Author: Lee Grant

The Rugby Championship teams and others were in their third week of test matches in Europe. New Zealand was playing Wales at the Millennium Stadium before getting on the plane to go home; South Africa was in Padua to build on their Twickenham victory, against Italy; Argentina was playing a resurgent France in Paris; and Australia was in Dublin to meet Ireland, the form European team this November and the Six Nations Champions – see separate report  Jamie Roberts – one of the best for Wales #459414574 / gettyimages.com New Zealand 34 – Wales 16   by “Bardon” …

The second week of the Spring tours of the southern teams got underway on Friday afternoon in Genoa where Italy was hosting Argentina.  Australia was in Paris to play France (see separate report); New Zealand was playing Scotland at Murrayfield, but the big game was between two first-week losers: England and South Africa, at Twickenham. South Africa 31 – England 28   by “Bardon” South Africa’s five changes to their starting XV compared to England’s one, will tell you who was the happier of Meyer and Lancaster following last week’s games. This didn’t change the fact that both coaches were…

The annual chest-thumping between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere rugby teams began yesterday. Each of the four teams from The Rugby Championship had big games: New Zealand were playing the match of the round against England; South Africa, recent victors over the All Blacks were playing Six Nations’ champions, Ireland; Australia were getting back on the horse after three losses in a row, with a new coach against Wales—and Argentina was attempting to build on their historic victory over the Aussies in the TRC, against Scotland. Ireland 29 – South Africa 15 by “Brendan” Ireland were hit by the late…

The Wallabies play their first test match under new coach Michael Cheika on Saturday and we will find out quickly if they have been affected by the turmoil of recent events, or not. Wales have lost nine on the bounce to Australia, mostly by small margins—some when they were unlucky and others when they choked.  Home fans will reckon that if they are going to beat the Wallabies there is no time like the present: after the visitors shot themselves in the foot and will be limping. But, who knows? Perhaps adversity will help the cause of the Aussies; more…

The Southern Hemisphere teams are invading Europe on their end-of-year tours. The All Blacks and Springboks are in fine form as usual and will be tough to beat for any team; the Wallabies will be ready to fight back from adversity, and Los Pumas could cause some surprises this year. Here is a review of how the four teams competing in The Rugby Championship have performed, and a form guide for their visits. Wallabies The Wallabies have been in turmoil after the resignation of their coach and the appointment of a new one just days before their departure for Europe.…

The Wallabies may have been in disarray in recent weeks but they have an opportunity to get back on track in the opening game of their tour, without a lot of pressure. New coach Michael Cheika will appreciate the chance to exorcise a few demons from the team and put players through their paces in a game that is not a test match. Nor is the Wallabies’ opposition first rate.  Michael Cheika and friend – will exorcise a few demons #452828776 / gettyimages.com Barbarians The Barbarians [Baas] usually play this game at the end of the autumn test matches,…

The second round of the European Rugby Championships Cup saw some interesting rugby; some of it exciting and some intriguing, and many were dramatic. And at Franklin’s Gardens, his home ground, George North had the game of his life for Northampton. Here are reports on some of the games. #457830440 / gettyimages.com Munster 14 — Saracens 3 Munster beat Saracens on a drizzly Friday night in front of a raucous home crowd. The score was tied at the break 3-3 after a half that lacked sparkle.  The ball was hoisted in the air so often it was as though…

The new European Champions Cup competition started on the weekend in a trimmed down version of the old Heineken Cup. A few teams performed above themselves in Round One, and Munster played another one of their signature European games with a stirring finish. For those who don’t know the European Champions Cup [ERC] has a similar programme to the old Heineken Cup but instead of six pools of four, there are five pools.  With 20 teams involved instead of 24 there will be fewer easy-beats than in the past. The pool games will be held over six weekends: two in…

Brisbane City arrived at Brookvale Oval yesterday determined to bounce back from only their second loss of the season last time out — a whipping. The North Harbour Rays had a record of two losses followed by two wins and two draws. They needed another two-win sequence in the last two rounds to qualify for the finals. That was the main interest of the local Rays’ crowd, but they also wanted to have a good look at Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper on the comeback trail.  The wanted him him to play well to be ready for the Wallabies – but not…

Australian Schools made a storming comeback in the second half of their test match against NZ Schools, but although they scored 21 points in ten minutes to come within three points with eleven minutes to go, the young Kiwis steadied and finished better. First half Just before the start there was hail coming down and the Aussies looked like strangers in a strange land in the conditions. New Zealand had a breeze at their backs and 10 Ereatara Enari and 15 Jordan Trainor kicked the ball to where the Aussies weren’t, including bouncing long kicks out when they had to. The…

This last game of the 2014 Rugby Championship will be like a dance of the desperates. Argentina will have nothing to lose and will throw everything they have at the Aussies. The Wallabies will have to get their heads and bodies back in shape after the mauling they got in Cape Town. The form Argentina If their stars had been right Argentina could have won their two tests against South Africa and drawn their match against Australia. They even had some good moments against the All Blacks. Their form is not too far off that of the Aussies.  One of…

New Zealand A Schools in the guise of NZ Barbarians Schools defeated Australian Schools 34-21 today at Porirua Park in Wellington. The Aussie boys were disadvantaged by playing for all but two minutes with 14 men but they could have got closer had they played better. First half At 1 minute 53 seconds Aussie 10 Jordan Jackson-Hope tip-tackled NZ 9 Liam Howley and got red-carded. The young man was distraught about what he had done but it was a fair carding. It also ruined the match as a contest. But being a man short didn’t stop the Aussies taking the…

The North Harbour Rays beat the Perth Spirit 32-29 in their Round 5 squeaker at Brookvale yesterday helped by a hat-trick of tries from no. 8 Sam Ward. It was a must-win game for both teams who had only one victory each under their belt : the Spirit had won only their opening game of the season whereas the Rays had their first result last week in Round 4. Neither team had any regular Super Rugby players in their matchday squad but the Rays were favoured by the partisan home crowd because all but two of their starting players were…

How are the NRC law variations and other changes working? After four rounds, nearly halfway through the pool stages, it’s time to have a look. It’s also worthwhile to consider what the prospect is for these changes being adopted by World Rugby at a higher level. Nothing will be changed before the Rugby World Cup next year anyway, which means that the NRC can trial them for two seasons before they can be tested in a professional environment, most likely in 2016 Super Rugby. Scoring changes In the NRC penalty goals and drop goals are valued at two points (instead…

The last round ot the GPS was full of interest even though Scots couldn’t be over-taken as the winner of the First XV Championship. Riverview, the runners-up, wanted to spoil the Scots end-of-season party by denying them a perfect season in front of Scots’ home crowd. At the other end of the scale, wooden-spooners, Kings, was desperate to get their second win of the season, against Shore, who had to beat Kings to have a chance to get a creditable fourth placing. In between, Newington and Joeys would play for the bronze medal. Joeys v. Newington by “Lee Grant” Joeys…

The National Rugby Competition The NRC is already showing good signs after a somewhat scatty opening round of games. I have had a chance to watch seven of the eight matches from the two rounds and here are some random thoughts on the comp and the Round 2 games jotted down as I watched them. • In the two weeks I lost track of the score of the matches that weren’t on TV (because the scoreboard wasn’t featured much and there was no commentary) then realised that I didn’t care because there were more interesting things to consider than who…

Round 9 was thought to be a weekend  of delay before the showdown at Bellevue Hill next week between Scots and Riverview for the GPS chockies; but the other schools though differently. Shore was finishing the season with a wet sail and was not fazed by the challenge against View; underdogs Newington would use the leveling muddy conditions to challenge front-runners Scots—and Kings thought they could upset Joeys for the same reason. Shore v Riverview by “Tahspark” Two teams desperate for the points for contrasting reasons. Shore, keen to give their supporters a long awaited home win after numerous close…

St. Augustine’s College won the Waratah Shield for the sixth time in seven years at the T G Millner field yesterday. Coach John Papahatzis, who had previously taken St. Edmunds College to five consecutive titles, achieved the distinction of coaching teams to tournament victory eleven times  in twelve attempts. St. Augustine’s College 20 — Oakhill College 10 Although there were showers throughout the final they weren’t as heavy as some of them in the earlier Waratah Cup match—but the ground was heavy from days of intermittent rain. When the game started the ball was dry and a bit of expansive…

Scots v. Shore  by “Jasdec” It was wet and wild at Bellevue Hill. First Half It was a quick start by Scots with (15) Guy Porter making a good break which was followed up by (9) Theo Strang passing to (7) Charlie Smith who found (12) Angus Crichton outside him to score next to the posts.  When he converted his try the score was 7-0 to Scots after three minutes and the majority of the crowd were expecting an early blowout. However Shore had other ideas. Shore came straight back with a great run by their captain (7) Jum…

The Bledisloe the Wallabies lost The Wallabies lost that Bledisloe match in Sydney last Saturday. When you have an All Black player absent for 20 minutes in a close game and you enjoy two-thirds of possession and territory you have to win. I have just had a chance to start watching my replay of the Bledisloe having been at the ground on Saturday night after running through a downpour to get inside the stadium. I had no idea if my seat was under cover or not, but luckily it was, just. It’s strange to watch a replay when you have…