Monday 3 October 2016 15:42, UK
Stuart Barnes on New Zealand's dominance, Eddie Jones keeping England on their toes and the magnificent Isa Facundo.
1. Last year George Smith was helping England at the breakdown, now it is four times Olympian Kate Howey. Eddie Jones certainly likes to keep his squad on their toes. The thought of all those bodies either finding immovable breakdown positions or being thrown hither and thither in all directions makes me yearn for the good old days of the ruck...
2. Jones has told his team that if they don't keep getting better they are effectively going backwards. That might not actually be the case regarding most of the world's other nations. Australia and South Africa would pine to be back where they were during the World Cup but a combination of factors sees them weaker than they were in the 2015 tournament.
That makes a sort of sense when you consider the priorities of Test rugby but New Zealand, they fail to fit the bill. Another five-try romp in Buenos Aires, another step towards a world-record streak of victories, even in the so-called rebuild phase. They were not at their best on Saturday, even losing the second half so Steve Hansen will have them freshened up and ready for South Africa. The Kiwi press tore a strip off them for their second-half showing in South America. It's looking bad for the Springboks next Saturday in Durban.
3. South Africa travelled backwards in time to grind out an ugly victory in front of a worryingly small crowd of less than 40,000 in Pretoria, one of the great rugby heartlands. Morne Steyn, a local hero if ever there was one in those parts, was recalled to the starting line-up as Alastair Coetzee quit the running game of the Lions and reverted to South African type: big forwards and a bloke that can drop-kick the ball quite beautifully. It was enough to scrape home against Australia. I will be amazed if they get anywhere near New Zealand.
4. As reputations plummet in the face of New Zealand dominance one man has held his own against them and in the other Rugby Championship matches. Isa Facundo, Argentina's No 8, has been one of the stars of the tournament. He has carried over the gain line with men hanging or falling off him. Combine his physical clout with his soft hands and here is something special developing in front of our eyes. By Tokyo he will be one of the very finest players on the planet should he stay fit and well.
5. Australia are favourites to finish a distant second to New Zealand. They have an 8-1 win record against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, they enjoy Twickenham more than most non-English teams [having beaten Argentina in the recent World Cup semi-final] and didn't play too badly in Pretoria. In the first 20 minutes, they could and should have pulled a decent way clear before South Africa eked their way back into contention. Will Argentina try and play a more territorial game than they are used to doing to eliminate those costly errors that stop them making the transition from improving to regularly winning? It cost them in the semi-final but they have stayed true to their attacking ambitions since. It is Argentina's `home' game but one that Australia are under the greater pressure to win, given their win record against the Pumas. I am thrilled to be calling the game for Sky Sports.
6. Having said that, I would have loved to be in Ireland for Leinster's clash with their old rivals Munster. Both have won four of their five opening games but so far the Dublin-based team have looked by far the more balanced team with a scrum Rassie Erasmus's boys cannot bully. Both sides have a more aggressive rush defence but Leinster the sharper attacking game with Johnny Sexton there to pull the strings. I know which side I think will win.
7. It was business as usual last weekend with all four Irish provinces winning and both Italian sides disappointing while the recent run of losses for Welsh regions was in evidence after the Blues and Ospreys' early successes.
8. But let's stick to performances rather than results. I know people sniff at such a concept but in a long season sometimes a team can lose a game and look a better long term prospect than the side that beat them. Such was the case with the Ospreys who defended for large chunks against Ulster. Their star men, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, were exceptional and, on the few occasions when Ospreys had the ball, the Welshmen looked much more inventive and penetrative. Had that game been played in Swansea there would only have been one winner. Ulster are now five wins from five with a good squad and fabulous home crowd. Expect them to be in the end of season shape-up but keep an eye on the Ospreys.
9. Five straight wins for the Wasps, too. Harlequins are not my idea of a top-end English team this season, despite the shock win against Saracens last weekend, but to put nearly 50 points on them was impressive enough. With newcomers arriving and the likes of James Haskell set to boost them later in the season, their prospects are bright. They are very well set for another tilt at Europe too.
10. Bad news for Bristol - again. Having failed to score a point against Saracens and leaked 39, they wait two days to watch Worcester win what was a rubbish game of rugby against Newcastle. The good news for Andy Robinson's team was the lack of quality on display in that game, the bad news was Worcester's win and Newcastle's bonus point edges both of them clear of 12th position There is a long way to go but a vast amount of work for the Bristol defence to do if they are to stop leaking boatloads of points. The warning signs were there in the Championship. They do not seem to have been heeded. Hard times in the West Country.
