[Closed] Rugby thread 2016/2017

[quote="vondally"]

Second rows will be a tremendous tussle, possibly the best locks in the 6 nations in action. Johnie Gray has been outstanding but so has Launchbury, add in Lawes tackling and it will be a crucial element.

I think the Gray brothers might have a point to prove 😉

I don't think that's fair.

He was a penalty machine against Italy.

So far, I remain very far from convinced. I'm just hoping that Billy goes well this weekend.

The chaps on the ESR podcast had it right for Hughes, outstanding club player, but not quite there for international. I'm not sure Billy V is going to be ready, look at Mako last weekend, too soon to return to the 6N from injury. Really looking forward to the Scotland game, should be a great showcase if they play in the spirit of the game not stifle it.

It is only of late that Billy V has become such a good player, he showed promise and glimpses so maybe Hughes could grow into that player? Trouble is he'll always be an understudy if BV is fit and continues the same form.

outstanding club player, but not quite there for international

Maybe. Maybe not.

He's pretty new to international rugby and is replacing one of the world's best No.8s.

As I said, he's being asked to play a different way to fill Billy's shoes. If England were playing a more expansive game we might see a different side to him.

Agree with you both, will he be given the time to settle and grow as an international if BV is fit..

I think the Gray brothers might have a point to prove

Plus channelling the spirit of David Sole from ' that' game.....

I wonder how much the occasion and moment will affect Scotland?

AA is right Wales had the better of the first thirty but did not convert and then slid into in decision, Scotland hung in and did not fold, again these are two hugely resilient teams.

I would rather see Daley at full back than Brown as it will cause Hogg more defensive woes ( he was out of position a couple of times against Wales plus his kicking was a bit off)and if Billy is a tenth fit he will play.

The wings will be interesting as well, Nowell was excellent and hopefully will start, Daly has been possibly England s best asset so far this tournament, Tommy Seymour has been overlooked but has been in blistering form and should be a Lion in some form, then Visser - awful for 30 minutes against Wales and then unstoppable.

I would rather see Daley at full back than Brown

I'm wondering why we haven't seen that yet - perhaps Jones is waiting for an "easy" game within which to experiment which hasn't materialised yet.

With Daly and Nowell about you have two workhorses, so why not bring in Watson, Daly and Nowell as the back three? Crikey thats potent.

why not bring in Watson, Daly and Nowell as the back three?

He won't be happy.....

[img] [/img]

Mr Angry I would suggest is part of the team, he offers that 'edge, aggression, bloody mindness that Jones likes and probably sees as integral to the response/resilience of the team.

Edit as displayed by CFH vid 😆

Plus he is looking long term, I cannot see Brown in the next rugby world as first choice fullback or possibly in the squad.

Watson or more possibly Daly will there but Jones wants several players competing for one position, primarily so when they get injured in England camp training he has cover.

Undecided about Hughes, he is an outstanding player but he's completely different player to Billy. Hughes is a lot more SH - a canny, running, breaking, offloading forward. Billy is the proverbial hammer.
Brown's days are numbered so it's either Watson or Daly to FB. I'm betting Watson.

Away from the 6N, it's crunch time at the bottom of the prem. Bris vs Wuss on sunday at sixways (on BT sport). Both teams have pretty much full strength squads, should be an engrossing game.

I agree that I think it'll be Watson at FB eventually. He plays there a fair bit for Bath. I think Daly is more than a workhorse winger; he's got a good boot, is good defensively and is deceptively quick (the try against Leinster when he was shown the outside last season was pretty impressive).

Exeter going well against Tigers tonight is some grotty conditions.

Massive game for Wuss this weekend. It'll no doubt be a terrible spectacle, just hope they plays like that did when they beat Sarries.

Massive game for Wuss this weekend. It'll no doubt be a terrible spectacle, just hope they plays like that did when they beat Sarries.

If you have a chance, look for the Matavesi try in the first half at Embraer.

The set up from Sam Davies shouldn't have been allowed before the watershed.

Wrecker - ha ha.

Is it game over for Bristol if the loose?

Tigers have come out after half term with a bit more vigour. Harrison has made a big difference at scrum half.

Is it game over for Bristol if the loose?

Just watched the Blues/Chiefs Super Rugby game. Stephen Luatua got sent off on trhe stroke of half time and the Chiefs ran away with it from there.

He deserved to go and the Blues didn't deal with having 14 men too well but it got me thinking:

Wouldn't rugby be better off if a red card just meant that the player sent off was out of the game but could be replaced so the team still had 15?

With the increasing number of offences that attract cards and the never ending use of the TMO we're likely to have more and more games with uneven numbers on the pitch. An early red card is often the death knell for a game as a contest (with honourable exceptions like SA v Ireland and Exeter v Wasps.) THe team would still lose that player for the game and bans/sanctions would still be a deterrent for offending players.

In the NFL and NHL you can be ejected from the game but your team doesn't ultimately end up short handed. In Aussie rules you can't even be sent off, just put "on report".

I thought it was game over two weeks ago. I'd never have imagined we'd beat B***, but at this moment we are still in it. A loss to wuss is curtains I reckon, we both have a tough run in.

It's a tough one to call really. Wuss have been pretty hot and cold this season but look much better with Houggard back at nine.

Exeter heading for s big win tonight. They've looked very calm.

Tigers look clueless.

Tigers look clueless.

Yup. The wins against Bristol flattered them really; up against a top four team they look lost. Really sloppy in key positions.

Ospreys put it to Edinburgh 😆 a modicum of revenge for last week. Things are bleak have to take small pleasures when they are offered.

Well that was a disappointing evening at Welford Road, Tigers outplayed by Chiefs. Can't even moan about some of the refereeing decisions, Tigers dug their own hole tonight..

😆

Opened the thread to post the same video!

Thats fantastic!

Good win for Worcester today, should hopefully be safe now. First half won it for them. Hougaard was very goodbye again.

Brizzol looked a bit lacklaster considering the importance of the game.

Madigan to Brizzle then?

DD will have the #strangest......

And Billy back in the England training squad. I don't expect him to play before Ireland, but good news!

@Pigface did you see his facebook post, asked for help finding the ballboy so he could give him his matchday shirt. Found him 🙂

The kid posted on Nigel Owen's page - see my link above, he also changed his profile picture to the yellow card moment 🙂

Brizzol looked a bit lacklaster considering the importance of the game.

Well, having watched the first two rounds of Super Rugby:

THE LIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BEAT THE ALL BLACKS

The NZ teams seem to have evolved over the close season. Everyone is passing like Aaron Smith, every high kick is contestable, there's always someone in support. It's like watching 7s being played with 15 a side.

There are mistakes, sure, but compared to the AP/Pro12/6N they're miles ahead.

Oh dear Scotland. All the Jocks wandering around telling people they are going to smash England for the first time in 34 years at Twickers. Jones is about to put out almost our strongest team out, and then add the usual "finishers" plus Billy V and Watson.

This is only going one way my kilt wearing friends...

/troll 😉

Kryton - I might think it, but I certainly wouldn't say it!!!

What's all this about pudding......? 😉

The thing is, the Jocks have to win at Twickers some time surely? If Scotland play the way they have and England do likewise then Scotland will win.

Personally I think England are due a good 'un and Scotland might get spanked but maybe that's wishful thinking.

England certainly should win. Rugby is in a much stronger position in England and therefore England have a far bigger pool of players to choose from,
Scotland have lost some first choice players and while the squad is better than it had been for many years it is still stretched. England have home advantage and with the crowd behind them should be too much for Scotland. A good start from England should ease any nerves in the crowd.
All I ask of Scotland is that they give their all.

But I thought there were lots of "Jocks" wandering around (in kilts)going on about how they are going to smash England? Seems that none of them are on here. We all seem quite realistic, even our Captain is talking about how big a task it is.

So Wales name an unchanged side to face Ireland.

Rob Howley perhaps stepped out for the entire second half at Murrayfield and asked Sean Edwards for a report. Due to the torrent of swear words amidst the otherwise impenetratable Northern accent he must have mistakenly thought Edwards was delighted.

So Wales name an unchanged side to face Ireland.

Not much else to do, I thought Charteris and Faletau may start but anything else would just be a deck chairs and titanic moment.

Scotland were supposed to lose to Ireland,

Scotland were supposed to lose to Wales, with an apparently weakened side.

Scotland came mighty close to beating France.

Good thinking from the Scots to recognise and verbalise that task facing them whilst quietly thinking of ways to beat England you know like that sneaky lineout thing by bringing in a centre who catches the ball and scores.

Goodness knows what will happen if they do something like that at Twickenham, you know just not rugger. 8)

So Wales name an unchanged side to face Ireland

The time to freshen up and try new players is autumn and summer.

Shame they didn't really

The time to freshen up and try new players is autumn and summer.

Or at the back end of the 6N when you've already lost 2 out of 3.

Or at the back end of the 6N when you've already lost 2 out of 3.

That too

Shame they didn't really

Indeed. Shame Wales let their head coach **** off for a year too.
We dont really have many players to change, its the coaches that need to go..at least double agent Howler can **** up the attack if the English, Irish and Scottish Lions in the summer!!

Or at the back end of the 6N when you've already lost 2 out of 3.

If we lose the next two we are unseeded for the next world cup...again. now is not the time.