ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 31: Ben Youngs of England makes a break to score his sides first try during the 2020 Guinness Six Nations match between Italy and England at Olimpico Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
International rugby wrap: The weekend’s Test match results and highlights
International rugby is back at almost full force despite the spectre of renewed lockdowns hanging over Europe, and four Test matches were played on Saturday.
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 31: Ben Youngs of England makes a break to score his sides first try during the 2020 Guinness Six Nations match between Italy and England at Olimpico Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
International rugby wrap: There were four rugby Test matches contested on Saturday with the 2020 Six Nations decided and the delayed Tri Nations Rugby Championship getting underway in Australia.
International rugby wrap: Tri Nations
Wallabies 5-43 All Blacks
The All Blacks produced a masterclass against Australia on Saturday to clinch the Bledisloe Cup and get their Tri Nations campaign off to a winning start.
Tries from Karl Tu’inukuafe, Richie Mo’unga (2), Dane Coles, Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett saw the All Blacks cruise to a record victory over their rivals.
Australia’s only try came from Noah Lolesio as they were embarrassed by their visitors and must regroup ahead of facing them again next week in Brisbane.
Match facts and highlights
Wallabies 5 (Lolesio try)
New Zealand 43 (Karl Tu’inukuafe, Richie Mo’unga 2, Dane Coles, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett; Richie Mo’unga 5 cons; Mo’unga pens)
Wallabies: 1. James Slipper 2. Folau Fainga’a 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 5. Matt Philip 6. Ned Hanigan 7. Michael Hooper 8. Harry Wilson 9. Nic White 10. Noah Lolesio 11. Marika Koroibete 12. Irae Simone 13. Jordan Petaia 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves: 16. Jordan Uelese 17. Scott Sio 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Rob Simmons 20. Fraser McReight 21. Tate McDermott 22. Reece Hodge 23. Hunter Paisami
New Zealand: 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe 2. Dane Coles 3. Ofa Tuungafasi 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Samuel Whitelock 6. Shannon Frizell 7. Sam Cane (c) 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Jack Goodhue 13. Anton Lienert-Brown 14. Jordie Barrett 15. Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16. Codie Taylor 17. Alex Hodgman 18. Tyrel Lomax 19. Scott Barrett 20. Dalton Papalii 21. TJ Perenara 22. Ngani Laumape 23. Rieko Ioane.
International rugby wrap: Six Nations
Wales 10-14 Scotland
Scotland won their third Test in a row by claiming their first away triumph against Wales since 2002 by 14-10 at Parc y Scarlets in Saturday’s early match.
Replacement hooker McInally powered over off the back of a rolling maul mid-way through the second half for their only try of a cagey game.
Rhys Carre scored Wales’ sole try in the first half, planting the ball down from just a metre out, but they could not breach Scotland’s stubborn defence in the second half.
Match facts and highlights
Wales (7) 10
Try: Carre Con: Biggar Pen: Halfpenny
Scotland (6) 14
Try: McInally Pens: Russell, Hastings, Hogg
Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny; 14-Liam Williams, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Owen Watkin, 11-Josh Adams; 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Gareth Davies; 1-Rhys Carre, 2-Ryan Elias, 3-Tomas Francis, 4-Will Rowlands, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6-Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7-James Davies, 8-Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16-Sam Parry, 17-Wyn Jones, 18-Dillon Lewis, 19-Cory Hill, 20-Aaron WSainwright, 21-Lloyd Williams, 22-Rhys Patchell, 23-Nick Tompkins
Scotland: 15-Stuart Hogg (c); 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Chris Harris, 12-James Lang, 11-Blair Kinghorn; 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price; 1-Rory Sutherland, 2-Fraser Brown, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Scott Cummings, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-Jamie Ritchie, 7-Hamish Watson, 8-Blade Thomson
Replacements: 16-Stuart McInally, 17-Oli Kebble, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Ben Toolis, 20-Cornell du Preez, 21-Scott Steele, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Duhan van der Merwe.
Italy 5-34 England
Ben Youngs marked his 100th cap with a brace of tries as England secured a bonus-point victory over Italy in Rome that ultimately proved enough to win the 2020 Guinness Six Nations title.
The veteran scrum-half crossed at the start of both halves to put the Red Rose on the road to all five points, while Jamie George also scored on his 50th appearance for England.
Further tries from Tom Curry and Henry Slade ensured the visitors bagged the bonus point and increased their points difference, which piled the pressure on Ireland and France in Paris.
Eddie Jones’ troops then watched the proceedings at the Stade de France from Rome and were able to celebrate when France recorded an entertaining 35-27 victory that denied Ireland the title without being a big enough margin of victory for Les Bleus to overhaul England.
It means England claimed a third Championship title of the Jones era – following back-to-back triumphs in 2016 and 2017 – on points difference and will be awarded the trophy on Sunday lunchtime.
Match facts and highlights
Italy: (5) 5
Try: Polledri
England: (10) 34
Tries: Youngs 2, George, Curry, Slade Pens: Farrell Cons: Farrell 3
Italy: Minozzi; Padovani, Morisi, Canna, Bellini; Garbisi, Violi; Fischetti, Bigi (capt), Zilocchi, Lazzaroni, Cannone, Negri, Steyn, Polledri.
Replacements: Mori for Padovani (21), Ferrari for Fischetti (41), Palazzani for Minozzi (46), Lucchesi for Bigi (60), Ceccarelli for Zilocchi (60), Sisi for Cannone (60), Mbanda for Negri (72), Meyer for Lazzaroni (77).
Sin-bin: Polledri (37)
England: Furbank; Watson, Joseph, Slade, May; Farrell (capt), Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Earl for Underhill (53), Thorley for Watson (53), Genge for M Vunipola (58), Stuart for Sinckler (62), Lawrence for Joseph (67), Ewels for Hill (67), Robson for Youngs (72), Dunn for George (78).
Sin-bin: Hill (21)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
France 35-20 Ireland
Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont inspired France to a fine victory against Ireland in a result that handed England the 2020 Guinness Six Nations title.
On a thrilling Super Saturday, England beat Italy with a bonus point to set the target for their fellow title contenders but neither France nor Ireland could topple them in the day’s final game.
Les Bleus required a bonus-point win and a 31-point margin but, despite playing some exquisite rugby, they fell short against an Ireland side who started the day top of the table.
Dupont and Ntamack scored a try each, while a first-half penalty try and second-half Virimi Vakatawa score were enough for victory.
Ireland kicked-off chasing either a bonus-point win or any victory by seven points or more. But they trailed for most of the match despite tries from Cian Healy, Robbie Henshaw and Jacob Stockdale.
France finish second in the Championship table, missing out on points difference to England, while Ireland finish third.
Match facts and highlights
France: (17) 35
Tries: Dupont, penalty try, Ntamack, Vakatawa Con: Ntamack 2 Pens: Ntamack 3
Ireland: (13) 27
Tries: Healy, Henshaw, Stockdale Cons: Sexton 2, R Byrne Pens: Sexton 2
France: Bouthier; Rattez, Vakatawa, Vincent, Fickou; Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchant, Haouas, le Roux, Willemse; Cros, Ollivon (capt), Alldritt.
Replacements: Chat, Gros, Bamba, Taofifenua, Cretin, Serin, Retiere, Ramos.
Ireland: Stockdale; Conway, Henshaw, Aki, Keenan; Sexton (capt), Murray; Healy, Herring, Porter; Beirne, Ryan; Doris, Connors, Stander.
Replacements: Heffernan, E Byrne, Bealham, Dillane, O’Mahony, Gibson-Park, R Byrne, Farrell.
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