Weekend Round-Up: Back To Life, Back To The Premiership
Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass as the smoke clears from the Autumn Internationals and attention returns to Aviva Premiership and Top 14 action.
Aviva Premiership: Bath vs Saracens
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Saracens rolled up to the Rec on Saturday with an 8-1 season record and a fit-again Maro Itoje back from injury to bolster their pack. Bath haven’t been far behind Sarries this season though – in fact if they beat them the two clubs would be separated on the table only by bonus points. The home side scored first through the boot of Tom Homer, the Bath fullback trading penalties with Alex Lozowski early in the game. This pattern continued throughout the game – every time Bath edged ahead, Saracens would inevitably claw that lead back. It made for one of the more heart-in-mouth finishes the Premiership has seen this year.
Autumn Internationals: England vs Australia
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
England didn’t arrive for this game until 20 minutes after kickoff. Eddie Jones’ side started off sluggish and sloppy, desperately trying to fend off wave after wave of angry Australians. They got back into the match thanks to an offensively bad pass by Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps, who was only playing because Will Genia had been forced to return to his high-paying job at French club Stade Francais. From there, England remembered the clinical style that had propelled them to 13 wins in a row. But they still had to contend with a slightly terrifying Wallaby rally after half-time.
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Top 14: Pau vs Clermont
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Pau’s start to the season has been inconsistent to say the least; their 12th place position on the table heading into this game belies the fact they can beat anyone on their day, especially at home at Stade du Hameau. Still, few would have bet on them toppling leaders Clermont when the two sides met on Saturday. They got the best possible start with an early try to winger Watisoni Vonu after just three minutes and two more to the Kiwi pair of Colin Slade and Conrad Smith gave them a 21-17 lead at the half. But with David Strettle on fire for Clermont, it wasn’t going to be an easy lead to hold on to.
Aviva Premiership: Newcastle vs Harlequins
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
The only game of the week that featured an actual viking: Evan Olmstead took time away from raiding and pillaging villages aboard his longship to play for Newcastle in their Kingston Park contest against ‘Quins on Saturday. The aggressively hairy’s lock’s 70th minute try was one of 10 in an entertaining, back-and-forth contest that ended with only six points between the two sides. In the end, the game came down to contest between the boot of Harlequins fly-half Ruaridh Jackson and the attacking brilliance of the Falcons backs.
Comments on RugbyPass
I agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
1 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
27 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
27 Go to comments