Rugby November ends with Southern Hemisphere ahead
Ireland barely beat Australia (22-19) in the only Test match this weekend
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Ireland barely beat Australia (22-19) in this weekend's only Test match, and so for rugby the usual intense November review comes to a close. From 2 to 30, twenty-one matches called upon the international elite. The stage, as is always the case in the autumn, was the European one, with the Six Nations teams hosting the four big opponents from the southern hemisphere - South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia - but also other national teams (Fiji, Japan, Georgia and Portugal).
The overall comparison between Europe's best and the excellences below the equator rewarded the latter, in spite of predictions on the eve of the match that were at least predicting a rediscovered balance between North and South. In fact, out of 14 direct clashes only five were won by the hosts and the others went to the visiting teams.
With world champions South Africa winning three out of three matches, making them virtually unbeatable and also regaining the top spot in the rankings against Ireland, and with New Zealand, who many predicted to be in trouble, having been able to impose themselves on England, Ireland and Italy. New coach Scott Robertson's All Blacks have (perhaps) completed their run-in after a post-World Cup rejuvenation and are, as usual, a great team.
Beating them, by only one point, was France, which was itself rather renewed and convincing, especially against Argentina. The transalpines are the only representatives of the Old Continent to have achieved a winning streak. Scotland closed with a fine success over Australia, who can nevertheless be satisfied with their encore against Wales and England, two teams in difficulty.
The English - while never being crushed by their opponents - only beat Japan, losing to South Africa, the All Blacks and Australia. Against the latter two teams they were outplayed in the final minutes, showing an unusual drop in physical and mental resilience.
