Springboks Blitz Baabaas, Lions Roar & Toulouse Dominates | Rugby News
Springboks Blitz Baabaas, Lions Roar & Toulouse Dominates | Rugby News
A thrilling rugby weekend saw the Lions bounce back, Toulouse win a classic Top 14 final, Boks dominate Barbarians and U20 stars shine in opening round.
After a week of headlines dominated by injury blows, coaching speculation and transfer news, rugby fans were treated to a global weekend of pure drama, from Perth to Paris, Cape Town to Verona.
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The British & Irish Lions answered their critics, Stade Toulousain and Bordeaux delivered a Top 14 final for the ages, and the Springboks reminded everyone why they’re still the benchmark.
Throw in a fiercely competitive opening round at the World Rugby U20 Championship, and this wasn’t just another week on the calendar. It felt like a statement.
Lions Roar, But Tour Takes a Hit
In front of a record crowd of 46,656 in Perth, Australia, the British & Irish Lions responded to their shock loss to Argentina with the kind of clinical, second-half display Andy Farrell will hope becomes the new standard.
After being held 21-7 by a dogged Western Force outfit at the break, the Lions ran in five tries in the final 40 minutes to register a 54-7 victory and crack the half-century mark with authority.
Player of the Match Joe McCarthy was everywhere — dominant at the breakdown, impactful in the carry and clinical with the ball in hand.
Finn Russell controlled the first half with poise, while Elliott Daly, Garry Ringrose and Josh McKay all took their chances as the Lions' offload-heavy approach wore down the hosts.
But the joy came with a cost.
Tomos Williams, arguably the brightest spark across the tour so far, pulled up with a hamstring injury and is out of the remainder of the campaign. His loss not only leaves a tactical hole at scrumhalf, it robs the Lions of their best-running No. 9.
Ben White has been flown in from New Zealand, and the pressure now shifts to Jamison Gibson-Park, who starts against the Reds on Wednesday in Brisbane.
With Maro Itoje back to captain, and Hugo Keenan finally fit enough to start at fullback, the midweek clash against Queensland shapes up as the most physical test before the Wallabies series begins.
Toulouse Edges UBB In All-Time Top 14 Classic
If Lions-Force was dominant, the Top 14 final was anything but that.
In 100 breathless minutes of rugby, Toulouse claimed its third straight Bouclier de Brennus, edging Bordeaux Bègles 39-36 in extra time thanks to the steadiest boot in Europe — Thomas Ramos.
Ramos scored 24 points, including the match-winning penalty after a breakdown penalty deep into overtime.
Jack Willis — with two tries — and Anthony Jelonch delivered for Toulouse up front, while Damian Penaud and Matthieu Jalibert inspired Bordeaux’s fightback.
But what made this more than just a final was the sheer weight of history.
UBB, chasing its first title, pushed the champions to their absolute limit, clawing back from a 33-23 deficit to tie the game and force it into overtime. Yet in the end, Toulouse’s depth, power game and Ramos' cold-blooded accuracy were too much.
It was classic Toulouse, big players delivering in big moments, but concern lingers over Romain Ntamack, who was forced off early with a shoulder injury. He has since undergone surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, ending a frustrating campaign where knee issues also loomed large.
Boks Rain On Baabaas Parade
In Cape Town, the Springboks delivered a wet-weather masterclass, dismantling a Barbarians side 54-7 in front of a sold-out DHL Stadium.
For all the tradition and flair associated with Baabaas rugby, this was a fixture where style was sacrificed to substance, and South Africa was more than happy to oblige.
Malcolm Marx, Vincent Tshituka and Cheslin Kolbe crossed in the opening half, while Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Lood de Jager added to the tally in the second.
Damian de Allende’s try at the death capped a dominant performance in which the Boks’ set-piece and kicking game suffocated any hint of the Barbarians' momentum.
Tshituka’s display, in particular, raised eyebrows.
Filling in for Pieter-Steph du Toit, the Sharks flanker scored twice, dominated the collisions and looked born for the jersey.
Meanwhile, Morne van den Berg’s sharp game management drew comparisons to Aaron Smith, high praise, but not entirely unfounded.
There were emotional farewells, too.
Irish icons Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy bowed out of the professional game. It wasn’t the result they wanted, but their legacies remain untouched.
U20s Front-Runners Hit Top Gear
The World Rugby U20 Championship also kicked off with fireworks.
England laid down a marker with a 56-19 win over Scotland, storming to a 42-12 lead at the break with Jack Bracken and Tyler Offiah running riot.
Kane James scored twice, but England’s second-half slowdown was notable — just one try added in 40 minutes, despite near-total territorial dominance. A sterner test awaits in Round 2: South Africa.
Speaking of the Junior Springboks, they were rampant.
A 73-17 demolition of Australia in Calvisano featured 11 tries and a devastating attacking performance.
Scrumhalf Hassiem Pead and winger Siyabonga Ndlozi were sensational, and the Boks’ balance between forward muscle and attacking tempo was unmatched.
France also won, but without much polish.
A 49-11 win over Spain featured strong forward play but exposed a lack of discipline and cohesion. Ten penalties and 50% possession conceded to Spain won’t go unnoticed by the team's next opponents, Wales.
Ireland was made to work hard against Georgia, coming out a 35-28 winner in a game where the Irish conceded 17 penalties and struggled at the scrum.
Paidi Farrell’s early brace proved decisive as the Junior Lelos threatened an upset with strong maul work and physicality.
However, the game of the round took place in Verona, where Argentina edged Wales 34-27 in a thrilling contest.
Wales led 24-7 after 30 minutes, only for Argentina to storm back with three unanswered tries on either side of halftime.
Agustín Garcia Campos Fiszman completed the comeback late on to seal a statement win for Los Pumitas.
New Zealand, meanwhile, started slowly but beat Italy 14-5 in a gritty performance. The Junior All Blacks were out-scrummed and out-possessed, but made their few chances count.
The Week Ahead
With England set to face South Africa in the standout U20 clash, the Lions facing their stiffest challenge yet in Brisbane and the Springboks preparing for Italy, there’s no letting up in this packed July schedule.
International rugby fans can get their fill on FloRugby with the Springboks and All Blacks' upcoming test series against France (AB), Georgia and Italy (Boks) being shown live and exclusively for audiences in the United States and its territories.
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