Category:

Rugby

Stay in the know with the latest rugby news, scores, and highlights. Get up-to-the-minute updates on your favorite teams, players, and tournaments

Rugby

Rugby News, Wallabies complete their 2021 Rugby Championship campaign with four straight wins in their last four games against both Springboks & Pumas

by Sports Benches

Great start from the Wallabies in the first half after seeing a series of kicking contests v Los Pumas during the first 20 minutes, they used the ball well when given the chance, called their players up to support through the channels & successfully executed two tries along the way from Folau Faingaa & Andrew Kellaway.

Pumas meanwhile have done well defensively at times as seen that held the Wallabies back & win penalties, but they need to improve their discipline as seen with Tomas Lavinini’s yellow card just a few minutes before half-time which is going to give them time to get past the Wallabies’ own territory or else it’s too late.

HALF-TIME: Pumas 3-15 Wallabies

And the Wallabies continued to thrive after the break with more tries on the board including Andrew Kellaway’s double brace that summed up his hat-trick TRY tonight on the Gold Coast, although they began to falter towards the final siren but a win is a win after all.

Pumas may have turned around in the last 20 minutes thanks to a number of fresh faces off the bench such as Thomas Gallo who touched down twice on the front row, but it doesn’t detract their overall performance when they weren’t up to speed for the majority thanks to ill-discipline before it’s too late to nail down.

FULL-TIME: Pumas 15-32 Wallabies

Wallabies finish 2nd in this year’s Rugby Championship behind champions All Blacks after six games while Los Pumas came home last without registering a win, they will now spend a month and a half in the northern side of the world with Japan later this October before a British visit in November v Scotland, England & Wales.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News Australia, Top 3 players from the Pumas v Wallabies in Game 6 of the 2021 Rugby Championship

by Sports Benches

Andrew Kellaway has been a brilliant addition to the Wallabies squad on the wing since he first entered the International level back in July this year at home v France, he has never looked out of depth with his finishing skills which is explosive to blow out any opposition team.

Whenever the Wallabies have the ball in hand they were able to march around his best strengths so the communication is there before he exactly knows where to ice that cake with his hat-trick TRY v Argentina tonight, credit to the Melbourne Rebels who continue to nurture these wingers into international stardom like Marika Koroibete & Andrew Kellaway.

Next up is another Wallaby at Number 8 in Rob Valetini where he played a huge role around the team’s attacking support system tonight, he gets involved more often when giving them a helping hand through that build-up base which makes his backline a lot easier to execute.

And communication is a very important skill before processing the physicality in any way to push Valetini around these support runners through the channels, it’s the same thing he was tested defensively where he held back the Pumas’ lost opportunities that profited more points in return for the Wallabies.

And how about we introduce Thomas Gallo from the Pumas who just played his first International cap off the bench after half-time on the front row & made an impact straight away at age 22.

He boasts a big physicality frame which is a nightmare for the Wallabies defensive half when they began to falter later on & Pumas began to take advantage with some numbers before Gallo executed that damage past the TRY line twice, it may be a loss as a whole team in the end through ill-discipline & lack of attacking touch earlier on but there’s more to come in the Pumas shirt from Gallo.

#Rugby #ARGvAUS #RugbyChampionship #Wallabies #LosPumas #ThomasGallo #RobValetini #AndrewKellaway #RugbyUnion

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News, The Chiefs rearrange coaching system with Clayton McMillan installed as full-time head coach & Warren Gatland into the director of rugby role

by Sports Benches

Wow!! An incredible decision by The Chiefs who will keep the faith with Clayton McMillan as head coach next season, having helped turn from a winless 2020 to being the Top 2 finalists earlier this year in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

There’s no need to change a winning formula that’s going to benefit the team’s long-term framework as McMillan will also keep his existing Maori All Blacks commitments in the same role since 2017, so it’s great to see the Perth born coach have another crack to stop the Crusaders’ long-running dominance.

What does it mean for Warren Gatland when he returned to New Zealand with the Chiefs on a four-year contract after a fruitful stint for Wales at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, didn’t win a game in 2020 but had to focus on the British & Irish Lions this year?

He’s not going anywhere but Gatland will return to Waikato under a new position as director of rugby which is a system being adopted by most Northern Hemisphere & some former South African Super Rugby clubs, He already tasted plenty of European success before at Provincial & International level & hopes that experience will help push the Chiefs further when Super Rugby Pacific begins in February 2022.

The upcoming journey will be a bit different when it comes to playing the regular-season portion, then you have the return of the knockout rounds since 2019 beginning with the Quarter Final & Semi-Final before facing the other best two for that ultimate championship, but we’ll see if The Chiefs are progressing that became 2nd best behind Crusaders or regressing like the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign under McMillan.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Australian Rugby News, Wallabies continue their winning streak after an easy win v Los Pumas in Townsville

by Sports Benches

Easy start from the Wallabies in the first half with two early tries on the board from Reece Hodge & Samu Kerevi as well as a successful three-point penalty, they dominated the pitch whenever with the ball on hand mightily which gave plenty of chances to execute as reflected so far tonight.

Meanwhile, Los Pumas won a few penalties where they successfully converted one of their three-point goals thanks to their brilliant defensive shape, but they haven’t had the opportunity to kick on especially when trying to get out of their own territory which lacked possession.

HALF-TIME: Wallabies 17-3 Los Pumas

In the end, Wallabies continued to dominate the Los Pumas half with more opportunities with the ball especially when they had a few fresh faces off the bench which saw Andrew Kellaway touch down for another big score & safeguarded another straight win.

And the Pumas may have used the resets well where skipper Julian Montoya orchestrated the maul that converted into a TRY himself just after half-time, but apart from that they haven’t improved much unfortunately with little to no support numbers to build pressure back to the Wallabies & it prevented them from catching up the scoreboard.

FULL-TIME: Wallabies 27-8 Los Pumas

The All Blacks have already clinched the Rugby Championship title holders for 2021 with one round to spare v Springboks next Saturday in the reverse meeting, but Wallabies have now moved up to 2nd ahead of the reigning World Champions (Boks) on 13 points.

What the Wallabies can do now is end this year’s tournament on a high note when they take on the Pumas once again next Saturday on the Gold Coast before they go north through the rest of October and November:

  • Japan, 23rd October
  • Scotland, 7th November
  • England, 13th November
  • Wales, 20th November
0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Wallabies v Los Pumas Game

by Sports Benches

Samu Kerevi as always has been immense in the Wallabies midfield at No.12 having gone strength to strength as an all-action player since he returned from Olympics duty in Rugby 7s.

He has the physicality & vision to rip apart the opposition territory whenever with the ball in hand that gave time to complete these executions, thanks to the support runners around him the communication & close passing was key to the Wallabies’ big score contributions tonight.

Next up is another Wallaby in Andrew Kellaway who was excellent in the wide right position & he too hasn’t put a foot wrong after accruing a few caps at International level.

He made so much running into the Los Pumas territory especially when his side were patient going forward which afforded the possession given to him so they know what’s best for Kellaway to help smash this game which is reflected in the 2nd half.

And Lucio Cinti Luna performed not bad for Los Pumas at outside centre (No.13) where not only he can hold back the Wallabies with his defending but can be a real threat going forward thanks to the tall & physical build which is huge to read that vision at 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m).

Unfortunately, it’s not his night when his Pumas side lacked support numbers to build pressure back to the Wallabies, even though they were good at times with the reset penalties like the Julian Montoya TRY just after half-time with very little change to turn around later on.

#RugbyChampionship #InternationalRugby #Rugby #RugbyUnion #Wallabies #LosPumas #LucioCintiLuna #AndrewKellaway #SamuKerevi

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News, Wallabies regain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate with back to back wins v reigning World Champions the Springboks

by Sports Benches

Brilliant first-half performance from both the Wallabies and Springboks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane with a three-point difference at the half-time break 15-12.

Wallabies fired off very well courtesy of a double score from Len Ikitau in the midfield but need to improve their discipline especially when Lachie Swinton was slapped with a yellow card in the 33rd min if they want to leave this battle v Boks undefeated 2-0.

Boks, on the other hand, has won a few penalties where Handre Pollard at fly-half successfully converted a couple of penalty goals into the post but South Africa needs to be patient through the executions & cut the ill-discipline/lost penalties that would ultimately dictate this match.

In the end, the Wallabies had a complete performance when they may have lost the lead at one point just after the break but turned around thanks to a few fresh faces off the bench as well as Taniela Tupou’s all-round play & Marika Koroibete’s double TRY.

And the Boks may have stolen the lead at one point just after the break courtesy of Faf De Klerk’s little cross-kick to Lukhanyo Am but unable to kick on when their attack continues to lack the consistent execution as well as more ill-discipline that prevented them from closing in the Wallabies.

Full-Time: Wallabies 30-17 Springboks

Wallabies ended their two-match meeting this year with the Boks as undefeated alongside the series win which saw them regain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate as they have two more games left v Los Pumas from Argentina over the next two weeks.

The Springboks have two tough weeks to prepare v All Blacks going into the closing stages of this tournament, they are just five points behind them right now pending on the All Blacks’ result v Argentina later on but should the men in black lose then the Boks are not out of the running just yet.

Watch this space going into the last two weeks of the 2021 Rugby Championship.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News Australia, Top 3 players in the 2021 Rugby Championship: Wallabies v Springboks

by Sports Benches

Taniela Tupou played 78 minutes tonight on the tighthead role for the Wallabies where he was so impressive all-around in front of his Queensland Reds home ground at Suncorp Stadium.

He read well with so much physicality to hold back the Springboks’ attacking opportunities before Taniela lend his hand to his backline especially when he communicates & links up the support play that saw Marika Koroibete safeguard this match.

Next up within the Wallabies camp is Marika Koroibete who was electric on the wide left as he made some great runs into the Boks territory when starting up the attack & managed to execute very well with the help of his decoy runners which is reflected in his 2nd half-performance.

It’s so important to know what his strengths are based on his Rugby League & Super Rugby experience where he’s blessed to wear the green the gold for a few years now, Marika will continue to control the entire pitch going into age 30 next year as long as the players come in to help him like we’ve seen with Taniela Tupou having been born & raised in Fiji.

And Handre Pollard had a great first-half performance with his kicking prowess into the goal for the Springboks at No.10 that kept them in contention thanks to a couple of successful three-point penalties.

However, the Boks weren’t able to kick on despite leading at one point just after half-time when they just can’t find their rhythm such as the executions being disjointed as well as more ill-discipline that saw Pollard being isolated which reflects the away team’s regress in the end.

#AUSvRSA #Rugby #RugbyUnion #RugbyChampionship #MarikaKoroibete #HandrePollard #TanielaTupou #Wallabies #Springboks

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News, Top 3 players from the 2021 Rugby Championship: Springboks v Wallabies

by Sports Benches

What a night it has been for the returning Quade Cooper in the No.10 Wallabies shirt at fly-half!!

His kicking was spotless eight times into the goalposts including the game-winning brace that smiled at the Wallabies fans to cheer after full-time.

It gives much-needed experience especially when Noah Lolesio wasn’t performing well at International level recently & now is the time for Quade to nail down the starting No.10 role going into next year and the crucial World Cup year in 2023.

Next up is another returning Wallaby who made an immediate impact at the same time after the Olympics which is Samu Kerevi in the inside midfield position.

He performed really well last week in a losing side v All Blacks and kept his form tonight for a winning team when Samu bursted through the Springboks brick wall, his physicality in the attack helps find another support player or two which is reflected in the 1st half off Andrew Kellaway’s TRY.

Like Quade, the Wallabies need experienced and senior leaders such as Samu Kerevi who has played in Japan over the past two seasons & to come back here shows he can handle at International level.

And Faf De Klerk rounds off as the best Springbok player of the night at half-back.

He communicated very well behind their robust scrummaging and maul feed that knocked the Wallabies over at times especially when they won a few penalties & gained three tries the maul itself.

Unfortunately, the Boks were held back due to ill-discipline and a lack of finishing in open play which saw them being impatient as seen just before full-time when they lost the ball before Quade Cooper became the hero for the Wallabies.

RSAvAUS #QuadeCooper #SamuKerevi #FafDeKlerk #Springboks #Wallabies #Rugby #RugbyUnion #InternationalRugby

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News, Quade Cooper’s return to the Wallabies is perfect timing thanks to his last-minute penalty goal heroics v Springboks

by Sports Benches

Wallabies started very well in the first half when Quade Cooper’s return to the No.10 jersey was superb with his kicking through the posts as well as Andrew Kellaway’s first try of the night off the assist from Samu Kerevi, so great to have some added experience in the line-up.

Meanwhile, Springboks were good defensively which led to some penalties that converted into some three-point kicks and a TRY late in the 1st half from Bongi Mbonambi but they need to watch their discipline which caused them to hold back & the same goes for the Wallabies if they don’t want to lose after the break.

HALF-TIME: Springboks 11-19 Wallabies

Although the Wallabies may not have scored a TRY after the break but they continued to rack up successful three-point goals, even though they escaped the Springboks powerful scrum/maul feed towards full-time thanks to Quade Cooper’s penalty heroics into the post.

And the Boks as said a bit earlier have turned a corner with their robust driving feed that puts down two tries from substitute Malcolm Marx which puts them back in the game that threatened the Wallabies, they just still unable to find the finishing in other areas of the attack as well as the continued ill-discipline where it fell short.

FULL-TIME: Springboks 26-28 Wallabies

Wallabies registered their first win of 2021 in the Rugby Championship and third overall if you count the other two games v France back in July as they face the Boks again next Saturday at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Meanwhile, Springboks hopes to make up revenge v the Wallabies at the same time while they look to close in top spot as long as the Argentine Pumas upset All Blacks which falls also on next Saturday.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Rugby

Rugby News Australia, 2021 Bledisloe Cup Game 3 Review: Wallabies v All Blacks

by Sports Benches

A fantastic start from New Zealand in the first 40 who scored two tries at 0-18 despite seeing Jordie Barrett receive the red card. 

They were fantastic as always due to the patience and support play unpacked that flows into a sensational finish as seen with the mix of short passes, physicality & pace.

Meanwhile, The home team created some chances especially with the link-up play earlier from Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete but they still haven’t learned a thing or two when it comes to executions which ultimately haunted them in return.

Although the Wallabies finally got going after the break when they scored three tries, it’s just too late to rebound by the time All Blacks   continue dominating the pitch with four more tries including a David Havili 2nd half double before the final siren (80th minute).

FULL-TIME: Wallabies 21-38 All Blacks

All Blacks already confirmed their Bledisloe Cup defense for the 19th straight year with a clean sweep series win 3-0 while they continue to lead The Rugby Championship going into a double meeting v Argentina over the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Wallabies are still looking for their first Rugby Championship win of 2021 when they will face The Springboks from South Africa also at the same time.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail