Rugby Championship 2024
A brace of close decisions, by margins of 3 and 1, made this next-to-last round a blockbuster as one home nation experienced a deliriously happy ending while t’other very nearly did. We went into the weekend with World Rugby’s numero uno looking to close the deal on the 2024 Rugby Championship title in the Mother of Cities; after a mother of a rugby match, SA yet seek that closure.
By the Numbers:
3 groundings inside of 17 minutes had traveling New Zealand up 21-nil and off to what appeared to be a Wallabies whipping, but an impressive Australia resurgence came close to carrying the day for the home side at the Sydney Olympic Park; a pair of Wallabies groundings by number 2, Matt Faessler and openside Fraser Mcreight, against the ABs fourth by backrow lock, Ardie Savea, had the scoreline at 28-14 Kiwis by halftime; sticksplitter from New Zealand 10, Damian McKenzie (11 pts on 4-and-1, 100% accuracy from the gun) extended the visitor lead, 31-14, until a 65th minute dot by Aussie 12, Hunter Paisami, and touch down by 15 Tom Wright near time, both converted by 4-from-4 Noah Lolesio, and 31 – 28 that final;
1 innit at the end of the day and South Africa Springboks, who have had 5, one-point margin matches in the last year, suffered only their second such defeat in the 90-plus degree heat at Santiago del Estero; ‘Boks were ahead 17-nil by the 13th minute and one might have thought, “Here we go…,” but an Argentina fightback through trys by flyer Mateo Carreras, blindside Pablo Matera, tighthead Joel Sclavi, and flyhalf Tomás Albornoz (3-from-4 made 7 by Albornoz), and Los Puma were in front by 4 at the half, 26-22; penalty strikes by 10, Handre Pollard, and his replacement, Mannie Libbok, had South Africa back in front 28-26 at the hour mark, but an Albornoz three-fer made the final score, 29 - 28; a penalty attempt at the death for the win by visitors sailed across the face of the goal.
Saturday, September 28
New Zealand v Australia 1am MST at Sky Stadium, Wellington: could be a rough outing for travelers;
South Africa v Argentina 9am at Mbombela Stadium: Los Pumas followed their mighty win at NZ with a big loss; they’ll look to change that up this time around;
