Wily Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has been buttering up the locals since arriving in Australia, talking up their next opponents.
But the reality is that the Wallabies will face a formidable rugby machine this weekend, even if Erasmus has sent Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende back to South Africa after the gruelling series against the All Blacks.
asserted
Erasmus → butter → Blacks
The All Blacks scored plenty of tries in those four Tests, but there are four massive challenges the Wallabies must pass before winning becomes a possibility in Perth.
asserted
winning → score → Perth
One, the Springboks’ second shove on their own scrum ball; two, competing against the aerial excellence of players such as Damian Willemse and Ethan Hooker; three, clean lineout ball in the face of the Springboks’ aggressive lineout defence; and four, the brutal front-foot carries from forwards such as Jasper Wiese (if he plays).
asserted
he → compete → Wiese
Declan Meredith will likely get the nod, but the Wallabies will need a huge contribution from all players against the brutal Boks.
asserted
Wallabies → get → Boks
Burey outpoints Lynagh in Roma
asserted
Burey → outpoint → Roma
The Waratahs thrashed the Reds 47-19 in Super Rugby Aus on Saturday in a game that was notable for a number of reasons, not least the duel between the No.10s Max Burey and Tom Lynagh.
asserted
that → thrash → No.10s
Burey has attracted plenty of headlines due to a contract stoush between the Waratahs and Western Force, but it clearly didn’t affect him.
asserted
it → attract → him
Now 27, Burey is clearly a player confident in his own abilities and he won the battle with Wallaby Lynagh.
asserted
he → win → Lynagh
The Waratahs were far more aggressive from the first whistle and gave Burey a good platform, but he ran the attack well and made sure NSW won the territory battle with his big boot.
asserted
NSW → give → boot
Lynagh’s timing isn’t where it needs to be after an injury-interrupted year so far - he doesn’t look ready for a Test recall at the moment and might benefit from more game time with the Reds for the remainder of the year.
uncertain
he → need → year
Young Tahs give Cheika some encouragement
asserted
Tahs → give → encouragement
Incoming Waratahs coach Michael Cheika would have loved what he saw from a number of the younger Waratahs against the Reds.
asserted
he → income → Reds
Big No.8 Isaac Fonua is a great athlete, and he pulled off some big shots and carries before running out of steam somewhat.
asserted
he → pull → steam
New Waratahs assistant coaches Stephen Hoiles and Wycliff Palu, former back-rowers, will also be looking at Fonua’s big frame with a degree of excitement.
asserted
coaches → look → excitement
Second-rowers Tom Girle and Eamon Doyle were real workhorses, while midfielder Otto Serfontein ran hard throughout the game.
asserted
Serfontein → run → game
George Poolman, wearing the No.12 jersey, enjoyed a number of good touches and ran strongly.
asserted
Poolman → wear → touches
Angus Crichton is destined to wear that jersey next year for the Waratahs, but there was a hint of “don’t forget about me” in Poolman’s performance.
asserted
Crichton → destine → performance
The standout Australians in the NZ comp
Plenty of Australians have been plying their trade in New Zealand’s NPC this year, but Reds-bound Lachlan Hooper has been the pick of the bunch.
asserted
Hooper → ply → bunch
Hooper is playing for Northland, who have emerged as one of the competition front-runners.
asserted
who → play → runners
Hooper has shown his versatility by playing in the second row and back row and has been one of Northland’s best players so far.
asserted
Hooper → show → players
He is tough and great over the ball and looks to be a good addition to the Reds squad next year - very much a Vern Cotter style of player.
asserted
He → look → player
Perth-bound James Ramm, who is also playing for Northland, was exceptional at fullback as they thrashed Wellington 52-28 on Saturday.
asserted
they → bind → Saturday
Ramm looks like a completely different athlete after a few years in the UK - bigger, faster and more athletic - and he showed against Wellington that he is a class above that level of rugby.
asserted
he → look → rugby
Ramm has returned to Australia for a crack at the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup squad, and on the evidence of the NPC he should not be ruled out of contention.
asserted
he → return → contention
He’ll be one to watch in Super Rugby Pacific.
asserted
He → watch → Pacific
Condolences to the Waugh family
The horrible news of the death of Jack Waugh, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh’s eldest son, certainly puts sport into perspective.
asserted
news → put → perspective
While nothing can be said to alleviate the grief, the Herald would like to pass on its condolences to the Waugh family.
asserted
Herald → say → family
No one connected to the game could have failed to have been moved by the picture of proud father Phil with sons Jack and Charlie.
uncertain
one → connect → Jack
The Aporia
