South Wales Echo

WEEKEND FIXTURES ROUND-UP

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TODAY

FOOTBALL

Premier League: AFC Bournemout­h v Everton, Liverpool v Southampto­n, Man City v Brentford (12.30), Newcastle v Chelsea (5.30), Nottm Forest v Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds, West Ham v Leicester, Wolverhamp­ton v Arsenal (7.45)

Sky Bet Championsh­ip: Bristol City v Watford, Cardiff v Sheff Utd, Coventry v QPR, Huddersfie­ld v Swansea, Hull v Reading, Luton v Rotherham, Norwich v Middlesbro­ugh, Preston North End v Millwall, West Brom v Stoke, Wigan v Blackpool

Sky Bet League

One: Accrington­Stanley v Sheff Wed, Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood Town, Burton Albion v Charlton, Cambridge Utd v Bolton, Exeter v Peterborou­gh, Forest Green v Wycombe, Ipswich v Cheltenham, Lincoln City v Plymouth, Milton Keynes Dons v Derby, Morecambe v Portsmouth, Oxford Utd v Port Vale, Shrewsbury v Barnsley Sky Bet League Two: Carlisle v Walsall, Crawley Town v Barrow, Crewe v Colchester, Gillingham v Northampto­n, Grimsby v Doncaster, Harrogate Town v Leyton Orient, Newport County v Stockport County, Rochdale v Mansfield, Salford City v AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage v Hartlepool, Sutton Utd v Bradford, Swindon v Tranmere

Vanarama Premier: Aldershot v Maidenhead Utd, Altrincham v York (5.20), Boreham Wood v Woking, Bromley v FC Halifax, Eastleigh v Notts County, Oldham v Barnet, Scunthorpe v Maidstone Utd, Solihull Moors v Dag & Red, Southend v Dorking Wanderers, Torquay v Chesterfie­ld, Wealdstone v Wrexham, Yeovil v Gateshead Southern League Premier South: Merthyr Town v Weston Super Mare

JD Welsh Cup Round 3: Aberystwyt­h Town v Newtown, Airbus UK v Trefelin BGC, Bala Town v Flint Town United, Barry Town United v Gresford Athletic, Buckley Town v Prestatyn Town, Cefn Druids v Llanelli Town, Connahs Quay v Colwyn Bay, Conwy Borough v Penybont, Cwmbran Celtic v Carmarthen Town, Guilsfield v Goytre United, Hakin United v Holywell Town, Mold Alexandra v Briton Ferry Llansawel, Pontardawe Town v Pill, Ruthin Town v Pontypridd United

JD Cymru North: Llanidloes Town v Llandudno

Ardal Leagues North East:

Bow Street v Llanfair United, Builth Wells v Cefn Albion, Caersws v Welshpool Town, Corwen v Rhayader Town, Llangollen Town v Llandrindo­d Wells, Llanrhaead­r v Rhos Aelwyd, Llanuwchll­yn v Penycae North West: Brickfield Rangers v Llangefni Town, Hawarden Rangers v Rhyl, Llanrwst United v Llandudno Albion, Llay Welfare v Y Felinheli, Nantlle Vale v Bangor 1876, Rhostyllen v Bodedern Athletic, Saltney Town v Denbigh Town

South East: Abertiller­y Bluebirds v RTB Ebbw Vale, Brecon Corries v Newport City, Chepstow Town v Caldicot Town, Monmouth Town v Treowen Stars

South West: AFC Llwydcoed v Cefn Cribwr, Cardiff Draconians v Pontyclun, Penrhiwcei­ber Rangers v Dinas Powys, Port Talbot Town v Mumbles Rangers, Seven Sisters Onllwyn v Caerau Ely, Ynysygerwn v Baglan Dragons

RUGBY

Womens World Cup Final:

New Zealand v England (6.30am) Autumn Internatio­nals: Ireland v Fiji (1pm), Italy v Australia (1pm), England v Japan (3.15pm), Wales v Argentina (5.30pm), France v South Africa (8pm) Indigo Premiershi­p Group:

Bridgend v Cardiff (1pm), Carmarthen Quins v Newport, Pontypridd v Merthyr, Swansea v RGC

Admiral National Championsh­ip: Cross Keys v Bedwas, Maesteg Quins v Beddau, Neath v Cardiff Met, Pontypool v Bargoed, Tata Steel v Ystrad Rhondda, Trebanos v Glamorgan Wanderers, Ystalyfera v Narberth Admiral National Leagues Division 1 East: Brecon v Nelson, Dowlais v Risca, Monmouth v Brynmawr, Newbridge v Penallta, Pontypool United v Bedlinog, Senghenydd v Blaenavon

Division 1 East Central: Cambrian Welfare v Porth Harlequins, Mountain Ash v St Peters, Rhiwbina v Barry, Treorchy v St Josephs, Ynysybwl v Dinas Powys

Division 1 North: Bala v Pwllheli, Bethesda v Nant Conwy, COBRA v Dinbych, Ruthin v Caernarfon Division 1 West Central:

Ammanford v Bonymaen, Birchgrove v Bridgend Athletic, Brynamman v Dunvant, Nantyffyll­on v Kenfig Hill, Tondu v Skewen, Waunarlwyd­d v

Glynneath

Division 1 West: Felinfoel v Newcastle Emlyn, Gowerton v Gorseinon, Llangennec­h v Crymych, Pembroke v Aberystwyt­h, Whitland v Llanelli Wanderers, Yr Hendy v Penclawdd Division 2 East: Abergavenn­y v Oakdale, Blackwood v Cwmbran, Pill Harriers v Croesyceil­iog, Talywain v Caerleon, Ynysddu v Caldicot

Division 2 East Central: Aberdare v Treharris, Caerphilly v Gilfach Goch, Cowbridge v Abercwmboi, Llanishen v Llantrisan­t, Llantwit Fardre v Abercynon, Taffs Well v Cilfynydd Division 2 North: Abergele v Wrexham, Bangor v Welshpool, Colwyn Bay v Shotton Steel, Newtown v Mold Division 2 West Central: Bridgend Sports v Resolven, Heol y Cyw v Porthcawl, Morriston v Aberavon Quins, Pencoed v Maesteg Celtic, Ystradgynl­ais v Builth Wells

Division 2 West: Carmarthen Athletic v Fishguard, Kidwelly v Burry Port, Mumbles v Loughor, Nantgaredi­g v Pontarddul­ais, Pontyberem v Tycroes, Tenby United v Milford Haven

Division 3 East: Abercarn v Usk, Garndiffai­th v Machen, Llanhillet­h v Blaina, Rhymney v Tredegar Ironsides Division 3 East Central: CR Cymry Caerdydd v Canton, Fairwater v Pentyrch, Penygraig v Tylorstown, Pontyclun v Penarth, St Albans v Cardiff Quins

Division 3 North East: Bala II v Llanidloes, COBRA II v Mold II, Rhosllaner­chrugog v Flint, Wrexham II v Dinbych II

Division 3 North West: Bro Ffestiniog v Bethesda II, Caernarfon II v Llandudno II, Menai Bridge v Llangefni II, Pwllheli II v Porthmadog, Rhyl & District II v Holyhead

Division 3 West Central: Baglan v Nantymoel, Cwmllynfel­l v Vardre, Swansea Uplands v Abercrave, Taibach v Aberavon Green Stars, Tonmawr v Cwmafan

Division 3 West A: Aberaeron v Llangwm, Cardigan v Llanybydde­r, Laugharne v St Clears, Pembroke Dock Quins v Haverfordw­est, St Davids v Lampeter Town, Tregaron v Neyland Division 3 West B: Amman United v Llandybie, Betws v Cefneithin, Llandeilo v Bynea, New Dock Stars v Furnace United, Penygroes v Llangadog Division 4 East: Fleur De Lys v Newport Saracens, Hafodyryny­s v Trinant, Nantyglo v New Panteg, New

Tredegar v Bedwellty, St Julians HSOB v Blackwood Stars, Whitehead v Chepstow

Division 4 East Central: Cefn Coed v Wattstown, Gwernyfed v Llandaff North, Llantwit Major v Treherbert, Old Penarthian­s v Caerau Ely, Tonyrefail v Llandaff

Division 4 West Central: Bryncethin v Cefn Cribwr, Crynant v Neath Athletic, Glais v Pontrhydyf­en, Glyncorrwg v Briton Ferry, Penlan v Alltwen Division 5 East: Beaufort v Crumlin Division 5 East Central: Brackla v Cardiff Internatio­nals, Llandrindo­d Wells v Ferndale, Pontycymme­r v Hirwaun, Whitchurch v Cardiff Saracens Division 5 West Central: Cwmtwrch v Cwmgwrach, Penybanc v Tonna, Pontardawe v Banwen, Pontyates v South Gower

Division 6 East: Magor v Cwmcarn United, Old Tyleryan v Girling, West Mon v Trefil

TOMORROW

FOOTBALL

Premier League: Brighton v Aston Villa (2pm), Fulham v Man Utd (4.30pm)

Sky Bet Championsh­ip: Burnley v Blackburn (12.30pm)

Ladies Genero Adran Premiershi­p: Aberystwyt­h Town v Barry Town United, Cardiff City v Cardiff Met, The New Saints v Pontypridd United Genero Adran North: Y Felinheli v Airbus UK, Y Rhyl 1879 v Llanfair United

South: Swansea University v Cascade YC

Genero Adran Trophy South: Cardiff Wanderers v Pontardawe Town

RUGBY

Autumn Internatio­nals: Scotland v New Zealand (2.15pm)

Admiral Ladies National Leagues Premier Division: Bonymaen v Nelson, Caernarfon v Llandaff North, Deri v COBRA

Championsh­ip: Burry Port v Whitland, Llantwit Fardre v Ynysddu, Pencoed v Lampeter Town, Seven Sisters v Gwernyfed

East Wales: Blaina v Cilfynydd Porth, Old Penarthian­s v CR Cymry Caerdydd, Whitchurch v Taffs Well

North Wales: Abergele v Rhyl & District, Wrexham v Llangefni

West Wales: Haverfordw­est v West Swansea Hawks, Tondu v Pembroke

that he would need to fit into the way Wales wanted to play rugby.

His mastery of the tackle area and momentum changing turnovers were not enough.

Cut to nine months on and Reffell is Wales’ man of the series in South Africa due to his mastery of the tackle area and momentum changing turnovers. Part of the reason behind Reffell’s success in South Africa was the combative partnershi­p he created with Lydiate.

It was reminiscen­t of the LydiateWar­burton days. One doing the stopping, the other doing the pilfering.

At last, I thought, Wales have alighted on a flanker partnershi­p that appears to work.

However, that didn’t last as Pivac then made Tipuric captain for the autumn campaign.

In order to accommodat­e the captain and also your best player from the summer, Wales switched to a two openside configurat­ion.

As we saw last Saturday against New Zealand, that really didn’t work.

My concern going forward is that if Lydiate plays well against Argentina, Pivac will have backed himself into a position of having to leave out either his captain or Reffell.

He may well avoid that dilemma this autumn since the crunch game against Australia is outside the Test window and Reffell will not be available. But that question will need answering come the Six Nations.

With Wales having been passive and ineffectua­l around the fringes, Argentina will focus on those collisions close to the ruck to establish dominance. They will also have seen Wales’ struggles at the scrum and view that as a major opportunit­y to gain superiorit­y and win penalties.

It’s hard to know what to expect from Wales. I think there will be more emotion and intensity for sure.

Argentina are not the All Blacks, the speed of ball and skill level will not stress the defence as much and it will be more like the contests in the summer against South Africa.

In those type of matches, Wales can be very difficult to break down and I think it will be very close in the end.

I am still scratching around to see a fully formed attacking pattern emerge and I suspect that we will have to rely on talented individual­s being given opportunit­ies to make things happen.

But this is a test for the pack. They must be tidier in the set piece, sharper in mind and more ferocious in the collisions. I think they will probably win, but not by much.

Gwyn Jones is a part of S4C’s team for highlights of Wales v Argentina, which will be shown at 8.30pm on Saturday night. Highlights of Wales’ matches in the Autumn Nations Series will be shown on S4C.

 ?? ?? Dan Lydiate, in Wales training, will form a back-row partnershi­p with skipper Justin Tipuric
Dan Lydiate, in Wales training, will form a back-row partnershi­p with skipper Justin Tipuric

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