Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Monday Musings: Wahs win... Just, ABs get out the broom, is Scheffler good?
Alex Chapman • July 21st, 2025 12:59 pm
Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
Holy Leka! As the seconds ticked down, it felt like the impeding doom that many Warriors had feared, would arrive.
It already had that lingering sense heading into the match against Newcastle, and all signs pointing towards an armour-encased banana skin.
And if not for the, whatever we are calling that final play, Mondayitis would’ve struck worse than the Knights’ bout of gastro.
Instead, it’s the feeling of ridiculousness rather than ridicule.
Coach Andrew Webster called Leka Halasima a “freakish talent” which seems as accurate of a descriptor as any given the power, pace and preposterousness of the match-winning try.
Though, let’s just take a step back and look at why there’s that euphoria. It was a game that had slipped through their fingers three or four times against a team that on paper (toilet or otherwise) they should’ve comfortably beaten.
As Webster said after the game, they “kept fighting and kept going after the moment” but also conceded they’ve got to get “way better”.
The 33 missed tackles may have been out of concern of not wanting to catch the virus that ran through the Knights and the Warriors failed to properly capitalise on their 63 percent territory and 38 tackles in opposition 20 – a lot of which was in the first 20 minutes.
A win, yes, but a lot to wonder about for the next few days, particularly around why their right edge continues to be hammered.
As Anthony Gelling expertly explained on Sport Nation Mornings a couple of weeks ago, it isn’t always the wing’s fault; it’s the right edge jamming in like they’re trying to squeeze into a jar.
But it’s exasperated by the exploitation which makes it look like an opposition team has an extra man.
A missed tackle doesn’t even come up on the score sheet as no one even gets close. And Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, whether accurate or not, is copping the blame.
If it is intentional I'm sure many would love to know the reasoning for the defensive strategy.
Crucially, they’re still four points clear (this seems to be a weekly comment) of the chasing pack, and host a team in the Titans, that they once again, should comfortably put away.
AB's reflections
Speaking of comfortably putting away, let’s have a bit of an honesty session.
Rewind four weeks ago to the first All Blacks squad naming - were you one of those who thought a French flogging was on the cards? And how are you marking that series? A 6.5 or 7 seems to be the general consensus.
It was a reminder though, for the public at least, of the recognition and respect required against top tier teams. This may have been a French squad without its biggest names but not without its greatest efforts.
Yes, it was a sweep, but one with a broom that you think maybe doesn’t quite have the most-effective bristles.
The second test was the sort of performance that many expected, but that was a rosy one with thorns either side of it.
Saturday’s third match felt a lot like the first, both with how they played but also it being the first start of the season for many players.
Statistically, the All Blacks lost 15 turnovers and won just four, while their kick strategy in the first half felt lost as they struggled to exit, further enhancing why Beauden Barrett should be starting and Damian McKenzie’s an option off the bench.
They warmed into the game, but you can’t wait half an hour for the engine to heat up before switching gears against the likes of South Africa, particularly around the breakdown.
Two late inclusions to that 23 may have been the difference and further enhanced their importance.
Somehow it seems that Will Jordan may have become underrated, despite his versatility, ability to break space with pace, and the key and crucial voice he is in the backline.
He and Jordie Barrett are fighting for the spot as the second-most important All Black behind Ardie Savea.
Jordie Barrett was the difference vs France | The Bunnings Trade Rugby Run
On reflection, the series feels like two steps forward, one step back. They adjusted on the fly when required, blooded new talent to at times great success, and showed a new style of play that when it works, it really works.
But there are still areas of improvement and selection, which will leave the coaches in deep consideration ahead of the Springbok sized challenges that await.
Old blighty Black Foils
Sailing on the Solent saw success for the New Zealand SailGP team, as the event returned to Great Britain, and for the Black Foils, they returned to where it all began.
Almost three years since their first title win, Pete Burling and his team made it back to back Britain wins, upsetting the locals in the final, and moving to the top of the overall leaderboard.
Put some respect on his name:
We are watching a generational talent, and yet, AND YET, before Major tournaments, there’s still the conversation of “is Sheffler really going to win?” Is he THAT good?
The Open allowed those answers to certainly be cemented. Yup, he is.
Scottie Scheffler has been crowned at the 153rd British Open | Photo: AP
Scheffler was four strokes clear and paying $1.11 heading into the final round. In fact, bookies weren’t even offering odds on him finishing top five.
Those are the sort of numbers and level of dominance usually associated with a large striped cat. The most-remarkable stat of them all, Scheffler and Woods won their first and fourth majors exactly 1,197 days apart.
And while Scheffler looks like that middle-aged dad standing on the sidelines watching his kid’s sport or with tongs in hand at a PTA fundraiser, he only turned 29 last month and still has plenty more to come. Enjoy it.
Tune into Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings, 9am to midday on Thursdays & Fridays.
