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Rugby union: talking points from the weekend’s internationals Rugby union: talking points from the weekend’s internationals
(about 2 hours later)
EnglandEngland
Selection is not an exact science. Sometimes it takes a few games for a hunch to pay off, which made Jonny May’s spectacular early try on Saturday all the more heart-warming. Many had queried the Gloucester winger’s presence on the basis of his failure to score in his first seven Tests. Suddenly the problem is how to get the ball to May and Semesa Rokoduguni more often, inevitably sparking yet more conjecture about England’s back-line balance. Much of the dilemma revolves around fly-half: Owen Farrell has different strengths to George Ford, who is potentially better at manipulating space and offers more gain-line subtlety. But if Ford starts, where does that leave England’s undisputed number one goal-kicker and the various centre contenders? Longer-term it might conceivably improve the chances of the spatially-aware Alex Goode at full-back behind, say, Sam Burgess and Manu Tuilagi. Mike Brown remains a wonderful competitor but, right now, the form English-qualified full-back is probably Toulon’s Delon Armitage. Imagine him in the same back-three as May, Rokoduguni, Anthony Watson or Christian Wade, with a fully-fit Tuilagi and Burgess riding shotgun? It will probably never happen but England are not short of tantalising options. Lancaster’s selectorial instincts will be increasingly tested over the coming year. Robert Kitson Selection is not an exact science. Sometimes it takes a few games for a hunch to pay off, which made Jonny May’s spectacular early try on Saturday all the more heart-warming. Many had queried the Gloucester winger’s presence on the basis of his failure to score in his first seven Tests. Suddenly the problem is how to get the ball to May and Semesa Rokoduguni more often, inevitably sparking yet more conjecture about England’s back-line balance.
Much of the dilemma revolves around fly-half: Owen Farrell has different strengths to George Ford, who is potentially better at manipulating space and offers more gain-line subtlety. But if Ford starts, where does that leave England’s undisputed No1 goal-kicker and the various centre contenders? Longer-term it might conceivably improve the chances of the spatially-aware Alex Goode at full-back behind, say, Sam Burgess and Manu Tuilagi.
Mike Brown remains a wonderful competitor but, right now, the form English-qualified full-back is probably Toulon’s Delon Armitage. Imagine him in the same back-three as May, Rokoduguni, Anthony Watson or Christian Wade, with a fully-fit Tuilagi and Burgess riding shotgun? It will probably never happen but England are not short of tantalising options. Lancaster’s selectorial instincts will be increasingly tested over the coming year. Robert Kitson
New ZealandNew Zealand
Dan Carter has not started a Test match for a year when he won his 100th cap at Twickenham. The outside-half was at the ground on Saturday, armed only with a water-bottle and an ear-piece. The All Blacks have continued on their merry way without him, but on another day the 12 points they missed with the boot would have cost them. Even if Carter, the record points scorer in Test rugby has had more than the occasional off day from the tee, New Zealand missed his ability to orchestrate play on Saturday. Aaron Cruden did not impose himself, and neither did Beauden Barrett. Apart from a couple of flourishes by Sonny Bill Williams, little was seen of New Zealand’s backs in attack, there were few line breaks and Julian Savea was virtually reduced to running back kicks. England’s disruption of the All Backs’ lineout and the pressure they put on Aaron Smith at the breakdown were factors, but New Zealand missed the understated authority of Carter. Paul Rees Dan Carter has not started a Test match for a year when he won his 100th cap at Twickenham. The fly-half was at the ground on Saturday, armed only with a water bottle and an ear-piece. The All Blacks have continued on their merry way without him, but on another day the 12 points they missed with the boot would have cost them. Even if Carter, the record points scorer in Test rugby has had more than the occasional off day from the tee, New Zealand missed his ability to orchestrate play on Saturday. Aaron Cruden did not impose himself, and neither did Beauden Barrett.
Apart from a couple of flourishes by Sonny Bill Williams, little was seen of New Zealand’s backs in attack, there were few line breaks and Julian Savea was virtually reduced to running-back kicks. England’s disruption of the All Blacks’ lineout and the pressure they put on Aaron Smith at the breakdown were factors, but New Zealand missed the understated authority of Carter. Paul Rees
• Match report: England 21-24 New Zealand• Match report: England 21-24 New Zealand
WalesWales
The 10th defeat in 10 games to Australia may have been the same old story, and the manner of it may have been all too familiar – failing to protect a slender lead in the closing minutes – but Wales have every reason to feel jaunty. Well, at least those that can still run (not Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar). For a side that tends to enter the autumn series with trepidation, this opening performance was full of enterprise and finely judged angles and incursions, plus some seriously cohesive work up front. Four tries represented a handsome reward. The battle goes on to marry such a healthy spirit of adventure with a determination to reduce an alarming propensity for simple mistakes. All three tries by Australia were gift-wrapped by Wales. In the eternal quest to marry ambition and skills, Wales have to be well-balanced. This does come not naturally to them. Eddie Butler The 10th defeat in 10 games to Australia may have been the same old story, and the manner of it may have been all too familiar – failing to protect a slender lead in the closing minutes – but Wales have every reason to feel jaunty. Well, at least those that can still run (not Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar). For a side that tends to enter the autumn series with trepidation, this opening performance was full of enterprise and finely judged angles and incursions, plus some seriously cohesive work up front. Four tries represented a handsome reward.
The battle goes on to marry such a healthy spirit of adventure with a determination to reduce an alarming propensity for simple mistakes. All three tries by Australia were gift-wrapped by Wales. In the eternal quest to marry ambition and skills, Wales have to be well-balanced. This does come not naturally to them. Eddie Butler
AustraliaAustralia
So that’s that then. Australia and AN Other in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Theirs is meant to be the Group of Death, yet the Aussies have now beaten one of the supposed killers in it 10 times in a row — and six of those have been under the killer’s very own roof. If Wales can’t beat Australia in their beloved home stadium in the aftermath of the upheaval that has cost the Wallabies their coach, one of their most dangerous backs and their, er, business manager, what chance have they of doing so 11 months from now at Twickenham, when Michael Cheika will have had a year to make them really good? Australia all the way. Group of Death, Schmoup of Schmeath … Michael AylwinSo that’s that then. Australia and AN Other in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Theirs is meant to be the Group of Death, yet the Aussies have now beaten one of the supposed killers in it 10 times in a row — and six of those have been under the killer’s very own roof. If Wales can’t beat Australia in their beloved home stadium in the aftermath of the upheaval that has cost the Wallabies their coach, one of their most dangerous backs and their, er, business manager, what chance have they of doing so 11 months from now at Twickenham, when Michael Cheika will have had a year to make them really good? Australia all the way. Group of Death, Schmoup of Schmeath … Michael Aylwin
• Match report: Wales 28-33 Australia• Match report: Wales 28-33 Australia
IrelandIreland
Coach Joe Schmidt said it was a gamble, but on the slippery surface at Lansdowne Road on Saturday night the new pair of Robbie Henshaw, playing on his second Test in the No 12 shirt and Jared Payne, a 29-year-old making his debut for his adoptive country, came up trumps. They might not be together when Ireland meet Georgia on Saturday, even if Payne’s foot mends in time, but the New Zealander had a decent audition in the shirt worn for 15 years and 133 games by Brian O’Driscoll. It didn’t do Schmidt’s reputation any harm either. Mike Averis The coach Joe Schmidt said it was a gamble, but on the slippery surface at Lansdowne Road on Saturday night the new pair of Robbie Henshaw, playing in his second Test in the No 12 shirt, and Jared Payne, a 29-year-old making his debut for his adoptive country, came up trumps. They might not be together when Ireland meet Georgia on Saturday, even if Payne’s foot mends in time, but the New Zealander had a decent audition in the shirt worn for 15 years and 133 games by Brian O’Driscoll. It didn’t do Schmidt’s reputation any harm either. Mike Averis
• The Blindside: who needs Brian O’Driscoll?• The Blindside: who needs Brian O’Driscoll?
South AfricaSouth Africa
The Springboks were beating themselves up all over Dublin on Saturday night, but none more so than the new wonder boy, Handre Pollard, who earned himself something of a reprimand from his boss Heyneke Meyer for failing to play the conditions at the Aviva. “You can’t play championship rugby (The Rugby Championship) away from home. You have to adapt to conditions and we didn’t do that,” said Meyer, who just seen his 20-year-old played off the park by Ireland’s Jonny Sexton. Mike Averis The Springboks were beating themselves up all over Dublin on Saturday night, but none more so than the new wonder boy, Handre Pollard, who earned himself something of a reprimand from his boss Heyneke Meyer for failing to play the conditions at the Aviva. “You can’t play championship rugby [the Rugby Championship] away from home. You have to adapt to conditions and we didn’t do that,” said Meyer, who had just seen his 20-year-old played off the park by Ireland’s Jonny Sexton. Mike Averis
• Match report: Ireland 29-15 South Africa• Match report: Ireland 29-15 South Africa
ScotlandScotland
Talking points abounded at Murrayfield, from Greig Laidlaw’s performance as stand-in skipper to the form of brothers Richie and Jonny Gray, considering that Richie was not in line to start until injury struck Grant Gilchrist. But of greatest interest was whether the five-try haul revealed a new, much-needed attacking threat or was merely another glorious one-off? Glasgow have uncovered a new finishing ability and with six of their backs starting against the Pumas – Finn Russell, Mark Bennett and Stuart Hogg inspired Scotland’s early attacking tempo – there is clear promise of a new bite to Scotland. Now comes the ultimate test in the All Blacks. Pierce their defences and we may have an answer. John Gregor Talking points abounded at Murrayfield, from Greig Laidlaw’s performance as stand-in captain to the form of brothers Richie and Jonny Gray, considering that Richie was not in line to start until injury struck Grant Gilchrist. But of greatest interest was whether the five-try haul revealed a new, much-needed attacking threat or was merely another glorious one-off? Glasgow have uncovered a new finishing ability and with six of their backs starting against the Pumas – Finn Russell, Mark Bennett and Stuart Hogg inspired Scotland’s early attacking tempo – there is clear promise of a new bite to Scotland. Now comes the ultimate test in the All Blacks. Pierce their defences and we may have an answer. John Gregor
• Match report: Scotland 41-31 Argentina• Match report: Scotland 41-31 Argentina