Heroes and Zeroes - Ruck

Heroes and Zeroes

Heroes and Zeroes – We look who has had a good week in rugby whilst also casting our eyes over those who have had bad weeks at the office

HEROES

HERO-Tevita Kuridrani

Australia’s premier centre Tevita Kuridrani’s late heroics completed the Wallabies incredible 24-20 victory against South Africa on Saturday in Brisbane. The score 24-year olds fifth test try saw him muscle over the line, with him somehow sneaking the ball down amongst a crowd of bodies more than two minutes into red time. Video referee Ben Skeen examined the footage and sparked mass celebrations among the 37,633 crowd as well as the Wallabies when he give the green light for the try to be given.

HERO- Richie McCaw

The New Zealand Skipper, in what could be his last test in Christchurch, put in another top-class performance. McCaw began the All Blacks five-try victory, off a lineout penalty move, to the delight of the 17,300 Christchurch crowd, who greeted his 26th try in 139 tests as if it was a carefully choreographed moment, straight out of a Hollywood script, a true action hero.

HERO- Agustin Creevy

Los Pumas were in the end overpowered comfortably against New Zealand last Friday. Nevertheless, the Argentina captain Agustin Creevy, who is a born leader, really shone throughout the test, scoring a pair of tries against the All Blacks from two quick-fire rolling mauls. He was certainly the stand out performer for his country and his heroics saved Los Pumas from a potentially humiliating score line in Christchurch.

ZEROES

ZERO- Waisake Naholo

The sight of Waisake Naholo limping off against Argentina, which turned out to be a fractured fibula, is a grim reminder of how easy people can go from on top of the world to rock-bottom. No-one can doubt the 24-year olds bravery for trying to play through the injury, but with him now set to miss the World Cup he has had a dramatic fall from hero to zero in no time at all.

ZERO- Heyneke Meyer

Despite the South Africa head coach playing down their defeat in Brisbane, throwing away a ten-point lead in test rugby is unacceptable. He was even quoted saying: “That’s how close it is in international rugby, it’s 30 seconds both ways and that’s the difference between being a hero and a loser.” Unfortunately this time Meyer is a zero.

ZERO- Japan

Despite the Pacific Nations Cup victory on Saturday unfortunately the Japanese remain Zeroes for this last week in rugby after some bad news on Friday. They are at serious risk of losing the 2019 Rugby World Cup after governing body World Rugby said it was “extremely disappointed” their new national stadium won’t be ready to host games. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed on Friday that the stadium’s proposed design template is being scrapped to cut costs.