Who’s hot and who’s not: Springboks wilt as Wallabies and All Blacks set the pace while Louis Rees-Zammit finds new home
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 dogshit 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.
