I think there was a limit in one iteration of the rules
I think this is where I remember it from.
Documentary about Steve Thompson on BBC2 at the moment. It's powerful stuff.
Why don’t they use the precedent established with London Scottish and Richmond by the Irish theme pub and sell Worcester’s share of the prem to the team relegated? In return Bath or Newcastle(probably)can put a tiny badge at the bottom of their strips, avoid relegation and then try to sell the name back for a five figure sum to the Amateur side. Or attempt to sue them if a hundred year old club tries to use it’s own name.
Picking at old wounds apart, I wonder how many clubs are actually sustainable long term? Sale for instance spend a fortune but get 6.5k to a home game and Wasps have a level of debt that would scare a Championship football club. No idea how Wasps, Newcastle, theme pub or Sale are sustainable long term. I suspect a British league in a decade or less with centrally contracted players for England as well.
Rumours suggest Cardiff have sacked Navidi, Asserati and Lewis for being dicks.
Hope Worcester have two spare tightheads going cheap if so.
Might be a nice time to highlight the WRWC starts on Saturday. Should be a cracking set of games!
I was hoping to watch the WRWC games on itv hub. However, the games don’t currently appear to be available. Lots of places saying they’re available live - but does anyone know if they’ll become available on catch-up? The times are not great for watching live.
Edit: sorry just found the info. Full games will be available ‘shortly’ afterwards, on ITV hub.
England beat Fiji 84-14. That’s a great start for England, they are in a dominant position and will retain a lot of confidence.
Now I realise that the Australia v New Zealand game is playing right now, but I cannot find it on itv hub. Is it on there ? Am I being stupid?
Ps sounds like a good game too!
The ENG v FRA crunch match next Saturday is an 8 AM start thankfully. Great to see Abbie Dow back after a horrific leg break 6 months ago, scoring on her return.
Looks like Waps are going under now, will this have a knock on effect due to teams missing games?
Gloucester have said that the cancelled Worcester game cost them circa £400k, so for the teams that have played neither them or Wasps at home yet will loose a lot in gate receipts. As a Tigers fan, the Wasps game not happening will mean we have no home game for 7 weeks.
The ENG v FRA crunch match next Saturday is an 8 AM start thankfully. Great to see Abbie Dow back after a horrific leg break 6 months ago, scoring on her return.
That and the AB's will be their biggest test, can't wait to watch it especially with the continuing form.
Wasps have gone too 😕
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12722978/wasps-gallagher-premiership-club-placed-into-administration
Finn Russel left out of Scotland squad for Autumn
And Biggar out for Wales, that can't be good.
And Biggar out for Wales, that can’t be good.
The difference being Bigger is injured.
I was thinking the same about sale as poster above this morning, it can’t be a sustainable model however much they pay in wages.
They still don’t own the ground, there’s no hotel, conferencing, casino or community use on the main pitch and if there is they don’t get the income. Realistically the crowds aren’t going to grow much. If the investors go bust or stop bank rolling them it’s over. Sale FC would become the only sale again.
I do like the idea of replacing cancelled games with exhibition games that might generate more interest ala saints v barbarians, I’d also watch tier 2 international v clubs
"Scotland" team to play Aus this weekend
Scotland: Ollie Smith, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie (capt), Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: George Turner, Jamie Bhatti, WP Nel, Glen Young, Jack Dempsey, George Horne, Ross Thompson, Damien Hoyland
Watching the Japan-NZ game, NZ leading by 21-17 at half time, hoping Japan can keep this up. Christ, if someone had predicted 10 years ago that NZ would struggle against Japan, they would have been laughed at.
NZ women aren’t struggling against Wales however. It’s horribly one way.
LRZ is on fire at the moment (his tries at 03:18 and 76:50)
Is anyone going to the Scotland v Australia game? Scotland ranked 6th in the World, Australia 9th. Should be close?
Darcy Graham seems to have improved his overall game (to my uneducated eyes), I hope he has a good game today.
C’mon Scotland!
Wow!
This is going to be entertaining - really open
Well that ball bounced nicely! A good time for Scotland to score too.
Where is this being shown please?
Amazon Prime
All the Autumn internationals
Got it - thanks!
Funny game that in the end.
Yeah first 10 minutes offered do much
Yeah first 10 minutes offered do much
Indeed. All got a bit scrappy, with too many little errors. I guess down to lack of playing together? Scotland were lucky with some of the bounces, but let too many points go. Shame to lose so closely.
Kinghorn was one of the better players but overall Scotland seemed rudderless. Not much from Duhan or D'Arcy. Some handling errors. Not much from either team to worry teams ranked above them
Watching the England ladies performance in a downpour vs Australia, my god they make the mens team look terrible, they really are awesome players with weapons from 1-15.
All that while we await the impending disapointment of the next Eddie Jones "surprise" strategy.
FFS they have been fully pro for how long? Not the players fault but it is hardly a level playing field.
Can only play the teams they put in fron of you - I bet the Aussies will be pro next WC!
I thought we looked great this morning - us and the Kiwis for the title...? 🙂
South Africa: Kolbe; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Mapimpi; Willemse, Hendrikse; Kitshoff, Marx; Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Koch, Mostert, Fourie, Smith, De Klerk, Le Roux
Colby at 15 in Dublin is interesting!!
This thread is far too quiet 🙁
Some great games coming up this weekend.
Sadly, Leigh Halfpenny a doubt for Wales. [Such a shame, he seems like a very nice bloke.] Goodness knows who Wales will field. I can’t see us beating New Zealand. Again.
I hope Hastings has a good game for Scotland. He’s looked good in the recent highlights I’ve seen of Gloucester. Does anyone know how strong the Fiji team is? They always have difficulty getting their best players altogether at the same time - however, if they play their strongest team it could be an exciting game. (I worry they might be really good, come the World Cup!).
Ireland v South Africa should be good too.
Can’t wait 😀
It is quiet. I have my son "Parents Club dinner" tonight so will undoubtedly be watching the games with hangover. Anyway, England to face Argentina:
15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell (VC)
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Owen Farrell (C)
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Ben Youngs
1. Ellis Genge (VC)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Alex Coles
5. Jonny Hill
6. Maro Itoje
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Jack Singleton
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. David Ribbans
20. Sam Simmonds
21. Jack Willis
22. Jack van Poortlviet
23. Henry Slade
Very strong side for us, and Manu gets to play this years international game vs Argentina before he goes off with injury. Youngs and Farrell debatable as always. I'm looking forward to seeing Jack Willis back in action, I hope he gets some decent game time.
Finishers
Does it not make you want to vomit reading this?
Sadly, Leigh Halfpenny a doubt for Wales
Pivac19's decision to only have 1 old 15 recently back from a long term injury in the squad looks more and more daft all the time. If Priestland starts at 15 I don't think I'll bother watching, he was unbelievably bad at 15 for Cardiff a few weeks back. Can't even shift say Zammit to 15 as the two other wingers in the squad are already injured....****ing moron that **** is.
Anscombe to 15 and Priestland to 10 is the least worst option...and that's shit
Off to murrayfield tomorrow. Slight worry as our scratch autumn team pushes the big boys then we bring in the stars and........fall flat on our arses.
and that’s shit
agreed, it does all appear somewhat shambolic. You’d think that you cannot predict injuries, but here I’m confident that you likely could. Priestland at 10 and Anscombe at 15 looks the best bet from where we are; but I’d just as soon play Costelow at 10 and … actually I haven’t a clue : (
Wales could quite well be the only home team to lose tomorrow.
but I’d just as soon play Costelow at 10 and … actually I haven’t a clue : (
God help us, I'd prefer McNicol at 15, he's not really international class but he is the best option we have
God help us
😂 hee hee, I said I didn’t have a clue 😏 Not ready, or not of international standard do you reckon? (Although a_a you can be a tad harsh on Wales players at times )
My "God help us" comment wasn't meant to suggest your option was awful more just that all available options are awful given the lack of balance in the squad selected. I mean Cuthbert has been picked ahead of say Keeelan Giles and Cuthbert isn't fit yet and hasn't played all season!
Costelow is a bang average club 10, he may improve as he is still young but giving a young 10 his first taste of the international game v NZ? I'd rather we lose with Priestland at 10, even if he is no better than Costelow.
As for Tipuric at 6!!!
