Month: September 2021

New Zealand cruised to a Bledisloe Cup clean sweep in 2021 thanks to a 38-21 victory over Australia in Perth, despite the first-half dismissal of Jordie Barrett. 

The All Blacks had lost 47-26 on their previous trip to Optus Stadium in August 2019 but there was to be no repeat result for the Wallabies, who had already lost twice to their trans-Tasman rivals in Auckland last month. 

Beauden Barrett kicked a pair of penalties to make it 6-0 to the visitors before putting his boot to good use in open play too, a clever grubber creating the chance for brother Jordie Barrett to get the opening try of the game. 

However, the full-back’s involvement in the contest only lasted a further 12 minutes. Claiming a high ball, he caught Marika Koroibete in the face with an outstretched boot while still in the air, leading to a contentious red card for dangerous contact with the head. 

Despite being down to 14, New Zealand extended their lead before the break to 18-0 when David Havili grabbed the first of his two tries, the other coming just after the hour mark as the second half saw a glut of points. 

Folau Fainga’a gave Australia hope 10 minutes after the interval with a try that Noah Lolesio converted, yet the All Blacks responded impressively, moving the ball across the line for wing Will Jordan to waltz over. 

They also exploited turnovers ruthlessly, both Havili and substitute George Bridge crossing after Australia had lost possession, the latter benefiting from a superb kick into space by TJ Perenara.  

In between, Anton Lienert-Brown went over from Akira Ioane’s inside pass near the touchline, New Zealand easing to a bonus-point triumph that sends them top of the Rugby Championship standings after two rounds. 

Substitute Nic White forced his way over for a second Wallabies try, while they had the last say in terms of the scoring with Tom Banks’ 79th-minute effort converted by Reece Hodge, but the hosts were already condemned to another heavy loss that leaves them bottom of the table. 

Where there’s a Will, there’s a way

Jordan’s second-half try means he has now scored in six consecutive Test appearances, the best streak by any player from a Tier 1 nation since the beginning of 2010. His latest effort was put on a plate for him by his team-mates, with the impressive Ioane breaking free of a tackle to create the simple finish after some neat handling had stretched the Australian defence out wide.

Barrett off, All Blacks still march on

Koroibete was certainly at the centre of the early action. He had already seen a try ruled out by the TMO by the time he was hit by Jordie Barrett’s boot. However, the Wallabies were unable to capitalise when having an extra man on the field, with the competition’s rules allowing a replacement to come on after a 20-minute period.

New Zealand pulled further clear at the top of the Rugby Championship standings and closed on the title with a 36-13 victory over Argentina in Brisbane.

The All Blacks were as dominant in this nominal away Test as they had been in the previous clash last week, even if the scoreline was this time a little closer.

Patrick Tuipulotu, TJ Perenara, Tupou Vaa’i (twice) and Samisoni Taukei’aho each contributed tries for a fourth bonus-point win from four to move Ian Foster’s men 10 points clear of South Africa ahead of a double-header against the world champions.

New Zealand had to wait only until the sixth minute for their opening try, as Will Jordan carried to the line after a break from Hoskins Sotutu, before Tuipulotu’s power got the ball over.

After Emiliano Boffelli’s penalty ensured Argentina would not go scoreless for a third straight Test against the All Blacks, the Pumas were soon on the back foot again.

New Zealand had a further three tries – for Jordan and Rieko Ioane twice – ruled out before half-time, but they were still able to successfully cross twice more, with Perenara stooping through following a scrum and pressure on the stroke of the interval producing a simple score for Vaa’i in the corner.

A flowing move from left to right created space for Taukei’aho after the restart, although Boffelli’s excellent stretching catch on the left then allowed him to get the ball grounded before he was taken into touch by a combination of Jordie Barrett and Jordan.

That prompted an improved Argentina spell, yet the All Blacks countered effectively and Vaa’i was unmarked to complete the scoring.

Will makes it work… eventually

Jordan was influential in much of the All Blacks’ best work, but he was also involved in two of their disallowed tries. The wing was just ahead of Taukei’aho before racing through to score and then played a forward pass of his own to Ioane following a superb take from Damian McKenzie’s kick.

Jordan got it right for the first try of the second half, however, unloading a superb ball to Taukei’aho.

Celebration against the Springboks?

The All Blacks have now won nine Tests on the bounce, last enjoying a longer run between August 2015 and October 2016 (18 wins), and the next one should be special – their 100th meeting with the Springboks.

Anything less than a bonus-point South Africa win, with New Zealand failing to earn a losing bonus, would see last year’s Tri-Nations champions crowned again.

The 2021-22 Gallagher Premiership season gets underway on Friday and we are set for another thrilling campaign.

The returning Saracens will hope to catch up on lost ground to battle with the likes of champions Harlequins, Exeter and Bristol Bears for the top prize.

Many stars will hope to make an impact when the campaign gets going — we pick out our five to watch.

Alfie Barbeary (Wasps)

Simply put, if injury hadn’t disrupted 20-year-old hooker Alfie Barbeary’s campaign last season, then we would be talking about him as an England international.

Barbeary announced himself with an eye-catching hat-trick playing out of position as a flanker against Leicester on his debut.

He is only the second player to do that in the Premiership but repeated injury struggles stunted his progress in 2021.

After Barbeary picked up the December Player of the Month award, former England back Ugo Monye said: “We forget he’s still so young and hasn’t played a lot of rugby but every single time he plays he always catches the eye. 

“I think he’s an international in waiting. He looks like quite a special talent.”

Louis Lynagh (Harlequins)

Two stunning late tries in last season’s final saw Louis Lynagh enter the Harlequins history books as they secured their first title for nine years with a 40-38 victory over Exeter.

Son of Australia great Michael Lynagh — who retired in 1995 as the record international points scorer with 911 — the 20-year-old is not short of expectation on his shoulders going into the new campaign.

Billy Millard, the Harlequins general manager, said: “He is his own man. Michael is an amazing dad, but he is forging his own reputation. He is a special player.”

Adam Radwan (Newcastle)

Another winger who will no doubt be a man to watch for defences all season is Newcastle flyer Adam Radwan.

The 23-year-old capped off an impressive 2021-21 season in which he scored 36 tries in 46 appearances by scoring three for England against Canada at Twickenham over the summer.

After Radwan’s international bow, Red Rose head coach Eddie Jones said: “He is quick, lightning quick. Sometimes we can’t see him at training he is that quick.

“We rolled the dice, brought him into camp and every week he has grown. He is a hard worker, a hard trainer, wants to learn.”

Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

After captaining England to the Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, this could be the season Jack van Poortvliet makes his Leicester breakthrough.

The rising star is not short of competition with veteran international Ben Youngs fighting for the No9 shirt but he has been tipped by Sir Clive Woodward to make impact this campaign.

The 2003 World Cup-winning coach told the Mail: “I would look out for Leicester’s 20-year-old Jack van Poortvliet, a silky smooth nine with a great break. England really do have so much talent!”

Josh Hodge (Exeter)

Competition is high in the back line at Exeter Chiefs but 21-year-old Josh Hodge could have what it takes to earn a place in the side this season.

His first Chiefs try last season was a memorable one after a solo run against Gloucester, and he has already been compared to Exeter and England regular Jack Nowell by Exeter boss Rob Baxter.

He said last season: “I remember with Jack Nowell, you could start to see there was something special about him – there was always some way of him getting his momentum. 

“That’s an attribute that Josh looks like he’s got and will only improve as he physically matures.”

Aaron Smith will play no further part in the Rugby Championship as the New Zealand scrum-half awaits the birth of his second child.

Smith started both victories over Australia at Eden Park last month but did not travel to face them in Perth at the start of September and was absent for last weekend’s 39-0 win over Argentina.

The playmaker will also miss the upcoming clash with the Pumas and back-to-back showdowns with world champions South Africa, as he did not want to risk missing the arrival of his second child, which is due in November.

Smith will stay at home, with no guarantees he would secure a managed isolation space if he had to fly home earlier than expected.

The 32-year-old will instead play for Manawatu in the Bunnings Cup.

Smith could also miss the All Blacks’ tour of the United States and Europe.

He said: “The door isn’t completely closed to me joining the team for the Northern Tour if our baby comes early. 

“In this environment anything can happen, so I’ve got an open mind. At the moment though, I just want to focus on being here with my family and enjoying that time and playing for Manawatu. I can’t wait to get the boots on again.”

TJ Perenara and Brad Weber will battle it out for New Zealand’s number nine shirt in the absence of Smith.

Quade Cooper made a sensational match-winning return as Australia got up and running in the Rugby Championship with a last-gasp 28-26 victory over South Africa on Sunday. 

Following back-to-back defeats to New Zealand to start the competition, veteran fly-half Cooper was named in the starting line-up for the visit of the world champions – his first international appearance since June 2017. 

The 33-year-old’s kicking was exemplary, slotting through a seventh penalty and eighth successful kick of the game from 40 metres with the clock in the red to snatch the win at the death. 

Handre Pollard and Cooper scored two penalties apiece before Siya Kolisi’s yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Tom Banks was pounced upon by Australia.

Samu Kerevi’s excellent pass released Andrew Kellaway, who cut in off the right wing and dived in behind the posts. 

The Springboks responded well and Bongi Mbonambi powered over from the back of a driving maul after Matt Philip was sent to the sin bin for repeated ruck infringements, but the Wallabies still took an eight-point lead into the break. 

Willie Le Roux was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in the 52nd minute and he was joined in the bin by Folau Fainga’a before replacement hooker Malcolm Marx touched down in the middle of another driving maul. 

Marx did likewise in the 72nd minute for his second try to put the Springboks in front, but Damian Willemse made a costly miss when attempting to convert from the tee. 

And after South Africa conceded a penalty at the death for not releasing on the ground, Cooper made them pay with a winning kick. 

Quade a display

He may have made 70 previous appearances for the Wallabies, but Cooper only scored 10 points or more in six of those matches. His 23 points against South Africa was consequently his best display for his country.

Hooper at the heart

Cooper may have taken the headlines, but Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper was formidable in the pack. He made two of his team’s three clean breaks and did not miss any of his eight tackles.

Quade Cooper will make a remarkable return for the Wallabies after being named to play for the first time since 2017 when Australia face South Africa on Sunday.

Cooper had been part of Australia’s squad for the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, but was not used in any of the three Tests which the All Blacks comfortably won.

Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has rolled the dice for the Rugby Championship showdown against South Africa on the Gold Coast, with 33-year-old Cooper named at fly-half, displacing 21-year-old Noah Lolesio.

Cooper’s career has taken several turns since his last cap in 2017 against Italy, frozen out at Brad Thorn’s Reds in Super Rugby, before a one-year stint at the Rebels and a move to play in Japan in 2019.

“He’s had a really positive impact since joining the group, put pressure on us as selectors and he’s excited to get out there and perform on Sunday night,” Rennie said.

Angus Bell will earn his first start in the front-row, while Izack Rodda also comes into the starting line-up, with the backline unchanged.

Wallabies hooker Feleti Kaitu’u and back-rower Rob Leota are in line for debuts off the bench.

The match will see Australia captain Michael Hooper equal George Gregan’s record for most Tests as Wallabies skipper when he steps out for the 59th time.

Meanwhile, Brodie Retallick has been named as captain for New Zealand after a head knock to Ardie Savea ahead of their Test against Argentina on Sunday.

Hooker Asafo Aumua will make his first Test start for the All Blacks, while prop Joe Moody returns following foot surgery via the bench.

“Brodie is a great leader in this team and we don’t take his leadership for granted,” said All Blacks coach Ian Foster. “We think this is a great honour for him, and he and his family can be hugely proud. 

“He’s playing really well and leads from the front. He has come back into the black jersey this year and just picked up where he left off.

“He also has an experienced partner in Beaudy [Barrett] alongside him who is bringing a calmness to the team and a sense of direction and we’re seeing that in the way he plays.”

Australia: Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Tate McDermott; Angus Bell, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Izack Rodda, Matt Philip, Lachlan Swinton, Michael Hooper, Rob Valetini.
Replacements: Feleti Kaitu’u, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia.

New Zealand: Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, George Bridge, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Karl Tu’inukuafe, Asafo Aumua, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Joe Moody, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’I, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane.