Well they must, or he wouldn't be tempted to move. Priestland is reportedly earning £290,000 and he's hardly played AND he's just re-signed!
The top earners at Glasgow and Embra are all paid north of 350k. Add in the bonus the SRU pays home based senior internationals and I wonder how much more he would be making. I didn't say he wouldn't be looked after as well medically, I did say that Bath would want their pound of flesh more than Glasgow. Is the glass wreaking ball not the best paid player in England at 450k? How much more will he make?
These new tackle laws eh...two soft as shit yellows in the Scarlets Ulster game. Mitrea is a shite ref though so have to see how it goes. Had no clue in the scrums or rucks tonight.
I thought there'd be some real issues in the Falcons Barf game, but there wasn't. There were two genuinely high tackles, penalties only but nothing soft or daft.
North worth was no better treated by wales than Saints.
Thats true. However trying to compare Russels injury to Norths is very very different. One got back up and "seemed" OK the other one most certainly didnt.
Have a look at around 20s in on the video here:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38514314
Trimble smacks him with a high swinging arm, no sanction. The number 5 puches him in the head, no sanction, the 8 tackles him perfectly fine, pen try and yellow card. Ref then evens it up by binning Ball in the next play!!
It is a farce, no way was that a penalty try.
They are ruining the game. I hate high tackles, but all this will lead to is players ducking into tackles to win a pen, which is even more dangerous and the ****ing morons at WR can't even see it. Same as the taking the man in the air stuff, it's just led to players leaping into other players. See Pisi as an example.
Barrington red carded 10 mins into his 100th Sarties appearance. Brad Barritt involved too and as he tackled first, high. Barrington followed up with a head height shoulder barge.
The ref actually said that I have no option.
Neither tackle malitious, especially with Parling stooping into contact.
Hardly a big stoop.
Barrit should have taken yellow.
Lozowski on Waldrom was a corker
We're getting shoed by glos at the shed today 🙁
I know not massive, but he led with his head a bit.
Barritt was lucky. Nowell's try was a cracker.
I've seen the Worcs score line. So much for backing up last week's performance with another good good. Time to get on the blower to Cocker's?
Good win for the Ospreys, crowd under 7,000 🙁 That is poor.
Barritt was lucky.
Playing devils advocate, Parlings head (he's nearly 2m tall) was level with Baritts mid chest (he's a fair bit shorter). I hate high tackles, but there needs to be a safeguard to ensure that players don't duck into tackles.
Saracens have done really well playing with a man down for 70 mins. Exeter have been sloppy and wasteful in attack though.
Worcs got totally dicked by Gloucs and are now bottom of the table. With Bristol seeming to have got their act together, they look in real trouble. Hogg seems clueless as a coach.
Racing / Munster following form book at 0-25. Didn't bother to buy a ticket and stadium pretty empty. Racings fans offered Munster fans free accommodation as the fixture was rearranged after Foley's passing.
Very tense match vs Saints! Lost by 6 but could have nicked it, although it would have been against the run of play admittedly. Considering the saints line-up, not too bad - happy to get the point. At least B*** lost 😀
Wuss erratic, great win agains quits last week then completely and utterly thumped by Glaws this week.
Dean Ryan was never great but without a proper management team we're stuffed. Going to be heading back down to the championship I think.
Surfer junior played his first game in the 1sts today (at number 11) and the away fans were taunting him which indicated he played well. I thought he was ace but I am biased. What he lacks in physicality he makes up for in intelligence and tenacity!
That is all 😀
Dean Ryan was never great but without a proper management team we're stuffed. Going to be heading back down to the championship I think.
But at least there was a clear structure and a playing direction.
Justcbeen watching the Saracens red card. How did Barrit get away with it. Parling only cam down on the props should as his legs went when Barrit smacked him in the head.
No longer Capn Sam? Played shite last night. Wouldnt get in the Welsh team if Faletau wasnt broken.
WalesOnline understands the back-row forward is contemplating handing in his notice as skipper so he can concentrate on his game and may also rule himself out of the running to lead the Lions into battle in New Zealand at the end of the season.
Given the new laws should Haskell have been red carded for knocking himself out bearing in mind it seems to be outcome dependent?
Interesting that they are pushing the hooked being central to the line-out. But in Bath/Falcons he picked up falcons step but bath seemed to have a bit more leniency.
Wouldnt get in the Welsh team if Faletau wasnt broken.
The way Tips is playing at the moment, he'd be my first pick. In almost any team. Best centre in the NH. Who just happens to be a flanker!
Gats/Howley would be crazyboknerslooney not to be looking hard at Young at Wasps (Dai's boy) I'm not exaggerating, he's ****ing brilliant. I have always been a fan of Tips, but this kid is something else.
Good win for Glasgow but Russells value just halved! Having been sublime for a couple of weeks he was back to his flaky best. Passing to imaginary centres and kicking the wrong side of the touchline!
Got charged down a few times too. Luckily The Blues were awful.
Dai junior looks good from what little I've seen. Would be good to see him called up. Shame he's a 7 we are well set at 7 really, few 6's or 8's would help. Dont think he will come under Gatlands law as he hasnt been offered a contract in Wales.
I've seen him 4 or 5 times now, he's been outstanding every game (MOTM vs tiggers!)
Can't see him quitting wasps, especially with his dad at the helm. They got 27K for todays game!
AA - did you spot the near miss on the conversion from infront? a particularly fine miss hit. It just went inside the post
Liam Williams agrees 3 years with Saracens.
Still fighting a loosing(?) battle in the regions to keep the talent in Wales?
Sounds like Russell has the same kicking coach as Ford! He missed some real sitters on Friday night.
Thomas Young has looked pretty damn good for Wasps this season - I'm guessing that he'll stay put for now especially with them going well.
Robshaw out of the 6N.
Looks like this year will be a real test for Jones given the number of key forwards who won't make it.
Tommy Waldrom in at 8 shirley! 😀
Nah bring in Jordan Crane!
I hope Dave Ewers gets a crack at 6. Better than Tom Wood, Jack Clifford and Teimana Harrison. I see The HaskTM lasted 35 secs on his return from injury....
Glasgow / Munster - whos your money on? I think Glasgow will want it more and just squeeze the win. should be a cracker of a game. One for the neutrals.
Couldn't call it TJ, but it'll be a great game!
I think Glasgow will want it more
Very much disagree with this given recent events. Munster are a team on a mission. Not saying they will win just that no team wants it more than them this year.
Happy if Munster taking a losing bonus point and stop Glasgow getting 4 try bonus. Then ROG will gift us another 5 points when we play Racing at Thomond in final round. Both teams deserve to go through though.
As a Tigers fan, I'm hoping Munster beat Glasgow. Preferably without Glasgow getting a bonus point. Then IF Tigers get a win in Paris it leaves them with a slim chance of getting through.....
Then it's all set for a Munster v Leicester final, where we will bring Neil Back in as a specialist scrum coach!!!
So it looks like saints did potentially place their player in danger.
"Following these discussions with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby, a World Rugby statement reiterated head injury protocols were "not fully adhered to", with the main reason given that Saints medical staff were evaluating a potential spinal injury.
North's later resumption in play was caused by the "non-application" of these protocols, according to the statement, but World Rugby now says it is "satisfied" the club's medical staff have been educated on the permanent removal process."
Looks like this year will be a real test for Jones given the number of key forwards who won't make it.
Well you can have a back row of Itoje at 6, Haskell at 7 and Hughes at 8. Not too shabby.
With the riches available at lock I'm sure Itoje can be used effectively in the back row for the time being.
THere's also a rejuvenated Tom Wood to be considered and Ben Morgan is also back to form with Gloucester plus Jack Clifford is fit again too.
Loosehead might be an issue if Marler is gonna be missing as well as Mako but if England have one thing in spades - it's depth.
Itoje at 6, Haskell at 7 and Hughes at 8
Best described as bulky!! Fine if they gain dominance with the front five but if a team is able to keep them moving they might struggle.
Fine if they gain dominance with the front five but if a team is able to keep them moving they might struggle
True but it's hardly a less mobile setup than the Robshaw/Haskell/Vunipola or Wood/Robshaw/Vunipola or Wood/Robshaw/Hughes lineups that have been employed of late.
And if necessary, Clifford is pretty mobile.
Talking of mobile flankers
Justin Tipuric 160 tackles made, none missed so far this season!!
Itoge is not a back row player. people are trying to shoehorn him into a 6 shirt, but I reckon Eddie knows better than that.
