[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

Eh? I don't agree. He's been running great lines, knows how to finish and has that "relationship" with JJ that means he knows where to be to support him. Yards is bigger - I do think we needed a winger more solid that May or Nowell though.

In other news, Aus are taking it to the AB's at the moment, their forwards are the difference - 10-6 & 35 mins to play though.

And the AB's lose. Oh dear.

Australia upping their game just in time.

The bastards.

Excellent display by the Wallabies. Thoroughly deserved the win.
Not boding well for England and Wales.

Wales ireland as expected then!

Out on bike today so missed wales match but watching S.A.v ARG now,Argentina look very strong,if they carry this form into the world cup they will be a very tricky match for anyone.

Argentina win, wow good for them. Oh and feel free to mention Wales again *makes L shape on forehead* LOOOOSERS!

😉 bad luck chaps, I thought it had gone quiet in here.

Most of the Wales team have been sent to bed with no pudding.

Don't read too much, ie anything, into today's results. Real "phoney war" stuff

I don't think anyone lost intentionally. Still, we have France as our warm up first test, and we all know what could happen there... 😐

Only Scot Williams and Faletau will makes the first 15 from todays team the scoreline was pretty much as predicted. Walker may bump Cuthbert out of the squad if Cement head is feeling brave.

Of those I don't know much about, I thought that the replacement welsh hooker looked good. For Ireland; Cave and the full back were very good.

What about Tango Man, is he not in the running for a run out for the Taffies?
Then again he must look at St Jonny and think here's how it could've been! I could've been a national hero, a contender..... oh well... never mind 😀

What about Tango Man, is he not in the running for a run out for the Taffies?

Broken leg. Not in the running anyway. Double grand slam winner and test lion, not bad for a wasted talent. As many grandslams as ireland isnt it?

How much havoc did Pocock and Hooper create? Is Genia fit for the WC? If so,Aus may be a bit of a surprise package! England no longer have an outstanding fetcher and that may cost them,McCaw looked very tired yesterday. Kryton/Zokes; you know having multiple user names gets a ban and no pudding for a week,yes?

Based on today's games it looks like Australia v Ireland in the final.
Better stock up on the Guinness then 😆

Based on today Ireland are up to 2nd in world rankings which given how shit the wales team were does go to prove why wales are in this mess with the world cup. Playing aus outside the internationsl window every year and losing lowered the rankings as did the consequence of having to play lower ranked teams each autumn with a shit reserve team and losing compounded the issue. Ireland played it smart each autumn and only played 1 top team so were able to bank more wins.

Duckman sums it up. Pocock and hooper are both "in" for that reason, England better watch out. The Aussie back line didn't appear too special though, whereas Ireland looked good (I watched the highlights at 9.30£) all over the park. Definitely highly rating them.

Re McCaw - he even managed to make the post match interview look laboured. I reckon we'll see him retire from international rugby after the WC, he looks like some of the spark has faded.

The Aussie back line didn't appear too special though, whereas Ireland looked good

You do realise Aus were playing the All blacks whereas Ireland were playing the welsh reserve team?

Not great yesterday but no reason to panic

😆

Southern Hemisphere results should cause everyone to panic

Didn't watch it yesterday but just catching highlights now. That second Wales Reserves try was lovely.

I've not seen it either. Its on iplayer. Csn i be bothered. The Tipuric try was lovely. Shame he is so lightweight at the breakdown. If he played behind a big bruising pack like Englands he'd be a joy to watch.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/33840957

Now thats a shit piece of luck!

Have watched the Wales game. I actually think the irish backs were poor considering what a great platform their pack gave them. For Wales Jarvis was rubbish, Hibbard looks past it, Day is rubbish, Ball average, Baker rubbish, Moriarty was very raw but could be useful in the future, thought the yellow card very harsh, Tipuric is a great outdide centre but struggles in an outmuscled pack, Phillips was as ever, Hook was utter utter tripe, Williams well below his best, Morgan too young, Cuthbert didnt get much of a chance, Walker looked good and Amos was promising.

Unfortunate for de Villiers, but that game was the best of the weekend. The looks on the Boks' faces as they realised they were being bullied out of it was fab. Some properly ood play by the Pumas.

[i]Hook was utter, utter tripe[/i] I agree, but he's played like that since he first appeared. He's not developed at all, to the extent that when commentators and famous players call for his return to Wales, I always wonder if it's just me thst thinks he's crap. A couple of breaks per game doesn't make up for the total lack of structure he provides, the terrible tactical kicking, and the constant handing ball over the opposition. Nothing new.

As a neutral, I thought that Moriarty card was fair and even jiffy agreed. Dunno how many times I saw Hook bumped onto his arse but it was a few. Mind you if I were an Ireland fan, I 'd wanting Sexton wrapped in cotton wool as Jackson was shit. Earls was crap for the vast majority of the game too. Madigan looked very sharp when he came on though.

I've just realised England and Ireland's last warm up game is vs each other. What a game that could be...

Latest IRB Rankings have Ireland as the number 2 team in the world.

Folk slag off the Auusie front row,but what has happened to the AB's? I think they are creaky in the front five,don't know their best team and that best team now has question marks over both McCaw and Carter.

Indeed. Until last year the AB's tended to creak a bit in world cup year but blimey, this weekends match wasn't good.

I'm not necessarily wanting to harp on about England but they remain the question mark now. How much better if any are they than the Aus pack? Are we able to defend against NZ's backs, and do we have a total game to take it to Ireland? Would Ireland beat SA?

On current viewing - and I stress those words - we'll beat Wales and Fiji, England/Ireland warm up will be close and that will give us a true indication of where we are.

Having said that, I think performances to date are going to make for edge-of-your-seat RWC viewing no matter who you support.

Sad news for Tommy O'Donnell - confirmed hip dislocation and out of WC.
Was looking like one of the better players on the pitch on Saturday, really making a decent challenge for going.

Indeed, that's pretty disappointing for the Munsterman. 🙁

I'm not necessarily wanting to harp on about England but they remain the question mark now. How much better if any are they than the Aus pack?

Are we able to defend against NZ's backs,

Would Ireland beat SA?

What do I win? 😀

Apart from TOD, good game for Ireland.
Whole squad now playing more like Joe's style, not just "first teamers".
Could easily have had two or three more tries in the first half hour, if being critical then maybe should have been 40 nil up by 30 minutes in.
Can put that down to a bit of rustiness and some new combinations bedding in, but realistically the game was won by then anyway.
After that they seemed to take a foot off the gas and lower their game to match the opponents, but that's the nature of an away "friendly" with nothing riding on it.
Nothing "phoney" about it though - every game's a step closer towards playing how Joe wants the squad to.

Likewise for Oz. Cheika hasn't been there long enough to be indulging in "phoney war" crap. Could maybe believe of an established coaching set-up- more like Gatland or Lancaster's teams who've been in place for donkeys years, but not Oz or Ireland at the moment.
Every game counts towards imprinting the coach's plan on that set of players; wouldn't think it was his style anyway. Reminds me a lot of when he came into Leinster - a load of attacking talent but not enough dog to actually win things. Three Heineken cups later and most of the pack going onto better things with Ireland and it looks like he's doing something similar down under. Joe's deservedly getting a lot of credit for Ireland's recent results, but shouldn't be forgotten how much influence Cheika had on all the forwards coming through the Leinster set up.
Looking forward to how this "weak Ozzie pack" goes against the greats of England and Wales this autumn.

Based on today Ireland are up to 2nd in world rankings ...
Ireland played it smart each autumn and only played 1 top team so were able to bank more wins.

Guess it's nothing to do with those back to back Six nations wins.

Sandwiched round Back to back wins over Oz and South Africa in the autumn.

Looking forward to how this "weak Ozzie pack" goes against the greats of England and Wales this autumn.

For old times sake then:

😀

Touche

🙂

Bloody glad Steve Walsh has gone.

Oh yes I forgot everything was his fault and his names Walsh he must be a cheat!
I like this one too. Check out Healey's back!
[img] [/img]

Announced early - the England B team to prove themselves V France:

15 Alex Goode
14 Anthony Watson
13 Henry Slade
12 Sam Burgess
11 Jonny May
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Rob Webber
3 Kieran Brookes
4 George Kruis
5 Geoff Parling
6 Tom Wood (c)
7 Calum Clark
8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 David Wilson, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.

Strong looking side that.

Kryton, I think Goode is starting not brown.

You are correct - I copied it from Sky's web page but I see its been updated. Just in time for a stealth edit.

I knew that retort from AA was coming, sure as yellow follows Hartley.