Rugby World Cup sides toppled in afternoon of Tier 2 upsets – RugbyPass

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been hailed as a “freak” and “great” with his Wallabies’ squadmates in awe of his striking debut in the gold shirt.
Rory Lawson recounts how his legendary grandfather’s favourite sweets helped inspire Scotland to victory in his first Test as captain.
A packed action weekend with some surprising results over in the Tier 2 world, as Spain, Romania and the United States of America were able to defeat Uruguay, Tonga and Portugal, respectively.
Leones even the score with the Teros
Spain’s Autumn campaign started on the right foot, as the Leones were able to defeat Uruguay after an intense contest that saw the home side winning 33-24 in Estadio Nacional Complutense in Madrid.
Pablo Bouza’s men clicked from the very beginning, with fly-half Gonzalo Vinuesa threading the needle with ease and creating a handful of smart plays that put the Spanish over the try line four times.
Referee Karl Dickson explains the 20-min red card system that is in place during the Autumn Nations Series.
Referee Karl Dickson explains the 20-min red card system that is in place during the Autumn Nations Series.

With Biarritz Olympique Kerman Aurrekoetxea scoring a brace, Uruguay had to contend with a single try just before half-time, in what was a lacklustre first half for the Los Teros.
However, the visitors turned the tables in the second leg of the game, with the Uruguayans picking up the pace and asserting a significant dominance in the set-piece. Guillermo Pujadas and Felipe Aliaga crossed the whitewash and narrowed the score to 27-21, with just 20 minutes to play.
Despite the slight slipping, Spain calmly got back to their senses and started to increase the gap thanks to three well-executed penalty kicks from Gonzalo Vinuesa, which was enough to take the win.
This was Spain’s seventh victory over Uruguay, in a rivalry dating to 1987, with Pablo Bouza landing his fourth win since taking charge of the Iberian side.
Eagles vindicated
The Lobos welcomed the United States of America in the Estádio de Coimbra this Saturday, with the North Americans scoring a 21-17 win one year after having conceded their biggest loss against the Portuguese.
The home side scored the first three points, with fly-half Hugo Aubry converting an early scrum penalty. However, it was the Eagles who were in control, playing at their own pace and forcing the Portuguese to concede a series of mistakes that boxed them inside their 22.
After several attempts, San Diego Legion’s Paddy Ryan would push several tacklers aside before placing the ball on the ground, with AJ MacGinty adding the extras.
Pressured by their fans, the Lobos momentarily found their groove, fostering a handful of good attacking moves that would end with a Raffaele Storti try. The Stade Français wing dived in the corner following a swift offload from Simão Bento, allowing his side to get in the lead again.
With five minutes to go, the USA would score a second try thanks to a lineout mistake from the opposition, with Nathaniel Augspurger finding himself alone out in the wing to calmly place the ball.
In the last half of the game, the Lobos continued to have issues in the lineout and with the ball speed, getting caught consistently by a physical Eagles defence. It would take 22 minutes until the scoreboard was changed, with veteran José Lima powering through the advantage line to run and score Portugal’s second try.
With the game slowly coming to its closure, the home side felt comfortable enough to turn down the pressure which would be a mistake, as it allowed the Americans to believe a turn of events was possible.
After a quick lineout, the USA pack started to relentlessly carry the ball, forcing the opposition to concede several penalties without being able to hold the line, with Saracens hooker Kapeli Pifeleti scoring the last try of the game. MacGinty successfully kicked the conversion, and the score would remain unchanged until the final whistle.
After two games not being able to defeat the Portuguese, the Eagles were able to claim a precious win over the team that knocked them from qualifying to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, getting a well-earned vindication.
The Stejarii show their power once again
In what was one of the biggest shocks of the weekend, Romania pulled a sensational last 40 minutes to earn their second win over Tonga, the first in 11 years, with the home side triumphing by 25-15 in the Bucharest Arcul de Triumf Stadium.
The game started with Tonga basically on the lead, as wing John Tapueluelu had all the time and space to slot down the ball after a brilliant 30-meter pass from Zebre’s centre Fetuli Paea. Romania had to wait three minutes to add their first points to the scoreboard, thanks to a well-placed kick from scrum-half Alin Conache.
However, it would be the visiting side finding their way into the try-line once again, this time by wing Taniela Filimone, with the Pacific side taking advantage of playing against 14, due to a yellow card shown to Corrado-Romeo Stetco.
Tonga’s conditioning started to dip, and Romania would take the opportunity to impose some dominance from the maul, which would translate into their first try of the game scored by hooker Tudor Butnariu.
Patrick Pellegrini converted a late penalty to give a seven-point lead at half-time.
Romania took charge of the game from the start of the second half with Alin Conache and Hinckley Vaovasa running the show, with the latter scoring a spectacular try in the corner to put the Stejarii in the lead.
Alin Conache slotted in four more penalties, helping his side wrap up the game with a 25-15 victory.
After a dismal Rugby World Cup performance and a lukewarm Men’s Rugby Europe Championship season, the Romanians seem to be back to their best with David Gérard earning his fourth win since taking control of the eastern European side.
In other results: 
Hong Kong defeated Brazil 23-10 at the Hong Kong Football Club Stadium.
Chile dominated Canada 44-14 at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf.
The match between Netherlands and Zimbabwe was cancelled.
Ukraine defeated Slovakia 135-13 at Štadión PFK Pieštiany.
Kenya edged out Uganda 27-25 at RFUEA Ground.
Czech Republic beat Croatia 49-26 at Marketa Stadium.
If you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, they are certainly handy to have around to show the young pups a thing or two. Not that Handre Pollard considers himself to be quite in the former category just yet.
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Rory Lawson recounts how his legendary grandfather’s favourite sweets helped inspire Scotland to victory in his first Test as captain.
England must rally against inherent conservatism to unleash a backline of gifted athletes or risk mediocrity
The ability of South Africa and Ireland to out-score teams in the final quarter shows why they ahead of the rest.

Every so called pundit will give different ratings. The haters will give less as they watched the game with blinders or repeat what friends and fans say. There is very few who can give an honest rating

When all the Hoo Have came out when Schmidt was named the Aussie coach, I said that their fans should be patient. The Wallabies was in a hell of a mess, even before Eddie Jones. Give him time, I said. He is a great coach and he basically started from scratch and had to build a team that can compete. He can do that and given time he will make them great again.
Many doubters said he is NZ and he don't know Aussie rugby. They will keep losing. I disagreed and still do. Building a competitive team isn't easy. The results aren't there yet, but there is glimpses of what they will be able to do. Joe will get them there, of that I have no doubt.

Intentional, terrible sportsmanship

Ben Smith, writing a piece about a cheap shot…how ironic.

South Africa and New Zealand were good enough to win their first games of the season though 🙂

RedWarrior would say that this is fake news and the photo was Photoshopped

Facts. Seems that they like to dish it out but can't take it. RedWarrior is a classic example with his own personal crusade against anything NZ-related.

It's amusing to say the least.
Very accurate perspective on both teams from the Irish TNT broadcasters (callers I think) in a little get together after the game.

Cant agree with that. Hansen was hardly seen, Aki didnt do much. Lowe was good at times but G-P was Irelands best for sure. All behind players from the winning team tho.

That would be the new Irish thing to do.

Everybody saw the abuse and heard the booing. Go Reiko you Champion. Jonny who? Jonny abuser.

What insult? Ioane is extremely proud of being chosen to lead the Haka. If little crappy jonny had led a Haka it would be in his book but he didnt even lead a winning team at a WC. Sexton is the perfect example of an Irish boofhead.

Wa Ta Wan Ker

And have always been notoriously rusty.

Shows how bad Ireland are if he is your greatest player. Aki, Lowe and GP are all better and they aint from Ireland. Just drafted in to improve your team.You are coward, you are scvm!

Hah they generousely gave up their time to allow Reiko to stand in front of them, get their phones, and take a photo? And he posts a picture of his proudest moment in his test career of leading the Haka and states it will be in a book!

RedW4nkier/turdflow/Teary24.
Different name, same bitter taste.

What rubbish. Booing him is a break? He stayed after the match and did Selfies with all the Irish fans dead keen on getting a photo with him. Great ambassadore for the game. Sexton's just a loser and a C&^*. Are you Sexton?

Was the same with SBW, followings that near attracted Lomu and Cullen levels.

Ratings a bit high compared to England, though that may be fault of England's reviewer. JAS, while showing his side how to play rugby with courage, also didn't do enough to actually warrant anything in the 9's.
Good to see Aussie improving with every game, I thought we were going to have Kerevi and Will on the bench though?
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