In this week's newsletter, Scotty discusses the All Blacks retaining the Bledisloe Cup, the Breakers' solid season-opening win against Brisbane, and the Pumas pounce on the Boks.
Answers in short supply as problems persist
Let's get the good bit out of the way. The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup but not without withstanding a late onslaught from the Wallabies, one compounded by a recurring tendency to lose discipline late in matches.
A win is a win at this level unless, as was the case before the Sydney showdown, the All Blacks' fans were expecting a trouncing of their trans-Tasman neighbours. It looked odds on to be one, too, when the All Blacks shot out to a 21-0 lead after 16 minutes.
The concession of the Fraser McReight try to close the opening quarter was soft, certainly by this team's standards, so when they bounced back to restore the 21-point advantage through Ardie Savea, you could have been forgiven for thinking the Wallabies’ opening score was a mere aberration.
Apparently not.
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The All Blacks look supremely confident in their set plays, but still haven't quite found their groove when it comes to creating something a little more off-piste. They have a freewheeling 10 on McKenzie, who can shoulder some but not all blame for the All Blacks' final quarter woes, which were on show again on Saturday. One of the reasons this ball playing team is struggling in the close: they don’t have the ball. More of that is outlined in this morning's column.
This correspondent would urge caution to those wanting to see someone other than McKenzie at 10 – babies and bathwater and all that jazz. However, it was obvious in the post-match analysis that the coach’s patience is being sorely tested, and a definitive demonstration of game control is required this weekend, in one of the toughest places to operate.
Pumas pounce on Boks travelling battalion
The Springboks should be flying home from Argentina today as Champions of the Southern Hemisphere, but instead they may be reviewing the dictionary definition of hubris, and wondering if they truly have as much test match depth as they would like the world to believe.
The Pumas have once again caused a boil over, creating a piece of history for themselves with wins over all their Rugby Championship opponents. Their 29-28 victory in Santiago del Estero was built on true grit, and an ability to hold their nerve when the pressure really started to mount.
This much is true – it was not a day for the kickers. In all, six shots were missed: – three for the Pumas, and three for the Boks, including a 79th minute Kurt Arendse dropped kick and an 80th minute Marnie Libbok penalty attempt, either of which would have given South Africa the win.
Impressively, Argentina still has a chance to win the Rugby Championship, though the odds are against them repeating the dose in Nelspruit this weekend. Take nothing away from the heart of this team though.
The South Africans are not the only ones to bring brute strength to the party. Argentina showed they can match up with the best of them.
Breakers win big against Brisbane in solid season opener
The Breakers faithful had reason to celebrate over the weekend as the Aucklanders travelled to Perth to play Brisbane in what would have to go down as one of the most geographically challenged opening fixtures ever planned. The game, the first in a groundbreaking season-long deal with TVNZ+ , should have been decided by more than four points, with the Breakers controlling the first three-quarters only to go cold in the fourth, during which they were outscored 35-19.
Head coach Petteri Koponen, making his NBL debut, was measured in his response to the result but suggested he had seen the signs in the pre-season and Blitz, during which the Breakers had not won a competitive game.
The Breakers owed plenty to former Taipans rookie Sam Mennenga, who top scored with 22 points and collected 7 rebounds in a best on floor performance. Filling in for the suspended Freddie Gillespie, Mennenga was able to control the defence for long periods, and his ability to step up will have give the coach and the team plenty of confidence.
Patel gives Black Caps a shot at Galle history
Things might be looking a lot different when you wake up to Sidelines this morning, but as this correspondence was being filed, New Zealand were 224 runs short of a first-ever test victory in Galle, with Williamson having just succumbed to a Jayasuriya delivery and Latham reprising their first innings combination on a fiercely turning wicket.
They owe their position – not quite favourites, but certainly not out of the race – to Ajaz Patel, who must feel like the forgotten man of New Zealand cricket during home summers, but who once again mustered all his sub-continent guile and skill to take 6-90 as Sri Lanka lost their last 5 wickets for 33 runs.
It was an appalling collapse from the home side, and one that opened the door for the Black Caps at a crucial time in the game, failing as they did to get through the first session after the rest day. The question for all this morning will be this: Have the Black Caps learned the lessons from the first innings' fades, or will the Galle wicket have the final say?
Tedesco brilliance gives Roosters shot at GF
There won't be too many punters in agreeance with this, but the Roosters' humiliation of the Manly Sea Eagles in Saturday night’s eliminator was evidence to this correspondent at least that they are more than a starter’s chance against the Storm in the preliminary final this weekend.
Long shot or not, the form of James Tedesco was breathtaking, scoring two tries and figuring in plenty more as the Roosters got up 40-16.
Yes, the Storm at home is a nightmare assignment but if Easts can carry over the confidence gained in Sydney, there is every reason to believe they will be competitive. Their fellow eliminator victor, the Sharks, have a much tougher assignment against a Panthers side marching to the tune of not one but two Clearys.
One of the best things about the NRL finals is the fact that the superstars always show up when it counts. That is the joy of the sport and the season structure. There are two preliminary finals this week that boast galactic star power, and no league fan will want to miss either.
Coming up this week
WHITEFERNS - The New Zealanders faced up to Australia in the second of three World Cup warm-up T20is in Queensland overnight. After competing well in the first match, all eyes were on the return of captain Sophie Devine (in a bat-only role) and the spinners, with Eden Carson in the side for Leigh Kasparek.
We'll have coverage of the match and the result here.
AMERICA’S CUP - It’s the calm before the storm in Barcelona as the final two challengers prepare to duke it out later this week. The Italians finally eased past Alinghi to set up their showdown with the Brits, who looked more comfortable in their semifinal victory over the Americans.
This is all about the helms, with Jimmy Spithill and Sir Ben Ainslie sure to fire shots at each other in the lead-up to racing. Advantage Luna Rosa, but don’t count the Brits out just yet.
ALL BLACKS - There will be much interest in the injury updates this week, with Jordie Barrett the All Blacks’ biggest worry after the Bledisloe test. Barrett is believed to have injured his Medial Cruciate ligament (MCL) in the left knee, and scans are expected to reveal the extent of the damage, and possible return time frames.
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