Realise I'm a bit late to the party - in fact its pretty much already finished - but a few comments on the Rugby Championship matches this weekend...thought that the Aus vs New Zealand match was one of the poorest Bledisloe Cup matches I've ever watched. Over zealous refereeing didn't help, but the biggest concern for both sides were the error rates. I realise Kurtley Beale hasn't played for a few weeks since the Waratahs bombed out of Super Rugby before the play offs, but I can't remember an international fullback playing poorer. Pocock was taken care of, Genia surprisingly quiet by his standards, and without the x-factor of O'Connor and Cooper Australia looked like a mid-table Super Rugby side. Actually, come to think of it they were filled with Waratahs after all. Digby Ioane and Nathan Sharpe the only players to really impress me.
Despite the aweful Wallabies performance, to think that they were still within 7 points as the siren sounded says something about the rusty All Black effort. Israel Dagg aside, plenty to work on. I thought Mealamu and Romano were the pick of the forwards, and it was particularly pleasing to see the line-up working so well despite so little locking experience. No need for Ali Williams to return to the side as far as I'm concerned. What is a little concerning is that Hosea Gear is turning into New Zealand rugby's Mark Ramprakash.
I only caught the game in Cape Town on replay yesterday, and thought South Africa were very strong. Losing Bismark early, and not having JP Pietersen, Burger, Brussouw, etc. might've left them vulnerable but it was anything but that. I think a better judge of Argentina's competitiveness will come from their efforts at home so this weekend's match should be a closer encounter. I do fear for them on their Australia and New Zealand tour though.
