
Way to go, Mr Ref!
SARugbymag.co.za followers have decided that referee Matthew Carley had a firm hand on proceedings for the series finale between the Springboks and Wales on Saturday.
SARugbymag.co.za followers have decided that referee Matthew Carley had a firm hand on proceedings for the series finale between the Springboks and Wales on Saturday.
As the winds of change sweep through the international game, the Springboks are still the highest-placed Test-playing nation this side of the equator.
The embattled All Blacks will have to face the world champion Springboks in South Africa next month without one of New Zealand’s most influential players.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has tipped “world class” Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth to remain a formidable figure for the world champions for many years to come.
Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth brought up his 100th Test cap with a Man of the Match performance over 60 minutes against Wales in Cape Town.
Ian Foster’s future as All Blacks coach looks further in doubt after New Zealand Rugby launched an urgent review into the Ireland series defeat, which chief executive Mark Robinson deemed “not acceptable”.
Bundee Aki and Peter O’Mahony took to the streets of Wellington in high spirits after Ireland’s historic series win, even chatting to the police before sampling some local cuisine from a stunned bystander.
New Zealand’s first home series defeat for 28 years piles the pressure on coach Ian Foster after the All Blacks were again outplayed by Ireland in Saturday’s third Test.
A series victory against Wales has given the Springboks momentum as they prepare to host the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship, and the world champions may be boosted by the return of two veterans.
Johnny Sexton said “it doesn’t get much better than this” after Ireland beat the All Blacks became the first touring team in the professional era to win a series on New Zealand soil.