Who’s hot and who’s not: Springboks wilt as Wallabies and All Blacks set the pace while Louis Rees-Zammit finds new home
The Wallabies were hot while the Springboks were not.
It’s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons after the weekend.
THEY’RE ON FIRE!
Outstanding Wallabies: A first win over the Springboks at Ellis Park since 1963, and it was done in style as the Wallabies launched a stunning fightback after trailing 22-0 with just 18 minutes on the clock. Cue an incredible 38-point procession of points from Joe Schmidt’s men as they made a real statement on South African soil, setting up a mouth-watering rematch in Cape Town this weekend. What a feat it would be if Australia could back up their Round One form to go back-to-back.
Job done for All Blacks: A few hours after the Wallabies put five points on the Rugby Championship table, New Zealand did likewise, thanks to a 41-24 victory over Argentina in Cordoba. The visitors led 31-10 at one stage in the second half before Los Pumas made them sweat a little. However, a late brace from Samisoni Taukei’aho sealed the maximum, this after Sevu Reece (2), Cortez Ratima and Ardie Savea had crossed in a positive start to the tournament from the All Blacks.
Bristol sign hot property: Louis Rees-Zammit has a new home and in all honesty, it feels like a perfect fit. Several clubs had been linked with the Wales international after his return from the NFL had been confirmed and it was Bristol who got pen on paper in a fantastic signing for both club and the Prem. Rees-Zammit joins up with the Bears with immediate effect, and is also now back in contention for the Wales squad heading into the Autumn Nations Series in November. Positives all round.
70-year-old half-back pairing: Class is permanent. Nic White and James O’Connor, both 35, showed there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet as they steered the Wallabies to a famous success at Ellis Park. White, who was set to hang up his boots after the Lions series, was talked into prolonging his Test career and rightly so. O’Connor, meanwhile, was handed his first start since 2022, and both were magnificent on Saturday.
Henry Pollock and EPS 25: Pollock was one of nine new players handed Elite Player Squad deals as England head coach Steve Borthwick picked those he wants the greatest say over this season. Joining the Lions newbie in the selection is Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Elliot Daly, Joe Heyes, Tom Roebuck, Will Stuart and Tom Willis, who will all be delighted with their inclusion. But for Pollock, it’s yet another positive moment to come in 2025 after a meteoric rise to the top.
COLD AS ICE!
Springboks wilt in Jo’burg: Who saw that coming? 22-0 up with not even a quarter of the match played at the fortress that is Ellis Park, it felt more like the game would finish 50-0 rather than what played out in front of our eyes. Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus called their performance “dogsh*t” as he didn’t sugar-coat his feelings on his team’s stark demise in Johannesburg. Defensively, they were all at sea, both organisationally and in basic tackle technique, and boy did Australia make them pay.
Theo Dan misses out on deal: The only player from the original 17 not retained by Borthwick in his EPS selection is a tough pill to swallow for the Saracens hooker. Cowan-Dickie and Jamie George are the two hookers included, and after the July exploits of Curtis Langdon, one wonders if Dan has slipped down the pecking order.
Manie Libbok struggles: While we’ve waxed lyrical over O’Connor, the same unfortunately cannot be said for Libbok, who struggled with key errors in the Rugby Championship opener. His speculative loose pass was gobbled up by Joseph Suaalii, who raced in for a vital score in Australia’s comeback efforts and then poor communication allowed Harry Wilson to put his side in front before Libbok was later sidestepped by Max Jorgensen. The critics are once again out in force we’re afraid.
Sharks rock bottom in Currie Cup: That’s now fourth straight defeats for the Sharks in the domestic competition as they went down 26-17 at the hands of Griquas in Kimberley. The reigning champions are well off the pace as a result in this year’s Currie Cup, but have an opportunity to break their duck this weekend when they host fellow strugglers Western Province.
Ticket prices at Ellis Park: Although the attendance figure hit SA Rugby’s benchmark of 85% one couldn’t help but think fans voted with their feet on Saturday due to ticket prices for the Springboks v Wallabies fixture. They ranged from R1,050 to R4,000 (around £44 to £167) for general entry – a stark increase from the 2024 prices and one that many South Africans cannot afford. Perhaps a slight reduction might have got more bums on seats.