The Rugby Download 🏉
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This Week In Rugby 🏉
🎵 Top Ten? Wales Fly Half Gareth Anscombe will make his first start for Wales in over two years, this Saturday against the All Blacks. Anscombe has had a long road back from a knee injury suffered in 2019. Alun Wyn Jones is also set to become the most capped player of all time, taking over Richie McCaw’s previous record of 148 international appearances. Full side here.
🏴☠️ Pieces Of Scottish Eight? Eight uncapped players are due to make their debut for Scotland against Tonga on Saturday. Four are due to start with a further four named on the bench. In the absence of England-based Stuart Hogg, who is not released for this game as it’s outside of the Test Window, Ali Price and Jamie Ritchie will Co-Captain the team. Full side here.
🦘 Wallaby Review? Australia will review their selection policy according to Australia Head Coach Dave Rennie. The Wallabies had scrapped their policy of only selecting overseas-based players with more than 60 caps during the Rugby Championship, leading to Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon all making successful returns. However all three have chosen to stay with their Japanese clubs rather than travel to Britain for the Autumn Internationals.
🤝 New Partnership Forming? England Captain Owen Farrell has spoken out about his excitement in potentially forming a new 10-12 axis with Harlequins sensation Marcus Smith. Farrell particularly highlighted Smith’s ability to unlock a game and studiousness of the game.
🪓 World Rugby Wields Axe? World Rugby has seemingly killed off the proposed plans for an innovative 12-a-side competition. After consulting stakeholders World Rugby have said they “do not wish to explore the concept further at this time.” World 12s were keen to highlight that they are “not raising the white flag.”
What’s On? 📺
Internationals
Scotland vs Tonga - Sat 2:30pm, Amazon Prime
Wales vs New Zealand - Sat 5:15pm, Amazon Prime
Gallagher Premiership
Gloucester vs Exeter - Fri 7:45pm, BT Sport 1
Northampton vs Leicester - Sat 3pm, BT Sport 3
Harlequins vs Saracens - Sun 3pm, BT Sport 1
Top 14
Racing 92 vs Toulouse - Sun 8:05pm, Premier Sports 1
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Have a Ruck & Roll Weekend 🏉