Category: Rugby Union

Rugby Union News

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England asked for CCTV footage of Tom Curry’s alleged tunnel scuffle

  • Argentina lodge complaint and demand investigation

  • Post-match incident follows anger over Curry tackle

England have been told to provide CCTV footage of the alleged tunnel bust-up between Tom Curry and Felipe Contepomi after Argentina lodged a formal complaint and demanded an investigation into the incident.

It is understood that Six Nations Rugby – which organises the autumn Tests – has asked for England to provide footage as well as a formal statement before deciding whether to begin disciplinary proceedings. The Rugby Football Union is also expected to provide any other relevant video captured of the incident.

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England 27-23 Argentina: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened

Max Ojomoh scored one try and and set up two more as England held off a late comeback from Argentina.

This is Argentina’s third and final game of the autumn.

They spanked Wales by a record score and, as we’ve said multiple times, did the business as they came from behind to stun Scotland.

Wales 26-52 New Zealand

Ireland 13-24 South Africa

France 48-33 Australia

Italy 34-19 Chile

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Van der Merwe becomes Scotland’s record try-scorer in thrashing of Tonga

  • Scotland 56-0 Tonga

  • Visitors given three yellow cards and one red

Duhan van der Merwe moved in front of Darcy Graham at the top of Scotland’s all-time try-scoring charts as Gregor Townsend’s side rounded off a disappointing autumn with an eight-try 56-0 win over indisciplined Tonga at Murrayfield.

The Scots’ series was always going to be defined by results against New Zealand and Argentina, so back-to-back losses in those two Tests meant the visit of a Tonga side ranked 19th in the world would be largely irrelevant in the final analysis – unless Townsend’s men were beaten again.

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Wallabies fans are entitled to be frustrated but it’s not all grim for this tired, talented side

There were enough sparks and signs of intent in Europe to suggest Australia are a team at the beginning of something, not the end

At the end of a frenetic first half, where Angus Bell ran in one of the great tries by a Wallaby prop, where Matt Faessler powered over for a brace, where Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored a solo stunner and Thomas Ramos and Nicolas Depoortère dotted down as well, Tane Edmed gathered a pass at first receiver.

The young fly-half, playing in his seventh Test, was having a decent game. He’d slotted two of his three shots at goal. He was brave to the line, carrying with zip, stitching moves together as he tried to spark a backline short on fluency. But with the clock in the red, he attempted a raking kick to the corner. Either he didn’t realise the 40 minutes had elapsed, or he thought he was in his own half and a 50-22 was on. Either way, after watching the ball skid into touch to end the half, he stood still, hands on head, stunned by his own misread.

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France triumph in topsy-turvy match to leave Australia winless on autumn tour

  • France 48-33 Australia

  • Les Bleus run in seven tries to end autumn series in style

France beat Australia in a see-saw match to end the Wallabies’ first winless tour of Europe in 67 years, spoiling Joe Schmidt’s farewell Test as both teams closed their autumn series at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Les Bleus, whose November campaign produced mixed results, alternated moments of attacking flair and periods of costly indiscipline, repeatedly allowing Australia back into a match that fluctuated throughout.

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Wallabies condemned to winless Europe tour in loss to France as pressure mounts on Joe Schmidt

  • Despite improved showing, Australia fall 48-33 to Les Bleus in Paris

  • Wallabies make unwanted history with first winless Europe tour in 67 years

Pressure continues to mount on the beleaguered coach Joe Schmidt after the Wallabies ended a disastrous spring tour with a damaging 48-33 loss to France in Paris.

Despite a vastly improved showing after insipid displays against England, Italy and Ireland, the Wallabies have now endured a winless four-Test tour of Europe for the first time since 1958.

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Ireland 13-24 South Africa: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened

Ireland lose five men to the sin-bin – including one red card – a South Africa’s power game secures Rassie Erasmus’ first win in Dublin.

Sam Prendergasr gets the nod at fly-half as an otherwise settled side takes aim at the world champions.

Experience duo Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier return with gnarled veterans joining them across the park.

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Beating Pumas could open pivotal chapter in England’s 2027 World Cup story

Defeat of Argentina in 2000 was important stepping stone for Clive Woodward’s side on way to winning ultimate prize

It is exactly 25 years since the most fraught pre-match buildup in the history of English international rugby union. In this same week in November 2000 a pay row led to the entire national side walking out on strike, prompting Clive Woodward to threaten that an alternative team of lower-league amateurs would be chosen if his players did not return to training by 11am the following morning.

After a tense standoff they duly did so, a grudging truce was agreed and the weekend game against Argentina went ahead with England winning 19-0. Three years later all but two of that matchday squad (the exceptions were David Flatman and Matt Perry) were lifting the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The moral of the “strike” story? The darkest hour can be the springboard to a spectacular golden dawn.

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Maro Itoje backs late call-up Max Ojomoh to shine against Argentina

  • Bath centre replaces Fraser Dingwall

  • Itoje: ‘He has a bit of a swagger the way he plays’

Max Ojomoh has been backed to bring his swagger to England’s pursuit of an autumn internationals clean sweep after he was a late call-up following more disruption to Steve Borthwick’s side. Ojomoh has been thrust into the No 12 jersey for a first Twickenham start in place of the injured Fraser Dingwall but Maro Itoje believes the Bath centre will flourish against Argentina.

Dingwall’s withdrawal with a side strain sustained last weekend is further upheaval for Borthwick, who has already lost Ollie Lawrence, Jamie George and Tom Roebuck since the 33-19 triumph over the All Blacks. With Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum also injury casualties of the autumn, Borthwick’s ranks have been depleted but Ojomoh has been in fine fettle for Bath this season and impressed on his debut against the USA last summer.

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Would South Africa look enviously at England’s game? Probably not, but the gap is closing | Ugo Monye

The Springboks are the standard-bearers in world rugby and will look to underline that position with a first win in Dublin in the Rassie Erasmus era

Be careful what you wish for. That would be my message to England supporters getting a little bit ahead of themselves and wishing that South Africa were due at Twickenham on Sunday. By all means get a little carried away – that’s the beauty of following a team on a winning run and it’s a demonstration of the confidence surrounding this England team at the moment – but the Springboks can wait until next summer.

South Africa remain the standard-bearers in world rugby. They are perfectly placed to achieve their goal of finishing the year as the No 1 team in the world and, given South Africa have never won in Dublin under Rassie Erasmus, there will be plenty of motivation to create another slice of history against Ireland on Saturday. The question is, have England closed the gap this autumn? And if so, by how much.

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England’s wing commander Daly primed to take flight against Pumas

Back in the fold after a broken arm, the veteran back has the high-ball skills to take the aerial tactic to another level

It’s funny how things have come full circle for Elliot Daly. The first time he played a Test against Argentina he lasted barely five minutes before being shown a red card for a misjudged tackle on a still airborne opponent. And now, nine years on, to whom have England turned to help discomfort the Pumas aerially? None other than wing commander Daly.

Much has changed, however, since that distant sending off at Twickenham in November 2016 on what was only his third start for England. Daly is now a vastly experienced international with 73 caps and the game also looks significantly different courtesy of the crackdown on “escorts” protecting the catcher, which has put an even greater emphasis on high-ball expertise.

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England call up Noah Caluori for Argentina Test after triple injury blow

  • Lawrence, George and Roebuck all ruled out

  • Arundell, Pollock and Daly among wing options

England have been hit by a triple injury blow before their final autumn Test with Ollie ­Lawrence, Jamie George and Tom Roebuck all ruled out of the game against Argentina on Sunday. The 19‑year-old uncapped wing Noah Caluori has been called into the squad and could profit from ­Roebuck’s absence.

All three injured players started the 33-19 win against the All Blacks on Saturday, forcing Steve Borthwick into a significant reshuffle as his side targets an 11th successive victory and a clean sweep of four November Tests for the first time since Eddie Jones’s first autumn in charge in 2016.

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England sweating over fitness of Ollie Lawrence for Argentina match

  • Centre limped off during statement win over All Blacks

  • Freddie Steward could also miss out with head injury

England are sweating on the fitness of Ollie Lawrence before their final autumn clash with Argentina this weekend.

Lawrence starred on Saturday in the statement victory against the All Blacks but limped off in the closing stages and could be forced to sit out the match against the Pumas on Sunday. The 26-year-old centre will be assessed when England reconvene on Tuesday after an extra day off but if Lawrence is ruled out it would be a blow for Steve Borthwick.

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