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Weekend Round-Up: Thriller At Thomond Park
By Calum Henderson
Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass as England got their Autumn Internationals campaign underway at Twickenham and Munster hosted the Maori All Blacks in a belter at Thomond Park.
Autumn International: England vs South Africa
England hadn’t beaten the Springboks in ten years, but was anyone betting against them heading into Saturday’s match at Twickenham? On this year’s form – England nine wins from nine, South Africa nearly losing a home series to Ireland before finishing third in the Rugby Championship – you’d have been mad to. But South Africa led for much of the first half through a trio of Pat Lambie penalty kicks, and England only led at halftime courtesy of what the Guardian described as a “Charlie Chaplin try” finished by Courtney Lawes. Down 20-9 at the break, the Springboks had it all to do, and England halfback Ben Youngs was just getting started.
Autumn International: Scotland vs Australia
General consensus on the Rugby Pass Facebook page this week was that the Scottish rugby team had about as much chance of beating the Wallabies at Murrayfield this weekend as they did getting a suntan;certainly there was no way would they get as close as last year’s one-point last-minute loss in the World Cup quarterfinals. But clearly nobody told Vern Cotter’s band of merry men and they raced to an early 10-0 lead through a belter of a try from centre Huw Jones. Reece Hodge struck back for the Wallabies soon after with an even better try, but Scotland kept fighting and after Jones’ second went to the break with a 17-10 lead. Were they headed for World Cup revenge, or were Australia about to administer another dose of heartbreak?
Autumn International: Munster vs Maori All Blacks
It has been a hell of a month for Munster Rugby. Since losing their talismanic coach Anthony Foley on October 16 they have gone unbeaten in the Champions Cup and Pro12 competitions; now, without a slew of their internationals, they faced a Maori All Blacks side teeming with Super Rugby experience. This promised to be a special occasion from the moment Maori All Blacks captain Ash Dixon laid down a jersey with the initials ‘AF’ on the halfway line before the haka, and the game itself didn’t disappoint. In front of a sold out Thomond Park the home side struck first through Niall Scannell before two tries in two minutes gave the visitors the halftime lead. But as they have done all month, Munster kept up their ferocious intensity in the second half, and kept inching towards what would be a famous win.
Autumn International: Wales vs Argentina
Wales rung the changes for their return to Principality Stadium after their shellacking at the hands of the Wallabies last week, their fifth test loss in a row. One of those changes, Liam Williams, was responsible for the game’s first try, which didn’t come until early in the second half. Perhaps more important than the new faces was the fact that Wales seemed to be playing with a game plan this time, and they hung with it for a 6-3 lead at halftime. But the creativity of the Argentineans was a constant threat; Wales would have to fight hard for their first win in six games.
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Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
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