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The Rugby Pod delivers its round one Autumn Nations Cup predictions
The brand new four-round Autumn Nations Cup kicks off in Dublin on Friday and The Rugby Pod have been busy making their round one match predictions.
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Ireland open the tournament by hosting Wales at Aviva Stadium and the action then switches to Florence on Saturday where Italy take on Scotland.
Next up after that is the Twickenham meeting between England and Georgia.
The Eastern Europeans received an invite to participate after Japan pulled out of the tournament, while the round one schedule is then completed on Sunday when France play Fiji at Vannes.
The Six Nations teams have all been in action recently with the conclusion of the delayed 2020 championship culminating in a title victory for Eddie Jones’ England.
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— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) November 11, 2020
Now the champions have been tipped by Rugby Pod hosts Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode to get off to a handsome start versus the Georgians.
Here is how the panel’s Autumn Nations Cup predictions for this weekend unfolded on the latest episode of their show:
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IRELAND vs WALES (Friday, Aviva Stadium – 7pm)
JH: Ireland by eight. No, Ireland by ten. No, Ireland by twelve. Wales will be better.
AG: I’m going to go Ireland by ten.
ITALY vs SCOTLAND (Saturday, Stadio Artemio Franchi – 12.45pm)
AG: It’s got to be Italy. I really want to go Italy but I can’t do it because of Stuart Hogg, how good Stuart Hogg is. Although did you see the advert for Amazon Prime Sport?
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– @alexshawsport ??? picks 7 to watch ahead of the @autumnnations https://t.co/AiynjLPmB0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 9, 2020
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JH: He came through the TV.
AG: The kick-off came off his shin.
JH: Well, that’s why it went through the TV.
AG: Exactly. I’m going to have to go Scotland by twelve.
JH: That’s what I was going to do because it will be closer than you think. Not because of Duncan (Weir) but because it is in Italy and the travel.
AG: Why are you being horrible to Duncan?
JH: I’m not being horrible to Duncan. I was just about to talk up Jake Polledri… Scotland by 13.
David Humphreys in back in rugby…
And the ex-Ireland outhalf is once against plotting England's downfall, among other things.
– writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/QzhYbp7atG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2020
ENGLAND v GEORGIA (Saturday, Twickenham – 3pm)
JH: I don’t want to be horrible but David Humphreys, you’ve got to keep it under 50. Who knows what Eddie Jones is going to do. England by 50.
AG: Having spoken to David Humphreys and realised they haven’t played too much, it has been difficult, they have lost a load of senior players, I might go a few more, England by 58.
JH: England are as good as New Zealand now arguably. New Zealand would put 50 on an Italy or a Georgia. That is what we are talking about here.
FRANCE vs Fiji (Sunday, Stade de la Rabine – 3pm)
JH: Closer than you think.
AG: France by twelve.
JH: France by ten. I might change it when the teams come out.
"We went down every morning at 7am 100 metres underground, never knowing if we were going to come up. A lot of people died down there"https://t.co/u5mIrEAZjK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 11, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments