![LV= Cup [Anglo-Welsh]](images/LV Cup 2011 SB.jpg)
*
ENGLAND 21 - 24 NEW ZEALAND
Twickenham - Saturday 08 November 2014
KO: 14:30 HT: 14-11 Att: 82,223
HOW IT HAPPENED MINUTE BY MINUTE...
The front row in the press box has decreed that this should be England's answer to the haka!
England v All Blacks The teams are out to grand fanfare...now silence for The Last Post *goosebumps*
England v All Blacks A minute's silence for The Fallen before the anthems...
England v All Blacks Bloody hell...nothing quite like 80k singing God Save The Queen in unison with military fanfare!
England v All Blacks Can't hear the haka for Swing Low!
England 0-0 All Blacks The heartbeat drums mark the impending KO at HQ... with Nigel Owens with the whistle
England 0-0 All Blacks 1min Play is in the midfield and England are in possession but kick straight to Julian Savea
England 0-0 All Blacks 3mins Lucky for England they make nothing of it & instead...
England 5-0 All Blacks 5mins ...from own 22 > Farrell > Barritt > May sprints & outruns all defence to score!
England 5-0 All Blacks 7mins Owen Farrell misses the conversion, but England are already back in ABs 22
England 5-0 All Blacks 8mins Owens pings England & it's back towards halfway...
England 5-0 All Blacks 10mins But in the maul, ABs pinged; penalty England & back chat from ABs puts them back another 10!
England 5-0 All Blacks 10mins Perfect kick to corner & England are inches from the ABs tryline....
England 5-0 All Blacks 11mins Try was a shoe in but Kyle Eastmond long passes to Mike Brown who knocks on
England 5-0 All Blacks 11mins ABs defensive 5m scrum is good & ball is cleared to midfield....
England 5-0 All Blacks 13mins England run it back but Eastmond pinged at breakdown & it's ABs penalty on own 10m
England 5-5 All Blacks 15mins 15 mins before ABs even enter England 22, resulting Aaron Cruden slipping thru to score
England 5-5 All Blacks 17mins Try awarded but replay clearly shows Cruden doesn't hit the line & white arm prevents try.
England 8-5 All Blacks 18mins Some comfort in Cruden missing conversion. Meanwhile, England penalty which Farrell converts
England 8-5 All Blacks 19mins Time out for Courtney Lawes to be checked out...he's fine; England driving maul over ABs 10m
England 8-5 All Blacks 21mins Kieran Read pinged of offside in maul so back for penalty; Farrell tees up...
England 11-5 All Blacks 22mins And it's a gooden for England as they edge
England 11-5 All Blacks 23mins Another time out as Lawes gets more attention...
England 11-5 All Blacks 23mins Courtney's off and George Kruis makes his England debut...
England 11-8 All Blacks 24mins Dylan Hartley pinged bloody harshly...even Sean Fitzpatrick said so! Cruden adds 3
England 11-8 All Blacks 25mins ABs up to England's 22 again but turnover ball & cleared by Danny Care
England 11-8 All Blacks 26mins England pinged as high ball deemed to have come off May; but England nick ABs lineout
England 11-8 All Blacks 27mins ABs return to England 22 but Sam Whitelock knocks it on
England 11-8 All Blacks 29mins Lawes returns pitchside holding compress over left eye; England defensive lineout outside 22
England 11-8 All Blacks 31mins lineout is good & cleared & McCaw knocks it on; England defensive scrum on own 10m
England 11-8 All Blacks 33mins England are like a whole new side today...into ABs 22 who look pretty unimpressive
England 11-8 All Blacks 34mins Farrell attempts a drop goal & pushes it wide...ABs clear but England run it back to 22
England 11-8 All Blacks 35mins Time off for a mo; ABs clear from own 22; lineout outside England 22...
England 11-11 All Blacks 37mins Eastmond pinged at breakdown right in front of posts & Cruden tees up...it's thru
England 11-11 All Blacks 38mins Faz told off by Owens for picking up wrong ball; "I told you last year!"
England 11-11 All Blacks 40mins Penalty England but they play on with advantage; ABs infringe at breakdown & Faz tees up
England 14-11 All Blacks 40mins Faz is bang on from wide of posts but inside 22. England go in ahead at HT
England 14-11 All Blacks HT T: May P: Farrell (3) | T: Cruden P: Cruden (2)
England 14-11 All Blacks 42mins Not such a good start for homeside as Eastmond gets attention & penalty gifted
England 14-11 All Blacks 45mins But Cruden misses; Read forward passes but it's allowed; ABs lineout on England 10m
England 14-16 All Blacks 46mins ABs draw in most England defenders & McCaw saunters thru out wide to score
England 14-16 All Blacks 47mins However, Cruden misses yet again...
England 14-16 All Blacks 48mins Patrick Tuipulotu replaced Brodie Retallick at HT & Charlie Faumuina on for Owen Franks
England 14-16 All Blacks 51mins England break into ABs 22 but they turn it round & are into England's 22 already
England 14-16 All Blacks 52mins England weather the storm & push ABs back up towards 10m for defensive lineout
England 14-16 All Blacks 53mins Billy Vunipola is replace with Ben Morgan & England win the lineout but still in own half...
England 14-16 All Blacks 55mins ABs pounce all over England tryline & Whitelock convinced he's scored...
England 14-16 All Blacks 55mins ...when in fact he comes in pretty much from offside and pushes ball forward; no try
England 14-16 All Blacks 57mins Matt Mullan replaces Joe Marler while ABs are still all over tryline
England 14-16 All Blacks 57mins Hartley tugs Dane Coles shirt who kicks out & digs into Danny Care harshly
England 14-16 All Blacks 58mins After much faffing with TMO who recommends penalty, Owens rightly sends Coles off with YC
England 14-16 All Blacks 60mins Care clear into ABs half doesn't find touch; back for ABs attacking lineout just inside 10m
England 14-16 All Blacks 62mins ABs back inches from England whitewash with lineout in pouring rain but turnover & back in midfield
England 14-16 All Blacks 64mins Care slips horribly on touch; replaced by Anthony Watson on debut & Ben Youngs for Roko
England 14-16 All Blacks 65mins England gift another easy penalty inside own 22 but Cruden misses it
England 14-16 All Blacks 65mins Correction: Beauden Barrett missed penalty on for Cruden; Mealamu & Franks for Crockett & Kaino
England 14-19 All Blacks 67mins Another penalty gifted & Barrett adds 3 more whilst George For replaces Eastmond
England 14-16 All Blacks 70mins Apologies for going quiet...just dealing with abuse on twitter from an idiot...
England 14-16 All Blacks 70mins Liam Messam & TJ Perenara on for Aaron Smith & Coles while ABs camped at tryline again
England 14-24 All Blacks 71mins 22 phases results in Faumuina finding the whitewash in this driving rain
England 14-24 All Blacks 73mins Tho Barrett fluffs the conversion...
England 14-24 All Blacks 73mins Rob Webber & Kieron Brookes for Mullan & Hartley
England 14-24 All Blacks 75mins England have had appalling 2nd half in own half; finally make into ABs 22 v late in day...
England 14-24 All Blacks 77mins England still in ABs 22 but not actually going anywhere close to the tryline...
England 21-24 All Blacks 79mins Couple of collapsed scrums later & Owens finally awards an penalty try which Ford converts
England 21-24 All Blacks 80mins Ford conversion is dropped not tee'd; England need quick restart but Robshaw knocks on
England 21-24 All Blacks England had a stonking 1st half & shocking second whilst ABs just played rugby
15 Mike Brown 14 Semesa Rokoduguni* 13 Brad Barritt 12 Kyle Eastmond 11 Jonny May 10 Owen Farrell 9 Danny Care 1 Joe Marler 2 Dylan Hartley 3 David Wilson 4 Dave Attwood 5 Courtney Lawes 6 Tom Wood 7 CHRIS ROBSHAW (C) 8 Billy Vunipola BENCH: 16 Rob Webber 17 Matt Mullan 18 Kieran Brookes 19 George Kruis* 20 Ben Morgan 21 Ben Youngs 22 George Ford 23 Anthony Watson*
SCORERS T: May, PT C: Ford P: Farrell (3)
15 Israel Dagg 14 Ben Smith 13 Conrad Smith 12 Sonny Bill Williams 11 Julian Savea 10 Aaron Cruden 9 Aaron Smith 1 Wyatt Crockett 2 Dane Coles 3 Owen Franks 4 Brodie Retallick 5 Samuel Whitelock 6 Jerome Kaino 7 RICHIE MCCAW (C) 8 Kieran Read BENCH: 16 Keven Mealamu 17 Ben Franks 18 Charlie Faumuina 19 Patrick Tuipulotu 20 Liam Messam 21 TJ Perenara 22 Beauden Barrett 23 Ryan Crotty
SCORERS T: Cruden, McCaw, Faumuina P: Cruden (2), Barrett Coles
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU) Asst. Referees: Jérôme Garcès (FFR), Dudley Phillips (IRFU) TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
WALES 28 - 33 AUSTRALIA
Millennium Stadium - Saturday 08 November 2014
KO: 14:30 HT: 21-21 Att: tbc
AFTER an impeccably observed minute of silence following the Last Post on Remembrance weekend, an entertaining high octane game and a mass of contradictions opened Wales’ Autumn international account. But once again, the Australians had the nous in the final ten minutes to see off the Welsh challenge and record a victory by 33 points to 28, securing the James Bevan Trophy for the seventh consecutive year.
Wales outscored Australia by four tries to three, and were the better team for much of the game, but Head Coach Warren Gatland’s Southern Hemisphere legacy continued with only one win in 26 since 2007.
Sam Warburton set the tone for Wales in the opening minutes as he was involved in the first turnover of the game, and was then an integral part of the attacking move that led to Rhys Webb going over for the first try of the game. Leigh Halfpenny converted with ease and Wales were off to a flying start.
The Wallabies countered with some patient phase play, resulting in a scrum in a good attacking position. Referee Craig Joubert, who had a good match, had to reset the scrum once but then a lovely ball from Michael Hooper to Izzy Folau put the Aussie fullback in for a simple score. Bernard Foley, who did not miss a kick all game, knocked over the conversion to level the score.
The Wallabies tried to calm the tempo and played a spell of percentage rugby, whilst Wales had a five minute spell of silly errors with poor kicks and tackling, but then Alun Wyn Jones managed a one handed offload to Alex Cuthbert and Wales surged forward. A great run from Jamie Roberts led to a golden opportunity for a Welsh try, with the simplest of passes to George North almost guaranteeing a score for the men in red. Instead, they flung a miss pass and the inevitable interception by Folau meant the fullback cantered the length of the pitch to score at the other end.
A long and slightly dull kicking exchange followed the restart, but when the Wallabies finally got their heads down and started putting the ball through hands, a good tackle meant the ball going loose. A quick swoop by Halfpenny set Wales going forward, with North and Cuthbert then combining at the end of the move to put Cuthbert in for Wales’s second try. Halfpenny’s conversion levelled the scores once more.
Halfpenny then went down bravely in the next passage of play to pick up the loose ball on the ground, but Wallabies turned it over and got it out to Tevita Kuridrani who scored an easy try after Welsh fell off the tackle. Foley added the conversion once again.
Having started the match with North partnering Roberts in the centre, Wales were forced to reshuffle and regroup when Halfpenny was forced from the pitch with concussion after a collision with Adam Ashley-Cooper. Corey Allen came on in the centre, with North moving to his preferred position on the wing and Liam Williams to fullback. Dan Biggar took on the kicking duties.
Wales continued to try and play at pace, and their next attack was rewarded by a penalty close to the touchline. With Halfpenny off the pitch, Wales opted to go for the corner - the throw in was good but another interception by Wallabies almost led to another length-of-the-pitch score. This time the Welsh scramble defence managed to stop the try, but Wallabies were putting Wales under pressure.
Just before half time, Rob Simmons took lineout ball for the Aussies, but Toby Faletau executed a fine turnover for Wales in their 22. With Wales put in at the scrummage, Sekope Kepu was pinged for not staying up and a decent kick from Biggar gained 40 metres for Wales. The Aussies were penalised again for coming in at the side and Wales went for the corner. When Wales were awarded another penalty in front of the posts, Warburton chose to go quickly and Alun Wyn Jones went over for the try in overtime of the first half. Biggar was successful with his first kick at goal and it was all square at half time, 21-all.
After six tries in the first half, the second half was always going to be a tighter affair. Wales gave away two penalties in the first two minutes of the half, and Foley kicked the first penalty of the match to give the Wallabies the lead. Wales struggled to gain ground in the middle of the park and Biggar put up a weak up and under, but lazy running by the Aussies meant Cuthbert was obstructed. Wales were soon on their third kicker of the game, as Biggar departed the pitch with an injury to be replaced by Rhys Priestland. The Wallabies also brought on their first replacement with man-mountain Will Skelton coming on for Sam Carter.
Australia started really putting the pressure on Wales at the scrum, and Paul James was eventually penalised for hingeing. Foley slotted another penalty kick with aplomb to take the Aussies into a 6-point lead. Wales coach Gatland promptly sent on front row replacements Scott Baldwin and Gethin Jenkins to shore up the Welsh scrum and they almost immediately won a penalty. Priestland kicked for a good touch and some strong work by Wales saw North go over the tryline. However, superb Aussie defence meant that the TMO was unable to confirm the ball had been grounded and the try was not given. Ref Joubert took play back for a penalty against Australia earlier in the move, and the Welsh imposed themselves on scrum after scrum until Joubert had no option but to award the penalty try. The conversion by Priestland took Wales into the slenderest one point lead.
The Wallabies fought back, and a sustained period of pressure led to a penalty which Foley hoofed down the pitch. The Wallabies kept ball in hand from the lineout and drove forward to the Welsh 22. Wales were strong in defence, but the Aussies were patient and kept recycling the ball until Foley had what seemed like all the time in the world to slot a drop goal and regain the lead.
Wales then squandered the opportunity to regain the advantage. Joubert awarded a penalty against Australia, and played advantage to Wales. Instead of taking the penalty and kicking to touch to take them deep into the Aussie half, Wales played on, lost the advantage and turned over the ball. The cool heads required in the final minutes deserted the men in red and they started leaking penalties. With two minutes remaining, Foley chose to go for goal and run down another minute on the clock.
From the restart, Wales’ only hope was to keep the ball alive and score another try. Mike Phillips tapped and went from a penalty, but was halted by a great tackle from the excellent Hooper. Wales continued to progress down the pitch, and when North got the ball the crowd shrieked their support, but it went forward and the game was over.
Once again, Wales defeated narrowly by their Southern Hemisphere foes who took all their opportunities well and who certainly took the better decisions in those final frantic minutes. A most entertaining game though - roll on RWC2015 and the Group of Death!
15 Leigh Halfpenny 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 George North 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Liam Williams 10 Dan Biggar 9 Rhys Webb 1 Paul James 2 Richard Hibbard 3 Samson Lee 4 Jake Ball 5 Alun Wyn Jones 6 Dan Lydiate 7 SAM WARBURTON (C) 8 Taulupe Faletau BENCH: 16 Scott Baldwin 17 Gethin Jenkins 18 Rhodri Jones 19 Bradley Davies 20 Justin Tipuric 21 Mike Phillips 22 Rhys Priestland23 Cory Allen
SCORERS T: Webb, Cuthbert, AW Jones, PT C: Halfpenny (2), Biggar, Priestland
15 Israel Folau 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper 13 Tevita Kuridrani 12 Christian Leali’ifano 11 Joe Tomane 10 Bernard Foley 9 Nick Phipps 1 James Slipper 2 Saia Fainga’a 3 Sekope Kepu 4 Sam Carter 5 Rob Simmons 6 Sean McMahon* 7 MICHAEL HOOPER (C) 8 Ben McCalman BENCH: 16 James Hanson 17 Tetera Faulkner* 18 Ben Alexander 19 James Horwill 20 Will Skelton 21 Matt Hodgson 22 Will Genia 23 Quade Cooper
SCORERS T: Folau (2), Kuridrani C: Foley (3) P: Foley (3) DG: Foley
Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU) Asst. Referees: Jaco Peyper (SARU), JP Doyle (RFU) TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)
ITALY 24 - 13 SAMOA 
Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca, Ascoli Piceno - Saturday 08 November 2014
KO: 15:00 HT: 3-10 Att: 11,100
15 Andrea Masi 14 Luke McLean 13 Michele Campagnaro 12 Luca Morisi 11 Leonardo Sarto 10 Kelly Haimona* 9 Edoardo Gori 1 Matias Aguero 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini 3 Dario Chistolini 4 Quintin Geldenhuys 5 Joshua Furno 6 Alessandro Zanni 7 Simone Favaro 8 SERGIO PARISSE (C) BENCH: 16 Andrea Manici 17 Alberto De Marchi 18 Lorenzo Cittadini 19 Marco Bortolami 20 Robert Barbieri 21 Guglielmo Palazzani 22 Luciano Orquera 23 Giulio Toniolatti
SCORERS T: Favaro, Parisse C: Haimona P: Haimona (4) de Marchi
15 Fa'atoina Autagavaia 14 Ken Pisi 13 Johnny Leota 12 Alapati Leiua 11 DAVID LEMI 10 Tusi Pisi 9 Kahn Fotuali'i 1 Zak Taulafo 2 Ti'i Paulo 3 Anthony Perenise 4 Kane Thompson 5 Fa'atiga Lemalu 6 Piula Faasalele 7 Jack Lam 8 Tai Tu'ifua BENCH: 16 Ole Avei 17 Patrick-Albert Toetu 18 Viliamu Afatia 19 Filo Paulo 20 Maurie Fa'asavalu 21 Pete Cowley 22 Michael Stanley 23 Winston Stanley
SCORERS T: Lam C: Tusi Pisi P: Tusi Pisi (2)
Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU) Asst. Referees: John Lacey (IRFU), Greg Garner (RFU) TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)
IRELAND 29 - 15 SOUTH AFRICA
Aviva Stadium - Saturday 08 November 2014
KO: 17:30 HT: 6-3 Att: tbc
HOW IT HAPPENED MINUTE BY MINUTE...
Ireland combined midfield 286kg Springboks weigh in at 304kg. Huge physical battle in store here at the Aviva.
Ireland v Springboks 10 minutes to kick off here in the Aviva in Dublin. Who is favourite for victory this evening?
Ireland v Springboks Kick off here at the Aviva. Ireland playing in their alternative white jersey
Ireland v Springboks 1mins Good early pressure on a Sexton kick gives Ireland a lineout just outside the Bok 22m
Ireland v Springboks 2 min Excellent take by le Roux under pressure from Kearney. Penalty to Boks cleared to their 10m
Ireland v Springboks 5 Mins. Very physical opening 5 mins. Strong carried from both sides but defences are on top.
Ireland 3-0 Springboks 7 mins. Penalty Ireland after a Bok infringement at the scrum. Sexton puts it through.
Ireland 3-0 Springboks 13 mins Boks starting to assert their dominance. Irish defence is untroubled so far.
Ireland 3-0 Springboks 15 mins. Bok attack is disrupted by the Irish D. Ireland clear to halfway. Incredible atmosphere here.
Ireland 3-0 Springboks 17mins Pollard misses with his fist attempt of the day from 47m
Ireland 3-0 Springboks 19 mins. The atmosphere in The Aviva is incredible. Willie le Roux has been excellent thus far.
Ireland 3-0 Springboks 22mins. Excellent play from Kearney who sears through the Bok midfield from broken play
Ireland 6-0 Springboks 23mins. Penalty Ireland on Bok 22m and Sexton makes it. Came from Rob Kearney break
Ireland 6-0 Springboks 25mins.Impressive Bok scrum brings a penalty on the Irish 10m.They kick to the corner, but turn over
Ireland 6-0 Springboks 27 mins. Another Bok penalty at scrum time in the Irish 22m. They go for touch again!!
Ireland 6-0 Springboks 29 Mins. Boks turning down kickable penalties then turning over possession. Ignoring easy points.
Ireland 6-0 Springboks 32 mins. Impressive 30min from Ireland. Stemming SA attack . New centre combo excellent in defence
Ireland 6-0 Springboks 35mins. All Boks mistakes coming from huge Irish pressure at set piece and breakdown. Nicely poised
Ireland 6-3 Springboks 37mins. O'Connell give away penalty on Irish 22m right in front. They score through Pollard
Ireland 6-3 Springboks HT P: Sexton (2) | P: Pollard
Ireland 6-3 Springboks HT Excellent start from Rob Henshaw at 12. Direct in attack and defending is top notch.
Ireland 6-3 Springboks Ireland restart attacking the South Stand. Massive 40mins coming up
Ireland 6-3 Springboks Great kick through by Rob Henshaw brings play to the Bok 5m line
Ireland 11-3 Springboks TRY Ireland! Ruddock goes over from a driving maul, splitting the Bok defence.
Ireland 13-3 Springboks Sexton coverts for Ireland.
Ireland 13-3 Springboks 44mins.Break in play as O'Mahony receives attention. Excellent start to the 2nd half from Ireland
Ireland 13-3 Springboks 49 mins Burger on for Mohoje and Pietersen on for Hendricks.
Ireland 13-3 Springboks 50 mins The Boks have been ragged in the 2nd half. Huge amount of unforced errors.
Ireland 13-3 Springboks 51 mins Strauss replaces du Plessis at hooker for Boks. .
Ireland 13-3 Springboks 55 mins Hougaard now replaced at 9 for the Boks. Reinach comes into the game. Rugby
Ireland 13-8 Springboks 56 mins. Penalty kicked to the corner again. TRY for the Boks. Coetzee scores.
Ireland 13-10 Springboks 56 mins. Pollard coverts. GAME ON!!!!
Ireland 13-10 Springboks 57 mins. Strauss replaces Cronin at hooker for Ireland (not a typo!)
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 62 mins. Penalty for Ireland converted by Sexton.
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 64 mins. Botha replaces Etzebeth for the Boks. lineout Ireland on halfway.
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 65 mins. The Boks may rue turning down 4 kickable penalty chances so far
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 66mins.The Boks have had control of possession &territory in the 2nd half! Irish defence excellent
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 66mins.Yellow card for Adriaan Strauss who hit Kearney in the air. Dubious call by Poite
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 66mins.Pollard is replaced by Lambie. The Beast is replaced by Nyakane
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 68 mins. The atmosphere in the Aviva is electric as Ireland attack inside the Boks 22m
Ireland 16-10 Springboks 69 mins. Penalty Ireland.....Sexton to go for 3 pts. Ferocious from the Irish at the breakdown
Ireland 19-10 Springboks 69 mins. Sexton converts. We are in for a massive last 10 mins!
Ireland 19-10 Springboks 70 mins. Tommy O'Donnell replaces O'Mahony for Ireland
Ireland 19-10 Springboks 71mins Coenie Oosthuizen replaces Jannie du Plessis for the Boks
Ireland 24-10 Springboks 72 Mins.. TRY IRELAND!!!!!!!! Kick over the top from Murray. Bowe collects and scores!!
Ireland 26-10 Springboks 73 mins. Sexton to kick from the 5m line on the right.... It’s through!!!!
Ireland 26-10 Springboks 74 mins. Raft of changes for the Irish. This should be a famous victory.
Ireland 26-10 Springboks 75 mins to go. Ireland withstand another Boks attack and win the penalty on their 22m
Ireland 26-10 Springboks 77 mins. Penalty for Ireland on the Boks 10m line. Madigan to attempt for 3 pts.
Ireland 29-10 Springboks 78 mins. Its over from Madigan. This has been outstanding from the Irish
Ireland 29-15 Springboks Consolation try scored by Pietersen at the death for the Boks.
Ireland 29-15 Springboks Jonny Sexton has been named Man of the Match
15 Rob Kearney 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Jared Payne* 12 Robbie Henshaw 11 Simon Zebo 10 Johnny Sexton 9 Conor Murray 8 Jamie Heaslip 7 Rhys Ruddock 6 Peter O'Mahony 5 PAUL O'CONNELL (C) 4 Devin Toner 3 Mike Ross 2 Sean Cronin 1 Jack McGrath BENCH: 16 Richardt Strauss 17 Dave Kilcoyne 18 Rodney Ah You 19 Mike McCarthy 20 Tommy O'Donnell 21 Eoin Reddan 22 Ian Madigan 23 Felix Jones
SCORERS T: Ruddock, Bowe C: Sexton (2) P: Sexton (4) Madigan
15 Willie le Roux 14 Cornal Hendricks 13 Jan Serfontein 12 JEAN DE VILLIERS (C) 11 Bryan Habana 10 Handré Pollard 9 Francois Hougaard 1 Tendai Mtawarira 2 Bismarck du Plessis 3 Jannie du Plessis 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Victor Matfield 6 Marcell Coetzee 7 Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje 8 Duane Vermeulen/Schalk Burger BENCH: 16 Adriaan Strauss 17 Trevor Nyakane 18 Coenie Oosthuizen 19 Bakkies Botha 20 Schalk Burger 21 Cobus Reinach 22 Pat Lambie 23 JP Pietersen
SCORERS T: Coetzee, Pietersen C: Pollard P: Pollard
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR) Asst. Referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), Alexandre Ruiz (FFR) TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)
SCOTLAND vs ARGENTINA 
BT Murrayfield Stadium - Saturday 08 November 2014
KO: 17:30 HT: 24-10 Att: 36,764
SCOTLAND scored five tries and topped 40 points against Argentina at BT Murrayfield to make a successful start to their 2014 viagogo Autumn Tests.
A record crowd for a match on Scottish soil against the Pumas – 36,764 – saw the hosts post their first victory against the Pumas here since 1990.
It was a match where Scotland always seemed to be in command, from the moment they showed a ruthless streak to exploit wing Juan Imhoff’s crass challenge on Tommy Seymour that ensured the Pumas’ winger had ten minutes down time.
Though at 31-10 to Scotland early in the second-half, a welter of substitutions, injuries, penalties and yellow cards, took the wind from the contest’s sails. It was a staccato affair at this point.
It had started far from promisingly. Inside the second minute a pulverising tackle was made on captain Greig Laidlaw by wing Manuel Montero as Scotland menaced on the right. The pass was well wide of Finn Russell, the intended recipient, and flanker Javier Desio scooped up the ball to storm home from 75 metres. Nicolás Sanchez converted for a 7-0 lead.
But Scotland responded quickly; a penalty to touch saw Rob Harley rise tallest. Blair Cowan thumped on to set up loose ball. Russell threatened on the half break as an advantage was being played, and Scotland attacked down the narrow side for Laidlaw and Sean Maitland to link and Richie Gray to dummy to Alasdair Dickinson outside him to charge over for the try. Laidlaw converted from the touchline to bring the scores level after 7 minutes. It was Gray’s second try for Scotland on the day of his 40th cap.
Sanchez re-established a lead for the visitors with an 11th minute penalty for hands in the ruck. At once, good work by Richie Gray at breakdown saw Argentina penalised for side entry only for Laidlaw’s effort to rebound off the left upright and stay out.
Into the second quarter and from a turnover, Mark Bennett released Tommy Seymour. The winger kicked behind the visitors’ defence but was then taken out by a crude shoulder charge from Juan Imhoff.
Referee Wayne Barnes did not hesitate to show the yellow card. From the penalty, Scotland drove the lineout and went through the phases for Laidlaw to feed Jonny Gray on the narrow side and the younger sibling to say: “Anything you can do brother” as he crashed over for the try. Laidlaw converted and Scotland led 14-10 after 23 minutes. It was the first time that brothers had scored tries in the same match for Scotland since Gavin and Scott Hastings against Tonga in the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa.
From his own quickly taken tap penalty and then alert break, Laidlaw fed the most exquisite pass to Sean Maitland who was over in the right corner. Laidlaw converted. But then a chance went begging for Scotland as Jonny Gray took contact rather than pass to Bennett in the clear, but it had been a costly sin-binning for the Pumas, who had conceded 14 points with Imhoff absent.
Laidlaw kept the scoreboard ticking for the hosts however, as he fired over his first penalty from the fringe of his range to boost Scotland to 24-10 and though Richie Gray high tackled Matías Cortese and Sanchez’s effort drifted across the face of the posts.
Laidlaw pushed a penalty wide in the shadow of half-time – his second miss - but the hosts were in the driving seat.
Scotland continued to play the game at a cracking tempo and after a long-range Stuart Hogg penalty miss, try number four soon materialised as Laidlaw sniped and Hogg accepted his pass to skip out of a would-be tackle and cross for his seventh try for Scotland and second in successive matches against the Pumas. After Laidlaw banged over his second penalty, the homeside led 34-10 heading into the final quarter.
Rob Harley was sin-binned, after referee Barnes adjudged he had taken out an Argentine lineout leaper, followed by a delay as the referee and TMO perused a drive over attempt from the visitors, eventually concluding that lock Tomás Lavanini had committed a double movement.
The game was far from fizzing towards its conclusion but Argentina did register a penalty try as Scotland were deemed to have halted a driving scrum illegally, which Martín Hernández converted with 10 minutes remaining.
Time for a bit of poaching and Tommy Seymour who had seen little ball, stole a pass from Hernandez to his outside backs, to romp over for try number five, and Duncan Weir converted to take the lead to 41-17.
Scores continued thick and fast. Jim Hamilton was sin-binned as Harley returned and the Pumas notched converted try number three as replacement scrum-half Tomás Cubelli took the aerial route over a goal-line breakdown.
Scotland sought a last hoorah but were turned over close to their line for Cubelli to pounce for his second try. Hernández converted and the curtain was rung down 41-31 on an entertaining afternoon in Scotland’s capital city.
15 Stuart Hogg 14 Sean Maitland 13 Mark Bennett* 12 Alex Dunbar 11 Tommy Seymour 10 Finn Russell 9 GREIG LAIDLAW (C) 1 Alasdair Dickinson 2 Ross Ford 3 Euan Murray 4 Richie Gray 5 Jonny Gray 6 Rob Harley 7 Blair Cowan 8 Adam Ashe BENCH: 16 Scott Lawson 17 Gordon Reid 18 Geoff Cross 19 Jim Hamilton 20 Alasdair Strokosch 21 Henry Pyrgos 22 Duncan Weir 23 Sean Lamont
SCORERS T: Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Maitland, Hogg, Seymour C: Laidlaw (4), Weir P: Laidlaw (2) 
Harley, Hamilton
15 Joaquín Tuculet 14 Juan Imhoff 13 Marcelo Bosch 12 Juan Martín Hernández 11 Manuel Montero 10 Nicolás Sánchez 9 Martín Landajo 1 Marcos Ayerza 2 AGUSTÍN CREEVY (C) 3 Ramiro Herrera 4 Tomás Lavanini 5 Juan Cruz Guillemaín* 6 Rodrigo Báez 7 Javier Ortega Desio 8 Leonardo Senatore BENCH: 16 Matías Cortese 17 Lucas Noguera Paz 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 19 Lucas Ponce 20 Facundo Isa* 21 Tomás Cubelli 22 Santiago González Iglesias 23 Horacio Agulla
SCORERS T: Ortega Desio, PT, Cubelli (2) C: Sanchez, Hernandez (3) P: Sanchez Imhoff
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Asst. Referees: George Clancy (IRFU), Marius Mitrea (FIR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FRANCE 40 -15 FIJI 
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille - Saturday 08 November 2014
KO: 17:45 HT: 14-0 Att: 45,300
15 Scott Spedding* 14 Yoann Huget 13 Alexandre Dumoulin* 12 Wesley Fofana 11 Teddy Thomas* 10 Camille Lopez 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde 1 Alexandre Menini 2 Guilhem Guirado 3 Nicolas Mas 4 Pascal Papé 5 Yoann Maestri 6 THIERRY DUSAUTOIR (C) 7 Bernard Le Roux 8 Damien Chouly BENCH: 16 Benjamin Kayser 17 Xavier Chiocci* 17 Uini Atonio 18 Xavier Chiocci* 19 Alexandre Flanquart 20 Charles Ollivon*21 Rory Kockott*22 Rémi Tales 23 Mathieu Bastareaud
SCORERS T: Thomas (3), Papé, Fofana C: Lopez (2), Kockott P: Lopez (3)
15 Metuisela Talebula 14 Watisoni Votu 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma 12 Levani Botia 11 Ratu Ratini 10 Jonetani Ralulu 9 Nikola Matawalu 1 Campese Ma'afu 2 Sunia Koto 3 Manasa Saulo 4 Leone Nakarawa 5 Api Ratuniyarawa 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotukula 7 AKAPUSI QERA (C) 8 Masi Matadigo BENCH: 16 Vili Veikoso 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa 18 Isei Colati 19 Nemia Soqeta 20 Mala Ravulo 21 Henry Seniloli 22 Nemani Nadolo 23 Timoci Nagusa
SCORERS T: Votu, Nagusa C: Nadalo P: Nadalo
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZR) Asst. Referees: Mike Fraser (NZR), Federico Anselmi (UAR) TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
NB KO times above are local; for KO times across the globe, check out our schedule:
* Tier 2 match fixtures and results can be found here:
