Sunday Social: Joy for Ireland and Siya signing budgies
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.
Where else to begin than Dublin as earlier this week New Zealand were greeted to a wonderful haka from Down syndrome social enterprise group Together Academy.
Thanks to @TogetherAcademy for an awesome haka 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/knr2YEYx5E
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 12, 2021
Before Saturday’s fixture against the All Blacks, the Irish were wished good luck by United States of America president Joe Biden, who is a cousin of Rob Kearney.
𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞
We'd like to thank @POTUS for his support of the team ahead of today's game against the @AllBlacks! 🤝#TeamOfUs | #IREvNZL
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 13, 2021
Ireland were clearly fired up to make it three wins in five recent attempts against New Zealand, with this passage of defence outstanding as they stood strong.
James Lowe denies Will Jordan a try, then Andrew Conway and Garry Ringrose mange to stop Jordie Barrett.
Massive moment in the 10th minute.#IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/ykEOl50rXn
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) November 14, 2021
James Lowe was part of that passage and also grabbed the game’s first try, with this post-match interview showing what it meant for him to face the All Blacks.
🗣 "Never in a million years could I have thought this day would come!"
Try scorer James Lowe speaks after the epic win over New Zealand.#C4Rugby | #IrishRugby 🍀 | #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/Wr27hevTQX
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) November 13, 2021
It truly was a richly deserved result for Andy Farrell’s men as they were on top for large spells of the game. Of course there were some great shots after the whistle.
Special moments. #TeamOfUs | #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/4xPwCDjGez
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 13, 2021
There’s always at least one though who likes to have some light-hearted fun after a victory and this tweet from Dublin airport might stir the pot in New Zealand.
Jacinda Ardern, Peter Jackson, Edmund Hillary, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sam Neil, Bilbo Baggins … your guys took a hell of a beating today. #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/i6GtPzfPAM
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) November 13, 2021
Before that game, the focus was on Murrayfield where Scotland and Lions great Tom Smith presented the match ball. Smith’s now a Scottish Rugby Hall of Famer.
An emotional moment at BT Murrayfield as Tom Smith comes out to present the match ball. pic.twitter.com/wQpliqbRCE
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 13, 2021
Speaking of achievements, Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg scored twice in the match against South Africa to move level on tries with Tony Stanger and Ian Smith.
A record-equalling try by our captain, @StuartWHOGG_ 🙌
He's now our joint highest men's try scorer of all time.
📺 Watch live in UK on @primevideosport. pic.twitter.com/AD3LdwgwK9
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 13, 2021
But it wasn’t in victory for Hogg as South Africa showed their quality once again to get the result. Judging from this newspaper, with players out of position too.
Interesting call to have Zander at both 1 and 3, hopefully he can cope with the Springbok front row of Vermeulen and Kol… something’s not right here @thistlerugbypod @SquidgeRugby pic.twitter.com/oTldkrWsPG
— Edward Curtis (@CurtisEd4) November 13, 2021
The Springboks were clearly delighted with this triumph and celebrated with their fans after the triumph. This supporter even got Siya Kolisi to sign his budgies.
Siya Kolisi will do anything for South Africa 😂#StanSportAU #AutumnNationsSeries #SCOvRSA pic.twitter.com/zt6UerFOIb
— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) November 13, 2021
Speaking of budgie smugglers here’s scrum-half Cobus Reinach enjoying a moment with South Africa’s Frans Steyn, who became the Boks’ longest serving player.
You just have to love this legend.
15 YEARS AND NOT OUT. @fsteyn12#cuddles pic.twitter.com/Fm7WLAS6RT— cobus reinach (@c_reinach) November 13, 2021
It was then to Twickenham but before the match between England and Australia, the Wallaby team announcement produced an emotional moment for Ollie Hoskins.
🥲 A lovely moment as Ollie Hoskins finds out that he has been named in the Wallabies squad to face England. ❤️pic.twitter.com/9DQThJnXgE
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) November 12, 2021
Hoskins and Australia would come off second best in the fixture, however, as the English trio of Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith and Freddie Steward showed their class.
🏴 Farrell-Smith-Steward on song. #AutumnNationsSeries #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/tz82dZTYJq
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) November 13, 2021
Speaking of whirlwind weeks for props, we were big fans of this picture of England prop Bevan Rodd, who took his starting chance with both hands at Twickenham.
Good night from Twickenham.#ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/36ihLykbDb
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 13, 2021
Finally, we head to Edmonton where a soccer match between Canada and Costa Rica saw this steward take down a streaker with a textbook rugby tackle. Sign him up.
🇨🇦 This Canadian soccer steward has clearly played a bit of rugby.pic.twitter.com/Pxrctlqj2y
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) November 13, 2021