Sunday Snippets

All Blacks reign supreme: Steve Hansen’s All Blacks secured a third straight Rugby Championship title yesterday, as they overcame Argentina 34-13 in La Plata. Despite the notion of silverware fixed in their minds, the visitors to Argentinean soil soon hit their straps in the opening half, as they looked to put on a display of attacking ingenuity and prowess. Playing with a freedom more akin to a dead rubber clash, New Zealand found themselves 20-6 ahead at the interval, courtesy of tries from both Israel Dagg and Ben Smith, after flyhalf Beauden Barrett had opened the scoring from the tee. Knowing only a bonus point victory would see them retain their title, the All Blacks continuously declined the three points on offer throughout the second 40. While the hosts’ defensive effort stood firm for the opening 15 minutes, then came Julian Savea’s five pointer after a wonderful cut out pass from scrum half Aaron Smith, and suddenly the visitors looked destined to secure the required four tries. That accolade was left to replacement scrum half TJ Perenara, with the Hurricanes man combining with club colleague Julian Savea and first Jerome Kaino to dive over for what represented the tournament sealing five pointer. A gutsy effort from the hosts was summed up with the final act of the game going to Horacio Agulla who went over for the only Pumas try of the game. However, once more New Zealand showed their true class when it mattered and courtesy of a heavy South African win at Newlands, the All Blacks retain their Rugby Championship title for the third year running.

Ospreys fire in Thomond: Welsh region the Ospreys notched up their fourth successive victory in this year’s edition of the Guinness Pro12, as they overcame a rudderless Munster side 19-14 at Thomond Park. Arguably the biggest test of their campaign to date, Anthony Foley’s Munster came into this clash off the back of comprehensive and expected wins over the pair of Italian sides int event weeks. A far bigger test awaited them in the shape of the men from Swansea, with the Irish outfit unable to match the visitors’ intensity at the breakdown and in defence. Despite that, the hosts in fact opened the scoring through a well taken score from winger Gerhard van den Heever. The Ospreys responded almost immediately with Canadian winger Jeff Hassler going over, before Dan Biggar added the extras and a penalty to make in 10-5 on the 30 minute mark. The second half continued in much the same cagey fashion, with neither side willing to open the field up. However, it was the Ospreys who that suited the most, and despite losing lock forward Rynier Bernardo to the bin for 10 minutes, the home side failed to take advantage and courtesy of a string of Biggar penalties, the Ospreys left Thomond with a well deserved victory in the bag.

Ryan Sheady