Good Times / Bad Times

Another week of rugby, another pack of winners and losers...



Good Times...

England Women
Catherine Spencer's England beat the New Zealand Black Ferns for the first time since 2001 at Twickenham last Saturday and therefore drew the two match series.  Brilliant for everyone involved and great preparation for the 2010 World Cup - oh, and they did much better than their male counterparts.

On top at Twickenham

Scotland's defence
Scotland 9 - 8 Australia, a result which ended Scotland's 27 year losing streak against the Green and Golds.  Scotland's commitment in defence (along with a bit of luck and help from the weather) secured them the win.  Congratulations to the Jocks - you managed a humiliation much greater than the one Ireland dished out a week earlier and a victory that the ramshackle England team can only dream of.

Jonny Sexton
A man of the match performance for Ronan O'Gara's main competition against Fiji with 100% kicking success. 
News just in:  Sexton has been picked to start at number 10 against South Africa on Saturday with O'Gara relegated to the bench.  Congratulations Jonny, well deserved.

10 out of 10

Dan Carter
Off colour against England but Dan deserves a mention as he kicked his way into the record books by overtaking Andrew Mehrtons as New Zealand's top points scorer of all time.  And he's my favourite.

Lewis Moody
The only real shining light in a depressing trio of games for England.  Step aside Steve Borthwick - is the passionate yet eloquent 'Mad Dog' a future England captain?

Woof

Wales
A loss against New Zealand, a slightly unconvincing win against Samoa but three tries scored against Argentina in their 33-16 victory.  Wales face Australia on Saturday and no doubt hope to pick up where Scotland left off.  It seems they are warming up nicely for the 6 nations


Bad Times...

England's Men
What have we learned at the conclusion of England's November tests?  Not much, except that our second string team isn't particularly great.  Strange selections meant that the opportunities to test drive young talent (Lawes and a 'livid' Foden) were missed, and I fear that that next year's November tests will be too late for experimentation with the 2011 World Cup just around the corner.

Matt Giteau
The big miss of the week.  Congratulations again to Scotland.

Oops.

John Smit
Is the South Africa captain showing weaknesses at number 1?  Is he still the feared prop after the Boks' scrum suffered against Italy?  Has he slipped back to number 2 and will he start at hooker against Ireland?

Leeds Carnegie
Finally, my beloved Leeds let a 17-3 lead slip against Sale on Sunday.  A win would have lifted them from the bottom of the Guinness Premiership table but alas is wasn't to be.  Boo.