Rugby 2024-25

England going for a 6:2 bench split with Slade starting his second game of the season is a bold move.

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Spencer; Genge, George (capt), Stuart; Itoje, Martin; Cunningham-South, T Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Cole, Isiekwe, B Curry, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford.

Anyone know how to watch the games?  Looks like TNT or Discovery+ (are these the same thing).

What’s the cheapest way to view – any single day passes?

Anyone know how to watch the games?  Looks like TNT or Discovery+ (are these the same thing).

What’s the cheapest way to view – any single day passes?

there all being shown on TNT which you can watch via the discovery+ app on your smart TV / Sky. sky gets discovery+ free up to a certain tier, but i think you have to upgrade to get the TNT premium to watch the autumn internationals or the Gallagher premiership. looks like it’s only month subscriptions that they do at c £39

none of it is very clear from the info i’ve seen online

EDIT – looks like it’s £31 for a monthly pass. still unclear how to actually purchase it mind

What’s the cheapest way to view

Dodgy internet feed, second cheapest is at rugby club if you ignore the cost of beer?

I’m off to Scotland-Fiji on Saturday.

I’m off to Scotland-Fiji on Saturday

That should be fun – could be close

TNT have done a shit job of promoting this.  I’m a big rugby watcher – TV and some live games – and I’ve not seen a single advert.  Seems a bit pointless buying up the broadcast rights and then not promoting to target audience

Im off to Scotland-Fiji on Saturday

We are too. Triple header this weekend with Jnr playing Friday night, Scotland-Fiji Saturday, then playing again Sunday morning.

Oh great.  Like the MTB I await trying to watch it only to find out I need to pay £30 a month more.

ffs.

That should be fun – could be close

Really looking forward to it. Haven’t been to a game for a few years and meeting up with some old mates for pre and post game shenanigans.

Every English rugby fans favourite ball grabbing, racial slur spouting loosehead prop is at it again.

Lining up his post rugby career as a “content creator”?

Every English rugby fans favourite ball grabbing, racial slur spouting loosehead prop is at it again.

He’s not completely wrong though is he. Tradition and culture not withstanding, allowing them to do their thing without allowing the opposition to face them down or respond (or even go off and stay warmed up) inherently gives an advantage. And whilst I get it’s a Maori tradition (although not for playing a game), watching the white guys doing it feels a bit like cultural appropriation.

Let NZ do the haka but you should be allowed to do a campese in response.

Or if it MUST be done then during the warm up.

What is borthwick doing leaving Willis out at 8, I get the Dombrant and Smith operate well but Willis has been a total monster all season.

And whilst I get it’s a Maori tradition (although not for playing a game), watching the white guys doing it feels a bit like cultural appropriation

You’d be surprised how many “white guys” in NZ have quite significant amounts of of Maori heritage.

I like it, I also don’t ever see people moan about the Fijian or Samoan or Tongan war dances…only NZ, when they might get beaten (notwithstanding the fact Wales will likely lose to Fiji next week ?)

Meanwhile in the doom and gloom end of the rugby pool.

I can’t help thinking this collective series of issues means a trouncing at whatever Twickenham is called these days.   The extra £30 TV subscription will deny me the Live experience thankfully.

New Zealand: Jordan; Tele’a, Ioane, J Barrett, Clarke; B Barrett, Ratima; Williams, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett (capt), Vaa’i, Sititi, Cane, Savea.

Replacements: Aumua, Tu’ungafasi, Tosi, Tuipulotu, Finau, Roigard, Lienart-Brown, McKenzie

Scotland: Rowe; Graham, Jones, S Tuipulotu (capt), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Rae, Williamson, Brown, Dobie, Jordan, McDowall.

Fiji: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (capt), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.

Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.

TJ’s man crush back for Scotland and Fiji missing a few stars. I thought Valetini was an Aussie

Good first half from England but wonder if they need to be a bit braver and kick to the corner rather than taking points.

Schoolboy error from Furbank for the first try.

England replacements not up to it. 2 scrum pens and a shaky scrum at the end.  Ford drops off a tackle and misses winning drop.

Front rows have to be replaced but why take off  Smith?

… but it was good game – very competitive

Birthday present for Mrs TiRed. Accompanied by Son1 who has played to a high standard and is equally rugby mad. Caught the end of the game on the radio after walking the dog. I went to the Olympic velodrome for my birthday, so fair is fair. Sounded close but still no win

Wel if wee jock Graham getting four tries doesn’t tempt TJ out I don’t think anything will!!

Marler formerly retires from international rugby (again).

Are these games full caps or count for standings? If so why are teams playing with the handicap of players not being released from club duties?

Next week’s Fiji team will be a stronger team.

Autumn internationals are full caps, and count towards international rankings which affect the draw for the world cup.

The international window is technically only three weeks so clubs don’t have to release players outside that window. Prem, top14, urc have agreements to release players for ‘their’ international teams, but don’t have to release them for others, hence why Fiji, Samoa, Argentina always struggle in the autumn because their Europe based players aren’t all released, and then don’t get to have a proper training camp.

why are teams playing with the handicap of players not being released from club duties?

Money.

Fiji, Samoa, Argentina and Wales

FIFY

Fiji, Samoa, Argentina and Wales

Wales is a little bit different from the others. Wales are in the URC and could be in the same position as Ireland with player accessibility, but massive mismanagement has put them in this position.

The others are victims of circumstance for not being in a top flight league, Wales are victims of incompetence

Wales are victims of incompetence

Oh yes how silly of me not to realise this, it’s nothing to do with population size and wealth!

Fiji, Samoa, Argentina and Wales and Scotland

FIFY

Scotland have two very strong club teams and they don’t have quite as many missing player this week but I do accept you point.

Off the top of my head not training with Wales this week but in the squad:

Nicky Smith

Tommy Reffell

Archi Griffin

Tshunza

Tomos Williams

Anscombe

Llewellyn

Thomas

Rowlands

and that’s before we look at those ineligible due to the crazy cap rulenor this who buggered off to play in Pro D2 for more money than the can get in Wales.

Looking forward to tonight’s game should be a cracker.

Suaali starting for Aus is interesting

SA-A v SA-B could be good if the B pack can cope with the A pack.

Wales looking to upset their higher world ranking opponents on Sunday…not hopeful TBH.

Winnett; Grady, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Murray; Anscombe, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Rowlands, Beard, Plumtree, Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: Elias, N Smith, Assiratti, Tshiunza, Botham, J Morgan, Bevan, Costelow

Two cracking games so far this weekend.

Need a strong Aus to make the Lions tour interesting.  England gotta be wondering why they can’t close a game.

Ireland last night looked off the pace really – no cutting edge

Listened to it on Five Live as don’t feel the need to spring for another streaming channel. God the commentary was awful! Struggled to tell from commentary where play was taking place and who had the ball, talking rubbish about how many games the 2 teams had played whilst ball was in play. It was like the commentators couldn’t tell we couldn’t see the action.

Sounds like England could not control a game they should have won and Australia actually came to play. Lions sounds more interesting! Good ole Joe Schmidt doing a cracking job there.

20 minute reds – interesting, not completely sure yet but on balance I think it’s probably a good thing

Crowd was pretty flat. But my nephew loved it. Four tries scored right in front of us, including what should have been the England winner. And then THAT try at the other end trying not to concede a penalty with poor defence. Australia have a new star in his FIRST Union game. And god he was amazing.

Wales game sounds like it was exciting. Out for dinner so not seen it… Not sure I’ll bother ???

Let’s not kid ourselves about England.

Whilst it was a very entertaining game – Australia are a poor side. They were a distant last in the RC with 1 win from 6 and looked shambolic at times.

England have not advanced one iota under Bore-thwick.