Aisle be Back: Rugby Championship resumes and NPC continues

Tolu Fahamokioa goes from putting balls over the tryline on the ground to punching them from the ground in one match. The Lions have a short turnaround before hosting North Harbour on Sunday.

Well, everyone’s a genius after the fact when the coach makes eight changes after a thumping win – and then the side comes crashing back to earth a few days later.

No doubt Chris Gibbes’ reasoning was sound – setting up for this Sunday’s potentially decisive clash with North Harbour, especially with the Wednesday Waikato fixture coming so soon after the Southland victory.

But timetables, as any bus commuter will tell you right now, are very confusing. Someone whipped out half the seats, and forgot to tell the passengers.

Of course in hindsight you just try to keep winning, and blow this nursing the squad.

Let’s cut some slack though and see where the Lions sit at season’s end. Then it will be a case of whether the coach ultimately got it wrong, or right.

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How far away is the world cup? Something well over a year, and if you are thinking the All Blacks can’t lose, then think again.

Yep there’s a ton of excitement around the squad, and the style they’ve played so far. Nothing coming up from Argentina or South Africa is yet to suggest they’ll be a threat in the Rugby Championship.

Yet I always think of 2011 and how first-five was decimated. That all happened within the tournament.

Even with impressive depth, you can still be tested. So on the law of averages, there are going to be some stars hurt over the next few months.

That’s why the All Blacks are on a constant search for regeneration, because you never know when the crunch will arrive.

This weekend we’ll see Richie Mo’unga get his starting debut. That’s great because he deserves one, and secondly, we need to see how he runs the ship at test level.

Beauden Barrett had to go through the same rite of passage, and while Mo’unga looks the goods, we will only know for sure when he gets some test miles under his belt.

If Argentina’s combative pack gets in there, and they defend well –as we know they are capable of – then they can be uncomfortable opposition for any first five.

This could well not be a milk run – and that could be a good thing.

Plenty of interest in the team for Canes’ fans – with Laumape again in at second-five, Ardie Savea in at openside, and TJ at halfback – along with NMS back on the wing.

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Did you hear the one about the rugby coach sacked after his team’s opening loss?
It was Leicester’s Aussie, Matt O’Connor.

That sort of takes the breath away since presumably whatever sins he has sinned were evident before the season began or when the last one ended.

One UK scribe was speculating on who would be next. And the name of Todd Blackadder (who coaches Bath) being mentioned.

If that’s the job tenure security of life in the UK top league then Eddie Jones is living life dangerously.