Rugby Union Today: Loose Pass and Expert Witness

Colin Newboult

November 14, 2020, Sydney, NSW, USA: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Marcos Kremer of the Pumas and Shannon Frizell of the All Blacks push each other during the Tri-Nations round 3 rugby match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina Pumas at Bankwest Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire) (Credit Image: © Speed Media/Icon SMI via ZUMA Press)

Another busy day in the rugby union game as Loose Pass returned to Planet Rugby to provide its unique take on several topics in the sport.

What’s on the site

Argentina’s triumph over New Zealand is unsurprisingly the main topic for Loose Pass this week. It delves into the significance of the victory for Los Pumas and the current state of the All Blacks.

Elsewhere, Expert Witness also returns, looking at all things Wales after their disastrous run of form. Former captain Michael Owen explains what he thinks is going wrong under new head coach Wayne Pivac.

Finally, France have been handed a 28-0 victory by the Autumn Nations Cup tournament organisers after their game with Fiji was cancelled. The match was called off after five members of the Pacific Island nation’s team tested positive for coronavirus.

What’s in the news

Ireland wing James Lowe admits that England will present a much sterner challenge than Wales. Andy Farrell’s men defeated Wales 32-9 last week but head to Twickenham to face the current Six Nations champions on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Wallaby back five forward Ned Hanigan believes that Argentina will have an advantage this weekend due to the Michael Cheika factor. The 53-year-old only left his job with Australia at the end of last year and has joined Los Pumas’ backroom staff on a consultancy basis.

What’s on social media

The film Oceans Apart has been released and it is well worth a watch.

What’s on TV

There’s four games in the Autumn Nations Cup with the action beginning on Saturday with Italy v Fiji on Amazon Prime Video. Channel 4 will join the online streaming service in showing England against Ireland before it is back to Amazon alone for Wales v Georgia and finally Scotland v France on Sunday.

The Tri Nations continues on Saturday too when Argentina look to make it two scalps in a row, against Australia, with Sky Sports televising that meeting.

Domestically the Premiership returns for a brand new season on BT Sport and that will join the PRO14 on the schedule, which continues on Premier Sports.

Features