TCUP returns to Southern Hemisphere

The start of the season in the Northern Hemisphere and the end of the season in the Southern Hemisphere; that is where we find ourselves as rugby union fans.

No matter what stage of the season or the stage of the match, it is crucial for the on field leaders to make the right decisions. Historically, we looked to the captain but the vogue today is for coaches to talk about ‘leaders on the field’

In all probability this started with Sir Clive Woodward’s much loved ‘Tcup’ - Thinking Clearly Under Pressure.

This weekend has seen this resonate in both games.

The Rugby Championship Round 4 gave us two more exciting matches with the All Blacks and Wallabies both claiming victories at home. The Rugby Championship is a great competition when you consider that with the exception of the All Blacks thrashing Argentina and the Wallabies at home, all of the other matches have been close contests which is a testament to Argentina rising to the challenge and night time rugby.  

It is actually ironic that the All Blacks have been struggling to put teams away, in slippery night time conditions; which are the time that they must play games in order to please the European and South African television market.

As our reporter Scott Donaldson told us after this weekend’s games:

"Everyone knows that most of New Zealand struggles in the winter and early spring with damp dewy and wet conditions, but while this is keeping games close, I do find it more enjoyable watching either a day time game or one played at night time in dry conditions.  

"Both the All Blacks and Wallabies have played most of their home games in such inclement weather which has the ability to keep the scores closer, but it also leads to more mistakes."

Should we say stuff the television audiences in Europe or do we play all night time tests indoors at Forsyth Barr Stadium? On a side note, Scott thinks Christchurch and Wellington need indoor stadia, otherwise we will see rugby played in wet conditions at night time.

On the other hand, rugby is traditionally a winter sport and you wonder if these conditions suit the All Blacks, but, "I tend to think now that rugby is a professional game with so much money riding on the results, that I would much rather see the All Blacks dangerous outside backs given more opportunities in try conditions, rather than having games ruined by handling errors."

The All Blacks won in less than convincing fashion against the Springboks. Most people had written the Springboks off before this match, but the conditions kept the game close as a contest and the Springboks could have even snatched a late victory at the end – Tcup. 

You can say what you like about this Springboks team, while they are not as dominant as the 2007 Rugby World Cup winning Springboks side, they are still tough to beat and barely get thrashed. The four-point margin was closer than most people expected, but the conditions and some staunch Springboks defence insured a close game with both teams scoring a try apiece.  

Who was your man of the match? "Richie McCaw would have to come close, especially after scoring a great try, while is Aaron Cruden the best person to be starting in the Number 10 jersey after a mixed night?  

"I think he thrives when the All Blacks pack is dominant, but there are some question marks over his ability when he isn't getting front foot ball.  

"Julian Savea was also impressive on a wet night. The question mark is also out on Keven Mealamu. He has been a loyal servant of the game in New Zealand, but surely he is on borrowed time!"

In the other match of The Rugby Championship 2014 Round 4, the Wallabies just held off a fast finishing Argentina Pumas team 32-25.  

Super Rugby Tips actually picked the seven point margin in this game as the recent matches between these two teams in Australia have been close. Again this match was affected by slippery conditions.

Winger Manuel Montero, who was featured by the TRU Team this week, ran through three tackles on the blindside, 10 metres from inside his own half, to stun the Wallabies.

The Wallabies hooker curse continues, while the Pumas did manage to not only dominate the Wallabies upfront, but they scored some long range tries too and almost stole a draw at the end of the game.

Bernard Foley has also been reviewed on the website this year and it was he who kicked three penalties to put the Wallabies into a 14-7 lead at half-time and after the interval, Hooper picked up his second try to put his side further ahead.

Peter Betham scored his first Test try in the 60th minute finishing a run and pass from scrum-half Nick Phipps and squeezing over in the corner to seemingly put the game out of reach at 29-13.

Then the momentum shifted as Marcelo Bosch reduced the deficit with a try, exploiting a gap out wide.

There was then even more reason to believe the visitors could cause an upset when Tomas Cubelli's kick through was finished by full-back Joaquim Tuculet. Nerves were beginning to spread through the Wallaby team and it was down to that man, Foley to kick a penalty to take Australia seven points clear.

With that it was the Pumas turn to get a bout of the nerves spurning chances for another try to level the scores in the closing five minutes.

Twice they were penalised five metres from the line, first for a knock-on and then for a classic Tcup moment; putting the ball in too early at the scrum.

In the Super Rugby Tips tipping conference, most people picked an All Blacks and Wallabies double, but very few picked both margins to be so small.  

Even the tipsters need to ‘think clearly under pressure’ – Tcup.