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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.
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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!
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Comments on RugbyPass
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
4 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
4 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
4 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
4 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to comments