I'm sure Parra is disappointed with himself, but for me his only fault was not looking to the bench for direction at the crucial moment. Somebody should have been sat as an "as it stands" advisor with so many permutations possible. And a message should have got on to the field as to what the correct decision would be close to end of the game.
Well done Exeter all the same. Fantastic achievement to progress to the QFs.
Nice to see the Ospreys achieving exactly the same as they do every year lately. Donkeys.
To be fair they did well to get what they did. Dont have the resources to compete at that level.
Just got back from the Chiefs match - what a game!
You could here the singing from nearly a mile away from the ground afterwards 😀
To be fair they did well to get what they did. Dont have the resources to compete at that level.
I'm just about keeping my bitterness in check, don't get me started! 😕
(2nd or 3rd division English clubs seem to have better funding and facilities than so-called top level Welsh clubs. Even the Italian teams are better funded. How on earth can we compete? Blah, blah, blah, same story for the last how many decades? How long can the national team remain competitive when below that level the performance is so dismal...)
So whats Eddie Jones done here? Apart from Paul Hill sub, Jack Cifford likely to start at 7, & Devoto covering centre he appears to be starting with the same 'ol players that left the RWC. Granted that Robshaw will be in position and Hartley likely to play for 50-60mins, but all the shining stars (Itoje / Daly) have gone home.
Other indications he'll play Ford, Farrell & Joseph in the back line. Farrell, whose playing well at 10, and not a "player at the top of his position" as he promised.
Not the new blood he promised? Why couldn't he test Itoje & Daly for at least the final 20?
Whilst on paper it's somewhat disappointing to see some of the names being sent home, I think he's had to go for a result more than anything, win ugly if he needs to but it has to be a win. And in what's likely to be a very close game do you really want any more than 3 debutants in the 23? If it is close going into the last 20 mins you want experience coming off the bench not young kids making their debut. Hopefully this is a win at all costs mentality for Scotland, blood some of the other youngsters against Italy and then select a bit more of a mix for the remainder of the tournament. Worth bearing in mind that Jones has only had the players for two sessions (mad I know!) so he hasn't got much to go off first hand.
I was also a bit disappointed to see some of the names going home but I can kinda see why.
Hartley likely to play for 50-60mins
Perhaps with a ten minute rest during that period as well.
Fair points. That probably leaves Clifford, Billy V, Nowell, Watson & JJ as our main strike players with Farrell kicking. Then Lawes & Haskell for impact?
Yeah although I've a horrible inkling Haskell will start at 7 😳 but I hope I'm wrong!
It's not really that bad a team, very similar to the one that did well in the 6Ns last year. Hopefully Jones can instill a more ruthless streak and make them mentally stronger. I am loving his approach to dropping players though by telling them they need to go and work on the things that they do well and not the things they don't 😆 apparently he's told TomYoungs he needs to work on his carrying and tackling and Wood on his workrate (which is about the only thing he has going for him!)
Yeah although I've a horrible inkling Haskell will start at 7 but I hope I'm wrong!
So do I, as my father would have said he is all fart and no shit.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o...eicester_sport
Youngs cited for a punch and Laurent Sempere and Paul Gabrillagues cited for gouging
Former skipper Chris Robshaw is expected to start at blind-side flanker.While James Haskell and Billy Vunipola could make up the rest of the back row.
That doesnt solve the 7 issue really does it?
Course it does aa! Swapping the shirt numbers round fixes everything! 🙁
Hopefully this is a short term fix. I wonder whose chips kvesic constantly pisses on to never even get a look in with either coach? He's standout in the league as the kind of seven we've all been looking for but for whatever reason cannot seem to break into the England squad!
Reading the various articles, those players will be back on Sunday after thier club matches. In that regard what a good idea - keep them match fit for the following week. So as said above, we go with experience for Scotland, get the win and try a few new boy combos second half with Italy after there's some points on the board.
So as said above, we go with experience for Scotland, get the win and try a few new boy combos second half with Italy after there's some points on the board.
Love it!!
I can't see any of this in the papers today so have no idea what's going on.
However, there were only 10 swaps allowed in the elite player sqaud. That's it. EJ is tied by the same rules as everyone else. In the mean time he'll have spoken to players that are almost there (Kvesic for example) and told them what to work on ready for the next allowed change. Crap rules, but there we go.
Tom Youngs is not going to have been told to work on work rate and carrying. I think it's far more likely that's a rumour from the Tigers message board, and should be treated as bobbins until you see the quote from EJ.
Agree on the Welsh regions. How the hell do the national team play so damn well? They should be pap - or England should be sodding world beaters putting 50 past the southern hemisphere 3!
Bravo Exeter, home games are a big advantage in the knockout stages. I still think Toulon will turn it on now.
How the hell do the national team play so damn well?
We have about 20 good players. Half dont play in Wales. The welsh regions budgets are smaller than French, English, Irish and Scottish teams. Its not rocket science to work out why they do so badly in Europe. Squads are smaller and of much lower quality.
[url= http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/14589/10146237/lions-chief-says-stuart-lancaster-is-candidate-for-new-zealand ]Lancaster for Lions[/url], hopefully a joke!
Rather him than Gatland buggering off from Wales for another year!
When is Ashtons appeal getting heard?
Really disappointed to hear ex players criticising the ban, he made contact with the eye area, bang to rights.
Talking of bans for gouging ****s
Stade Francais hooker Laurent Sempere and lock Paul Gabrillagues have been handed suspensions for eye-gouging to take the club’s tally of players currently serving a ban for the offence to three.Sempere was handed a 15-week ban after he was found guilty of committing the offence on Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza during the French side's 36-21 victory in the European Champions Cup on Sunday.
Second row Gabrillagues was in the dock for eye gouging prop Dan Cole and he will now serve an eight-game suspension.
Believe they had some banned for gouging a few weeks ago as well, plus Duprey has previous. Can't understand how it's seemingly acceptable in that team.
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Uncanny.
Side note - when did "back-rower" become acceptable? Wing forward or flanker please. "Back row" if you wish to generalise the wing-forwards and number 8.
Antipodean guff.
Antipodean guff.
And then when they've finished talking about the half back being stand offish they start doing fractions.
Jesus shitting christ Fitzgibbon you blind ****. Thats the worst decision I've seen a pro ref make and you had the replay to help you. If the first umpact is shoulder to chin its a high tackle. Breath takingly bad decision
I haven't got a lot of love for the Dragons but they are better than the Scabs and the oafs from the capitol but that was a good win against Leinster.
What decision was that AA?
It seems we've signed Rhodri Williams. I'm happy with that!
What decision was that AA?
Fitzgibbons insisted that the Glagow 9's tackle on Sam Davies was chest high, all the while the replays were showing him driving his shoulder into Davies' face.
This was just after he allowed a try, after checking with the TMO for a previous double movement. He allowed it even though the Glasgow player actually crawled forward, then made two more movements.
My favourite bit of inept reffing though was a simple one. 29minutes in, Glasgow had blatantly sealed off the ball at every ruck. Fitzgibbons decided to penalise the Os for that. Then he allowed Glasgow to do the same 30 seconds later. And for the rest of the game.
Muppet of a ref.
Since the 80s? I can't remember when I started calling them back-rowers but it was a long time ago.Side note - when did "back-rower" become acceptable? Wing forward or flanker please. "Back row" if you wish to generalise the wing-forwards and number 8.
And I can't remember the last time I heard anyone refer to a wing- forward.
Cheers IJ
Fitzgibbon was awful. You have to wonder if he was actually trying to be bent. Mostly refs can be crap but you dont sit and watch thinking how can they be that bad. The high tackle was the one that made me wonder as it was so obviously high and he said " we'll have a look at it then" and then he stood staring at the floor after telling the tmo it was fine to start with.
Also - who on earth decided that Sam Davies was MotM? Nigel Davies?
He missed kicks at goal, missed kicks at touch, threw passes into touch and tried a badly advised drop kick and missed, a move that should have continued going through the hands. He was generally awful.
Couple nice breaks though!! Gareth Thomas thinks Matt Morgan should start at 15 away in Dublin too...twas ever thus!
anagallis_arvensis - MemberCouple nice breaks though!!
Isn't this always the problem with Welsh rugby - we're suckers for a 10 than can make a break. We'll overlook all sorts of failings if they can make a break or two.
Anyway, I agree - a couple of nice breaks. Unfortunately he also wrecked a couple of good breaks that others made by throwing the ball directly into touch on one and completely missing the intended player on another. So he needed to make those breaks to cancel out his errors. 😆
I think Sam Davies shows promise though. The drop goal was the right choice he just missed.
I disagree - the Os were looking strong with ball in hand. If he wanted to go for a DG then it needed a better set up, not the rush job that he went for.
New French rugby mag. A little lost in translation, perhaps.
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(Translation - Tampon can be loosely translated as "big tackle". As in a rugby tackle, you pervs!)
Tips and Hovis both getting a start! Two open sides, which is two more than England have in their entire squad!
😉
Obvious one CFH......but the worst part is how painfully true it is 🙁
No offense,but why are the Engerland players who were so very,very shite at the WC,going to be any better now? That probable team has a very familiar look.You spend all this time talking up the need for a no 7 and then pick the Wererabbit,who seems to qualify because he gets changed next to George Smith.
No offense taken Duckie!!!! I'm thinking exactly the same thing!!!!! All it needs is for Farrell to start at 10 and we're back in 2015!!!!
Trouble is, Farrell [i]should[/i] be starting at 10. He's in far, far better form than Ford is, and has been all season. With Slade injured, and Hill so far uncapped putting Farrell at 12 is the best option as Ford can't play there.
why are the Engerland players who were so very,very shite at the WC
That very, very shite team only lost to wales by 3 points.........
Wales team: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues).
No Liams Williams! Pressure on Anscombe and James. Big game for Rob Evans also. Some strong forwards on the bench.