I’d love to see combine style tests for rugby players- 30 or 40m dash, agility run, bench, etc.
Also like the idea on eggchasers pod of the two packs standing on a weigh bridge pre game!
It's be more interesting to see straight scrum drive power.
I would love to see speed tests on all players. I think it would be very interesting and I think speed is often underrated. One reason I think McInally is such a good hooker is his speed over the ground - he as fast as a lot of backs. Johnny Grey is hampered by his sloooooooooooow running
I only saw the second half of the Sale v Leicester game but what a turnaround even if it was partly down to subbing of Burns
The one who always made me laugh was Big Gav Hastings
Not a view shared by many who played with or against him, He was captain when I went to London Scottish. Properly rapid off the mark and if that didn't burn you off,well; he had a plan b that usually left a mark.He did look like he was running through a swamp but trust me; as a 20yo open side who could run like a gas escape, your mind was filled with all the things you still had hoped to do as you realised he was coming back in between the centres.
Fair enough - it did look like he took a while to get up to speed from the stands
I was at accies for a season when I came back north Findlay Calder was coaching a few summer sessions. Not fast but like a nightmare no matter how fast you moved he just walked and then hit you.......hard.
I would love to see speed tests on all players.
I think you will find those that make the selections know all of this.
I was at accies for a season when I came back north Findlay Calder was coaching a few summer sessions.
He was pointlessly dirty, I played against him for Dundee.
Mind you; he wasn't all bad....
Ducky, AA, Reffing experts. Are these four clear outs still legal?
Ths is to do with an upcoming Six Nations pub quiz type thing I have, and wish to beat the french dude who runs another team in our pub.
Some strange reffing at the moment. The Irish ref asking the the penalty be kicked through the mark, as opposed to the mark being the start for a 5m step and kick (good).
Leicester scoring a lot of maul tries with players attaching ahead of the ball carrier(at least twice at the weekend). I thought it was behind and pass the ball back.
Driving round the ruck needs more penalising.
They are all legal in the demo but a million miles removed from a game situation.The first one where he grabs under the shoulders is lovely, but good luck it not becoming a neck roll. Being able to do it depends on other players not having joined the ruck, otherwise where are you going to put him? You also have to remember that they are using a bag that is twice the height of a tackled player.
In other news Finn Russell was saying how he regrets not finishing his last year as an apprentice stonemason. Now up here proper stonemasons are well paid,and parts of Stirling ARE quite nice but I am not sure it is as good as living in one of the prettiest cities in the world while earning a million euros a year...
A penalty kick should be through the mark, as in the ball should be kicked at the mark. Not start at the mark walk forwards then kick.
The same as a free kick, a tap and go, a place kick. You can walk backwards on a place kick to improve an angle, but it’s straight backwards not diagonal. A tap and go from a scrum penalty can be straight backwards from the scrum mark from hooker to number eight. It can’t be diagonal or too far back.
They are all legal in the demo but a million miles removed from a game situation.The first one where he grabs under the shoulders is lovely, but good luck it not becoming a neck roll. Being able to do it depends on other players not having joined the ruck, otherwise where are you going to put him? You also have to remember that they are using a bag that is twice the height of a tackled player.
Cheers. Its just for a pub discussion.
The crocodile roll was the one that concerned me, I thought it was banned last year.
Well England Wales will be a penalty fest and lots of tmo discussion.
Mr Adamson is on the whistle for it.
Indeed we have the new scrum laws and a lot the England team either injured or playing out of position, I’m less confident today than I was a few weeks ago. I reckon it’ll be a close stop/start game.
I’m sure Eddie will have those excuses ready.
On the plus side I’m enjoying U14 rugby with Jnr (13 players, 3/4 pitch no line out and 25 mins per half). Looks like proper rugby now, and the players are finding their positions. Jnr took inspiration from a Jack Nowell compilation whereby I walked him through positioning, and why Nowell was doing this / that a few weeks ago (he’s pretty much the comparable size and shape) and played an awesome game scoring twice, supporting well and making lots of metres with varied lines. So I’m hoping after a lukewarm Saturday with England that Sunday morning will be a lot more exciting locally.
Jnr took inspiration from a Jack Nowell compilation
I sat my boy down and made him watch endless Justin Tipuric videos on YouTube. He now has a blue scrum cap 😄😄
This will be for you then Krypton
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zbYAyalgjsE
Tompkins and a midget backrow FFS
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
11. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
7. Tom Curry (c) (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Finishers
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 77 caps)
23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
How did Ludlam get in the squad? Umm worng bloke. He looks pretty good actually.
I like the look of it. New blood, we need. Excited to see Smith and Slade together.
That tight 5 will leak penalties over a scavaging Scottish back row.
Compared to most England teams that pack looks like it's light of lineout jumpers and Daly has never convinced at 13, why would he now?
The Welsh Team is awful and Pivac picked team to play fast and wide with no carriers for heavy traffic, in Dublin, in February 😟🤞😥
If we stay within 20 I'll be pleasantly surprised.
If we stay within 20 I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Pivac may have to play his red card joker early? Ref gets back for half time orange and there is an envelope with compromising photos on his seat, along with a copy of the teamsheets with a name circled.
Daly has never convinced at 13
Although I don't disagree, he was better at Centre for the Lions in 2 games than he's ever been at 15 for England but anyway I reckon thats for long shots at goal which for me is pretty pointless in the Scottish weather with 38mpg gusts predicted. I reckon he's got naked pics of Eddie to get straight back in as first choice, can't understand why Nowell isn't on, he's much more intelligent on the ground than Daly - lets hope they swap pretty quickly.
Yeah, could we have Furlong red carded after 30s please. Might keep it to within 10 if that's the case 😥
Ben “Mince” Youngs?
Surely England have a 9 without mince between his ears?
I don’t understand Pivac. I know the Welsh physios are trying to get through an Everest sized pile of broken bodies, but why do you move your world class winger, who scores tries for fun, to centre? Is it if they stick any of the useless candidates in the centres then he won’t see the ball all day?
Wales are going to get mullered.
Pivac may have to play his red card joker early? Ref gets back for half time orange and there is an envelope with compromising photos on his seat, along with a copy of the teamsheets with a name circled.
Or, just rely on the indiscipline of other teams, even when they are ahead in a game.
I don’t understand Pivac. I know the Welsh physios are trying to get through an Everest sized pile of broken bodies, but why do you move your world class winger, who scores tries for fun, to centre? Is it if they stick any of the useless candidates in the centres then he won’t see the ball all day?
The only other 13 in the squad is Davies and his legs are shot. The sad fact is the team may be shit but the options to improve it are limited I'd have gone Davies 12 and Watkins 13 for defensive solidity, dropped Loopy with the kiwi poach at 15. The front five and half backs pick themselves. I'd have put Shane Lewis Hughes at 6 as he is big and athletic with Ellis Jenkins at 7 but I doubt that would see them get much closer to a win tbh. I kind of see Pivacs thinking, build towards the World Cup
Scotland team to face England: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Z Fagerson, J Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.
Replacements: McInally, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Bradbury, White, Kinghorn, Tuipulotu.
About as good as we can put out I think,pretty decent scrum there, we need the lineout to be better though. Mind you the weather is going to be crap.
I don’t understand Pivac. I know the Welsh physios are trying to get through an Everest sized pile of broken bodies, but why do you move your world class winger, who scores tries for fun, to centre?
Presumably because Wales have a real weakness at centre. Adams is so good, I'm hoping he can do his thing from the centre too - he often comes off his wing and has a definite physicality. Then McNicholl who is not as good, has shown himself to be competent enough in his last couple of games for Wales. Ireland are on fire, Wales need to roll the dice somewhat - if the dice fall nicely and every Wales player plays his best game, then Wales have a slight, glimmer of a chance.
I doubt many in Wales expect us to win, but so long as we can stay within 10 points, we might just pull off a miracle. Biggar is a god (I'd love to have Patchell as backup).
However, I am expecting Ireland to be out of sight within 20 minutes.
The ref can have a big influence on a game. Tell me about Jaco Peyper, Ben O'Keefe and whoever is reffing the Italy v France game. Please.
Pretty much a first choice Scotland team and no surprises. Shame about the weather
@TJ, oh TJ
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/craig-gilroy-hit-with-ban-for-reckless-horror-tackle-on-tom-rogers/
"A Disciplinary Panel considered all of the evidence available and concluded that Gilroy’s actions were reckless and thus warranted a Red Card. The Panel considered that the Player’s previous record and behaviour during the process entitled him to mitigation. However, as the player did not accept that the act of foul play warranted a Red Card, the Panel determined that he was not entitled to full (50%) mitigation.
"As a result, the Player has been banned for a period of four games. He is free to play from midnight on Sunday, March 13th, 2022."
Seems the citing panel weren't swayed by his attempt to wrap or his biscuits or anything else.
I think the ref should be banned for longer along with the Video ref. I think the same idiot is the ref in Dublin tomorrow
I'd say red all day. But you can see why the ref gave a yellow with mitigation. He is dropping. If he'd stayed upright that would have been a big shot to the ribs or chest.
But he is dropping and no chance to change for tackler.
This is where the lessening of the ban needs looked at. No half bans everyone does tackle school. Gilroy is not going to say that it was a red because a red would be deliberate foul play.
But you can see why the ref gave a yellow with mitigation.
I can't and neither can the citing panel. Mitigation shouldn't be done for a Reckless challenge, which given he was dropping due to the tackle that was inaction before Gilroy set it was reckless.
Chaps, been lurking in here quietly for a while - is there a STW fantasy six nations league I can join?
U20's Ireland 22:0 Wales at halftime. It's not doing much to encourage me for tomorrow : (
Scotland England U20 is very entertaining and tight so far. Scottish No 8 and English full-back both looking very good.
Now look what you have done
Excuse me Mr TJ did you miss this?
A Disciplinary Panel considered all of the evidence available and concluded that Gilroy’s actions were reckless and thus warranted a Red Card
Yeah, I really shouldn't watch Scotland games. Still, TBP isn't too bad against England considering we got no points last time. Pack was impressive.
Nope. Enjoy the games.
Nerves are setting in. Its the hope that gets you! I am far happier when we have no chance!
Ireland 53 Wales 5
Great result for the U20s
Plenty of youngsters in the first team today too, should be good experience for them.
Building nicely for the future.
