The happenings last weekend both at Twickenham and on the home front were a fairly telling illustration of the unexpected that is such an appealing aspect of sport. I refer in particular to the defeat of the Springboks and the comprehensive defeat inflicted on Shannon by Ballymena in the All-Ireland League.
England's win over South Africa in Twickenham deprived the Springboks of setting what would have been a new world record of 18 consecutive international victories. Now they must be content to have equalled the figure set by the All Blacks between 1965 and 1969.
There is no doubt that the win by England over the Springboks was an achievement of considerable merit. It is put into perspective by the fact that, in their great 17-match winning run which started in 1997 with a 61-22 victory over Australia in Pretoria, the Springboks had beaten every leading rugby nation in the world. Not just that, but they had defeated Australia three times, New Zealand twice and the current Five Nations' champions, France, twice, both wins being recorded in France. They beat England twice, 2911 in Twickenham last year and 18-0 in Cape Town during the summer. They have beaten Ireland three times, Wales twice, Scotland twice and Italy once.
After the Springboks' win over England in Cape Town last summer Springboks coach Nick Mallett had some uncomplimentary things to say about England, they came back to haunt him last Saturday.
The win by England, will, in the circumstances, have been particularly satisfying for them. Whatever about Southern Hemisphere solidarity, which really only asserts itself when it comes to self-interest, the All Blacks will not be crying any tears on behalf of the Springboks.
It was a very costly loss for the South Africans. Not alone did it deprive the Springboks of achieving the 18-match winning record, but also deprived them of completing what would have been a fifth Grand Slam.
The Springboks have looked vulnerable on their tour. England exploited it last Saturday. Wales very nearly did and Ireland did not have the capacity to turn possession and territorial supremacy into points and paid a high price for errors. There had been suggestions from some quarters that this Springboks team was the best of all time. Quite candidly that was an exaggerated claim on their behalf. They were not the best Springboks team I have seen. The Springboks team of 1961 captained by Avril Malan that did the Grand Slam looked a much better side than the current crop based on performances on their respective tours. That side had beaten New Zealand 2 - 1 in a Test series in 1960 and then, after drawing with France in Paris, went on to beat Ireland, Australia twice and the Lions 3-0 with one draw in 1962.
They had a tremendous pack of forwards, better than the current pack and a very accomplished back line. It may be a matter of personal choice but I would have my money on that team against the current side.
The best touring team from the Southern Hemisphere I have seen was Brian Lochore's 1967 All Black side. Unfortunately they did not play in Ireland because of an out break of foot and mouth disease in Britain which disqualified them from travelling to this country.
That was a magnificent team that included forwards such as Lochore, the Meads brothers Stan and Colin, Kel Tremain, and backs of the quality of Chris Laidlaw, Earl Kirton, Ian McRea, and Fergie McCormack. That team beat England 23-11, Wales 13-6, France 21-15 and Scotland 143 during the course of setting the 17-match winning sequence the Springboks have now equalled.
Meanwhile, the 23-3 win by Ballymena over Shannon was a splendid achievement by Ballymena. Is it the preface to the end of Shannon's four-year reign as league champions? I would certainly be very reluctant to write off Shannon's prospects in the league.
They were depleted last Saturday. In addition four of their pack had played for the Ireland A team in Ravenhill four days previously. But that must not take from the merit of Ballymena's win. Ballymena could now make a very stern bid to become the first Ulster club to win the first division title. Last season it was a defeat by Shannon that effectively ended Ballymena's challenge and that defeat came after a very late try that sealed Shannon's win at Thomond Park.
Defeats such as Shannon had to endure last Saturday can and have happened to many a great team in the past. What has been truly remarkable about Shannon has been the level of their consistency. Over a four-year period, Shannon had lost just four matches. The only clubs to have beaten Shannon in that period were St Mary's College, twice at Templeville Road, Young Munster and Lansdowne, last season at Lansdowne Road.
That 23-3 defeat was the biggest ever suffered by Shannon in the league since it was inaugurated eight years ago. The previous heaviest defeat they had endured was at the hands of Cork Constitution who defeated them 21-4. Ballymena is the only Ulster club to have defeated Shannon in the league. And their win last Saturday was the third time they have beaten Shannon. Their previous wins were by 12-11 and 9-6. One of those wins was at Thomond Park and the other at Eaton Park. Dungannon, Instonians and Malone, all of whom have played in the first division have never managed to beat Shannon home or away.
One other point about the results last weekend was that Garryowen, alone of the previous league winners, managed to start the campaign with a victory. Cork Constitution and Young Munster, who with Shannon and Constitution are the only clubs to have won the title, both lost.
Banbridge and Midleton will be especially pleased with what they attained last Saturday. Both are playing in the league for the first time this season and both won their first matches.
Buccaneers, too, created their own little piece of history by beating Galwegians at Keane Park last Saturday, becoming the first Connacht club to win a match in the first division. Both were promoted last season and this was the initial match in the first division for the two Connacht clubs. It was a good result for Buccaneers as the defeat to Galwegians in Glenina last season was the only defeat they suffered in the league. Galwegians went on to win the second division title with a 100 per cent record.
There should be some very interesting days ahead in the AIB League in all divisions, especially the first as the rest try to wrest the balance of power away from the Munster clubs.
