Scores to settle

Getting tardy on the blogging. Setanta has deep-sixed any priority for Rugby Union the past month, always burying it after soccer during late graveyard shifts, or postponing broadcast to tape and re-broadcast days later. Throw in coverage of the Rugby League World Cup - yet more graveyard shifts, but at least that coverage from Australia is broadcast live - makes the Autumn Rugby Union international test matches Low Man on the Setanta Totem Pole. Not a happy camp in Waterloo these days!

Quick round-up of last weekends' international scores: Canada was skunked 55-0 by Ireland in the driving rain at Thomond Park in Limerick. I had predicted at TSF a scoreline of 55-18 in favour of the Irish, expecting the Canadians to manage some offense and points, keeping it close to 60 minutes and then falling away late. In fact, Canada leaked most of their points to start the game, trailing 36-0 at the halftime break, but showed some pride and mettle to restrict the cricket score. The Wallabies were run close by Italy, prevailing 30-20. The Springboks were run even closer by Wales, keeping their nerve to hold off the Dragons 20-15. England were more dour than usual, turning aside the Pacific Islands combination 39-13. And a (mostly) second-string All Blacks outfit didn't need to get out of second-grear to run past Scotland 32-6 at Murrayfield. The Scots had high hopes they could claim their first Kiwi scalp in over a century, but were denied again. It could have been worse. AB debutante Corey Jane butchered what looked to be a thrilling New Zealand try on the goalline, and instead gave spectators a new #1 on the Top Ten List of Ugliest-Ever AB Blown Tries.

On with this weekend's action, starting with Canada looking to rebound against Wales at Millenium Stadium...

WALES vs CANADA

Wales: 1. John Yapp, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Rhys Thomas, 4. Ian Gough, 5. Luke Charteris, 6. Dafydd Jones, 7. Robin Sowden-Taylor, 8. Ryan Jones (c), 9. Martin Roberts, 10. James Hook, 11. Mark Jones, 12. Andrew Bishop, 13. Tom Shanklin, 14. Leigh Halfpenny, 15. Morgan Stoddart. Reserves: 16. Matthew Rees, 17. Eifion Roberts, 18. Alun-Wyn Jones, 19. Andy Powell, 20. Dwayne Peel, 21. Dan Biggar, 22. Jamie Roberts.

Canada: 1. Kevin Tkachuk, 2. Pat Riordan (c), 3. Jon Thiel, 4. Tyler Hotson, 5. Josh Jackson, 6. Jebb Sinclair, 7. Adam Kleeberger, 8. Aaron Carpenter, 9. Ed Fairhurst, 10. Ander Monro, 11. Justin Mensah-Coker, 12. Ryan Smith, 13. Bryn Keys, 14. Ciaran Hearn, 15. James Pritchard. Reserves: 16. Mike Pletch, 17. Frank Walsh, 18. Mike Burak, 19. Sean Michael Stephen, 20. Morgan Williams, 21. Matt Evans, 22. Dean Van Camp.

Date: Friday 14 November, 2008
Kick-off: 19.30 GMT (2:30 p.m. ET (New York, Toronto))
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia), David Changleng (Scotland)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Assessor: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

UPDATE:

WALES WORKS HARD FOR 34 - 13 WIN OVER CANADA

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ENGLAND vs. AUSTRALIA

England: 1. Andrew Sheridan, 2. Lee Mears, 3. Phil Vickery, 4. Steve Borthwick, 5. Tom Palmer, 6. Tom Croft, 7. Tom Rees, 8. Nick Easter, 9. Danny Care, 10. Danny Cipriani, 11. Ugo Monye, 12. Riki Flutey, 13. Jamie Noon, 14. Paul Sackey, 15. Delon Armitage. Reserves: 16. Dylan Hartley, 17. Matt Stevens, 18. Simon Shaw, 19. James Haskell, 20. Michael Lipman, 21. Harry Ellis, 22. Toby Flood.

Australia: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Al Baxter, 4. Mark Chisholm, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 6. Hugh McMeniman, 7. George Smith, 8. Richard Brown, 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Matt Giteau, 11. Drew Mitchell, 12. Stirling Mortlock, 13. Ryan Cross, 14. Peter Hynes, 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper. Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Matt Dunning, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. Wycliff Palu, 20. Sam Cordingley, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. Digby Ioane.

Date: Saturday 15 November, 2008
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT (9:30 a.m. ET (New York, Toronto))
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Tim Hayes (Wales)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Assessor: Brian Stirling

ENG v AUS Rugby Planet preview
ENG v AUS Rugby Heaven preview

SCOTLAND vs SOUTH AFRICA

Scotland: 1. Allan Jacobson, 2. Ross Ford, 3. Euan Murray, 4. Nathan Hines, 5. Jim Hamilton, 6. Jason White, 7. John Barclay, 8. Ally Hogg, 9. Mike Blair, 10. Phil Godman, 11. Rory Lamont, 12. Nick De Luca, 13. Ben Cairns, 14. Thom Evans, 15. Chris Paterson. Reserves: 16. Dougie Hall, 17. Alasdair Dickinson, 18. Matt Mustchin, 19. Scott Gray, 20. Rory Lawson, 21. Dan Parks, 22. Hugo Southwell.

South Africa: 1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. John Smit, 4. Bakkies Botha, 5. Victor Matfield, 6. Schalk Burger, 7. Juan Smith, 8. Pierre Spies, 9. Fourie du Preez, 10. Ruan Pienaar, 11. Bryan Habana, 12. Jean de Villiers, 13. Adrian Jacobs, 14. JP Pietersen, 15. Conrad Jantjes. Reserves: 16. Brian Mujati, 17. Gurthro Steenkamp, 18. Andries Bekker, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Frans Steyn, 22. Jaque Fourie.

Date: Saturday 15 November, 2008
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT (9:30 a.m. ET (New York, Toronto))
Venue: Murrayfield
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Touch judges: Alain Rolland (England), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (South Africa)

SCO v SA Rugby Planet preview
SCO v SA Rugby Heaven preview

ITALY vs ARGENTINA

Italy: 1. Matias Aguero, 2. Fabio Ongaro, 3. Carlos Nieto, 4. Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 5. Marco Bortolami, 6. Josh Sole, 7. Mauro Bergamasco, 8. Sergio Parisse, 9. Pablo Canavosio, 10. Andrea Marcato, 11. Mirco Bergamasco, 12. Gonzalo Garcia, 13. Matteo Pratichetti, 14. Kaine Robertson, 15. Andrea Masi. Reserves: 16. Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18. Salvatore Perugini, 19. Tommaso Reato, 20. Pietro Travagli, 21. Luciano Orquera, 22. Luke Mclean.

Argentina: 1. Rodrigo Roncero, 2. Mario Ledesma, 3. Juan Pablo Orlandi, 4. Esteban Lozada, 5. Patricio Albacete, 6. Martin Durand, 7. Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, 8. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 9. Nicolas Vergallo, 10. Juan Martin Hernandez, 11. Rafael Carballo, 12. Felipe Contepomi, 13. Gonzalo Tiesi, 14. Federico Martin Aramburu, 15. Bernardo Stortoni. Reserves: 16. Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17. Marcos Ayerza, 18. Alvaro Galindo, 19. Alejandro Campos, 20. Agustin Figuerola, 21. Santiago Fernandez, 22. Horacio Agulla.

Date: Saturday 15 November, 2008
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT) (9:00 a.m. ET (New York, Toronto))
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Referee: Chris White (England)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Christophe Berdos (France)
Television match official: David Changleng
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie

ITA v ARG Rugby Planet preview
ITA v ARG Rugby Heaven preview

FRANCE vs PACIFIC ISLANDS

France: 1. Lionel Faure, 2. Dimitri Szarzewski, 3. Nicolas Mas, 4. Romain Millo-Chluski, 5. Lionel Nallet, 6. Thierry Dusautoir, 7. Fulgence Ouedraogo, 8. Imanol Harnordoquy, 9. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 10. David Skrela, 11. Cedric Heymans, 12. Benoît Baby, 13. Yannick Jauzion, 14. Julien Malzieu, 15. Maxime Médard. Reserves: 16. Benjamin Kayser, 17. Benoît Lecouls, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19. Louis Picamoles, 20. Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 21. Damien Traille, 22. Alexis Palisson.

Pacific Islands: 1. Kas Lealamanua (SAM), 2. Tanielu Fuga (SAM), 3. Kisi Pulu (TGA), 4. Paino Hehea (TGA), 5. Kele Leawere (FIJ), 6. Hale T-Pole (TGA), 7. Sisa Koyamaibole (FIJ), 8. Nili Latu (TGA), 9. Mosese Rauluni (FIJ), 10. Seremaia Bai (FIJ), 11. Vilimoni Delasau (FIJ), 12. Epi Taione (TGA), 13. Seru Rabeni (FIJ), 14. Napolioni Nalaga (FIJ), 15. Gavin Williams (SAM). Reserves: 16. Sunia Koto (FIJ), 17. Census Johnston (SAM), 18. Filipo Levi (SAM), 19. Viliami Vaki (TGA), 20. Sililo Martens (TGA), 21. Kameli Ratuvou (FIJ), 22. Seilala Mapusua (SAM).

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Venue: Stade Auguste Bonal, Sochaux
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT) (9:00 a.m. ET (New York, Toronto))
Referee: Nigel Owens (Ireland)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

FRA v PI Rugby Planet preview
FRA v PI Rugby Heaven preview

IRELAND vs NEW ZEALAND

Ireland: 1. Marcus Horan, 2. Rory Best, 3. John Hayes, 4. Donncha O'Callaghan, 5. Paul O'Connell, 6. Alan Quinlan, 7. David Wallace, 8. James Heaslip, 9. Tomas O'Leary, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 11. Rob Kearney, 12. Luke Fitzgerald, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 14. Tommy Bowe, 15. Girvan Dempsey. Reserves: 16. Jerry Flannery, 17. Tony Buckley, 18. Stephen Ferris, 19. Shane Jennings, 20. Eoin Reddan, 21. Paddy Wallace, 22. Keith Earls.

New Zealand: 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Keven Mealamu, 3. Neemia Tialata, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Ali Williams, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Richie McCaw, 8. Rodney So'oialo, 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Daniel Carter, 11. Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 15. Mils Muliaina. Reserves: 16. Corey Flynn, 17. John Afoa, 18. Anthony Boric, 19. Kieran Read, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Stephen Donald, 22. Isaia Toeava.

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT (12:15 pm ET (New York, Toronto))
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch

IRE v NZ Rugby Planet preview
IRE v NZ Rugby Heaven preview


AREN'T YOU GLAD YR STILL READING, DEP'T:

Duncan Johnstone at Rugby Heaven wonders if the world's star player comes into Saturday's test against Ireland undercooked:

Dan Carter's personal rehabilitation programme has restricted him to just 31 minutes in the No 10 role in the past eight weeks and placed pressure on the All Blacks maestro to get things right quickly against Ireland on Sunday.

Read the rest.

And the Irish Times profiles Big Brad Thorn, this blogs' fave player.

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