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Speaking of which, Scotland to appeal the sentences handed out to Gray and Ford.
Dude's got form too!
Tyler Morgan at 13 v SA. Big ask good luck to him.
Opposite a 21 yr old Jesse Kriel, Damian de allende (23) at 12, Handre pollard at 10 who's 21 too, and Jan Serfontein 22, on the bench.
Is Roberts the only one who's started shaving?
Wales have a pretty much first choice pack so that is one positive. The fact the scrum is dodgy can't really be improved by a different selection- maybe just James for Gethin.
Morgan is probably the least risky option compared to North getting battered in the centres and Hook inevitably gifting some points at some stage but a huge game for him as you say a_a!
Should be a fantastic match that. Really looking forward to these QFs.
I think the QF's are looking great with 3 of them pretty tough to call. Cannot see Scotland beating Australia (but hey I live in hope). NZ may hump France but not ridiculous to say France may also win. I do fear Ireland may end up being the only NH survivors but hope Wales prove me wrong and Scotland deliver on my wildest dreams 🙂
An Englishman walked into a bar. Normally there'd be a Scotsman and an Irishman too, but they're still in the World Cup.
😀 very good but you only get to make that joke for a couple more days
@whatnobeer, touché. Isn't the joke that I'm well balanced as I have a chip on each shoulder 🙂
@aa indeed if England had lost to a Welsh team as of 3-4 years ago I'd be less dissapointed. As we agreed Gatland would be under no pressure had Wales failed to make it out of the group as they weren't really expected to.
Predictions no surprises with NZ, SA, Australia, Ireland into semi finals. Argentina have the best chance of an upset but their usual route to victory through the forwards is blocked by an area in which Ireland are typically strong. Argentinian forwards overturning Ireland would be a shocker and is unlikely. Wales will have a go of course and I think it will be a great high pressure game but SA will be just too strong and they know how to control a game.
anagallis_arvensis - Member
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34537841How big a ban for this bell end?
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST
Forever,if he hasn't learned to carry on the outside by his age,he may as well pack it in.
MemberAn Englishman walked into a bar. Normally there'd be a Scotsman and an Irishman too, but they're still in the World Cup.
very good but you only get to make that joke for a couple more days
Look at it this way, on November 1st England are back in the RWC.
And I've just realised Scotland may well stay in the RWC longer than Wales or France - in fact we're going to make the last 5!!!
🙂 very good but you only get to make that joke for a couple more days
As an Englishman, I'm allowed to take the piss for as long as I like!
And I've just realised Scotland may well stay in the RWC longer than Wales or France - in fact we're going to make the last 5!!!
😆 Very good!
I see the SA game as being very close. In theory, The Welsh defence should be able to shut down a relatively poor SA side but the problem is the lack of Welsh attack. Wales won't win simply because they haven't got anyone to score tries. It'll be decided on penalties and SA will win by 6 points.
Maybe.
That's why it could go either way - all it takes is one slip, missed tackle, interception..
Don't think it lasted long but Papé's Wiki page earlier...
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Tee hee.
Interesting article regarding protective eye wear in rugby. Think the IRFU are wrong on this one. Fair play to the lad for being able to play professional rugby
Has PSA been given his P45?
(Times)Referee Jaco Peyper told a discipline tribunal looking into the tackle that resulted in three-week bans for Scotland's Ross Ford and Jonny Gray that he was "satisfied that I dealt with the incident appropriately", after not issuing either player with any cards. His evidence was dismissed as referees can only give evidence of fact, on opinion.
Former Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman has his ear to the ground over in France, and he has taken to twitter to reveal that reports have emerged claiming French Rugby head coach Phillipe Saint Andre has been axed.
reports have emerged claiming French Rugby head coach Phillipe Saint Andre has been axed.
Yeah there's a report in the DT as well saying that the players have revolted - as they did in the last RWC and look what happened then. 🙂
I liked Imanol Harinordoquy's quote from 2011:
“After the defeat against Tonga I did not attach too much importance to what Marc said… we had to free ourselves from his supervision.”
If only England's players had possessed similar gumption......
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As much as it would be hilarious were that [French player revolt] true, there's muchos scepticism all over today - plenty of reporters saying it's untrue.
Anyway, searching for a not-behind-paywall link, but has anyone seen The Times report on the EPL's latest attempt at a land grab; saying the clubs should have more choice over the selection of England manager and running of the team? 😐
EDIT: not entirely RWC related, that^ but comes in wake of England's "calamitous" (because that seems to be the most commonly used word) RWC campaign.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Pete Horne, Sean Maitland, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (captain); David Denton, John Hardie, Blair Cowan, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, WP Nel, Fraser Brown, Alasdair Dickinson. Reserves: Kevin Bryce, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh, Alasdair Strokosch, Josh Strauss, Henry Pyrgos, Richie Vernon, Sean Lamont.
Two open sides!
Lots of tickets on offer for Wales RSA, my guess is flakey fans bought them up on the hope of seeing England. Cat A (£250) and B (£215) especially. I offered £100 but sellers still trying to get face, no chance IMO. I hope they get zero.
"calamitous" (because that seems to be the most commonly used word) RWC campaign.
It just gets worse. Tom Wood in Twitter slanging match over Robshaws captaincy, RFU "told" Lancaster was the wrong man, and now Joel Schmidt trying to play down an approach.
Then to cap it all off, they post a "Sorry" & "Thanks" image on FB. One of the first posts I saw was "Well, ok, but can I have the £100 I paid for me shirt back?"
Its all very grovelling and in my view is just diminishing any respect the supporters had in the setup on a daily basis, a real mess.
Onwards then, Aus are "[s]resting [/s]ruling out" Pocock and Falou vs Scotland. Hooper & Beale in.
One of the first posts I saw was "Well, ok, but can I have the £100 I paid for me shirt back?"
No wonder everyone hates England fans, they're all arseholes
😉
Visited a good mate of mine at his place this week, he was wearing his England RWC 2015 shirt, I was tempted to say if I had one I'd only wear it round the house too 😀
Guys they were one kick away from SA in the quarters. They aren't that bad, or weren't. By the time they've finished ripping themselves apart they might be.
One imaginary kick away form the quarter finals. A bit like saying Wales were only one imaginary try from beating the aussies last week. 😆
But yes, they really are that bad, relatively, IMHO.
3000
They aren't that bad, or weren't.
I don't think thats this real issue. Theres an initial underlying wave of bemusement about player choices, and the lack of consitency at centre. That elevates into discontempt when you read through all the leaked issues that have been repeated in this thread.
We [i]appear [/i]to have ruined our own RWC by indecision, paid-to-play players, nepotism and disagreement / argument on the training ground between coaches and players alike. It smacks of leaderless disorganisation not professionalism.
Now, if the team had consisted of the finest England players we have, in position, on form there would have still be some fan-bois discussion, but at least a silent acknlowedgement that we fielded our best and lost to better teams as opposed to not knowing what we fielded and losing to better teams.
Add to that the grovelling apologies from players, captains, coaches and continual facebook drivel which just makes it worse.
We want to see some quick professional action to (re)build a team ready to take on the 6N, and develop into a consistent International outfit for 2019, based on merit, skills in position and performance, non of the other BS. I don't want to see Any Farrells son, the next RL convert or a junior experiement, I want the coaches to source and place the best in position players we have, and build them into a credible team.
We want to see some quick professional action to (re)build a team ready to take on the 6N, and develop into a consistent International outfit for 2019, based on merit, skills in position and performance, non of the other BS. I don't want to see Any Farrells son, the next RL convert or a junior experiement, I want the coaches to source and place the best in position players we have, and build them into a credible team.
Indeed but do you think we'll get that? 😕
I can't help myself but I'm responding about England again 😳
@igm indeed, that's why I'm dissapointed as we should have at least made it out of the group even if it was just one more match against SA or getting demolished by NZ in the semi. I think our record over the last few years has been pretty decent, a couple of matches (one where we couldn't beat the ref and one where we failed to deal with a very predictable Irish first half onslaught) from 2 grand slams. What we have been is consistently good but not better than that. What the RWC has done is make the 6N less relevant as a tournament especially after the first 2 after the RWC.
@Krypton yes agreed especially this
I don't want to see Any Farrells son, the next RL convert or a junior experiement,
Looking forward to the weekends matches, all the sides have earnt to their places and deserve to be there. A surprise would be nice but I think we'll have to wait for the semi's for that.
Indeed but do you think we'll get that?
We might, if we contract an experienced overseas coach will some balls to stand up to the RFU.
Looking forward to the weekends matches, all the sides have earnt to their places and deserve to be there.
100% agreed with this. Its going to be an excellent series of games, I can't wait!
What the RWC has done is make the 6N less relevant as a tournament especially after the first 2 after the RWC.
I'd say the 6N is plenty relevant to Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and, yes, France. It's 5 games of top class test rugby every year, as an antidote to the anti-climax of January & February. Perhaps england have spent 12 years working towards another RWC, but AFAIR, their last RWC was built on the back of superiority in the 6N. Perhaps if they took the 6N more seriously, they might build some momentum towards a RWC instead of the constant "We're building, so work with defeats by lesser nations like Ireland and Wales...we've got our eyes on the big prize lads."
(I actually think they take the 6N a lot more seriously than jamba would like us to believe...but twelve years of a superiority complex starts to look a bit silly after a while.)
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But yes, they really are that bad, relatively, IMHO.
Wales are 3 points better. 3 points.
[quote=deadlydarcy ](I actually think they take the 6N a lot more seriously than jamba would like us to believe...but twelve years of a superiority complex starts to look a bit silly after a while.)"We don't care about the 6N results as we don't really take it seriously". Is that the Twickenham Defence?
England's problem is they care too much about trying to win everything and don't actually give the young guns or form players a decent chance as a result. The fact they have a poor recent 6N record isn't from tinkering with different players at all
Wrecker, Australia are twenty points better than England. Twenty points. They are that bad, and its unacceptable.
Still only 3 points away from wales. I'm happy to admit that england are shit, are you happy to say the same about wales, because that's what it means.
Scablets currently taking Leinster to pieces on BBC2 Wales.
Just watched Mike Brown demonstrating how NOT to tackle Sailosi Tagicakibau in the Quins/Wasps game.
It looked a bit like Tuilagi running over that Jap in the RWC with his knee. Wonder if Tagicakibau will be cited?
Worcester putting up a good fight against the Saints. Heathcote playing well but missed 3 penalties that would have put them out of sight....
Big day has arrived at last! I'm going to be generous to Wales and say Sprinboks to win by 10.
I said I don't take the 6N that seriously the first two years after the RWC, as I posted we had a good good chance of 2 grand slams. Over the last 15 years to me it's always been about being in a position to win the RWC, so that means the matches against the Southern Hemisphere teams are key benchmarks of how we are doing as you can't win the RWC without beating them.
@sputnik yup me too, looking forward to it