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This Week's Biggest Matches on Rugby Pass

Kurtley Beale

We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend as the Premiership and Top 14 get festive with some tasty top-of-the-table clashes.

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Top 14: Clermont vs Paris (Saturday December 24, 2:00am HKT)
Clermont are one of the most fun teams to watch in Europe at the moment. They return to Top 14 action this weekend after an entertaining home-and-away battle with Ulster which saw them suffer a rare loss at Kingspan before exacting swift revenge back at Stade Marcel-Michelin. They are at home again on Saturday against Stade Francais, who sit a ninth on the table, a couple of wins off the pace of the playoffs race. They’re unlikely to make any advance on that front against Clermont, but if the last fortnight is any guide it should be an entertaining encounter nonetheless.

Aviva Premiership: Northampton vs Sale (Saturday December 24, 3:45am HKT)
Fair to say these are two clubs having disappointing seasons so far. Ninth and tenth on the table and both coming off back-to-back losses in the Champions Cup it’s a tough time to be a Saints or a Sharks supporter. Saints had the worse fortnight in Europe, being smashed twice to Leinster including a 60-13 rout in Dublin last weekend. Sharks at least held Saracing within arms reach for most of their game at AJ Bell Stadium, and they could be in with a chance to leapfrog Saints on the Premiership table on Saturday.

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Top 14: Montpellier vs Toulon (Saturday December 24, 4:00am HKT)
The game of the week in France sees second-placed Montpellier host third-placed Toulon with only a point separating them on the table. Both took a win and a loss from the Champions Cup break, Toulon being upset by Scarlets in Llanelli last weekend and Montpellier sharing the spoils with Castres. Home advantage tips this is Montpellier’s favour; their simple, effective game plan built on stultifying defence is hard to break down, but if Toulon play to their potential they are one of the few teams in France who capable of doing it.

Aviva Premiership: Wasps vs Bath (Saturday December 24, 10:00pm HKT)
If Saints and Sharks’ fortunes are stuck in reverse this season then Bath have had the accelerator to the floor for the first few months; Todd Blackadder’s side currently sit 3rd on the Premiership table and top of their Challenge Cup group. They are travelling nicely, but Wasps are doing even better – but then that’s no surprise. They sit just a point behind Saracens on the Premiership table and top of their Champions Cup group and, home advantage being what it is, should get the W at Ricoh Arena on Saturday. Bath will make them work for it though.

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 15 days ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

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James 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

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dw 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

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d
dw 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

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dw 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 15 days ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

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JM 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

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RedWarriors 15 days ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 15 days ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

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Carlos 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

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C
Carlos 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

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S
Solenn Bonnet 15 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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M
Mzilikazi 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

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M
Mzilikazi 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

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M
Mzilikazi 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

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B
BC 15 days ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

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Otagoman II 15 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

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N
NB 16 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

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N
NB 16 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

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N
NB 16 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
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TRENDING The players Jean de Villiers rates in the Springboks' 'problem' position The players Jean de Villiers rates in the Boks' 'problem' position'
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