Autumn Series Rugby.

Losty Dublin · 30-10-2021 1:35pm #1

This year sees the majority of matches broadcasting via Amazon Prime, with the inevitable result of a lot of games being not watched by most fans until long after the event. Thankfully for the majority of members here, RTÉ and Channel 4 have acquired coverage of Ireland's three home tests against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina. However thats not much good if you need a fix and you need a fix now then either subscribe to Amazon Prime; apparently there's a trial period free for a month, which should see you through for the series.

Alternatively you can join https://www.rugbyeurope.eu for free and stream some fringe games, if you are real desperate for a fix ☺️ Currenly it's Lithuania 9, Germany 19

Anyway, todays line up.......

Scotland vs Tonga; Kick Off is 2:30PM

Scotland: 15 Darcy Graham, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Rufus McLean, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Ali Price (cc), 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie (cc), 5 Rob Harley, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Nick Haining, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Ross Thompson

Tonga: 15 James Faiva, 14 Atunaisa Manu, 13 Mailetoa Hingano, 12 Vaea Vaea, 11 Walter Fifita, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua (c), 8 Valentino Mapapalangi, 7 Fotu Lokotu, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Setofano Funaki, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 3 David Lolohea, 2 Maile Ngauamo, 1 Loni Uhila

Replacements: 16 Suia Maile, 17 Jethro Felemi, 18 Toma Taufa, 19 Dan Faleafa, 20 Onehunga Havili, 21 Mateaki Kafatolu, 22 Aisea Halo, 23 Navarre Haisila

Referee for this is Nic Berry (Australia) with Damon Murphy (Australia) and Angus Gardner (Australia) on duty as assistant referees, and Brett Cronan (Australia) upstairs, presumably doing some online shopping while he's at it.

There will be a moments silence ahead of the game in member of the legendary Sandy Carmichael, ex West of Scotland FC, Scotland, Lions and a noble veteran of 1971's Battle of Canterbury, who passed away this week aged 77.

I can't see The Sea Eagles being too much of a challenge for the Scots, who have vastly improved in the last few years. A lack of test rugby this summer may show up at times but their opposition have had a rotten summer, shipping 189 points in four tests!! Of note to some of us is Connaught lock Halaleva Fifita, who starts today. I say a home win 48-14 and at least one red card to spoil the show.

Wales vs New Zealand; this game kicks off at 5:15PM

Wales team: 15. Johnny McNicholl; 14. Owen Lane, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Johnny Williams, 11. Josh Adams; 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Adam Beard, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Taine Basham, 8. Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: 16. Kirby Myhill, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Will Rowlands, 20. Seb Davies, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Ben Thomas.

New Zealand: 15. Jordie Barrett; 14. Will Jordan, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. David Havili, 11. Rieko Ioane; 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. TJ Perenara; 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Sam Whitelock (capt), 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Dalton Papalii, 8. Ardie Savea.

Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Tupou Vaa'i, 20. Akira Ioane, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Richie Mo'unga, 23. Sevu Reece.Referee Mathieu Raynal, assistant referees Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley and TMO Brian MacNeice will take charge of the game.

Beauden Barrett makes his 100th test appearance for NXZ today, a mere 49 caps less than Alun Wyn Jones has for Wales. After pulverising the US Eagles last week in what was barely a canter for the tourists, NZ know that a win today will edge them back onto top spot of the world rankings for at least a week. Wales are facing what could be an unpretty hammering today but as always are capable of pulling a rabbit from the hat. The trouble is, the old Magician has left and the new conjuror needs a new trick JUSTLIKETHAT...

https://youtu.be/pcJa9-JtMEo

Prediction here is for an away win; 41-18.

Will23 · 30-10-2021 1:40pm

Is Amazon Prime Sport available in Ireland? I read somewhere it’s not but can’t find a certain answer online!

icdg · 30-10-2021 1:49pm

These games will be. Worth noting though, this is the last year of Ireland’s existing deal with RTE and Channel 4, and next year those rights will be centralised too, with the U.K. rights also moving to Prime Video, though RTE will retain the ROI rights. Anyway that’s twelve months down the road.

With centralised rights comes new centralised branding, so it’s goodbye “Guinness Series”, “Quilter Internationals” etc and hello “Autumn Nations Series”.

scott1974 · 30-10-2021 2:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118093801#Comment_118093801

Yes, it is. It's just Amazon Prime, the sport bit is just part of the package.

Losty Dublin · 30-10-2021 2:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118093801#Comment_118093801

Yes but be careful here. The registration page tries to hint at you to use a link that tries to directs you to a registration for Ireland only; that page gives you a 7 day free trial only. Select the Amazon Prime UK link and it offers you a 30 day free trial. However it requires an UK account and a UK address so have it and the postcode handy when you sign up.

It's worth pointing out that many Eir broadband customers have complimentary Amazon Prime on their account, so they should be able to view the games without any hassle.

razorblunt · 30-10-2021 2:28pm

Typical Scots, wait almost 2 years to see their country play and they’re too tight to put the hands in their pockets.

if they went they’d also avoid Mark Robson on commentary!

lertsnim · 30-10-2021 2:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094007#Comment_118094007

Thankfully he's easily turned off for just the crowd noise.

Losty Dublin · 30-10-2021 2:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094007#Comment_118094007

I'd walk to a lot of places to avoid him too 🤓

Larbre34 · 30-10-2021 2:46pm

So Wales v NZ is only on AP later?

lertsnim · 30-10-2021 2:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094076#Comment_118094076

Yes. Highlights on S4C later.

Losty Dublin · 30-10-2021 2:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094076#Comment_118094076

Yep. Highlights on S4C, which isn't exactly easy viewed either.

Larbre34 · 30-10-2021 3:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094097#Comment_118094097

And probably in Welsh language. F that.

The British Unions will live to regret going fully streaming PPV, especially in Wales where is the economy is tanking. Its a working mans sport.

Losty Dublin · 30-10-2021 3:21pm

Amazon pulling out all the stops with the half time show here 🙄

razorblunt · 30-10-2021 3:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094182#Comment_118094182

If you don’t get a free trial its £8 for the month. You’re not tied in, it’s not exactly breaking the bank for fans at the same time.

Larbre34 · 30-10-2021 3:44pm

Yeah but its a slippery slope, I've seen it myself with satellite sports subscriptions over the last 20 years. If the fans let the principle of the thing slide,its all over.

icdg · 30-10-2021 3:47pm

It’s not pay per view either. Pay per view implies that you pay each time for each individual broadcast. Only major boxing and professional wrestling cards are pay per view.

A lot of people in the U.K. (way more than here, where Amazon is only really setting up the infrastructure for Prime now) have Amazon Prime for delivery and get Prime Video with it. For some believe it or not the streaming service is an afterthought! (Including Amazon themselves, the cynics might say).

Unfortunately Amazon thought of S4C and decided to provide a Welsh language commentary of its own, lest that argument be used.

crisco10 · 30-10-2021 3:48pm

Tonga bringing on an amateur 9 to replace their 12.

These out of window matches are a smidge of a farce.

razorblunt · 30-10-2021 4:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094309#Comment_118094309

Yeah that’s a fair point.

Interested Observer · 30-10-2021 5:19pm

Ardie Savea's work after contact when he's carrying is insane. I wonder if there's another player who makes as many metres after contact.

razorblunt · 30-10-2021 5:23pm

That was so bad from Anscombe. It was a forward pass too.

razorblunt · 30-10-2021 5:26pm

Black adder is some size of a man,

loves a side entry at a ruck though, you’d think it would make it easier to spot him

Interested Observer · 30-10-2021 5:26pm

Pretty ominous start for Wales. I think a lot of clever kicking is their only real chance to keep it respectable.

clsmooth · 30-10-2021 5:28pm

Think that’s a yellow for Barrett. If you don’t take it with one hand..

Interested Observer · 30-10-2021 5:29pm

I think that's a terrible decision, he's using the fact there's cover as a reason to not give a card but Barret has absolutely killed a great chance for Wales to attack. Lane catches and immediately kicks that and it's a footrace to the line because there's nobody in the backfield. Really poor call imo.

fitz · 30-10-2021 5:29pm

Very soft to not give a yellow for that.

razorblunt · 30-10-2021 5:30pm

Penalty is fair there, Barrett didn’t look to be slapping it.

jammiedodgers · 30-10-2021 5:30pm

Joke of a decision, yellow all day long

bilston · 30-10-2021 5:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094770#Comment_118094770

Ah...I think that is a blatant yellow.

touts · 30-10-2021 5:32pm

And that's a perfect example of the pressure refs are under when they are in charge of an All Blacks match. Hard to imagine any other outhalf in world rugby who wouldn't be sitting on a bench right now.

clsmooth · 30-10-2021 5:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118094770#Comment_118094770

Don’t think he did go to slap it down, but if you’re not in a position to catch it with both hands, you put yourself at risk of a yellow. I reckon Barrett himself will feel like he got away with it.

AdamD · 30-10-2021 5:33pm

Anyone's sound way off on Amazon??

Autumn Series Rugby.

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