Week Two made Irish eyes very sad. But Welsh eyes leeked with joy, when the Wallabies didn’t quite manage to hop into the lead in the second half. Uruguay failed to repeat their magic from Week One. Otherwise, the results were more or less as expected.
Week Three’s biggest clash is looking like England v Argentina, although no doubt there will be some surprises in the other fixtures.
We’ve also got some Pro14 and that English Premiership Cup thingy to look forward to.
Exciting (?) rugby on the telly this week
Friday 4th October
| S Africa 49 – 3 Italy | 10:45 | ITV4 |
| Glasgow 21 – 25 Scarlets | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Leinster 53 – 5 Ospreys | 19:35 | Premiers Sports 2 / TG4 |
| Worcester 19 – 34 Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 5th October
| Australia 45 – 10 Uruguay | 06:15 | ITV |
| England 39 – 10 Argentina | 09:05 | ITV |
| Japan 38 – 19 Samoa | 11:30 | ITV |
| Kings 20 – 31 Munster | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Zebre 28 – 52 Dragons | 17:00 | Freesports |
| Cheetahs 63 – 26 Ulster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Cardiff 11 – 19 Edinburgh | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 / S4C |
| Connacht 41 – 5 Treviso | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 / TG4 |
Sunday 6th October
| New Zealand 71 – 9 Namibia | 05:45 | ITV |
| France 23 – 21 Tonga | 08:45 | ITV |
| Northampton 28 – 54 Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Tuesday 8th October
| South Africa 66 – 7 Canada | 11:15 | ITV4 |
Wednesday 9th October
| Argentina 47 – 17 USA | 05:45 | ITV4 |
| Scotland 61 – 0 Russia | 08:15 | ITV |
| Wales v Fiji | 10:45 | ITV/S4C |
Ovally Balls 
SA have a terrifying set of front row replacements.
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Forza Italia!
Sorry, Deebee, but the Banter Heuristic demands it.
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Forza italia
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Beast is having Italian tightheads for breakfast
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Great step by Kolbe for the try
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massacre
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This would be rank bad luck if they lost their reserve tighthead
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@Brookter et al, I have no probs with you all supporting Italy, but PLEASE can you post more regular updates! I’m not watching for grumpy reasons outlined earlier and the suspense is killing me.
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Who, Yos?
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deebee, you’re mullering them.
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Does it go to uncontested scrums if the replacement prop is broken?
Considering the terrifying SA front row replacements and the fact that the Italy replacement will have to play the full game, this might be a positive for Italy.
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Uncontested scrums for at least 10 minutes as Rizzo goes off for HIA
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Uncontested scrums for the HIA period, then see what happens.
Clearly Italy dont have a Matt Stevens
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Kicking game working for Italy. Two fumbles from Kolisi then pollard.
Uncontested feed to Italy 10m out
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Morisi with a great angle, but SA scramble.
Another scrum to Italy
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Polledri just ran through the Bok Nr 3 and Duane Vermeulen in the same burst.
Morisi on a lovely line from the scrum almost to the line.
5m scrum to Italy
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Only seen since minute 14 but looks a battle.
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FFS! Rassie couldn’t have foreseen this.
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Lucky SA there that that knock from Am wasnt considered deliberate. Seen those go both ways
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Good defence this time on Polledri.
The even controversial* choke maul collapse gains SA the scrum from which they clear
*i hate this law
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Good period from Italy will end without reward. Good SA defence culminates in a penalty and an SA linout on the taly 22
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Le Roux knocks.on with the line.open. Awful pass from Kolbe mind
Will go back to the pen and another lineout
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Try for the SA hooker off the lineout drive. 15-3. Kick to come
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Conversion successful. 17-3
Italian reserve TH will not return. Uncontested scrums from now on.
6 forward benches for both teams…
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Strong running from Morisi and Parisse gains Italy a pen. Touch found 10m from SA line
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I’ve onky just joined this, what happened to the props?
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SA defend maul. Scrum to SA
Italy very loose at that drive. Easy for the defender to come through.
SA clear their lines
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Another Italy pen
They win the lineout in the SA 22 and go through the phases. Good defence again from SA drives them back. Italy lose ground
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Play stops for TMO to intervene
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Feels like Italy haven’t enough points from opportunities. Definitely need to score next.
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@Ticht
Beast folded one in half and he strained his hammy.
The sub went in awkwardly on a tackle and hurt his ribs and also got HIA
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The Bok maul is clowning Italy.
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Cheers Utna
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TMO was a high clearout by Italy. Pen only.
Some scrappy play ends with an injury stoppage on halfway after another high tackle. 5 to go to half time. Still 17-3
SA kick to touch on Italy 22
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Du Toit knocks on
Poor clearance from Italy leads to a counter. This leads to nothing more than an Italy lineout
From the subsequent win, Italy put it out on the full
SA lineout
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Utna, you’re a lifesaver!
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Score FFS!
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SA apply some pressure in the 22 but its all very slow and laboured. Commited defence from Italy earns a relieving penalty for holding on in the tackle
Scrappy game since the injuries
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Fuck.
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Halftime 17-3
SA in control. Some promising moments for Italy, but not much reward. SA playing in 3rd gear.
Not a great game for the neutral
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If we’re uncontested I’d suggest putting De Allende in the front row and Beast at 12. He’s got better hands and a better step.
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Need the bonus point win here for sure. Only a four day turnaround before we face Canada. Minnows getting raw deal again.
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2nd half starts. Italy try to play a bit in their own 22 from the receipt.
Dont get anywherr and Allan finds a good touch under pressure
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Sorry, was Minozzi not Allan
Good interplay by Italy cuts SA apart. Italy hot on the attack in the SA 22 and win a pen
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Stupid stupid Italy
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Massive uphill battle becomes impossible.
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Proper dirty.
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The only question is whether both should have been sent off
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Crazy from Italy.
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Pen reversed for an awful looking lifting clearout on Vermeulen
Italy LH prop Lovotti red carded.
Stupid and uneccesry after the whistle after Italy’s best attack of the game. Great run and offload by Steyn wasted
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