rugby autumn internationals 11-11-18
AUTUMN
INTERNATIONALS
FRANCE 26-29 SOUTH
AFRICA
LOVELY LOEW
Tomas broke upfield and, although eventually tackled, forced
a line-out from where the French maul pushed towards the goal line before
captain Guilhem Guirado broke and made a short dart to the try line to give
France a 16-9 halftime lead.
Mathieu Bastareaud scored two minutes after the resumption
as Lopez kicked a high ball almost at the South African goal posts. With the
defence unable to field it, the imposing centre picked up the loose ball to
crash over and extend the lead.
Straight from the kick off, giant French lock Sebastien
Vahaamahina fumbled the ball, spilling it back towards his own line where it
was snatched up by Sbu Nkosi.
South Africa reduced the deficit to a single point with two
more penalties from Pollard as France were again guilty of unnecessary
infringements.
Yet a late lunge from scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, which knocked
Lopez to the ground, allowed Serin a chance to make it 26-22 with his third
penalty of the night.
France looked to be holding out before substitute loose
forward Francois Louw stole possession near his own posts to set up a Springbok
surge that turned the game on its head.
MY
OPINION
This was a game that the South
Africans did not deserve to win and in my opinion they got lucky but they do
look to be a serious threat for the Irish when it comes to the world cup as
they could beat New Zeeland or be on this type of form
IRELAND 28-17 ARGENTENA
MARMION MAKES IT
Kieran Marmion and Bundee Aki both bustled over in the first
half but the Six Nations champions struggled to shake off the determined Pumas.
Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez kept the visitors in contention and
Bautista Delguy's try was easily the best score of a chilly night at the Aviva
Stadium.
The lead changed hands eight times before Luke McGrath's
66th minute-try.
MY
OPINIONN
There are some rivalries which
you will always see as close matches no matter what way the story is told and
this appeared like that until the second half when Ireland took control and if
Ireland had that ability in the wold cup I would be happy
WALES 9-6
HAPPY HALFPENNY
Defences reigned
supreme in a rugged first half which ended 3-3, with Leigh Halfpenny
uncharacteristically missing a simple kick for the hosts.
A gritty second period followed suit, Halfpenny edging Wales
in front 6-3.
Matt To'omua drew Australia level with five minutes left
but, two minutes later, Biggar struck the decisive blow.
It was a cathartic moment for an emotional Principality
Stadium crowd, who had seen Wales beaten in similarly late and dramatic
circumstances against the Wallabies on so many occasions in the past.
MY
OPINION
This was a poor win by Wales as
it was not a game based on incident and attempts for the try line and the boot
was more important in this match than anything else.
ENGLAND 15-16 NEW
ZEALAND
BANG BARRETT
Solid scrum with Youngs feeding Te’o as first receiver. It
was then taken on by Sinckler and Itoje into the 22, getting over the gainline
and punching a hole. Despite the New Zealand defence looking well set, Youngs
flipped a brilliant pass out to the right wing with Ioane sucked infield and
the winger dived over in the corner from 5m. No splash.
Hartley steals the ball at the back of the lineout, with
Underhill on the crash in the next phase, making a 10m gain into the NZ 22.
Simple set and Youngs flips it back to Farrell who places it straight through
the posts. Keeping that scoreboard ticking over.
Textbook stuff this. Solid lineout throw by Hartley into
Itoje who gathered and then England drove with Hartley receiving the ball at
the back of the maul as it twisted towards the line. The All Blacks had no
answers and the captain was able to dive over. Farrell converts.
The right decision by Read. Crotty did the hard work,
bursting through the midfield and got within 5m. Some iffy defence on England’s
part. They were briefly held up but eventually it’s passed out to McKenzie on
the charge who runs into a hole, on Te’o’s left side, to collects Barrett’s
inside pass and cross over almost unguarded and New Zealand have their score.
Barrett converts.
Garces had his hand in the air for a penalty but Smith span
it back to Barrett who from the edge of the 22 just floated it through the
posts. His first ever international drop goal
England offside, Farrell and Ioane exchange some choice
words, Barrett points to the posts. To the left of the field, just outside the
22. That looked awkward, he almost miskicked it, but the ball got through the
posts and New Zealand have the lead for the first time.
MY
OPINION
How England were unable to hold
onto such a big lead this is something that they must look at going into the 6
nations as both Ireland and France would never allow for this to happen but New
Zeeland did show why they are the best in the world
SCOTLAND 54-17 FIJI
SUPER SEMOUR
Allan Dell, Fraser Brown and Seymour touched down as
Scotland edged to a 17-14 lead at the interval.
Tries from Viliame Mata and Semi Radradra had Fiji in front
briefly but they had no answer to the hosts' composure, fitness and control.
Seymour plunged over twice in a second-half rout, with Sean
Maitland, Jamie Ritchie and Adam Hastings also scoring.
MY
OPINION
This is a match that was more
going to say to me what lev3el Fiji were at than Scotland and it did say that
the Scots are still m8iles ahead of where the pacific nation is but you should
always have hope as Fiji at having the ability to reach the quarters.
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