The Autumn Internationals 2024 kicked off with a thrilling start, as England narrowly lost to the All Blacks, while Scotland dominated against Fiji. From these two fixtures to 50-metre tries by props in other international matches, here are five key talking points from this weekend’s rugby action.

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Autumn Internationals: Fine margins decide England vs New Zealand:

England fly-half George Ford missed two crucial late opportunities to secure England’s first victory over the All Blacks on English soil since 2012. First, he struck the post with a penalty in the 79th minute, then missed a drop goal attempt after the clock had gone past the 80-minute mark.

Autumn Internationals 2024: Ford, who typically lands 80% of his kicks, uncharacteristically faltered under pressure. These misses, coupled with another failed kick attempt, highlighted the narrow margins that often define international rugby. Some have shifted the blame to Harry Randall’s pass for the missed drop goal, arguing that it’s not entirely George Ford’s fault since he was off-balance the moment he received the ball.

A victory for England would have sent a strong message to the rugby world, proving they are a team to be taken seriously. However, this loss has cast doubt on Steve Borthwick’s leadership and reinforced concerns that England may lack the winning mindset needed to compete at the highest level.

Autumn Internationals 2024: Darcy Graham scores four tries in Scotland’s dominant win

The dynamic Scotland winger, Darcy Graham, who has faced a series of injuries and spent a year away from international rugby, made a triumphant return against Fiji. Graham touched down four times in Scotland’s commanding 57-17 triumph over Fiji.

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These tries briefly brought him level with Duhan van der Merwe at the top of Scotland’s all-time try-scoring chart, but van der Merwe reclaimed his spot with a try in the second half. Darcy Graham and Scotland will aim to maintain their impressive form as they head into their next match against South Africa on Sunday. Which is shaping up to be a much closer contest than many initially anticipated.

Joe Marler retires from international rugby:

Autumn Internationals 2024: Iconic England prop Joe Marler announced his retirement from international rugby over the weekend, explaining that he wants to devote more time to his family. Marler, who earned 95 caps over a 12-year international career, had previously stepped away from the game in 2018, only to return in 2019 for the World Cup.

Asher Opoku-Fourdjour from Sale Sharks is set to take his place, with many considering this a ‘changing of the guard,’ as the young prop is widely regarded as Marler’s natural successor. Marler also sparked controversy this week with his remarks about the haka, dismissing it as ridiculous.

He later clarified his stance, explaining that his issue was not with the haka itself but rather with the rules that prevent teams from stepping into New Zealand’s half of the field during the ceremonial dance. Autumn Internationals 2024: Cardiff Road Closures and Travel Info for Wales vs Fiji Match.

England face up to the haka:

Autumn Internationals 2024: Building on Joe Marler’s comments regarding the haka, England took a bold stance against it on Saturday, with many interpreting their actions as ‘rising to the challenge.’ They inched closer during the ritual but were careful not to cross the halfway line, mindful of the fine they received for overstepping the mark during the 2019 World Cup match against New Zealand.

Traditionally, fans are expected to observe the haka in silence out of respect, but the crowd at Allianz Stadium was in full voice, passionately singing ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ throughout the performance. He later clarified his stance, explaining that his issue was not with the haka itself but rather with the rules that prevent teams from stepping into New Zealand’s half of the field during the ceremonial dance.

Prop Ale Loman’s sensational 50-metre try:

Autumn Internationals 2024: Sweden’s 46-19 victory over Lithuania might not have caught much attention, as it seemed like a routine lower-tier international match. However, it featured a rare moment in rugby a prop running in a 50-metre try.

Ale Loman bulldozed through the Lithuanian defense, showcasing footwork more commonly seen from a winger. Helping his team secure a dominant win and boosting them to a record high world ranking of 31st. Loman, who plays for Nottingham in the Championship, will be eager to carry this impressive try-scoring form into his club performances, with this marking his third try for Sweden.

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