The inaugural Autumn Nations Cup is under way with the first of four rounds unfolding across Europe.
Here the PA news agency examines five things we learned from the series of games.
Better to come…hopefully
Round 1 – ✅
What did you think of the first weekend of #AutumnNationsCup action? ? pic.twitter.com/D3Ux4VDmJH
— Autumn Nations Cup ? (@autumnnations) November 15, 2020
Amazon Prime Video executives would be forgiven for asking what they have signed up for. The first round of the Autumn Nations Cup was short on highlights and in a mildly worrying sign for the Lions, the home unions led by crumbling Wales appear to be in the doldrums. Add in the cancellation of Fiji’s eagerly awaited clash with France after the Islanders produced a number of positive tests for coronavirus and it has been an inauspicious start to the broadcaster’s first move into rugby.
Hurry back fans
Missed opportunity
George takes centre stage
3 – @J_George2 now has 3 tries in his last 2 appearances for @EnglandRugby, as many as he managed for them in his first 49 caps. Rolling. pic.twitter.com/gZja2FtSSw
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) November 14, 2020
The afternoon will never be forgotten by Jamie George, however, after he became the first England hooker to score a hat-trick of tries. Each was the climax to a driving line-out, his team’s most effective weapon, and shone a light on a 30-year-old who has become a key figure for Jones and will surely take the number two jersey for the Lions series against South Africa next year. His climb to the pinnacle has been beset by unique challenges, his path slowed by Jones’ preference for his former captain Dylan Hartley, but this is George’s time.
