Rugby Union Today: Loose Pass and Pumas captain sacked

David Skippers
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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

Some bad refereeing decisions in the Wales v England and New Zealand v Argentina Tests are the big talking points for Loose Pass this week, while the column also discusses England facing a shadow France side in Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup final and World Rugby’s decision to change the regulations in voting for World Cup hosting rights.

We also cover the decision by the Argentine Rugby Union to strip Pablo Matera of the Pumas captaincy and to suspend him, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino over “discriminatory and xenophobic” tweets.

Elsewhere, England head coach Eddie Jones has conceded that rugby union excites only purists at the moment, as it is dominated by defence, but he believes the game will return to an attacking style of play when the current cycle ends.

What’s in the news

Ireland will have to face Scotland in their Autumn Nations Cup third-place play-off in Dublin on Saturday without Billy Burns (fly-half) and wing James Lowe (wing) after both sustained groin injuries.

Meanwhile, England will be without the services of utility back Jonathan Joseph when they host France in that tournament’s final at Twickenham on Sunday as he is sidelined with a a calf injury.

What’s on social media

Premiership Rugby are giving away a signed shirt and boots as part of the Rainbow Laces initiative, a campaign run by Stonewall to promote LGBT inclusion in sport.

What’s on TV

The third round of the Premiership kicks off with Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints on BT Sport, who show all of that competition over the weekend. Elsewhere in the domestic game there is PRO14 on Premier Sports, starting on Saturday with Connacht v Benetton.

The Autumn Nations Cup comes to a conclusion this weekend with Ireland v Scotland and Wales v Italy taking place on Saturday with England hosting France in the final on Sunday and all those games will be shown on Amazon Prime Video Sport. In the Tri Nations on Saturday, Australia and Argentina face off on Sky Sports.

 

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