Narrow Loss For All Blacks In Rugby World Cup Final

The All Blacks have suffered a narrow 12-11 loss to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final. The biggest talking point from the match was the yellow card which was upgraded to red for captain Sam Cane after a 29th minute tackle resulted in a head clash, meaning he became the first person sent off in a Rugby World Cup final match. 

The third match official has been criticized for being inconsistent after South African captain Siya Kolisi was also yellow carded in the 46th minute for a similar tackle but it was not upgraded to red by the TMO. The All Blacks also lost flanker Shannon Frizell to a yellow card in only the third minute of the match after falling on the leg of a South African player in a tackle was deemed illegal.  

The All Blacks had several chances in the second half, with the TMO involved again by ruling out a Aaron Smith try after an earlier knock on, after referee Wayne Barnes had said play on. A missed conversion from the Beauden Barrett try and a late penalty shot were both wide which could have sealed a win.

The All Blacks will have new coach Scott Robertson replacing Ian Foster from this week, while they are also losing Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell to overseas club's, while Dane Coles is retiring.

New Zealand All Blacks: 11 

Try: Beauden Barrett, Penalties: Richie Mo'unga 2 

South Africa: 12 

Penalties: Handre Pollard 4

All Blacks Named For Second Argentina Test

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Argentina in their second match for the Rugby Championship in Hamilton on Saturday night. After last weeks 25-18 loss to Argentina, Foster has named an unchanged starting side, but has Brodie Retallick back from a facial fracture and Beauden Barrett from a neck injury on the reserves bench as well as Dane Coles and Dalton Papali'i.

New Zealand All Blacks v Argentina:

1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Sam Whitelock, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. David Havili, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 

16. Dane Coles, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Brodie Retallick, 20. Dalton Papali’i, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. Quinn Tupaea

All Blacks Defeat Fiji In Dunedin

The All Blacks have made it two from two for the 2021 season with a 57-32 win over Fiji in Dunedin on Saturday night.

The final score flattered the All Blacks after Fiji had trailed by 21-11 at halftime, with the visitors physical game proving a challenge for the home side. Fiji had opened the scoring with a penalty in the sixth minute, before the All Blacks struck back with a try to Jordie Barrett. Fiji reduced the margin to 7-6 with their second penalty before David Havili scored tries in the 18th and 22nd minute. Fiji was then in for their first try after Albert Tuisue scored off a lineout drive. 

The second half opened with a try to winger George Bridge in the 44th minute, but Fiji struck back with one of their own to Mesulame Kunavula in the 49th minute. Replacement Dane Coles was next to score off another lineout drive, before Fiji were awarded a a penalty try after David Havili was ruled to have pulled down a rolling maul close to the line. Coles was in again for his second try of another lineout drive in the 65th minute, before back replacement Will Jordan scored in the 70th minute. It was then the 74th minute and Coles with his hat-trick off another lineout drive, before replacement halfback Finlay Christie darting run near the Fiji line had Coles touching down for his fourth after picking up a loose ball. 

New Zealand All Blacks: 57 

Tries: Jordie Barrett, David Havili 2, George Bridge, Dane Coles 4, Will Jordan tries; Beauden Barrett 6 con) 

Fiji: 23 

Tries: (Albert Tuisue, Mesulame Kunavula tries; Penalty try; Ben Volavola 2 pen). HT: 21-11