Category News

Scott Robertson’s side will have the opportunity to record games against Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales over the following four weekends, but aside from that, the records will be used as a gauge to gauge the team’s progress as a head coach two years after taking the reins.

The absence of a clear style, lingering debates over selection and coaching decisions, and other factors have all contributed to the perception that the sport’s most recognizable team is in flux right now.

In a summer series known as “a tour like no other,” New Zealand will face South Africa in New Zealand next year in addition to the Rugby Championship.

There is little doubt about who has recently gotten the better of what marketers have referred to as “rugby’s greatest rivalry,” which has historically been the game’s two strongest sides.

The Springboks have won two World Cups, three Rugby Championships, and three series matches against the British and Irish Lions, all of which are considered to be their generation.

In the 2019 and 2019 World Cup quarter-finals, New Zealand defeated Ireland in a game that was crucial. They have only lost two of their 21 meetings with England, have defeated Wales twice since 1953, and have never lost to Scotland.

However, they will continue to be criticized for their inability to be the game’s gold standard.

The All Blacks won 87% of their Test matches in the decade and won the Webb Ellis twice, but the balance of power changed during the World Cup of 2019 as a result.

In their opening match of the tournament in Japan, New Zealand defeated South Africa, but the Boks won in Yokohama in the end.

The “Boks” have also won five of the seven meetings between them, including the 2023 World Cup final, while the “Boks” have also won five of those meetings.

Rassie Erasmus’ side won the most recent southern hemisphere title with a record 43-10 defeat over the All Blacks, which has sparked another round of debate about the direction of the side under Robertson.

The fact that South Africa’s success has been allied with their usual power has a more attacking bent that is more typically associated with their own side will be the most jarring to supporters of the All Blacks.

When the All Blacks were at the height of their dominance ten years ago, they were a brutal counter-attacking force capable of annihilating opponents at any position and time.

Their attacking style is less defined today as Robertson, who has made 19 debuts in his two years in charge, tries to establish the more prosaic foundations of a successful side.

Jason Holland, the assistant coach in charge of attack, will step down after the autumn tour, making him the second player on Robertson’s ticket to leave after Leon MacDonald left last year after just five Tests.

The lack of a crossover star may have made that task more difficult. Although Ardie Savea and the Barrett brothers are still well-known, the star concentration has never been greater. Savea is the only All Black player to have won the award for “World Player of the Year” in six years, compared to 10 other All Blacks in 13 years between 2005 and 2007.

Instead, efforts have been made to bring the All Blacks into previously untapped territories.

New Zealand will travel to Chicago for the first leg of this “Grand Slam” tour, returning to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland won the first game for the first time in nine years.

The All Blacks have also played the Springboks in Twickenham and Fiji in San Diego since Covid-19’s travel restrictions have been lifted. The final of the four Tests against South Africa in 2026 will also take place in a nearby venue.

However, such a schedule is unlikely to ease Robertson’s situation as he attempts to recreate the levels of a decade ago in the present while simultaneously developing a team capable of winning the World Cup in Australia in two years.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champion, continue to have a perfect start to the season with 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

After defeating the Sacramento Kings 107-101 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma, the Thunder have won all five of their previous five games. They also lead the Western Conference in wins.

With 143 points, Gilgeous-Alexander, the Most Valuable Player of the previous season, is the league’s joint top scorer this year.

Oklahoma had a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but with two minutes and 33 seconds left, it held on for the victory.

The Kings travel to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday while the Wizards travel to the Washington Wizards on Friday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo kept his strong start to the season by defeating the New York Knicks 121-111 at Fiserv Forum.

In the second half, Antetokounmpo scored 23 of his game-high 37 points to help the Bucks reclaim victory and clinch their third straight victory.

Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee’s third game without him, is “going to be out a little bit,” according to coach Doc Rivers.

Because we don’t want this to become chronic, Rivers said, “We’re not going to rush him.” We just want to be patient because it was a bad turn.

Following a thrilling 139-134 overtime victory over the Washington Wizards, the Philadelphia 76ers are still unbeaten after four games.

Hamilton’s second one-day international

England 175 (36 overs): Overton 42 (28), Tickner 4-34

New Zealand 177-5 (33.1 overs): Mitchell 56* (59) Ravindra 54 (58), Archer 3-23

New Zealand won the series by five wickets to lead it with 2-0.

England’s top order suffered a setback in the second one-day international against New Zealand, which came against a five-wicket defeat to England.

With just one match left, New Zealand clinched the series with a score of 2-0 with a bowling out of the park after the tourists were bowled out for 175 with 14 of their innings remaining.

Jamie Overton’s 42 balls, which included 28 balls, were the top scorer for England.

After Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and Brook had all started without being able to turn those starts into anything more significant, that innings came.

As the rest of England’s order struggled to contain a disciplined New Zealand attack, Blair Tickner claimed 4-34, while Nathan Smith, a fellow seamer, took 2-27.

With the fourth ball of the Black Caps’ innings, Jofra Archer pins opener Will Young with the ball to give England some early hope.

Before being fired by Overton, Kane Williamson showed his nous by soaking up the pressure with a grimy 21 before taking the mic.

When Archer put an end to Rachin Ravindra’s fluent innings of 54 before strangling Michael Bracewell down the leg side, England still had hope.

The tourists will hope for a better result in Saturday’s third ODI (01:00 GMT), but this game will be remembered for the following:

Seddon Park’s surface had a more commendable straw-colored hue, but the test team’s performance, which they were hoping would find some form before crossing the Tasman Sea, was comparable.

Although this capitulation was less dramatic than the one at Mount Maunganui, movement off the pitch and in the air was less prominent.

In contrast to Sunday, the swing was much lower (0. 69 degrees versus 1. 31) and the seam was much lower (0. 57 degrees versus 0. 89).

However, England’s wickets frequently fell as a result of a combination of bad luck, poor judgment, and good bowling.

As Duckett’s lean trot continued toward the end of the English summer, he nicked off a good ball from Jacob Duffy for just one.

Smith, a fellow opener, skied one as far as Zac Foulkes and fell on 13th.

When Root was frustrated that Tickner’s down leg side deliveries, neither of which were called wide, did not come in for a third and ended up tickling Tom Latham, he reached 25.

Although Bethell and Brook initially appeared confident only for things to get worse with a duff pull shot and backward point on 18, respectively, at a parlous 51-3, England were vulnerable.

Overton at least made the overall more competitive, despite the lack of contributions from the rest of the lower order as New Zealand ruthlessly ended the innings.

Are England’s first two international series of struggles a sign of a new winter in the southern hemisphere?