In rugby, southern hemisphere teams remain dominant
Despite the money in northern hemisphere rugby, an emphasis on skill means New Zealand, South Africa and Australia still dominate the international game – and few anticipate much change on Saturday.
After last week’s internationals, rugby remains a global game of two halves, with the southern hemisphere overshadowing the north, writes Channel 4 News Output Editor Ben Monro-Davies.
There was much hype that England, Wales and Ireland could all score victories over South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – marking at last a shift in the oval ball’s axis.
Not so fast. All three were firmly beaten, and although Scotland scored a remarkable victory beforehand against Australia, they were aided by a tempest straight from the Highlands.
Dominions’ dominance
European rugby at club level has certainly never been richer. Despite the odd financial crisis, full houses watch superstars from north and south line up for Leinster, Leicester, Toulouse et al. But economic might and a larger player base have yet to dent the traditional dominance of the one-time dominions.
England’s last beat the Springboks when Tony Blair was in office.
The statistics offer no other interpretation. England’s defeat last week was their eighth in a row against the Springboks. They last beat South Africa when Tony Blair was still in office. It’s not really anything new. Since the two sides started playing each other in 1906, England have won 12, South Africa 20.
The record against Australia is slightly better – with the Wallabies up 23-16 in the matches since 1909. But against the All Blacks it’s an embarrassing 27-6 to New Zealand.
The other home nations fare no better. Wales trail Australia 22-10, New Zealand 25-3, and South Africa 24-1. Scotland and Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks. So last week’s results are very much in keeping with the long march of history.
Multi-million pound concern
That history has proved so resistant to change is remarkable, considering the revolution the game has undergone since turning professional in the 1990s. From a game for amateurs run by “old farts”, it is now an utterly professional multi-million pound concern. But at an international level, the game in many ways remains unchanged.
The north focuses on brawn, the south on skill.
The first World Cup final in 1987 saw New Zealand beat France. The last World Cup final saw New Zealand beat France. Jonny Wilkinson’s drop kick remains the northern hemisphere’s only notch on the world cup bedpost.
Why? @Mickclearytel of the Daily telegraph tweets: More focus on skill. @sam_sportsnews tweets: Best athletes play rugby in SA and NZ. Grow up playing touch – learning skills + spatial awareness. Too much bosh here at all levels.
And the England international James Haskell, currently playing in New Zealand, reinforces this impression in an article on the TVNAZ website. The north focuses on brawn, the south on skill.
Whatever the reason, few anticipate much upset when north plays south on Saturday. Why change a century-old habit?