RugbyRebels

Just the 14 matches to keep abreast of this week:

5 November
Coventry v  Canada
The mere fact that Canada are playing a club recently promoted from National Division 1 means this that regardless of result this is another notch recording Canada's precipitous decline.

6 November
Cardiff Blues v  Uruguay
Uruguay appear to be trying to replicate their 4-day turnaround between Fiji and Georgia at RWC2019.

9 November
Ulster v  Uruguay
See above.

10 November
Russia  v  Namibia
A preview of the lest likey RWC2019 quarterfinal, and the first time these sides have met in Russia (after 4 matches in Windhoek and 1 in Uruguay). I am looking forward to seeing Boers in Siberia.

Italy  v  Georgia
Big game, this. Sensibly, a non-European ref has been appointed so there can be no accusation that he was leaned to ensure that the 6N Unions can continue to claim that Italy is in that tournament on merit, as opposed to being a nice weekend destination for travelling fans. Only the second match-up between these sides and the first since 2003. The World Rugby rankings were launched about a month after Italy's 9-point win, with Italy at 13th and Georgia at 17th. Pending any updates from last weekend, Georgia is now 13th and Italy 14th.

Scotland  v  Fiji
Scotland will benefit from the hit-out v Wales, while Fiji will still be introducing themselves to each other. I'm not sure if Fiji has all its European-based players available. Comfortable Scotland win, I reckon.

England  v  New Zealand
As long as NZ doesn't give away a dozen or so kickable penalties, they should be better than the England we saw on Sunday AM. The All Black's defence has looked a bit shakey lately so Maybe Eddie will have a run at it, especially if Tuilagi is fit and arrives at the match in a time machine from 2012.

French Barbarians  v  Tonga
Depends which French Barbarians turns up, doesn't it? I've got no clue who might be in this side.

Wales  v  Australia
Wales have a considerable psychological hill to climb to overcome a nearly 10-year, 13-match losing streak against the Wallabies. They are ranked 4 places higher and seem to have a slightly firmer grasp on what they are supposed to be doing on a footy field than Cheika's mob so it's probably their best shot since 2008.

United States  v  Samoa
USA is on a bit of a tear at the moment. Samoa will be keen to climb back above them in the rankings, where their Pacific brethren are.

Ireland  v  Argentina
This should provide an early indication of how deserved Ireland's no. 2 ranking is. If it's accurate, they ought to fairly easily dispose of the TRC wooden-spooners, despite their wins against the 5th and 7th ranked sides.

Chile  v South American XV
With Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in action, I'm a bit puzzled as to where Chile's opposition will come from. The next-best S. Am. teams after those 4 are Colombia and Paraguay.

France  v  South Africa
I hope there's a fight.

Brazil  v  Māori All Blacks
Possibly due reward to an improving Brazil side, but the Māori have just walked over the head-and-shoulders second-best team in the Americas

One of the interesting stats to come up during the 6Ns and RCs is that in the former, the winning team always had more possession, whereas in the Rugby Champs, counterattack is the hot shit, with just about every team that won a game doing so with less ball. In fact, the one game the All Blacks lost, they dominated possession and territory.

It was also interesting seeing how the All Blacks dismantled Japan. It may be a bit of a preview for their tactics, since they did to Japan in the second half what the Springboks did to them in Wellington and Pretoria.

It’s a symptom of modern defences. Once set they are very hard to penetrate. Quick counterattack before a defence is set is much more effective but requires heads up vision and instant awareness.

It's a very simple, but clever tactic. You force the other team to turn around, and the guys out wide like Ioane, and freaks like Beaudy can outrun most defences who are having to do a 180 spin. It also means their defensive alignment is all over the place, so a top level team can exploit the spaces opening up all over. You strike the right spot, and it's a clear run to the tryline.