I was at the Harlequins v Edinburgh game - great, if unexpected, win for Edinburgh.
I've decided to adopt Harlequins as my London team though - it's a great set-up at The Stoop.
I said that Hogg's admitted muppetry was thrown into the shade by Murray and suggested Murray was rather brave by confronting Gray,who had nothing to do with the handbags, in the post match handshake.
And that disappeared ????
He was brave, true! Still he (Murray) had the last laugh after being targeted so much, so we know who was the happier.
When I played the post match handshake was normally a cordial affair with past "events" quickly forgotten.
I've decided to adopt Harlequins as my London team though - it's a great set-up at The Stoop.
Agreed. Keep an eye out for friendly/international games, too. Saw Quins v Samoa a few years ago. Great night out.
Aye THM,that's what annoyed me the most, I loved that game,and why Glasgow are letting Strauss go I can't understand, but at the end of it be a rugby man. In other news; 9 being targeted by back row non-shocker, good to see Townsend despite being an artist on the pitch can see the importance of strangling other side's creativity and set a team up accordingly.
strangling other side's creativity
Creativity and Munster...two words that dont sit easily together!!
Townsend would have been better off working on maul defence, lineouts, rucking defenders on elbows off the ball and box kick reception than worry about Munster running round them!
R U OK HUN?
Arse
Wales' two favourite Englishmen combine to nick a draw!!!
Not as good as yesterday but still fun!!
That was some stupid slap - the poor Scarlets player' s legs just went to jelly. Concussed? I hope they check him out properly.
Agreed Ducks - Strauss played well yesterday
Fair result tbh. Few observations, if Davies hadnt gone down would Wales have got the pen? Pisses me off. Second after Ashtons try he started chopsing off. The player who looked most like hitting him was one of his own forwards! Thirdly even with injuries the Saracens bench is light years ahead of of the Scarlets bench. Fourthly that is a bloody good result for Scarlets and they have done well in this group considering the relative budgets compared to Saracens, Toulon and even Sale
Thought I'd look to see if Halfpennys form has improved. Switch on to see him trudge off with a yellow!
Anyone else think the Toulon hooker dived over the sale prop (Longbottom?) and that should never have been a yellow car?
Neutral but that's twice (last was against Saracens) I've seen Sale hard done by with a Yellow card they didn't deserve in the last 10 when (arguably) on the verge of creating an upset.
Surely leaping out of a tackle is at least a penalty offence?
(yes, I'm a Sale fan)
Surely leaping out of a tackle is at least a penalty offence?
AFAIK there's nothing wrong with jumping into tackles but they made the point on BT Sport tonight that the defender had his arms coming out to make the tackle and the guy jumped over so it shouldn't have been a penalty and the TMO shouldda given the ref some help.
Anyone else think the Toulon hooker dived over the sale prop (Longbottom?) and that should never have been a yellow car?
Agreed, it was a bit harsh. I can only think it was as the tackler didn't use his arms at all. Just a head first lunge.
Toulon look looked decent enough but can't see them doing too much in the ko stages. Lovely miss pass from Nonu for the last try.
Jumping into a tackle comes under dangerous play,it seemed a harsh card to bin the tackler.
Ive seen a couple of yellows this weekend, where the player being tackled has jumped, tilted & dropped on a shoulder - without a doubt playing for ayellow
If you haven't seen it yet, Andrew Coombs is not happy with ther Dragons. Seems he's getting billed for treatment that the club should have paid for.
Is it the[s] club [/s] region or their insurer? Shit situation all round
Neil Fissler is reporting that a Sale player is to face a disciplinary panel tomorrow for leaking team tactics/info/calls to Bristol before the recent game.
Bristol coach heard boasting about it after the game, and now has allegedly grassed the player up to Sale.
Massive if true, player will lose his lovely good & surely Bristol will face some form of sanction?
I've heard names but won't repeat them til tomorrow.
Talk of a family connection.......
I hope this isn't true for all concerned, particularly the sale fans, and indeed us if the club gets sanctioned.
:roll:'livelyhood' even..
This has the potential to wreck Bristol's hopes of staying in the Prem - or Sale's!
Sale fans are NOT happy right now & certain names getting a lot of air time.
Bristol Post have named the player as Tom Arscott - who's brother Luke plays for Bristol.
Tom Arscott is out of contract at the end of the season, has he been trying to get a berth at Brizz?
Just printed on numerous sites that it is indeed Tom Arscott, no prizes for guessing who he told....
He's been at biz before, if we go down, he'd be a welcome addition. If we stay up then probably not.
Bristol rugby have tweeted;
The Club are absolutely confident of no wrongdoing in this matter and will fully co-operate with the investigation.
Apparently the Brizz coach was heard gloating after the match that Brizz had the inside info before the game.
That's pretty damning if true & may well mean Brizz face a sanction.
Don't think Mr Arscott will want to face the squad tomorrow..
That's pretty damning if true & may well mean Brizz face a sanction.
If true.....
Bets on a contact session that wasn't on the training schedule taking place at Sale today?
You gotta wonder just how much info they got.
TV analysis will show you how the opposition and individual players play, teams tend to stick to running patterns they've practised. A new move might catch you off guard but then it would anyway.
Rumours surfacing that Bristol informed sale what had happened and the telegraph saying that there will not be an official investigation.
All rumour of course.
TA hasn't had a contract renewal so he may be bitter and could be facing a long old ban, if not then the champ or D2 will probably be the best he could hope for.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38649131
No real surprises here, I suppose. AWJ as captain is the right call. (Lions, too?) Good to see the uncapped contingent as well.
Second row will be the most hotly contested position, is he certain of starting for the lions test side?
I wouldn't have him in the starting side....
Itoje for captain as per Martin Johnson? I wonder what odds...
Itoje would be my outside pick as captain!
AWJ is on good form, very consistent, and a proven captain.
Wales 2017 Six Nations squadForwards: Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Bath Rugby), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Olly Cracknell (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Thomas Young (Wasps).
Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Ashton Hewitt (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Steffan Evans (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets) Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon).
Usual mix of some good players on form, some good players with no form/injured and some real dross. Quite what Cuthbert needs to do to be dropped is beyond me. Feel sorry for him. He needs some time out of the spotlight.
Wot? No Keenan Giles?
I think he may be injured. Limped off at weekend apparently.
How does Owen Williams get a look in? Big boot (from the tee) and poor game management - plus he's just signed for Gloucester?
How does Owen Williams get a look in? Big boot (from the tee) and poor game management
Anscombe is injured and Sammy Davies Junior is not ready yet. Players based abroad can be picked if they havent been offerred a contract in Wales so Charteris, Dai Young junior and maybe Williams dont count as one of the 3 wild cards I think.
Various reports online that Arscott has been suspended by Sale....clicked on the beeb one and it says in there that Arscott was suspended on 4th January!
It's turning in to and absolute arse of a season for Sale 🙁
Dan Carter would appear to no longer be the best paid AB in France....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38660827
In my view, you can't captain the Lions until you have toured with them and second row very competitive - outstanding candidates in all four countries.
Ben Ryan joining the WRU as a consultant. Woop!
Good to see Thomas Young getting some recognition for his very good form at the moment. Ryan is indeed quite a capture for the WRU.
Sounds like Kruis and the Hask will be fit for France. Big worry is that quite a few of the pack will be short of game time - Hartley, Kruis and the Hask. The scrum is an area that I expect France will dominate, which is tine if we take Japan's approach and get the ball out ASAP..
Scotland looks to have picked a good squad; on,y real issue for them is LH with Nel a doubt. This year looks like it'll be very competitive and close.
'tis a good Scotland Squad with a nice mix. I don't know why Gilcrest is in there tho and can someone give us another 10 please? I am particularly pleased to see Watson in.
In my view, you can't captain the Lions until you have toured with them and second row very competitive - outstanding candidates in all four countries.
I suspect a certain Mr Johnson may disagree!
