WEEKLY SPORTS DIGEST: Wallabies, Warriors, Phoenix

WEEKLY SPORTS DIGEST: Wallabies, Warriors, Phoenix

26/07/10 Executive sport summary – An overview of the major sporting events – Results, key moments and talking points – Everything you need to know to foot it at the water cooler this week.

Rugby Union: The Wallabies produced an assured 30-13 victory over South Africa in front of 44,280 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. However their failure to secure a bonus point has the All Blacks well placed in this year’s Tri-nations.

South Africa returned home without a competition point and a title defence without an away win is usually a bridge too far. Peter de Villiers will struggle to explain the third consecutive loss as he is quickly running out of excuses no matter how outlandish they may be. His New Zealand and Irish referee conspiracy theory was well and truly dispelled after another poor performance from the aging world champions.

The Springboks are still trying to play the kick-chase game-plan they perfected in 2009. But after the All Blacks attacked France in Marseille last October that kick-chase game has been obsolete.

This weekend’s trans-Tasman and Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne should be a cracker as both teams will come to play running rugby, but the All Blacks are still a step ahead of their Aussie counterparts.

Rugby League: The Warriors five-game winning streak came to an end losing 38-28 to South Sydney. The loss should be viewed in context because although they failed to chalk up the two points there was no drop in form.

The game was played at high pace with the lead changing five times. The Rabbitohs, who have now squeezed inside the top-eight, were just more desperate for victory. With a tough battle looming against the Titans this weekend, the Warriors will need to find their winning ways again or risk losing a grip on their play-off position.

Football: The Wellington Phoenix continued New Zealand Football’s golden run with a 2-1 home victory over Boca Juniors. The Argentine super-club, with 41 titles to their name, were outplayed and reduced to 10 men as the frustration of immanent defeat took toll.

The game was an A-League warm-up match and with defending champions the Melbourne Victory losing to Boca a week earlier, the Phoenix look well placed. The ‘Nix’ have an opportunity to take football in this country to a new level, a maiden club title would consolidate the All Whites World Cup achievements and continue New Zealand’s meteoric rise on the world stage.

Tour de France: Alberto Contador won a third Tour de France title 39 seconds ahead of Andy Schleck. In a twist of fate for the two-time runner-up Schleck, 39 seconds is the exact time Contador gained when he attacked while Schleck was having mechanical problems.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was able to make one last appearance on the podium after his RadioShack team claimed the team classification.

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