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Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass as England look to extend their winning streak to 12 against Argentina and Ireland look to add the Wallabies to their list of Southern Hemisphere scalps.
Autumn International: England vs Argentina
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
This game was shaped by something that happened after only four minutes. Elliot Daly became the first England player to be sent off in 11 years when he had what seemed to be a series of mini-strokes and decided it would be a good idea to tackle Leonardo Senatore while he was claiming the ball about a metre-and-a-half off the ground. His send-off paved the way for a different kind of England performance than the one Eddie Jones would have envisioned. A tenacious defensive effort and was needed to keep the game competitive, with England only just clinging to the lead going into the final 20 minutes.
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Autumn International: Australia vs Ireland
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Australia came into this game hoping to keep their Grand Slam hopes alive. Ireland wanted to claim another Southern Hemisphere superpower scalp for 2016 after beating the Springboks in June and the All Blacks in Chicago three weeks ago. It was the Irish who started out better, forcing the Wallabies into some desperate defence inside their own 22, and prompting a stressed-out Dean Mumm to dump 134kg Tadhg Furlong on his head. But the Wallabies fought back through the frankly frightening running of Sefa Naivalu, and the unerringly accurate kicking of Bernard Foley. The game was within one with 10 minutes left, setting the stage for one of the best finishing stanzas of the Autumn season.
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Autumn International: France vs New Zealand
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
OK, so the All Blacks away kit didn’t look thaaat bad. In fact it almost looked kind of good on Julian Savea as he leapt to pluck Beauden Barrett’s cross-field kick out of the air on the touchline before setting Israel Dagg up for the first try of the game after seven minutes. As we’ve seen all autumn, though, an early All Blacks try doesn’t signal the opening of the floodgates any more; the rest of the half was tough and physical as France dominated possession but couldn’t cross the tryline. Instead they relied on frequent penalty kicks to keep in touch and set up a tense final 20 minutes.
Harlequins vs Bath
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
FYI: the Aviva Premiership is still going. Harlequins and Bath played a nail-biting match on Sunday. ‘Quins got out to an early lead only to be pegged back and eventually overtaken by the 3rd-placed side. The game turned on the play of Tim Swiel, who arrived on the field in the 20th minute as a blood replacement and ended up staying for the rest of the match, paving the way for some heroics in the last six minutes.
Comments on RugbyPass
I question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
2 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
2 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to comments