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FranceJapanScotlandWorcesterJim Hamilton

The Goode, the Bad & the Ugly

By Rugby Pod

From Scotland and Worcester to Sekope Kepu’s shoulder and Guy Noves’ faltering France, with an American assault and a very Gallic touchline tussle thrown in for good measure…The Rugby Pod’s Andy Goode & Jim Hamilton wrap up all that’s been Goode, Bad and Ugly this week in the world of rugby.

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Latest Features

LONG READ

Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

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LONG READ

'No scrum, no win' - Why props could become rugby's new poster boys

The front-row juggernauts are big athletes with big personalities, and a job which requires brain as well as brawn.

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Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

Joe Schmidt needs time - and patience - to mould and tutor his shiny new rugby league recruit.

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Ardy 32 minutes ago
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Will Skelton headline Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad

Who else is there? 64 is a large contingent then add on injured and who's left?

4 Go to comments
l
liam 32 minutes ago
Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

Fiji made the rwc quarter finals twice before 2023 in 1987 and 2007 along with the quarter final playoffs in 1999. Surely the writer can't forget one of the greatest ever games when fiji knocked out wales in 2007

8 Go to comments
B
Bob Salad II 37 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

1. NZ has had time to play together and are likely more settled than England;

Coming off a recent Rugby Championship sure, but I'm not sure England have the selection problems the ABs have.

2. Especially after England's management problems - which must be disruptive (despite it being swept under the carpet or downplayed);

Or being overplayed. Bottom line is, Borthwick is still early in his England career as are his support staff. it's not as if the coaching team had been in place for 3 or 4 years.

3. NZ, despite their performances this year, have a very good pack which I think overall are better (but I guess this is subjective);

They do have a good pack and probably a better front 3, but England have great strength at lock and in the loose forwards, so I'm not sure I agree that the NZ 'pack' are better.

4. England won't have their 1st choice 9 & 10 available;

Marcus Smith is England's first choice 10 and he is available. Spencer - arguably England's #2 scrum half, will most likely start with Randall on the bench. Think there's more question marks over who's starting at 13 for England. Who's NZ first choice 10 these days?

5. On paper, the ABS have better and more experienced players across the squad.

In terms of caps, probably. But again, how long have this ABs team been playing together? Hasn't Robertson been trying new combinations out etc? Who's the starting 10/9 etc? Do the ABs have a settled lock pairing? This is hardly a vintage NZ squad and from what I've been reading, there seems to a fair amount of uncertainty within the NZ camp over who the best starting 15 currently are. In contrast, the bulk of Borthwick's side are - injuries aside, largely known.


One final point is tries scored. Across the last 6 games, NZ have scored 22 to England's 21. Pretty sure you'd have to trawl the record books pretty deeply to find a comparable data set.


And yeah, England are also at home.

38 Go to comments
d
dw 37 minutes ago
Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

Glad you pointed out the absurdity of the Mclennan comments. After ruining 2023 for us all he still is at it.


Totally agree re giving Joseph time to find his position and relearn the game he played as a kid. Are you confident both Joe Schmidt and Dan Mackellar will.manage this well? The media here will likely just be reporting on Joseph's every move and ignoring the other players

22 Go to comments
J
JK 52 minutes ago
Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

no

8 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 1 hour ago
RG Snyman names 'unbelievable' difference between Leinster and Munster

Sacks more cash than any other province in Ireland and they spend it on developing and acquiring players. Quel surprise…

2 Go to comments
B
Bob Salad II 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Are these the same rankings that saw the 6th ranked team beat the 2nd and 3rd recently?

38 Go to comments
C
Cosmo 1 hour ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

POM (big angry lawn mowing bully) got paid back for his his big mouth spray on Sam Cane by first being outplayed by Sam Cane in the quarter final of last year's world cup, & then being on the losing side. BR comment was totally justified, insulting his captain was not a good idea after all 😂

120 Go to comments
C
Cosmo 1 hour ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

Well it's good news that Robbie's head grew back.! Also, you've a bit of a contradiction going on there, if Dane Coles reacted to Sexton's big petulant gob, that would suggest Sexton instigated it would it not.? Also, do you remember Heaslip getting red carded for kneeing Ritchie McCaw in the head 3 times back in 2010.? There's been bad blood between these 2 teams for some time really, long may it continue.!

120 Go to comments
D
Derek Murray 1 hour ago
Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

And LSL. He was excellent this season

22 Go to comments
D
Derek Murray 1 hour ago
Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

I agree those two would have strengthened the squad. A lock squad over 4 tests of LSL, Skelton, Rodda and Frost is serious

22 Go to comments
f
frandinand 2 hours ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

Did you see any of his NPC games Nick. His form was very average. He was playing in a weaker pack and when the going got tough he went missing. That has been a consistent criticism of his game over the years. He looked very good for the Blues but they had the dominant pack in every game the only exception being the game against the Crusaders. And that was the game that Sotutu went missing.

120 Go to comments
f
frandinand 2 hours ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

Waiting for the comment from Forward Pass.

120 Go to comments
f
frandinand 2 hours ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

It's obvious. Queensland.

120 Go to comments
D
DG 2 hours ago
'No scrum, no win' - Why props could become rugby's new poster boys

You're right. That's really fair feedback.


Not that it makes up for the oversight here but I'll use this as a chance to give this a nudge: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/if-i-lose-my-position-if-i-lose-my-contract-my-family-wont-eat/

4 Go to comments
J
JWH 2 hours ago
Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

They would just be adding tests, not remov9ng any, so they would be making more money. Plus, they make a lot playing japan every time. That's why they do it so much

8 Go to comments
M
MC 2 hours ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

Agree regarding SA, now that the entire nation has taken to rugby. But also agree with TK regarding NZ. They are there or thereabout and only a few games into the new management system. It will be interesting to see if Ireland can sustain their recent performance, as an Irish fan I hope they can because they are bringing immense pleasure to supporters like me who remember the 70's, 80's etc. But we'll have to wait and see. SA could very well be the dominant force for some time. But hopefully we'll have a situation like it is today where any one of 5 or hopefully more are capable of winning.

120 Go to comments
P
Poorfour 2 hours ago
'No scrum, no win' - Why props could become rugby's new poster boys

Great article and good to see the front row getting their due. It’s no accident that the last two men’s RWCs have been won by the team with two complete front rows that would walk into most of their opponents’ starting XVs.


But it’d be nice if it had considered the women’s game as well - to take just two examples, Sarah Bern is one of the most complete rugby players ever to play the game, and yet Maud Muir is justifiably keeping her on the bench.

4 Go to comments
M
MC 2 hours ago
Bad blood swirls as the All Blacks head north

I recall NZ being the butt of a lot of WC jokes after the first in 1987 up to 2011 as they kept getting knocked out despite being favourites in many cases, glass houses and all that. You'd think that after being subjected to it you might be a little bit reluctant to dish it out, but I would guess that's just a reflection on the individuals concerned.

120 Go to comments
A
AJ 2 hours ago
Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

It's definitely time we see All blacks bring change to their calendar. AB's for last 15 years now have been versing mainly 'traditional' sides and been too conservative. Regularly seeing AB's do once off 4 year period or don't at all verse sides like Tonga, Samoa, Georgia, Japan, Uruguay and 8th Ranked Europe team. They should be playing all these sides every 4 years! Watching the AB's is boring watching likes of Ireland, Wales, France on regular basis! Lastly watching the AB's vs Springboks feels meaningless since they're both in Rugby Championship when they are competing with Australia & Argentina too.


If the AB's were versing Springboks outside of Rugby Championship every year, replacing it with Freedom Cup, Doesn't make sense to be playing it in Rugby Championship! AB's vs Springboks outside Rugby Championship makes more sense, would bring more meaning, would strengthen the rivalry between them, reach out new audiences, bring understanding of significance between them, become like State of Origin of rugby union and grow rugby game overall! Makes total sense if we swapped out Springboks(move to Six Nations) with Fiji in Rugby Championship. All Blacks calendar really needs to change too!


AB's top 'Marquee Players' (Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Rieko Ioane) should only be selected for matches against top 8 ranked teams and not feature in Rugby Championship which prevents next generation of players(Stephen Perofeta, Noah Hotham, Dalton Papalii, Samipeni Finau, Billy Proctor) properly developing to their true form on international level.

8 Go to comments
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