INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
Your Sharks took to international waters this weekend as five of Alex’s squad starred for their countries in round four of the Nation’s Championship. We also had three Sharks in England’s A team which took on Argentina at The Rec. Here’s all you need to know from a busy weekend:
England A 59 v 24 Argentina XV (Friday 6th November, KO 7.45pm)
Joe Carpenter and Ben Bamber played the full 80 minutes as England’s second string put Argentina to the sword. Carpenter was rock solid under high balls and provided plenty of impetus in attack, while Bamber imposed himself on the lineout in tandem with Bristol’s Joe Batley in the second row.
Quins centre Luke Northmore and Sarries wing Noah Caluori scored two tries apiece while Sharks hooker Nathan Jibulu appeared from the bench in the second half as Mark Mapletoft’s team secured an impressive win.
Wales 28 v 21 Japan (Saturday 7th November, KO 4.40pm)
Sharks prop Nicky Smith played 51 minutes from the start as his side secured an important Nation’s Championship win against Eddie Jones’s Japan team. The Sharks loosehead provided a vital defensive turnover on his own try line just before half-time to help Wales preserve a seven-point lead at the break. Fellow prop Tomas Francis won his 83rd cap as a second half replacement as Steve Tandy’s men closed out a crucial win at the Principality Stadium.
France 54 v 17 Fiji (Saturday 7th November, KO 8.10pm)
Sharks back-rower Elia Canakaivata came off the bench in the second half in the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, as France ran out comfortable winners. Charles Ollivon and Antoine Dupont were both on the scoresheet as the hosts scored seven tries plus a penalty try. Fiji answered with two tries of their own but were unable to make an impact on the star-studded French.
England 45 v 22 Australia (Sunday 8th November, KO 3.10pm)
Ben Curry starred in his first England appearance for 16 months as Steve Borthwick’s team recorded their highest ever points total against the Wallabies. The Sharks flanker impressed throughout, showing off his trademark relentless work rate at the breakdown, including securing a crucial turnover near England’s 22-metre line to snuff out an early Australian attacking threat. Curry was replaced just short of the hour mark by debutant Greg Fisilau.
Sharks hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie replaced Jamie George in the second half as part of a powerful, all-Lions front-row replacement bomb squad alongside Ellis Genge and Will Stuart. Luke kept England’s lineout working smoothly and got stuck into the dirty work, carrying the ball well and keeping up defensive pressure to prevent the Wallabies from building any real momentum.
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