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By Charlie Elliott
Nobody might have anticipated a few of the outcomes that occurred over the Autumn Nations Collection, with Australia overperforming and Wales furthering their dropping streak.
It was a blended bag of performances for groups throughout the Autumn, and listed below are the rankings of every group based mostly on how effectively they did.
England – D
Many had been anticipating two wins, or possibly even three, for England, and so they did not ship.
The primary saving grace is the truth that in opposition to Australia and New Zealand, they had been unfortunate to lose, however what’s worrying is the shortage of having the ability to see out video games.
Efficiency-wise smart it was not dangerous in any respect, however check rugby is results-driven, and failing to get outcomes will all the time imply that it’s thought-about an unsuccessful Autumn.
Steve Borthwick’s lack of willingness to change from the blitz defence can also be unfavorable as a result of time and time once more it appeared that it was not working in opposition to the highest groups.
This Autumn proved that England are a great distance away from a World Cup, and can even wrestle within the Six Nations, not an important marketing campaign however some positives.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 16: Henry Slade of England appears on after the Autumn Nations Collection 2024 match between England and South Africa at Allianz Stadium on November 16, 2024 in London, England. (Picture by Paul Harding/Getty Photographs)
Eire – B
It was a very good however unremarkable Autumn for Eire, with Andy Farrell’s aspect just about doing as anticipated.
The wins in opposition to Australia and Argentina had been good, and so they tore aside Fiji of their greatest efficiency of the sequence.
The All-Blacks loss is the one blemish, with their opponents barely stepping out of second gear however comfortably profitable.
It didn’t seem that Eire had been at their greatest in any respect, however the outcomes communicate for themselves, a stable Autumn however one which gained’t be remembered in future.
Scotland – B+
Significantly better than folks could have anticipated for Scotland. Massively dominant over Australia, with anticipated wins in opposition to Fiji and Portugal.
They went about their enterprise in knowledgeable method, and even within the loss in opposition to South Africa, they gave the world champions a giant scare for massive parts.
An Autumn which is able to give them big quantities of confidence going into the Six Nations, and Gregor Townsend shall be happy with his squad.
Wales – F
Weak, lifeless and with a definite lack of high quality. Wales had been poor for the entire Autumn Nations Collection. Nobody anticipated them to beat South Africa, however Fiji and Australia ought to have been wins on residence soil.
A primary-ever win for Fiji in Cardiff reveals simply how disappointing they had been, and a 20-52 battering by Australia was simply embarrassing.
Followers have misplaced religion in Warren Gatland, and Welsh rugby wants resurrecting, in any other case, it may very well be a torrid future for the nation’s rugby scene.
CARDIFF, WALES – NOVEMBER 23: Freddie Thomas, Jac Morgan and Ryan Elias of Wales look dejected after Gerhard Steenekamp of South Africa (not pictured) scores his group’s sixth attempt throughout the Autumn Nations Collection 2024 match between Wales and South Africa on the Principality Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales. (Picture by Dan Mullan/Getty Photographs)
New Zealand – B-
Getting outcomes with out placing in a robust efficiency is an alien idea for the All-Blacks, however that’s precisely what they did.
The loss to France was disappointing however wins in England and Eire deserve credit score, although they weren’t at their greatest.
Solely beating Italy by 18 factors is one thing that’s not of their DNA and tarnishes an above-average Autumn.
If the England recreation had not gone their method, there might have been completely totally different discussions about this aspect, so Scott Robertson can think about himself barely fortunate.
Australia – B
Outcomes could have petered out in the direction of the final couple of video games for the Wallabies however given the discuss earlier than Autumn about rugby union being stagnant within the nation, they deserve big credit score.
Bringing Joseph Sua’ali’i over from rugby league appears to be a masterstroke, and Joe Schmidt deserves all of the reward for the upturn in outcomes.
With them being written off earlier than a ball was kicked, it would have been massively satisfying to show folks flawed.
South Africa – A
The whole lot simply appeared so easy for the Springboks, who bought three wins from three with out being at their greatest.
The tightness of the wins in opposition to England and Scotland can have upset them, however in fact that is a mirrored image of their excessive requirements, having nonetheless gained by 9 and 17 factors in these video games.
Very dominant and really bodily, they’ve proven that they aren’t over the hill simply but.
France – A
France had been stellar the entire Autumn and beat Argentina comfortably alongside a good win in opposition to New Zealand.
They’ve an important group, and a few younger expertise akin to Louis Bielle-Biarrey bursting onto the scene will give much more hope for the longer term.
Six Nations is effectively inside their sights and having the ability to compete regardless of Antoine Dupont not being at his greatest reveals that they aren’t the one-man group that they’ve been branded as previously.
READ MORE: One of the best XV of the Autumn Nations Collection
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Author : rugby365
Publish date : 2024-12-02 16:19:18
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