Saturday 28th November 2020
Argentina vs New Zealand
Newcastle, NSW
Kick off 08:45
New Zealand shake up the pack, bringing in prop Nepo Laulala, lock Scott Barrett, and backrow Akira Ioane. Argentina make 10 changes with only Nicolas Sanchez, captain Pablo Matera, Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer and hooker Julian Montoya keeping their places. Question: can Argentina raise it again, or will a New Zealand side facing a third successive loss for the first time since 1998 save face?
A New Zealand loss and the pressure on coach Ian Foster would keep building; can Argentina bring the sustained ferocity of two weeks ago again, or is lifting themselves for a third match in a row too much? Does the passing of Diego Maradona give them something to focus on, or does it unsettle them (or have no effect whatsoever)? One leans towards an All Black win – if only because they just don’t do consecutive losses very much.
New Zealand – Beauden Barrett; Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Akira Ioane; Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett; Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Replacements: Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan
Argentina – Emiliano Boffelli; Ramiro Moyano, Juan Cruz Mallia, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Santiago Cordero; Nicolas Sanchez, Felipe Ezcurra; Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (capt); Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti; Santiago Medrano, Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas
Replacements: Santiago Socino, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Lucio Sordoni, Matias Alemanno, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Bertranou, Santiago Carreras, Lucas Mensa
Scotland v Fiji
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Match Cancelled
The “Mystic Meg” in me predicts the record books will show a 28-0 win for Scotland. It’s a pity that Fiji haven’t had the chance to show what they could do this autumn. Scotland will also regret missing a chance to wrap up with an expected win, and maybe play some more open rugby after what seems to have been something of an arm-wrestle/penalty-fest against France.
Wales v England
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 16:00
Having broken – as expected – a nasty losing streak against Georgia, Wales now face into an England team that pretty much did to Ireland what Ireland had done to Wales in the first round of matches. That said, in the last Six Nations game in an almost identical scenario, it was much closer than anyone might have expected (33-30), albeit Wales scored two converted tries when England were down to 14 following Tuliagi’s red card.
The expectation must be that England will wrap up the group games with a win in their first appearance in Llanelli since 1887 – which was a nil-nil draw – but England continue to stir resistance in Welsh international teams, so Ireland will watch with interest (at least for a bit).
Wales – Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau, Lloyd Williams, Dan Biggar, Josh Adams, Johnny Williams, Nick Tompkins, Louis Rees-Zammit, Leigh Halfpenny
Replacements – Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Aaron Wainwright, Rhys Webb, Callum Sheedy, Owen Watkin
England – Elliot Daly, Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola
Replacements – Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Jonny Hill, Ben Earl, Jack Willis, Dan Robson, Anthony Watson;
France v Italy
Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 20:10
France scored five tries to beat Italy 35-22 in Paris during this year’s Six Nations. Italy have shown enough in the two games vs England (to wrap up the 6N) and Scotland that they might give a what looks like a France ‘B’ or a France XV a hard time for an extended period.
France – R. Neti, P. Mauvaka, D. Aldegheri, K. Geraci, B. Pesenti, C. Woki, A. Jelonch, S. Macalou, B. Serin, M. Jalibert, G. Villiere, J. Danty, J. Barraque, T. Thomas, B. Dulin, T. Thomas, B.Dulin
Remplacements – T. Baubigny, H. Kolingar, U. Atonio, F. Cazeaux, S. Rebbadj, B. Couilloud, L. Carbonel, Y. Moefana
Sunday 29th November 2020
Ireland v Georgia
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 14:00
With only Ulster prop Eric O’Sullivan joining the squad, Farrell has resisted calls to throw caution to the wind and call up Casey, Byrne, and various members of the last couple of cohorts of U20s. The suspicion is that what’s required is a confidence-boosting win vs Georgia – something along the lines of England’s or Scotland’s 40+ point wins. What’s least required at this point in time is something akin to Wales’s competent but unexciting victory.
Georgia’s famed strength in the scrum and maul seems to be – right now – a thing of the past, so Ireland might feel able to play with some abandon without fear that every forward pass or knock forward results in a lengthy struggle at scrum-time. Equally, it might go the other way and we play a tight forward-dominated game knowing that we can overpower Georgia physically: basically, doubling down on what didn’t work vs England. As expected, Burns will start at 10 with Murray, but in general this is a fairly full strength team, with subs and starters swapping.
Ireland – Jacob Stockdale, Hugo Keenan, Chris Farrell, Stuart McCloskey, Keith Earls, Billy Burns, Conor Murray, Finlay Bealham, Rob Herring, Andrew Porter, Iain Henderson, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Will Connors, CJ Stander
Replacements – Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Quinn Roux, Peter O’Mahony, Kieran Marmion, Ross Byrne, Shane Daly
PRO 14
Saturday 28 November
Connacht vs Ospreys – Connacht are unpredictable. They’ve beaten both Glasgow and Edinburgh then lost to Cardiff and Scarlets. Ospreys on the up following a come-from-behind win vs Benetton. Prediction: Connacht.
Sunday 29 November
Treviso vs Dragons – Dragons are improving, but haven’t played since the Munster game on 1st Nov. Treviso failed to see out a win vs Ospreys. Prediction: Treviso.
Scarlets vs Leinster – Scarlets gave Ulster a fright last week, but Leinster seem unlikely to lose.
Cardiff vs Glasgow – Despite the 40-5 scoreline, Cardiff gave Leinster a hard enough game last week. Equally, Munster didn’t win as comfortably vs Glasgow as 27-13 sounds. Cardiff look well drilled, and Glasgow are abrasive. Your guess is as good as mine.
Monday 30 November
Munster vs Zebre – Zebre were easily beaten by Connacht last time out. Munster haven’t lost in the Pro-14.
Edinburgh vs Ulster – Edinburgh’s last game was a thorough beating by Leinster. Ulster aren’t yet beaten and seem to be dogging out wins. Lean toward Ulster.
Mystic Meg machinations by TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
Onna telly this week
Friday 27th November
| Sharks v Pumas | 17:00 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Newcastle v Sale | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 28th November
| Argentina v New Zealand | 08:45 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Northampton v Harlequins | 14:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Griquas v Golden Lions | 14:30 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Bristol v Worcester | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Gloucester v Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Wales v England | 16:00 | S4C / Amazon Prime |
| Western Province v Blue Bulls | 17:00 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Exeter v Bath | 17:30 | BT Sport Extra |
| Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 | FreeSports |
| France v Italy | 20:00 | Amazon Prime |
Sunday 29th November
| Ireland v Georgia | 14:00 | Channel 4 |
| Treviso v Dragons | 16:00 | FreeSports |
| London Irish v Leicester | 16:1 | BT Sport 2 |
| Scarlets v Leinster | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Cardiff v Glasgow | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
Monday 23rd November
| Edinburgh v Ulster | 20:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Munster v Zebre | 20:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
Ovally Balls 
Black, black black ref.
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Ok, did him there fair and square.
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Pumas just about hanging in there at the break. They need a massive 2nd half.
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10-0 at half time, ABs on top in the scrum, and looking dangerous outside . Poomas just not quite firing, 9 under pressure, passes not sticking. Lucky to still be in it.
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That was some amazing last-gasp defence by the Pumas.
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NZ’s ball is really slow in the Pumas 22.
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That’s the way to do it.
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How do you stop Savea from that distance. Looks like the tear in the firmament a fortnight ago has been well and truly repaired. This disciplined Blackness is very impressive
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That’s the match over. Can the Pumas at least get a losing BP and stop the Kiwis getting the winning one?
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That said, I can’t see where the Pumas are gonna get a minimum of 10 points from.
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Certainly does not help if they keep handing the ball to the lightening quick Will Jordan.
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Tri-Nations back to New Zealand.
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That should be a red for NZ 18.
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Cop out. Red every day.
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What a passage of play, for that last try.
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Oh well, business as usual. Moral victory for Poomas for having to play 3 games in 3 weeks.
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80 minutes on the clock so red/yellow doesn’t really matter. It’ll get an upgrade in the disciplinary meeting, no?
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Isn’t that what the Kiwis had to do weeks 1-3 of this competition?
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That was a huge performance by the All Blacks. Just relentless. Congrats to them and the Kiwis here – surely got the trophy in the bag.
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Well, yeess, but then they had a week off, the Poomas don’t. Still moral victory to the Poomas. Just because. and the same next week in advance.
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Nick Tompkins doing his best John Redwood impression there.
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Is that Barnes with Flats and the dog-less Cotter?
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Daft by Slade but wasn’t that a Welsh knock-on?
Welsh foot, then hand forwards………
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Afternoon everyone. Looks like this could be an entertaining game!
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English foot, Welsh hand in charge down, Slade now in for try.
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Half the English passes are just behind the runners and it’s killing the momentum a bit.
Ah, Slade makes amends for the daft grubber.
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But then that try shouldn’t have stood as Biggar was taken in the air, but Roman disagrees with the TMO.
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How was that tackle not a card?
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Daly bounced off the ball and rode up.
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Cotter: The problem with having former props as referees is that they’d have to trundle around on a Segway.
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I’m uneasy. Wales will have a purple patch and score a try or two at some point in this game, and England aren’t ahead enough for all the possession they have had.
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Particularly approve of the scrum decision there with Youngs wasting time at the base. I would like to see more of that, particularly when crocodiles are involved. SHame Wales didn’t get a score from it. That would’ve learnt him.
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That was a classic from Cotter, Thaum
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Just dropping by after 4 month sabbatical and see lots of familiar names.Hope you are all in the best of fettle.
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Top shithousery by AWJ, at that maul.
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Reckon England will pull away now.
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Nice work, BB!
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Well, I would have had Daly off anyway. Interesting to note that Jonny May was so busy trying to “shield” Daly that 1/2 P nearly got away.
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THIS IS CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cotter’s been spending too much time with Olive and Mabel. Daly, with that bandaged paw….
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Terrible work, Slade.
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..oops – sorry for the caps., but what a waste of forward domination and a quivver of class backs.
Keep the ball!!!
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It’s that BB said ‘England are going to pull away now’, and then Wales score 6 points in quick succession, then you said, “THIS IS CRAP”, and England get a penalty.
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As it turns out, you were both right.
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Funny game. Never really got out of third gear.
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Maybe, Dab, there’s nothing beyond 3rd gear.
Only watched bits. Beaten by a more experienced and powerful team. But we held them to less than I’d expected. Need a more solid performance up front if we’re going to get out of 1st gear.
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Underwhelmed, I have to say. Well played Wales, thought Faletau was particularly decent. England worked out a decent win, and looked potentially slightly more fluid, but would rather see Watson at 15 and Daly playing for his club.
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@Tomp I meant the game itself. I’m not sure England even have a third gear at the moment.
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Well yes, Slade old chap, I concur, but I do get bored of saying it, may have to pop over to the Graun just to rattle some cages.
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Dab, Poite got a sniff of a weaker scrum from what I saw and penalised them constantly. Gonna break a game up.
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