Heading to this week’s International Test matches, Southern Hemisphere giants All Blacks and Wallabies had a good workout.
While the Wallabies were made to work hard against the Brave Blossoms, the All Blacks scored 16 tries as they hammered the USA Eagles.
Sky Sports provided an in-depth analysis of the All Blacks vs USA battle.
According to Sky Sports, the All Blacks recorded their largest win over the USA, eclipsing their 74-6 win in Chicago back in 2014.
The giants of rugby got back to winning ways as they romped to a 104-14 victory over USA in Washington during a Test match in which the Eagles secured their first try against the All Blacks.
The All Blacks, who had not played in the United States since 2016, looked comfortable since their 10-match winning streak was snapped by South Africa in the final game of this year’s Rugby Championship.
It was emotional seeing USA captain Bryce Campbell, prior to the kick-off, drop to one knee at center fi eld as he presented a white No. 11 USA jersey in honor of Sean Wainui, the Maori All Blacks player who died in a car crash on Monday.
The All Blacks then performed the haka to honor Wainui and it drew wild applause from those in attendance before the visitors made a blockbuster start to the Test match at the home of the NFL’s Washington Football Team.
Straight off the kick-off, the ball got shifted wide and George Bridge got away down the wing and fed Finlay Christie, who found Luke Jacobson on the inside who ran away to score in the corner 28 seconds into the match.
The All Blacks ran in a total of 16 tries, including nine in the first half alone.
Their tries were scored by Ethan de Groot, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Angus Taavao, Quinn Tupaea, Dalton Papali’i, Liernert-Brown, Beauden Barrett, Dan Coles and TJ Perenara.
The Eagles, who prior to Sunday’s match had faced the All Blacks three times in Test rugby, were vastly outplayed, but did make history as they recorded the team’s first try against the most successful team in international rugby.
The All Blacks, on the other hand, were full of energy and had their attack firing, yet were ultimately unable to eclipse their record Test victory set at the 1995 RWC 15s in South Africa when they beat Japan 145-17.
On Saturday afternoon, the Wallabies secured their fifth straight win in hard-fought contest against the Brave Blossoms. The Wallabies fought off a dogged challenge from a gallant Japan outfit, with debutant Connal McInerney coming off the bench to score the decisive try in the 32-23 win.
According to MSN, when they were switched on, the Wallabies looked to be clearly the better side, but frequently let themselves down with casual ball use and poor discipline.
MSN reported that the Brave Blossoms, in fairness, played a daring brand of rugby all day and caught Australia out a few times with some inventive play.
Wallaby fans were jubilant as Australia secured their first overseas win in a Test since defeating Georgia in the 2019 RWC group stage, while also winning five consecutive matches for the first time since their charge to the 2015 RWC final.
The Wallabies had a good amount of the ball and territory early, but the Japanese defence held firm and were keen to pounce on their opportunities, taking their lineouts very quickly and trying cheeky kicks to catch Australia unaware.
Coming into the match with the wind of a four-game winning run at their backs, the newly confi dent Wallabies were keen to throw the ball around and try some fl ashy no-look passes, but were lucky not to be punished for their casual approach thanks to repeated Japanese penalties Japan.
For the hosts, Lomano Lemeki and Ryoto Nakamura scored the tries, while for the visitors Thomas Wright, Jordan Petaia, Taniela Tupou, Rob Leota and Connal McInerney crossed over the opposition try-line.
This week eyes will be on the fi rst round of International Tests. To football, and Master Kamal Swamy started on a high note as Nadroga coach.
The Stallions beat Navua 2-1. Ba fans were on cloud nine as the Men in Black defeated Suva 2-1 while Rewa held Nadi 1-1 at Prince Charles Park.
The ‘Voice of Soccer’ Raymond Stoddart was at his usual best as he brought the Suva vs Ba match live on Radio Mirchi from the ANZ Stadium.
Finally, at home on Monday morning, Manchester United was brought to their knees as Liverpool hammered them 5-0. United fans were seeing leaving Old Trafford at half-time as Liverpool took a comfortable 4-0 lead.
Joy for Liverpool fans, but pain and misery for those supporting Manchester United. Happy reading!
RAJNESH LINGAM is a contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not necessarily of this newspaper or his employer.
