It\u2019s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons after the weekend.<\/p>\n
THEY\u2019RE ON FIRE!<\/p>\n
Bomb Squads: The Springboks<\/a> were trailblazers with their use of the bench in 2019, but the craze has very much gone global since, with the importance of the eight on the bench just as crucial as the 15 starters. This weekend\u2019s international rugby provided no better example of just how crucial the bench has become, with the Springboks, All Blacks and England<\/a> benefitting from the firepower off the pine. Unlike the rest, New Zealand did not back the 6-2 split, but the impact of Leicester Fainga\u02bbanuku, Wallace Sititi, Damian McKenzie and Tamaiti Williams were no less telling in Chicago.<\/p>\n All Blacks<\/a> get revenge: New Zealand banished the demons of 2016 in an aptly named \u2018The Rematch\u2019 in Chicago on Saturday with Scott Robertson\u2019s charges claiming a compelling 26-13 victory over Ireland. As was the case nine years ago, the All Blacks were favourites heading into the clash but this time around they rose to the occasion with Ardie Savea, Williams, Cameron Roigard and Sititi crossing for tries.<\/p>\n Springboks hammer Japan: Following a similar theme, Rassie Erasmus\u2019 charges emphatically put Eddie Jones\u2019 Japan to the sword at Wembley Stadium, with the Brave Blossoms never really threatening another miracle. The double World Cup winners ran in nine tries, controlled proceedings and made light work of the Test match, cruising to a 61-7 win.<\/p>\n Springboks v Japan: Winners and losers as Rassie Erasmus has \u2018decision to make\u2019 with Cheslin Kolbe experiment yielding mixed results<\/a><\/p>\n High-flying Scots: Over in Murrayfield, Scotland also made light work of the USA Eagles with Darcy Graham and Jamie Dobie notching hat-tricks while Duhan van der Merwe claimed a brace. Dylan Richardson, Stafford McDowall, George Horne, Ollie Smith, and Kyle Rowe\u2019s tries further bloated the scoreline in what was hardly a contest. How good a preparation that training run was for the challenge of the All Blacks will only be evident on Saturday.<\/p>\n Pau continue strong start: While the rest of the rugby competitions around the world are on pause, the Top 14 continues to rumble on and produce surprises; perhaps none so as much as Pau, who have been simply excellent after nine rounds of action. After finishing eighth overall last season, they have failed to win just three times this campaign and trail table-toppers Toulouse by a single league point. Pau\u2019s 27-23 victory over Perpignan this weekend was far from pretty, but a win is a win..<\/p>\n Ireland v All Blacks: Winners and losers including the real \u2019embarrassment\u2019 and \u2018classy\u2019 Beauden Barrett<\/a><\/p>\n COLD AS ICE!<\/p>\n Jan-Hendrik Wessels\u2019 ban: What a mess. The Bulls and Springboks forward\u2019s suspension was officially confirmed last week, with Wessels failing to appeal the ban, which was reduced by a single match. This, despite there being no video evidence that he groped Connacht\u2019s Josh Murphy. All in all, it was a disastrous series of events that was drawn out for far longer than it should have been, and the fact that Murphy\u2019s red card was rescinded despite clearly punching Wessels only adds to the shambolic nature of it all.<\/p>\n John Plumtree shown the door, sort of: Frankly, it was a long time coming and will be when it\u2019s finally completed. The Sharks have underperformed for too long, considering the quality of their squad and resources. Plumtree will continue on in Durban until the end of the season, with the Sharks not making a rash decision as they begin the search for his successor.<\/p>\n