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Weekend Round-Up: Fight At The Top Of The Premiership Table

Tom Cruse

Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass, including defending Premiership champions Saracens hosting undefeated Wasps, defending Pro12 champions Connacht facing undefeated Ulster, the Paris derby and the end of the Rugby Championship.

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Aviva Premiership: Saracens vs Wasps
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Undefeated Premiership leaders Wasps buzzed into Allianz Park on Sunday with a chance to establish themselves as the new elite of English rugby against defending champs Saracens. For members of both teams this was also a chance to put their hands up for England selection ahead of the November internationals. After an enjoyable and evenly-fought first half one man in particular came off the bench and gave Eddie Jones and co some serious food for thought with a game-turning brace of tries.

TRC: South Africa vs New Zealand
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
The All Blacks got into Bonus Point position just after half time with their third try scored by Israel Dagg – his second of the night. But regular penalties from the boot of Morne Steyn and a shocking night at the tee from Beauden Barrett kept the Springboks in touching distance, and even after Barrett crossed the line for his side’s fourth try the Springboks only trailed by 7 points. Would the last 30 minutes of the Rugby Championship for these two sides see a South African comeback or the All Blacks hold on to complete a perfect tournament?

 
NOVINTLBANNER

 

Top 14: Racing 92 vs Stade Francais
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
The Paris derby at Stade Yves Du Manoir saw a struggling Racing 92 host a Stade Francais side coming in hot off a win against La Rochelle last weekend. An early and typically predatory try to Juan Imhoff was ruled out by frequent penalties from the boot of Stade’s Julien Dupuy before Julien Arias crossed just before halftime to give the visitors the lead at the break. But a tense second half which saw yellow cards dished to both sides ended up going right down to the wire.

Pro12: Connacht vs Ulster
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Ulster travelled south for Friday night’s game against Connacht as the only remaining unbeaten team in the Guinness Pro12 through the first five rounds of the season. The defending champions had only one win to their name, but when Jack Carty crossed for a try inside two minutes to give them a lead they would carry into halftime, it looked like this could be the night they turned their season around.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
All Black star Richie Mo'unga stuck in stalemate in Japan

Richie is a great passer too, don't get me wrong. But if I'm picking Mo'unga's direct attack were he threatened the desences in 23' by having the ball in both hands, or Dmac's 24' backline where theyre super deep and he has to run sideways doing skip passes, I choose the 23 backline.


As a first five, Dmac has no threat on the carry, he's too small to bust through, that's why you don't see him try it like Mo'unga does. Dmac can still try to carry (when he should just give it to someone else) as his bailout option when under pressure, but thankfully with the forward dominance it's not so much an occurrence/issue.


Somehow Spew, but we haven't seen that because of the Dmac issue I outlined. It's generally the 10 that doubles around. I don't trust Jordies instincts at doing it either, even in his role of laying it back I don't think he's the one. So while I agree it's a powerful attacking play I don't think it's an option for the All Blacks either. Rieko just hasn't been able to catch the ball, it's pretty much his only problem. You can't see that changing though. I'd imagine they just can that play as something theyre not capable of too rather than change people in and out.


I perhaps go for something more simple, like runners from deep coming into the line at different angles. No so much about width like they were last year, just simple inside or out passes to Clarke/Jordan/Telea straitening the line. We want to see something different happen this year because if its the same I think we'll all be calling for heads again.

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