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Southern super-powers were missed - 5 things the Autumn Nations Cup taught us
England won the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup by beating France 22-19 in an extra-time nail-biter at Twickenham.
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The competition replaced the traditional autumn visits to the northern hemisphere by the likes of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand because of travel restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from the eight-team tournament.
Winning ugly counts
Rugby Union’s entertainment value was a running theme with defence and kicking often proving the winner. The importance of the set-piece was also rammed home when England’s driving maul extended the final into extra time. Fans were mostly absent from the tournament, but some of the 2,000 allowed in for the final responded to a prolonged bout of kicking by booing. Eddie Jones described criticism of England’s style as “totally disrespectful” and added “if we don’t win, we don’t coach”. Winning ugly is clearly a beautiful thing to those involved.
May the force be with England
If excitement levels were regularly akin to a dark winter’s night, then England wing Jonny May provided the blazing summer sunshine. The Gloucester flier scored two tries in the 18-7 victory over Ireland and the second of those touchdowns – a spectacular solo effort – was among the finest scored at Twickenham. May, now joint second on England’s try list with 31, provides the rapier to formidable forward bludgeon. It is another reason why holders England are firm favourites to lift the Six Nations trophy again in 2021.
Wayne’s world not pretty
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac must have felt like King Canute as he attempted to stop a tide of criticism heading his way. Wales had lost six successive games before Georgia were overcome in Llanelli. Another defeat followed against England before the year closed with victory over Italy. Succeeding Warren Gatland was always going to be a tough ask for Pivac. But serious questions remain about the attack while the departure of defensive guru Shaun Edwards to France, and Les Bleus’ subsequent improvement in that department, rose the gnashing of teeth in Wales.
Ireland and Scotland seek consistency
There were highs for Ireland and Scotland during the autumn, but maybe not enough in the final reckoning. Ireland swept aside Wales in Dublin but were overpowered by England and floundered in victory against Georgia. Andy Farrell’s side finished on a high against Scotland by maintaining their recent dominance in the fixture. Scotland’s autumn started with three wins – including a first Six Nations win in Wales since 2002 – but ended with a Covid cancellation against Fiji and defeats to France and Ireland. Both sides will be hoping to build in 2021.
Southern super-powers were missed
The Autumn Nations Cup served its purpose by producing competitive rugby for a television audience, even if it most of it was tucked away on Amazon Prime Video. Fiji’s Covid-19 outbreak saw them play only once – a 38-24 victory over Georgia in the battle for seventh – and the tournament lost colour and verve as a result. Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, meanwhile, were engaged in an eventful Tri Nations Series which produced plenty of tries and shocks. The All Blacks came out on top, but suffered defeats to Australia and Argentina (their first to the Pumas in 30 games) and the return of the southern-hemisphere super-powers to these shores will be eagerly anticipated in 2021.
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Comments on RugbyPass
He never stops whinging. No wonder he is always chasing the next big dream.
1 Go to commentsI always enjoy a good scrum based article. Thanks, Nick. The Hurricanes are looking more and more the team to beat down here in Australasia. They are a very well balanced team. And though there are far fewer scrums in the game these days, destructive power in that area is a serious weapon, especially an attacking scrum within in the red zone. Aumua looked very good as a young first year player, but then seemed to fade. He sure is back now right in the picture for the AB’s. And I would judge that Taukei’aho is in a bit of a slump currently. Watching him at Suncorp a few weeks ago, I thought he was not as dominant in the game as I would have expected. I am going to raise an issue in that scrum at around the 13 min mark. I see a high level of danger there for the TH lifted off the ground. He is trapped between the opposition LH and his own powerful SR. His neck is being put under potentially dangerous pressure. The LH has, in law , no right to use his superior scrummaging skill….getting his head right in on the breastbone of the TH…..to force him up and off the ground. Had the TH popped out of the scrum, head up and free, there is no danger, that is a clear penalty to the dominant scrum. The law is quite clear on this issue: Law 37 Dangerous play and restricted practices in a scrum. C:Intentionally lifting an opponent off their feet or forcing them upwards out of the scrum. Sanction: Penalty. Few ,if any, referees seem to be aware of this law, and/or the dangers of the situation. Matthew Carly, refereeing Clermont v Munster in 2021, penalised the Munster scrum, when LH Wycherly was lifted very high, and in my view very dangerously, by TH Slimani. Lifting was coached in the late ‘60’s/70’s. Both Lions props, Ray McLouglin, and “Mighty Mouse” McLauchlan, were expert and highly successful at this technique. I have seen a photo, which I can’t find online atm, of MM with a NZ TH(not an AB) on his head, MM standing upright as the scrum disintegrates.
3 Go to commentsHey. Stay home and play for Mooloo.
1 Go to commentsTighthead was always going to be our weakness this year with Ryan going home to Ireland and the Cashed Up Blues taking a third All Black prop from us - nobody else in SR does that. Numia is the exciting one. He used to be a lightweight but he's really improved. Do you have stats on the All Black hookers’ lineouts for the game? I seem to remember a few misses.
3 Go to commentsFergus Burke isn't tier 1 player quality…but guess what, he'll be playing amongst them for Saracens…. all going well and Steve Borthwick is still the head coach, England...Scott Robertson’s hint of amending NZRU’s offshore AB eligibility clause, would mean that players like Josh Moorby who show potential might get a call…
4 Go to commentsThe movement of quality players back to SA is remarkable.
2 Go to commentsInteresting article, Nic. Am enjoying seeing the Rebels doing well, partly just to spite those who are working to wipe them off the face of the Australian rugby planet. But it is also good to see a team with somany good players beginning fire. LSL has benefitted so much from his move up to Northampton for the one year. I wonder why he did not stay on for another year. Does he now looks north and see his teammates of last year now doing so well, and have some regrets.
46 Go to comments“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
2 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
3 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
46 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
46 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
4 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
8 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
46 Go to comments