Tag: Rugby

After their loss to the Springboks in Wellington, the All Blacks face containing a confident Argentina team in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Argentina beat Australia in the last round of the Rugby Championship and have already achieved their best season since joining the competition in 2012.

All Blacks scrum-half TJ Perenara is aware of the ability of the Pumas to take advantage of opportunities they create.

Speaking to media in Buenos Aires he said: “We played them in Nelson and we won, but it was a tough game.

“And I guess the opportunities they took into their game exploited some of our flaws and for a team to be able to do that, well, we take great pride in what we do out on the field and they dismantled us a few a times out there.

“So we know the threats that they have, and we just know as a unit we need to be better.

“If we play to the level we played in Nelson we don’t know if that is good enough this time, especially over here in their backyard. We know we need to step it up and play better than we have played against them this year already.”

Adding to the All Blacks’ thinking for the game is their need to rebound from that loss to South Africa where the decision-making around the last plays of the game and the lack of a dropped goal attempt have been to the forefront of analysis.

“A couple of decision-making things that if we had scored in the end there we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion but there are opportunities to take a drop goal which a lot of people have highlighted,” added Perenara.

“In all honesty, the winger [Aphiwe Dyantyi] makes the play on D-Mac [Damian McKenzie]. If he doesn’t make that play, we walk in.

“It’s tough when you lost those sorts of games. Hindsight’s a beautiful thing because you can look back on it and be like, ‘man we should have dropped a kick’ but then if we dropped a kick and missed it and there’s a three-on-two we’re like ‘man we should have taken the three-on-two’.

“That’s what sport is. It’s the heat of the battle and you make those decisions and you learn from them hopefully.”

Hooker Codie Taylor said: “We know that they (Argentina) are going to have a lot of confidence off the back of their win and they should, they are a great team.

“They have new coaches and are playing really good footie and we respect what they do on the field, and the results that they’ve been getting just show they are a team that you can’t take lightly and we never have.”

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Exeter Chiefs prop Ben Moon and Leicester Tigers full-back Jordan Olowofela have been called into the England training squad in Bristol for the camp that runs until Tuesday, September 25.

The 29-year-old prop replaces Joe Marler (Harlequins) who has withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons.

In addition, Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) and Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) have not joined up with the squad due to injury. Olowofela has been called up as a replacement for Tuilagi.

Ahead of the Quilter Internationals in November an England squad will be named on October 18 before they fly to Portugal on October 24 to begin their final preparations for the four-Test series.

England will play South Africa (November 3), New Zealand (November 10), Japan (November 17) and Australia (November 24) at Twickenham Stadium.

England training squad

Forwards: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)

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Check out the highlights from Round Five of Top 14 action.

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Newly appointed Samoa head coach Steve Jackson is rebuilding for next year’s Rugby World Cup and is keen for the Pacific Islanders to cement a place among the game’s elite.

Jackson was appointed as Samoa’s head coach last week. Samoa are currently in 16th place in World Rugby’s rankings and qualified for the World Cup after beating Germany in a two-match play-off.

The former New Zealand schools and New Zealand Maori representative, is excited about the prospect of leading Samoa’s charge at the global showpiece in Japan.

“We’re excited about the Rugby World Cup,” he told Radio Sport.

“We’ve got nothing to lose and I’m sure there are teams that probably doubt us because of the position that we’re in. It’s a good starting point for us.”

Jackson, who worked as the Blues’ forwards coach in 2017 and 2018, said he wants Samoa to be ranked among the top 10 nations in the world again.

“We’ve let ourselves slip and most people can see that,” he said.

“So that’s where we want to be, to cement ourselves in that top 10… there’s a bit of work to do to get there and we understand that.”

He also revealed that he hoped to recruit New Zealand-based Super Rugby players with Samoan heritage who had failed to play for the All Blacks.

“There’s a raft of players in Super Rugby in New Zealand who, as we all do when we’re kids, strive to be an All Black,” added Jackson.

“It’s got to be my job to open the door and show them the opportunity to play in a Rugby World Cup for the other country (Samoa), whether it be by birth or through their parents.”

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Here are the highlights from Round Four of PRO14 action.

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Check out the highlights from Round Four of Premiership action.

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Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall praised his side’s physicality in their Premiership triumph over Gloucester at Allianz Park on Sunday.

Both side were unbeaten coming into the contest, but the champions were irresistible as they ran in five tries as Richard Wigglesworth broke the all-time Premiership appearance record in their 38-15 victory.

“I thought last weekend against Northampton Saints we had made a step in the right direction physically and our intensity was much better than it had been in the previous two games,” said McCall.

“We felt we were a bit in-and-out of it in the Northampton game and weren’t persistent enough with that.

“I thought we were more persistent with that against Gloucester, especially in the first 25 minutes of the second half when we played into a strong wind.

“I felt like we were had control of the ball and field position. That part of the game was probably most pleasing.

“Owen [Farrell] was incredibly influential. It wasn’t just his skillset, his passing and his kicking; it was the physical tone he set. Physically, he was incredible against Gloucester.”

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann was full of praise for Saracens and said his team were beaten by a better side.

“I think we’re constantly learning lessons from Saracens, we’re don’t take that too much to heart,” he commented.

“Firstly, we should congratulate Saracens for how ruthless they were when in our 22, they rarely give up the ball until they get points.

“Secondly, we need to look at our performance. We lacked that accuracy and skill, there were some loose passes, we lost the ball in turnovers and a lot of knock-ons from spilling the ball.

“There was always a mistake creeping in, so there’s lots of lessons for us in terms of managing the game.”

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Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa is relishing his stint in his team’s starting line-up and doesn’t plan to relinquish his spot any time soon.

At the start of the Test season the Brumbies front-row might have been considered the third best tighthead prop in Australia.

Sekope Kepu had a mortgage on the number three jersey almost back as far as 2012 and Taniela Tupou’s star was burning brighter with each Test cap.

Alaalatoa, in contrast, was somewhat of a forgotten man.

He had come off the bench in his last nine Tests and missed the entire June series through injury.

That all changed in the lead up to the second Bledisloe Cup Test.

Kepu was dropped after a poor showing in Sydney and with Tupou unavailable due to a hamstring injury, Alaalatoa was called upon.

He hasn’t looked back since.

“Just getting that opportunity to start has been huge for myself and then getting back to back games,” Alaalatoa told Rugby Australia’s offical website.

“You become probably more used to starting and then you get more used to your role and what you have to deliver.

“You have guys like Taniela who is pushing myself, the same as Sekope.

“It’s only forcing us to be at our best which is only going to be healthy for our team.

“Just cherishing the opportunity and if I get another opportunity this weekend it’s going to be great.”

The 24-year-old is set to start his fourth consecutive Test for the year in Port Elizabeth against the Springboks this weekend.

It’s a feat he hasn’t managed since being pushed back to the bench following last year’s Dunedin Bledisloe and in that time the Australian scrum has been an inconsistent part of their game.

Against Ireland it proved to be a weapon but has been hot and cold since.

Alaalatoa said there was no simple fix to sort out that inconsistency.

“We’re still inconsistent all round in terms of our whole combinations a forward pack and it’s something we’re looking to develop throughout the week,” he said.

“It’s not going to just come naturally.

“There are some combinations there we need to work on but that’s something we need to work on today.”

Those combinations can only be aided by time spent on the road and the Australians can take some hope from the fact they played some of their best rugby of 2017 in South Africa and Argentina last year.

They drew with the Springboks in Bloemfontein before thumping the Pumas in Mendoza and those matches set the platform for the drought-breaking win over the All Blacks in Brisbane.

“We’re growing as a group and with the away games being later in the season we’re obviously hitting towards that point where we’re developing and getting to know our game plan,” Alaalatoa added.

“We only have each other and it’s something we need to draw on and use throughout the week.”

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England defence coach John Mitchell is confident his living situation will not be an issue as he starts his new role with Eddie Jones’ side.

Mitchell, who recently left his post with the Bulls, has revealed he will undertake his England duties from South Africa instead of relocating.

And when questioned about this, the New Zealander stated his family are settled in South Africa and that it would not impact on his duties.

“It won’t stop me being the best I can be. And it certainly won’t stop me being available,” Mitchell told BBC Radio 5 live in an interview.

“I’ll spend more time here than in Durban. I have a young family, and a daughter to get through high school – it’s important to make sure she’s settled.

“I’ll be with the team for long periods and the family will join me for parts of it. If I go back, it’s only an overnight flight.

“If I perform well and there’s an opportunity to stay on in England, then relocating becomes an option.”

Mitchell has gained a reputation for being a hard taskmaster, but when questioned about his coaching style, he revealed that he’d “mellowed”.

“I think I’ve mellowed a fair bit. We do make mistakes and we’re also allowed to develop. I coach far differently than maybe I did 20 years ago,” he said.

“You don’t always get it right, but it’s not something that worries me. I’m comfortable with who I am and what I do.”

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Port Elizabeth is a special place for the Springboks and the team is relishing the opportunity of facing the Wallabies there on Saturday.

That is the word from Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, who hails from Port Elizabeth, and Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk, who spoke to the media on Monday afternoon at the team hotel.

Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test is the penultimate match of this year’s competition and the Springboks will complete their fixtures next week when they face the All Blacks at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The Boks are unbeaten in Test matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth and Stick said they are looking forward to once more playing in front of the passionate Eastern Cape crowd. The Springboks have won four of their five Tests at the stadium, while the remaining game ended in a draw for an 80 percent win record at the 46,000-seater venue.

“The people of the Eastern Cape really love their rugby and they’ve given us unbelievable support whenever the team has played here,” said Stick, who is a former coaching staff member of the PE-based Southern Kings.

“There’s a real buzz in the place already.”

Meanwhile the Springbok squad was bolstered on Sunday by the arrival of a number of players who played in the weekend’s Currie Cup and other provincial matches.

Uncapped Ruhan Nel, the former Blitzboks star who is nowadays playing in the colours of Western Province, was amongst the second group of players to arrive in the eastern coastal city.

When asked about the addition of Nel to the squad, Stick, himself a former Springbok Sevens captain, couldn’t hide his excitement.

“We’ve seen what Ruhan offered in the Western Province team, and we have identified real potential. So we want to afford him an opportunity, especially as we continue to build towards the Rugby World Cup next year,” he added.

“There is fresh energy in our squad, and I think Ruhan will add to that.”

The hard running Nel was included in the Springbok squad following injuries to centres Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am, and he has been in impressive form in the local Currie Cup.

“We have to give credit to the Sevens system, where they have won two (HSBC Sevens World) series titles in the past three years,” said Stick.

“There is something that they are doing well, and their players are being recognised. It’s also great that Rassie is willing to look at the Sevens player for fifteens.”

De Klerk stressed that it was important for the Springboks to capitalise on their opportunities.

“We saw in Brisbane that we created many chances, but we failed to convert enough of those into points. That’s maybe due to inexperience and perhaps a lapse of focus. It’s something we are working on,” he emphasised.

“Our conversion rate must improve because Australia is a quality side, they have dangerous strike runners and will hurt you if you don’t take your opportunities.”

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