France ease past Italy to set up Autumn Nations Cup final clash against England

At both Super Rugby and test rugby, champion teams have packs which can scrum for penalties for an easy exit in their own end and can scrum for penalties or kicks into the corner to set up a maul for tries.

There are no outstanding scrummaging props in Australia. Props are selected for their ball running, props are heralded for their ball running, and their scrummaging is neglected.

Same for hookers to a lesser extend.

The Springboks and All Blacks will scrum the Wallabies off the park in the Rugby Championship.

And unceremoniously decimate the North everywhere.

I think there’s a fine line between too much rugby and chasing the money. I think we’ve passed it.

Are the Lions relevant anymore?

Having said that - If you held a gun to my head - I wouldn’t mind seeing Fiji, Japan or even France winning a World Cup.

But none of the rest.

As to Smith vs Smith, all you can say is that one of them became a Test Lion on this tour, and one of them didn’t.

The question to be answered in the autumn is whether M Smith was played at 15 because Borthwick wanted a truly creative 15 and without Furbank Smith was the best option, or whether F Smith is genuinely the preferred fly half.

What is notable is that for both England and the Lions Marcus has created tries even when playing 15. Both the first and last tries against France were a direct result of the defence tracking him even when he didn’t have the ball, and he played a key role in tries scored against Argentina (his run ahead of Beirne’s try took out 4 defenders in the ruck and put another two on the wrong sides of the defence, creating the space that Tadhg went through) and in the other warm up games where he was on the pitch for long enough to make a difference.

On the money again!

I somehow can’t stop thinking that steady Joe is also a bit stubborn.

It looks to me as if:

1. Joe has some behind the scenes stuff going on re some players like LSL, Tupou, BPA, Kerevi, or perhaps the other players do

2. Joe is still building towards the RWC, even though he won't be coach. Winning here, and winning now is the thing the “floating“ sports fans want. Die hardship may not.

3. The mild slide defence is so locked in that other options just aren't considered.

4. He has painted himself into a corner with selections

It just all feels flat, after what should have been one of the greatest Test matches

It’s a phase of play that unfolds in less than 10 seconds but is fairly easy to breakdown.

1 - Ryan (#19 Lions) is tackled legally, goes to ground in possession of the ball but makes no effort to release the ball. He has to immediately once he goes to ground. PENALTY.

2 - Tizzano (#21 Australia) is first man to the ball (from either team) and forms the ruck with his own hindfoot. Side entry doesn’t apply to him as the ruck is not formed at this stage but rather it’s formed by him. NO PENALTY.

3 - Even to completely ignore the actual clear out (penalty/no penalty), foul play can still have occurred without the need for a HIA. The fact that Tizzano is walking around and available for the next match doesn’t mean he didn’t get emptied. His mouthguard data does seem to have registered an almighty force though. 50/50.

4 - Both Morgan (#20 Lions) and Genge (#17 Lions) go to clear out but both do so by driving through the ruck off their feet and falling over the ball. Sealing. PENALTY

5 - I still don’t understand why none of the coverage picks up on this - Morgan holds Tizzano’s feet in a wrap on the pitch after the clear out. On the match clock it’s 79.03 to 79.07 before he releases. Playing the player off the ball. PENALTY

Piardi controls the narrative when reviewing with the TMO and starts on the wrong foot. The discussion is all on the basis that both sets of players arrive at the same time (which changes mitigation around foul play) which they don’t. They clearly don’t as Tizzano is first to the ball.

For 79 mins that match was brilliant. The crowd was brilliant. The atmosphere seemed brilliant. It’s a loss on the sport that a gang of mic’d up officials can not get it right.

The lack of power is the main problem but the players are there.