Good to see Habana getting a word for the dive, though.
He certainly made a meal of it to shouts of "if you want to do that play football" but it was a deliberate check when the ball was long gone.Farrell was taken off immediately afterwards he looked like a rabbit in the headlights as if the weight of playing opposite JW was too much for him. He needs to sit down and take stock, he's had a poor season and has gone backwards. He needs a rest not a tour to NZ.
No send him to New Zealand and I hope he gets a battering, Cippriani waiting in the wings 😆
Hook to Gloucester is a big rumour 😯 replacement for Burns?
H cup semi, Premiership semi, H cup final, Premiership final, NZ test 1,2 3 - a 7 week schedule that makes no sense at all
So Cipriani or Burns at ten for the first test v nz. I fear a real drubbing coming Englands way.
England squad: Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dave Ward (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (London Wasps), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Marland Yarde (London Irish), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
In other news
http://www.irblaws.com/index.php?domain=9
Mike Phillips will be pleased!
@aa the schedule is crazy and it will be a series drubbing never mind the first test.
Wales will play the Springboks in two Test matches - in Durban on 14 June and Nelspruit on 21 June - with a warm-up match against Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on 10 June.Probables (coach Rob Howley):
Liam Williams (Scarlets); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jordan Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Capt) (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Lewis Evans (Newport Gwent Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff Blues).
Possibles (coach Robin McBryde):
Dan Fish (Cardiff Blues); Kristian Phillips (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Steven Shingler (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Cardiff Blues); James Hook (Perpignan), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Capt) (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Dan Baker (Ospreys).
Replacements: Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Owen Evans (Newport Gwent Dragons), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Macauley Cook (Cardiff Blues), James Davies (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Morgan (Ospreys), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys).
Gulp, cant see any combination of that lot keeping the scores down v SA.
Shame we wont get to see what Gav can do unless Gatland takes him on tour which would be a shock. Squad will be light on 10, 12, 15 cover. Hook will go as a 15 I would think. Straight choice between McShingler and Henson I would think.
London Welsh give Bristol a mountain to climb*
* sports cliche alert
I've got tickets for the second leg in Brizzle. Was hoping for less of a deficit. 😐
Ryan jones to the rescue again? 😀
DD i think jones picked up a nasty injury last night, not sure he will be playing second leg.
Jim Hamilton to Saracens confirmed as well.
Apparently Ryan needs surgery on ankle ligaments. Much as I think he's a great player and a great man on top of it I do think theres something karmic about him not playing in the play off game. It seems wrong to parachute such a player in just for the playoffs.
Yeah, just heard he's unlikely to play. Can't see Brizzle turning that one around - it'll be a good atmosphere until it becomes apparent they're not going to do it anyway. 🙂
Jim Hamilton to Saracens? That's a pack that didn't need a hard man of that calibre!
Brizzle have spent a lot of money over the last couple of months. Not too sure what they are going to do if they fail to qualify!
Bad news from Ulster. Ferris has to call it a day. The same ankle has gone again and it looks like the advice is to retire.
I'll miss the way in which the big man played the game.
Some highlights:
All the best Fez
Thats been coming hasnt it. Great player and a big loss. Hope he finds something to be successful at again.
Unfortunately it has. Maybe he can teach our young back rows a thing or two
There is an article in the NZ Herald about Shontayne Hape and why he had to quit rugby, sobering and scary stuff. I can't link it but some one may be able to. Well worth reading.
ALES SQUADForwards:
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Baker (Ospreys).
Backs:
Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Steven Shingler (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Jordan Williams (Scarlets), Matthew Morgan (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
Backrow weak
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11264856
Shocking stuff, people need to wake up and make changes
I saw that on twitter,poor sod. Far too much pressure put on players,wonder if it will take an NFL type lawsuit to change attitudes. In other news,Big Jim Hamilton to sarries,dunno how he will fit in with their game.
That's bad news about The Fez. I'd rather see him hang up the boots when it suits him.
Cheers AA much appreciated
[i]There is an article in the NZ Herald about Shontayne Hape and why he had to quit rugby, sobering and scary stuff. I can't link it but some one may be able to. Well worth reading.
[/i]I was only wondering what had happened to him the other day. Shame, such a good player.
Am I the only one watching the final? Rather tense, eh?!
Not watching, hate both teams. Farrel injury sounds funny (as long as its not a serious injury).
Blimey.
😯
Listened and as AA can't abide either side. Farrell injured celebrating a try that wasn't oh the irony 😆
That scumbag Clarke was playing, only chink of light is that George North played his part.
Tense game even for a neutral..
What channel is the Pro12 Final on?
Bbc alba sky 143
Thanks.
Great final. Couldn't been closer.
Weird attitude to not watch a match because you don't like a whole team... I guess some people just like to come on here and slag players off or make up hilarious nicknames for players to get their entertainment.. I prefer to watch the rugby.
Still, each to their own, I was properly entertained for a couple of hours there. Excellent stuff.
Great final, brilliant way to end the domestic season. And yes I've got my Saints shirt on.
Just to be clear I cant stand either team not just one.
French T14 final to come, the top two finals to watch in one day - brilliant!
Leinster far too good for Glasgow, shame BOD didnt last the match.
Glasgow really missing Fusaro who was carted off injured. Lost the break down and then lost the game.
Lacked composure in the last 20 mins too. You could tell Leinster have been there and done it before.
Game was lost by then. Had lost positivity and then their heads went too. Good season for Glasgow still and something to look forward to next year if they can keep up the attacking rugby.
Yeah I thought it would be closer Glasgow have been excellent recently. Hope they can make an impression in europe next season..... welsh teams wont.
Wonder if Dezb watched or if we are allowed to watch pro 12 rather than EPL without him becoming overly precious?
Weird attitude to not watch a match because you don't like a whole team..
Watch Wales play england every year!!!
Toulon 5 ahead with ten minutes to go..
If only it had been Gashton injuring himself! However, amused re Punchy Farrell doing it.
Clarke is scum. Utter scum.
God Save The Queen rings around the Stade Francais from the Toulon fans!
Whatever you think of Wilkinson you've got to admit he's done something few others have done.
Joey Barton's metaphor came to mind when I thought about this game.
So Farrell ends the season medal-less, having lost in two finals, injured himself celebrating a try that wasn't and missed out on a 6-nations medal by a few scores. My heart is positively gushing with blood. 🙁
I can hear JW's wife now.. "move back to Newcastle? You can **** off!"
