Weekend Round-Up: Back To Life, Back To The Premiership

Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass as the smoke clears from the Autumn Internationals and attention returns to Aviva Premiership and Top 14 action.

Aviva Premiership: Bath vs Saracens

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Saracens rolled up to the Rec on Saturday with an 8-1 season record and a fit-again Maro Itoje back from injury to bolster their pack. Bath haven’t been far behind Sarries this season though – in fact if they beat them the two clubs would be separated on the table only by bonus points. The home side scored first through the boot of Tom Homer, the Bath fullback trading penalties with Alex Lozowski early in the game. This pattern continued throughout the game – every time Bath edged ahead, Saracens would inevitably claw that lead back. It made for one of the more heart-in-mouth finishes the Premiership has seen this year.

Autumn Internationals: England vs Australia

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England didn’t arrive for this game until 20 minutes after kickoff. Eddie Jones’ side started off sluggish and sloppy, desperately trying to fend off wave after wave of angry Australians. They got back into the match thanks to an offensively bad pass by Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps, who was only playing because Will Genia had been forced to return to his high-paying job at French club Stade Francais. From there, England remembered the clinical style that had propelled them to 13 wins in a row. But they still had to contend with a slightly terrifying Wallaby rally after half-time.

Top 14: Pau vs Clermont

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Pau’s start to the season has been inconsistent to say the least; their 12th place position on the table heading into this game belies the fact they can beat anyone on their day, especially at home at Stade du Hameau. Still, few would have bet on them toppling leaders Clermont when the two sides met on Saturday. They got the best possible start with an early try to winger Watisoni Vonu after just three minutes and two more to the Kiwi pair of Colin Slade and Conrad Smith gave them a 21-17 lead at the half. But with David Strettle on fire for Clermont, it wasn’t going to be an easy lead to hold on to.

Aviva Premiership: Newcastle vs Harlequins

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The only game of the week that featured an actual viking: Evan Olmstead took time away from raiding and pillaging villages aboard his longship to play for Newcastle in their Kingston Park contest against ‘Quins on Saturday. The aggressively hairy’s lock’s 70th minute try was one of 10 in an entertaining, back-and-forth contest that ended with only six points between the two sides. In the end, the game came down to contest between the boot of Harlequins fly-half Ruaridh Jackson and the attacking brilliance of the Falcons backs.