Weekend Round-Up: Cards, Fightbacks, and Brief Returns
The pick of the weekend’s action from the northern hemisphere
Aviva Premiership: Newcastle Falcons v Bath
For the second week in a row, Newcastle’s Kingston Park provided the Friday-night lights for a breathtaking encounter as Dean Richards’ Falcons entertained Todd Blackadder’s Bath. The hosts were the quickest out of the blocks, with Vereniki Goneva scoring early, and threw the ball about with abandon – but the first-half was notable mostly for the wayward kicking of England fly-half George Ford, who missed his first two kicks at goal and was regularly outplayed by his less-illustrious opposite number Joel Hodgson. But the match exploded almost immediately after the restart as first the visitors stepped up a gear, then Newcastle responded to set up a dramatic finale.
Aviva Premiership: Northampton Saints v Bristol
Having watched this match, viewers who do not know the story of the English Premiership season so far would be hard-pressed to understand why Bristol are propping up the table, such was the quality of their performance against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday. For long periods, the visitors – who before Christmas were giving opponents attacking bonus points as if they were running a score-one-try-get-one-free promotion – played the brighter rugby. If Bristol keep playing rugby like this – and in Jason Woodward, they have found a gem of a player – they could even pull off arguably the greatest rugby escape.
[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473723660″]
Aviva Premiership: Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
Proof, if it was needed, that matches do not have to be high-scoring, mass-try affairs to be utterly absorbing. The English top-flight’s first red card under World Rugby’s newly toughened high tackle laws meant the champions – who were already missing the services of the Vunipola brothers, George Kruis and Owen Farrell – played with 14 men after 10 minutes. Five minutes later, they were 10-0 behind thanks to some wing-wizardry from England man Jack Nowell. And Exeter domination really should have been the story of the rest of the match – but Saracens, who have won the last four meetings between the two sides, had clearly not read the script. Or, if they had, they had thrown it out in favour of one they decided to write themselves on the spur of the moment.
Aviva Premiership: Wasps v Leicester Tigers
Half an hour into Aaron Mauger’s first game in charge of Leicester Tigers, the omens did not look good. His side were three tries and 19-0 down against a rampant Wasps at the Ricoh Arena. And what had started as a difficult day at the office against a side that was defending an 10-game unbeaten run at home looked certain to only get tougher – with James Haskell, Danny Cipriani, Joe Simpson and Rob Miller all chomping at the bit on a mighty bench. So, Mauger really should try to remember whatever it was he said in the changing room at halftime because the visitors were suddenly on the front foot and threatening from all angles. As for Haskell, brought on as Wasps were forced into desperate defence in the second half, his return from the injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the second Test of England’s tour of Australia in June lasted all of 35 seconds…
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments