Due to us just getting back from Chicago and the All Blacks/Ireland game, and finding that our employers saddled us with an unreasonable number of deadlines and workloads this week, we sadly are going to have to keep this week’s Calls down to a few one-liners. A more in-depth resumption of service will return next week.
Last week saw the two headline events of Ireland vs New Zealand and England vs Australia. Of the two, we’d argue that, despite witnessing the first in person, Australia and England produced a better game. Ultimately, New Zealand hit their straps in the second half of their adventure in Chicago, while Ireland never really got going; it simply didn’t fire the imagination as a spectacle, and there were some somewhat controversial issues surrounding how the game was staged, officiated, and managed. It was all in stark contrast to the game in 2016, which was a fantastic experience. In short, when the US hosts the 2031 Rugby World Cup, it will have to drastically improve.
As for this weekend, there is no doubt the headline game is France vs South Africa. We are slightly reluctant to bill it as a rematch of their Quarter Final duel at the last World Cup. The game in Chicago last weekend, a rematch of the 2016 epic between New Zealand and Ireland at the same venue, was overhyped to the point that it simply didn’t deliver. We fear that drawing too many parallels between France and South Africa now and in 2023 could also lead to an anticlimax. It’s a game in its own right, regardless of past histories and perceived grudges, and let’s all hope it ends up being a cracking game of rugby in the spirit of the moment, something it has the potential to be and then some, given the current quality of the two teams. In short, the here and now is why you should be watching this game, not on historical events two years ago.
Australia and Italy do battle this weekend as well, and that should be an intriguing game as well. Despite a brave effort, Australia failed to really get out of the blocks against England, and Italy has everything to prove this month, especially as these games will have an impact on the upcoming World Cup draw at the end of the year and seedings for the Pools. Italy has looked decidedly promising of late, and while their next fixture against South Africa is likely to be very much a case of a bridge too far, this fixture is probably the one they are targeting the most to get some significant gains in.
The other big-ticket item this weekend is Scotland vs New Zealand. New Zealand got the first-round ticket to their November Grand Slam aspirations punched and validated in Chicago. Based on form, they should get a second ribbon this weekend, but can Scotland take their 85-0 annihilation of the USA last weekend and put it to good use to throw the All Blacks off their game? New Zealand ultimately got the measure of Ireland in the second half in Chicago, but can they handle a Scottish side likely to be full of surprises, especially when Scotland’s mischievous wizard Finn Russell is waving the wand from the fly-half berth? The answer is yes, probably, but there is also the outside chance this could end up being the biggest banana-skin match of the month. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy seeing Scotland operate their running game at full tilt, as we still liken them to the Northern Hemisphere’s version of the Flying Fijians.
So, like we say, apologies for the brevity of all this, but life and the demands of our various employers in their headlong rush to the end of the year have meant that our rugby chinwags have had to be put on the back burner this week. Enjoy what should be a great weekend, and we hope to resume regular service next week.
Scotland vs New Zealand – Saturday, November 8th – 10:10 PM (Eastern) – DAZN, Premier Sports Asia and Stan Sports Australia (live and on demand)
Italy vs Australia – Saturday, November 8th – 12:40 PM (Eastern) – DAZN, Premier Sports Asia and Stan Sports Australia (live and on demand)
France vs South Africa – Saturday, November 8th – 3:10 PM (Eastern) – DAZN, Premier Sports Asia and Stan Sports Australia (live and on demand)
The Lineout 