There was sublime skill, on-field controversy and mind-blowing off-filed antics as the rugby season roars on...
Another incredible Sinoti Sinoti sidestep
Well it’s happened again. There were as many big discussion points as there were scintillating moments of rugby this weekend. But before we wade into all of the debate, here are a few sublime incidents. Like this – yet another jack-hammer sidestep from Newcastle Falcons wing, Sinoti Sinoti.
You may remember his mind-bending step against Exeter last season? Well he did the business again, this time against Wasps…
😱 The step
💪 The power
😳 The offloadTake a bow, Sinoti Sinoti 👏
A try to remember from @FalconsRugby… pic.twitter.com/IGOu3xc0mn
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) September 28, 2018
His wasn’t the only moment of brilliance over the weekend. How about this: good hands for a big man, Courtney Lawes.
That offload from @Courtney_Lawes 🙌🙌@LewisLudlam goes under the posts for @SaintsRugby in their victory over @BristolBears
📺 Don't forget to tune into all the highlights from this weekend's #GallagherPrem on @channel5_tv at 7pm on Monday 👍 pic.twitter.com/tI1bfgOC2O
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 30, 2018
Then there was this American Football-style throw from Munster’s Alby Mathewson…
Go Long!!!
Welcome to the Guinness PRO14 @AlbyMathewson 👌 pic.twitter.com/IUSB7OdUdr— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) October 1, 2018
There were also some big all-round performances. Chiefly amongst them was that of Saracen’s playmaker Alex Goode. After his role in Sarries’ crushing of Bath, many were calling for the full-back to be called back into Eddie Jones’s England squad.
Hat-trick Liam Williams. Two of them laid on by Alex Goode who has been, as ever, outstanding. 38-20.
— Chris Jones BBC (@chjones9) September 29, 2018
How is Alex Goode not in the @RugbyEng squad?!
Just caught up on Sarries weekend game & I’d have him 1st choice 15 for country.
Alex, if Eng don’t want you, fancy a stint on the Med.
We like our FBs to be English (ala Delon, Ashy) 😉
— #RugbyToulon (@rugbytoulon_) October 1, 2018
Alex Goode is in the form of his life best 15 in England by a mile!
— Matt Hoade🏴🏴🏆🏆🏆🏆⭐️⭐️ (@matthoade) September 29, 2018
Also if someone would like to tell me what else Alex Goode has to do to be in the england team please let me know #EddieRUOkay #Goodey
— Ted Mathers (@TedMathers) September 29, 2018
Of course, not everything was super-positive over the weekend. No less after a Leicester-Sale match-up that disappointed a lot of neutrals. The Tigers won 19-15, but, well, it left a lot to be desired.
Things I’m hoping to get better today quickly…
1️⃣ My hangover
2️⃣ The Leicester V sale Match
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) September 30, 2018
FT Leicester 19-15 Sale. Don't ask. Dreadful. Ford kicked all his goals, Sale missed all theirs.
— Alex Spink (@alexspinkmirror) September 30, 2018
9 missed points from Sale 😩
Poor handling 👀Austin Healey breaks down where it went wrong for Sale at Leicester today.#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/COelOfPDs7
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) September 30, 2018
As if a club's official Twitter account just singled out one of their own players as a reason for losing a game… pic.twitter.com/r3JMIkKJJo
— George Ramsay (@georgeramsay6) September 30, 2018
Okay, so now onto the truly perplexing and downright nasty stuff. First up is this incident – a red card for Dominic Robertson-McCoy after a stamp on Josh van der Flier. There is absolutely no room for this in rugby. After the 20-3 win for Leinster, Connacht boss Andy Friend said the prop was “really disappointed with himself”.
Connacht's Robertson-McCoy was shown a red for this stamp on van der Flier.
It should be a long ban. pic.twitter.com/LVOQug7EKu
— rugby (@theblitzdefence) September 29, 2018
Whilst we’re looking at inappropriate use of the feet, how about this bizarre attempt by a Chinese player to stop Hong Kong passing the ball on the way to a try?
Nice attempt to stop this dummy from China! Watch until the end pic.twitter.com/fDaMwjuSKi
— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) September 30, 2018
Okay, this one is nasty but not intentionally so. There was a moment during the Dragons’ 29-13 loss to Glasgow where Adam Warren came away with a horrible friction burn on his face, after scoring a try. (You can see a photo of it here)
That's a fantastic try from Warren to bring the Dragons right back into the game. Nasty burn on his face from the artificial surface for his trouble though. #GLAvDRA
— Gregg 🏴 (@GreggC_CC) September 29, 2018
Adam Warren has some serious carpet burn from the artificial surface. That won't be pretty in the morning! Top try, mind.
— James Davies (@compass_James) September 29, 2018
Off the pitch, there is also this developing story, which is potentially about a serious fall from grace for Italy-capped prop Sami Panico. We will have to wait and see how this one ends up…
Remarkable story coming out of Zebre, who play Glasgow on Friday. Prop Sami Panico facing charges of possession with intent to supply after almost 2kg of drugs (some marijuana, some hashish) are found in his house near Rome along with c.10k Euros in cash. Panico has 10 Italy caps
— Mark Palmer (@MarkPalmerST) September 30, 2018
And finally, on a lighter note, the Little and Large of Premiership rugby coverage are at it again. This time it’s to help promote the Midlands derby clash between Saints and Tigers, which is being played in honour of Rob Horne.
Little & Large are back. This time for a Saints v Tigers special edition. @SaintsRugby v @LeicesterTigers // Sat 6 Oct @3PM // Live from Twickenham on @channel5_tv.@davidflatman @Courtney_Lawes @HarryMal10 @jameshaskell @George_Fordy @benyoungs09 @premrugby pic.twitter.com/WD7xQkwxxd
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) September 28, 2018
We also have more details about that match in honour of Rob Horne.
Who knows what next week will bring…