Rugby

Impressive win by England women. Kiwis rusty. But biggest ever win over nz not to be sniffed at.

Farrell Covid +ve...

Surely the whole thing could go up the spout?

Scotland- magical result- I look forward to Squidge Rugby's breakdown later in the week.

Christ - James Lowe, possibly the worst player ever to pull on an Ireland shirt, now has a try against the All Blacks to his name. What a world...

Well done Ireland. Top effort again.
Looking forward to Eng Aus now. Shame it's not also in the cricket tomorrow.

^OK, I could stealth edit that, but I'll admit I'm an arsehole - Lowe was brilliant, start to finish - one of the best players on the pitch. Never thought he had it in him. What a performance - if NZ hadn't defended brilliantly, we could've won by 25 points.

I was going to say. When he played his first few games, I couldn't see the point. Today was outstanding.

Been left on my own as the family all out today. England SA - wow. Wales Aus - also wow. Now into France NZ. Quite the day's viewing.

It was a good win for England but the Boks absolutely bungled it. Has to be the most dominant second 40 to have resulted in a defeat. England did phenomenally well to hang in and took their chances brilliantly but the Boks left so many points on the pitch, poor execution has been a hallmark of their season. Much like the 2018 Twickenham game it felt like one England burgled. Positives for England are that they looked much better with ball in hand without Farrell and Stewart is the real deal at 15. On the flip side the pack got absolutely marmalised and they'll need to fix that soon, especially with Ireland and France looking good up front. For the Boks they just need to sharpen their finishing and get Pollard playing flatter, they've got the best pack in the world by a long way and the best centre pairing and 2 world class wingers (when Cheslin is fit) with those elements they should be putting most teams away. A NZ or AUS backline consultant would be a good option for them.

The French win was great but sadly this tour has probably been the wake up call NZ needed, I suspect they'll have sorted their issues (centre and back row) by the WC. Jaminet for France has been the surprise of the Autumn internationals for me, he looks class and has that accurate boot French sides of the past have often missed.

The ridiculously long bio bubbles that the SH sides have been in (SA since July apart from one week back with families) should also be taken into account, NZ in particular looked knackered.

All in all a good Autumn series which sets up 2023 nicely with most of the top 6 feeling they genuinely have a chance.

Yeah, couldn't believe that England hung in there. They got as beaten up in the second half. The yellow for kolsie was harsh. Thought it was a genuine attempt, he just looked bad as he was against someone who has the potential to be one of the world best hight ball takers. The reality is that SA shat the bed tho. The game was there for the taking.

The best 2 front rows in the world made some good English props look very lost.

Agree about the centres, best pair in the world.

Missed the France game, but from watching the highlights that looked like a doozy. That counter attack from behind the try line........

Yep, really looking forward to the six nations, I hope England keep playing this more modern style of rugby (and don't force Farrell back in and ruin the balance.) and I can't wait to see what France can do, their team is just full of match winners now.

Still on a high from Ireland's win over the ABs myself. But, beating them 2 years out from a WC, where have I heard that before.....?

France genuinely scare and excite me.

Those SA scrums against England in the second half were mint too (speaking as an ex prop). You don't see that kind of rout from similarly matched teams very often.

Yeah, I would much prefer to see NZ looking a bit ropey 2 months out rather than 2 years, plenty of time for them to get the issues sorted.

As an ex-centre, I was majorly impressed by Slade, the difference to his game from having a fast fly half next to him and not being paired with Farrell.

I was majorly impressed by Slade

Yes, he stood out to me, which he doesn't normally. My completely non-rugby bothered mate was at the game at Twickenham. Some work hospitality do. Couldn't help but quietly seethe as he sent me pictures of free beer and his view from the upper level, just off to the corner. If it had have been the Ire v NZ game, he would have been dead to me.

Yes, he stood out to me, which he doesn't normally.

Yes, its good to see him taking control of a game more, more in line with what he does with Exeter.

Ah the view is never as good when you are up in the gods, well that is what I tell myself anyway.

The view is shit in most places normal people can afford. But so long as I have line of sight to the big screen and a ref link radio, you can't beat big stadium games. And as much as I can't stand England fans, Twickenham puts on a good show and is a good host. Always plentiful access to beer, food and toilets when I've been. Still never been to the Aviva.

True, I have done the internationals and premiership finals, the atmosphere is nowhere near as good for the prem final, but I can at least afford better seats to make up for it.

Agree with all of that ^^^. Slade was fantastic, as was Steward. Really exciting to see England backs properly firing despite the carnage upfront. The Boks definitely threw it away but were pretty limited in game plan (see England of recent years), however effective it is.

Lets hope we don't go backwards for the six nations.

Def worth remembering as well the injuries/absences from the England pack. To miss Genge, George, Williams, Obano, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Willis, Joe Launchbury etc through injury, Kruis through early retirement (choosing to play abroad), and Mako apparently being in France and therefore couldn't answer the urgent call when requested (lots of speculation this is him off to play in France and therefore end of his England career now) that is a serious amount of players missing who would otherwise be expected to start and gives at least some explanation for the pack's performance against the Boks in the second half...

Yes, I am interested who comes back into the pack, I think it is primarily the front row where we lacked, so adding in Genge and LCD would certainly help, not sure that would put us on an even footing with SA. The interesting question is how close do we need to be to be able to compete.

Agreed - although I do think we miss Kruis' heft in the set piece and for all his qualities I'm not sure Hill/Ewells quite bring the same grunt but that is obviously guesswork...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/59399263

This is great news.

Was gutted when George Ford announced he was leaving Tigers, but signing Handre Pollard is next level.