In Rugby the South Beats the North
Written by Daniel Turner, Friday June 18 2010
In the U.S. when we think of North vs. South we look at our Civil War and know that the North were the victors. In rugby the polar differences refer to the hemispheres and in those contests the South has a decided edge.
Currently the Six Nations teams that offer the best rugby sides the Northern Hemisphere have to offer are on a tour of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The results have been devastating. Last week New Zealand demolished Ireland 66-28 while Australia was topping England 27-17.
Ireland’s lack of discipline throughout the match was shared by the 15 players on the pitch, but England’s gaffes against the Wallabies caused Coach Martin Johnson to make critical substitutes leading to the benching of Danny Care and Simon Shaw who he replaced with Ben Young and Courtney Lawes respectively. So far Simon is resisting the fans request to reinstate Jonny Wilkinson; perhaps feeling that the backline ace is past his prime.
Interestingly as New Zealand’s All Blacks prepare for Saturdays match with Wales their captain Richie McCaw rates them a bigger threat than Ireland and England, even though they finished below both sides in the last Six Nations Tournament.
McCaw feels they move the ball better and find the open space easier than their Northern Hemisphere counterparts and that is the style that makes the Southern Hemisphere sides different from the North. Six Nations rugby is smash mouth with battles won up front clearing the way for the back field and the wings.
While the Tri Nations (New Zealand, Australia and South Africa) can mix it up with the best of them, they also know how to move the ball and use the entire pitch to their advantage. Watching them move the ball is like watching Spain or Brazil play futbol.
McCaw attributes Wales’ skill at ball handling to having former All Blacks Steve Hansen as their head coach. Perhaps it is time for all of the Six Nations to tap the resources of the Southern Hemisphere unless they want to continue campaigns of embarrassment every time they head down under.
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