Tri Nations - the one that got away for the Wallabies and Leinster start to get going

“You should have seen it, it was black and this blaaady big ( spreads arms as wide as he can)” For the second time in three weeks the Wallabies got achingly close to hooking a big one then saw it slip away right at the end. The All Blacks don’t know when they’re beaten, and this make shift bunch, resting on their laurels, still had too much gas in the tank for the Wallabies, even away from home. That slick black juggernaut turns wallabies and springboks into roadkill all too easily. There will be those out there bleating about the All Blacks peaking between World Cups, while at the same time praying it’s going to be someone else’s team that does the dirty on the All Blacks. These guys are the real deal, and to paraphrase ex Sharks coach Dick Muir ‘It’s going to take a sniper to stop them’


It was a great match to watch, top quality stuff, if you were going to be picky Giteau’s kicking was the only low point of the match. Aaron Crudden is still quite a way off the pace of international rugby but that didn’t seem to hurt the AB’s too badly did it? The Wallabies kind of ran out of steam in the last quarter, much as the Boks did last week. The rise and rise of the mighty All Blacks continues, first unbeaten team in the current 3N formation, record 10 wins in a row over the Wallabies.

Magner’s League

Munster will a little scratchy in their win over Edinburgh and it took some old heads to steady the ship and guide them home, with O’Gara kicking the winning penalty.

At the RDS, Leinster had a few scratchy moments of their own, winning 32-23 over the Cardiff Blues in a score that flattered them. Ian Madigan had an unexpected run on debut as Jonny Sextoin pulled up injured in the warm up, and acquitted himself pretty well, rounding it off with a beautiful try at the end. Leinster ran in two trys early on and looked like they were going to run away with it, then basked in their glory and let Cardiff right back into it. Joel Schimdt must have been sweating there a bit as Cardiff took the lead, before Leinster woke up and sealed the deal.


The front row of Ross, Strauss and van der Merwe had a great night, and Fitzgerald look lively, there is going to be great competition for places in the back line this season. Isa Nacewa was sublime, putting in rib crunching tackles, covering and kicking well and a threat with ball in hand. I’ll have to check the replay to make sure there was only one of him playing. All the replacements, especially Reddan were good value, but Fogarty is going to have a battle on his hands to nail down the hooker position – does he need contact lenses to help throw straight?

A few kinks to iron out still, but the Leinster motor is beginning to hum again.