2006 mid-year rugby test series
Encyclopedia
During June of 2006, several rugby union
test sides played fixtures that were mainly contested in southern nations. It acted as end of year tours of the Northern Hemisphere
nations, and pre season matches for the Tri Nations Series and Pacific 5 Nations.
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Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
test sides played fixtures that were mainly contested in southern nations. It acted as end of year tours of the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
nations, and pre season matches for the Tri Nations Series and Pacific 5 Nations.
Week 1
- The scoreline belied the closeness of the contest, as Ireland were 20 minutes away from a first-ever win over the All Blacks, holding a 23–15 lead at three-quarter time.
- This is Scotland's largest-ever defeat in South Africa.
- This was Argentina's first-ever Test in PatagoniaPatagoniaPatagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
. The choice of Wales as the opponent was especially significant, as Puerto Madryn is at the heart of an area settled by WelshWelsh settlement in ArgentinaY Wladfa refers to the Welsh settlement in Argentina, which began in 1865 and occurred mainly along the coast of Chubut Province in the far southern region of Patagonia...
in the 1860s where WelshWelsh languageWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
is still frequently spoken.
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Week 2
----- Argentina win a Test series against Wales for the first time ever.
- This was England's fifth consecutive Test defeat, their worst streak since 1984. Australia's George GreganGeorge GreganGeorge Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history....
made his 120th international appearance, setting an all-time record for the sport.
- Fiji claim a Six NationsSix Nations ChampionshipThe Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
scalp for the first time since 2000, when they defeated Italy (then newly admitted to the Six Nations) the last time the Azzurri visited Churchill Park.
- Fullback Percy MontgomeryPercy MontgomeryPercival Colin "Percy" Montgomery is a retired South African rugby union player...
becomes the first Bok to score 600 Test points, but flanker Schalk BurgerSchalk BurgerSchalk Burger Jr. is a South African rugby union player. He plays the position of flanker in the Springbok rugby union team.-Father:...
, the 2004 World Player of the Year, suffers a career-threatening neck injury. (He ultimately recovered.)
Week 3
----- South Africa suffer their first defeat at home since 2003. The result means that the teams switched places in the world rankings, with France overtaking South Africa for second. Two French back-rowers, Thierry DusautoirThierry DusautoirThierry Dusautoir is a French rugby union player who currently plays for France at international level and Toulouse in the French Top 14 club competition. Dusautoir is a strong ball carrier with good speed and strength to get out of tackles.Dusautoir was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire...
and Imanol HarinordoquyImanol HarinordoquyImanol Harinordoquy is a French rugby union player who typically plays as a number 8 for Biarritz at club level in the Top 14 and for France internationally...
, are injured in the match. As for the Boks, the already injury-riddled side sees star backs Jean de VilliersJean de VilliersJean de Villiers is a South African rugby union footballer. He started his career at wing, but now primarily plays centre. De Villiers plays for Western Province and internationally for South Africa....
and Bryan HabanaBryan HabanaBryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...
suffer rib injuries. It turned out, de Villiers missed at least two Boks matches in the 2006 Tri Nations2006 Tri Nations Series-Week 2:-Week 3:-Week 4:* All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup-Week 5:-Week 6:-Week 7:-Week 8:-Week 9:-External links:* * *...
, while Habana recovered in time for South Africa's opener.
External links
- 2006 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series at Rugby.com.au
- 2006 All Blacks fixtures at AllBlacks.com
- 2006 Springboks fixtures at SARugby.co.za