Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Saturday, November 12.
Cuthbert determined to fight for place
Wales winger Alex Cuthbert insists he's back to full fitness and better than ever ahead of his upcoming return to action this weekend.
Cuthbert is poised to start from the off against Argentina at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this evening, in what will be his first international outing since the second Test against South Africa in July.
And he feels he's ready to show he's better than ever.
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"I probably feel better physically and mentally than I have in many years," said Cuthbert.
"I feel like I am getting better as a player.
"I have had my targets for the last couple of months and I have hit them all. I'm just excited to get back out there.
"They (Argentina) have got some serious firepower in the front-five, so we are going have to match up physically.
"I think everyone is fighting for positions and you know how much of a big year it is, and everyone is just trying to get better every campaign.
"Hopefully now with young players coming through, I can keep my head and produce performances towards my target at the end of the season."
England suffer heartbreak
England have lost 34-31 to New Zealand in the final of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Auckland.
New Zealand retained the trophy after snapping England's 30-match unbeaten run in a thrilling final at Eden Park.
The Black Ferns ran out 34-31 winners despite trailing for most of the match against a Red Roses side who had to dig in for more than an hour with a player down after Lydia Thompson was sent off.
It was heartbreak for Simon Middleton's team who threw everything at the tournament hosts, with Amy Cokayne helping herself to three tries.
From the start this was a frantic affair and Ellie Kildunne ran in the opening score before Cokayne crossed after a trademark England maul. Both were converted by Emily Scarratt, and the Red Roses were in control early on.
The first half was only 18 minutes old when Thompson was sent off for a high tackle on Portia Woodman and Ayesha Leti-I'iga was brought on as a replacement for the injured Black Fern, as Georgia Ponsonby crossed and Renee Holmes kicked the extras.
But if New Zealand thought the tide had turned, Marlie Packer gave them plenty more to think about when she went over after a lineout to stretch England's lead before Leti-l'iga used the numerical advantage to touch down in acres of space. Holmes again hit her mark.
Cokayne claimed her second try of the game before Amy Rule found the room to get over and cut the deficit to seven points as the teams went in at the break after a frantic, seven-try opening 40.
The second half was only 30 seconds old when the Black Ferns put on a stunning display of their running and passing game with Stacey Fluhler going over. Holmes just missed the kick to tie things up.
It was all New Zealand immediately after the break and they led for the first time when Krystal Murray got in from just a few metres out.
Holmes' missed kick meant the advantage was just three and that was wiped out when Cokayne crossed for the third time after another driving maul from the lineout.
There was always a sense that the lead wouldn't last and with 10 minutes to go Leti-l'iga scored a try worthy of winning a World Cup final.
Fitzpatrick's kick split the English defence and Fluhler gathered before releasing the ball just short of the line for Leti-l'iga to apply the finishing touch.
IRFU confident provinces can survive financial pressures
Irish rugby's governing body is confident the four provinces will survive current financial pressures amid the crisis engulfing the English club game.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Friday announced it has exceeded expectations for the year ending July 31, 2022, recording an operating surplus of 5.9million euros (£5.17m).
And, while it is forecasting deficits for each of the next three years, IRFU chief executive Kevin Potts is optimistic Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster will pull through.
"I don't really want to comment on the specific clubs, but it's really important for professional rugby that you operate with the funds you have with certainty," he said.
"I don't believe it will have any impact here as long as - and I believe it will be the case - the four provinces and ourselves operate our models on a sustainable basis.
"Obviously we have sympathy for all of the players who are coming out of contract or losing their jobs because of this but in a strange way it might have a deflating impact, perhaps, on player costs in general.
"In professional sport, if you don't have a sustainable model you are going to run into trouble.
"That (a sustainable model) is what we are determined to ensure is the case here."
Scotland to wear Doddie Weir tartan against All Blacks
Scotland will turn out in Doddie Weir's tartan for their autumn international against New Zealand on Sunday.
The clash against the All Blacks will mark the fifth anniversary of his motor neurone disease research foundation.
The former Scotland international is expected to be in the crowd for the match.
At the match on Sunday, Scotland will wear specially created shirts with numbers in Weir's famous blue and yellow tartan to mark the foundation's milestone. Weir wore the number five jersey in his club career and when he won 61 caps for Scotland.
Head coach Gregor Townsend, Weir's friend and former teammate, said: "It's of huge significance that Doddie will be at BT Murrayfield with us on Sunday.
"It's (Doddie's attendance) to acknowledge what Doddie has done over the last five years, show our love for him and his fight against MND, and also it's to remember that great night five years ago when he launched the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.
"So many people in Scottish rugby feel they've been on this journey with him and I know he has inspired a lot of people to do things to raise money and probably change peoples lives. I know he's going to change a lot of lives in the future due to the work he's doing.
"It's great the numbers on the back of our shirts will be in Doddie's tartan, as we'll feel we'll have Doddie with us.
"He's a big supporter of the team. I always get a message the night before our game saying we're going to win this weekend and wishing us all the best. It'll mean a lot to him if we get the win on Sunday and that's what we're working towards."
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