IT
EN
While Italy nursed the wounds of Tokyo, the rest of the rugby planet took the field for round one of the Nations Championship. And the trolley, as they say on “Divagazioni di Rugby”, was full: results, statements and a world pecking order that is starting to take shape.
South Africa, the war machine
At Ellis Park South Africa crushed England 45-21. Three tries in the first twelve minutes (du Toit, Kolbe, Arendse), then England’s proud response to trail 17-14 at the break, and finally the Boks shifting through the gears and pulling clear, with Marx and Ben-Jason Dixon sealing it. A scoreline even flattered by two late England yellow cards.
What impresses is the team sheet: a spine of two-time world champions chasing a three-peat. Rassie Erasmus’s work remains, quite simply, extraordinary.
Scotland shine, Argentina disappoint
In Argentina, Scotland produced the most convincing display: 47-38 in Córdoba, seven tries, and even without some first-choice names. A win never really in doubt, and one that leaves more than a few doubts about the Pumas: a side that looked flat and lifeless, the most disappointing of the big teams — Italy aside.
Ireland the real deal, Australia on the rise
The tightest match went to Ireland away in Australia: 33-31, turned around late thanks to the usual world-class bench. An ending that recalls a certain Florence finish: a wide penalty to close it out, only this time the Wallabies’ attempt drifted just wide. Australia leave beaten but different, clearly improving: they only lack a little bench depth.
Rennie’s All Blacks and a France ‘B’
A winning but hard-fought debut for the All Blacks of the new Dave Rennie era: 34-32 in Christchurch against a France without their Toulouse and Montpellier players, and missing Ramos and Dupont. Yet Les Bleus came within a whisker of the upset, driven by a Matthieu Jalibert in dazzling form, who scored in the closing surge too.
“France are the number one candidates to win the next World Cup.”
The verdict is emphatic and it belongs to DanPat: even in its “B” version, French rugby shows a depth — at scrum-half as at fly-half — that no other nation can match today.
Read also: Italy-All Blacks preview · Video · All news
Which of these results surprised you most? Tell us in the comments and subscribe to DanPat Rugby for analysis of every round.
DANPAT Rugby — International rugby told with an Italian eye.