Moosemen Rugby

Friday, October 17, 2014

Friday Break

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

S.Africa 27 - N.Zealand 25 / Ellis Park

Victor Matfield of South Africa wins the lineout ball during the Rugby Championship match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(October 3, 2014 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

South Africa ended New Zealand's 22-game unbeaten streak on Saturday with an incredible 27-25 victory in Johannesburg.

Malakai Fekitoa of the All Blacks breaks clear to score a try during the Rugby Championship match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(October 3, 2014 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

Israel Dagg of the All Blacks breaks with the ball during the Rugby Championship match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(October 3, 2014 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

The result also sees the Springboks break a three-year losing streak against the world champions and Rugby Championship winners, claiming their first win against the All Blacks at Ellis Park in ten years.

Malakai Fekitoa of the All Blacks is tackled by Eben Etzebeth (L) and Jan Serfontein during the Rugby Championship match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(October 3, 2014 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

Jannie du Plessis of South Africa gets tackled during The Castle Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park on October 04, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(September 6, 2008 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Handre Pollard of South Africa dives over for his try during The Castle Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park on October 04, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(October 3, 2014 - Source: Duif du Toit/Getty Images Europe)

Man of the match: A mention for Duane Vermeulen, who defied injury to make an outstanding contribution. But we'll go for 20-year-old Handré Pollard, who not only scored two tries but belied his tender years with a mature performance.

Moment of the match: Plenty of great moments but Hougaard's try marked a new age in Springbok rugby. Box kicks? No, tries from 90 metres!

Match Report / Planet Rugby

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Adriaan Strauss of South Africa gets tackled during The Castle Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park on October 04, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(March 8, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Julian Savea of the All Blacks is tackled by Conrad Hendricks during the Rugby Championship match between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(October 3, 2014 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)

Springboks fall short in Wellington / Freedom Cup

Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks is tackled by Eben Etzebeth of the Springboks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

New Zealand overturned a half-time deficit to claim a 14-10 victory over South Africa in a thrilling Rugby Championship Test at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Only two tries were scored - one apiece - but the clash between the two best sides in the world lived up to its billing as the All Blacks were forced to hang on in a nail-biting finish to an outstanding contest.

New Zealand dominated the territory (over 70 percent) and possession statistics in the first half but it was the Springboks who led 7-6 at the interval thanks to a try from wing Cornal Hendricks.

Richie McCaw of the All Blacks scores a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Adriaan Strauss of the Springboks runs at Richie McCaw of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Jean de Villiers of the Springboks leaves the field after earning his 100th test cap during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks makes a break during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Man of the match: Firstly a mention for Handré Pollard, who had a blinder, and underlined his status as South Africa's best 10. Likewise, a mention for Victor Matfield who tackled his heart out a ruled the line-outs. But we'll go for Richie McCaw, who scored the winning try and topped the Kiwi tackle count.

Moment of the match: It went down to the wire, but the New Zealand's defence in the final minute was brilliant.

Match Report / Planet Rugby

Kieran Read of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Jean de Villiers of the Springboks is congratulated on his 100th test by Richie McCaw of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Mark Tantrum/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Richie McCaw of the All Blacks hols up the Freedom Cup after winning The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Steven Luatua of the All Blacks charges forward during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Monday, August 25, 2014

The Rugby Championship / Eden Park / Bledisloe Cup

Scott Fardy of the Wallabies is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Julian Savea of the All Blacks makes a break during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Martin Hunter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

New Zealand produced rugby from another planet as they bounced back from the draw in Sydney with a blistering 51-20 win over Australia.

Played out at a ferocious pace and the odd handling error aside, this was New Zealand's best rugby of the year so far.

Matt Toomua of the Wallabies runs the ball during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Michael Hooper of Australia breaks through tackles to score a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Martin Hunter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

There was even time to break a record in the final minute, Steven Luatua ensuring that New Zealand put 50 points on Australia on home soil for the first time with his try under the sticks after the hooter.

Any nagging suggestion before kick-off that Steve Hansen's men were on the slide was instantly trashed.

Wycliff Palu of the Wallabies is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Conrad Smith of the All Blacks is tackled by Kurtley Beale of Australia during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Martin Hunter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

They simply played at an unbreathable tempo for Australia, or indeed any other side on the planet. Cataloguing all of the brilliant individual moments will take some time.

It's a game played on a different level, a persistent hunt for space with hands always open and passes so well timed that opponents are denied the chance to play and are constantly threatened. Like a turbocharged game of Sevens with 15 men. New Zealand are the kings of it, mesmerising when they find their groove.

Julian Savea of the All Blacks breaks away to score a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Kieran Read of the All Blacks takes a lineout ball during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Man of the Match: Hard to look past Brodie Retallick, the monster lock who played his best game yet for his country.

Moment of the Match: McCaw's sin-binning was a rarity, but when Julian Savea raced away for the second try the tone of the match was settled.

Villain of the Match: Lifting the leg in the maul was pretty dumb by Rob Simmons.

Match Report from Planet Rugby:

Matt Toomua of the Wallabies is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks charges forward during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw holds the Bledisloe Cup aloft after winning The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks is helped up on the try line during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 23, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(August 22, 2014 - Source: Martin Hunter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Rugby Championship / ANZ Stadium / The Bledisloe Cup

The Bledisloe Cup

Australia and New Zealand couldn't be separated in a wet slugfest of a game in Sydney, battering each other into a 12-12 draw.

Match Report:

Israel Folau of the Wallabies is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

(August 15, 2014 - Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Wycliff Palu of the Wallabies jumps at the lineout during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

(August 15, 2014 - Source: Matt King/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Matt Toomua and Adam Ashley-Cooper of the Wallabies watch on as scrum packs during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

(August 15, 2014 - Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Michael Hooper of the Wallabies takes on the defence during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

(August 15, 2014 - Source: Matt King/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Sam Whitelock of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

(August 15, 2014 - Source: Matt King/Getty Images AsiaPac)

A scrum packs down during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

(August 15, 2014 - Source: Matt King/Getty Images AsiaPac)

next test:

NZ v Australia

Saturday , August 23

Eden Park

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