much talked about 7-1 bench split and the Boks’ Bomb Squad. The fact Ireland won the second half 6-0 says much for their resolve and refusal to “go away”.
Make no mistake, the Boks can still win the World Cup – in fact, they are 3/1 favourites to do so – but to do this they need to go back to basics. Those basics are, simply, play to their traditional strengths. Dominate up front, have a proper kicker at No10 (Handre Pollard) and create scoreboard pressure.
Win penalties at scrum and lineout time and take the three points when on offer. Earn the respect to play more expansively. That can come in the second half when the opposition need to chase the game.
🚨 BREAKING: Handre Pollard has been called up to the Springboks' #RWC2023 squad.
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 17, 2023
He will join the team in Paris on Monday after being called into the squad to fill the vacancy created by hooker Malcolm Marx. pic.twitter.com/dsDePoLqj2
MAX WINS AGAIN WITH MINIMAL FUSS
Normal service resumed when Max Verstappen returned to the top spot on the podium after winning the Japanese F1 Grand Prix at Suzuka. Probably like you, we also called it in our weekend preview blog that Verstappen’s Red Bull would be far more suited to Japan than Singapore, and so it proved as he won for an 11th time in 12 races.
He dominated, coming home 19 seconds ahead of Lando Norris and 36 sec clear of Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren. Norris has now finished runner-up five times and he will be a popular winner when his moment comes.
For me, the chirp of the day came via a Tweet: “George Russell has the ego of Michael Schumacher but the ability of Ralf Schumacher.” Russell remains eighth in the driver standings, with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in third.
The points scorers at Suzuka 🇯🇵#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/nFj1FosiDu
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 24, 2023
LET’S TALK ABOUT EDDIE
Reports emerged before Australia’s record 40-7 defeat to Wales, which basically eliminated the Wallabies from the RWC, that Eddie Jones had been in a Zoom meeting with Japan to discuss returning to them after the RWC.
Eddie has always been a gun for hire – remember when he joined the Stormers for eight days in 2015 and referred to “Table Top Mountain” – before taking up an offer with England. He had seven largely underwhelming years there and his stint with Australia has been nothing short of disastrous.
The 63-year-old has snapped at media for asking questions that he should be able to handle and even fell out with a South African journalist this year, calling him a “smart arse”. No Eddie, you’ve fooled enough people for a long enough time. I remember, in 2007 at the RWC, he told a group of journos over a beer, “it’s all theatre mate”. Well, the curtain is about to come down on his act.
Sonny Bill Williams didn’t hold back on Eddie Jones… 😬
— OurGame.ie (@OurGameHQ) September 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/hvB2Omretc
IT’S RAINING GOALS – BUT NOT AT CHELSEA
We spoke last week about Chelsea’s £1-billion oulay on players under Todd Boehly not being able to buy them a goal and their drought extended to 270 minutes when they were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa at home.
In their last three games, they’ve twice lost a home (1-0 to both Forest and Villa) and drew 0-0 to Bournemouth. That was supposedly the easy run of games, given what’s coming up.
Elsewhere, Brighton, Everton and Liverpool all scored three, while Arsenal and Tottenham shared four goals. Newcastle meanwhile hammered Sheffield United 8-0, with the goals coming from eight different players, an Premier League record. Elsewhere, Man City As Sir Alex Ferguson once said, “football. Bloody hell.”
Some finish by Watkins 🤩
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 24, 2023
The Villa striker compounds Chelsea's difficult start to the season ⚽
📺 Stream #CHEAVL live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/eVLbWsLrCj
CIGANDA DOES IT FOR EUROPE
The Ryder Cup is happening later this week, but the women’s version, the Solheim Cup, produced a classic when Team Europe retained the silverware with a 14-14 draw with the USA.
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda secured the vital final point for the holders, who mounted a thrilling comeback. The USA had led 4-0 and then 7-5 heading into the Sunday singles.
The USA were still 13-11 ahead with four matches remaining on the course, with Ciganda’s heroics sealing the deal and retaining the Cup.
The moment of a lifetime for Carlota Ciganda 🏆🇪🇸#SolheimCup2023 pic.twitter.com/w77BzvVqYu
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 24, 2023
