Cheers a_a. I had heard that Costelow was the future. I guess I’ve near given up hope of us winning today, so thought just **** it - try something leftfield. I’m worried can Owens, Tips, North, Anscombe even make it through the game?
I just saw Ireland A get destroyed by New Zealand xv on YouTube - I’m even less confident about this afternoon now : (
Well, I attended a Club fundraiser dinner for next years U14 tour, with special guest speaker - Neil Back MBE. What a great night. This kids did the waiting and serving of food & drink. Neil gave them an excellent pep talk and of course us an after dinner speech with many Leicester, England and Lions quips.
Neil signed some memorabilia for jnr and we got a great photo of the three of us. He's a surprisingly soft spoken chap but does carry a presence.
So, he was asked - when does he think England's next WC will come. The answer came in 2 parts - a) within the next couple of weeks time and b) the men have a very long wait. He went of to reveal that Cluve's plan went on very much further than the England team we saw, he had them learning about each other in league games and outside of Rugby. The imnpact of this was that the 2003 team instinctively knew every play, every nuance and every move of their team members without having to discuss it. His view, Eddie has failed to field a consistent team for long enough to achieve that, and we don't have the tools to overcome that as a major factor in our play.
Anyway, I'm somewhat obviously nursing a hangover so need to put the screen down, what what a pleasure to meet the guy.
Second women's semi-final was quite the match! 🙂
Second women’s semi-final was quite the match! 🙂
Yes. The England v Canada game was pretty close too.
I just finish watching the England game. What a match!
Dear Lord Scotland 🙄🙄🙄
Look at how far Jack Dempsey has fallen!
😂
Bit of a dull game. Darcy Graham man of the match 🤷♂️
Priestland at 10, Anscombe at 15. All my fingers crossed 🤞, but I fear it will not be enough. Again 😭
1:0 home win for the singing, let's leave it there shall we!!
😩
😭😭
Good job they’re not at their best
Pleased to see Dyer score, kids rapid
Tipuric off at half time, Christ on please. Won't happen though.
Pleased to see Dyer score, kids rapid
Indeed, he’s had a great first half debut.
Tipuric off at half time, Christ on please. Won’t happen though.
I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him come on quite soon.
I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him come on quite soon.
Bet they keep Tipuric on and take Reffel off, making Tipuric captain is another Pivac error...blokes not match fit and isn't a 6
In other news...England's teams in men's, women's and wheelchair rugby league world cup all going well.
a_a call for someone else to be taken off 😏😂 (agree with you by the way)
Better than I expected tbh. Anscombe at 15 was an empty shirt, no pace since his bust knee. I would have shifted Zammit to 15 for last 20, North to wing and Watkin to 13...would have maybe lost by more by at least Zammit can run
Better than I expected tbh.
Thoroughly miserable, but some Wales players played well imho. Falateau, Tomos W, Tompkins, Tipuric to be fair to him, good debut from Dyer, Christ good whilst on.
I reckon I could live to a hundred and still not see Wales beat NZ : (
Scotland will be confident after their win against Fiji, so their game against NZ next week will be interesting.
Ireland v SA: can Ireland maintain their consistency?
Ireland holding on, doing well to keep SA out so far
I wish he'd stop talking about the "Argies"
Fair play Ireland, great result.
Ireland v SA: can Ireland maintain their consistency?
They can, yeah.
Tbh, I’d have been disappointed with anything other than a win given SA were playing without a recognised 10. Although losing McCloskey, Murray and Furlong at half time didn’t bode well. Impressed that they won scrum penalties in the 2nd half against possibly the cheatingest scrum in international rugby.
2022’s been good fun so far.
All Blacks ✅
World Champions ✅
All setting up nicely for a crash and burn at RWC2023 😂
Just back from Murrayfield. Think we have a bit of a problem brewing in the team. Hogg looks generally grumpy and it feels like there’s something missing in terms of team spirit. Then they all come out saying things like they’re happy with how things went. That’s not what anyone in the stands were saying…
Hogg was trying to captain but he's been found wanting........ wanting to keep the ball and any glory for himself. Our part of the west stand reckoned Darcy got mom for player folded in half by the opposition the most and staying on the pitch.
We ran pretty shapes but behind the gain line.
Darcy got folded up right in front of us! Think they lacked patience to just hold onto the ball and work through the phases.
Great win from Ireland, I fear Ireland, England or France (or all 3) could put 50 on Wales...
England… ….could put 50 on Wales…
ROFL
Scotland were predictably mince. We will remain so why Townsend is in charge. Selection is inconsistent and confused, they players do not agree with the gameplan, there is obvious poor man management and no one on earth believes Finn was dropped on form.
When the team play consistently below their potential then the coach carries the can
Ive never been a Gatland fan but if he was Scotland coach do you think the team would look so ill at ease? He knew how to get the best out of Wales and had them playing better than the sum of the parts. Townsend cannot do this
They saved the best game to last.
If you not seen it yet, go watch France vs Australia, awesome game
Ireland v SA: can Ireland maintain their consistency?
They can, yeah.
Congratulations to Ireland. I am seriously envious.
I only saw the highlights of France v Australia, it did look like a good game. The World Cup is going to be on us very quickly, methinks. Whether there is enough time now for Scotland and Wales to close the gap is doubtful. Where England stand is unclear, today’s game will be interesting.
Hopefully a thrilling game to come. Best luck to both teams.
Whether there is enough time now for Scotland and Wales to close the gap is doubtful.
for Scotland there is no doubt. We are deservedly heading down the rankings. We have a difficult group and will not get out of the group stages. Perhaps then we can get rid of Townsend.
Atmosphere at Twickenham seems really flat
No doubt the media, if not England fans, will be totally confident of them topping their World Cup group. However, both Argentina and Japan could cause them problems if they don’t play cohesively. Whilst England had good games against Australia and New Zealand in the last World Cup, they failed to impress in the group stage.
Very dull and rugby played to todays EJ formula. There’s no spark, not many teams will be worried about our tenacity to have one out runners running into people, and conceding pens.
It’s a tale of individual performances, yet it’s a 15 person game.
Even considering the weather its unambitious. Argentina are a good side tho and need to be respected
Very dull and rugby played to todays EJ formula.
We keep being told that England are keeping their ‘new moves’ secret, ready for the World Cup- sounds like bull shit to me. I can understand why Wales and Scotland fans are keen for a new coach, but if I was an England fan I’d be desperate to be shod of Jones.
Game on now mind! ( currently 23:24)
Wow!!
Just saw the last 15 of that, not sure I'll bother with the rest! Well played Argentina.
England are so unimaginative. Argentina similar.
Well done Argentina!
desperate to be shod of Jones
Should have taken that chance a year ago, surely English performance can’t get worse than this.
.... Congratulations to Argentina. England pretty poor .. again....
I’d be desperate to be shod of Jones.
Swap for Toonie?
Not looking forward to Wales playing them next week!
Fair play Farrell speaks honestly
Swap for Toonie?
Nah. I have no idea who they could or should choose. Stuart Lancaster?
