Weekend Round-Up: Is This England's New Starting Test Winger?
Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass, from the return to Aviva Premiership and Pro12 to the end of the Mitre 10 Cup and the start of Four Nations rugby league.
Aviva Premiership: Exeter vs Bath
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Seeing Semesa Rokoduguni’s name on the England squad list for the Autumn Internationals was pleasing but no surprise – the colossal Fijian-born winger been in devastating form for Bath all season. He didn’t get many touches in the first half against Chiefs on a crisp Autumn afternoon at Sandy Park, with the home side going to the break holding a 3-0 lead. The game opened up a bit late in the second half though and Rokoduguni was able to link up with England teammate George Ford for a glimpse of what could we could see in the white jersey in the coming month.
Mitre 10 Cup: Otago vs North Harbour
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
The Mitre 10 Cup Championship final lived up to its promise but not in the way many were expecting. After ten weeks of free-wheeling high-scoring rugby this was something of a 180 – a classic tight, tough game of finals footy. Otago got first points on the board when Fa’asiu Fuatai crossed for a well-executed try after just two minutes but from there it was all arm-wrestle, one that didn’t let up until the final whistle.
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Pro 12: Ulster vs Munster
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
If Munster looked a little low on energy in the first half at Kingspan it was easy to understand why – their Champions Cup win over Glasgow the previous weekend was played with a rare intensity. Heading into halftime Ulster were up 14-0 through tries to Charles Piutau and Rob Lyttle, but a try on 40 minutes let the visitors back into the game, setting up a tense second half.
Four Nations: England vs New Zealand
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
New Zealand’s record in rugby league internationals on English soil is patchy to say the least – you only need to go back to last year’s 2-1 series loss to see that this was going to be a tricky assignment first-up. Both sides looked a little short of match practice in the early exchanges – the Kiwis took the early lead through Raiders winger Jordan Rapana but England quickly struck back as the game grew into an engrossing battle.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to comments