It is worth putting the NZ record into context, the 2003 England side would have had a streak of 25 wins if Woodward hadn't agreed to field a second string team against France in the warm ups - so the French could have a good home send -off. Other than that match, the Irish were next to beat us.
[quote="grahamt1980"]
Why do Scotland seem to be so prone to head injuries at the moment, they have lost so many players during matches. What's going on?
Bad luck on the number of knocks, a very cautious approach to HIAs / return to play protocols means players are almost never put back on the pitch then have to undergo the protocols so spend more time off.
Understand, its just Scotland seem to have more than any of the other 6n teams in this championship.
Not a dig just genuinely wondering if this is the case
Scotland doc and team are very active in head injury assessment research from what I've seen at conferences so chances are they are just making more effort to do things properly unlike others (eg North being knocked out clashing with Hibbard and the welsh medics claim to have not noticed a thing!)
That's cool to know.
Let's hope the other teams follow suit then
For some meaningless pondering then; who'd win the WRC next weekend if Saturdays England team played the 2003 RWC England team as they were on that day in 2003?
What a thought. Dallaglio vs Billy V. Johnson vs Itoje. Wilkinson vs Farrell, Care vs Dawson... etc.
As a guess i would think the current team simply due to conditioning. Probably be close for 60 mins then the fitness would show
What a thought. Dallaglio vs Billy V. Johnson vs Itoje. Wilkinson vs Farrell, Care vs Dawson... etc.
Do you even watch your team? Itoje v Hill Farrell v Greenwood and Yongs is your starting 9.
Im tempted to say that 2003 pack would eat the current one for breakfast but they aren't allowed to punch each other nowadays so who knows?
My main criticism of the current front 8 is that it lacks bite (Hartley pun intended)
The difference in size and fitness would simply be too great with the modern day players. It would be no contest
The difference in size and fitness would simply be too great with the modern day players. It would be no contest
They are not bigger, fitter almost certainly, there has a move away from gym bunnies to strong but mobile players with a much greater focus on body weight exercises - this is particularly the case in NZ. That said, an acquaintance of mine whose 14/5 year old is the books of Quins is doing weights programme.
there has a move away from gym bunnies
Someone should tell The Hask, Jamie Grorge certainly got the memo!! 😆
Not everyone is capable of reading the memo! But old habits die hard.
Racing 92 and Stade Francais to merge into one 'super club'! Strange but interesting.....I imagine that a number of players will be worrying about where this leaves them!
Indeed Tom just got a mailing this morining. Basically one squad from two ! Stade have a lovely new stadium (approved as part of Paris 2012 Olympic bid) next to the old Parc de Princes / PSG ground and Racing play out in an old dump in Bois Colombes. So Stadium is obvious. I wonder what they will do about club name and shirts ? I haven't looked at the table but good news for someone down at the bottom.
@mefty my mates son is 12 (just gone to Rugby School from Singapore) and bigger all round than Watson !
No doubt the kids are bigger, but at the international level, only the back row of this year's size is significantly bigger than the 2003 side - but that was a lot smaller than previous England back rows. My acquaintance's son is bigger than me.
Sadly, Rugby is not the force it was in Schools Football, lots of far stronger schools, although they did have an unbeaten side for the first time in years this season.
Fraser Brown cited for his 2nd minute tackle
Since it was seen & sanctioned at the time that seems overkill. Unless they think it was a definite red?
French clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais have announced plans to merge from next season,if allowed,thats a bit suprise,two massive clubs merging like that,especially as paris is such a big city.
Dantsw13
There is a good argument that it should have been. He certainly lifted legs beyond horizontal and didn't look after Daly on the way down, and the first thing to hit the ground is shoulders/bottom of neck, tough to really spot exactly. In his favour he didn't have hold of Daly's legs at impact so could argue he wasn't driving him into the ground, but I would suggest Ross Ford gets ready for Saturday just in case
The citing committee effectively can turn the yellow into a red (which I think it should've been). I'd guess the England physio who treated Daly for an almost broken neck plus a bruised face from a headbutt recommended that Brown should get a ban 😉
Well to cap off a great weekend for English rugby we won the Vancouver 7s too!
Having held the all-conquering BlitzBokke to a draw in the pool stages England annihilated Fiji 40-7 in a brilliant semi final performance before dominating the rematch with SA in the final, winning 19-5.
So far this year only England have avoided defeat against SA, with 3 wins and a draw. SA have beaten everybody else, every time.
Well to cap off a great weekend for English rugby we won the Vancouver 7s too!
It's not been a bad week really for English rugby. Just need to keep it up now.
. In his favour he didn't have hold of Daly's legs at impact so could argue he wasn't driving him into the ground,
I thought it was a red, outcome not intent is what the panel looks at.
[i]It's not been a bad week really for English rugby. Just need to keep it up now.[/i]
And my lad's under14s team travelled overseas and won their final (On the Isle of Wight 😀 )
was it very crowded?
On brown I believe the yellow was right - lifted so foul play, lands on his back = yellow card
It was a moronic late tackle too though. To continue when you know the ball has gone & do that, shows how mentally wrong he was.
The fact he argues with the ref about the yellow certainly won't help his case.
theotherjonv -
was it very crowded?
It was rammed! Check the crowds -
[img] http://tinyurl.com/jmodtfl [/img]
[i]On brown I believe the yellow was right - lifted so foul play, lands on his back = yellow card[/i]
+ headbutts him in the face on landing = red card.
It was rammed! Check the crowds -
That kid with the ball has been watching too much of Jonny May and someone needs to have a word with the players wearing leggings.
That kid with the ball is a better rugby player than you are/ever were/or ever will be and the kids wearing leggings? one is the ref, wouldn't catch me reffing dressed like that!
Don't be so touchy - it was only a light hearted comment.
So was mine 😛
No punishment for Fraser Brown.
Gav back in Wales next year? 😀
a_a, you never know...his days in the red shirt may not yet be over. RWC2019 could be a shot yet.
😆
Shame its the Dregs!!
Stade players have gone on strike!!
Stade players have gone on strike!!
Greve - the most important French word to know. My neice is a dental student, they where on strike a week or so ago, blocked the Periph for a bit 🙂
French clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais have announced plans to merge from next season,if allowed,thats a bit suprise,two massive clubs merging like that,especially as paris is such a big city.
Paris is not a rugby city though - they are all further South, attendences are pretty mixed and tickets can be had easily and cheaply. I regularly go to top fixtures for €15. As I posted Stade have a lovely stadium (well they rent access romntje City) and Racing play at a dump - I suspct the costs / issues of trying to upgrade to a new stadium would have been a big factor in Racing's thinking
I'm sad to see Gav go, but I'm happy he's going to finish his playing career in Wales. It would have been nice of he could have gone back to the Ospreys.
I'd love him to come back in a coaching/development role.
I missed the match and finally saw the Fraser Brown - Daly incident.
I think it was a little unfortunate. Brown hit him well and drove through. Daly jumped into the tackle a little (at best didn't get his body position right for the impact) and got dumped. Brown was going forward and Daly collapsed backwards.
Completely different from the situation where an attacker is going forward in the tackle and is flipped over a hip by the defender.
I think Brown tackled well and made no attempt to tip Daly - it was Daly's weak positioning going into contact that lead to the incident.
No penalty and a talking to for Daly for jumping into tackles.
No. I think you are mistaken. If you look carefully you will see that a penalty is given & Brown is sent to the sin bin . HTH
Daly's feet are off the ground before Brown hits him.
I was brought up through 25 years of playing to believe that the referee was always right - but if citing is alllowed then clearly the referee is sometimes wrong
He got it wrong.
No penalty and a talking to for Daly for jumping into tackles.
I agree and have sent your post to Alain Rolland
Wales moral victors of the 2011 world cup!!!
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