MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Havent really seen Watson. Barclay is a fine player but seems out of favour with Scotland.
Watson is a young Flanker who is fast and totally fearless with great ball stealing skills but because he is a bit smaller than McCaw and a lot smaller than the usual NH flanker finds it hard to get into the team. I really rate him but it was not a serious suggestion.
I like the idea of Itoje as a 6. He is a fine player and we need to find space for him in the team but with so many great second rows around him playing 6 would allow Ickle jonny, AWJ, ( or a n other lock) plus Itoje in the same team
Tipuric should be in with a shout at 7, particularly if he gets a good run for Wales with warb injured. Itoge unlikely to be at 6 as a starter, warrenball will prob select Lydia the to play alongside faletau and tipuric....no matter who is performing at present, he's still going to select lots and lots of Welsh players.
Agree massively with a_a on kruis, he's so important to England and already better than lawes and launch. For all of the showy stuff, you need a grafter.
A grafter? Ickle jonny is your man! I can't wait for the lions squad to be named - I look forward to the arguments already!
some positions we ( the home nations) have an embarrassment of riches - in other areas the cupboard looks very bare
Tighthead springs to mind, I would expect Nel to make the plane but who else? And as TJ says, Wee Gray is your grafter, or "Dog" as the Kiwi's would call it, a totally different player to his brother and a really, really, horrible barsteward on the park. Think the lovechild of somebody quick and athletic and Jim Hamilton.
Zander Fagerson? Was in the scrum.com lions team of the week. Might be 4 or 8 years too soon for him 😉
Faletau so good he's been named in the Wales squad as one of their wild card playing in foreignville players!
Forwards: Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Rhys Gill (Cardiff Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Bath Rugby), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (capt, Cardiff Blues).Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
Some ****ing dross in that. Scott Andrew as 3rd choice tight head and The Fat Sais as second choice is a shocker.
Gethin
Owens
Samson
Charteris ( has he played this season?)
AWJ
Moriarty
Tips
Warburton
Webb
Biggar
North
Roberts
Davies
1/2p
Williams
Only real questions are who will play 8 from Moriarty and Warbs and who will play 15 from Williams and 1/2p.
We play Aus outside the window so will lose (the game but also) Moriarty, North, Charteris and maybe 1/2p. Expect Lydiate,B Davies, Amos/Cuhbert to come in.
If Warburton isnt fit in time we are ****ed.
Watching the 2006 European cup final between Munster and Biaritz on Sky Sports 5 - the game seems to be faster paced than it is now and the scrums are a joy to watch-2 big packs standing 2 yards from each other and launching into the hit.
BlindMelon - Member
Stuff like this makes rugby
Indeed. A great gesture.
#rugbyfamily
I am in the unusual position of wanting Glasgow to lose today,albeit by less than 7 and having scored 4 tries. Ideally by a Munster side coming roaring back in the last 20 mins.
ABs 37-10 over Wallabies. 18 wins ina row.
Despite the eventual scoreline the Aussies played reasonably well. A contentious TMO call at 15-10 denied them a 17-15 lead when Henry Speight's try was called back.
The ABs made rare visits to the opposition 22 but seemed to score a try every time.
Matt Todd is as good a 7 as anyone else. Beuden Barrett is not a test class goal kicker. The Bus is back - some dodgy handling in the first half but on the rampage thereafter.
Roll on the Autumn tests.
Great to see Toulon allstars at the AJ Bell last night. Sale contained Nonu and Bastereud well, Gordodze man of the match although I think they were all overshadowed by Will Addison!
An inexplicable decision by the referee to card Lund after about 8 minutes ruined the game and Toulon scored all of their points during that 10 minute spell, then never looked like scoring again. Sale pressed and showed great fight but even as a Sale fan Toulon looked to have bodies to spare in defence. Disappointed not to see a Toulon player get yellow after multiple infringements in their 22 which may have given us something to shout about in the last 10 mins.
All in all a good performance by Sale but left regretting points dropped last week against the weakest side in the group.
Not too bad for a "small town in Cheshire" 🙂
Beuden Barrett is not a test class goal kicker.
Havent seen todays game but he is an amazingly good attacking 10. His pace is breath taking.
inexplicable decision by the referee to card Lund after about 8 minutes
It was a late, no armed cheapshot to the back. Had it been just late or just no arms he would have got away with it.
1/2p looks to be lacking pace and bang out of form.
Was an appalling second half from a neutrals point of view. Toulon were poor and Sale are rubbish...
Still get to see Scarlets get torn a new one by the Sarries pack this afternoon!! Only 1 of the Scarlets pack would stand a chance of getting in the Sarries pack.
It looked unsighted, Lund was committed and the player offloaded with his back to Lund. Borderline decision so early on in what could have been a good contest. Type of inconsistency that is frustrating.
he is an amazingly good attacking 10. His pace is breath taking.
That's all true but England wouldn't pick him!
Actually, they replaced him with Cruden relatively early - 45 mins. Cruden brought better control and kicking but still helped them open it up in the latter stages.
Lund was committed
Committed to a late cheapshot.
That's all true but England wouldn't pick him!
Nailed on at full back. NZ have Smith, Dagg and BB who are all streets ahead of any other full back in Europe.
I'm surprised at the Sale Toulon score line; I was expecting a big win for Toulon.
Munster seem to be giving Glasgow a good goungbiver judging by the live scores.
Great first half from Edinburgh. Some excellent turnovers really exposing Quins.
TJ - I see what you mean about Watson - a classic specialist openside; a rare thing in the NH these days...
Just watched the Toulon/Sale "highlights". mleh.
Edinburgh backs looking fun. Forwards hardly covering themselves in glory from set pieces though. Score flattering.
Is Marler carrying a few extra pounds these days?
Love seeing Brown on the wrong end of it!!!
Not impressed with Key Turls today. Clear red. Should have just walked, no need for the petulant follow up.
And yes, I know there had been Axel's funeral yesterday. Still not what I like to see from rugby.
Whathappened to Brown?
Not a great deal....just the usual 'haterz' on here. How close was that match though!!!
Been a cracking day of rugby so far!
Good match and Edinburgh deserved the win.
I thought the ref did his best to ruin it though with some bizarre decisions, overuse of the TMO and a ridiculous amount of yellow cards for some quite minor incidents.
We need to clone Nigel...
Whathappened to Brown?
Failed to control his temper and cost Hairyqueens the chance of a win.
We need to clone Nigel...
Not what the Aussies are saying today!!
Fair play Scarlets battled hard despite being hopelessly outclassed by Sarries.
Yep, Y Nige had a shocker today.
Have seen Keet Earls get away with this before daft ****.
Shit technique. He should stick to tackling with his face like he used to.
Just watched the Edinburgh Quinn's game - the ref was bloody awful. Why did he need to faff with the TMO for the first try. Some of the cards were ludicrous. The Edinburgh seven looked good though.
Also just seen that it looks like Ashton is off to Toulon. Good riddance and that'll end any chances of him winning any more caps.
Pummelling for Saints today. It's looking more and more like Mallinder's time as head honcho has run its course. They look clueless and devoid of ideas.
The highs and lows of being an Edinburgh fan. I didn't see the game unfortunately. Sounds like Watson had a good game but the usual mixed bag from Edinburgh. How can you give away 18 penalties and win?
It would have been nice if Earls could have left at least one toy in his pram.
It's looking more and more like Mallinder's time as head honcho has run its course.
We'll have him! He can bring Harry too 😀
Fine win for Ulster. Their tic tacs seem to be adapted from Ospreys run round like a headless chicken and chuck it to Shane of old except they chuck it to Charles!!!
The highs and lows of being an Edinburgh fan. I didn't see the game unfortunately. Sounds like Watson had a good game but the usual mixed bag from Edinburgh. How can you give away 18 penalties and win?
Because Quins were incapable of stringing more than two phases together without knocking on?
New shirt for Tips.
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3 tries for Keelan Giles v Lyon. Anyone see it?
Why wouldn't Earls expect a red card there? Can't fathom his reaction, who was the Engerland player who got some added time last season after getting red carded? Watson?
17min 35min 53min
Great feet for 2nd try
Lund "late" tackle about 60s in on these highlights. You are right AA one of the most savage bits of foul play you will see all weekend. I think many players only dream of improving their timing to this level 🙂
Healey and Dallaglio thought harsh as well.. heyho
So the impartial Healey and Dilly dally thought it was fine but the clearly biased ref and tmo thought otherwise. It was a harsh yellow but had it just been late or no armed he would have got a pen only. Even Diamond had no complaints when asked about it.
It's more of a yellow than the toulon one. Replay shows the tackler with his head behind big Charles as the ball is released and tackle made. As far as he knows CP has the ball.
So, Faletau out, North suspected broken hand, Warbs out, L & S Williams and Jake Ball all with injury worries and Australia looming, who have been thumped by england, NZ and have a recent loss to SA. Should be interesting.
Hey, Faletau is in the squad he just cant play!! Warbs will be fit but bang out of form. More of a problem is that Aus is outside the window so Roberts, Moriarty, Charteris, Fat Sais, Hook and North cant play anyway!! Not sure about 1/2p think he might be ok.
1/2p
Calamity Cuthbert
Davies
Morgan
Amos
Biggar
Webb
Baker/King
Tipuric
Lydiate
AWJ
Davies
Lee
Owens
The fossilised remains of Gethin Jenkins
Smith
Baldwin
Andrews (dear god please no)
Thornton
King/Baker
Davies
Anscombe
AN Other fit back Davies is the only other option from the squad picked.
Great bring on our 240 001 loss to Aus in the last 4 years!!!
When does Agent Orange start playing again 😀
I think Roberts can play, saints already got fined for letting him go the first time which also covers this (I think anyway).
That was North. It was in his last contract but not this one or something. No Englished based players can play.....
When does Agent Orange start playing again
Oh hang on Bristol is still in Englandshire isnt it!!! OMG PANIC!!!!
Dan Carter playing like poo at Welford Road!
You were saying?
Commentator's Curse!
😆
Good win for Tigers today who showed a bit more than last week. Racing line out was a joke.
Had the misfortune of Toulouse vs Wasps; neither team were capable of passing or arching the ball and were not helped by a dire pitch or a particularly pedantic / useless George Clancy. The reffing in all of the TV games this weekend was poo, but that really took the biscuit.
Looks like Itoje could be the next England casualty.
Just watched the Edinburgh game. Never in doubt.
Some great heads up rugby and some headless chickens. Can't really argue with any of the yellows. Gilchrist in particular is the king of stupid soft penalties and yellow cards.
Kinghorn and Hoyland are guys for the future and Watson must be playing his way into the Scotland squad with displays like that.
particularly pedantic / useless George Clancy.
Yeah but the TMO was even more useless - somehow missed what should have been a penalty try for Wasps and a yellow for a deliberate knock on/down.
Waps also foolishly turned down a kick under the posts in favour of a tap penalty which would have won them the game in the end.
THey did mange a couple of decent tries though.
I think overuse of the TMO and replays is ruining the game - Rugby Union just can't withstand the scrutiny of every split second player decision being judged from multiple angles by the TMO.
I suspect the majority (if not all) yellow cards given this weekend were technically correct within the laws of the game but many were unnecessary, pedantic and only visible after repeated slow motion replays. This ruins the flow of the game for both spectators and players and feels, to me at least, as counter to the ethos of the game.
I'd rather see the TMO only called upon by the referee where a try is in doubt (and then only sparingly) or the ref has seen an incident, is sure it's serious and need to review it.
TJ - agree it'd be interesting to see Watson get a Scotland call up; is he in the international set up at all?
TMO use is a tricky thing. YOu have find a balance its wrong to allow absolute howlers, its wrong to examine every inch. I think its about tright now - only check if its a chance of a score or suspected foul play
. TMO did make mistakes in the Edinburgh game - fortunately not game changing with Yarde not being given a try. But also at one point Poite said the TMO - "check the last pass will you I didn't see it" which I think is right do - if the ref is unsighted. Other wise he is guessing
Watsons got a couple of caps IIRC. He is really competing with Hardie for a place
Dominguez fired by Toulon so now Mike Ford is head coach.
THere have been reports of a rift among the coaching staff as Ford complained he didn't have a big enough role. He does now.
I wonder how long he'll last?
Western Fail reporting that all English based players available for Aus game. Wrecker can you tell Agent Orange to stand down!
****ing joke that we dont even know who we can pick from 2 weeks from a test!!
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-english-based-players-available-12070756
Itoje out for 6 weeks
At least you still have Kruis, Launchbury, Lawes, Parling.......
You??? You dumb ass
Cough cough ....spit it out, spit it out....straight to hospital for a stomach pump...
Omg what have I done
WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!
Liam Williams to miss Aus game may need surgery...arse
Ashton off to France. No bad thing, hopefully here a little less of him!
Can we dislike Toulon any more?
Western Fail reporting that all English based players available for Aus game. Wrecker can you tell Agent Orange to stand down!
No need, he's only played half a game so far thanks to Marler...
At least you still have Kruis, Launchbury, Lawes, Parling.......
Kruis injured too.
Rumour mill is working overtime. All of the following is "apparently";
Saints and Tiggers after Ford (G). JJ Hanrahan Munster-bound.
Bristol to agree short term deal with Eben Etzebeth in december....for £40K/game!!!!!
Tiggers after Ben Morgan
Fearns off to Sarries
Glaws after Joe Simpson
Its almost making feel hopeful for Scotland as our injury list is not too long. PRL are playing hardball tho over players
I can feel a veer back to hopeless optimism coming on. A hard set of A!s for Scotland coming but the critical players all look in decent nick. still worried about tight-head and locks for the bench. Matt Scott a surprise omission to the squad other wise pretty much as expected
Rumour mill is working overtime. All of the following is "apparently";
Saints and Tiggers after Ford (G). JJ Hanrahan Munster-bound.
Bristol to agree short term deal with Eben Etzebeth in december....for £40K/game!!!!!
Tiggers after Ben Morgan
Fearns off to Sarries
Glaws after Joe Simpson
Can't see Simpson leaving Wasps, especially given that Wasps are do By well and Gloucs, are well Gloucs.
Would Ford go back to Tiggers? That would suggest that Williams or Burns were on the way out.
Morgan to Tiggere makes sense because they're lacking a ball carrier / 8.
Fearns also linked to tiggers. I'd be happy with either. Sure Ford will move, maybe Cockers can be step dad!
With the pound dropping like a stone will we start to see more and more players leave UK teams for France? Certainly many of the SH imports will be looking to head over the channel?
Tom Wood chucked a massive life line by Eddie. Surprised by that given his form hasn't been great and he's been playing in a struggling Saints team. I know he's uncapped and getting in a bit, but would Thomson have been a better bet? At least he's in good form.
Wood is a proven international, Jones obviously thinks he should go with a known quantity.
tjagain - MemberIts almost making feel hopeful for Scotland as our injury list is not too long. PRL are playing hardball tho over players
Could somebody get an albatross for TJ's neck please?
Nel and Sutherland now out.
Thats it - were doomed!
POC legend - Question of Sport (also if I may show a little bro-mance he is looking bl00dy good for anrefired forward)
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/37791927
Toulon - hmm impossible for me to support any club with Ashton in the side. Also Inunderstand Mike Ford doesn't soeak French which at Toulon isn't a problem 😉 I must have missed some news but where is JW ? I thought he was on the coaching staff there too
Sarries vs Tiggers is a free view game tomorrow for those interested (BT Sport 1).