All Blacks win Rugby Championship while Ospreys make it four in a row
Monday 29 September 2014 22:29, UK
While Europe were busy demolishing the USA in the Ryder Cup, there was rugby from all four corners of the globe to get stuck into over the weekend.
From the Rugby Championship to the Pro12 and Top 14, as well as a World Cup qualifier in Russia, Prince Harry in Birmingham and even the NRL, there was action from all around the world for Rupert Cox to tackle in his weekly round-up blog.
The All Blacks are boring...
Four spectacular tries in La Plata, securing a third straight Rugby Championship – and they have put us all to sleep. Their ferocious work at the breakdown – dull. Their razor sharp counter attack – tedious. Their clinical set piece – yawn. Julian Savea's unprecedented record of 27 tries in as many tests – tiresome. Their steadfast ability to deal with any off-field distractions – whatever. Richie McCaw's refusal to bow to Father Time with yet another world-class display – zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Meanwhile in Cape Town
The Springboks showed just what they are capable of in 10 dazzling final minutes to knock over the Wallabies at Newlands. The Rugby Championship title is out of reach for South Africa, but Heyneke Meyer's men will get a huge confidence boost from this victory after coming back from behind to finish off Australia. Saturday's date with the All Blacks at Ellis Park may not have the edge of last season's decider, but there's no such thing as a dead rubber between these two, and the Boks will feel well placed to give the world champs a fierce nudge.
Ospreys go four straight
The Welsh region went to Thomond Park and toppled Munster just as Edinburgh had done on opening weekend. Sure, the Munstermen are miles below their best right now, but that aside it's been an absolutely brilliant start to the season for the 'Spreys. Dan Biggar was ruthless with the boot, including a wide out conversion of Jeff Hassler's 15th-minute try. Man of the match Rhys Webb had another standout game, and Justin Tipuric reminded Warren Gatland of his classy loose forward credentials. The Ospreys remain in top spot, ahead of last year's Pro12 runners-up Glasgow – who also remain unbeaten. The Scots picked up their fourth win of the season against Connacht in a cracker at Scotstoun Stadium. It was a first defeat this campaign for the Galwaymen.
Ulstermen red-faced in Parma
I've never been sure how to pronounce Zebre – is it Zeb-ray or Zeb-rah or Zeee-brae? And I further struggle to understand why Zebre are called Zebre at all. I mean, there are no zebras roaming free in Italy, right? Why a zebra? Why not an elk? Or a mongoose? Anyway, they beat Ulster in Parma on Saturday and lifted themselves off the bottom of the Pro12 table. Ulster front rower Declan Fitzpatrick saw red after the video ref picked up a punch at a ruck, and the Northern Irishmen never quite recovered. Big Zebre right winger Leonardo Sarto was denied two tries by the same video ref, as was Darren Cave for the visitors. Dario Chistolini scored the only try of the game and Kiwi-bred fly-half Kelly Haimona kicked the crucial points, including a 40-metre drop goal for a 13-6 win. That other Italian rugby juggernaut Treviso now occupy last spot.
Toulouse won!
No they didn’t. They lost again – that's five straight now which sends Guy Noves and his charges to second last overall. Meanwhile, the other Rouge et Noir, Toulon, are reported to be on the verge of signing Ma’a Nonu - so it’s business as usual in the Top 14.
Slammin' Sam thumps SBW
Mentioning a rival code is not the norm on the Off Load, but this week we will make an exception. In the NRL Grand Final Qualifier in Sydney, Sam Burgess showed exactly why Bath owner Bruce Craig has dipped deep into his piggy bank to bring the Rugby League star back to the UK. The South Sydney Rabbitoh was both brilliant and brutal against the Roosters as his team came back from 12-0 down to score 32 unanswered points. More pertinent still was the way Burgess dominated another famous code-hopper, Sonny Bill Williams. There's been talk that SBW may appear on the All Blacks Autumn roster – and Stuart Lancaster need only watch Friday’s clips of Slammin’ Sammy Burgess to realise who he should be calling in next year.
Brickbat
Russia and Uruguay played the first leg of their home and away series to decide the 20th and final team at next year’s Rugby World Cup. Russia were in their natural habitat in freezing cold Siberia, and won by a single point after the warm-blooded South Americans missed a late penalty goal. The Russian team celebrated with that old Queen favourite 'We Are The Champions'. But the thing is, comrades, you’re really not the champions at all! Not yet, and especially seeing as the October 11 return fixture takes place in scorching hot Montevideo. A bit premature to be cracking out Freddie perhaps.
Bouquet
Prince Harry turned up on a frosty morning in Birmingham to smash into a few tackle bags, and into the rest of the School of Hard Knocks gangsters in a guest appearance on the show. He could have been tucked up cosy in Kensington Palace, or at a pool party in Vegas, but instead chose to seriously muck in and get muddy with the Brummies. It's not everyday you get to knock five bells out of the fourth in line to the throne. And it’s not every day those lads get a morale boost like that. Onya Hazza.
