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INTERNATIONAL PREVIEW: Minnows get their one chance to shine

rugby18 July 2024 07:22
By:Gavin Rich
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Portugal celebrate © Gallo Images

After some tough two game series between Tier 1 nations over the past fortnight this weekend sees the World Rugby attempts to grow the international game take centre stage.

Asked last week if he was sorry that there would not be a third game in the riveting series between his team and Ireland, Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick lauded World Rugby for what they were doing in giving the Tier 2 nations a chance to get experience against more established rugby powers.

He probably summed up the feelings of many South Africans though when he said if the series against Ireland ended 1-all, then he would wish there was another game. He was speaking on the eve of the second test in Durban, and was still hoping then the Boks would make it 2-0. In which case an extra game would not have been necessary.

The result did leave the eagerly awaited series between the No 1 and No 2 teams in the world feeling anticlimactic.

AUTHENTICITY SHOULD BE QUESTIONED

What Stick probably couldn’t do in a public forum is what the pundits should be doing - questioning the authenticity of the World Rugby commitment to the smaller nations. Yes, it looks good them giving the Tier 2 nations a chance, but with the World Rugby Test Championship set to start in 2026, and there being no space in the calendar when that happens for the top teams to be playing the likes of Fiji, Georgia and Portugal, this will possibly be the last time we see games like this before the next World Cup in Australia in 2027.

Does this one-off game really help the teams drive towards being competitive in three years time? If they do, it is very minimal help. We shouldn’t necessarily be hoping for too many of these games, for they tend to be lopsided, particularly those that feature Tier 1 teams playing on their home grounds.

But that really is the point of the question - will the other teams ever become competitive at a World Cup, or at any other level, if they don’t get more opportunities against the top level sides?

That question doesn’t even need an answer because it is so obvious. It doesn’t do much for the World Cup when they only play against big teams every four years.

EAGERLY AWAITED OPPORTUNITY

This weekend will be an eagerly awaited opportunity for the visiting teams, and we hear that 5 000 Portuguese fans have travelled to South Africa to lend some colour to the occasion in Bloemfontein. Their captain at the World Cup in France last year retired but has come out of retirement specifically for this game against the world champions.

Portugal beat Fiji at last year’s World Cup and were probably the team among the lower ranked nations that attracted the most attention. They were competitive in most of their games and it will be interesting to see how they go against an experimental yet still strong South African team that will be led for the first time by former national age group and current Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat.

The All Blacks have elected to continue with their regular captain Scott Barrett as their leader for their game in the USA against Fiji. Scott Robertson hasn’t made the wholesale changes Rassie Erasmus has, which is understandable given how dangerous Fiji, who have made the semifinal stage of the World Cup before, can be.

Damian McKenzie continues at flyhalf for his 50th international cap, Ardie Savea is at No 8, Sevu Reece on the wing, and Beauden Barrett returns to the starting team at fullback after his match-winning performance off the bench against England last week.

Billy Proctor comes into the side as the only new cap in the starting combination, but there are five newcomers on the bench as Robertson looks to spread his depth ahead of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship that kicks off on 10 August.

WALLABIES FACE POTENTIAL BANANA SKIN

The All Blacks will be starting off against Argentina, who will warm up by playing neighbours Uruguay this weekend, while Australia could be subject to a stern scrumming test ahead of their games against the Boks when they host Georgia in Sydney.

If there is going to be an upset this weekend, this game will probably be it, and Wallaby coach Joe Schmidt has admitted he is a bit nervous about a clash that some critics have described as a “banana skin” game for him.

“I am always worried so I don’t think that changes me at all,” said Schmidt to the Australian media.

“I am nervous about how things will pan out but we’ve got a lot of combinations in there. I don’t think there’s a real nervousness in the team. I detect there's excitement.”

“When you make that many changes you do lose a bit of your rhythm and that’s a risk for us. But if we don’t do it, then we’re not quite sure where we sit with some of the guys in the squad, so you have to test your depth.”

He says he has the utmost respect though for the team coached by former England hooker and well travelled coach Richard Cockerill, and so he should be because this is a game between the two teams closest in the rankings - Australia are 9th while Georgia are 12th.

The only survivors from the series clinching second test against Wales are fullback Tom Wright, winger Filip Daugunu, centre Hunter Paisami and flankers Fraser McRight and Rob Valetini.

Allan Alaalatoa leads the side, which makes it three captains in the space of three games…

Weekend International Fixtures

New Zealand v Fiji (San Diego, Saturday 4:30am)

Australia v Georgia (Sydney, Saturday 7:45am)

South Africa v Portugal (Bloemfontein, Saturday 5pm)

Chile v Scotland ( Santiago, Saturday, 9pm)

Uruguay v Argentina (Burgueno, Saturday 9pm)

Japan v Italy (Sapporo, Sunday 7:05am)

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