Sunday Social: A red card, rehab and a flashback

David Skippers
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It is time for Planet Rugby’s Sunday Social, your quirky recap of the serious and not so serious talking points from the past week’s action.

We begin in Perth, where the big talking point in the Rugby Championship Test between Australia and New Zealand was the red card issued to All Blacks full-back Jordie Barrett.

https://twitter.com/PlanetRugby/status/1434417343996874756

That decision meant that, under the new rules – which is being trialled in the tournament – New Zealand had to play with 14 men for 20 minutes before Barrett could be replaced and former All Blacks fly-half Lima Sopoaga believes it worked out well for his former team in the end.

It was a momentous occasion for Ardie Savea, who was captaining the All Blacks for the first time, and despite leaving the field with a head knock, the back-row was happy in the post-match interview.

Ahead of that game, ex-New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams couldn’t hide his delight with the decision to hand the captaincy to Savea.

Elsewhere, in England rugby league commentator Brian Carney put Red Rose coach Eddie Jones in his place after this comment about Hull full-back Jake Connor.

That comment from England’s head honcho must have hit a nerve with Connor as his response indicates that he is happy in the 13-man code.

Jones made up for that mishap by posing for this lovely pic with former England hooker Brian Moore’s twin daughters.

Meanwhile, this video of a forward breaking up a scuffle amongst backs was a big hit on our Twitter feed.

As was our take on the teamwork from South Africa’s front-row during a meal.

In Wales, Ospreys back-rower Dan Lydiate is busy with rehabilitation for a knee injury and he seems to be having a ball along with George North and Dewi Lake.

While in Italy, Zebre have made a statement of intent after signing Asaeli Tuivuaka, who was one of the Fiji Sevens team’s stars during their triumphant campaign at the Tokyo Olympics recently.

Elsewhere, the Rugby World Cup guys had a flashback of France’s shock victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham during 1999’s global showpiece.

And finally, former Wallabies, Brumbies and Toulon star Matt Giteau was in a happy mood when he was reunited with his dog after spending some time in quarantine recently.

Australia