Rafters Autumn Nations Pilgrimage continues with trade unions’ transportation embargos, two Autumn Nations upsets, and USA Rugby’s advance toward World Cup qualification. All that plus round nine of the Premiership.
There and back again – a Cardiff Tale
Despite their best efforts to strand passengers throughout the region, the trade unions’ strike failed to derail Rafters’ trip to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for New Zealand’s extension of a sixty-nine year win streak over Wales. Rafters also managed to secure a timely return to Twickenham to witness England’s epic fail in their 2022 Autumn Nations opener to Argentina.
Our odyssey began in the wee hours of Saturday morning with the siren call of Cardiff and ended where it began a little less than twenty hours later. If the unions are the Laestrygonians in our story, there were surely plenty of lotus-eaters in the beer queue, and a lovely Penelope at home.
Thirteen hours of traveling for a two-hour rugby match? Such dedication. Such madness,
You betcha.
Given the inconveniences and two disappointing home-team losses, one might think the second week of our Pilgrimage was a bust. On the contrary.
Rafters celebrates its small victories but especially embraces the fans who filled the stadiums to cheer for their home sides, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is one of the finest venues in the rugbyverse.
At just as stones throw away from the pubs, a festive atmosphere permeates the city center on game day, and it’s worth the trip rain, hail, or rail strike.
Autumn Nations SeriesQuick picks and results.
Rafters pulled the lever for the home teams in the Autumn Nations series this week and managed to attend the only two matches where the home teams were embarrassed. Our picks and results.
Italy v Samoa.
Rafters Prediction – Italy over Samoa.
Result – No surprises here (Italy 49 – Samoa 17).Scotland v Fiji.
Rafters Prediction – Scotland over Fiji (but watch out for that Fijian passing magic).
Result – The only surprise in this one was the lack of Fijian passing magic that is so fun to watch. Scotland rallies late to run up the final score (Scotland 28 – Fiji 12).Wales v New Zealand.
Rafters Prediction – New Zealand in a close one over Wales.
Result – This Rafters’ close pick was predicated on the notion that Wales would bring home some of the amazing play that led to a victory in South Africa. Nothing close about this one after the first half. New Zealand inflicts a proper drubbing on a Welsh side that reverted to its 2022 Six Nations form. (New Zealand 55 – Wales 23).Ireland v South Africa.
Rafters Prediction. – Ireland over South Africa.
Result – A close one at Lansdowne Road. The Irish’s inspired rugby held off the 2019 world champions. Throughout the entire game, South Africa appeared to be on the verge of pulling out a win, but that had fully expired as the clock ticked into the seventy-third minute despite a late try to close the Boks to with in three. Watch out for Ireland in the Six Nations and the World Cup in 2023. (Ireland 19 – South Africa 16).France v Australia.
Rafters Prediction – France trounces Australia.
Result – Trounce is not the word to discribe a one point victory, and France looked rusty in the series opener against an Australian side that has played a bevy of matches over the past few months, but France’s rusty play is unlikely to continue into the remainder of the series. (France 30 – Australia 29).England v Argentina.
Rafters Prediction – England edges out Argentina.
Result – Ugh. Rafters totally blew this one. England wins this match seven out of ten times unless they play the way they played last Sunday. Heavy rain ending just before kickoff forced both teams to contend with a greasy ball and field, but Argentina’s defense remained solid against an England side that struggled to hold onto the ball during critical moments. The loss at home set the Twitter mob calling for Eddie Jones to go. Argentina edges out England. (Argentina 29 – England 30).
USA Rugby advances one step closer to a World Cup qualification
Despite the extra time it took to take a bus to Cardiff, Rafters still managed to catch the live stream of the World Cup Pool C Qualifications from Dubai’s Sevens Stadium.
The round-robin tournament to determine who gets to go zero for four in Pool C in next year’s World Cup began with the United States and Portugal winning bonus-point victories against Kenya and Hong Kong respectively.
The Eagles played their first match since being humiliated by Chile at Infinity Park last summer, and they took it out on the Kenyans. A USA victory appeared to be in doubt during the first fifteen minutes, but the Eagles eventually went into the break leading nineteen to nothing.
Seven minutes into the second half they secured the bonus point, and the rout was on. The win puts the USA at the top of the table with a points differential of plus twenty-six over second place Portugal.
Next weekend the Eagles return to Sevens Stadium to face Hong Kong, while Portugal meets Kenya. The round one winners meet in the final round in a match that will likely determine which team will travel to France in 2023.
(United States 68 – Kenya 14)
(Portugal 42 – Hong Kong 14)
The Gallagher Premiership
The Gallagher Premiership moved into round nine this week with most of the teams depleted in someway or another due to players called into service for the Autumn Nations Series.
Rafters Round Nine Quick picks
Bristol Bears (8) host Saracens (1)
Rafters Prediction – Even with several stars training with England, Saracens run away with this one with a bonus point.
Result – Let’s face it the Bears are playing like crap, and the Saracens are two points away from perfection on the table. Despite having several of their starters getting beat up by Argentina at Twickenham over the weekend, the Saracens’ depth can dominate opponents and makes the team an early favorite for the Premiership trophy. (Saracens 25 – Bears 10).Sale Sharks (2) host Gloucester (4)
Rafters Prediction – Gloucester’s physical play will lead them win its fourth in a row over Sale in a low scoring match.
Result – Rafter’s sleeper pick. Gloucester’s strong performance during the past three weeks and Sales recent slips against the Harlequins and the Saracens had all the makings for an upset, especially with players called up for Autumn Nations matches. Gloucester scored late to make it look sort of close, but this one was all Sale. (Sale Sharks 27 – Gloucester 17).Northampton Saints (5) hosts Exeter Chiefs (7)
Rafters Prediction – Two evenly matched teams that illustrate the parody in the league this season – Saints over the Chiefs.
Result – A close match for sixty-six minutes until the Saints secure the win with a converted try. A missed penalty goal by the Saints in the final minute handed the Chiefs a losing bonus point. (Saints 26 - Chiefs 19).Newcastle (11) host Bath (9)
Rafters Prediction – Bath will be hungry to prove that their upset of Gloucester two weeks ago was not a fluke (it wasn’t), Bath runs all over the Falcons.
Result – The match between Bath and Newcastle was best summed up by the PRTV commentator about ten minutes into the second half. Following a kick for touch he said, “The ball goes into the crowd and wakes a gentleman up.” Bath wins their second in a snooze fest at Newcastle. (Bath 17 Newcastle 10).Harlequins (3) - Scheduled Bye
Leicester Tigers (6) - Worcester Warriors Cancelled - (Third week in a row without a match).
London Irish (10) - Wasps Cancelled
Just one fan’s view from Beyond the Rafters.
Afters
If you are interested in watching Premiership Rugby in the United States (live or replays), you can stream all the matches on Peacock. Xfinity includes Peacock with some cable subscriptions. Flo Rugby offers replays of the Autumn Internationals, USA Rugby, the Rugby Championships, and Super Rugby. The Rugby Network broadcasts the MLR and the Pool C Tournament for no charge,
Fine Print
Other than a customer, Rafters is not affiliated with any league, team, or streaming/cable service.