New Zealand and South Africa backed up their first week wins with victories against Australia and Argentina as duly expected. Yet neither side won like the 1-7 shots they were with the British bookmakers.
Failures
In the 23rd minute the Wallabies were prevented from winning the ball, metres from the New Zealand line by Aaron Smith who did what most players would have done in his position and go offside to stop a possible try being scored.
It was in the realm of an automatic yellow but the South African let him off and New Zealand happily settled for the three point concession and territorial control.
When they should have been down a man, giving Australia a chance to utilise their extra man, the hosts struck back - and quite brilliantly - with their full quota of players. A lovely try and penalty were added while Australia should have had a numerical advantage.
In the second half Conrad Smith (as clever and influential in his own way as Richie McCaw) dashed metres offside with his try line threatened and cut off the best try scoring pass option; penalty? Yes, three points, yes, yellow card? Not a chance and New Zealand again marched up field with a full complement of players and an 18-9 lead instead of an altogether more uncomfortable 18-13.
What is going on? Call it the Old Trafford syndrome. There is some but very little deliberate cheating in sport's officiating but there is, I believe, a subconscious pressure exerted on referees by the success of the top teams.
Mate
Manchester United concede even fewer penalties at home than New Zealand do yellow cards. There is no conspiracy or bias just the subconscious pressure that comes with the expectation that such teams always prevails.
Home teams get more breaks than away ones anyway and the best home ones get a lot more. New Zealand, with their fabulous winning record, are overwhelming opposing teams and the referee.
Teams find it hard to get an even call in New Zealand. It will not be easy for Argentina who would not have enjoyed the manner in which Steve Walsh called them 'mate' from 1-15 and the Springboks by their first names.
Jean de Villiers is as decent a man as you'll find in life generally, let alone sport, but if an Argentine is 'mate' then he too is 'mate' and not the familiar 'Jean' in which the two men engaged in a cosy fireside conversational style most of the evening.
Walsh is much derided in these parts but he is good; one of the best. He would have been sterner on New Zealand but Argentina - they are only just entering the loop and the All Blacks are tying the world up in theirs.
No, things will not be easy in Hamilton.
