Rugby Championship

[J Dory]

I've been enjoying the ABs v Australia games, they haven't been close, but both teams playing some good rugby. Looking forward to seeing how the teams stack up in the upcoming games. SA versus Aus should be a cracker. Feels like NZ will be too strong for Argentina, but who knows.

My picks:

Aus by a whisker over SA.
NZ by 20 over Argentina.

[Cameo]

I would love Aus to beat SA but think it's a long shot. Quade Cooper apparently starting which will be interesting.

[morepork]

Quade could be an inspired choice. Or he could be dog tucker. I'd love the Oz to beat the Bok anti-rugby defensive robot juggernaut.

I am also loving seeing Akira out in some solid performances at 6, and hope he keeps it up against the meat eaters. He is filling that blindside hole nicely at the moment.

[Puja]

TBH, looking at the job Finn Russell did on the Bok defence in the third test, Cooper could be an excellent shout. If there's one thing to be gained from the Lions series (probably an overestimate), it's that the Boks cannot be reliably outmuscled or taken on at their own game, no matter how good your own tight game might be.

Puja

[Cameo]

Very tight finish here. Luke Pearce having a bit of a mare. Even when he is right his explanations make no sense, but more often his explanation shows that he saw the incident but came to the wrong decision.

Two clear examples:

1. Calls the ball out and then penalises Australia for tackling De Klerk because he hadn't "lifted the ball". De Klerk had both hands holding the ball. Whether he lifts it or not is only relevant to deciding whether the balls out.

2. SA maul. Hooper complains that they dropped the ball and then picked it up again at the back of the maul and carried on mauling. Pearce says: "I thought it went backwards".

Sorry for the moan, think I probs just don't want SA to win given they've kicked every ball they've had.

[Cameo]

What a kicking display from Cooper! Massive for Australia otherwise some doubts might have crept in about what progress they're making.

I still think that, quite apart from it being boring, SA's gameplan under utilises their talent. Yeah, Australia struggled with SA's kicking game but Australia's defence didn't otherwise have to work that hard.

[Puja]

Great result for the game at large. Australia needed a fillip after getting repeatedly clumped by New Zealand and the sport needs South Africa to keep losing against attacking teams.

Puja

[J Dory]

Was kind of cool to see QC get that kick. I think I was actually cheering for him, yikes.

[Cameo]

All change for NZ this week. All 8 changed in the pack and another few in the backs. Bit of pressure on Argentina to make an impression I would think, even if they don't win

[morepork]

RG just don't seem up for things at the moment. Someone's taken the jam out of their doughnut.

[Puja]

Ding dong, anti-rugby is dead! Or at least, it's on the ropes and hopefully the Kiwis can thoroughly obliterate it in the next couple of weeks.

Puja

[Digby]

Rassie reported to be hard at work on a video detailing the failings of Quade Cooper, why he shouldn't be eligible to Australia, and why she should be locked up for being a thief

[J Dory]

Been lots of rotation for the ABs, would be interested to hear others number 1 starting team right now (assuming all the breeders/injured are back in business). Competition is fierce, I've picked a few that I would go for. Feel free to ridicule my choices, fill in the many gaps etc.

1.
2.
3.
4. Retallick
5.
6. Ioane (or at 8)
7.
8.
9. Smith
10.
11.
12. Havili
13. Ioane
14. Jordan (or at 15)
15.

[Cameo]

I'd still say Codie Taylor at 2 and Whitelock at 5 despite serious competition in both positions. Whitelock keeps his place as I think the lineout looks better with him there.

I'm won over by Papa'alii at 7 with Savea at 8 but could also be happy with Saves at 7, Ioane at 8 and any one of Blackadder, Sototu or Jacobsen at 6 (a bit less convinced by Jacobsen and wouldn't be surprised by Frizell coming back into the picture at some point).

10 is Mo'unga's to lose for now. If you have Ioane at 13 I'd have Sevu Reece on the wing. ALB at 13 and Ioane on the wing is another option though.

I'd pick Jordie Barrett at 15. Not been as convinced by Mackenzie the last year or two and I think JB offers something different (and is possibly the best kicker there).

I wouldn't be surprised if Foster picks something similar although obviously Whitelock, Smith and Mo'unga will be unavailable this week. Remarkable in a way that that is three very key players away but they are still comfortable favourites.

[Cameo]

Ding dong, anti-rugby is dead! Or at least, it's on the ropes and hopefully the Kiwis can thoroughly obliterate it in the next couple of weeks.

Puja

Uh oh, from media comments the lesson SA seem to have learnt is that they played too expansively and need to go back to their gameplan.

[Puja]

Ding dong, anti-rugby is dead! Or at least, it's on the ropes and hopefully the Kiwis can thoroughly obliterate it in the next couple of weeks.

Puja

Uh oh, from media comments the lesson SA seem to have learnt is that they played too expansively and need to go back to their gameplan.

I don't often cheer for the All Blacks - I recognise them as an excellent team, but I tend to cheer for an underdog if England aren't playing and there's been precious few occasions across the past 25 years or so where that's led to me wanting NZ to win. However, I'm cheering for them now - the best thing that could happen to rugby is South Africa getting an utter doing, twice in a row.

Quite apart from anything else, it might harm Gatland's chances of yet another Lions tour if his "narrow loss to the superb world champions" turns into a missed opportunity against the side who lost four in a row with only 1 being competitive.

Puja

[paddy no 11]

I'm aligned with puja on this, a complete reaming for SA would be great

[J Dory]

AB team announced:

New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 George Bridge, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Ardie Savea (c), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Quinn Tupaea

[Spy]

Barrett, Barrett, Bridge, Havili, Jordan. 33% of the starting 15 are fullbacks.

[J Dory]

20% of the starting 15 are Barretts.

[Puja]

Jeez, the one time I cheer for NZ. Where's the effortless cuffing that happens every time I cheer against them?!

Puja

[Spy]

Awful performance. Boks controlled the nature and tempo of the game. We just did not get going.

That said, better than losing.

[Spy]

20% of the starting 15 are Barretts.

Some sort of Venn diagram is probably in order.

[morepork]

Barely got out of jail there. TJ not really firing and the midfield largely absent. Credit to the Bok loosies, but come on man, you knew it was coming. Loved Joe Moody's battle with his opposite. Lineout went to poose. We are better than that and I expect nothing less than a full arse pumping of the quadrumaneous ungulates next meeting.

[J Dory]

I only saw the second half, but TJ looked off for shewer. Agree about the bok loosies, we were off the pace. We also struggled under the high ball, even with 1/3 of the team being full backs.