Rugby Union - He's been doing it all day.

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Argentina v Wales

Therein lies a fundamental difference between English and Welsh rugby, I recall thinking to myself, as I enviously read that England had defeated Argentina for the second week in succession. A feat, I marked as particularly impressive due to the fact the victory had been achieved by an England side devoid of their Lions stars. I was convinced that the quality within the Welsh ranks didn’t run deep enough to front Argentina in their own backyard and come up with a W. 

Fast forward a year, and it’s a case of what do I know. Clinical A and dominant D, and I’m talking Shaun Edwards style dominant, were the driving force behind a victory in San Juan that puts Wales half way to matching the achievement of their English counterparts 

Post match, Warren Gatland, spoke of a street fight mentality that Wales had planned on bringing to the party. A mentality that manifested in the combative defensive effort. That said, it is perhaps a disappointment that Cubby didn’t take it more literally and go full street fighter, by giving it the Hadouken as a celebration, when he was the beneficiary of a Hallam Amos, cat flap/chicken wing/offload to cross in the corner, setting Wales on their way. A try, no doubt enjoyed by the Scarlets’ loose forward, but it was his breakdown work that ensured that he is now, if he wasn’t before, a full part of the Welsh back row conundrum, no bones about it. 

Gatland, forever a coach who thrives on seeing how his players respond to being put under pressure, will have enjoyed the performance and victory as much for the message it sends to the rested establishment as any sense of personal gratification. Kudos to the kids.

Perhaps the Welsh pool does have a deep end. Next weekend should give us a better idea...the danger of a wounded Puma, and all that. 

Australia v Ireland

I’m not certain, but I think this was what the experts call a ‘proper test match’. High tempo, robustness a plenty and sprinkles of the razzle dazzle. 

What might have been for the Irish, if Stander had found grass rather than wallaby limbs when he crossed the whitewash. James Ryan, no doubt fuming with CJ for this grounding ineptitude, in a manner perhaps only Mark William Calaway aka The Undertaker, could begin to comprehend. The streak is dead.

Good on Joe Schmidt for his selection, Joey Carbery went ok and will be better for the experience, whenever he needs to call on it. Go with him again next week. Think long term. 

As for Michael Cheika, give the bloke an A for his homework. A couple of big hits from his fellas early doors, to foil trademark Irish run around plays, set the tone for a performance that Australian Rugby bloody well needed. Oh, and the mechanical cat, that can stay. 

South Africa v England

Having predicted a comfortable England win, I sat smug as England raced to an early lead. I was already spending my 5 sterling winnings, true wealth. George Ford doing his bit to fend off the popular calls for Cipriani to start...the pass to Jonny May, lovely stuff. 

Then South Africa did what South African Rugby does best, it went bonkers. For once, this yielded positive results. Try after try, as England battled to put out the altitude induced lung fires that crippled their ability to stop the bokke renaissance. 

Opinion polls taken post match showed that local viewers hadn’t enjoyed blonde flowing locks that much since Baywatch first aired. Faf de Klerk, bossed it.

Don’t you worry, Eddie, it’s going to be alright. But boy your boys could do with a win next Saturday. Less penalties, more tackles. 

New Zealand v France

Red card? Absolutely. Unconscious bias? Who knows. Probably not.

Can’t really be getting these calls wrong anymore. Definite red. pic.twitter.com/oUnWUqiM8s
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) June 9, 2018

Make sure that the citing process does its job though. Not a good look for Rugby Union otherwise.

The disciplinary talking points detract from how good the All Blacks were in the second half. Although, when that level of quality becomes the norm, it ceases to be a decent point of discussion. The machine just keeps rolling, steam rolling. 

Bring on next week. 

Why was everyone wearing yellow boots?

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