Tag:

Pumas

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

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, 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 Focus, Looking at the lack of Super Rugby coverage in the USA & Canada so far in 2021

by Sports Benches

It is somewhat surprising for those Super Rugby fans from America. When they are unable to tune in the first three rounds of Super Rugby. Not just Australia. But also the Aotearoa version in New Zealand too.

All due to the new three to five year year contracts kicking in. When Sky NZ already the first one to do so late 2019. The same goes to SuperSport in South Africa. They might not be around Super Rugby anymore. Ever since COVID hit one year ago. And eventually transferred all of their four teams to PRO Rugby in Europe. Such as the Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Bulls.

But it does not mean they are out of the south altogether. With the Springboks still in the Rugby Championship. In which will take place later this year. So the intense rivalry v All Blacks, Pumas & Wallabies are still on. At least for another ten seasons.

And we already talked about the new Australian Rugby tv deal a lot. When the Nine Network won the exclusive rights to cover rugby late last year. Effectively ended Fox Sports’ 25 year run. And Network 10 of eight years. Every rugby game acquired is via the paid Stan streaming service. Alongside one Super Rugby game per week plus finals for free on 9Gem. Every Wallabies games live on 9. And only 4 NSW & QLD club rugby games including all finals live on 9Gem.

Sadly this new TV deal finalized so late here affects both USA & UK. Since SANZAAR is the negotiator for all these packages. Super Rugby fans over in the north were asking their respective partners. Such as Sky in the UK & ESPN in the USA. I am not sure if TSN was part of the ESPN package in Canada. So far ESPN/TSN said that they will not be covering any Super Rugby this season.

But ESPN/TSN did not make any comment about the Rugby Championship. Which does see Argentina. Since they are the current TV holders over in the South American region. It even says on the Super Rugby NZ website that ESPN is still there. But only in South America. Sounds so harsh to the ESPN/TSN North American viewers.

While in the UK RugbyPass sorted out with SANZAAR during Round 2. But only the Super Rugby version in NZ. There is no clarity about the Australian comp. With talks still ongoing. So that would mean Sky UK out of the running. Since Sky UK were airing Southern Hemisphere rugby for over 20 years. When they were operated under Fox. But now owned by NBC/Comcast. Especially with very little rugby content themselves in recent years.

Whoever wins the Super Rugby rights gets the whole package. And shove it immediately for their North American viewers. So which potential TV/Streaming networks out there to pick up the pieces.

I do not think Fox Sports will get back to rugby again. They are better off with AFL and NRL. After they showed some rugby in the past. Before they were outbid by DirectTV in 2011-2015 & later ESPN from 2016-2020. The only other two genuine bidders is either NBC or CBS. Either network have yet to cover Super Rugby/Rugby Championship. But both have plenty of other rugby content on offer.

If I was SANZAAR then CBS would be the preferred bidder. Why? It is because NBC are undergoing the same changes. We already know that NBCSN will shut down by the end of this year. And put most of their sports via Peacock. With the bigger leagues still on the USA Network. In order to satisfy their cable/satellite customers.

CBS just renamed from CBS All Access to Paramount + a few days ago. It would be a perfect time to chuck in more sport for their brand. The European soccer was already there half a year ago with great success. Followed by some North & South American soccer along the way. Why not Super Rugby AU & Aotearoa in there every week on Paramount +. Every Finals game via the CBS Sports Network. And every Test involving the SANZAAR nations on Paramount + & CBSSN. Not a official rumour. But it is only my suggestion with six to seven weeks left in this competition.

While SANZAR is still seeking a North American rights holder. As well as RugbyPass to try & have Super Rugby AU/SANZAAR tests in the UK. Make sure return on Sports Benches every week for your Super Rugby AU content. Such as the preview, review, game talk, Top 3 players & round up. So much to cover that benefits the rugby community in Australia.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail