The Madness of King George

He would definitely have enjoyed easier days at the office, and the frustration finally broke him in the last minute of the 24-15 defeat by South Africa; he knocked on a half-chance to kick ahead and chase, and the consequent roar of irritation was plenty clear for all to see. George North’s contorted expression was the sum of 80 minutes where one of Test rugby’s most potent attacking weapons was blunted by his own team.

Undercover excellence

Half-time at Twickenham against Australia and England were in a hole, 13-6 behind against a team they should have been on top of given the chances that had gone their way. After kicking his first penalty chance of the afternoon inside the opening three minutes, Owen Farrell had missed three shots you’d expect him to make and with them had gone what could have been a comfortable lead. When another one arrived shortly after – closer but still nervy for a player misfiring – Twickenham saw one of the reasons
Stuart Lancaster invested faith in Chris Robshaw as his captain. Robshaw didn’t think twice, threw Farrell the ball and England took a 6-3 lead.