Autumn Rugby Internationals 2021

[Elpenor]

A more competitive game wouldn't hurt. The commentators pointed out that some of their players hadn't even played competitive club rugby in that time.

so, yeah.

Not sure how much I believe that. NZ domestic rugby has been going on for much of the pandemic and that would include women’s games - must admit I don’t know what their league structure is though. They’ve not played any international games however, that is true.

I enjoyed what I saw of the game at Sandy Park. Backing up the result this week will be a strong showing to the rest of the world.

Of the men’s games - I’m looking forward to Scotland v Australia on Sunday, and Wales v South Africa on Saturday as these will probably be the closest games. England and New Zealand will probably run up cricket scores.

 

[mx wcfc]

Not sure how much I believe that. NZ domestic rugby has been going on for much of the pandemic and that would include women’s games - must admit I don’t know what their league structure is though. They’ve not played any international games however, that is true.

I enjoyed what I saw of the game at Sandy Park. Backing up the result this week will be a strong showing to the rest of the world.

Of the men’s games - I’m looking forward to Scotland v Australia on Sunday, and Wales v South Africa on Saturday as these will probably be the closest games. England and New Zealand will probably run up cricket scores.

Just commenting on what the commentator said - iirc, a lot of the Ferns play for Auckland, which was locked down longer, so they've played less.

Yes, agreed, the England and All Blacks games are "unlikely to be close".

I love to watch running rugby, and Tonga excel at that. I'd love to see them run the ball and take us close. Actually, if they beat England with a running and passing game, I'd be delighted. Unlikely though, I know.

 

[Elpenor]

England may not be starting with Marcus Smith who has a knock. Bit of a blow if he doesn’t play.

 

[two sheds]

Anyway, came on here to say finally got to watch Roses v Ferns and it was pretty entertaining, whole match is on iPlayer. Gutted I couldn't go in the end, I was bloody ill. Still, good turnout and some cracking tries, Ferns were as rusty as you'd expect, here's hoping next week they are better.
Very pleased to see the return of Sarah Bern my favourite ex-flanker turned prop. Who makes that transition?! No-one but her and she's awesome.

Ta for that I'd meant to watch it yep really good game with some excellent tries.

 

[fucthest8]

Well, that's not good. Jones needs surgery on his shoulder

E2A: and Moriarty needs surgery too.

What's the Wales squad looking like for Saturday now? Like Elpenor I'd been hoping for a good game, but is it basically still the reserves squad?

 

[two sheds]

Well, that's not good. Jones needs surgery on his shoulder

Wyn Jones?

Yeh it looked bad as he went off didn't look like he got his head wrong side in the tackle though.

 

[Elpenor]

I think Wales will be slightly stronger with Biggar back at 10, mind you he didn’t exactly impress with the Lions. Louis Rees-Zammit will be on the wing, Sanjay Williams at full back perhaps.

Wales’ main issue is injuries and a lack of depth. They’ve got a first XV to match more or less anyone but they’re horribly weak beyond that.

 

[Elpenor]

A great weekend of ruggers ahead.

1pm - Channel 4

Ireland v Japan is probably not the banana skin it was at the World Cup, given they comprehensively beat them this summer too, but let’s see. 100 caps for Grandad Sexton, the team is mostly Leinster players (13) so there can be no excuses. Ireland by 15-20 points.

At the same time on Prime, New Zealand play Italy with what is mostly a B team, with Richie Mouanga back at 10 pulling the strings. George Bridge on the wing is a player I’m a huge fan of. NZ by 35-40 points.

3:15, Amazon Prime

England may be without Owen Farrell who has covid (don’t all cheer). If he’s not fit, it looks like a not fully fit Marcus Smith may start which is basically what the whole country wanted to see anyway, but Eddie Jones knows better. Looking forward to see what the lad Radwan does on the wing, and Alexs Dombrandt and Mitchell do from the bench. Tonga will be stronger than last week but will not provide much resistance if England click as this is more or less their first choice team. I do like Telusa Veianu at full back, he spent 5 years at Leicester and is a smooth runner. England by 45-50.

5:30, Amazon Prime

Wales v South Africa. This game is typically a turgid affair, see the World Cup Semi final, any game in the Gatland era and even this summers lions tour. I’m half tempted not to watch. I expect a still weakened Wales team to lose by 10-15 points.

I don’t know much about France v Argentina at 8pm and I may be rugbied out by then. I’d be surprised if France lose, but will laugh if they do!

Sunday

2:15pm, Amazon Prime

Scotland v Australia is the game of the weekend for me. Scotland welcome back their overseas players with Hogg, Russell etc and have 5 of this summers Lions test caps in their backline - though it’s debatable how much of a good thing that is. Australia have former wunderkind, now elder statesman utility back James OConnor at 10, who tends to blow hot or cold. The matchup with Russell is intriguing. It’s a shame Quade Cooper is in Japan and not at Murrayfield. There are exciting outside backs in Andrew Kellaway at full back who has scored 8 tries since his debut this summer, and Jordan Petaiaia on the wing. Australia are on a 5 match winning streak including 2 victories over world champions South Africa. It’ll be close but I think Scotland will have targeted this game and will win by less than a score.

2:30pm, BBC2

The sole terrestrial game England’s women take on New Zealand again. I don’t think it will be such a high margin of victory as New Zealand will want to put a better account of themselves and their fitness must have improved. I’m going England by 10-15.

 

[two sheds]

Fucking Amazon Prime

but ta

 

[Elpenor]

The same pitch invader for the Japanese anthem as last week for Wales v New Zealand.

Gosh aren’t youtubers absolute jokers

 

[two sheds]

ta again - hadn't realized it actually started at 1 o'clock

 

[Elpenor]

4 New players born in New Zealand in the Irish team.

Japan have none I think, but they do have a handful of Aussies and Saffers.

Not keen on the former mercenary gun for hire international qualification rules. Thankfully the residency rule is now 5 years.

 

[starfish]

The same pitch invader for the Japanese anthem as last week for Wales v New Zealand.

Gosh aren’t youtubers absolute jokers

I thought there was something odd about the ABs when they were lined up for the anthems last week. Some bloke with 69 on his jersey! And one of the ABs female backroom staff trying to pull him out of the line up. Dont recall any mention of it though.

 

[Carvaged]

4 New players born in New Zealand in the Irish team.

Japan have none I think, but they do have a handful of Aussies and Saffers.

Not keen on the former mercenary gun for hire international qualification rules. Thankfully the residency rule is now 5 years.

Yeah it was getting ridiculous. 5 years does at least make 'national' teams seem somewhat more meaningful.

 

[Elpenor]

Rather impressed with the Georgian ref in Ireland v Japan, the first ref from a tier 2 country to referee a tier 1 match apparently.

England have announced that Owen Farrell still has covid so George Furbank, nominally a full back is at 10. He has played 10 a few times for his club. Fellow Northampton player Courtney Lawes captains England. Uncapped Mark Atkinson is on the bench, along with Marcus Smith. These late changes make the England game more interesting than it might have been.

 

[Elpenor]

I think I prefer the Tonga Haka as it’s briefer, and a lot better than the New Zealand one

 

[Elpenor]

I’m liking what I’ve seen of England v Tonga, nice to see a line break from Furbank, when has Farrell ever made one? Superb tackle by captain Courtney too.

Looking forward to seeing what happens when the bench is emptied in the second half.

 

[Elpenor]

England made fairly light work of Tonga. Like what I saw of Atkinson, Radwan, Smith and Dombrandt.

Now for Wales v South Africa. Probably the two best anthems in world rugby.

 

[Elpenor]

Dour game so far. Both teams thrive in an arm wrestle, Wales partly due to their Gatland hangover.

They, rather than the Boks suit the Kiwi ref who desperately wants an open game but is never going to get one on a rainy Cardiff evening.

 

[mx wcfc]

Yeah, I hate kicking duels. Wales need a try while they're playing 14 men.

 

[Elpenor]

Yeah, I hate kicking duels. Wales need a try while they're playing 14 men.

Unfortunately they’re still hard-coded to score points in increments of 3, the game has largely moved on from this.

The weather won’t be helping

 

[Elpenor]

This game is very tight but I still think South Africa are the most likely to score a try. Do admire how Wales can draw teams into a toe to toe street fight

 

[mx wcfc]

You must have had that typed with your figure on the post reply button, when the final pass was made!

 

[mx wcfc]

and its been disallwed!

 

[Elpenor]

Haha, anyone who’s seen wales play over the years will know this is the usual script against Southern Hemisphere teams, though they have beaten SA a few times recently.

Anyway try chalked off.

 

[Elpenor]

It’s all about territory for wales now.

 

[Elpenor]

And they couldn’t hold it. SA always more likely to scavenge a try. A not unfamiliar wales performance against the big 3.

 

[bendeus]

Set piece did for us. You can't win an international against top level opposition in which every scrum = a penalty and in which your lineout is so shaky you can only throw to the front. It's a shame as we could well have claimed a scalp if we'd achieved something close to parity in either area.

Big positives for me were Biggar, Jenkins and the back row in general.

I don't think we'll come close to Aus, though. SA play a style of game that suits us for the most part. The Wallabies far less so.

 

[fucthest8]

2:30pm, BBC2

The sole terrestrial game England’s women take on New Zealand again. I don’t think it will be such a high margin of victory as New Zealand will want to put a better account of themselves and their fitness must have improved. I’m going England by 10-15.

Oh well

Did anyone watch the Ireland game? Given that Japan gave the Aussies a bit of a workout just recently, I expected a better scoreline. Were Ireland amazing or were Japan shit?

Thoroughly enjoyed the Wales game, thought the reffing was top notch. Shame about that twat running on the pitch. However yeah, take bendy's point about scrums and penalties. I felt that way back in a certain WC game, but that was when I was still English

 

[flypanam]

Oh well

Did anyone watch the Ireland game? Given that Japan gave the Aussies a bit of a workout just recently, I expected a better scoreline. Were Ireland amazing or were Japan shit?

Thoroughly enjoyed the Wales game, thought the reffing was top notch. Shame about that twat running on the pitch. However yeah, take bendy's point about scrums and penalties. I felt that way back in a certain WC game, but that was when I was still English

On the Ireland game, we certainly played well for 50 minutes. The second half much more disjointed. We seemed to have worked out Japan as we were able to close down the available space with the back three covering the back field more effectively than earlier in the year.

The pack was good, the front row stood out in open play but packing down there seems to be some work to do.

There is an obvious lack of muscle/aggression in the back five of the pack.