England too good for Oz
England secured a sixth straight rugby victory over Australia for the first time with a 37-18 thrashing at Twickenham yesterday. Each of England’s back three scored tries as the hosts responded to giving up a 10-point first-half lead with a dominant second-half performance. Jonny May gave England the lead with a third-minute try, and two Owen Farrell penalties made it 13-3 six minutes before halftime.
However, a fine run and score from fullback Israel Folau brought Australia back into contention and Matt To’omua added a penalty to level the scores at the interval.
Stung, England took control afterwards through scores from Elliot Daly and youngster Joe Cokanasiga, and Farrell added a try of his own four minutes from the end and converted for 37-13.
Folau got his second try with the final play of the match, but it was of little consolation for Australia, who have recorded their lowest win rate for a calendar year since 1974.
Fiji 21 France 14
Fiji toppled France for the first time in a rugby international by 21-14 at the Stade de France yesterday.
France came from behind to lead 14-12 at halftime, then drew a blank in the second half as Fiji first fiveeighths Ben Volavola kicked three penalties.
Fiji have beaten tier-one sides Scotland and Italy in recent years, but this could be their biggest win since defeating Australia 18-16 in 1954 in Sydney.
“We didn’t respect them, they walked all over us,” France second five-eighths Mathieu Bastareaud said.
He described the France team as “little boys”.
Having beaten Argentina a week ago to end a five-test losing streak, France hoped to start a winning streak with another victory against a nation they had never lost to in nine previous encounters.
Fiji had other ideas, and punished France’s woeful handling and lack of aggression.
France coach Jacques Brunel heads into a Rugby World Cup year with a side facing grave doubts over its skills and mentality.
France led 14-12 at halftime, with two tries from captain Guilhem Guirado, both converted by Baptiste Serin, that cancelled out Fijian tries from centre Semi Radradra and winger Josua Tuisova.
Brunel complimented Fiji on showing more enterprise, but said losing was “incomprehensible”.
Wales 20 South Africa 11
Wales scored two early tries to beat South Africa 20-11 and secure their first clean sweep in a November rugby series yesterday.
Prop Tomas Francis and fullback Liam Williams went over for the Welsh tries inside the first 20 minutes in Cardiff, setting up a fourth straight win over the Springboks and a ninth straight for Wales against all opposition.
That run is Wales’ best in 19 years. “We’re very pleased obviously with all the Ws [wins],” Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones said. “There’s still patches we’ve got to work on but I think the character we’ve shown in a couple of these games . . . I think is the most pleasing thing.
“And if we’re honest, we can’t deny the fact that there’s a bit of [squad] depth developing.”
Wales’ depth — perhaps their best ever — was illustrated perfectly by the performance of flanker Ellis Jenkins, who was promoted late to the starting lineup because of an injury to Dan Lydiate and was man of the match.
Ireland 57 US 14
Ireland showed off their deep talent pool when their second-choice players absorbed a strong United States start then smashed the Eagles 57-14 at Lansdowne Road yesterday.
Ireland made 14 changes after beating New Zealand last weekend, and found themselves in a match when the US levelled at 14-all a quarter in with a penalty try from a rolling maul.
But the effort to reach that point took a toll on the Eagles, and their unprecedented nine-test winning streak ended with their first loss of the year.
Ireland wore them down by pounding their line with their big men, forcing the US to make tackle after tackle. Cracks began to appear on the outside of the tiring Eagles defence.
Scotland 14 Argentina 9
Argentina ran into a dark blue wall while Scotland took their few chances to finish on top 14-9 at Murrayfield yesterday.
Argentina had more ball and territory, conceded fewer penalties, won all of their set-pieces and stole some of Scotland’s, but couldn’t finish the last pass in a match they should have won, and comfortably.
Making all the play, the Pumas however committed 18 turnovers, many of them knock-ons and spills when they had Scotland at their mercy.
Also not helpful was first fiveeighths Nicolas Sanchez’s radar was off, as he landed only three of seven goalkicks, squandering 12 points.
Scotland led 6-3 at halftime, and 9-6 after more than an hour — still against the run of play — when they scored the only, and decisive, try.
With Scotland playing ruck ball, Argentina flowed wide, and Stuart Hogg was quick to notice. At Hogg’s urging, halfback Greig Laidlaw switched play to the short side, Hogg committed the last defender and gave right wing Sean Maitland a run to the corner untouched for 14-6.
It was a familiar story for the Pumas on this tour. They also slumped against Ireland and France.