Autumn Internationals week 3 Round up

I’ve never believed in the media hype but if people are wondering the effect of the press on players just look at Chris Robshaw‘s decision on Saturday.
Against Australia, England was criticised for not taking the points when they were on offer and instead went for the try. They didn’t score and lost as a result.
This time around, with one minute left on the clock and four points behind against one of the best defence in the world, the only option was to go for the corner, especially as England were dominant at this point.
Robshaw pointed to the posts, Owen Farrell did his job but Mouritz Botha couldn’t control the restart and the game was over.
They had to score a try to win and I’m pretty sure it’s easier from a lineout in the opposition 22 than from deep inside your own half.
Before that it wasn’t all bad though, England stood their ground and kept the Springboks at bay all game if it wasn’t for that freak try.
The attack out wide has to be a major concern though. Yes they didn’t get any good lineout ball to attack from but it was all too lateral when they did. Am I hoping to see Freddie Burns given a shot next week? Very much so.
It should be another lesson learn! The road to 2015 was never going to be an easy ride but the last couple of games were theirs for the taking and it would have been a major boost of confidence in their preparation process.
Now for the try of the year! Desperate time call for desperate measures they say. Well a 15-man lineout was pretty inventive/funny/pathetic and it turns out you tend to score against seven men (even if that’s the All Blacks).
The game was long lost by then and Wales are heading for the third tier in the IRB World Rankings which should make their 2015 World Cup campaign a challenging one, unless they beat Australia next week.
They were in the game early but tried to score tries when they had points on offer. Remind you of another team?
Meanwhile the All Blacks took their points and went 9-0 in front so Wales add to chase the game and as usual a very well taken length of the field try eventually sealed the deal as you don’t comeback from a 15 points deficit in Test rugby.
There’s hope for England though as New Zealand arrived in London yesterday without a fit hooker of fly-half. Keven Mealamu, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett are all injured while Andrew Hore has earned himself a rest after that shocking attack on Bradley Davies.
Will that be enough? I’m not sure but England will not have an “easier” opportunity to beat the All Blacks anytime soon.
The other big news of the weekend was Andy Robinson quitting his position as Scotland‘s head-coach following their defeat to Tonga on Saturday.
Being the Scotland coach is not the easiest job in world rugby but he did pretty well in his time up there.
They seemed to be on the right track after their successful tour of Australasia in the summer and came into the Autumn series confident they could give the “Big Boys” a run for their money.
But instead they have lost all three games and that last game was the last straw for Robinson.
I think the bigger issue lies somewhere else. The Scots have a clear inferiority complex when it comes to playing the Southern Hemisphere nations.
They’re trying to defend against them but it’s impossible to do. They only give it a go when the game is already lost and they managed to put both the All Blacks and the Springboks on the back foot which is no easy means.
They need to start playing the game in the same way Argentina do, start the game flat out and see where it takes them. It will boost their confidence and with time they’ll be able to compete for 80 minutes, just like the Pumas did.
NICK VERDIER
Watch the Welsh try and the Andrew Hore attack on Bradley Davies below