Rugby Union Today: Richie Mo’unga gets first Test start
Another busy day in the rugby union game as Steve Hansen named his New Zealand squad for the Argentina clash, which included Richie Mo’unga at fly-half.
What’s on the site
We looked back at the opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership season in our ‘journey into stats’ feature. It focuses on what is perceived to be key to winning games in rugby and how it compares to the victors in the first round.
Elsewhere, check out the highlights from the Mitre 10 Cup, where Waikato hosted Wellington and claimed an impressive 43-31 triumph in Hamilton.
What’s in the news
The big story of the day saw All Blacks boss Steve Hansen give Richie Mo’unga his chance in the fly-half jersey for the visit of Argentina. Beauden Barrett is rested with Damian McKenzie once again taking his place on the bench.
In further international news, England, Wales and Ireland announced their fixtures ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup, which will include the Red Rose playing a match in Newcastle.
Finally, Eddie Jones will not take Danny Cipriani’s recent brush with the law into account when naming his England squad for the November internationals, meaning that he could retain his place in the starting line-up.
What’s on social media
The decision to take an England game to the North East has received plenty of backing, not least from the locals.
Brilliant news for the North East, and we are firmly supportive of it… https://t.co/vpqULFKV6x
— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) September 5, 2018
Another positive step for the worldwide game is the Ireland v New Zealand clash later this year being shown on terrestrial TV in Britain.
Ireland v NZ in November to be broadcast live on Channel4.
Channel 4, which has Champions Cuo rugby rights, will show Ireland’s home RWC warm-up games and autumn internationals until 2021.
— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) September 5, 2018
What’s on TV
The Rugby Championship returns this weekend with Sky Sports showing New Zealand’s clash against Argentina and Australia’s match with the Springboks.
They will also broadcast action from the Top 14, featuring Toulouse v La Rochelle and Toulon v Castres, while there are plenty of Currie Cup and Mitre 10 Cup games to enjoy.
On BT Sport, the channel have another four encounters from the Gallagher Premiership with Northampton, Wasps, Bath and Sale hosting Harlequins, Exeter, Gloucester and Worcester respectively.
Finally, in a bumper weekend of rugby, Premier Sport are once again showing the seven PRO14 contests which take place on the Friday and Saturday.