Stade de France is no place to pussy-foot around and he was obviously looking to get some momentum at the start of what is going to be a hectic eight weeks of international rugby.
Win your first game in a series and you set the right tone. I’m sure that came into his thinking. He also needed to get some game time into some of his senior players ahead of the clash against Scotland this weekend. That is the biggest game of the Autumn Test window given it rounds off the Six Nations.
There will be points and pounds at stake at Parc Y Scarlets, so the idea of trying to create both momentum and continuity was sound. The one slight deviation was the selection of Louis Rees-Zammit on the replacements bench. I think there would have been a public outcry if the player recently voted Young Player of the Year in the Gallagher Premiership hadn’t been given his chance to shine on the international stage.
I can’t wait to see him unleashed from the start at that level. It could be the beginning of something very special, but let’s not put too much pressure on the young man just yet.
When you think about the impact made by one of the last teenage wings Wales brought through, George North, if he can reach similar heights wouldn’t that be something. It’s great to see George available for these games following his recent red card and he still has so much to offer.
Denne historien er fra October 25, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra October 25, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
