Ireland v South Africa
With Bundee Aki in detention for being a bad boy and Robbie Henshaw pulling a hamstring in training, Stuart McCloskey is at last getting a start in a big game. Fellow Ulsterman Flying Robert Baloucoune also starts on the wing, with Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell on the bench. Springboks better be careful! Ireland by 5 (McCloskey try).
Italy v Samoa
Hard to predict as I’ve no idea what Samoa’s form is like, but they may benefit from some poached players returning. Draw.
Scotland v Fiji
Fiji are never a side to be discounted, but a strong Scotland will do the business, even without Finn’s flair. Scotland by 15.
Wales v New Zealand
With half the first-choice starters injured (and Halfpenny currently an injury doubt too), this can only go one way. NZ by 38. (It would have been 48, but talisman AWJ is on the bench.)
France v Australia
France have rediscovered Gallic flair and are currently a truly frightening side to face. They are also hosting the World Cup next year, and will want to put on a good display. Wobblies are wobbly. France by 15.
England v Argentina
Eddie Jones has named a tired side, albeit with Marcus Smith at fly-half and a new bloke. As astutely pointed out by the notablog denizens, Billy Vunipola is unlikely to last more than 20 minutes. Argentina by 2.
Onna telly this week
Friday 4th November
| Northampton v Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 5th November
| England v Canada (women) | 03:30 | ITV |
| France v New Zealand (women) | 06:30 | ITV |
| Scotland v Fiji | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Sale v Gloucester | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Italy v Samoa | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Wales v New Zealand | 15:15 | Amazon Prime |
| Ireland v South Africa | 17:30 | Amazon Prime |
| France v Australia | 20:00 | Amazon Prime |
Sunday 6th November
| Pau v Bordeaux | 14:10 | Viaplay (formerly Premier Sports) |
| England v Argentina | 14:15 | Amazon Prime |
Ovally Balls 
Well, that’s evened the numbers.
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Well, that’s evens on the reds then.
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Faf looking smug as only a scrum-half can.
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Yip. Straight red. Never in a position to challenge for the ball. Boks need to score here.
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Yellow must be close now too. Assuming we don’t cock up the lineout.
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SBT, you asked about the kicker? Wow! Me too!
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Boks have tightened their game up a lot in this half and are making some big hits. Faf’s tache is forgiven if he kicks us to victory!
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This is like a RWC final such is the intensity
only without Scotland
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Le Roux should have been at 10 for that clearance being a left footed kicker. Now France have a doddle of a penalty.
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One point game going into the last quarter! Never saw this when du Toit got sent off.
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Shocker of a decision Barnes
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Great break out by France, but pinged for not releasing. Willemse with a shot now. Our 3rd kicker for the evening! Ping! 22-26 with 15 to go.
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Mapimps was away if he’d hung on.
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Kitshoff signs for Ulster and turns to mush.
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“but pinged for not releasing. ”
He was pinged for not releasing whilst in a tackle, the tackle was never completed
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Etzebeth contesting leaves us short a maul defender. He’s way too upright to have an impact once the maul is set.
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Ticht, it was possibly unlucky. He went to ground in the tackle but wasn’t held, so yes, but Barnes adjudged the tackle to have been made.
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That try was coming. Fuck it Bokke! You’ve been superb tonight under the circumstances, just get one last shot!
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What a steal by Moefana, from the restart.
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Fuck! That should be the game. And Willie le Roux, please stop shouting in the ref’s ear every time the whistle is blown!
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Well done France.
It’s going to be a belter of a World Cup next year
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Good game. A couple of years back the Bos would have closed out a game like that.
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Barnes adjudged the tackle to have been made.
Deebee, Barnes did make that judgement, but there is no way anyone could say that tackle was completed, the French player was about a metre away from the tackler before he got back to his feet, Barnes was wrong
He was the only one in the auditorium to think he was right, that got the loudest reaction all night
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Ah, shit! In the end France did just enough. Well played in a pretty brutal match! Under the circumstances, I don’t think either side will be unhappy – or perhaps too happy. Losing du Toit so early was a huge blow, but it was entirely his fault, so no excuses there. I thoigh we played bloody well after that and with a wee bit more composure, who knows? Was happy the Boks actually gave the ball a bit of air as well, but we still lost C’est la vie! Congrats Flair (and Ticht)!
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Ooof!
But violent
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Congrats Flair (and Ticht)!
:-)
I make no bones about my support for France, I thought that was a top test match, these games are seldom ones that get replayed for the ages, but it was close and tense and played at World Cup levels of intensity.
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Phew!
Enjoyed the game immensely, regardless of the final outcome. Could’ve gone either way.
When the Boks give the ball a bit of air, they’re so much better than when they play a 10 man game. Brutal though, so many HIA’s!
France showed a lot of grit and determination. To lose your best player, captain and SH, to a -deserved- red card when they had played with an extra man for more than half an hour and had little to show for it, must have been tough. And yet…
Flair is nice – says he- but as usual comes second to power and discipline.
Bar a minor mistake, I thought Barnes had a good game too.
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Thought the Boks turned out to be the better side and were pretty unlucky to lose. Good game.
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One of those could have gone either ways, but a cracking test match . A little bit of the blood and thunder national passion from both sides that England seem lacking.
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Right, T20 World Cup final. Hope you’re all watching it
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Great game. Result was never in doubt.
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Uruguay just beat Romania in a real old arm wrestle. Romania were 13-6 up at the break, then 13-14 down with 10 to go, then 16-14 up on the hooter, only for Uruguay to score in the corner after going through multiple phases! Is there any other decent rugby on this afternoon?
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Before we start
MON SCOTLAAAANNDDD!!!!
Half time
*Sigh*
Full time
*sob*
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Gwaaan Scotland! Allez les Bleus du Nord!
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Oh, that was a lovely moment with Doddie.
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Well, that didn’t take long.
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Ouch, that was quick.
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Not sure why Clarke didn’t pin his ears back there. Worked out in the end though.
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C’mon Scotland! Settle down and play some rugby! Not a great start.
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Pen try & yellow, surely?
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And it is. Scotland right back in this.
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At least we won’t be nilled…
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Correct decision. That’s better Scotland!
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YYYYEEEESSSS!!!!!
Wee Darcy!
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Intercept try by Darcey Graham, as NZ try to go wide. G’wan Scotland!
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Already 4 tries. This is fun.
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Great try! Great stepping! Kiwis lucky they got on the board early! This could get ugly for them.
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Bugger! Bit more patience there!
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The ref sounds like an Irish Nige.
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What a finish! At least, I hope so.
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