The Lineout

It’s time for the excuses to end and progress to be shown as Canada starts out on the road to World Cup qualification

This weekend sees Canada take on the USA in St. John’s for the first of two critical World Cup qualifiers against the Americans. Saturday’s proceedings and the follow up in Denver a week later will determine whether Canada will be competing for the Americas 1 berth in Pool A. If Canada do not win the two game series on aggregate then they still have a chance at qualifying for the Americas 2 berth in Pool D. Whichever way you cut it it’s a difficult route for a team that simply hasn’t fired a genuine shot in anger for several years now and sits 22nd on the World Rankings Table.

Here’s what Canada’s route to the World Cup looks like in a nutshell. If they win the series against the US over the next two weekends, then they will play Uruguay twice next month. If they win that series on aggregrate then that Americas 1 berth in Pool A is theirs. If they lose this series against the USA then they will play Chile next month in a two match series. If they win that then they will play the runner up between the USA and Uruguay which would have decided who got the Americas 1 berth. If they beat either the US or Uruguay then the Americas 2 berth in Pool D is theirs. If they win neither series then next November, similar to their qualification process for the last World Cup, they will compete with three other countries in a repechage tournament for the last spot in Pool C. Considering that to qualify for the first two berths up for grabs they would have to beat the US and Uruguay at least twice, teams they haven’t had a good track record against in recent years, then the magnitude of the task in front them becomes rather clear.

There is sadly no denying that Canada has deteriorated dramatically since the 2015 World Cup, and their win rate under Coach Kingsley Jones who has held the reigns since 2017 has been poor to say the least. In short they are a poorly coached and managed team. Patience and excuses are running out at a rate of knots, and Canada and Jones simply have to put the past behind them and show on Saturday that there finally is the glimmer of a new dawn for Canada in International Test rugby.

We find it really painful to appear so disparaging of our national team. At the heart of it all is a squad of talented and highly motivated players whose commitment has never been in doubt. However, we feel they are constantly being asked to play with one hand tied behind their backs. So with bated breath and fingers crossed here’s what got us talking about Saturday’s proceedings.

Canada vs USA – Saturday, September 4th – St. John’s, Newfoundland

If you ever want a place where a crowd will get behind you, we could think of few better places in this land of ours than Newfoundland. Newfoundland hospitality and generosity is the stuff of legends, and as a result the team will have felt very much at home this past week. Hopefully that atmosphere will provide the perfect setting for the kind of performance and results that have sadly been lacking for the last few years. Canada has the squad to do it against the US, but focus and execution will be key and all too often the absence of these two essential qualities have let the side down.

Sure there have been plenty of excuses, but they are sounding increasingly hollow. The vast majority of these players have just completed a full season of Major League rugby with the various participating franchises. While Canada has only played two Tests since the last World Cup, the same can be said of the US. In short, in terms of difficulties faced, primarily as a result of COVID-19 it’s a level playing field for both sides. Most of these players know each other well through the MLR, and Canadians are well represented across the league. Enough said, it’s time for the rugby to do the talking.

One player who has proved his mettle and another who needs to

**America’s Nate Brakeley was part of the USA’s second half revival against England and Canada’s Conor Keys needs a similar moment on Saturday**

One of the most fascinating and potentially entertaining struggles on Saturday will be in the second row. We felt the USA’s Nate Brakeley made a real impact when he came off the bench against England this summer, even if he fell dramatically short of the mark a week later against Ireland. However, Keys is a player of similar stature and ability and in the regular MLR season was one of the standout players for Rugby Atlanta who finished second in the league. A highly capable player at club level, Keys really needs to make his mark on the International scene and the next two Saturdays will provide him with golden opportunities. The talent is there and he definitely has age on his side compared to Brakeley.

A player who demands and earns respect no matter what jersey he wears

**Toronto Arrows and Canada Captain Lucas Rumball’s work ethic and commitment are second to none**

Captain and powerful back rower Lucas Rumball, will be one of Canada’s greatest assets on Saturday. His quiet but forceful leadership has served him well both in the MLR and at Test level. At only 26 years of age he is such a vital cog in the spine of this Canadian team, that he is well on his way to live amongst Canadian legends such as Al Charron. He has impressed us from day one in a Canadian jersey since he first burst onto the scene in 2016. A player who wears his heart on his sleeve, never says die and is clearly such a talisman for his fellow teammates, Saturday’s match is a golden opportunity for the Ontario native to really lay down a marker that Canada’s recent woes are behind them.

All he needs is consistency

**American number 8 Cameron Dolan is outstanding when he’s on song, but his form is far too mercurial for the USA to make him their go to man**

Cam Dolan was a key component of the USA’s second half revival against England this summer, and scored a fine try of his own. However, a week later against Ireland he was nowhere to be seen. It’s that lack of consistency in his performances that Coach Gary Gold and the Eagles management need to address. Dolan is a quality player through and through and his ability is not in question, but sadly his consistency is. The USA will need a big game from him on Saturday. He is up against Canada’s Siaki Vikilani, who although impressive for the Toronto Arrows in his rookie season was seen to be be completely out of his depth against England and Wales. So if ever there was a chance for Dolan to lay down a marker that he is the premier number 8 this side of the Atlantic, then Saturday’s the day.

The duelling Irish

**Canada’s Peter Nelson and the USA’s AJ MacGinty are both Irish imports, but so far it’s the Eagle who has shown his pedigree**

Although AJ MacGinty starts on the bench for the Eagles, expect to see him sooner rather than later. This will only be the American fly half’s first match since injuring his knee with English premiership side Sale Sharks in June. However, his rehabilitation post surgery has gone well and there is no denying the pedigree he brings to the side. He has been a key part of Sale Sharks’ success in the Premiership, and brings a formidable talent with the boot and his game management to the Eagles efforts.

Sadly we just can’t seem to say the same of his fellow countryman Peter Nelson who plies his trade as Canada’s fly half on International duty and with French second division outfit Aurillac at club level. Although impressing with Ulster in his early career, there has been little evidence of that early promise since coming to Canada. The only thing that Nelson can perhaps bank on is that as much of a shocker as he had against Wales and England this summer, his opposite starter Will Magie for the Americans has had very little game time at International level in the last two years, having only played for 11 minutes in the USA’s horror show against Ireland.

Don’t leave your Coats at the door!

**Canadian fullback Cooper Coats is perhaps the most exciting thing to happen to Canadian rugby in years**

In short we want to see lots of Cooper Coats on Saturday. His American counterpart Luke Carty had an absolute shocker against Ireland, admittedly in the fly half berth which is his more usual position. However, despite Canada’s thumping defeats to Wales and England, Coats needed to make no apologies for his performances in both matches. His defence may need a little work, but as an attacking player who is exceptionally solid and courageous under the high ball, Canada has been given an early Christmas present. Coats is the real deal and has made a seamless transition from sevens to the fifteen a side game. Like we say his defence needs a bit of work given his sevens background, but expect to see him carving up large chunks of the pitch on Saturday, while the Americans will not want any kind of kicking game that allows Coats to use his abilities in the air.

It should be a fascinating encounter. Despite our frustration that it is being put behind a paywall through Premier Sports instead of through TSN, causing us to fork out yet more money to watch our beloved sport in this country and to add insult to injury cheer on our own national team – we’ll be making plenty of noise on Saturday afternoon. We’ve felt for the players at how badly the game is being managed at an International level in this country for the last 6 years, but are really hoping that Saturday will finally allow us to move on from the past and look towards the future. The Americans may perhaps be the more confident of the two sides, but on paper it’s still an even contest. Canada simply has to play for a full eighty minutes against a quality opponent and not, as they so often do, switch off for a crucial 15 minutes around the 60 minute mark.

This is Canada’s game to win and while it won’t be easy, we’re really hoping a little bit of that Newfoundland magic and can do attitude will rub off on them. So with bated breath and every finger and toe crossed – Go Canada Go!!!

South Africa bring out the big guns, while Argentina decide to play some wild cards in the final meeting of the two sides in this year’s Rugby Championship

South Africa decided to take a chance last weekend with some of their younger up and coming players, and were rewarded handsomely with a comprehensive victory over a full strength Argentinian side. This weekend it’s Argentina’s turn to roll the dice, as their youngsters are given a shot at the World Champions and all their big guns. There are still plenty of wise and experienced heads in the forwards, but in the backs Pumas Coach Mario Ledesma has decided to throw caution to the wind and see how his newer charges face up to an increasingly impressive looking Springbok outfit.

It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from the Pumas All Stars last weekend, juxtaposed against a clinical and for the most part ruthlessly efficient and physical challenge from the Springboks. Furthermore, while the Pumas struggled to string any attacking plays together, South Africa’s three tries were a joy to behold and which made a mockery of the recent allegation that the Springboks brand of rugby is boring. If that’s boring then I guess you could start using espresso coffee as a sedative. In short we thoroughly enjoyed it! More of the same please gentlemen.

Argentina weren’t necessarily all that bad, but appeared to be trying things that were simply far too complicated at times. Rugby is a very simple game in reality, and Argentina would do well to go back to the basics this weekend. Some of the passing moves if they had worked would have been spectacular, but the problem was they weren’t working and as the game wore on they just became desperate. With it the Pumas frustration levels mounted, their discipline went out the window and South Africa was able to deny Argentina any kind of momentum. South Africa weren’t perfect, but they got so many of the basics right compared to Argentina’s efforts at trying to reinvent the wheel, that it ultimately ended up being a very one sided contest.

Argentina should be better this week, but South Africa are building up an impressive head of steam after their Lions series win and last weekend’s dismantling of a quality Pumas outfit (at least on paper). So here’s what got us talking about this weekend’s second round of action in Port Elizabeth.

A long awaited start and time to make his mark again

**South African Hooker Malcolm Marx has spent much off his time coming off the bench of late, and he will be keen to reestablish himself as a starter**

Springbok Hooker Malcolm Marx gets the nod as the starting 2 for the first time since South Africa’s opening match of the World Cup against New Zealand, if you can believe it. Since then Bongi Mbonambi has been the preferred starting option with Marx coming on as part of the now famous “Bomb Squad”. This Saturday the roles are reversed and Mbonambi leads the high explosive charge off the bench. Marx’s performances haven’t quite hit the highs he established leading up to the World Cup, so Saturday’s dustup with Argentina will be a golden opportunity to reestablish his dominance of the jersey for South Africa. He’ll be up against an able opponent in the shape of Argentina’s Julian Montoya, but accuracy at lineout time has been problematic for both sides of late. When Marx is on song he is arguably one of the best in the world, but he needs to find the form that made him such a force leading up to the World Cup. We saw glimmers of it during the Lions Tour and last weekend, but this weekend the Springboks will be hoping for some vintage Marx.

Just don’t make him angry!

**Pumas second rower Tomas Lavanini seems to have got his temper under control, but he’s still a player that can be costly to Argentina if** **a good natured discussion about gardening techniques gets out of hand**

Once Argentina’s poster boy for red cards, giant second rower Tomas Lavanini is not someone it’s wise to mess with. He does seem to have got his temper slightly under control, and there is no denying the kind of physicality he brings to Argentina’s forward pack. He is the Pumas enforcer provided he can stay on the right side of the referee. Fortunately for him, he won’t have South Africa’s master mood rattler Eben Etzebeth to contend with and trying to wind him up this Saturday. Instead it’s Marvin Orie who will have to try and keep him in check, and despite Lavanini’s temperament and card history, he may be just the player Argentina need to unsettle what was last week one of South Africa’s most effective units. He will be ably assisted by Matias Alemanno, and provided that they stay the right side of the referee’s whistle they could make life very difficult for Orie who has yet to impress in the green jersey for South Africa.

Do NOT kick the ball to this man!!!

**South African number 8 Jaspar Wiese hit all the high notes last weekend**

Seriously don’t – just don’t! Springbok number 8 Jaspar Wiese was Man of the Match last weekend and deservedly so. In only his third start for South Africa he made life an absolute misery for Argentina last Saturday in Port Elizabeth. Admittedly the Pumas struggled to learn from their mistakes and insisted on constantly kicking the ball to him, but he was simply imperious under the high ball. He carried, he tackled, he made turnovers and as already mentioned caught every ball that came his way and made decent meters with every catch. Unfortunately, Argentina’s Rodrigo Bruni despite his superb sprint to try and prevent the Cobus Reinach try, simply couldn’t match Wiese in his effectiveness.

Remember when Malcolm Marx burst onto the scene and we all sat around asking “who is this guy”? Well we had a similar sense of deja vu last Saturday. It was an outstanding performance from start to finish from the Springbok rookie and it looks like there is lots more to come. If he keeps this up, expect him to get the nod to start against the All Blacks next month even if the legendary Duane Vermeulen is fit by then.

A different kind of Faf

Scrum half Cobus Reinach has shown in his last two outings for South Africa that losing Faf de Klerk to injury hasn’t quite been the end of the world

Reinach’s brilliant solo try last weekend which saw him sprint almost the entire length of the pitch, was a sight to behold. When it comes to entertainment value it doesn’t get much better than that. However, there was far more to Reinach’s performance in last Saturday’s match than simply that spectacular piece of razzle dazzle. His kicking was almost perfect and caused all kinds of problems for Argentina particularly if it had Jaspar Wiese’s name on it. He effected a superb turnover and provided crisp service to his forwards. Occasionally he missed the odd tackle, but overall that was a pretty solid performance and made Argentina’s pair of Felipe Ezcurra and Gonzalo Bertranou seem inconsequential by comparison. He’ll face up to Bertranou for much of Saturday’s match and as a result may not have such an easy ride of it, but we’d still argue that he is the class offering at nine in Port Elizabeth this weekend.

Who is Ignacio Mendy?

You may not know him now, but if he get to do this sort of thing on Saturday you soon will

A fair question as Argentina’s Coach Mario Ledesma rolls the dice and let’s the world have a look at under 20s sensation and more recently Tokyo Olympics Sevens bronze medallist, Ignacio Mendy. It’s a tall order to earn your first Test cap against the World Champions on their own turf. Furthermore, your opposite number, South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi seems to be in a class of his own right now. Still what an opportunity for the 21 year old fullback, who for this match will ply his trade on the right wing even if it could well be a baptism of fire. It’s a leap of faith by Ledesma, but Bautista Delguy failed to deliver last weekend as part of a back line that seemed to want to play a rather elaborate and complicated passing game without the core skills to pull it off. Consequently, maybe it is the right call to give a younger player known more for what he can do by simply running the ball a chance.

We got it rather wrong last weekend and perhaps talked up Argentina’s chances a bit too much, especially as the hype didn’t live up to the actual performance. On paper it’s theoretically a weaker side that Argentina are trotting out this weekend, but therein lies the possible twist in the tail as it’s a side that the Springboks will not be so familiar with, especially in the backs. Nevertheless given South Africa’s dominance with a supposed B team over Argentina’s A team last weekend, it’s hard to see anything other than another convincing win for the Springboks. However, write any Pumas side off at your peril and South Africa will know that. What Mario Ledesma’s charges may lack in terms of experience they will certainly make up for in pride and passion, and few can doubt their skill levels.

In short, we certainly don’t want to miss this one, and think that you won’t either. We very much doubt it will be boring and our only regret is that we don’t get another chance to see Springbok utility back Aphelele Fassi in action again – the contest between him and Mendy could have been riveting. With Covid getting it’s claws into International Rugby arrangements once again, enjoy this match as it could possibly be our last blast of Rugby Championship action till next month, as the authorities in charge try and figure out where the remainder of the tournament will be held.

Till then take care everyone and enjoy the rugby! We’ve gone through the team sheets in more detail over on the podcast if you’re interested.

With the Lions Tour behind them the Springboks look to resume service as normal in their Rugby Championship opener against an ominous looking Pumas side

So the Lions Tour is done and dusted, and with it hopefully all the acrimony and off-field antics that detracted from a Series that really failed to deliver until that final third and deciding game. South Africa emerged victorious in their first proper outing since lifting the World Cup almost two years ago. It wasn’t a pretty performance from them at times, but when it mattered most they got the job done, and for most of the Series looked like rather formidable and immovable objects. Riding the momentum of the Lions series, which always seems slightly removed from the day to realities of regular International Test Rugby, the big question is can the Springboks reproduce those successes in regular competition both at home and on the road? They opted to not participate in last year’s tournament which, Lions successes aside, we still feel was a mistake, and it remains to be seen if they are as good as their recent victory over the Lions would make them out to be.

As for Argentina, despite facing exactly the same issues as South Africa last year, they did choose to participate, and surprised the rugby world by claiming an historic first ever victory over the All Blacks in their opening game. The Pumas have not played in Argentina since the last World Cup and have simply gone from one bubble to the next, so life on the road as challenging as it may be, is now the norm for this group of players. Consequently, their cohesion as a unit is rather unique, and will be just one extra level of complexity for South Africa to deal with on Saturday. Squad unity and familiarity for the Pumas is probably the best in the world right now, and adversity is something the South Americans seem exceptionally well equipped to deal with. They bring a fearsome side to Port Elizabeth on Saturday, and the Springboks will be in for a serious challenge that could well make the Lions tour seem almost tame by comparison. Argentine Coach Mario Ledesma has assembled a match day 23 that can absorb as much punishment as the Boks can dish out but also return it in equal measure, as well as run the ball from all over the park.

In short, we can’t wait for this one as business returns to normal for two quality sides. So here’s what got us thinking about tomorrow’s dustup between two big and bruising outfits.

Probably not the two most popular tourists in South Africa right now

**Former Pumas Captain Pablo Matera and Guido Petti’s negative comments about a visit to South Africa when they were in their teens may cause the Springboks to have an extra score to settle with them**

If the social media antics of the recent Lions Tour to South Africa weren’t enough, then there is the potential hangover of some rather inappropriate comments made on social media by former Pumas Captain Pablo Matera and second rower Guido Petti about their hosts when they visited South Africa as teenagers. Matera has had to bear the full responsibility of his comments, having been stripped of the Captaincy and undergoing some personal training to ensure that his behavior reflects the values of the modern game and upholds respect for your opponents regardless of origin or race. He has shown genuine remorse for his actions, and it would appear that Petti has also made amends for the consequences of being a brash, irresponsible and insensitive youth. Nevertheless, it will add an extra edge to the match with both players needing to be emotionally mature both on and off the pitch.

Putting their teenage indiscretions aside, Argentina can’t do without the pair as they are arguably two of the most potent weapons in a formidable Pumas forward pack. They’ll need Petti’s poaching skills in the lineout and turn of speed in the loose, whilst Matera’s one man wrecking ball skills and abilities in securing turnover ball and getting his colleagues on the front foot proved absolutely devastating in that first Test against New Zealand last year. Their opposite numbers in green, Lood de Jager and Kwagga Smith will need to be at their very best to keep the Pumas pair in check.

Not a contest for the faint hearted!

**A tussle of giants – Argentina’s Marcos Kremer and South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth look set to create the most physical contest on the park in the second row**

Bred in top secret labs deep in the Andes and a remote corner of the highveld, well not really but you can be excused for thinking so, Argentina’s Marcos Kremer and South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth are the epitome of the kind of massive and bruising physicality that these two sides can bring to Test Rugby. Kremer has the added advantage that he is equally comfortable in the back row. These are very, very tough men and the contest between the two of them in the second row should be of epic proportions. Both seem unbreakable, but you have to wonder if facing the Lions in back to back Tests over the last three weeks could be a bridge too far for Etzebeth compared to the break Kremer has had since facing Wales. It’s a matchup of epic proportions and we can’t wait to see how it plays out and who comes out of it the best.

Noticeable last year – but likely to be spectacular this year

Argentinian number 8 Rodrigo Bruni really came to the fore in the first match against the All Blacks in last year’s Rugby Championship and we have a hunch he’ll be making even more headlines this year

South Africa have chosen to stick with Jasper Wiese at number eight, after the Springbok rookie acquitted himself relatively well in the final two Tests of the Lions tour, despite a worrying penalty count in the third Test. In many ways Bruni was the new boy with everything to prove for the Pumas last year, but he has settled very well into the Pumas setup since then. He is a force to be reckoned with and made life miserable for the All Blacks in their first encounter last year and was sorely missed for the second. Massively physical but with some excellent ball handling skills to go with it, Bruni will give Wiese a real baptism of fire in only his third Test as he goes up against the rapidly improving Argentinian. Bruni was very noticeable last year, but we have a hunch that he could well end up making the Rugby Championship Team of the Tournament, once proceedings draw to a close on October 2nd. His star is set to rise so watch this space!

A battle of contrasting styles but only one pedigree

**Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez is a World Class Test level 10, but sadly for South Africa as gifted as he is Elton Jantjies is not**

It really pains us to say this, as we don’t for a second doubt Elton Jantjies’ playing abilities in Super Rugby but at Test level sadly it seems he just cannot make the transition. We would have thought that at this stage the verdict on Jantjies as a Test 10 is well and truly established, and it is time to give some younger candidates an opportunity leading up to the World Cup. Clearly not in the eyes of Springbok management however, as the 31 year old finds himself once more being given a starting berth. Admittedly it would appear that South Africa feel their options are limited, especially with regular starter Handre Pollard being given a much needed rest after his Lions efforts. Nevertheless isn’t it time to see if Sharks fly half Curwin Bosch can break the similar curse affecting him of not being able to replicate Super Rugby success in the Test arena? In short, we remain to be convinced but once again sincerely hope that Jantjies can prove us wrong.

As for Argentina, there is no such conundrum. In Nicolas Sanchez, they have a World Class Test level 10 and have done for quite some time now. He was instrumental in engineering the Pumas shock win over New Zealand last year, and is more than a match for Jantjies. It’s a bit like having a top of the range BMW on the field up against a top of the range Toyota. Both are quality products but one just does so much more and is loaded with options. In short, we fully expect to see Sanchez dictate proceedings on Saturday and give Argentina a much needed advantage in terms of game management.

Hopefully we will be seeing plenty of this young man in the next two months

**Is this the most gifted new Springbok player in years** **– utility back Aphelele Fassi**

Fair enough, South Africa won the Lions series, but we can’t help feeling that they could have won it so much more spectacularly if this young man had been involved in any of the Three Tests. As it was he only got to star in the one off Test against Georgia. We can’t help feeling that South Africa missed a golden opportunity of blooding the youngster against the Lions, but so be it. On Saturday, he is up against Argentina’s Bautista Delguy who is one of the Pumas own wonder weapons out wide and now has the track record to back it up. Consequently, as a test of Fassi’s defensive skills, South African Coach Jacques Nienaber couldn’t ask for better. If Fassi gets a passing grade defensively and provides the kind of electrifying attacking prowess which highlights his already massive skillset, the rather tedious and pointless allegations that South Africa plays boring rugby will be exposed as the fallacies they are. Either way a bit like Etzebeth vs Kremer the contest between Fassi and Delguy will be one of the most fascinating and potentially exciting of the afternoon!

This is a Test we are really looking forward to, especially now the Lions circus is behind us and all the off field silliness and acrimony that went with it. It’s time for the Springboks to resume normal service and as a start to that they couldn’t ask for a better initial Test. However, we will stick our necks out here. This is a Pumas squad that probably knows each other and how to work together better than any other team on the planet right now, courtesy of having to jump from one COVID bubble to another around the globe in the last year. Therefore they have the potential to give the Springboks a lot more to think about than they had perhaps initially bargained on. We will probably be made to eat our words, but we think that the momentum of the Springboks Lions victory will count for very little in this match and if anything could actually work against them, as some tired bodies find this too much of an ask both physically and mentally with such a short turnaround. This Pumas team can match and return any blows the Springboks can dish out physically and on attack they can be truly lethal, especially if Sanchez is conducting the orchestra with his customary flair.

So let the rugby do the talking and here’s hoping for a contest that will cap off what should be a stellar weekend of Rugby Championship action!

The Rugby Championship gets underway and Australia attempt once more to breach the walls of the All Blacks Fortress of Eden Park

In the first of our previews of the weekend’s opening rounds of the Rugby Championship we look at the second round of the Bledisloe Cup for Australia and New Zealand which also happens to be the opening salvo for both in this year’s Rugby Championship. Last weekend’s encounter between the two in the first of three Bledisloe Cup matches (the latter two being part of the annual Rugby Championship), saw Australia struggle with execution and an inability to contain a decidedly rusty looking All Black side. Australia made an impressive late rally in the final ten minutes making the 33-25 scoreline much more respectable, but it was too little too late. New Zealand are unlikely to be as average as they were last week, and Australia it would appear still have too many fundamentals to get right, before talk of breaking the aura of invincibility that the stadium seems to give the All Blacks can be taken seriously.

In order to keep their Bledisloe Cup dreams alive, as well as make a statement of intent heading into the Rugby Championship, Saturday’s game is critical for the Wallabies and despite talk in the press to the contrary the pressure is all on them. The All Blacks simply have to step up to their customary levels of excellence, which seemed a bit lacking last weekend, to contain a Wallaby side that will ramp up in intensity and hopefully execution compared to last Saturday’s showing.

Either way it’s likely to be a belter of a match and a great start to this year’s Rugby Championship. The odds may be against Australia, but all the ingredients are there for one hell of a Test match between two sides bursting with talent and unlikely to take any prisoners.

So here’s what got us talking looking forward to Saturday’s encounter.

Time to focus

**The Wallabies Hooker Brendan Paenga-Amosa needs to put last Saturday behind him and instead recall why he was so effective against France a few weeks earlier**

After a pretty solid series against France it was a surprise to see the Wallabies Hooker Paenga-Amosa struggle so much with his lineout throwing last weekend. Admittedly the stiff Auckland breeze wasn’t exactly helping matters but he really failed to make an impact, and at scrum time, New Zealand veteran Codie Taylor was clearly getting the upper hand. The Wallabies need a big game from him on Saturday, and given the stakes it is perhaps surprising that Wallaby Coach Dave Rennie didn’t decide to start Jordan Uelese instead, who in his nine minutes on the pitch last weekend managed to score a try. However, we hold with the theory that Paenga-Amosa is still Australia’s number one choice based on his Super Rugby form with the Reds, and that Uelese is your impact man. Nevertheless, we reckon that Uelese is likely to see substantially more time on the pitch than he did last week, especially if Paenga-Amosa struggles once more to make his presence felt.

His stocks are going up

**One thing Australia never really seems to struggle with is finding quality second rowers, and Darcy Swain seems to be another in a long line of pedigree locks**

Of players likely to make their mark for Australia this Rugby Championship, we feel that second rower Darcy Swain is likely to get better week by week. He was one of the few players who put in a consistent performance last weekend for the Wallabies, and overall put in 65 quality minutes for his side. If Hooker Paenga-Amosa’s throwing at lineout time had been more accurate we would probably have even more to say about the Wallaby newcomer. He put in a superb eighty minutes against France in the final test of the series last month, and didn’t seem overly intimidated by New Zealand’s legendary second row partnership of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock in the Bledisloe Cup opener. In short, a player to watch.

Just needs time to breathe

**Australia’s evergreen half back partnership of Tate McDermot and Noah Lolesio is a fine vintage in the making given time**

It’s always a bit daunting when between the two of you, you only have eight caps but are facing an All Black pairing that has 125 to their credit. To be fair though to scrum half Tate McDermot and especially fly half Noah Lolesio, we felt they made a pretty fair fist of it. Sure Lolesio only landed 2 of his seven shots at the posts, but considering his age and experience and the howling breeze whipping around Eden Park last Saturday night you can almost forgive him. We are fairly certain that he’ll have spent plenty of time at the kicking tee this week, and with the wind not forecasted to be as strong on Saturday, expect to see a much more solid performance from the 21 year old Wallaby playmaker this weekend. Given his lack of experience and the caliber of the opposition he was up against, we thought he was remarkably composed last weekend. He definitely seems more comfortable with Matt Toomua in the center channels, as there was a marked improvement in his execution and decision making when the veteran Wallaby center came off the bench in the final quarter.

As for scrum half Tate McDermott, he also seemed to improve as the game wore on. It’s always going to be hard to live up to the lofty benchmark set by your opposite number when it’s no less than All Black centurion Aaron Smith. However, McDermott is a talent in the making in a position that up till now the Wallabies seemed to be lacking options. He still has a lot to learn but this is definitely a player who could aspire to the standards set by Will Genia or more recently Nic White, with the latter warming the bench for this match. For both rookies, give them time to mature but with the World Cup only two years away now is the time to let them breathe.

Mirror, Mirror who is the fastest of them all?

**Potentially the most exciting contest of the day in Auckland** **– as New Zealand’s Will Jordan and Marika Koroibete pack some pretty impressive stats**

The statistics on these two make for exciting reading this year across Super Rugby and Tests played so far. New Zealand’s Will Jordan may be dominating the tries department at 18 to 4, but when it comes to defenders beaten Koroibete is just as good at 62 compared to 61 for the All Black. In metres and passes made both players are outstanding examples of contestants who love to run and chuck the ball around and their statistics are pretty even. However, it’s Koroibete’s defence which is a larger image of serious Australian issues with the whole basic concept of how to defend, where there is a sudden mismatch between the two. New Zealand’s Will Jordan has made 56 tackles and only missed 14, whereas Koroibete has had to make 83 and missed 45. In short an 80% tackle success rate for New Zealand meets 65% for Australia. It’s hard to see how Australia and Koroibete are going to be able to keep Jordan who has been a try scoring machine for the Crusaders in check. With Koroibete on the field and on song, Australia are a different beast and he was sadly missed last week. However, Jordan looks the complete package for New Zealand, and expect to see plenty of him as the Championship unfolds. It’s going to be a fast paced battle of wits out wide between these two quality wingers and definitely one of the highlights of the Eden Park dustup.

Mighty Mouse

**New Zealand’s pocket rocket fullback Damian McKenzie may be small but he more than makes up for it in effort, ability and a pair of feet that are impossible to read**

Much like South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe, All Black fullback Damian McKenzie puts paid to the argument that you have to be big to play this game of ours. The fleet footed fullback, despite looking like he needs to spend a week on a pure steak diet, manages to play with an ability that is more akin to fearlessness than recklessness. His ability to turn on a dime and leave defenders clutching at thin air is quite remarkable. A highly adventurous player with an eye for the gap, and ability to wriggle free of tacklers twice his size, McKenzie is New Zealand’s wildly unpredictable maverick. When he is having an off day it’s not pretty to watch, but increasingly those are becoming the exception to the norm. Normal service from the impish last line of defence is a joy to watch, and whenever he has the ball expect the unexpected. Add to that a fairly handy boot if needed at goal kicking time, and McKenzie just gets better every year – a fact clearly not lost on the All Black coaching staff. He’s a player who really fits none of the traditional molds but is such an asset to his team and as a result we can expect to see him featuring heavily in the highlights reels in the next few months.

It should be a cracking Test match between two quality sides on Saturday. The Wallabies know that even though the odds are against them, losing is simply not an option this weekend. Furthermore the added motivation of getting one over your old rival on a ground that is one of Test Rugby’s most sacred, is likely to put an extra spring in Australia’s step. They will bring an added level of intensity to their game which will hopefully be allied to a more clinical approach to their execution of the basics. Get that right, shore up their defenses and they will be competitive make no mistake. However, to pull a fast one on an All Black side holding all the cards at the moment and at Eden Park to boot, is probably a bridge too far for this group of talented but rather green Wallabies.

We’ll be having a look at the Springbok/Puma match by tomorrow at the latest, and we’re also putting out a podcast looking at the lineups for tomorrow’s Eden park clash as well as some of the relevant statistics pertaining to last weekend’s encounter between Australia and New Zealand.

Till then, stay safe everyone!

As a foretaste to the Rugby Championship, the first Bledisloe Cup match is always one of the most anticipated fixtures of the year

As we move away from the controversy ridden Lions tour to South Africa, it’s hopefully time to get back to the good old fashioned basics of International Test Rugby. The first game of the annual Bledisloe Cup three match series between Australia and New Zealand is one that their supporters and neutrals alike eagerly look forward to. It sets the tone for the upcoming Rugby Championship as well as renewing one of International Rugby’s oldest and most fiercely contested rivalries.

Like everything this year, the global pandemic has managed to get its sticky fingers into proceedings, but fortunately some fast thinking was the order of the day and barring a few adjustments the Tournament looks set to proceed for the most part as planned, with the added benefit of crowds in attendance. New Zealand head into this match as favorites on paper, but after a thrilling three Test series with France in which Australia emerged triumphant, albeit only just, the Wallabies are perhaps more match hardened against tougher opposition. New Zealand’s summer series saw them annihilate Tonga, and ultimately put Fiji away twice, admittedly after a stern challenge from the Flying Fijians.

So as International Test Rugby gets back to business as usual, here’s what got us talking about a potentially fascinating Bledisloe Cup opener.

Fortress Eden Park – the All Blacks sacred ground!

**Visiting teams can always be sure of a hearty but daunting welcome at a ground the All Blacks never seem to lose on**

The signs may say “Welcome to Eden Park”, but they probably should also add the qualifier “but it’s all going to end in tears”. In almost a hundred Test matches at the ground since 1921 the All Blacks have only lost ten. To say that the ground would appear to be cursed for opposition sides, may not be that far from the truth. Imagine then the sense of achievement for sides who have managed to topple the mighty All Black juggernaut. Australia haven’t done it since 1986, so it would seem that the odds are stacked against them. However, it can be done even if the last side to do it was France in 1994 – let’s just ignore the rather inconvenient fact that this last parting of the Red Sea happened a mere 27 years ago. Australia though may be feeling more confident than perhaps they should, coming off the back of an epic series win against France – the most recent team to successfully assault and breach the walls of Fortress Eden. It will be no easy task, and New Zealand know they simply have to notch up the gears slightly to build on their complete dominance of Australian teams in the recently concluded Super Rugby Trans Tasman competition.

Things go better with a dash of Retallick and Whitelock

**Brodie Retallick’s eagerly awaited return from Japan sees him paired up with All Black centurion Sam Whitelock**

New Zealand’s second row partnership of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock is one of the best in the business – end of argument. Fresh from a stint in Japan with the Kobe Steelers, Retallick brings an edge to the All Blacks that they are never quite the same without. His partner Sam Whitelock is a Test veteran and between the two of them it’s hard to see Australian newcomers Darcy Swain and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto gain any kind of traction in the set pieces or the loose. Retallick at speed and with ball in hand is a rather frightening prospect, and for some reason we always seemed to be reminded of what Bond villain Jaws would have looked like if he’d played rugby. Whitelock meanwhile is just one of those exceptionally solid players, and his leadership on the field as he takes the Captaincy provides his charges with a sense of assurance and confidence in the task at hand. Expect to see these two dominate proceedings come lineout time, as well as make life hell for Australian defenses (which aren’t their strong point to begin with) in the loose.

Time for Valetini to bring his barn door Super Rugby physicality to the Test arena

Australia need a bit more of this when it comes to defence

Australia seem to have a fairly porous defence, especially in the midfield so all the more reason to have someone like Valetini stopping New Zealand’s army of gain line breakers dead in their tracks. We felt given his stellar performances in Super Rugby, Valetini had a relatively quiet series against France by comparison. We’re fairly confident that the back rower is going to be one of Australia’s next big things, provided his work rate stays consistent, which in the French matches it was not. New Zealand and Blues player Dalton Papalii will be a handful to contain along with Ardie Savea and Akira Ioane, so the above kind of show stopping tackles which seem to be Valetini’s trademark will be the order of the day.

Aaron Smith makes it a century

**New Zealand scrum half Aaron Smith marks his 100th Test Cap this Saturday**

On the occassion of his 100th Test Cap and in front of the All Black faithful at Eden Park, expect to see the All Black scrum half at his very best. Arguably the best nine for quite some time now in Test Rugby, albeit with France’s Antoine Dupont increasingly snapping at his heels, Smith is a vital, tried and trusted commodity for the All Blacks. Able to adapt his game at the drop of a hat Smith is always a pleasure to watch. His ability to set New Zealand’s tempo off the set pieces is legendary and Australian rookie Tate McDermot will be hard pressed to match let alone better the All Black maestro.

**New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane and Australia’s Jordan Petaia** **should provide one of the contests of the afternoon**

Out on the wings will be one of the most intriguing and exciting matchups of this Bledisloe Cup series. New Zealand and Blues superstar Rieko Ioane meets up with Reds sensation Jordan Petaia. For us Petaia was one of the few things to get excited about in Australia’s recent dismal Super Rugby efforts. Ioane has in the last year struggled to replicate his stellar Super Rugby form at Test level, especially since the last World Cup. We all know it’s there but somehow his execution at Test Level seems a little off the pace. Petaia on the other hand seems to go from strength to strength whatever level he is playing at. Ioane’s tackle success rate can be hit and miss at times but the Australian is a ferocious and physical tackler, and can often be seen to be punching way above his weight. We can’t help feeling that in a tussle of two world class wingers, it’s the Australian who could well have the edge on Saturday, despite having considerably less Test experience than his Kiwi counterpart. Petaia just plays with a ruthlessness and confidence that Ioane doesn’t always produce week in week out. We’re fascinated to see if the Wallaby youngster can steal the headlines from the All Black veteran come Saturday.

On paper and at Eden Park, this is New Zealand’s game to lose plain and simple. They look the vastly more experienced and capable side juxtaposed against an eager and capable but relatively inexperienced Wallaby outfit. Australia could well pack a surprise, and a good showing on Saturday will dramatically boost their confidence in preparation for their final showdown with New Zealand in Perth at the end of the month. They’re slightly more battle hardened than the All Blacks after having had to use all their tricks to win the recent series with France.

Australia will improve make no mistake, but as a first outing against New Zealand this year, Eden Park simply makes them too much of a long shot. It’s likely to be a gusty and windy day in Auckland on Saturday, conditions which suit the more experienced heads in the All Black camp. Nothing is ever a given though, and Australia have often shown a healthy disregard for the form book and come up trumps. After the frustrations of the Lions/South Africa series it’s time for International Test Rugby to get down to business in a competition that often showcases its best attributes and leaves us hungry for more.

Enjoy everyone and we’ll be having a look at the lineups for this and the Lions match in our podcast tomorrow. Till then stay safe and enjoy what should be a great weekend of Test rugby!

Hopefully it’s finally time to let the rugby do the talking and give us a Lions/Springboks series decider to remember!

If you’re like us, you are perhaps close to breathing a sigh of relief once the final whistle for this emotionally fraught series gets blown on Saturday. Mired in controversy from the outset, which has only grown as the series has progressed, this Lions Tour has hardly been one for the archives. The rugby has been a fascinating slugfest, but as a spectacle it has been short on entertainment, and the empty stadiums have contributed to its rather lifeless feel. The two sides seem to have little respect for each other and in general it’s been a rather ill-tempered and nasty affair. It’s been uncomfortable to watch at times from both sides, and the quality of the rugby on display has been average at best. In short, it’s a Tour that we are likely to forget rather than remember.

All that aside though, there’s the hope that Saturday’s series decider will revert to the kind of rugby we all know and love and in the process the spirit of our great game will be restored. Ignoring all the off field shenanigans there is no denying that all the players from both sides have put their heart and soul into a Tour that for all intents and purposes seemed fated not to happen at all. South Africa will want to prove to the world ahead of a challenging Rugby Championship, that despite their two year absence from Test rugby, the reasons that they are World Champions are there for all to see. For the Lions, they will want to prove that despite the adversity, this Tour can still showcase the proud history and traditions associated with the Lions, and that wearing the treasured red jersey is still a once in a lifetime experience.

Despite all the difficulties and much of the negativity surrounding the Tour, we got what we wanted a series decider – so hopefully it’s time to shut down the media circus and let the real business begin. Here’s what got us talking about the final showdown in Cape Town.

Hardly Pitch Perfect!!!!

**Cape Town Stadium’s pitch was never designed for rugby, and the first two Tests between South Africa and the Lions have made that painfully obvious**

Cape Town’s Stadium was intended for fleet footed and less heavyweight competitors than rugby players. It was never designed to have 1800 kgs of human flesh trying to anchor itself to the surface in a scrum. If you watched the pitch being endlessly turned up in both Tests you have to wonder how much the pitch itself is contributing to some of the more lackluster aspects of the rugby we’ve seen so far. We lost count last weekend as to how many times scrums collapsed as players couldn’t secure their footing or players slipping just as they accelerated on breaking the gain line as another piece of turf gave way under them.

This Tour has had enough challenges to begin with but to have to contend with the pitch as a sixteenth man adds insult to injury for both sides and wreaks havoc with a team’s momentum. It would appear that the pitch will have had two full days to dry out prior to Saturday’s penultimate match, as Cape Town’s normally wet winter climate gives the ground a breather. It is a great shame that it couldn’t have been played at the legendary former home of Test Rugby in Cape Town – the hallowed grounds at Newlands. It will be fascinating to see if given the ground’s influence on the first two Tests, both sides will try and play a game that allows for its failings.

One of South Africa’s most underrated players shows us why he is such a force to be reckoned with

**Lood de Jager made a truly MASSIVE impact when he came on in the second Test against the Lions**

We’ve always felt the giant Springbok second rower has been under appreciated by his country. Sure he’s had his injury problems which has by necessity kept him out of the spotlight and at times made it difficult for him to have the kind of impact he is clearly so capable of. However, as he showed in the second Test against the Lions, when he is on song he truly is a force to be reckoned with. He made the departure of Pieter-Steph du Toit one of the Boks most influential forwards seem almost a non-event. He slotted into the second row as Franco Mostert moved out to the flanks to cover for du Toit. With fellow second rower Eben Etzebeth, the two giant Springbok locks dominated lineout proceedings in the second half and de Jager carried and tackled like a man possessed. Paired once again with Eben “take no prisoners” Etzebeth we fully expect to see the Lions Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones struggle to come to terms with the havoc the two South Africans are so effective at creating.

The “Beast” Mk 2?

**Trevor Nyakane was a monster when he came off the bench for South Africa in the second Test and expect more of the same**

In the legendary footsteps of Springbok prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane was a force to behold in the second Test against the Lions when he came off the bench. He didn’t have his best game when he started for the Boks in the opening Test, but went on to prove that a week is a very long time in Test Rugby. The Trevor Nyakane of the first Test was indistinguishable from the raging bull that went by the same name in the Second Test. After he replaced Steven Kitshoff in the last quarter the Blue Bulls tighthead prop made life an absolute misery for the Lions Kyle Sinckler and Rory Sutherland. He finds himself once more on the bench for this match, but being equally comfortable at loosehead or tighthead, the Lions are likely to remember his presence no matter how short-lived on Saturday.

Righteous Fire and Brimstone

**Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi truly led from the front last Saturday and in doing so put in one of the best performances of his career**

While he may have had a rather quiet first Test, Springbok Captain and flanker Siya Kolisi came out guns blazing in the second. It was an inspirational performance and one which clearly provided his charges with the motivation they needed, not that it really seemed to be lacking to begin with. His presence of mind to prevent the Lions Robbie Henshaw from scoring a potentially game changing try was outstanding, but was one of a multitude of big game moments from the Springbok Captain. Whatever confidence he seemed to lack in the first Test, is clearly behind him as he was everywhere last Saturday. He was confident, assertive and utterly tireless in his efforts while his execution was flawless. It was a master class performance and one which his opposite number Alun Wyn Jones struggled to emulate. With history on the line he’ll likely be even more fired up this weekend.

The missing link

**Welshmen Josh Adams and Liam Williams’ absences from the first Two Tests, especially given their skills under the high ball left most people dumbfounded**

The fact that master of the air Liam Williams has only got ten minutes off the bench in the first two Tests, and try scoring machine Josh Adams has not even made the matchday 23 for either, seems to defy all logic. Given the Boks propensity to send things skywards, the omission of two players who are perhaps your most comfortable in the aerial battles has seemed a strange choice indeed. Admittedly Liam Williams didn’t look his sharpest in the warm up games, and got rather schooled in the game against South Africa A (aka an almost full strength Springbok side), so perhaps Lions Coach Gatland’s reservations were justified. However, the time has come to throw caution to the wind a bit (pun aside) and let two players who shine in the aerial contests, as well as Adams ability to find the try line have their final say on proceedings. South Africa’s Willie le Roux can have an off day, and given the calmness under pressure that Williams is known for, this could be an area where the Lions get some much needed traction and composure. Adams meanwhile can on his day match anything South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi can throw at him and allied to the magic of the Lions Finn Russell at fly half, it could be the right counter to the enterprise shown by the Springbok winger last week. Either way we can’t wait to see if Gatland’s gamble pays off.

It should be a terrific contest, and like we say, hopefully the jibes and off field antics from both sides are done and it’s time to let the rugby do the talking. It may not have been a classic Lions series, but it still clearly means a great deal to both sides. In Saturday’s do or die, winner takes all contest we think that the Series may finally find its groove and give us all something to cheer about, whoever lifts the silverware at the end of it. It’s hard to argue against South Africa clinching the Series after their performance last week, but let’s not forget, both games were won by the team who put in the better second half. So as both sides roll the dice, we’re sure there’ll be plenty to talk about on Saturday night and hopefully for all the right reasons!

The First Test between the Springboks and the Lions brings us plenty of controversy but questionable quality from both sides – so a big step up is needed from all parties this weekend!

We like everyone else couldn’t wait for the highly anticipated start to the three Test series between South Africa’s Springboks and the British and Irish Lions to get underway. As excited as we were for Australian referee Nic Berry to blow the whistle for kickoff, like many we breathed a sigh of relief when he blew for full time. Not so much because we’d been on the edge of our seats for 80 minutes, but more due to the fact that it was an unbalanced game from both sides, with a ton of inconsistencies in how it was managed (more on that later) and didn’t really make for the spectacle we’d hoped for. It was scrappy and although the Lions were the victors, it wasn’t by much and they were only marginally the better side. This week’s contest should hopefully be an infinitely more balanced affair across the park and from all parties concerned, allowing us to focus more on the rugby on the pitch than its after effects off it!

Either way, take the off field media circus away and the Springboks will be up for this one and then some. Put the mind games to one side, and South Africa will be better than they were last weekend. The rust will have been blown off, players will be fitter, the squad will have gelled and become stronger as a unit and lastly pride is likely to motivate this group of individuals to step up their game rather dramatically. In short, the Lions will need to be wary plain and simple. In many ways the First Test was more an exercise for both sides to get the measure of each other. The Lions with more game time under their belts as a unit, ultimately made the better fist of it, but not by much and as a result the gloves are clearly off this weekend so assume the brace position. It’s do or die stuff for both teams this Saturday and as a result should make for quite the Test match.

We could probably write a book on last weekend’s action and what it means for this Saturday, but instead we’ll stick to the five key points that got us thinking the most in relation to this weekend.

Don’t shoot the water boy

**Director of South African Rugby Rassie Erasmus has found plenty of ways to air his opinions this week**

World Cup winning Coach for the Springboks Rassie Erasmus has found many ways to get his message across this week, both to his players and the world at large. The problem is that it hasn’t really sat all that well with a lot of people, and we are no longer sure of exactly what his role is with the Team. The official Head Coach Jacques Nienaber seems to have very little say in what happens both on and off the pitch. While there were plenty of images of Erasmus pacing the pitch and giving lots of advice on rehydration (even if he wasn’t actually supplying any) to his former charges, Nienaber appeared like a caged animal pacing the Coaching box looking rather lost and ineffectual. While we have no issue with Erasmus’ water boy role (even if he could legitimize it a bit more by actually handing out the odd bottle of water just for appearances), you have to wonder whether the Lions Coaching staff would be offered the same freedoms? Will we see Gregor Townsend masquerading as a physio this Saturday on the pitch and if we did would the officials or public at large say anything about it? As long as it’s balanced and both sides are allowed to do so, even if it looks rather footballesque, then we don’t really have an issue with it.

As for the more controversial aspect of Rassie’s hour long rant about officiating standards in the first Test – well that’s a hard nut to crack. Erasmus is a charismatic figure and we don’t doubt for a moment that his commitment to the Springboks is without question, especially as the vast majority of the current Bok squad are the players he brought to World Cup glory. There is a deep bond there between the players and their former Coach that is a truly ‘special relationship’. As a result though there is a danger that the merits of his overriding plea for consistency in officiating, which he feels was so lacking last Saturday, may be tinged with a slightly less than objective bias. He made some valid points that we can all agree with, but a one hour monologue is sadly not the most effective or appropriate vehicle to state your case.

On the one hand we salute him for having the courage to stand up and put himself in the spotlight by demanding something from Rugby’s governing body that we have all complained about for at least the last ten years. The game’s rules need to be applied consistently and fairly across the board. Make your point by highlighting one or two clear cut examples and leave it at that. However, to go at length for over an hour on picking out every call you felt didn’t go your way runs the risk of making you out to be a sore loser. Some of the calls he highlights are extremely marginal and in the heat of the action on the pitch, it’s unreasonable to expect the referee to see every nuance that you see after analyzing the tapes for several hours. If you do that then sure you will always find inconsistencies but sometimes referees have to call them as they see them in the moment. If not then an eighty minute game becomes a process akin to North American football where play is stopped every few seconds, momentum is lost and we spend more time watching TMO replays than the actual game. Nic Berry and his officiating team made a few howlers make no mistake, but given the nature of the game unfortunately it is almost impossible to avoid. Teams sometimes just have to pick themselves up and move on and now sadly so do you Rassie.

Deer in the headlights?

**Australia’s** **Nic Berry, New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe** **and France’s** **Mathieu Raynal are finding Cape Town’s winter unusually hot**

Well you’ve all seen Director of South African Rugby Rassie Erasmus’ thoughts on the performance of these three individuals last Saturday. Nic Berry who oversaw the first Test found his performance put under the brightest of lights by the former Springbok Coach this week, and his associates didn’t fare much better. Consequently New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe must surely be feeling more than a little anxious about taking charge of this week’s crucial Second Test. While we don’t necessarily feel that Nic Berry’s shortcomings, of which there were a few, needed an hour long diatribe – his and his team’s skills in applying the rules of the game in a fair and consistent manner equitable to both teams definitely need some work. These are points that came out of Rassie’s video that need addressing and which in our opinion are the most important.

Player welfare and safety must be paramount and across the board. First and foremost, Scotland and the Lions Hamish Watson should have been given a yellow, possibly a red, for his spear tackle on Willie le Roux. Watson is a terrific player and fan favorite here at the Lineout. He is not a dirty or ill disciplined player who has a history of foul play. That tackle on le Roux however, was clear for all to see and sadly inexcusable. It was reckless and dangerous and players need to know that whatever their track record, that is a punishable offence. As a parent of a boy who desperately wants to play, I and many like me simply don’t want to see that. It has to be sanctioned every time – no ifs, buts or maybes. Mako Vunipola’s impatient yanking of Kolbe off the floor after a hefty tackle was also out of order and disrespectful, especially if the Springbok winger had suffered an injury. Lastly, Lions winger Duhan van der Merwe lifting Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi’s legs off the ground in the tackle was also questionable, although the impact of South African centre Damian de Allende hitting both of them at speed caused the lift to go higher, making it seem a lot worse. Nevertheless it showed a lack of care in putting the tackled player to the ground safely.

The last point is that apparently the officiating team appeared to “brush off” Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi every time he approached them, while at the same time giving the Lions Captain Alun-Wyn Jones their full attention. Although we have a certain degree of sympathy with this argument, and both Captains should have the same amount of attention and respect from the officials, there is also a question of leadership here. Jones is a master of the Test arena and the World’s most capped player. He has a wealth of experience in addressing referees and getting them to listen. Kolisi on the other hand has not, and sadly it showed on Saturday. Jones has mastered the art of talking to referees, something which Kolisi still needs to work on. The Lions Captain is more comfortable with being assertive. He walks right up to the officials, stands his ground, makes sure they hear him, and only then retreats. All too often on Saturday Kolisi made his argument half-heartedly from a distance and rarely pressed his case or looked confident in his assertions. He’s a great and inspirational Captain but playing the referees is sadly just as important a skill as playing the game itself and one which Kolisi still has a lot to learn.

The “Ginger Ninja” meets the “Jukebox”

**The South African Bomb Squad’s Stephen Kitshoff was unable to diffuse Ireland and the Lions tactical warhead Tadhg Furlong last Saturday**

So enough of the circus surrounding last week’s Test and down to the business at hand this Saturday. Two great players of the modern forwards game get another chance to size up against each other. South African loosehead prop Stephen Kitshoff and Ireland and Lions tighthead Tadhg Furlong do battle once more, but this time Kitshoff starts as opposed to appearing off the bench last weekend where surprisingly he didn’t match up against the Irishman and his subsequent replacement England’s Kyle Sinckler. These are two powerful scrummagers and players who are equally feisty in the loose and renown for their bullocking runs. The contest between the Lion and what should be a much fitter Springbok is likely to be one of the highlights of the afternoon.

Jasper Wiese gets his shot on the BIG stage

**The Leicester Tiger gets the biggest audition of his life as it’s do or die for the Boks on Saturday**

Firstly, before we sing the praises of a Mr. Wiese, we think we need to qualify his windfall at the expense of Kwagga Smith, who wore the number eight jersey for the Boks last weekend. We had serious reservations about Smith playing as a number eight last Saturday, not because he isn’t a good player, but a number eight he most definitely is not. As the smaller of the two men, he got made mincemeat of by Ireland and the Lions Jack Conan who is and always has been a natural number eight. Smith excels as a flanker and wing forward, a role he simply wasn’t allowed to play last Saturday. This weekend sees him on the bench, and expect to see him brought in when his impact with the kind of skills he has are needed most.

Consequently Weise, who plays more of his time at number eight, and is known as a dynamic and powerful ball carrier much in the mold of the much missed Duane Vermeulen for the Springboks, deserves his shot at glory on Saturday. He’ll be hard pressed to better the Lions Jack Conan who was one of the tourists standout players last weekend. However, much like the battle between Furlong and Kitshoff – Weise vs Conan will be one of the title fights of the weekend.

Harris’ defensive skills will be needed against de Allende who has learnt the value of ball security

**They are both dynamic ball carriers but de Allende, now he has mastered hanging on to a ball, will require some real stopping and the Lions Harris is the man to do it**

It seems that England Coach Eddie Jones is not the only one who seems to want keep experimenting with utility back Elliot Daly. Warren Gatland continues to try and find where to put the Englishman and his monster boot. However, if you ask us Daly is simply an impact player and not a Test starter. His boot is seriously useful, but he just doesn’t seem to fit a role in any kind of consistent manner. Harris on the other hand, while not being the most flashy player on the park has been steadfastly solid in defense for both Scotland and the Lions so far on tour. He’ll need it against De Allende, who he struggled with when they met in the South Africa A match. In the past, you could almost guarantee that giving the ball to the one dimensional battering ram Springbok center would result in a knock on. Those days seem to be behind him. Not only has he mastered hanging on to the ball especially under pressure, he’s become quite adept at executing some handy offloads as well as receiving them. Big, powerful and fast he’s become a lot more imaginative in how he plays the game and partnered with live wire Lukhanyo Am, the Springboks now have a genuinely exciting center partnership. The Lions can match it both physically and creatively in Robbie Henshaw and Chris Harris and this should be one of the most exciting contests on the park this Saturday.

So put aside all the questionable media exploits this week from both sides and settle down to a match which should hopefully provide all the excitement and quality that a tour of this magnitude should give us. The sparks were there last weekend but they never really managed to keep the fire going for the full eighty minutes from both sides. In a game of two halves the Lions ended up being marginally more proficient, significantly fitter and a tad luckier with the rub of the green. This weekend expect a much more level playing field both from the teams themselves and how the calls are made by the officials. Let’s hope that this weekend the Springboks/Lions Tour really starts in earnest and lives up to its proud pedigree, while setting us up for a Series decider in the third and final Test. Enjoy everyone and stay safe!

After all the hurdles, anxiety and setbacks it’s finally here as the Springboks and the Lions open their accounts in Cape Town!

It’s hard to believe but a tour, that so many doubted would ever happen in the first place, serves up its first course as South Africa and the British Irish Lions at long last get down to business in Cape Town. It’s time to put aside all the debates as to whether or not the Tour should even have gone ahead in the first place given the current situation in South Africa, both in terms of the pandemic and civil unrest. However, now we’ve finally managed to make it this far, it’s importance to a country that loves its rugby more than any other except New Zealand, simply cannot be underestimated. Consequently the power it has to potentially lift the spirits of a nation in troubled times is well worth the sacrifice. Despite the rather extraordinary environment in which this Tour is being played out, Lions Tours are still something special. They only happen every four years, and for players donning the red jersey it is an honor equivalent to hoisting the World Cup, and for their opponents it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to pit yourself against a collection of some of the world’s best players.

So without any further ado in a match that has plenty of fascinating micro contests within it, we look at five areas that really got us talking.

Two of the game’s most talismanic Captains who pride themselves on defying the odds have plenty to prove

South Africa’s Siya Kolisi and the Lions Alun Wyn Jones were both in doubt for this Tour having to race against the clock in terms of fitness, but have somehow managed to beat the odds and the Series will be all the better for it.

The fact that Lions and Wales Captain and second rower Alun Wyn Jones is actually starting this first Test is a testament to his status as perhaps the greatest Lions Captain the historic Touring side has ever seen. Having dislocated his shoulder seven minutes into the first game against Japan only four weeks ago, the fact that he starts this first Test is nothing short of a miracle. As the most capped Test player in the game’s history, his absence on this his last Lions Tour would have been heartbreaking. His determination to work himself back into match fitness just shows his strength of character and against such a physically challenging side as South Africa, his leadership will be so critical. However, if he can last this match and emerge injury free is a huge ask, so like many we’ll be watching with bated breath.

South African Captain Siya Kolisi, has been through his own trials and tribulations as he tested positive for COVID 19 and has had to isolate from the rest of the squad until only a few days ago. Consequently, like Jones questions will be raised as to his fitness levels. However, just like Jones he is such an immense presence and source of inspiration on the field for his teammates, that it was hard to imagine the Tour going ahead without him.

In short two legends of the modern game, both who have everything to prove and yet have defied all the odds to get here in the first place. A clash of noble Chieftains who their troops will follow without hesitation now awaits.

Two of the game’s most notable agitators/enforcers renew their acquaintance

**South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth and England and Lions** **Maro Itoje excel at getting under each other and everybody else’s skin, but Itoje will be relishing the chance for revenge after Etzebeth helped shatter his and England’s World Cup dreams**

These two giant second rowers will provide us with some thrilling aerial battles come lineout time and some genuine grunt and grit in the scrums. They will terrorize the scrum halves, making box kicking a bit like playing Russian Roulette, while life in the rucks and the breakdowns will be a genuine misery for anyone who tries to get in their way. Both have a penchant for needling the opposition which at times can get them on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle for long periods of the game. Essential to both sides, South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth and the Lions Maro Itoje are renowned for their short fuses, phenomenal work rates and awe inspiring physicality. Their respective roles in Saturday’s proceedings are likely to make the headlines come the Sunday papers. In addition for Itoje, there’s the small matter of an opportunity to settle the score with Etzebeth for England’s defeat at the hands of the Springboks in the last World Cup.

2019’s World Player of the Year meets one in the making

**South Africa’s back rower Pieter-Steph du Toit was World Player of the Year in 2019 and England and Lions flanker Tom Curry could well have a similar accolade somewhere in his future**

Pieter-Steph du Toit is a firm fan favourite here at the Lineout and has been for quite some time now. Since bursting onto the International scene in 2013 the 29 year old back rower who is equally at home in the second row, has simply matured like a fine South African wine. He’s just got better every year and we were delighted to see one of Test Rugby’s hardest workers get the recognition of World Player of the year in 2019 at the conclusion of South Africa’s successful World Cup campaign in Japan. A man who constantly puts his body on the line for the jersey with little or no regard to his personal safety, du Toit epitomises the passion and pride that comes with donning your national colors. Expect to see the giant utility forward everywhere on the pitch for the full eighty minutes, and looking like he could go another eighty when the final whistle is blown.

Some may argue that Scotland’s Hamish Watson has missed out on a starting berth for this first Test, as he finds himself on the bench but will likely feature as an impact player in the final quarter. However, we can understand Lions Coach Warren Gatland’s reasoning for picking England’s Tom Curry. He, like du Toit, brings an impressive and powerful level of physicality to any match, with a similar disregard for his own safety. In short, he’s almost bulletproof and in the thick of things for the full eighty minutes while never giving an inch. South Africa are renowned for the physical intensity they bring to the Test arena, and as a result Curry is the right choice to weather the initial onslaught.

Jeep vs Hummer

South African winger Cheslin Kolbe and his Scotland and Lions opposite number Duhan van der Merwe may be as different as chalk and cheese physically but neither suffer as a result in terms of speed or physicality

The only thing these two have in common is that they are both South African. Put them next to each other though and it’s an almost comical comparison as the pint sized Springbok winger at 1.7 metres and 74 kgs, comes up against his Scottish and Lions opposite number at 1.93 metres and 105 kgs. You’d think then that the Lion would be slower across the pitch than the Springbok – not so. But then surely the Springbok is a liability when it comes to tackling players twice his size – not so. While they may look like Laurel and Hardy standing next to each other on a rugby pitch it’s still a remarkably even contest. Kolbe consistently tackles way above his weight often bringing down men more than twice his size, while his footwork and turn of pace is simply dazzling leaving many a defender wondering if they even saw him in the first place as he racks up another try for the Springboks. Van der Merwe has been a try scoring machine for Scotland and the Lions who simply swats defenders aside or steps over them as he lights up the afterburners he has clearly had installed in his boots. Although defensively he can occasionally be suspect, if you do run into the Scottish Lion you’re likely to be stopped dead in your tracks. The contest between these two distinctly different physically built players will be one of the highlights of the Test.

Two players who surely must be wondering what they must have done wrong

Welsh and Lions winger Josh Adams has been the leading try scorer on the tour, and yet finds no place in the squad for the first Test, while Ireland’s Conor Murray and temporary Captain finds himself sidelined to the bench in favor of Scotland’s Ali Price for the scrum half berth

You’d have to argue it’s probably felt like a bit of tough week for Ireland’s Conor Murray and Wales Josh Adams. After he was handed the Captaincy as a result of Alun Wyn Jones seemingly tour ending injury in the opening warm up game against Japan, it seemed certain that Murray would get the starting berth as scrum half. However, in the warm up games against provincial South African sides it’s Scotland’s Ali Price who has looked the more dynamic number 9. Murray simply hasn’t looked like he has the pace and quick thinking of the young Scottish upstart. His opposite number, the Springboks Faf de Klerk has all those qualities and more so it’s no surprise that Lions Coach Warren Gatland has settled on Ali Price’s exuberant game to match de Klerk’s compared to the more cautious approach favored by Murray. In many ways Price is what Murray was five years ago, so it’s not surprising that he finds himself getting the nod to start.

As for winger Josh Adams, he must surely be scratching his head and wondering what more he needs to do to impress the Lions boss. However, we think we can understand Gatland’s logic. South Africa have some bruising centres running the inside channels who are likely to suck in the Lions wingers. Consequently Gatland has picked a more physical mix out wide in England’s Anthony Watson and Duhan van der Merwe who can perhaps stand their ground a bit better whichever part of the park they get drawn into. Watson has been big, physical and fast as has van der Merwe and these are qualities that will be more important than the ability to score tries in this initial test of nerves and strength on Saturday. We fully expect to see Adams get to start in one of the Tests, but in this first real appraisal of the Springbok machine, we’d argue Gatland has made the right choice in going the more physical route.

There are so many other matchups that are worth talking about, but if we did then this piece would go on far too long. So these are the main things that struck us about what lies ahead on Saturday and what to watch for. We are putting out a podcast going through the respective team sheets so if you want a player by player breakdown head over to the TV Page for that. We simply don’t know how to call this one at this stage, but what we are fairly certain of is that it will go down to the Series being decided in the 3rd and final Test.

Till then take care everyone, and now the wait is finally over let’s enjoy what we hope will be three glorious Saturdays of Test Rugby! To reinforce our point that this Tour in the end was the right thing to do, we’ll let a man whose praises we’ve already sung in this article have the final word.

Wales’ young guns face an accomplished and powerful Argentinian side looking to set themselves up for the Rugby Championship

Welsh Coach Wayne Pivac could not have asked for a better test for his young bucks than a full strength Argentinian side looking to make a point in Cardiff and beyond. We can’t help feeling that tomorrow’s Test match has slightly slipped off the radar for everyone except the two teams involved, as it lives in the shadow of the Australia/France series and the continuing high stakes drama of the Lions tour to South Africa. However, you’re in for a treat tomorrow afternoon, and we’d argue that this and France’s showdown with Australia are the games of the weekend. Argentina will feel that they missed a golden opportunity last weekend, but will be seeking to make amends ahead of a challenging two months which sees them take on fellow Southern Hemisphere rivals, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Wales will want to show that they have the depth necessary to go deep into the next World Cup, as with the bulk of their first choice team away on Lions duty, tomorrow’s match day squad blends an exciting combination of raw youth and some experienced heads. It will be a big ask for them against a fired up Pumas squad, but in terms of preparations with an eye to the World Cup, Coach Wayne Pivac and his charges must be relishing the opportunity to prove themselves.

So here’s what got us talking about tomorrow’s festivities in Cardiff.

The Welsh second row are in danger of getting monstered by these two

**Wales Ben Carter and Will Rowlands will have to dig deep to get past Argentina’s two massive second rowers Guido Petti and Marcos Kremer**

Spare a thought for Welsh newbie Ben Carter in the second row. Imagine facing a world class wrecking machine like Argentina’s Marcos Kremer on only your second cap. Will Rowlands has a little more time under his belt at nine caps but facing Guido Petti is always a frightening prospect especially when he’s sporting a Phantom of the Opera face mask. Unfortunately for Wales, the Pumas duo got the better of their Welsh counterparts last Saturday by a long margin. Pumped up and looking to win the series, the two Argentinians are going be even more menacing. If the Welsh pair can weather the storm on Saturday, then it will be a real testimony to the kind of confidence Wayne Pivac can instill in his young charges. They were found wanting last weekend and it will be fascinating to see what if any difference a week will have made now the initial shock has worn off.

Back where he belongs

**Facundo Isa is back and means business**

This is another area of the park which based on last week’s evidence we expect to see Argentina dominate. Flanker Facundo Isa is back to his very best, and relishing being alongside former Captain Pablo Matera. Rodrigo Bruni, seems to be building on his breakthrough from last year, and it’s a daunting trio to say the least. Wales’ Josh Turnbull gets the start this week after replacing the injured Aaron Wainwright last weekend, and he was really the only part of the Welsh back row that stood up to the challenge. Much like the shock and awe campaign likely to be waged by the Pumas second row, the Argentinian back row look more than capable of stunning their Welsh opponents into submission. If the Welsh forward pack can come out of Saturday’s proceedings with significantly more credit than they were able to manage last weekend, then some solid depth will have been built under the most testing of circumstances. Ross Moriarty is well known for his rather combative nature but even he was struggling to assert his trademark physicality on proceedings last weekend for Wales.

Wales most exciting prospect for a while

**Welsh scrum half Tomos Williams was electric last weekend**

One thing Wales excels at is producing dynamic, lightning quick scrum halves who love scoring tries. Tomos Williams is just such a player. What is perhaps surprising is that he only has 23 caps to his name. He was more than a match for Argentina’s Tomas Cubelli last weekend, and appears to be hitting a run of form which could well see him making the nine jersey his for quite some time and definitely get the nod for the number one choice for Welsh World Cup plans. Although Keiran Hardy is breathing down his neck for the nine jersey, once Williams replaced him last week it was clear to see that Williams has the big game mentality that Wales need for an encounter of the type of intensity they will be facing tomorrow.

Wales in duelling with a master, try to find their second choice fly half

**Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez outclassed his Welsh opponent last weekend. Will he do the same with Jarrod Evans this Saturday?**

Despite Callum Sheedy’s stellar performance against England in the recent Six Nations for Wales, he just didn’t make his mark against Pumas Maestro Nicolas Sanchez. This weekend Welsh Coach Wayne Pivac continues to seek an understudy for Dan Biggar by giving Cardiff Blues sensation Jarrod Evans a bite at the cherry. If Evans can translate his club form to the Test arena then Pivac will have a wealth of options at his disposal come the November Internationals and beyond. We feel it’s a bit harsh that Sheedy has to sit this one out on the bench, but such is the competition for places in the Welsh squad these days. Evans made a difference last weekend when the roles were reversed and it will be fascinating to see if the same happens this weekend, with Sheedy making his mark off the bench.

Just one aspect of an Argentine star studded set of backs

**Pumas sensation Bautista Delguy returns to the wing for Argentina, and along with his colleagues is likely to cause the Welsh backline to stutter and misfire once more**

Argentina’s star studded set of backs list like a who’s who of Test Rugby back play. Jeronimo de la Fuente was outstanding in the centres last weekend and this Saturday is partnered by the powerful and exciting Santiago Chocobares. The wings are populated by Matias Moroni and the welcome return of Bautista Delguy, with the impressive newcomer Santiago Carreras shoring up the fullback slot. The Welsh set of backs simply didn’t live up to the task as a unit last weekend. There were some promising individual performances at times by Owen Lane and Hallam Amos but for the most part they were overshadowed by their Pumas rivals by a considerable margin. Jonathan Davies is sadly past his best playing days in the centres for Wales, and the Welsh offering simply can’t match the kind of pace and creativity that Argentina is able to put on display. It could be a very long afternoon for Wales in this part of the park tomorrow, as Argentina’s backs are as physical as they are fast.

In short, it should be a cracking Test match tomorrow. Provided Argentina can keep their discipline and avoid the costly red card they were shown in the opening Test, it’s hard to see anything other than a win by the South American powerhouse, who are fortunate to have the full complement of front line players at their disposal. Welsh players and supporters though should be equally excited at the opportunity for many of their own up and coming players to have a second crack at one of the World’s best Test sides. Either way, you’re going to want to make sure you’re close to a television or computer tomorrow afternoon.

Enjoy some great rugby this weekend. With the start of the Springboks Tests against the Lions next weekend, our focus will naturally shift to that, even though we haven’t given much coverage to the Lions warmup matches against provincial sides up till now. Take care everyone and stay safe!

In a series decider France face their ultimate test of depth against an equally hungry Australia

In perhaps one of the shortest summer tours in history, which sees 3 full blooded Test matches played in the space of a mere 11 days, you’d have to argue that of the two sides France has it all to prove. Let’s put aside the references to it being a second or even third string French side. To be honest given France’s depth at the moment, such labels are becoming increasingly irrelevant. France’s “unknowns” have impressed plain and simple while there are enough well known names in Saturday’s squad that there is every reason to believe that despite the ridiculous turnaround times between the three Tests, France can still rise to the occasion.

Australia also field a top notch side, but are not suffering from the travel fatigue their French counterparts are likely to be experiencing. Wallaby Coach Dave Rennie, must be thanking his lucky stars for a Test series that is providing the best possible preparation for a busy season ahead for his charges. The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup are literally just around the corner followed by a challenging trip to Europe in the fall. With the series with France tied one apiece, Saturday’s decider will give us a real indication of how both sides have weathered this rather odd year of the pandemic.

So here’s what got us thinking in relation to tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated Showdown

French sides rarely travel well on their end of season Tours and despite this Series proving the critics wrong – is there really enough left in the tank for one last big performance?

**France are riding high after their victory in the second Test against the Wallabies but after a long domestic and international season is there really enough left in the tank for Saturday’s decider?**

France have so far been surprisingly good in this finale to their long season. They would have the series in the bag by now had it now been for a moment of madness at the death against the Wallabies in the first Test. Even in the second Test there were moments towards the end where you couldn’t help having a sense of deja vu. France managed to hang on and get the job done second time around, but if you’re a French supporter it’s unlikely you’ll have either hair or fingernails left after the series decider with the Wallabies tomorrow. France could win it but true to form they could also blow it spectacularly. At some point fatigue is likely to get the better of them, and their concentration and decision making at times can still be questionable. Add in the fact that Coach Galthie has had to rotate his squad yet again, meaning that there are more surprises and unknowns on Saturday’s team sheet than there are familiar faces. If France pull it off, then surely their claim to be genuine contenders for the Webb Ellis trophy in two years time are a given, as the depth they now have is rather remarkable to say the least!

A rather extraordinary player who is surely more than just an impact player

Mr. Versatile – Australia’s Taniela Tupou is as happy at the base of the ruck as he is in it!

After watching the Wallabies prop”Tongan Thor” Taniela Tupou try his hand at the scrum half role last Tuesday, you have to wonder why Coach Dave Rennie is starting him on the bench for this match. However, as an impact player he certainly provided plenty of that last Tuesday. Given that France’s bench may not be the best, we can only assume that Rennie is saving one of his 3 best players for that last quarter of the game where France may simply not be running at optimum efficiency. Tupou was absolutely immense when he came on in the second Test and provided the French with all sorts of problems. If you want a finisher who can clearly take on a variety of roles then it doesn’t get much better than the “Tongan Thor”. An exceptionally skilled player, expect to see Tupou play an important part in Australia’s 2021 Test campaign, and we can’t wait to see him in action tomorrow.

France will be hoping that this guy lives up to his reputation

**Australia’s Red Card specialist Lachlan Swinton has been given a shot at redemption on Saturday**

You have to scratch your head at Wallaby Coach Dave Rennie deciding to throw the dice and hand flanker Lachlan Swinton a starting berth for such a crucial Test on Saturday. Swinton is a disciplinary liability of note for the Wallabies, and to be honest we struggle to see what value he brings. His performances for Australian Super Rugby bottom feeders the Waratahs only stood out this season because he earned two reds and one yellow card, further compromising a team already struggling to make a statement in the competition. Should his propensity to see red come to the fore once more on Saturday, Australia will be hard pressed to hold out a man down against a very motivated French side determined to upset the odds. It’s a gamble and we hope for the Wallabies sake it doesn’t prove too costly.

A legend in the making

Flanker Cameron Woki is a genuine wonder weapon for France

We were surprised to see Cameron Woki be relegated to the bench in favor of Sekou Macalou for the First Test. When he replaced Macalou his presence was immediately felt, and in the second Test where he was given a starting berth he made sure that French Coach Fabien Galthie was left in little doubt that the Bordeaux back rower is a vital cog in France’s machine with a view to the World Cup. We can’t think of an outing where Woki hasn’t impressed since taking the French camp by storm last year. Despite only having six caps for France, his ability especially under pressure is that of a veteran. Solid, reliable and in the thick of everything he is liable to make Wallaby problem child Lachlan Swinton’s life a misery.

France also choose to roll the dice

**There is no question about winger Teddy Thomas’ ability on attack but plenty about his defense and work ethic**

Teddy Thomas is a brilliant attacking winger make no mistake. However, when it comes to defense the adjectives suspect and lazy come into play a little too often. In his opposite number Filipo Daugunu for the Wallabies, he will meet many of the same qualities. Daugunu is also know for his defensive frailties and his all round ball skills are not as polished as the Frenchman’s. However, if Thomas switches off which he does with alarming regularity, then it could be a very long day at the office for France, making it impossible for them to use him as the weapon they need while leaving themselves dangerously exposed defensively. Australia will know this and will likely target Thomas as much as possible. If France are vulnerable tomorrow, this is one part of the park where it could be most in evidence.

Despite some of the unknowns peppering France’s starting XV tomorrow, we’ve heard enough good things about them that given the calibre of France these days and the brains trust in the coaching box, we aren’t as anxious as we would have been in the past. Australia will be up for this and then some, and on paper it’s hard to argue against them clinching the series tomorrow. What we are likely in for though is an absolute belter of a Test match, and a fitting conclusion to a series that has gloriously exceeded its billing and given the other showpiece event of the month the Lions Tour to South Africa a serious run for its money!