NEW YORK, NY – The All Blacks “Blackwash” of the Wallabies was the main highlight of a BIG weekend of rugby. This weekend contained action from the Heineken Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup, ITM Cup playoffs, Currie Cup playoffs and promotion/relegation – plus European Nations Cup. Let’s get to The Weekend Wrap.
Bledisloe III: This match may have only matter to the people of Australiasia but in the deadest of dead rubber matches, New Zealand didn’t yield Australia. The Blackness continued their two year unblemished streak against the Wallabies. The boys from Oz had a much improved performance but the AIG All Blacks are the definition of ruthlessness. Even despite the win, Head Coach Steve Hansen bemoaned the sloppy play and errors. Seems like an evil task master but to be great, you must be relentless in your pursuit of it. Our friend *Jed Thian was happy to see them not let down his hometown of Otago.
Here are this weekend’s results:
New Zealand 41-33 Toulouse
Heineken Cup: Mssr. Harrington thought he covered all the storylines in his piece, however I am not sure if anyone foresaw as crazy a weekend at this. Toulouse stole a victory at Saracens, Leicester stuck to the script and demolished Treviso. Leinster made sure Castres left with no points, Cardiff shocked Toulon and the world, Connacht went to Zebre and embarrassed them. Scarlets and Racing fought to a draw, while Ulster shocked all and won easily at Montpellier. Munster proved too much for Gloucester, Northampton dominated Ospreys, Glasgow was too much at home for Exeter, Clermont kept their 4 year unbeaten streak alive against Harlequins and Perpignan made light work of Edinburgh.
Here are this weekend’s results:
Fri – 18th Oct 13
Saracens 16 – 17 Toulouse
Leicester 34 – 3 Benetton Treviso
Sat – 19th Oct 13
Leinster 19 – 7 Castres
Cardiff Blues 19 – 15 Toulon
Zebre 6 – 33 Connacht
Scarlets 26 – 26 Racing Metro 92
Montpellier 8 – 25 Ulster
Munster 26 – 10 Gloucester
Sun – 20th Oct 13
Northampton 27 – 16 Ospreys
Glasgow 20 – 16 Exeter
Clermont Auvergne 23 – 13 Harlequins
Perpignan 31 – 14 Edinburgh
Amlin Challenge Cup: The H-Cup’s little bro was also in action. Wasps managed to to handle an unruly Bayonne side, while Grenoble easily put away Viadana, though not by as much as expected. The Plastic City boys of Oyonnax were downed on the road at Biarritz. Sale went to Worcester and came away with full points, and Union Bordeaux-Begles and did the same against Mogliano. Bath held on at home against Newport-Gwent and Bucurest dominated Calvisano at home, Brive got a much needed home win against Newcastle, and Stade Francais avoided by the narrowest margin against Cavalieri while London Irish demolished Lusinatos.
Here are this weekend’s results:
Thu – 17th Oct 13
Wasps 26 – 10 Bayonne
Fri – 18th Oct 13
Grenoble 40 – 7 Viadana
Sat – 19th Oct 13
Biarritz 26 – 6 Oyonnax
Worcester 15 – 29 Sale Sharks
Mogliano Rugby 20 – 32 Bordeaux-Begles
Bath 26 – 10 Newport Gwent Dragons
Bucuresti 37 – 15 Calvisano
Brive 23 – 16 Newcastle
Cavalieri Prato 16 – 17 Stade Francais
Lusitanos 6 – 67 London Irish
The ITM Cup: The 2 teams remaining for the division finals are set. Wellington smoked Counties Manukau and Canterbury returned the favor of an earlier regular season drubbing to Auckland to book their place in the premiership finals. Meanwhile in the Championship playoffs, Tasman made light work of Southland and the Jed Thain magic for Otago finally ran out against Hawkes Bay, put they put in a spirited effort. Both finals will feature the first seed at home against the second seed.
Here are this weekend’s results:
Fri – 18th Oct 13
Premiership Semi-final Wellington 41 – 10 Counties Manukau
Sat – 19th Oct 13
Premiership Semi-final Canterbury 56– 26 Auckland
Championship Semi-final Tasman 49–28 Southland
Sun – 20th Oct 13
Championship Semi-final Otago 24–29 Hawkes Bay
The Currie Cup: In last minute, heart breaking fashion Griquas beat Pumas at home. Griquas scored a try at the death and the ensuing conversion saw them win the first leg of the home and home promotion/relegation series and take a 2 point lead going into next week. In the playoffs Western Province had no problem with taming the Lions while the Sharks dismissed the Cheetahs. Like the ITM, The Currie Cup final will feature the first seed at home against the second seed.
Here are this weekend’s results:
FRI – 18TH OCT 13
Griquas 21-19 Pumas
SAT – 19TH OCT 13
Western Province 33 – 16 Lions
Sharks 33 – 22 Cheetahs
Americas Rugby Championship: The Jaguars of Argentina finished the tournament undefeated as the eventually put away a feisty Canadian side. Argentina had a relatively young squad out there but it still was too much for a Canada side filled with players that will likely not feature in the November matches. In the early game, The USA continued to build off the back of the midweek victory against Canada. Uruguay‘s defense was very good but the US attack was able to solve it enough to win.
Here are this weekend’s results and Final standings:
SAT – 19TH OCT 13
Uruguay 8-20 USA Select XV
Argentina Jaguars 23-14 Canada A
Team Record Bonus Pts Total Pts
Argentina 3-0 2 14
USA 2-1 0 8
Canada 1-2 0 4
Uruguay 0-3 1 1
European Nations Cup: In the big RWC Qualifier and ENC between Sweden and Czech Republic, The Czechs walked away with a hard fought victory. Israel continue to rocket up the rankings as they made Serbia their latest victims. Austria absolutely dominated Bulgaria fat home and Norway underwhelmed at home as tiny Luxembourg upended them.
Here are this weekend’s results:
SAT – 19TH OCT 13
Sweden 11-17 Czech Republic
Serbia 6-18 Israel
Austria 58-14 Bulgaria
Norway 7-9 Luxembourg
Quick Taps:
All Blacks Touring Squad: The AIG All Blacks named their 36 man touring squad for 4 tests in the Northern hemisphere, including Japan. The main highlights are no Conrad Smith as he is taking a sabbatical. The 4 newbies on tour are back-rower Luke Whitelock, prop Joe Moody, lock Dominic Bird from the Crusaders and Blues wing Frank Halai.Added to the tour to get the experience but not expected to play is Wellington flanker Ardie Savea, younger borther of AB winger Julian Savea.
Dubai 7s: Here are the pools for the Dubai 7s occurring November 29-30 in Dubai, UAE. Non-Core team Russia is in a tough pool and it appears that USA and Canada are in the same pool and essentially the pool of death.
Here are the pools:
Pool A: New Zealand, Kenya, France, Portugal
Pool B: Australia, Wales, Scotland, Spain
Pool C: England, Fiji, Canada, USA
Pool D: South Africa, Samoa, Argentina, Russia
That’s it for now… feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @: RugbyWrapUp, Junoir Blaber, DJ Eberle, Nick Hall, James Harrington, Cody Kuxmann and Declan Yeats, respectively.
And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
