[Closed] Rugby thread 2016/2017

We don't look too well stocked in the back row, Harrison isn't international class and I'm not convinced by Clifford either.

Id expect Itoje, Hugues and Hask starting at 678 for the bigger games, with Lawes and Kruis.

The Hask will knock himself out headbutting the side of the tunnel on the way on to the pitch.

Itoge is a second row throughout. He can play 6, but he's not international (or even prem) class there.
Wade is great going forwards but he's a liability in defence. He'll never be part of EJ's team. May is a complete tactical nightmare and doesn't have any kind of rugby brain. Nobody knows what he's going to do, even him. Good finisher if in a straight foot race though. Roko is a more astute player than either. Short even more so, but he'll not get a crack as long as the chiefs waste him on the bench, then wonder why they didn't start him when he comes on and score two tries in five minutes 🙄
Watson and Nowell have to be the first choice of those selected by a very large margin.

Harrison isn't international class and I'm not convinced by Clifford either.

I don't thought Harrison put in a really good shift at 8 last night for the Saints. He's been in pretty good form for them recently.

Roko is great in attack, but is lazy when he's not got the ball. He's often ambling back or Barf. He doesn't have the workrate of Nowell, who was brilliant last week for Exeter. May offers genuine pace and did well in the AI's. I do t get the Yarde thing because he's not great in defence and is pretty poor in attack too. Wade's defence is better and at least he scores tries!

I think Jones is good no to give someone else a run out a FB his 6N. Brown's days are numbered.

Can Glasgow do it? Should be a good game to watch I hope.

Yarde seems to be a bit like ashton, thinks he's better than he is and too close to giving away penalties. Don't like pirate jack but he's a great player and his work rate is massive. Pops up running tight lines yet gets back for the cover tackles.

For once I agree entirely with Wrecker!!!
Nowel has come on nicely and is a good player, long term him or Watson could play fullback. Brown is a good international 15 though so one point shifting them about.

May is brain dead but fast. Did you see him the other week. Last play of the game gets the ball on one side of the pitch ran sideways to the other side and got pushed into touch!

England squad looks good but any team (thinking Ireland her not Wales) who can stop their pack getting over the gainline may make them struggle as without the space that creates the backs lack of size may see them struggle. Ben Teo and his magic arm band is the only bosher and he isnt that great.

In other news. Wales fans watch this and try not to cry at what he's become!!

Bloody Hell Warriors

Underrated team by everyone outside of Scotland. They are demolishing tigers as they diud to racing. Speed speed speed plus a bit of magic from Finn

Tigers are complete gash at the moment.
Anyone see the sarries vs toulon game? Wondering how Lozowski got on at 15.

Great away and come from behind win for Ospreys 😀

wrecker - Member
Tigers are complete gash at the moment.
Anyone see the sarries vs toulon game? Wondering how Lozowski got on at 15.

Yes - good game despite the low score; some massive hits!

Lozowski was steady - ran the ball back a few times - was on the end of a a massive hit from Bastareau but was up pretty quickly.

Glasgow are playing well but Leicester are absolutely woeful.

Gutted they didn't get the 50 against the kittens.

I expected a Warriors win but I thought between 3-10 points

Ben Kay looked distraught during the post match analysis!

gonna stop underestimating Glasgow now? demolishing racing and Leicester home and away show their class even if Munster showed how to beat Glasgow earlier?

Pace pace and pace. watch the glasgow forwards - on the floor after a ruck / tackle? Bounce back to your feet and run to your place - not get slowly up and walk to where you shouldbe. this is why glasgow won - after a few phases there simply were more glasgow players available because of the pace at which they play. No ap or top 14 teamsplay with the pace adnintensity of the top pro 12 teams.

sarries next - more of a test and Sarries must be favourites but players like itoje are going to have to up their workrate to win.

players like itoje are going to have to up their workrate

That was a joke - right?

Kittens is about right, absolutely woeful. Leicester look like they've given up on the season already! Has anyone heard any rumours re the head coach job? They can't let Mauger have it, can they???

No ap or top 14 teamsplay with the pace adnintensity of the top pro 12 teams.

Not sure about that; Wasps play with a fair bit of pace and Sarries are relentless in creating pressure. Itoje is far from a last player.

That was a bloody good win for Glasgow who played unbelievably well. It'll be interesting to see if the Scottish players can bring that form to the 6N.

The Sarries Toulon was brutal at times. There are going to be some sore bodies after that. Lozowski was cut in half by Bastareaud.

Not really namaste. I was impressed with him in the Sarries game but he was not getting back to his feet and back into the action as quick as the Glasgow forwards do nor did he work as hard as the likes of Jonny Grey

Its the pace they are used to playing at,. The best teams in the pro 12 play with a higher intensity than they do in the ap or top 14. this is Why glasgow demolished Racing and Leicester but were beaten by Munster. Racing and Leicester were not used to the pace Glasgow play at but Munster are

Sarries / glasgow would be a fascinating matchup because Sarries can produce the pressure to suffocate Glasgow as MUnster did

I didn't say Itoje was lazy at all - but its that he is not used to having to react and get back into position as quickly as he will need to against Glasgow

TJ - whilst I agree that Glasgow have played some great stuff, Racing have been pretty flakey and Leicester truly hopeless. They kinda remind of Wasps last season and Bath the season before - both of whom got undone by the Sarries juggernaut, unfortunately.

I think we can forgive Itoje for being a bit slow back on his feet at times. That Toulon pack really came to play and they've got some absolute beasts so the depleted Sarries pack actually did pretty well.

It would be great to see Glasgow's style prevail but clinical, efficient teams like Sarries usually carry the day.

You have to remember that Glasgow and Leicester are in the same position in the league! Mid table. I think Sarries / Glasgow could be a great game to watch tho with the clash in styles - Russell runs the show for Glasgow with almost everything going thru him. Farrell gets half as much ball to play with as the forwards truck it up. Glasgow take high risk high return options which often means they give the ball away at times sometimes even in their own 22. Sarries will kick the ball to Glasgow a lot more than the other way round. Glasgow will offload a lot.

Sarries might well be able to starve Glasgow of the ball. Will a conventional game played very well - Sarries beat a high risk offloading game? Will ~Seymour take interceptions by reading the conventional game? Will Sarries be able to pick of Russell as he does his runarounds? Will they buy his dummies? Will Glasgow have the answer to the power of Sarries pack?

When the pools were announced Racing, Leicester, Munster, Glasgow was generally seen as the toughest group and most folk predicted Racing and Leicester to go thru - me included. I love the way Glasgow demolition of Racing and Leicester is seen as proof those teams are poor. Not that Glasgow played some great rugby to beat them.

You got it TJ, sadly Leicester were poor. Tigers aren't playing well with a fully fit side, with all the injuries they currently have they're hopeless.
That result was down to the state of the Tigers, if I were Glasgow I wouldn't be getting carried away as next match they will have to play someone who might actually give them a game 😉

TJ - I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Last week an efficient Munster team made it tough for them.

You have to remember that Glasgow and Leicester are in the same position in the league! Mid table

Which team has to do what to qualify for Europe next season?

Pretty much exactly the same thing A-A. That's why there is only one Welsh side in it....Well; not in it any more, but was in it to start.

Glasgow just have to finish above Edinburgh to qualify. Treviso only have yo finish above Zebre. Ospreys,Blues, Scarlets all have to finish in the top 7 ( assuming the Dregs dont) AND hope that both Glasgow and Treviso dont finish out of the top 7, which Treviso will.
So the three top welsh teams have to finish in the top 6 along with Ulster,Munster, Leinster and Connaught in order to qualify whilst Glasgow have to beat Edinburgh and Teeviso have to beat Zebre. So Glasgow dont have to take the Pro12 too seriously whilst the Welsh and Irish do.

Actually thats not strictly true. If by some shock all the welsh and irish finished outside the top 6 it gets even more ****ed up

No ap or top 14 teamsplay with the pace adnintensity of the top pro 12 teams.

Is that why precisely zero made it to the knock out stages last year?

Dont knock his confidence with your facts! This is a post Trump, post Brexit, post facts thread. Experts are not welcome!

But then the Ospreys are top (last time I bothered to look) of the Pro12 and they are shit!

Wrecker - main reason was WC hangover. But then knocking the pro 12 is a common pastime amongst those who don't follow it. Same As Glasgow did not turn over teams because Glasgow are good but only because those teams are crap? How about a little credit where its due?

How many pro 12 teams have won compared to others? How many pro 12 teams in the knockout stages this year?

AA your nonsense about qualification is just that - nonsense. You really think Glasgow don't try in the league? won it two years ago. The total humbuggery about qualification is an excuse used by ap teams to try to cripple the pro 12. Can Glasgow and Edinburgh please have the budget of the AP teams? Currently its around half.

All the welsh and Irish cannot finish outside the top 6 - there are 8 of them combined

Can we keep the rugby thread polite please? It has been a joy up to now.

and they are shit!

Go and self multiply 😆

Wrecker - main reason was WC hangover.

How many pro 12 teams in the knockout stages this year?

How many pro 12 teams have won compared to others?

Wrecker - Glasgow lost 31 players to the WC. NO doubt it had a disproportionate effect on the pro 12
Wray has been using the 4th international England played as his excuse for ap teams doing poorly this year.

Pro 12 teams do not get more spaces.

So - bickering a side and I apologise for my part in that. Glasgow / Sarries it is. Probably the end of Glasgows cup run but then I never thought they would demolish racing and Leicester home and away!

Mouthwatering matchup and should be a very good game.

Sarries by 10 pts

Its good that it isn't as AP dominated as last year. Clermont seem favourites, but I could see any of the final 8 winning it.

Nobody else was bickering! I certainly wasn't!

Pro 12 teams do not get more spaces.

England: 6 teams, based on position in the English Premiership
France: 6 teams, based on position in the Top 14
Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales: 7 teams, based on performance in the Pro12

Teej, please don't make an argument out of a conversation.

In terms of priority, the euro cup comes a distant second to the leagues for the english and french clubs.

wrecker - aimed at AA.

thought it was 6/6/6 plus the winners last yer plus some complicated payoff thingy for the last place - was that dropped?

AA your nonsense about qualification is just that - nonsense.

No its fact.
Simple fact is that The Ospreys and Scarlets and Blues have to push for a top 6 finish that Glasgow dont have to. That means they prioritise the league. Glasgow dont need to. The Ospreys would rather buy in good but not top class pro's like Fonotia and that Fat fijian 12 and Scarlets buy in Hadleigh Parkes. These players can play for them in the international window to ensure wins. Glasgow just have to beat Edinburgh.

Go and self multiply

😀

except Giles...he's amazeballs!

Are you sure?

http://m.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/qualification/index.php

The seven qualifiers must include at least one club from each of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

wrecker - aimed at AA.

aimed at AA

Did I miss something??

Oh well.
[img] ?v=1474113842[/img]

I love the way Glasgow demolition of Racing and Leicester is seen as proof those teams are poor

WEll, regardless of their league position, there's no doubt Leicester have been going through a bad patch due to their staffing issues. Sometimes the French sides just don't seem to want it, especially away from home, and that's been evident with Racing. You can only beat what's against you and Glasgow have done that very well.

Glasgow have been playing some great stuff and, along with Wasps, are probably the most entertaining side in Europe to watch.

I'll be cheering for them against Saracens - putting aside my general dislike of the Scots for one day, at least. 😉

Racing were still in with a chance of Qualifying when Glasgow went over to France and humped them. they did not give up until after Glasgow humped them.

Yeah I watched it. It was a great performance.

Sometimes though, with French teams, you just a get a whiff of them not quite being up for it.

Generally this phenomenon is only observed against Pro12 sides whereas any glorious victory by an English side over mighty Top14 opposition is always thoroughly deserved.

😉

As a Munster fan I was happier to get Toulouse than Glasgow in the 1/4 final at Thomond. They are a very good side. Sarries at home though is a huge ask although at least they won't be disadvantaged by the plastic pitch. Sarries have a way of suffocating teams even very talented ones. Ask Clermont.

Ireland Squad for 6 nations -slightly worried with Sexton failing to finish a match for waht seems like years we are in trouble at OH
Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Rory Best (Ulster), Jack Conan (Connacht), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Billy Holland (Munster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Dan Leavy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), John Ryan (Munster), Niall Scannell (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), James Tracy (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Rory Scannell (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).

I love the way Glasgow demolition of Racing and Leicester is seen as proof those teams are poor. Not that Glasgow played some great rugby to beat them.

Compared to their standards set over the last 20 years, Tigers ARE playing shit! However, clearly Glasgow are also playing well.

I believe we've had this exact Pro12 / AP debate before. In the end I remember it came down to Pro12 teams playing fast rugby which is amazeballs but the better AP teams nullify that by slowing things down and strangling the game. Which is shit. But then often it works (if the forwards actually have anything about them which niether Tiggers or Racings did!) so the AP teams appear to win more....

Looking forward to seeing the Scottish revival this year in the 6 Nations. They should wipe the floor with the English and French!

They should wipe the floor with the English and French!

And the welsh...I actually think they will though 🙁

Tiny - Glasgow V Saracens will be fascinating for that very reason. Munster have shown that Glasgow can be strangled. Can Saracens do it?

Wiping th floor with the French? A decent chance. England Nope. England will win the 6N fairly easily I think. Only Ireland might challenge them

At what point is it OK the change your view on Ellis Genge from " Rugby kept him out of prison." To "Jesus; what a Sherman tanker that boy is."

Depends on what he's done?

The Hask and Clifford missed the plane yesterday to Portugal to have injuries monitored

scrum.com lions team of the week from last weekends games
15. Stuart Hogg

14. Tommy Seymour

13. Will Addison

12. Robbie Henshaw

11. Chris Ashton

10. Finn Russell

9. Rhys Webb

1. Gordon Reid

2. Fraser Brown

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Maro Itoje

5. Jonny Gray

6. Ryan Wilson

7. Josh van der Flier

8. CJ Stander

seven Glasgow players?

Genge hasn't done anything yet has he? He's certainly an angry bugger, but I think he keeps it in check reasonably well - certainly better than Marler, Hartley and Brown!

Oh, and that Lions team contains Ashton - so we know it's utter crap!

Reality is what, 1, maybe 2 Scottish players will start the first lions test?

What's Ellis Genge done now then? I know things didn't end too well in Bristol for him (the area, rather than the club specifically!)

Tom - probably not even that as Gatland has two of his favourite players in the most likely positions. AJW instead of Gray and 1/2p instead of Hogg

Ooh good point actually! Reckon Gray will be on the bench personally....such a hard call that second row though....personally I think that Hogg will start at 15.....is 1/2p even guaranteed to tour? Not seen him play much recently, believe that he's not in great form though...

Wouldn't have Hogg on the plane, he is a liability

Compared to his rivals? Mike "Angry" Brown? Liam "start a fight in an empty room " Williams?

I have to say Williams has impressed me recently but Hogg remains the best attacking fullback IMO but I think Gatland will pick the most devensivly solid palyer he can find and to heck with attacking

15. Stuart Hogg

14. Tommy Seymour

13. Will Addison

12. Robbie Henshaw

11. Chris Ashton

10. Finn Russell

9. Rhys Webb

1. Gordon Reid

2. Fraser Brown

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Maro Itoje

5. Jonny Gray

6. Ryan Wilson

7. Josh van der Flier

8. CJ Stander

Too many welsh

Pigface - Member

Wouldn't have Hogg on the plane, he is a liability

Posted 27 minutes ago #

You are starting to sound like jamby and Danny Cipriani.

tinybits - Member

Genge hasn't done anything yet has he? He's certainly an angry bugger, but I think he keeps it in check reasonably well - certainly better than Marler, Hartley and Brown!

He came on Sat to have a fight; seems to be a pattern to the way he plays.

Ashton? Really? He was on hand to finish a try that any good winger should. Aside from that I don't recall him being mentioned at all. He remains a defensive liability which is exactly what you want playing the AB's!

It'll be interesting to see if Gatland picks on form rather than knowing players. If he does, a few of his favourites won't make it (unless Wales have a very good 6N).

Compared to his rivals? Mike "Angry" Brown? Liam "start a fight in an empty room " Williams?

Hogg is much better than Brown. He's just as annoying but for different reasons!

1/2p is the soundest in defence. Hogg the best overall. V NZ we will need pace in the back 3 and mid field Hogg, North (if he shows some form) and Nowell would be my picks. North needs to get a few passes in space though..very little of that play for Scumhampton and Wales

Tennessee Tam* surely as one of the wingers. On his form now anyway

* Seymour

Hogg is calmed his git tendencies recently.

Why is it that Fullbacks seem to have overtaken Scrum halves as annoying gits tho? If you were given one punch to aim at Hogg, Williams and Brown how hard would it be to pick which one?

If you were given one punch to aim at Hogg, Williams and Brown how hard would it be to pick which one?

Not hard at all!!!

It'd be Ashton

🙂

a_a is right there!

a_a literally laugh out loud!

You are starting to sound like jamby and Danny Cipriani.

Ducky I don't think i have ever been so insulted 😆

London Welsh R.I.P 😥

Personally I think picking wings based on their defensive ablities is wrong.

Sure, you don't want a revolving door but if the offensive ablity far outweighs the defensive liability then you're in credit.

I always remember a Wigan coach being questioned about Martin Offiah's defensive frailties and he replied along the lines of -

"When Martin can score the tries that he does, you can pay the other twelve blokes to do the tackling."

Ha, I told you all about ellis genge last year (one to watch at that point).
He is a very angry man, but he doesn't spill over. Of all of the fights he appears to try and get into, he never actually gets into one. It's all about intimidation, and he's pretty good at it.

In other news; London Welsh cease to exist as a rugby club. Gawn.

Did Dylan Gouge Jones?

[img] [/img]

Looks a bit nipply out in just a t-shirt

And is it just me who thinks Dullan has a wazzle pair of jugs?

Edit 37secs to slow - apparantly not!

Personally I think picking wings based on their defensive ablities is wrong.

Sure, you don't want a revolving door but if the offensive ablity far outweighs the defensive liability then you're in credit.

I agree, but Ashton doesn't really do anything himself. He relies on others putting him into space or creating an opportunity to finish. And he's shit at tackling. The likes of Wade are a bit squiffy at tackling, but he makes yards or gets through gaps when there appears to be no space.

Did Dylan Gouge Jones?

Nah, it was a 'reckless tackle' when Jones said that he was giving the captaincy to someone else...

Ashton - he may do nothing but score tries but he is rather good at that.