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Thread: Things we learned from June's rugby union tours

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    Veteran Sheikh's Avatar
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    Things we learned from June's rugby union tours

    Another article from the UK Guardian. Has a Northern Hemisphere bias, but not too bad...

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...gby-june-tours

    Best performance: New Zealand 60 Ireland 0

    The Irish weren't great in Hamilton but 60 points is a hockeying in anyone's language. The All Blacks would have beaten anyone. It was still not enough to extract a smile from Steve Hansen at the final whistle but you can't have everything …

    Most influential player: David Pocock (Australia)

    In the end, Wales had to resort to taking him out way off the ball simply to gain a foothold in the game. The Welsh have no shortage of reasons to kick the cat when they arrive home but Pocock, ultimately, was their nemesis.

    Best newcomer: Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

    Hard on Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Luke Romano, Sam Cane and Tim Visser but Smith was the whirring heartbeat of the All Blacks' revitalised attacking game. His battle of wits with Will Genia during this year's inaugural Rugby Championship will be fascinating.

    Killer stats

    1) 18. The number of Test matches James Hook and Mike Phillips have collectively played against Australia without achieving a single win. Bodes well for next year's Lions tour …

    2) 94. The number of Test victories Richie McCaw has been involved in for New Zealand. It is a world record.

    3) 0. The number of Test victories achieved by Wales, Ireland and England in nine June Tests against southern hemisphere opposition.

    Best try: Sonny Bill Williams, New Zealand v Ireland, Hamilton

    The All Blacks' second try was a masterpiece of invention, daring and execution. Aaron Cruden feinted in and out before popping up an unstoppable offload to the rampaging Williams from six inches off the ground. A classic blend of art and brutal physics.

    Best tourists: Scotland

    They deserve every plaudit going for playing Tests in Fiji and Samoa. Three victories in three Tests made a refreshing change, too.

    Best atmosphere: South Africa

    Kilo for kilo, South Africa has some of the greatest rugby stadia anywhere. The crackle in the air during the anthems at Ellis Park was as forbidding as it gets.

    Unluckiest team: Wales

    A 3-0 series defeat to Australia did not tell the whole story. Or even close to it.

    Room for improvement

    1) Declan Kidney 2) Craig Joubert 3) Kurtley Beale.

    Biggest gap

    Not, for once, between northern and southern hemispheres but between Heineken Cup champions Leinster and Ireland's national team. Same faces, totally different story.

    Most telling quote: "That scoreline's a bit embarrassing."

    Fair play to Brian O'Driscoll for declining to duck the obvious.

    Most ominous sight

    South Africa beating New Zealand to win the Under-20 World Cup. Are we sure they were juniors?

    Reasons to look forward to the second-half of 2012

    1) Argentina's inclusion in the Rugby Championship. All roads, finally, lead to Mendoza, La Plata and Rosario.

    2) Are New Zealand really that good?

    3) November internationals. If the home nations did not have sufficient motivation already, they do now.

    Abiding tour memory

    The Kimberley Club and the Big Hole, Kimberley. Diamond trip.

    Team of the month

    Cian Healy (Ire), Bismarck du Plessis (SA), Adam Jones (Wal), Eben Etzebeth (SA), Nathan Sharpe (Aus), Willem Alberts (SA), David Pocock (Aus), Kieran Read (NZ), Aaron Smith (NZ), Dan Carter (NZ), Digby Ioane (Aus), Sonny Bill Williams (NZ), Conrad Smith (NZ), JP Pietersen (SA), Israel Dagg (NZ).
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    One thing that team of the month brings to mind is that in order for Australia to improve - have a few more Force guys in there!

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    (a.k.a. Mr Pinkbits) Stone Cold's Avatar
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    Good wrap-up. Nice to see Sharpie getting a gig in the team of the month!

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    coz Stone Cold says so

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    (a.k.a. Mr Pinkbits) Stone Cold's Avatar
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    Classic response on the guardian website:

    "I can't believe Quade Cooper didn't make it onto your team of the series. You evidently have an axe to grind"

    Watch much of the series?

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    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stone Cold View Post
    Good wrap-up. Nice to see Sharpie getting a gig in the team of the month!
    and Bam

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    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

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    Someone has made a mistake somewhere. In his test debut, James Hook kicked Wales to a victory over the Wallabies in 2005.

    That's the second time I've heard the Hook with no wins against Australia line.

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    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

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    Veteran Contributor normie's Avatar
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    Awesome! Two Force players and one ex Force player in the team of the month!

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    Quote Originally Posted by James View Post
    Someone has made a mistake somewhere. In his test debut, James Hook kicked Wales to a victory over the Wallabies in 2005.

    That's the second time I've heard the Hook with no wins against Australia line.
    Wiki has it as a 29 all draw James?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hook_(rugby_union)

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    (a.k.a. Mr Pinkbits) Stone Cold's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr View Post
    and Bam
    Never in doubt so didn't need to say...would have kicked up a fuss if he wasn't in the team!

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