A bright afternoon in Bath set the scene for a tougher truth: cohesion beats potential. We walk through England A’s sobering loss to a slick New Zealand XV and pull out what matters for selection, development, and how fast “promising” becomes “test-ready.” Two names rose above the noise — Ollie Hassell-Collins under the high ball and Tom Pearson around the breakdown — but the wider lesson was clearer still: the basics decide everything when pressure bites.
Switching to Twickenham, we break down England’s measured step forward against Fiji. Lee Blackett’s attacking patterns are starting to appear — better timing, kick-passing options, and support lanes — yet Fiji’s blitzed collisions and crafty set-piece exposed the limits of rhythm without enough gain line. Cunningham-South’s athleticism at eight, Finn Smith’s defensive bite, and Marcus Smith’s spark from 15 add layers to the selection puzzle, and we unpack why the coaches have turned back to George Ford to steer the All Blacks test while Marcus changes the tempo late.
Across Europe, the theme echoed: power wins. South Africa throttled France with 14 men, Scotland missed their moment against a carded New Zealand, and Wales’ attacking flashes couldn’t mask soft edges Argentina exploited. Italy’s big win over Australia gave this window fresh energy, while Ireland’s late pull-away from Japan left questions about fluency. We connect the dots: test rugby still hinges on dominant contacts, reliable line-out, and kick pressure that turns territory into points.
Tap play for straight talk on selection, tactics, and where the northern teams need more oomph. If you’re into honest analysis, smart detail, and a few predictions that might age dangerously, this one’s for you. Enjoy it, share it with a rugby friend, and leave a quick review — what’s your pick at fly-half: Ford, Finn, or Marcus?
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