Beauden Barrett playing like this, I think they'll cope:
Double team spear tackle him in the opening minutes of the first test. Job done.
#nztactics
So, Laidlaw called up. Do we reckon it's on merit, or to try and appease all of the pundits/coaches from Scotland that were moaning?
No Patchel or James Davies in Wales squad for Tonga and Samoa!!!
Ollie Gritfiths and Cory Allen go though.. odd
Well Mr Angry Mike Brown has done a good job of proving why he shouldnt have been a Lions pick hasnt he!!
I concur AA, bad form even from Mr Angry.
Laidlaw. Sorry not on merit for me.
Draw for the pools today, Wales, Argentina and England in one pool?
Yeah laidlaw on merit. Playing and steady captain. Will be able to ground younger players in the midweek team.
Whats Brown done?
Whats Brown done?
I should have been picked waaaaaaahhh waaaah wwwaaaaaaahhh, I habent even been spoken to about why I wasnt waaaaaah waaaaaahh waaah.
Because you are a bell end who would throw his toys out of the pram if not given a test spot I suspect. Too quick to whine in front of a camera.
England, France, Argentina in pool C. Think more being made of that than needs to be. It's France that should be worried.
Full drawPool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, play-off winner (Europe 2 v Oceania 3)
Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, repechage winner
Pool C: England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2
Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1, Americas 2
Even as the most ardent England supporter even if Brown makes the tour he's not going to start.
Another tough draw for England at RWC 2019. Yes on current form it's France / Argentina who should be worried but a lot can change in 2 years. Definitely the hardest group. Soft draw for Scotland and there should be no real problems for Wales or Ireland either.
You could easily have England Arg France USA Tonga as a group which is nuts!
Getting out of a "group of death" is one thing - I think it's getting out with an intact squad that's key. The three games between England, France and Argentina will be attritional - although I expect England to qualify easily from that one.
May well be Ireland to open with game against Japan. The green machine will need to win it, as according to TeeJ, Scotland are vastly superior and should qualify with four wins. 😉
I can live with that draw as an Irish supporter. Home team will be fired up and Scotland further along there development curve but we certainly can't complain.
I think it's getting out with an intact squad that's key.
Georgia in the same pool as Wales. Ouchy.
Great Irish draw for fans going over.
Playing the hosts will be the big event of the first round.
Can't wait.
Makes this summer tour interesting too, although it prob means Joe will go into conservative "reveal nothing mode" rather than giving many new things the try.
Anyone know if it's A v B, C v D next round (1st v 2nd places) or something different?
It's always tough on the group opposite NZ 'cos finishing top becomes so much more important to avoid them. But this time out that prize looks like a SA game.
If it is like above, then that's the one blessing for the Eng/Wal side of the draw - 1st or second is just as good really.
Couldn't find confirmation on RWC site, but, that was how it went last time. A1vB2, A2vB1, etc. Not sure whether that's TBC this time or not.
Could be the first time in 357 games for Wales to finally beat Australia.
Georgia in the same pool as Wales.
Due to lose to them this autumn!!
Beauden's little bro's try on the weekend was amazing. The last angle.. how the..!
Anyone else think that Japan will be reasonably pleased with that draw?
They've got the fourth best team from the first pot.
And the fourth best team from the second pot.
As a 3 pot host , that's about as good as it could get really.
Whats Brown done?
It's what Brown hasn't done. HE'S NEVER PASSED THE EFFING BALL!
No pundits ever had him in any notional Lions squads yet he's still moaning about not getting picked.
Far better players who were left out took it with more class. Haskell - "I tried hard but just wasn't good enough." Or Launchbury congratulating and encouraging those who were picked.
The sooner England dispense with him, the better.
Well done sarries! Two on the bounce.
Farrell, Billy and Itoge were outstanding.
Quality interview by Billy too;
"I'd like to thank the Lord Almighty for today and I would also like to apologise because I'm going to be drunk tonight"
Like that^^^ !!!
2 on the bounce is pretty impressive. Genuinely good teams from all nations this year which is good.
Wouldn't bet against them taking the AP title too. That'll be the double double, and the most players in the Lions team of any club, who could conceivably all be in starting XV, certainly in the test squad.
"I'd like to thank the Lord Almighty for today and I would also like to apologise because I'm going to be drunk tonight"
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Any chance eh captain?
Could be worse though.
[img] https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQR6RL_IeBU_-7MAPZfa-efSREd-L9riyKDMOq4NjyBjVvI07aW [/img]
Genuinely good teams from all nations
Italy? Wales?
Ok not Italy, but I thought the Scarlets played well, and Glasgow/Munster/Leinster all much stronger than previous years.
Scarlets did well with what they have but were hoplessly out gunned as were The Ospreys.
Congratulations to Saracens, back to back wins are special. Looking forward to catching the highlights later
Talking Wales, I thought N Owens was poor too. Needs to concentrate on ref'ing rather than being part of the performance.
Was at both games, great weekend with some mates. Best teams won both nights, the quality of the Sarries/Clermont game was great for a final. They just squeezed them out of the game. Bloke next to me was giving it up as a bad job at 20 minutes but thankfully Clermont showed some of their flair.
Home now and off to look for highlights of that end to end try!
Bilbao 2018? Sarries versus ?
Very good performance by Sarries even though they left a few points out there - Owens was poor I thought. Clermont fought hard at the breakdown and some of their handling was superb.
It is hard to look past Sarries for the AP too, but they've got some tough games to go yet - Exeter have been really good despite a shakey start to start to the season.
I'm going to watch Wasps / Tigers this weekend live this weekend. Hoping for a good game.
I'm becoming confused and frustrated with the maul now. Ref shouts maul and suddenly it falls to the ground. Law 17 says,
Keeping players on their feet. Players in a maul must endeavour to stay on their feet. The ball carrier in a maul may go to ground providing the ball is available immediately and play continues. A player must not intentionally collapse a maul.
Mauls are fun to referee - they're always different, so you just go with gut instinct - has the ball carrier gone to ground and made the ball available? Yep, play on.
Has a defender pulled it down? Pen
Ball unplayable scrum.
I've discussed it with other refs and one of them said, if you refereed the same game 10 times, you'd make 10 different decisions 😆
Great first 35 mins from Scarlets in Dublin followed by a red card 🙁
Sexton playing like shit.
Leinster are fluffing a lot here. Handling, etc. Crowd are getting restless!
Shingler looks good, mind.
Sexton not taking conversion? Nacewa missing?
WTF
Also, I think I missed something. Did I see Furlong limping off?
Ah. Sexton limping as well.
Furlong and Mcgrath went off injured.
Loopy Liam kicked 2 pens for Scarlets!!!
Amazing gutsy win.
Think stef evans will miss out on his first wales cap due to copping a ban
Cubby was immense. Good coverage on the wing, too.
Very good win for the scarlets. Can they go all the way? would be good for welsh rugby / pro 12 if they do.
Mitrea had a good game as well. Developing into an excellent ref.
Sarries / Exeter turning into a good game and a real contest.
Bloody hell exeter! Very well played and that last kick by slade, that took some doing!
