Autumn Int. other countries

[Peg Leg]

Did anyone watch the Baba's game? very enjoyable!

NZ team to face England

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ryan Crotty.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Kick-off: 14:30 local (GMT)
Venue: Twickenham, London
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Wales v Aus

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 George North, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Cory Allen.

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Will Skelton, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Will Genia, 23 Quade Cooper, 24 Rob Horne.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Kick-off: 14:30 local (GMT)
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), JP Doyle (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

No word on the english team & and the Fra v fiji game is a bit f a non-event, but the Wales Aus game looks like it'll be a good one.
I Think Phipps/Foley is a much more daunting prospect than Genia/Cooper. The former reminds me of Reddan/Sexton - Pace on the ball, taken close to the gain line. Also Leali'ifano & Kuridrani seem very well suited and make for a big attacking centre partnership. Mental/manic back row with Hooper & McMahon starting together. Wales match will be fun to watch. I think Australia are going to hammer them (& us)!

[flustered]

McMahon looked impressive against the BaBa's, not a great yardstick I know but looks like another great back rower off the conveyor belt for Australia, Pocock coming back from another injury as well!

[domhnallj]

English team named here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29929769

I don't think we will see an England win...

[JB1973]

genia and cooper tend to do really well vs us, I'm glad they are not playing.

T Kuridrani looks a beast him and folau will cause all sorts of problems, I can only see a OZ win this weekend by 7 to 10 points

[Peg Leg]

genia and cooper tend to do really well vs us, I'm glad they are not playing.

T Kuridrani looks a beast him and folau will cause all sorts of problems, I can only see a OZ win this weekend by 7 to 10 points

Different set of centers for Aus makes a difference, Cooper sits a good bit deeper than Foley, which would reduce the effectiveness of their 12&13.

[JB1973]

genia and cooper tend to do really well vs us, I'm glad they are not playing.

T Kuridrani looks a beast him and folau will cause all sorts of problems, I can only see a OZ win this weekend by 7 to 10 points

Different set of centers for Aus makes a difference, Cooper sits a good bit deeper than Foley, which would reduce the effectiveness of their 12&13.

any thoughts on their weaknesses? the scrum is one I hope we can target and in their last 3 games they have finished badly and given up a lead in two of them.

They do look to have a bit much for us especially behind the scrum, it's due to lash down here the weekend, the cynic in me says leave the roof open

[Vamos los azules]

English team named here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29929769

I don't think we will see an England win...

If anything happens to Farrell and England end up with a 9-10-12 of Care, Ford and Eastmond, that would be some very small men up against Sonny Bill.

[simonokeeffe]

English team named here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29929769

I don't think we will see an England win...

If anything happens to Farrell and England end up with a 9-10-12 of Care, Ford and Eastmond, that would be some very small men up against Sonny Bill.

Itd be like when you see some guy playing with his kids with them holding on to/wrapped around his legs

that said that 9 10 12 and presumably Tuilagi would score tries

[paddyor]

Scotland Glasgow(plus guests): Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish), Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors),

Replacements : Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (London Irish), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors),

[simonokeeffe]

Scotland Glasgow(plus guests): Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish), Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors),

Replacements : Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (London Irish), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors),

Argentina: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Rodrigo Báez, 5 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (c), 1 Marcos Ayerza,
Replacements: 16 Matías Cortese, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Lucas Ponce, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Horacio Agulla.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 17:30 local (GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

[Peg Leg]

genia and cooper tend to do really well vs us, I'm glad they are not playing.

T Kuridrani looks a beast him and folau will cause all sorts of problems, I can only see a OZ win this weekend by 7 to 10 points

Different set of centers for Aus makes a difference, Cooper sits a good bit deeper than Foley, which would reduce the effectiveness of their 12&13.

any thoughts on their weaknesses? the scrum is one I hope we can target and in their last 3 games they have finished badly and given up a lead in two of them.

They do look to have a bit much for us especially behind the scrum, it's due to lash down here the weekend, the cynic in me says leave the roof open

Jaysus, we've been bitten by that one ourselves. Robinson must be injured, hard to believe he has fallen out of favour (particularly with Chieks). Slipper and Kepu are no push overs and tbh Wales tight 5 isn't the pack it used to be (not a james fan).
They have finished badly, but.... every player in the squad was pushing for a starting berth, 18-23 (assuming Horwill will be the 2nd row that doesn't make the bench) would have been hoping for a start in this game, there's a lot of experience there.
Other than that, I'd say Leali'ifano's tackling isn't his strongest attribute (although he did a very good job v NZ), having said that he's well protected between Foley & Kuridrani.

[JB1973]

France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Alexandre Dumoulin, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Alexandre Menini
Replacements from: Xavier Chiocci, Benjamin Kayser, Uini Atonio, Alexandre Flanquart, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Charles Ollivon, Rory Kockott, Rémi Talès, Maxime Mermoz, Mathieu Bastareaud



Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Watisoni Votu, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Alipate Ratini, 10 Jonetani Ralulu, 9 Nikola Matawalu, 8 Masi Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Isei Colati, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Nemani Nadolo, 23 Timoci Nagusa


look at that Fijian back line, if they can get some ball they will shred the French defence

[paddyor]

Wales 28 - 33 Aus (3 tries each in the first half)
Italy 24 -13 Samoa
England 21 - 24 NZ Not as tight as the scoreline suggests. England started well with a try and had a few chances in the first half. NZ came back into it and Englands kicking went to sh*te. NZ got someone binned and won the period 3-0. NZ profligate with the boot 3/8

[simonokeeffe]

Wales look knackered too early, Gatty complaining the regions not keeping them fit enough, assuming exiles overplayed

Warburton did his usual Jekyl & Hyde club v country thing

Picked up a few injuries too so going to be a long Autumn for them and maybe December for regions as their internationals will come back wrecked

[paddyor]

Anyone watch the Scotland Argentina game. When was the last time Scotland scored 5 tries against a tier one team? Glasgow guys carrying Pro12/HEC form to test level?

[simonokeeffe]

Anyone watch the Scotland Argentina game. When was the last time Scotland scored 5 tries against a tier one team? Glasgow guys carrying Pro12/HEC form to test level?

Russell at 10 makes a big difference/having a 10

very inexperienced Argie pack though, think Scotlands front row will be exposed badly against bigger meaner packs

[artaneboy]

Anyone watch the Scotland Argentina game. When was the last time Scotland scored 5 tries against a tier one team? Glasgow guys carrying Pro12/HEC form to test level?

Great to see for the health of the 6Ns and the Pro 12. Will challenge us to stay on our game in the 6N too.

[simonokeeffe]

Just watched it
Johnny Gray butchered a certain try by not giving a pass, Laidlaw was immense, Grays were both good, and they left a lot of points behind in missed kicks.
That said they still shipped 31 points at home, flankers and front row still light weight, light on subs and they benefitted hugely from a kamikaze Argie yellow card plus the Pumas tapping and going on their line a lot when they were clearly hurting them from mauls and scrums

[Tricky Dicky]

Scotland looked really impressive in attack I thought. The players seem to have a good understanding of the technicalities of the basics. The difference a really top coach can make is huge.

Wales were Wales. It must be getting pretty frustrating for the players to be asked to do the same thing over and over again by the coaches when the evidence suggests it doesn't work. Execution of attacking passing seems to take a back seat to all this "beasting" of the players we hear about to get them ready physically. IMO they need a creative player in the centres to get the best out of all their dangerous runners

[blockhead]

Not sure if this the appropriate thread but, an article about Stuart Barnes

England vs New Zealand: Stuart Barnes's Law of rugby commentary – how to never be wrong
Sky Sports rugby pundit knows his stuff but his uncanny ability to predict events after they have occurred really grates
Stuart Barnes - England 21 New Zealand 24: Stuart Barnes's Law of rugby commentary – how to never be wrong

By Jonathan Liew

10:00PM GMT 09 Nov 2014
It strikes me that the worst thing about watching England lose to the All Blacks is not, in fact, losing to the All Blacks. That, after all, is a fate to which most seasoned observers will long have accustomed themselves.

An ability not to get too upset after losing to New Zealand is the sort of thing rugby fans acquire early in life, along with a taste for red meat and a deep residual mistrust of French referees.

No, the worst thing about watching England lose to New Zealand is the grim realisation of what follows. The slow accumulation of dread as the second half wore on at Twickenham on Saturday was not a result of the grim attritional fare, Danny Care’s wasteful kicking or Richie McCaw’s creative interpretation of breakdown law.

It was the knowledge that, with every ticking minute, we were 60 seconds closer to Stuart Barnes’s post-match verdict on Sky Sports.

Now, Barnes clearly knows his stuff. His newspaper and website columns are invariably well-informed and he is, by all accounts, a pretty decent sort of fellow. But with microphone in hand, there is a certain censoriousness to his tone, redolent of a deputy head who has just found a bunch of sixth-formers smoking ganja around the back of the all-weather pitches.

In the comic book series Watchmen, there is a character called Dr Manhattan, who develops his extraordinary powers as a result of a nuclear accident in the 1950s. As well as superhuman strength, teleportation and subatomic control over matter, one of Dr Manhattan’s powers is the ability to perceive the past, present and future simultaneously, and in great clarity.

And there are distinct echoes of this in the verbiage of Barnes, whose analysis miraculously manages to transcend time. By predicting events just after they have occurred, Barnes places himself in the fortuitous position of never actually being wrong.

In practice, this gift most often manifests itself in an epistemological trick known as Barnes’ Law. An example will illuminate. “A salutary lesson in how to play conditions, how to control territory,” was his verdict as the full-time whistle blew on Saturday. “New Zealand showed in the second half just what a fine team they are.”

Essentially, then, Barnes’ Law boils down to this: the better side won the game because they played better rugby. And the reason that they played better rugby was that they were the better side. So simple, and yet so crystalline.

A lot gets made of Barnes’s apparent southern hemisphere bias, often interpreted as “anti-Englishness” or some other such indelicacy. I prefer to view it as the inevitable disappointment of a man who sets such skyscraping standards that only a very chosen few can ever hope to meet them. Barnes is not so much anti-English as pro-infallibility. There is a fine but crucial distinction there.

“New Zealand are technically superior to England,” he confidently announced before the game. “Come to think of it, they’re technically superior to any team in the world.” In retrospect, it was something of an indulgence that they even bothered to play the game at all, given the utter certainty of the final outcome.

Then there was the controversy over Aaron Cruden’s first-half try, which was awarded without video referral even though replays cast doubt on whether the ball had actually been grounded. “The crowd are booing, but you do not want games lasting for hour after hour,” Barnes grumbled. “Get on with the game.”

And in his voice was the evident and justifiable exasperation that often permeates the supremely gifted when forced to explain their genius to mere mortals. Why were we so insistent on playing the game to a finish, when Barnes had already told us how it was going to end? Truly, we were an ungrateful bunch.

People accuse Barnes of being overly negative, of sucking all the joy from the game. And yet on reflection, perhaps it is not he who has failed us, but the other way around.

Such is his preternatural reading of the game, his effortless synthesis of past, present and future, that maybe we will never quite be worthy. But diligent pupils that we are, we will, as ever, keep trying

Love the first comment,

He's a better man than you, you latte swilling hack.