A sporting Saturday on the sofa
Saturday was my normal sports-fest watching two marvellous rugby internationals and the highlights of the Tour de France.
First up was the second Test match at Eden Park, Auckland where the All Blacks are undefeated for 30 years. Though England ran up a small lead their young side never looked like getting over the line.
The introduction of Beauden Barrett and the moving of Marcus Smith, whose cross kicking resulted in 2 tries, to full back were the key reasons for the All Black victory.
England have an exciting young side but until they develop a running game they are just below the best nations.
Two of these – South Africa and Ireland – produced a classic encounter in Durban. The blood-smeared jerseys reflected a match where no quarter was asked or given.
Ireland made errors in the second half resulting in 6 penalties a risky event when the Springboks possess such a reliable kicker in Handré Pollard.
Skipper Ciaran Doris was sin-binned but another Ciaran – Frawley – drop kicked two – one the last kick of the match to give the Irish the narrowest of victories.
It’s been an unusual but exciting Tour de France.
It started in Florence but will not end in Paris because of the Olympics. Sometimes one rider dominates – Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain won 5 times and Eddy (The ‘Cannibal’) Merckx was all but invincible.
This year two riders have fought the most exciting of duels – Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.
This continued in yesterday’s stage in the high Pyrenees. Pogacar took time out of Vingegaard but – with one more mountain stage and a final time trial between Monaco and Nice – the race is not yet over.
