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England's other giant Pacific Island No.8 wants his jersey back
The Bristol Bears pulled off a sensational victory against the Exeter Chiefs on Sunday, fighting back from a 17-0 deficit at halftime to score the match-winning try in the final play of the game.
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The 20-17 victory at Sandy Park puts Pat Lam’s side at the top of the Gallagher Premiership table and establishes them as a force to be reckoned with this season.
In order to mount such a comeback against such a formidable side, there had to be some standout performances, and man of the match Nathan Hughes spearheaded Bristol’s resurgence.
The no.8 picked up his second man of the match award in just four games, and is proving to be one of the shrewdest signings of the season.
The loose forward was not playing badly when he left Wasps last season, but he looks reinvigorated this season, and perhaps more dynamic than he has been in the past. Last season was particularly unfortunate for the 28-year-old, though, as he missed out on Eddie Jones’ England squad for the Rugby World Cup.
Hughes was a mainstay in the England squad for three years after making his debut in 2016, but with Billy Vunipola in the squad, Jones opted not to take another no8 specialist to Japan. However, given his form so far this season, Hughes is forcing the Australian to reconsider his squad.
https://twitter.com/kill_frost/status/1193581399082749953?s=20
Nathan Hughes has to be back in the England squad.
— Ben Brookes (@SameOldBrookesy) November 10, 2019
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The Six Nations is still almost three months away, and a lot can happen before then, but if Hughes’ form continues, it will be hard to ignore him. There was always a case that he never truly seized his place in the England squad during his 20 caps, and that Jones’ style doesn’t necessarily suit the way he plays, but all he can do now is maintain the level he is playing at Ashton Gate.
Nathan Hughes back in England contention?
— Abiola (@AbiolaHP) November 10, 2019
After his display against last season’s runners-up, particularly his 18 carries, calls are mounting for the no8’s return to the national fold, although he will face stiff competition in what looks to be the most competitive area in the England squad.
Not only was another England rival, Sam Simmonds, packing down opposite him at no.8 for Exeter, but the depth of talent in the back row across the Premiership is astounding currently, so it will not be easy to break into the squad, particularly as every member of England’s back row at the RWC played an important part.
https://twitter.com/bob_rcurry/status/1193576648416923649?s=20
@btsportrugby What a great comeback. Chiefs overwhelmed by a determined Bears. Luatua and Lam are the best influencers in the Prem. Nathan Hughes is just a monster. #gptonight
— Chris G??? (@brisbrom) November 10, 2019
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There is always the possibility that Hughes could operate as a blindside flanker alongside Vunipola, which is an idea that has been flirted with in the past. But as it stands, Jones’ ‘Kamikazee Kids’ Tom Curry, 21, and Sam Underhill, 23, look set to occupy either side of the scrum for a while. Breaking such a mobile and effective partnership, particularly for someone so stylistically different as Hughes, seems unimaginable, but Jones is always the pragmatist, and often picks his sides based on the opposition.
All the towering no8 can do is keep performing at the level he has for Bristol this season, and he could be in luck come January.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould'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.
30 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.
30 Go to comments