Rugby Legends Weigh In on Latest Test Matches
All Blacks v England
David Campese, the former Wallaby star, was impressed with certain aspects of England’s performance last weekend, particularly the attacking partnership of Alex Mitchell, George Furbank and Marcus Smith, which pushed the mighty All Blacks to the wire. However, Campese believes England are in danger of developing a “plucky losers” tag, having lost by narrow margins in several high-profile matches against South Africa, France, and now New Zealand. “Champion sides win these marginal matches,” he said, “and so far, the Poms under Borthwick have failed at that last hurdle.” Campese feels England must improve their set-piece and breakdown work to compete with the clinical All Blacks, who are expected to be sharper in their second outing. His prediction is a 32-19 win for the hosts at fortress Eden Park.
Wallabies v Wales
Campese was full of praise for the Wallabies’ impressive performance in the opening test, particularly their finishing and set-piece dominance. However, he believes Wales are in a vulnerable position, both physically and metaphorically, with the loss of key flanker Aaron Wainwright a significant blow. “Wales need to find firepower against an improving defence,” said Campese, “and whilst their back three is excellent, the midfield is popgun compared to their teams of old.” The rugby great expects a game decided by defense and counter-attack, and is backing the Wallabies to make a statement with a 27-12 victory.
Springboks v Ireland
Campese has expressed concerns over Ireland’s attacking game since the retirement of Johnny Sexton and the injury to Jamison Gibson-Park. He believes the inclusion of Garry Ringrose at 13 will add creativity, but the Irish midfield must also be solid in defense. The former Wallaby star was critical of Ireland’s narrow defensive structure in the first test, which allowed the Springbok loose forwards to exploit the wide channels. “When you’ve got gas merchants like Cheslin Kolbe or Kurt-Lee Arendse to make those running lines, once they’re past the narrow primary defense, the scramble simply cannot cope with the pace,” he said. Campese expects the Springboks to build on their first-test victory and complete another clean sweep for the Southern Hemisphere, predicting a 28-15 win for the world champions.
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