November Internationals (excluding Wallabies & NZ)

[molman]

France v Japan has a fun tidbit. Check out France's starting tighthead and Japan's number 20. He's gonna be a busy man.

France (15-1): Leo Barre; Damian Penaud, Emilien Gailleton, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont (capt); Gregory Alldritt, Alexandre Roumat, Francois Cros; Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament; Tevita Tatafu, Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Reda Wardi, Georges-Henri Colombe, Mickael Guillard, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert, Gael Fickou

Japan: 15 Malo Tuitama, 14 Jone Nakiabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Siosaia Fifita, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa (captain), 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faula Makisi, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Kanji Shimokawa, 5 Warner Deans, 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takato Okabe.
Replacements: 16 Kenta Masuoka, 17 Yukio Morikawa, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Amato Fakatava, 20 Tevita Tatafu, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Yusuke Kajimura, 23 Takuro Matsunaga.

That's nice of Tevita Tatafu to play for both teams

 

[molman]

Wales vs Fiji

Date: Sunday, November 10
Venue: Principality Stadium
Kick-off: 13:40 GMT
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 James Botham, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Sam Costelow

Fiji: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (cc), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (cc), 1 Eroni Mawi

Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Simi Kuruvoli, 22 Isaiah Ravula, 23 Sireli Maqala

This is a rather different looking (re: stronger) Fiji side to the one against Scotland with a number of inclusions like Radradra, Tuisova etc.

Wales starting 15 don't look too bad.

Bit of a hard one to pick for me, Fiji could demolish Wales if they clean up their discipline/set piece as they have some exceptional talent. That said, Wales could make a real grind of it and kick and maul their way to a victory. Love to see Fiji get up in this one.

 

[Yoda]

Wales vs Fiji

Date: Sunday, November 10
Venue: Principality Stadium
Kick-off: 13:40 GMT
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 James Botham, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Sam Costelow

Fiji: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (cc), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (cc), 1 Eroni Mawi

Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Simi Kuruvoli, 22 Isaiah Ravula, 23 Sireli Maqala

This is a rather different looking (re: stronger) Fiji side to the one against Scotland with a number of inclusions like Radradra, Tuisova etc.

Wales starting 15 don't look too bad.

Bit of a hard one to pick for me, Fiji could demolish Wales if they clean up their discipline/set piece as they have some exceptional talent. That said, Wales could make a real grind of it and kick and maul their way to a victory. Love to see Fiji get up in this one.

And…… they did!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ Scawtlund sadly did not which appears to make Sethfrika #1 in the Rankings again.

 

[Dctarget]

Fellas I can’t believe my eyes! Is it snowing? Has Christmas come early! Scotland, Ireland, England & Wales all lose, with Eddie Jones’s Japan getting pummelled as the cherry on top! Time to increase my rugby journalism consumption, it’s a good week.

also wales suck, I’m sorry but they’re awful, go Fiji.

 

[Highlander35]

Disappointed that the margin looks blown out by the last try but South Africa well deserved winners.

Bit of a sloppy one all round, but an overall competitive game where the Bokke aerial strength, scrum pressure and defence on the 5m line was a level above.

It certainly wasn't the sole factor, but Binghorn on the wing in a post-Hogg world is not the play for us. I understand trying it for this fixture, given Jordan's performance last week and missing Steyn, Graham and Rowe, 3 of your top 4 wings, but at the end of the day, if you're putting a midfielder like Jordan at fullback instead instead of having a back 3 player like Patterson and Reed on the wing, what's the point in having them in the squad?

 

[Dctarget]

Disappointed that the margin looks blown out by the last try but South Africa well deserved winners.

Bit of a sloppy one all round, but an overall competitive game where the Bokke aerial strength, scrum pressure and defence on the 5m line was a level above.

It certainly wasn't the sole factor, but Binghorn on the wing in a post-Hogg world is not the play for us. I understand trying it for this fixture, given Jordan's performance last week and missing Steyn, Graham and Rowe, 3 of your top 4 wings, but at the end of the day, if you're putting a midfielder like Jordan at fullback instead instead of having a back 3 player like Patterson and Reed on the wing, what's the point in having them in the squad?

That red card was diabolical too, terrible decision.

 

[Highlander35]

That red card was diabolical too, terrible decision.

I hope it's overturned so he won't miss the game against your mob or the champions cup fixtures, but it doesn't really concern me. It had little to no material impact on the game, at least as compared to the makeshift back three, the lack of experienced depth at lock and tighthead, and the failure to execute a last pass so many times.

 

[Dctarget]

I hope it's overturned so he won't miss the game against your mob or the champions cup fixtures, but it doesn't really concern me. It had little to no material impact on the game, at least as compared to the makeshift back three, the lack of experienced depth at lock and tighthead, and the failure to execute a last pass so many times.

Yeah I thought Scotland were really in it for a bit, also such a shame for that scrubbed off try that Sione set up, was very nice. Especially since Mapimpi was most definitely out of touch for his try.

 

[Hawko]

This was a funny weekend to pick results. I got 6/10 correct and was lucky to get that given some of the early results. Moved up about 80 places on the G&GR pool, so some players must have had an absolute 'mare. So many unexpected results, especially amongst teams below about 10 in the rankings!

 

[Dctarget]

Scotland lose Dempsey, Gregor Brown, Max Williamson from camp. Not sure about severity but I assume they won’t be available for Aus.

 

[Dctarget]

I think England will win this Sunday's match against Springboks, for no other reason than they must. If they don't win, they then face Ireland and France in January next Six Nations, where they'll probably lose too. Potentially meaning, of their last 10 games, they would've only won twice, both times against Eddie's Japan (that is if they do win next weekend against Japan).

Time for them to come good.

 

[Highlander35]

Scotland lose Dempsey, Gregor Brown, Max Williamson from camp. Not sure about severity but I assume they won’t be available for Aus.

Dempsey the biggest loss, but we do have the depth to cover in the back row. Williamson and Brown are highly rated but I think Townsend would have always wanted to see Craig in the lineup alongside Glichrist/Cummings for the last game.

 

[John S]

I think England will win this Sunday's match against Springboks, for no other reason than they must. If they don't win, they then face Ireland and France in January next Six Nations, where they'll probably lose too. Potentially meaning, of their last 10 games, they would've only won twice, both times against Eddie's Japan (that is if they do win next weekend against Japan).

Time for them to come good.

They must win, but I think the Boks are just too good for the poms, and I say that with a small sense of joy in the bottom of my heart.

 

[molman]

Ok, I'm normally cheering the Irish on, but I really wanted Argentina to win that game last night. If there is such a thing as deserving to win a game, they deserved it.

The Irish really get away with a bit around the park, especially at the ruck and Argentina just showed so much more effort and intent.

I'd also love some better camera angles in these games on things, like that knock on call at the end, give us a clear view. I can see it bobble forward, but I can't see if there is a hand of anything on it or if it just bobbles a bit as the Iish press down on the ruck. A real shame of an end because I don't think it was necessarily the result of good Irish defence and my gut tells me that the Argentines were a good chance of going over there.

I'm kind of disappointed that the TMO doesn't do a better job on some things like that kick to touch was clearly touched by Hansen and the poor Argentine is pleading with the referee.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

 

[Sword of Justice]

Lot of English people online saying how much better England were in this match as if defence and goal kicking aren’t pillars of rugby.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ No-one does Moral Victory quite like the Poms.

 

[Tomthumb]

This England team reminds me of Dave Rennie's Wallabies. Just a constant ability to find ways to lose every winnable game

 

[Dctarget]

What are people's thoughts on Borthwick's England?

He's been points away from beating NZ, France and SA within the past year. I think he's got a decent team, Marcus Smith is a freak, his backrow and locks are great. It seems like he's close to clicking.

But he's already had some 25 odd games in charge, he's not a rookie coach, on a massive losing streak, change should be happening.