MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Tinybits agree re Underhill. Great defensively, but not sure what else he did. Hopefully that part if his game will be developed in time.
I think Underhill - with one eye on a place in the RWC - did exactly what he was asked to do.
Probably nervous of doing a Slade and over playing his welcome.
Underhill's tackling was good, but England were not set up to take advantage of it and put pressure on the ruck. It may be a personnel thing as the back row all played well as individuals but did not seem to be a complementary unit. Perhaps it will change in the next match now that they know that his Bath/Ospreys form does translate to internationals.
would like more attack / link play (unless I missed it) and a bit of work over the ball or what we've got is a 6.5 (again)
Its exactly what you've got...he's bloody good though and still young enough to develop other aspects.
Predictions for next week?
I will await team news for Wales before boldly predicting a Wales loss v Georgia.
Eng v Aus should be a good game. Orc horde to win
Scot 134 NZ 137
Ireland might beat Fiji
FRA 0 SA 0
Scot 134 NZ 137
*s****s*
England to win if they can get the ball a bit more often than last time.
France to win provided that their 10 has been taking the medication.
Ireland to win - not sure how pretty it will be.
Scotland to not win - score dependant on Kiwi selection/attitude.
Wales will get confused but win anyway.
Additional predictions:
All teams will push in scrums before the ball is in.
No scrummage put-ins will be straight.
Aussie props will go to ground as soon as they think they can get away with it.
Very few line out throws will be straight.
TV cameras will be trained on the coaches during the game !!!
All 50:50 decisions will go to the ABs.
Lolz at a_a's predictions
Eng v Aus.....too close to call.
Wales should win, I really hope Georgia give them a good game (and not because I hate Wales....which I do 😆 but because I really want them to get some more games against Tier 1 teams)
Ireland by a boat load
NZ by 15
France v Saffas god knows and don't care!
Edit....and agree, Underhill looks like another classic English 6.5 at the minute.
As if their 153rd defeat by Australia wasn’t bad enough, looks like Wales have lost Davies for the 6N.
If the Englisg dont want Kruis can we have him. Kruis and Tadgh Byrne would do us I reckon.
Just you leave Kruis alone, he's being rested. Might do you a deal on Ed Slater, Kitchener or Dave Attwood though. 😀
Slade looks like he'll get another shot, hopefully at 13 where he's looked good this season. Shame Genge has been dropped, he looks like a good finished given his carrying etc.
Might do you a deal on Ed Slater, Kitchener or Dave Attwood though.
They'll do
Kruis and Tadgh Byrne would do us I reckon.
Yes, I reckon that Byrne on his own could take on the whole Welsh side and win. (I know that's not what you meant... 😀 )
Genge in going to be a beast. I know earlier in the thread there was a few dissenters over his scrummaging, but that's also going bloody well now, even with the midget Thacker in the middle. I'd certainly take him over Marler!
Slade needs another go, but I'd rather have JJ and Faz as you know what's going to happen there. give Slade a proper run against Samoa at 13.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41996892
Is this code for Gloucester dont want Moriarty called into the wales squad? ( which is fair enough)
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/how-epic-voyage-welsh-rugbys-13899926
Cracking stuff.
Henge is turning into a great player....still take Marler over him any day of the week. I know he gets a lot a stick (much of it deserved) but he's a great rugby player.
France to host RWC2023.
Would have preferred it to be in Ireland, but France was my second preference of the three.
I think it would have been more fun in Ireland but I don’t know what stadiums had been ear-marked for the big games.
So I went and checked: there were some fantastic GAA stadiums put into the bid. Croke Park, Europe’s 3rd biggest and plenty of 35-40k+ stadiums like Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork (best of luck pronouncing that one), Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney - would have been brilliant venues and the stadiums in Galway and Mayo.
Sadly for their bid, I think Ireland falls into the category of not big enough and not small enough. It’s a pity.
Did anyone else just assume they were watching a replay of the New Zealand France game last night? I had no idea they were playing a mid-week game so soon after the weekend game.
Why would they do that?
Seem a bit soft that there's only 3 WC's between them holding it 07-23.
Glad it's not going to SA though given the problems with the game there at the minute.
Current England squad that could potentially play in 2023:
1: Genge (maybe Mako but he'd be 31)
2: I think George would be too old
3: Sinckler
4: Itoje
5: Kruis
6: Curry bros?
7: Underhill?
8: Billy V? He'll be 31
9: dunno, area of concern
10: Ford or Farrell or Marcus Smith
11:
12: Farrell
13: Slade
14: Daly? Will be 31
15: Watson
A RWC in Ireland would be outstanding fun but they don’t have the stadiums imo, they need a joint bid. (Edit: dd I see your post, glad they got the GAA to host an “English” game). Hotels ?
TIcket/schedule info is out for Japan. After London my feeling is I won’t go based on ticket prices plus travel etc. We paid €110 for QFs in Marseilles in 2007 but today’s prices are nuts really. Happy for France with Olympics the year after. Quite surprising infrastructre was scored higher in RSA than France, at the football they didn’t have enough electricity.
2023 will be my 60th so maybe I’ll treat myself ....
Bruce, last night's game was basically a 2nd XV fixture. More akin to a midweek tour match.
France to host RWC2023.
Least in need of the win in my view, SA rugby needs a boost and winning the hosting of the World Cup may have provided it, but my preference would have been Ireland as they have never had the opportunity to host it and they put together a very good bid using the GAA stadiums which are largely unknown to an international audience. Joint bids have been out of favour since the success of 2003.
BruceWee - MemberDid anyone else just assume they were watching a replay of the New Zealand France game last night? I had no idea they were playing a mid-week game so soon after the weekend game.
Why would they do that?
Posted 43 minutes ago #
Bugger! I assumed it was an old repeat so didn't bother.
Why would they do that?
Money
I would have bought tickets for a few of the games here: Fitzgerald Stadium, not a bad spot to watch the game (if it’s not raining of course, which it nearly always is in Killarney 🙂 )
[url= https://s7.postimg.org/jtcva2vdn/F680_DCF2-2_A77-4_C54-_A910-_B026_FF4_D6_BCC.jp g" target="_blank">https://s7.postimg.org/jtcva2vdn/F680_DCF2-2_A77-4_C54-_A910-_B026_FF4_D6_BCC.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Barclay to join Edinburgh next year. Is this another example of the Welsh regions wasting their money of older stars which is why they arent as good as other nations teams TJ? At least by your logic losing your better players makes the regions better so everyones a winner.
AA - its letting older players move on so youngsters get a chance and the older players improve. From a scots point of view Barclay certainly improved with his spell in Wales.
Its not true everything but for example Laidlaw going south was a win / win / win. Win for Scotland as the youngsters got good game time and Laidlaw got better, Win for the club as wage bill went down. Win for Laidlaw as he got more money
But is Barclay mad? WTF is he doing coming to Edinburgh? Good for Edinburgh but for him? He must be some sort of masochist
Pretty disappointed Ireland did not get it too. Know Killarney well so would have great seeing a world cup game there.
Looks like the bid will always go to the nations deemed large enough to host it.
You’d have to look at the voting - Ireland had very few in the first round so obviously the money really did talk for this bid.
You’d have to look at the voting - Ireland had very few in the first round so obviously the money really did talk for this bid.
They were always struggling once they came third in the technical analysis, they didn't come first in any of the categories. But by winning the technical analysis. the media assumed that SA would be a shoe in as the process was designed to deliver the "best" bid, shenanigans I say!
I hope Ireland get the opportunity in the future, if NZ can host one alone, Ireland are more than capable. That said, relative to other sports, Rugby governence looks pretty good, but always work to be done.
That said, relative to other sports, Rugby governence looks pretty good, but always work to be done.
Oh for sure. I think their process has been as transparent as could be hoped for - of course anything like this will always be compared to the allocation of world cups in football and Olympic Games so it’s not exactly hard to look clean compared to those two. 🙂 Having said that, as disappointing as it is - it was always a tough job to get it over France and SA - so leaving aside sentimentality, as much as I’d love to have seen it in Ireland, I can see why they didn’t get it. No complaints about the process from me. It wasn’t an unfair decision.
My liver is delighted it isn't in Ireland.
I think the IRU have every right to be disappointed that the RFU & WRFU didn't vote for them.
I think the RFU supported Ireland didn’t it? It was the SRU (£) and the WRU (Gareth, boy) that backed France and SA respectively. Their 6 votes would have been a big help to Ireland but there you go. It’s done now.
yep, RFU did back Ireland, but France will be pretty good fun!
Georgia will be easy right? I missed this at the time... conversion isn't bad either!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41997405
Wales: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Scott Williams, Owen Watkin, Hallam Amos; Rhys Priestland; Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Kristian Dacey, Leon Brown, Adam Beard, Cory Hill, Dan Lydiate, Sam Cross, Seb Davies.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Tomas Francis, Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau, Aled Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Williams.
Seb Davies at 8!!!!
Shit backrow.
Really sgit second row.
Weak front row.
Georgia by 8
Weak front row.
Just as well the opposition don't pride themselves on their props...
Oh.
I am genuinely excited to see Priestland and Webb together. Cuthburt and the entire pack though...
Seb has not played a pro game at 8 and the 7 has played 3 pro games of 15 a side rugby
England look good, but surprised to see Itoje on the bench.
Hopeful that the ball actually around the pitch a bit more this week, although with Faz in there, there's a good chance not!
In other news, Tom Croft retired today, loved seeing him 10 years ago, what a brilliant player. Speed of a wing with the lineout ability of a lock. Great player.
Ah Faz is back to being shit again now is he? I always struggle to keep up with that one.
Not sure why the welshies are worried....look at all those Lions in that squad! I really hope Cuthbert doesn't get run over for a last minute Georgia winning try! Funny as it would be I actually quite like him/think he cops an unfair amount of stick.
Really sad that Croft has retired....hardly played in the last 5 years though has he?
Funny as it would be I actually quite like him/think he cops an unfair amount of stick.
Cuthbert has been much better for Cardiff this season
Can't say I ever saw him look particularly bad in club rugby (didn't see a single Celtic league game last season though)
What's happened to North? Injured I take it?
Tom B - MemberAh Faz is back to being shit again now is he? I always struggle to keep up with that one.
NOpe - just the good but limited player he has always been
Slam winner, 2 x Europe Winner, Prem Winner, 2 x Lions tours and 2 x world player of the year nominee.....but yep rather limited 😯
Not this old discussion again!
Faz is a great player, he’s just not an expansive game breaking running threat and distributer. He’s still got one of the best winning mentalities in rugby and I’d rather see him there than anyone else!
As long as the wingers come looking for work, it’ll be fine, but I can’t see the ball getting out to them. If they stand on their wings, they are going to get cold (not unlike last week to be fair!)
Scotland team out
Stuart Hogg
Tommy Seymour
Huw Jones
Alex Dunbar
Lee Jones
Finn Russell
Ali Price
Darryl Marfo,
Stuart McInally
Zander Fagerson
Ben Toolis
Jonny Gray
John Barclay cpt - Scarlets 😉 that amused me - are NZ the mysterons?
Hamish Watson,
Cornell du Preez
Replacements: George Turner, Jamie Bhatti (both Glasgow), Simon Berghan, Grant Gilchrist (both Edinburgh), Luke Hamilton Leicester), Henry Pyrgos, Pete Horne (both Glasgow), Byron McGuigan (Sale).
9 of the starters have less than 13 caps Hogg is the second most capped after Barclay, 4 of the bench have none or 1
About as good a selection as we could hope for given who is missing. Seymour is a doubt still.
Thats a team to attack tho and fast skillful and very fit. Very good set of backs but scrums are going to be a real worry We just can't afford 6 of our front rower missing with injury. We will go for interceptions turnovers and counter attacks. Don't expect to see much kicking for territory. Expect to see plenty of gambits in midfield
We will take the game to NZ - lets just hope the plan works out better than it did against England last year ( insert hiding behind the sofa smiley)
Score prediction Scots 22 NZ 45
As long as the wingers come looking for work
Daly, Watson & May as a back three.
Two off those will look to work & come in the line, the other will be traversing the pitch offering the ability to unload to anybody willing to take a step back behind him.
Can't say I ever saw him look particularly bad in club rugby (didn't see a single Celtic league game last season though)What's happened to North? Injured I take it?
Cuthbert was a hopeless figure for the whole of last season at all levels just lost all confidence. He seems to have also lost a yard of pace which was his main asset. He seems to have moved his game in now though and is doing a passable impression of a big strong winger. Would prefer him to not be in thw Wales team though.
North is indeed broken again.
We will go for interceptions...
Surely not 😆 If any team other than Scotland set out to win by interceptions they'd be laughed off the pitch but somehow they pull it off time and time again! 😀
Daly needs to be tried as a 13. Farrell at 10, Slade at 12. I'd put Nowell on one wing, May on the other and Watson at FB. With Ford, Roko and JJ on the bench, there is cover for an injury to any position.
England need to try all of their combinations to establish the most potent.
Dan - its part of the way Scotland and Glasgow especially have been playing for years. Its not by luck - its played for. Part of the high risk high reward strategies Townsend is so fond of. Get it right, score a try, get it wrong - lose one.
Nothing venture nothing gained and you score 4 we will score 5 has always been Townsends way. When it comes off its great, when it goes wrong its a disaster ( England last year?)
Whatever else it is Scotland and Glasgow games are allways entertaining now. Compare that to the bore fests of few years ago.
Rugby is an entertainment business and Scotland are always entertaining these days. However I will still be watching on Saturday from behind the sofa
Nothing venture nothing gained and you score 4 we will score 5 has always been Townsends way. When it comes off its great, when it goes wrong its a disaster ( England last year?)
I fear NZ are just the team not to play this way against. Still everyone will be too busy laughing at Wales losing to Georgia to remember the Scotland NZ score!!!
Cuthbert does get a fair amount of stick. For balance Someone stick a clip up of his lions try against Australia or him skinning Poundland.
More than aware of that TJ. Their success rate for interception tries is phenomenal and rather unique in rugby
Hope Mcguigan gets of the bench for you lot TJ. He's been going great for Sale this year (interception king!) and is a bloody good guy apparently.
I think he will. Still going to be watching from behind the sofa - In fact I may just stay there for ever
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42025775
Steve Diamond given a ban for complaining about the referee.
[i]"Well, he [Maxwell-Keys] was making it up, wasn't he?" Diamond said.
"The ref was making the decision up. There were 40 or 50 rucks that should have been penalised if that's a penalty.
"We found out in Europe the refereeing is abysmal, and we found out tonight [against Exeter] that if referees want to come up here and make it up, then they can do."
[/i]
Perhaps the ruling bodies would do better to address the ridiculously inconsistent reffing, rather than trying to stop people from mentioning it.
Its not his first time is it? all leagues complain about their refs. The game is simply too complex and with too many subjective decisions possible for reffing to be 100% right. I find I complain about refs decisions in the heat of the moment but if you watch the incident again yo can usually see the ref was right or at least why he made the decision he did.
yo can usually see the ref was right or at least why he made the decision he did.
Of course you can. That's not what he (or I) am complaining about. There's not point not reffing a particular issue for 60 minutes then deciding to penalise a player for it in the last few minutes of the game. Either it's a penalty or not. It was a penalty in the first minute, it was a penalty in the last minute. Or not.
If the laws are too complex and the ref can't apply the laws [u]consistently[/u] then they need to be simplified.
I didn't see the game so I cannot really comment but I bet thats not what happened
Not sure why tj, it happens in every single game.
You see I simply don't agree. I see refs doing and impossible job well, I see continuity and consistency. I see the governing bodies constantly training refs. I think they do a fantastic job. without them we wouldn't have a game
I also see one eyed fans constantly complaining about decisions usually because they don't understand the laws and the guidance for refs.
Odd one
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ross-moriarty-brink-signing-dragons-13915403
Odd in what way? That he'd go to Dregs?
I guess that he fancies more test caps, hence going to Wales.... presuming the Dregs choice makes it easier to sort a dual contract?
I do feel sorry for the Welsh guys. Webb and Moriarty are both class, could be on what 250-300k at an Aviva Premiership team and probably more like 500k at a French team.....what will they be in at one of the Welsh regions?
I also see one eyed fans constantly complaining about decisions usually because they don't understand the laws and the guidance for refs.
Nice little dig! I've always admitted to being one-eyed. Understanding the laws? Coming from a person whose nation suddenly had collective amnesia over the laws in the last RWC. 😛 <---- that's a tongue poking out at you, just so we're clear!
Good win for Glaws. On the ropes for much of the match, but good defence and then a couple of nicely taken tries by the academy boys.
Odd in what way? That he'd go to Dregs?
Yep Dregs seem a strange choice. I guess he can do a Warburton and call in club performances and only the U12 girls go to away games for the Dregs.
Would have been a great addition to Scarlets.
I do feel sorry for the Welsh guys. Webb and Moriarty are both class, could be on what 250-300k at an Aviva Premiership team and probably more like 500k at a French team.....what will they be in at one of the Welsh regions?
I would guess he'll be a dual contract so not doing too bad and he will be looked after better and expected to play less. He'll also likely get to 60 caps quicker and be able to bugger off again after that.
Such an odd team Glaws.....I was there when Sale put 50+on you last month, yet last night you beat the top team in Europe!
Hooper looks like someone's pished in his pint!!!!
Wallabies hanging on ominously here. England need some points quickly
On the otherside, jiffy being one eyed and whinging as usual, but Georgia are doing well (aided by a fair few Welsh mistakes)