Running Rugby, Tight Tests & Springbok Thumpings - 2CGD S5 EP19

International rugby is back, baby — and apparently it has decided to return with running rugby, optimism, chaos, heartbreak, and just enough nonsense to keep us emotionally unstable. This week on Two Cents Gets Distracted, we dive into the opening round of the inaugural Nations Championship, which kicked off in spectacular fashion with the All Blacks sneaking past France by three points in the very first test at Christchurch’s shiny new Te Kaha stadium. Yes, some will call it a France B team. But if that was the B team, then France’s depth chart is getting frankly rude. They played some gorgeous, fast-flowing rugby, pushed the All Blacks right to the edge, and came painstakingly close to turning Rennie’s big new era into a full-blown opening-night disaster. But the All Blacks got it done — just — and showed a clear signal of intent: speed, width, tempo, and a refreshing commitment to playing actual rugby. Pro-rugby. Not anti-rugby. The good stuff. Elsewhere, Australia went heartbreakingly close against Ireland, only for Carter Gordon and the Wallabies to leave a few too many kicking boots in the overhead locker. Ireland were pushed right to the edge but, annoyingly as ever, found a way. England, meanwhile, played South Africa in what we are legally allowed to call a game of rugby. The Springboks blitzed the start, England fought their way back into it, Henry Pollock appeared briefly enough to somehow still annoy an entire nation, and then South Africa reminded everyone why they are the world champions by absolutely pumping the Poms in the second half. Wales managed to get one in the win column against a free-flowing Fijian side full of flair, offloads, and the constant threat of making everyone else look boring. And over in Argentina, Scotland joined the theme of the weekend by playing with ambition, optimism, and some lovely attacking rugby to win a high-scoring belter against Los Pumas. All in all, it was a cracking first round, a brilliant return for international rugby, and a pretty strong argument that the Nations Championship might actually be a bit of alright. We’ll cover all of that, look ahead to round two, and — as always — get distracted by a whole lot of absolute BS along the way. Grab a beer and enjoy! - Thankd for the beers Frankie! Time Codes 0:00 - Intro/BS 18:21 - Hankering for Tests 20:53 - Abs vs Fra 44:35 - Aus vs Ire 49:10 - SA VS Eng 1:05:35 - The Problem with the Comp 1:07:37 - SA VS Eng cont 1:10:53 - Dynamic Pricing 1:13:26 - Jpn vs Ita 1:17:23 - Fij vs Wal 1:24:55 - Arg vs Sco 1:28:12 - Upcoming Fxyures