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We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend, including an emotional match for Munster, a record-setting match for the All Blacks and the Currie Cup decider.
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Bledisloe Cup: New Zealand vs Australia (Saturday October 22, 2:35pm HKT)
The Bledisloe Cup may already be locked away in the NZ Rugby trophy cabinet for yet another year but the third test still has a fair bit on the line. The All Blacks are going for their 18th consecutive test win, which would break the record winning streak by a top tier nation – a record currently shared by the ‘65-’69 and ‘13-’14 All Blacks and the ‘97-’98 Springboks. The odds, form and history books are all stacked in favour of the home side – the All Blacks aced the Rugby Championship with six-from-six bonus point wins, and haven’t lost a game at Eden Park since 1994.
Champions Cup: Munster vs Glasgow (Saturday October 22, 8:00pm HKT)
Emotions will be running high at Thomond Park on Saturday when Munster play their first game since the shocking, tragic death of coach Anthony Foley in Paris last weekend. Their game against Racing 92 was rightfully postponed, whereas Pool 1 rivals Glasgow Warriors come into the match in prime form after a record 42-13 win over Leicester Tigers last weekend. But buoyed by a passionate home crowd expect Munster to leave nothing in reserve as they play to honour their talismanic leader.
Currie Cup: Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls (Saturday October 22, 10:00pm HKT)
The Free State Cheetahs put last year’s Currie Cup champion Golden Lions to the sword in their semifinal last weekend, keeping their perfect season alive with a 55-17 win which included a hat trick to Sergeal Petersen. The Blue Bulls’ path to the final was tougher, taking a 78th minute try from Ivan van Zyl to see them past Western Province, while lock RG Snyman left the game with a fractured skull. Unsurprisingly he’s out this weekend as the Bulls look to pull the rug from under the rampant Cheetahs. Both teams are competing in their first final since 2009, when the Blue Bulls won in Pretoria.
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Mitre 10 Cup: Canterbury vs Counties Manukau (Sunday October 23, 9:05am HKT)
They were shown up last weekend but Canterbury are still runaway favourites to win the Mitre 10 Cup title again this year – it takes more than one loss to dent their impressive record. Counties are having one of their best seasons since the glory days when Lomu and Vidiri prowled the wings, and they ran the defending champs ragged in the second half in Pukekohe. Can they do it a second week in a row, this time in Christchurch with a parochial crowd of Cantabs in the referee’s ear all game? The odds are against them, but what a glorious upset it would be.
Champions Cup: Leicester vs Racing 92 (Monday October 24, 12:30am HKT)
Leicester’s loss to Glasgow last weekend came as something of a surprise. Not so much the result – Warriors are a good side, and especially formidable at home – but the way in which it was achieved. With a final score of 42-13 the Tigers left Scotland on the wrong end of a hiding. Back at Welford Road this weekend, they face a Racing 92 side who are struggling to get back to the form which saw them win the Top 14 and reach the final of last year’s Champions Cup. A win here would put Tigers back on track and avenge their 19-16 semifinal loss to the Parisian club earlier this year.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments