This Week's Biggest Matches On Rugby Pass
We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend, including the battle for the NRL Minor Premiership, the only unbeaten team in the Top 14 against the defending champs, and the start of the Aviva Premiership.
NRL: Storm vs Sharks (Saturday September 3, 5:30pm HKT)
Everything fell into place perfectly last weekend to set up a battle for the Minor Premiership on Saturday night. First the Storm fell 26-16 to a Broncos side who look to be coming back into form at just the right time, then the Sharks recovered from an early 12-0 deficit to smash the Roosters 37-12 and get their season facing back in the direction. That leaves the Storm on 40 points and the Sharks with 39 going into the final round, and sets up a huge match to end the regular season at AAMI Stadium. Minor Premiership aside, the Sharks have the bigger incentive to win: if they don’t, and the Raiders beat the Tigers, they could drop to 3rd and find themselves facing the prospect of a first round playoff match in Canberra.
NRL: Tigers vs Raiders (Sunday September 4, 12:05pm HKT)
Both teams will know exactly what is on the line by the time they run out on Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers need the Cowboys to beat the Titans on Saturday to have any chance of sneaking into the top 8 with a win here, while the Raiders will be hoping the Storm beat the Sharks. That would mean a win here would almost certainly propel them into 2nd place and secure them home advantage at their ice fortress GIO Stadium for Week 1 of the finals. The Raiders are on a 9 game winning streak and look more and more like a Premiership side each week, so whatever the permutations the Tigers will have their work cut out.
Aviva Premiership: Wasps vs Chiefs (Sunday September 4, 10:00pm HKT)
The Aviva Premiership season kicks off this weekend with a rematch of the 2015-16 semifinal as Wasps host Exeter Chiefs at Ricoh Arena. These two sides had some classic skirmishes last season – Wasps knocked Exeter out of the Champions Cup quarterfinals before Chiefs returned the favour in the Premiership semis. On both occasions it was the home side that emerged victorious, and provided Wasps’ dynamic backline clicks into place they should be the favourites to continue that trend and get their season off to a flying start.
Top 14: Bordeaux vs Montpellier (Sunday September 4, 10:15pm HKT)
Bordeaux and Montpellier both went close to big wins last weekend but came away with only a bonus point each to show from it. Bordeaux went down 22-17 to Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon with a converted Julien Marchand try late in the game proving the difference for the home side, while Montpellier outscored Clermont three tries to two but couldn’t get the win, going down 26-22 at home. Between them they have just one win from four games so far this season – Bordeaux beating Racing 92 in Round 1 – and while the season is still young, both will be targeting this as an important match.
Top 14: Racing 92 vs Toulouse (Monday September 5, 3:00am HKT)
The defending champions against the only unbeaten side in the Top 14 this season. While Racing recovered from their first round loss to Bordeaux with a 29-16 win over Lyon last weekend, Toulouse kept rolling by beating Bordeaux 22-17 to add to their opening round win over Montpellier. History suggests this is Racing 92’s for the taking, based solely on home advantage: you have to go back six games, to 2014, to find the last time the away side won a Racing 92 vs Toulouse game – and of all 16 fixtures dating back to 2010, only three have been won by the away side. Bon chance Toulouse!
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
26 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments