Last Saturday’s (Aug 17) emphatic 42-10 win against Argentina showcased the full range of the All Blacks’ attacking and defensive skills, with team mobility ensuring support numbers in attack and defence. Former All Black John Kirwin described the performance as a blend of improved attitude and accuracy.
Quite simply Argentina could not cope with sustained All Black pressure and a high level of skill, self-destructing as basic skills deserted them. Despite many Argentinian players play for Top 14 clubs in France, their coach Felipe Contepomi must be pulling his hair out at the way in which his team capitulated.
Elsewhere, the woeful Wallabies continue to frustrate and annoy supporters following their 12-30 loss to South Africa in Brisbane. In over 160 minutes of rugby against the Springboks they have scored only one try. Once a creative team boasting varied attacking skills, the Wallabies have sunk to a level where supporters cannot name the team and poor basic skills permeate every performance.
Even a pre-match monsoon couldn’t help. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel for Australia? Jorgensen and Lynagh will no doubt be the back line stars of the future but question marks against some selections, such as White at scrum half, which defies logic! His lack of discipline has always been an issue, evident last Saturday when it contributed to one of the Springboks’ tries.
The Wallabies and the All Blacks will be further tested when they travel to Argentina and South Africa respectively for back-to-back series next. Australia needs to win both to establish a degree of respect. Then there is the two-match Bledisloe Cup series against the All Blacks on Sept 21 and 28.
Closer to home, rugby is thriving in Thailand. In Chiang Mai there is a blossoming league that sees a full program of matches each Saturday, with the Lanna rugby club launching their first youth rugby program for the under-12 to under-16 age groups last weekend.
It will be no surprise to see local senior side The Cobras launch a youth tournament to run alongside the hugely successful 11s tournament based there soon. Chiang Mai is a great place to take your junior teams on a short tour, and is still waiting for the first girls team to visit.
For more information about both the youth league and the 11s tournament, please contact Pat Cotter at pat@11srugby.com.
To watch last Saturday’s highlights from Chiang Mai go to: https://www.facebook.com/11sRugby/videos/452283011144936.
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.