The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

A bit too soon to tell for sure, but I think the most interesting and closest matches in this Championship series will be between RSA and Australia. That match up will be worth watching as Australia are playing like demons this year. We'll see....

The depth of the All Blacks is remarkable this season. Many times their replacements are better than their starters. It's the All Blacks to lose it IMO, but I don't think they will.

[PeteC]

Keep an eye on how the below develops over the next few weeks as it could easily disrupt travel into and out of NZ by these teams. Fingers crossed it doesn't and it's a short lived problem.

New Zealand announces it's locking down the entire country ... over one Covid case

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/17/asia ... index.html

[pharvey]

Keep an eye on how the below develops over the next few weeks as it could easily disrupt travel into and out of NZ by these teams. Fingers crossed it doesn't and it's a short lived problem.

New Zealand announces it's locking down the entire country ... over one Covid case

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/17/asia ... index.html

Things are not looking promising....

"All Blacks management and Sanzaar officials have been dealt another problem with the closure of automatic entry to incoming New Zealand travellers arriving into Australia.

Australia has suspended quarantine free travel from New Zealand until at least 11.59pm Monday, August 23.

Any person flying from New Zealand to Australia will need to undergo 14 days in hotel quarantine. The pause is set to be reviewed in the next 24 hours.

That comes after Perth - the All Blacks' destination for the third Bledisloe Cup test next week - paused their arrangement with New Zealand yesterday.

The Western Australian government on Wednesday announced travellers from New Zealand would be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The All Blacks are due to depart for Perth on Sunday and were set to face Australia at the Optus Stadium next Saturday after securing the Bledisloe Cup for a 19th straight year with their 57-22 victory at Eden Park at the weekend.

The recent outbreak of Covid-19 has, however, threatened to derail plans for the match with the Western Australian government confirming that New Zealand has moved from a "very low risk" to a "low risk" jurisdiction"

Taken from: - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/covid- ... VFEQDATMM/

[pharvey]

Poor commentary, more sport away from Terrestrial TV I think, that said, I'm being a tad two-faced however, currently having BT Sport, Amazon Prime and SKY (the latter beit temporarily)......

Amazon Prime Video Get Autumn Nations Series Rights

"Amazon Prime Video will stream 17 live games in this year’s Autumn Nations Series, the name given to the end-of-year internationals in Europe.

Following a successful 2020 Autumn Nations Cup that was watched by millions of Prime members, Prime Video will now broadcast in the United Kingdom all of England’s, Scotland’s, Wales’, France’s and Italy’s games in the Autumn Nations Series, with Ireland’s internationals to be included in Prime Video’s UK broadcast in 2022.

In addition to its UK rights, starting in 2021 Prime Video will broadcast all games of the series in the Republic of Ireland with the exception of the Ireland matches that will be shown on RTE."

https://www.planetrugby.com/amazon-prim ... es-rights/

[pharvey]

Well, that's that then........

New Zealand cancel Bledisloe Cup match in Australia and home Tests against South Africa

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58278473

[PeteC]

I can understand the August 28 match in Australia, but September 25 and October 2? NZ has 1 case of Covid at present unless something else has happened today, and to cancel 5-6 weeks out seems extreme to me.

Edit: Will Australia continue on and play SAF and Argentina? I'll have to search the news later.

[pharvey]

I can understand the August 28 match in Australia, but September 25 and October 2? NZ has 1 case of Covid at present unless something else has happened today, and to cancel 5-6 weeks out seems extreme to me.

Edit: Will Australia continue on and play SAF and Argentina? I'll have to search the news later.

It's all a bit strange quite frankly - there is even talk/rumours of the remainder (after SA vs Argentina) being played in Europe. Maybe not so far fetched as Wales are due to play SA, Aus and NZ in the "Autumn International Series"......

[pharvey]

^ And it'd back on - in Queensland!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58313906

[PeteC]

I haven't watched it all yet, but a different rugby than we see today.

[PeteC]

^ And it'd back on - in Queensland!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58313906

If it's true that the All Blacks will live and play on the road for 3 straight months, they will assuredly lose I would think at least 2 matches. They would have to be supermen not to.

[pharvey]

^ And it'd back on - in Queensland!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58313906

If it's true that the All Blacks will live and play on the road for 3 straight months, they will assuredly lose I would think at least 2 matches. They would have to be supermen not to.

To be fair, over these "Covid Months" they've played matches at home when they should have played away - and we're talking 2 to 3 seasons not just recently! They are the best, but do extract the urine at times (more so recently with their last minute cancellations).

Personally I can't see them losing (well, certainly not 2) - they are simply too good when they want to turn it on. SA at the moment are playing a style of rugby that is total shite (sorry ). It is turning away current supporters and does nothing for rugby as a sport - I truly hope both Aus and NZ tear them apart..... Oh hell, and Wales do the same later in the season when they visit Cardiff!!

Long, long time supporter of the Springboks, but not with the style of rugby they are now playing.......

[PeteC]

I read an article this morning but have now lost it. I'll post if I find it again but in brief, the All Blacks side is somewhat gutted as many of their top players aren't traveling. Three of them with a wives due to deliver shortly, and some injured. What we may see is a side with many who usually come on at 60 minutes.

[PeteC]

^ Here's the article on the All Blacks lineup.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/how-the- ... ey-players

[pharvey]

^ Here's the article on the All Blacks lineup.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/how-the- ... ey-players

It's always been clear that the "Blackness" have masses in depth - for me, the loss of Cane and Aaron Smith will hit them the hardest.

Still though, they'll have too much for Australia. SA want to play the "Power Game" up-front which is destroying the game and I dearly hope NZ (whilst arrogant) take care of them.... Which in all honesty I think they will, purely because they will have a better gameplan.

Pete - I'll owe you a beer if NZ lose!!

[PeteC]

This is the exact thing I mentioned about Gatland several posts up. If he walks back into the NZ Chiefs next season and tries to change things yet again, there are going to be real problems.

'Two coaches who don't have any belief' - Hansen unloads on Gatland and Nienaber

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/two-coac ... -nienaber/