Whatever the opposite of "storm" might be, that's how the joke went down. Which was fair enough from the perspective of a nation largely unfamiliar with losing twice in a row. Only once before in the country's rugby history had they suffered on such a scale and on that occasion, way back in 1949, their national team had the excuse of playing two Test series simultaneously against Australia at home and South Africa away. Indeed, that year's games in Wellington and Durban took place on the same September day, which, as Hercules himself might have said, was asking a bit much.
If the current Blacks are unlikely to end this calendar year in the red, so to speak, the Rugby Championship meeting with the world champion Springboks at a seething Ellis Park in a few days' time has more than a whiff of peril about it, and while the phrase "tipping point" is miles over the top at so early a point in Scott Robertson's rule, the degree of tilt caused by a heavy defeat might leave the new coach in scramble mode.
Esta historia es de la edición August 25, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
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Esta historia es de la edición August 25, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
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Hard to pin the blame on unions
AS IF things in the game aren’t bad enough, the BBC’s Rugby On Trial shown on Monday looks set to impact on the number of new and current players across the game.
I couldn't let my old club go to the wall
I’M Hartlepool born and bred and grew up on a council estate three-quarters of a mile from West’s old ground, Brierton Lane.
Barnes treble helps TJs to dominate Dorking
AN excellent opening-day performance from Tonbridge Juddians saw them dominate a Dorking side who had finished third for the previous two seasons.
Cozens can see selection headaches on Clifton horizon
PLAYER-COACH Luke Cozens has had to make way for Clifton’s new batch of fly-halves who aim to provide a fast, exciting brand of rugby at Station Road this season.
Anderson steps up to secure top draw
CLIFTON produced a brilliant second-half performance to stun Exeter University after they came from behind to earn a draw at the Topsham Sports Ground.
'Full circle' moment for Hayes with Chester gig
RHYS Hayes has hung up his boots and entered the coaching world aiming to take “sleeping giant” Chester back to National One.
Sheffield's Posa is left proud as punch
SHEFFIELD head coach Anthony Posa was a happy man as his side kicked off the campaign with a six-try bonus-point victory over Fylde yesterday afternoon.
Richmond's defensive efforts deny Club joy
A CONTROLLED and clinical performance from Richmond who, despite a couple of moments of excellence from Blackheath midway through each half, were able to stretch to a relatively comfortable victory in this latest installment of the oldest fixture in club rugby.
Nucifora shows the way forward
THE 1991 edition of the Rugby Annual for Wales has long been a collector’s item.
Time we stopped indulging the haka
THERE is so much disingenuous hypocritical twaddle surrounding the Hollywood production that has become the modern-day New Zealand haka that in some ways I am reluctant to raise the subject again.