International
All Blacks defeated in World Cup warm-up
South Africa gave the All Blacks their most emphatic reality check ahead of the Rugby World Cup when claiming a record 35-7 victory at Twickenham on Saturday (NZT).
Mounting attacking pressure from the outset, the Springboks were unrelenting, forcing errors throughout the 80-plus minutes of the contest in a performance that surpassed the record margin for South Africa over New Zealand of 17-0 in 1928.
Mistakes resulting from scoreboard pressure marred New Zealand’s game. They rarely got the momentum that marked their earlier games, and too often, handling mistakes or miscommunication compounded the lost opportunities.
It seemed every time the All Blacks got the sniff of a chance, an error occurred. Their usual discipline evaporated. The errors were manifested in several ways. The worst was the second first-half yellow card for lock Scott Barrett, which became a red card – his second in Test rugby.
But there were many others. First five-eighths Richie Mo’unga hit the post with a kickable penalty goal, fullback Beauden Barrett’s skewed kick off the second half restart, which allowed hooker Malcolm Marx to score, several lost lineout throws in the most concerning area of the loss, and an overload of handling mistakes. Replacement lock Tupou Vaa’i dropped a pass and then tried to play it; a penalty conceded allowed South Africa to mount a lineout drive. And it was replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi who scored.
A midfield scrum penalty, a kick to the corner, and replacement No8 Kwagga Smith ran through to score.
New Zealand was in danger of going scoreless before a 70th-minute break by replacement halfback Cam Roigard, who stamped his hopes for the future with an outstanding run to score.
The game extended beyond two hours with stoppages for video consultations and injuries. But if it was an example of what teams can expect at the World Cup, then New Zealand has been put on notice.
Both sides had tries ruled out. Promising Bok centre Canan Moodie and All Blacks wing Will Jordan felt the effects of TMO scrutiny to deny them.
The All Blacks also lost prop Tyrel Lomax early with what appeared to be a badly cut knee.
While 0-14 down at the turn, New Zealand could be thankful they weren’t further behind.
South Africa camped in the New Zealand 22 during the first quarter; the All Blacks conceded eight penalties and ended the first half with 11 penalties compared to five from South Africa. That resulted in the All Blacks defensive lineout work getting a thorough workout. They stood firm until referee Matthew Carley ran out of patience, resulting in Scott Barrett being sin-binned in the 13th minute after a team warning, only to be followed at yet another goal-line lineout by his captain flanker Sam Cane for side entry at a maul.
The Springboks launched another maul, but Mo’unga held up Marx. But from the dropout, South Africa’s wave rolled in again, and captain and flanker Siya Kolisi scored under the bar.
Apart from the penalties, the All Blacks showed outstanding defensive presence to hold the Springboks out so often and to only be down by 14 points at the break. Yet, they had to make fewer tackles than the South Africans in the first half, 62-79; by the game’s end, it was 94-132.
However, their lineout retention was challenged, with the Springboks taking five All Blacks throws.
When they got their hands on the ball, they never secured consistent field position, and they were forced to chance their hand when in their half. That resulted in South Africa’s second try when wing Kurt-Lee Arendse picked off an intercept and ran 30 metres to score in the 33rd minute.
Two weeks out from their Cup opener against France, the All Blacks have been left with plenty to occupy their minds to recover their earlier momentum.
Scorers: New Zealand 7 (Cam Roigard try; Richie Mo’unga con) South Africa 35 (Siya Kolisi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith tries; Manie Libbok 5 con). HT: 0-14
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
