Five things we learned from the Autumn Nations openers
The final autumn campaign before next year’s World Cup began in earnest as England collapsed to a shock defeat by Argentina, Wales crumbled before New Zealand and Ireland and Scotland produced wins against South Africa and Fiji respectively.
Here, the PA news agency examines five things we learned from the weekend.
Argentina expose repeat failings
An air of weary resignation greeted England’s fifth defeat in nine Tests this year after the Pumas emerged worthy 30-29 winners. The last time Argentina prevailed at Twickenham in 2006 Andy Robinson was sacked as head coach, but there are few scenarios in which Eddie Jones departs before next year’s World Cup due to the unequivocal backing he receives from the Rugby Football Union. This first defeat in the fixture since 2009 having amassed 10 successive wins was dire, however, and exposed failings in discipline, attack and selection – recurring issues of recent times that must be urgently addressed.
JVP’s time to shine
Jack van Poortvliet was on the pitch for only 29 seconds when he made a crucial intervention to halt Argentina’s momentum in the wake of quickfire tries from Emiliano Boffelli and Santiago Carreras. Using his vision and acceleration, he leapt on a defensive lapse to race over for a score that propelled England back into contention. Jones has chopped and changed at scrum-half, both the individuals and the overall strategy for the position, but it is time for the 21-year-old rookie to be made a permanent fixture in the starting jersey as the World Cup looms just 12 Tests away.
Europe leads the way
The year is almost over yet France and Ireland are inseparable when deciding the best performing team of 2022. Andy Farrell’s men toppled world champions South Africa 19-16 to follow up their historic series win in New Zealand in July, preserving their place at the summit of the global rankings. France, meanwhile, are the Grand Slam champions and by edging Australia 30-29 on Saturday amassed an 11th successive win. The Springboks head to Paris and the Wallabies to Dublin in fixtures that could identify who heads into 2023 as the game’s dominant force, although France might justifiably state that their 30-24 victory over Ireland in February settles the debate.
Russell’s Scotland saga continues
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is in a mess of his own making, his decision to omit Finn Russell from his squad for the autumn now looking ill-advised as he has had to perform a U-turn in the wake of the head and knee injuries sustained by Adam Hastings against Fiji. Townsend has endured a patchy relationship with the nation’s most creative player but having justified Russell’s omission on the grounds of “form and consistency”, he has had to eat humble pie and recall the mercurial Racing 92 fly-half. Russell comes with baggage, but he is also too gifted to be left out.
Wales on the slide
The statistics paint a damning picture. Wales fell to their 33rd successive defeat to New Zealand, lost the try count 8-2 and in the process leaked 55 points – the most they have conceded in Cardiff against any side in 138 years. Easier challenges come next in the shape of Argentina, Georgia and Australia but pressure is beginning to mount on Wayne Pivac, who has engineered only two wins in nine outings against Rugby Championship sides. Compounding matters, the All Blacks were efficient and tidy but hardly exceptional.
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments