AUTUMN NATIONS VERDICT

THE FINN PENNY FINALLY DROPS

GREGOR TOWNSEND has realised Finn Russell (right) is one of Scotland’s best three fly-halves after all. The Racing 92 playmaker orchestrated the demolition of Argentina and his head coach said: ‘His passing skills are up there with the best in the world.’ Of course they are, which is why he should not have been omitted in the first place.

WALES WORLD CUP PERIL

THE last time France hosted a World Cup, Wales suffered a pool-stage exit and there is a real danger of that happening again next year. Losing at home to Georgia is a new low for Wayne Pivac’s regime. The East Europeans and Fiji, as well as Australia, will smell Welsh blood next autumn.

GIVE THE REFS SOME RESPECT

AT A time when Rassie Erasmus has again created an ugly mood towards officials, it was alarming to hear South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi urging English referee Matt Carley to ‘referee both sides’ in Genoa. Owen Farrell (above) said something similar to Mathieu Raynal at Twickenham. Players should avoid such outbursts given the inference.

BAD DAY FOR BIGWIGS

GEORGIA’S win over Wales was a glorious act of defiance against the sport’s cosy hierarchy. The Six Nations board would have been squirming by the end. The previous day, Portugal snatched a World Cup place ahead of the USA, who rugby authorities are desperate to see climb into the elite. What a weekend for the up-starts!

AUSSIES NEED SOME RESPITE

AUSTRALIA will limp into Cardiff with a raft of new injuries and a fresh sense of injustice after a

13-10 defeat in Ireland. On this tour, Dave Rennie (above) has seen his side win one and lose three, with a minus four points aggregate. The Wallabies have endured too many Tests and both physical and mental agony.

NOT ALL WHITE TO PLAY ON

PROGRESSIVE Rugby — the lobby group that campaigns for better protection of players — were not happy with Australia’s decision to let Nic White play on in Dublin after a serious head knock. They have demanded answers after the scrum-half continued despite exhibiting ‘category one symptoms of brain injury’.