Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: All Blacks vs Stormers
Stormers 21-38 All Blacks (Cape Town Stadium, August 7): The first match of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour produced a far more compelling contest than the scoreline suggests. The All Blacks led 14-7 at half-time but were taken back to 14-14 by a Stormers side playing with tremendous pride and physicality, the game in the balance until the 66th minute when Rieko Ioane's second try edged New Zealand ahead. Three more tries followed in the final eight minutes as the Stormers ran out of backline replacements. Three yellow cards for the All Blacks, including flanker Simon Parker and fullback Josh Moorby, were the primary talking point. New Zealand were penalised 16 times. Dave Rennie was candid: "We weren't quite clinical enough to expose them. They came at us with their set-piece and we need to be better in those areas." Standouts for the Stormers were 20-year-old flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed in his first-class debut and flanker Deon Fourie, who turns 40 next month.
LIPPY'S VIEW
When you look at the team the All Blacks put out, it is amazing to think that a so-called second team has such a wealth of remarkable talent. The pace and energy they bring shows how much that jersey means to them and how much every player wants to put their hand up for a test spot. That is what genuine squad competition does for a team. When a team has a 140-test flyhalf in Beauden Barrett as their third or fourth choice, that is pretty unprecedented in world rugby.
The Anton Lienert-Brown yellow card was iffy in my opinion. He made contact with the upper shoulder, but referee Karl Dickson saw it differently. Having to play with 13 men in the 14th minute, in South Africa, with new combinations still finding each other, is about as hard as it gets. The scrums were a mess, which is not going to help them in the tests. The game was stop-start and disjointed, and it was very hard to get any read on how these combinations will perform at test level, as most of these players are still fighting for a spot.
Peter Lakai was the class of the backrow. Sam Darry, coming on off the bench, changed the game for the All Blacks with strong, impactful running. My pick to start in the test team. Josh Moorby showed his class in the 76th minute with an amazing charge-down and one-handed pick-up to score. He is also my pick for a test spot: pure X factor and continuing his Hurricanes form, even with a slow first half and a yellow card. The All Blacks did well to adapt, shifting from their expansive approach to playing more direct pick-and-go rugby, which led to Rieko Ioane's try in the 68th minute. On paper a very compelling win, but it was much harder than the scoreline shows. Lots of learnings. But a first match win on South African soil is exactly what they needed.
South Africa vs Argentina
Argentina 10-17 South Africa (Buenos Aires, August 8): South Africa held on for a 17-10 win at Estadio José Amalfitani in a match that proved far harder than expected. Number eight Cameron Hanekom was player of the match, providing the platform around which South Africa built their victory. Edwill van der Merwe and Hanekom scored the tries, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handre Pollard contributing from the boot. Argentina were within striking distance throughout, with centre Matias Moroni spilling a high ball in the corner at the final moment. The most significant moment came earlier: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi left the field in the 25th minute with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. Kolisi confirmed he hurt "the other hamstring" and will undergo scans on his return home. Erasmus said the injury "does not look too bad," but Kolisi's availability for the Test series starting August 22 at Ellis Park now hangs in the balance.
LIPPY'S VIEW
It is crazy to think that a team with that many caps in the 23 is actually quite inexperienced comparatively, with combinations that would typically not be in the starting lineup. That is the fruit of Rassie's broad-based squad approach. Argentina's defense was excellent and their attack very deliberate. They had six clean breaks to South Africa's one, in the first half. The question was always how long they could hold the Springboks at bay with constant pressure.
Cameron Hanekom had a fantastic match and we should expect to see a lot more of him in the Springbok jersey. The best way to describe the watch overall is a grind. Not a visual spectacle, but the Boks just keep wearing teams down. One standout was the lack of accuracy and effectiveness of their kicking game, usually one of their biggest strengths. After watching all the exciting running rugby of the Nations Championship and major club competitions, this was not a great advertisement for the sport. That said, Argentina is a very difficult place to play and Rassie will be happy with a tough win. Just when we thought the game was over, Argentina nailed a 50/22 and continued to pressure the Boks with 15 phases all the way to the 83rd minute, unfortunately culminating in a dropped ball at the death, with the Boks on their heels. Argentina's young, unexpected players should be very proud of their competitiveness, defense and resilience. The All Blacks will learn little from watching this match as the combinations and the team they will face in the tests will be quite different.
Wallabies vs Japan: Les Kiss Gets His First Win
Japan 32-35 Australia (Osaka, August 8): New Wallabies coach Les Kiss got his tenure off to a winning start in a dramatic finish in a sweltering Osaka. Australia led throughout but needed a strong bench performance to survive Japan's brave fightback, with Warner Dearns' try reducing the deficit to three points at the final moment. Australia scored five tries through Harry Potter, Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Fraser McReight and Taniela Tupou, while Japan crossed through Ryunosuke Ito, Faulua Makisi and Kazuma Ueda. A Miles Amatosero red card complicated the Australian cause but the bench depth proved decisive. The series against Japan continues in Townsville next Saturday.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Japanese flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito on his fourth test scored an absolute cracker, beating four players. Watch this player. He is like a Cheslin Kolbe at flyhalf. Japan are a fantastic team to watch play rugby. The Japan Rugby League One is one of the most entertaining leagues in the world and their national team under Eddie Jones is an extension of that fun, running, attacking game. Ryan Lonergan's metronomic kicking was the difference for Australia.
Japan have in my opinion one of the best second rows in world rugby in Warner Dearns, and that, along with a very well coached and talented team, makes them a formidable team to play. What an entertaining game. Great to see this level of competitiveness from Japan and I love what they are doing with the sport.
Currie Cup: Round 4 Results
Griquas 31 – 19 Lions
Currie Cup R4, Kimberley. Bonus-point win. Griquas leapfrog Lions to go top.
Cheetahs 31 – 26 Stormers XXIII
Currie Cup R4, Cape Town. Faf de Klerk scores a last-gasp try to seal a dramatic bonus-point win. Cheetahs draw level with Griquas on 16 points.
Pumas 33 – 31 Bulls XV
Currie Cup R4, Loftus Versfeld. Pumas edge the Bulls who remain winless after four rounds.
Sharks 19 – 12 Boland
Currie Cup R4, KwaMashu. Sharks return to home soil for a hard-fought win.
Griquas and Cheetahs share top spot: Defending champions Griquas produced a dominant bonus-point display in Kimberley to reclaim top spot, but by Sunday evening the Cheetahs had drawn level in the most dramatic fashion: Faf de Klerk, off the bench at Athlone Stadium, finished off a 25-phase attack in the left corner with the final play of the match to give the Cheetahs a 31-26 bonus-point win over the Stormers XXIII. Griquas lead only on points difference.
| Currie Cup Premier Division | P | W | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griquas | 4 | 3 | 1 | +39 | 4 | 16 |
| Cheetahs | 4 | 3 | 1 | +26 | 4 | 16 |
| Lions | 4 | 2 | 2 | +32 | 4 | 12 |
| Boland | 4 | 2 | 2 | +40 | 3 | 11 |
| Pumas | 4 | 2 | 2 | -18 | 3 | 11 |
| Sharks XV | 4 | 2 | 2 | -21 | 2 | 10 |
| Stormers XXIII | 4 | 2 | 2 | -29 | 1 | 9 |
| Blue Bulls | 4 | 0 | 4 | -69 | 3 | 3 |
NPC: Round 2 Results
North Harbour 59 – 19 Counties Manukau
NPC R2, Albany. Twelve tries. Statement performance from North Harbour.
Waikato 38 – 32 Taranaki
NPC R2, Hamilton. Waikato make it two wins from two in a high-scoring clash.
Auckland 34 – 31 Wellington
NPC R2, Auckland. Auckland edge a tight derby. Wellington drop to 0-2.
Bay of Plenty 34 – 31 Northland
NPC R2, Rotorua. Bay of Plenty hold on. Northland's unbeaten start ends.
Hawke's Bay 50 – 19 Tasman
NPC R2, Napier. Hawke's Bay make it two wins from two with an emphatic home performance.
Manawatu 36 – 35 Southland
NPC R2, Palmerston North. One of the matches of the round. Southland led 28-7 and still led 35-19 with 10 minutes remaining before Manawatu scored three tries to steal a stunning win. Brayden Iose scored the decisive try.
Canterbury 19 – 15 Otago
NPC R2, Forsyth Barr Stadium. Ranfurly Shield match. Canterbury win the Log o' Wood back from Otago. Mo'unga starts and converts the opening try.
Mo'unga starts, Canterbury win the Ranfurly Shield: Richie Mo'unga started at flyhalf for Canterbury in Dunedin, with the Ranfurly Shield on the line. Canterbury won the Log o' Wood back from Otago 19-15, with Mo'unga converting the opening try from captain Brodie McAlister in the 16th minute. Canterbury held on despite briefly playing with 13 men. Canterbury have now won the Ranfurly Shield for a record 18th time. The Dave Rennie call-up conversation is now a matter of when, not if.
| NPC Standings After Round 2 (Top 7 of 14) | P | W | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawke's Bay | 2 | 2 | 0 | +50 | 2 | 10 |
| Waikato | 2 | 2 | 0 | +18 | 2 | 10 |
| Canterbury | 2 | 2 | 0 | +11 | 1 | 9 |
| North Harbour | 2 | 1 | 1 | +38 | 3 | 7 |
| Northland | 2 | 1 | 1 | +23 | 3 | 7 |
| Auckland | 2 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 3 | 7 |
| Otago | 2 | 1 | 1 | +23 | 2 | 6 |
Around the Grounds: What the Pundits Are Saying
Ma'a Nonu named on Sharks bench to face the All Blacks: Ma'a Nonu, 44 years old, two-time Rugby World Cup winner and holder of 103 All Blacks caps, has been named on the bench for the Sharks' match against the All Blacks in Durban on Tuesday August 11. Nonu signed a short-term mentorship deal with the Sharks last month after leaving Toulon, where he became the oldest player to feature in the French Top 14. He was presented with the No.12 jersey by young centre Jurenzo Julius. Head coach JP Pietersen, who faced Nonu repeatedly as a Springbok and later played alongside him at Toulon, said: "The best players don't just leave memories, they leave standards." The youngest player in the All Blacks squad, Siale Lauaki, was born in May 2003, the same year Nonu made his Hurricanes debut. Rugby produces very few moments like this.
Kolisi injury concern heading into Test 1: The sight of Siya Kolisi departing in the 25th minute in Buenos Aires alarmed Springbok fans worldwide. Kolisi has been central to Erasmus' plans and his absence from Test 1 at Ellis Park on August 22 would be a significant blow both tactically and symbolically. If Kolisi misses Test 1, the captaincy would likely pass to Pieter-Steph du Toit, who captained the side in July with distinction.
All Blacks discipline in the spotlight: The Breakdown NZ and RugbyPass Talking Rugby both flagged the three yellow cards against the Stormers as a serious concern. The consensus was that referee Karl Dickson's pattern of penalising New Zealand for slowing the maul and high shots is exactly what to expect from Test referees, and that Dave Rennie's side needs urgent work before August 22.
Cheika emerging as preferred Waratahs candidate: Michael Cheika has emerged as the preferred candidate to return as head coach of the NSW Waratahs for the 2027 season, following the departure of Dan McKellar. This potential homecoming aligns with the recent signings of veterans Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps, both of whom played under Cheika during the 2014 Super Rugby title run. No formal appointment has been made and the NSW Waratahs have issued no public announcement, but Cheika is understood to be the frontrunner.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday August 11: Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. All Blacks vs Sharks, Kings Park, Durban. Ma'a Nonu on the bench.
Saturday August 15: Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. All Blacks vs Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
Saturday August 15: Japan vs Australia (Test 2), Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.
Saturday August 14-16: Currie Cup Round 5. Griquas vs Sharks and Lions vs Boland among the key fixtures.
Thursday August 13 onwards: NPC Round 3.