SUPER SUB: Noel-Smith nicks England win as Jorgensen gives Danes hope for return leg

International breaks always leave the sporting weekend slightly bereft of action, however a fun slate of European rugby fixtures, the Euro 2016 playoffs and lower league football ensured fans still had something to savour.

Twickenham Stoop was the venue for the women’s rugby union autumn international between world champions England and visitors Ireland.

It was a tight, tense affair from the off with no quarter given by either team, Lauren Cattell’s penalty handing the hosts a slender 3-0 first-half lead.

Irish skipper Niamh Briggs converted a penalty of her own after the break to level matters, leaving the match delicately poised heading into the business end.

Replacement forward Izzy Noel-Smith, though, came off the bench intent on making an impact.

England decided to go for touch instead of kicking a penalty with barely a minute left on the clock (ring a bell, anyone?) and, after winning the line-out, Noel-Smith touched down from a driving maul to win the game.

Elsewhere, the Republic of Ireland men’s football team managed to grab a precious draw amongst the Bosnian fog to aid their Euro 2016 cause, while Hungary edged past Norway to capture a place in France and Ukraine all but settled their tie with Slovenia courtesy of a 2-0 first-leg win.

However, the Scandinavian clash between Sweden and Denmark was an altogether more intriguing affair thanks to the impact of a Danish substitute.

With Emil Forsberg in impish mood for the Swedes on home soil, it looked like the two-legged tie could be out of sight for Denmark before they got their chance back in Copenhagen.

Forsberg swept home the first goal on the stroke of half-time and made such a nuisance of himself in the Danish penalty box five minutes after the break that he was tripped for a spot kick, which superstar Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted with aplomb.

The Danes were in a perilous position, even more so thanks to missed chances from established internationals such as former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Visiting coach Morten Olsen has already stated that the Euro 2016 campaign will be his last at the helm following a long stint in the dugout and he was determined on salvaging something from the game.

He duly hauled off Thomas Kahlenberg for Nicolai Jorgensen in the 54th minute and the F.C. Copenhagen forward bundled home a flick-on from Yussuf Poulsen to secure a crucial away goal 10 minutes from time.

In-form Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen will be expected to have a bigger role tomorrow night on home turf, so Jorgensen’s late consolation could yet come back to haunt close rivals Sweden.

Back in English domestic action, former Tottenham youth player Souleymane Coulibaly enhanced his reputation in League One with an important contribution off the bench for Peterborough.

After leaving White Hart Lane in September last year, the Ivory Coast striker went to Bari and Pistoiese in Italy before ending up on trial at London Road in July.

He has looked more than capable of rebuilding his reputation with goals so far this season and he came off the bench 10 minutes after the interval to score with his first touch and put Posh on track for a 2-1 win that leaves them 10th in the table.

Credit must also go to Scott Boden in League Two following his belting shot five minutes after coming on that gave Newport the lead at Accrington and, ultimately, a precious point in the battle to escape the dreaded drop to Conference football.

Meanwhile over at Exeter, Crawley substitute Luke Rooney left it rather late to seal a point for the visitors with a superb left-foot strike that found the top corner in stoppage time.

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