In one of the most astonishing comebacks in rugby history, Australia shocked reigning world champions South Africa with a 38-22 victory in Johannesburg, overturning a 22-0 deficit in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
It was a result that sent shockwaves through the sport and lit up social media over the weekend.
But that was just the start. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup set to kick off this Friday, excitement is building around the globe as teams finalise preparations.
Meanwhile, Premiership clubs continue to make moves in the transfer market, reshaping squads ahead of the new season.
It has been a weekend full of storylines, and social media has kept up with it all, offering its own opinion on things. Here are some of the key moments from the online world to keep up with.
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Epic Wallabies Comeback
In one of the greatest comebacks in rugby history, Australia stunned world champions South Africa 38-22 in Johannesburg, overturning a 22-0 deficit in the opening match of the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies looked dead and buried after 20 minutes, with the Springboks dominating early through tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse, Andre Esterhuizen and Siya Kolisi. But what followed was extraordinary.
Joe Schmidt’s men, who secured their first win at Ellis Park for the first time since 1963, roared back with relentless pressure at the breakdown.
Captain Harry Wilson led the charge with two tries, while Dylan Pietsch, Max Jorgensen, and Joseph Suaalii also crossed. Tom Wright’s sensational solo effort sealed the win.
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All Blacks World Number One
The All Blacks are officially back on top of the world.
Following a dramatic opening weekend in The Rugby Championship, New Zealand have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the World Rugby Rankings for the first time since November 2021.
Their 41-24 win over Argentina in Cordoba earned them 0.45 rating points, but it was Australia’s stunning comeback over South Africa that proved decisive.
The Springboks, whose defeat is spoken about in the previous key talking point, lost three full ranking points, dropping them to third behind Ireland. The All Blacks now sit on 92.51 points, ahead of Ireland (89.83) and South Africa (89.78).
Australia’s victory also boosted them to 85.08 points, strengthening their position in the top six ahead of the 2027 World Cup draw.
Questions asked of Boks
Are the Springboks over the hill? This shock defeat suggests they may no longer sit atop the world.
After a blistering 22-0 start in the opening 20 minutes, South Africa looked in full control. Yet what followed was baffling.
A cascade of errors, risky decisions, and poor game management allowed the Wallabies to claw back, with Suaalii’s intercept try narrowing the gap to 22-19. From there, momentum swung hard.
The Boks kept playing with reckless width, ignoring the scoreboard and the situation. Their lack of tactical discipline was startling. This result doesn’t mean they’re finished, but it’s clear they’re no longer untouchable, and this team is far from the Springbok juggernauts of the past.
Many have said that this result shows that they aren’t at the level of the dominant All Blacks teams in years gone by, despite their success in recent years.
World Cup Build-up
The Women’s Rugby World Cup begins this week, with final preparations well underway across the competing nations. Hosts England are red-hot favourites and open the tournament on Friday, 22 August against the USA in Sunderland.
The Red Roses have won 57 of their past 58 matches, with their only defeat coming in the 2022 final against New Zealand. Since then, they’ve dominated world rugby, winning six straight Six Nations Grand Slams and beating the Black Ferns in their last three meetings.
Sixteen teams will compete this year, up from 12 in 2022, including debutants Brazil.
Over 300,000 tickets have been sold, making it the best-attended tournament in history.
With contenders like Canada, New Zealand, and France in pursuit, England will need to handle the pressure to claim the title.
Fans online have been sharing their excitement at what looks set to be a statement tournament for women’s rugby.
A diving issue in rugby?
In a piece published in The Rugby Paper this week, former British and Irish Lion Ben Kay said that he thinks that rugby is going down the path of football and allowing ‘cheating’, such as players diving.
It has caused a lot of debate online as to whether the sport does have a problem, and if so, how to combat it and kick it out of the game.
We have seen it happen a fair bit in recent months, with some seeing it as part of the game and simply players doing all they can do to win, while others see it as blatant cheating.
Whatever your side of the fence, there is a case to be made either way, and the hope is that the powers that be come up with a solution regarding the issue.
Louis Rees-Zammit’s new club confirmed
Although it happened before the weekend started, LRZ’s move to Bristol Bears is so big that plenty of conversations about it have continued well into the weekend.
The former NFL player is back in the Prem after a hiatus in America, and looks set to add to what is the most exciting backline in the entire league.
Last season, we saw Pat Lam’s Bristol side score plenty of points and play some entertaining rugby, which was also their demise, given their defensive frailties, and the entertainment value from Bears looks set to be through the roof with speedster LRZ involved.
There have also been a lot of fans from Rees-Zammit’s former club, Gloucester, talking negatively about the move because LRZ is the second former fan-favourite to join a West Country rival this summer, alongside Santi Carreras, who has gone to Bath.
By Charlie Elliott
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