Rugby Union: Southern Hemisphere Flexes Muscles

As the curtain fell on the first round of this summer's test matches, it was plain to see that the three powerhouses of world rugby union, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, were out to set the record straight. The All-Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies were keen to show that they were still the most dominant outfits on the pitch and they did so in some style.

A ruthless New Zealand systematically dismantled an experienced Ireland side which appeared to be hell-bent on self destruction. 

Jamie Heaslip's red card in the first quarter for a knee to Richie McCaw followed by a desperation foul by fly half Ronan O'Gara, meant for a time in the opening frame the Irish were down to 13 men.

At the international level going down to 14 men is hard enough but to be two short is nigh on impossible. 

The nine tries from the All-Blacks highlighted just how far the 2009 Grand Slam Champions have to come in order to mix with the powerhouses of the game.

Talismanic fly half Daniel Carter contributed 17 points out of a 66-28 mauling and in doing so became only the fourth player in the history of the game to surpass 1,000 points. A truly remarkable feat for a truly remarkable talent.

Credit should be given where credit is due. The Irish managed to pierce the New Zealand defense with 28 points, but one can argue the proverbial letting off the gas moment which had already taken place.

It has left Ireland coach Declan Kidney with much to ponder before moving on to play New Zealand Maori next Friday.

In Perth meanwhile, an old feud was reignited with an abundance of new blood on both sides as Australia hosted England.

While the match as a spectacle never seemed to get going, an excitable crowd over 30,000 at Subiaco Oval were treated to flickers of brilliance from both backs and forwards culminating with the two penalty tries England were awarded by Welsh referee Nigel Owens.

The much changed Australians, without key man Matt Giteau who ruled himself out the night before the game due to a hip injury, tried as hard as they could to play expansive running rugby, but were kept at bay for long periods.

It was left to who else but Rocky Elsom, the Wallabies skipper, to open the try scoring and start the match off the way it was to stay for the entire game.

England were not without their chances though. On a number of occasions Martin Johnson's side were sensing blood only a few yards out but couldn't convert and these attacking chances petered out into nothing.

The 27-17 scoreline is fair reflection of a game that never really got going, and left everything nicely poised ahead of the second test on Saturday. 

In Cape Town though, despite not the biggest victory margin, brought the most stark realisation that Northern Hemisphere clubs collectively have a long way to come. World Champions South Africa demolished reigning 6 Nations champions France 42-17 in a five star, five try performance.

Pierre Spies kicked off the scoring and the Springboks never really looked back opening up a 25-10 half time lead.

The French looked under-cooked at the highest level and never really reached the heights that saw them take the grand slam crown.

With every cloud though, comes a silver lining and this week the performance of Andy Robinson's Scotland in becoming the first team to beat Argentina at the Estadio Monumental Jose Fierro in Tucuman was the prime candidate.

Dan Parks once again showed why he should be held as one of the premier talents in world rugby as he dictated play from start and contributed all 24 of Scotland's points.

Three penalties and a drop goal left the Scottish outfit trailing by a point at 13-12.

An identical second half offering was too much for the Pumas as they continued to battle with inconsistency.

With the busy international test schedule moving along at a rate of knots, all four teams in action will be looking to take different positives from their offerings this week.