Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. In this week’s edition ARN has expanded the scope to incorporate all not only the Americas but also from RWC 2019.

 

UP

Japan and Rugby Championship
Agustín Pichot has backed Japan joining the Rugby Championship. He said that the Asians have everything required to join the competition. Having lit-up RWC 2019 it is very hard to argue otherwise. With the addition of Japan the competition would be restructured.

England
After crashing out out of RWC 2015 on home soil, the RWC 2019 campaign has been very different. England are yet to be genuinely challenged in an 80 minute performance by any opponent. On Saturday in Oita, they were far too good for Australia and are now preparing for the Semi Final against New Zealand as a team in prime condition to upset the RWC 2011 and 2015 champions.

New Zealand
The All Blacks were brilliant against Ireland in Tokyo on Saturday. In the second Quarter Final the team from Oceania absolutely tore apart the Europeans to have the result secured after just twenty minutes of play. It will take an excellent performance to beat New Zealand though the evidence implies that there are teams still in the RWC who have the means to pulling off such a result.

Wales
A win is a win as they say and Welsh supporters certainly have justification to brush off the criticism of their performance. However the reality is that it is very hard to identify strong performers against France. The better team lost as Head Coach Warren Gatland said post match. Against South Africa the Western British side will be up against a stronger opponent and one unlucky to implode.

South Africa
Having weathered the storm of the opening half against Japan the Springboks were able to take control in the second half to comfortably win their Quarter Final. The prize of a Semi Final against Wales will see a repeat from the RWC 2015 Quarter Final in London, England. That was a competitive encounter and the 2019 Semi Final will be mandatory viewing.

Andrés Zafra
The Colombian lock scored two tries for Agen in Saturday’s home win over Stade Français. In doing so he wrote his name in history as the first player ever from Colombia to score a double in professional rugby.

 

UNDER

DTH van der Merwe
Canada’s complicated RWC 2019 campaign has been followed by the decision of DTH van der Merwe to retire from international duty. He will remain playing in Scotland for the Glasgow Warriors but will not add to his 61 caps for Canada. His retirement comes with him being the all-time top try scorer for the North Americans.

Australia
Four years on from finishing second in the Rugby World Cup in the UK the Wallabies crashed out on Saturday. They were hammered 40-16, a vastly different outcome to the pool match between the sides from RWC 2015. Australia’s campaign also included a defeat against Wales in the group stage. This RWC has thus officially gone down in history as the worst ever from the Wallabies.

The Luck of the Irish
From no 1 in the world before RWC 2019 began to a campaign with 3 wins and 2 losses in Japan. Saturday’s 46-14 defeat against New Zealand continues the bad luck of the Irish at Rugby World Cups. For whatever reason they remain unable to play their best on the world’s biggest stage.

France
A scoreless second half saw France implode against Wales. Les Bleus were far and away the superior side. They played far better rugby, made far more meters and scored more tries. France’s three tries were all magnificent in their own right. Wales’ two saw one as a gift from France and the other still being debated as to its legality. Regardless France never should have lost after leading as they had.

Japan
Having been down 5-3 at half time Japan went on to lose 26-3 against South Africa in their Quarter Final. The convincing defeat was the only loss of RWC 2019 for the Brave Blossoms, a truly tremendous outcome. It paints a bright future for Japan, in many ways an opening of opportunities comparable to that of Argentina following RWC 2007.

Sébastien Vaha’amahina
Many fingers are being pointed at Sébastien Vaha’amahina. He was red carded for foul play in the Quarter Final against Wales. His action was despicable and a certain ban is coming for the Clermont second-rower. He happened to elbow Aaron Wainwright square in the face with France advancing towards a try. like Tomás Lavanini future caps may be hard to come by.

Jaco Peyper
South African referee Jaco Peyper was in charge of France vs Wales. He was entirely correct to red card Vaha’amahina and had a reasonable, albeit not perfect match. Later on in the evening Peyper posed for a photo with Welsh supporters wherein he mimicked the red card. Not exactly an instance of excellence or professionalism that World Rugby regularly reminds the public that it stands for.