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 
Can anyone else kick?
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Genuinely a bit worried Farrell has a concussion or something after the shoulder – can’t remember the last time he missed so many kicks
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Owen’s got the yips
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Not exactly a thriller, but three tries. England very strong when close to the line. Shame about the sending off, obviously right, but might have been a close game.
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It’s a process and it takes time to change. Players struggled adjusted to being more careful when competing / tackling under the high ball, but you really see a difference now.
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Faz’s radar was off before the tackle, FFB. Probably nothing to worry about.
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Ticht, I’m not sure if this is right but it says one yellow in Super Rugby for Lavanini. http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_28386.html
I think it was in the Rugby Championship a couple of years ago that he got two or three in consecutive games.
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Farrell’s radar being off is still good reason to worry!
We looked in control enough that I think we still would have won without the red (other than that kick behind early on the argie attack has looked pretty toothless) but it seems pretty certain now
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Of course I’ve now done the jinx of all jinxes
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Billy off.
England are very comfortable here. Get the BP and get out of there. Doesn’t need to be more than that.
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I don’t think LAvanini is a malevolent player, just stupid……………………..and does not control his actions.
Straight red – still not as bad as that US lad’s which I think was premeditated.
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6 Nations teams are playing good first halves v RC (+Japan) teams but getting spanked in the second half. Not including this game it’s 55-20 in the first 40 against 9-45 in the second half.
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Noice
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Mancrush on Lewis Ludlam.
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Fordy feeling ‘justified’
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………..thought they were just going to do it in 5s
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Could get ugly for Argentina
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Foot to the throat now please – the ABs would be ruthless, we need to be the same
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So England have played Tonga and the US, and now get 70 odd minutes against 14 men.
unless France lose to Tonga tomorrow they will have already qualified for the QF when they play England.
If uninterested ‘bad’ France show up, will England have actually received any sort of test by the time the knockout phase starts?
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Much better this half.
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Just noticed Nowell’s hair is reassuringly appalling
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And no injuries! Get Manu off and wrap him in cotton wool
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We’ll be about as tested as the All Blacks and SA so I’ll take it
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@‘pro
I fully expect France to send out a 2nd team next week (with obligatory daft selection, e.g. Machenaud at 10). They’ll fancy Wales more than Australia the following week.
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Wouldn’t like to be the husband of… the Shushing Woman.
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Prop on prop man love.
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Hard to believe that I’m saying this, but I think Sanchez might have brought some control to this team.
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Shit, shit, shit kicking.
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Lavanini owes me a Saturday morning rugby match, I’m bored
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Both teams gone to sleep after the BP try
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Mensa’ll bring some excellent scores on IQ tests to this team.
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Farrell keeps on taking the wrong option and getting (legally) smashed.
Enjoyable.
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Dumb by Lawes. He at least hit him with the hip.
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If England don’t have 40 on the board by the end of the match, they should be very disappointed in themselves. Argentina playing with a lot of heart. Faz stinking the place up. Surprised he’s stayed on.
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What has happened to England’s lineout??
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Tough with 14 men, of course, but that garryowen is just shit play, badly executed.
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Nice try Argentina. Well deserved.
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Lovely set piece move.
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Try from Cousin Jack! Well taken.
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Secondary school 3rd XV defence from Argentina there.
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England score another with a powerful drive.
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Matera has done an incredibly shit, petulant job as skipper. Payaso.
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Will take that – definitely switched off for most of the second half but another bonus point and seemingly no injuries will do.
Good to see Nowell back and looking sharp
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Job done by England. I almost wonder if they were told not to try any moves after securing the bonus point, because they got very aimless in the second half. Disappointing game all round in terms of entertainment thanks to the card.
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I thought that too Dab – and to minimise contact maybe?
Definitely seemed we were happy to kick for territory at every chance and the forwards carrying dropped off too.
Doesn’t make for great rugby but makes sense
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@Expro your comment on enjoying Faz getting smashed seems a little off. He might well be concussed and it seems like HIA protocols weren’t followed.
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Good to see CPJN back doing his thing.
Thought Argentina were more interested in using up time/messing about to keep the score down respectable to themselves – very irritating to play against.
Farrell didnt look right/well. Fortunately Fordy had a good one.
Positives:
Johnny May, CJPN, Ford, Underhill, Curry, Ludlum, Itoje and Marler and generally speaking, the team kept it’s shape.
England do not seem to do well in awkward games they are expected to win. National psyche seems to be that they do their best when underdogs.
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@yosoy
Imagine how the French will feel when Fiji best Wales and Les Blues have to face Australia anyway
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@Dab
He kept holding the ball when passes were on and receiving clean low tackles.
Is this not an entertaining aspect of the game?
I’d be very concerned if Farrell was concussed and decided to play on. Surely every team has a strict procedure in place? And are the officials also not supposed to monitor this?
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Sladey, Ford was very good – and still so young. Curry is a very good player, filled in well at the back of the scrum and as the kick receiver.
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