[Closed] Rugby Thread 2017/18.

Ospreys giving Sarries a hard time, and playing some decent rugby.

Yep, Saracens uncharacteristically cack handed, which is perhaps flattering the Ospreys a little.

Some nice rugby on show, though!

Sarries playing with 30 left hands.

Despite commentators whining I can't see that not being a penalty try.

There was cover behind him. Yellow maybe, if we are to assume that the concept of a deliberate knock on can be refereed (As it requires the ref to know the intent!).

So, yellow probably, penalty try probably not.

Oh, and Calum Clark is still a violent, thuggish piece of shit who should never have been allowed back on a pitch.

Swinging weak arm, nowhere near the tackle lock? I think we know the intention there 😉

And cover was coming in on the late bus. No chance of stopping last man.

Nice osprey try. Tackles? What tackles?

Edit, what a steal by spencer!

🙂

Forgetting about the yellow.

There's a scrum at 43 minutes in the saints game and the camera angle shows Hartley's bind over the tighthead. The strapping over his hand wouldn't look out of place in an MMA ring.
[img] [/img]

Surprised that Ospreys gave Sarries such a game given how poor they've this season so far. Two points out of that game isn't a bad result really, especially away from home.

Saints were poor again yesterday. Guessing the teams they put out for their remaining games will be a bit weak so they can concentrate on the AP.

And cover was coming in on the late bus. No chance of stopping last man.

Being one-eyed, I could see two tacklers in place. There wasn't a definite try. It was yellow though.

I also thought that Tompkins set up his first try with a nice T'eo* style forearm smash to the face. Penalty Ospreys.

*where does that apostrophe go?

Big win for Exeter today!

Marlon Yarde on a disciplinary break as well, I gather.

Nasty looking head injury for Saili at the end of the Quins Wasps game...

Marler in being a dick shocker last night.

Wasps looked better yesterday but still some way to go. Le Roux still looks like a poor signing; he must be on a ton of cash but makes soooo many daft mistakes.

Will May be able to bring his scoring form to the AI's? He's been a good acquisition for the Tigers. Ford's form is on the up too.

May's got speed but he spends a lot of time going across the pitch. He needs to straighten, I know he's looking for a gap or mismatch but too often he runs into a tackle.

8 tries in 6 games means he's going forward some of the time though!

May is a decent player but I doubt he will ever be a top class international winger. Big, fast and clumsy bit lacking in rugby brain!

In a slight diversion from top class Rugby, it was my turn to accompany Jnr to his match(es) yesterday. This was the 5th/6th matches the U10's have played since full contact was introduced.

It got a little bit dusty. As a former player I got over excited almost becoming a touch judge in my eagerness to follow his play up and down the pitch shouting instructions. The experience was as exciting as any international I've seen.

The kids are really getting stuck in. Even after injury - a smack on the nose and a bleeding fat lip for one, several windings, and with KJ01 specifically some slightly bruised ribs their tenacity, commitment to the tackles, going forward clinging to the ball during tackles and pace of some of the tries was astounding - and I speak of the opposition teams as well.

Also, some of the kids are starting to show their naturally positioning as they develop and grow physically. You can see those running straight and hard starting to play off the SH position, my boy (he's short and fast) seemed to naturally defer to SH and was sweeping the defensive line, and coming into the passing line on attack during running play.

What heartened me most that even at this level, when there's an injury the kids instantly walk over to help their team mate, respect for "Sir" is there and some handshakes and hugs at the end of the matches with the oppo were heartwarming.

And these are 8/9 year olds, I came away feeling very proud of 60 kids from various clubs who showed teamwork, courage and humanity at such an early age.

Anyway, as you were...

May is a decent player but I doubt he will ever be a top class international winger. Big, fast and clumsy bit lacking in rugby brain!

He's a space cadet - even Jones has said that's he's a nightmare to coach because he's in a world of his own! But he's doing a good job and scoring lots of tries this season. With Yarde being a tool and getting dropped yesterday, I'm guessing May is almost a shoe in.

Hughes had one of his better games yesterday which was good to see - carried pretty well, good at the breakdown and a massive hand off of Dave Ward.

Hardie suspended for cocaine use according to BBC Scotland. What age is he ....17? Arse

Wales squad announced tomorrow I think. Any fit flankers?
Hope to see a midfield of Watkin and Morgan at some point

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41728802

Three [s]English[/s] people who play for England cited from this weekend.

Hartley, Hughes and Marler have all been cited.

Marler I’m not so fussed about, Hartley isn’t the best hooker at the mo but it’ll be interesting to see who is picked if George is promoted to starting hooker.

Hughes is potentially a loss given the eight cupboard is a bit bare.

Wales: Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Samson Lee, Kristian Dacey, Elliot Dee, Ken Owens, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Seb Davies, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Cross, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric; Aled Davies, Gareth Davies, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Rhys Patchell, Rhys Priestland, Owen Williams, Jonathan Davies, Tyler Morgan, Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin, Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, Steffan Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams

No Scott Williams no Jamie Roberts and no Charteris, Charteris a big shock. Parkes in is a bit odd as he cant play till the last game not sure he is international standard anyway.
Cupboard bare in backrow, Cross only made his Osprey debut last week. Lydiate in is shit but I guess in the circumstances makes sense.

In a slight diversion from top class Rugby, it was my turn to accompany Jnr to his match(es) yesterday. This was the 5th/6th matches the U10's have played since full contact was introduced.

It got a little bit dusty. As a former player I got over excited almost becoming a touch judge in my eagerness to follow his play up and down the pitch shouting instructions. The experience was as exciting as any international I've seen.

The kids are really getting stuck in. Even after injury - a smack on the nose and a bleeding fat lip for one, several windings, and with KJ01 specifically some slightly bruised ribs their tenacity, commitment to the tackles, going forward clinging to the ball during tackles and pace of some of the tries was astounding - and I speak of the opposition teams as well.

Also, some of the kids are starting to show their naturally positioning as they develop and grow physically. You can see those running straight and hard starting to play off the SH position, my boy (he's short and fast) seemed to naturally defer to SH and was sweeping the defensive line, and coming into the passing line on attack during running play.

What heartened me most that even at this level, when there's an injury the kids instantly walk over to help their team mate, respect for "Sir" is there and some handshakes and hugs at the end of the matches with the oppo were heartwarming.

And these are 8/9 year olds, I came away feeling very proud of 60 kids from various clubs who showed teamwork, courage and humanity at such an early age.

Anyway, as you were...

It's bloody great isn't it. I coach my son's team. It's one of the most rewarding things I have done.

However, what sucks is when your kid gets concussion at age 9...he's not the biggest lad, went in for a tackle got bounced off by a big lump and bounced his head off the ground. Out for a few secs, now in the Concussion Protocol.

This is a bit pot kettle black!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41740186

I know Scotland do it a bit more than England, but really? This is just whinging!

Hamilton, 25, is a former Wales U20 international,

However, what sucks is when your kid gets concussion at age 9

Ooof. best wishes on his recovery BillOddie.

anagallis_arvensis - Member
> http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41728802

Three [s]English[/s] people who play for England cited from this weekend.

Initially I laughed, then I realised I didn't know of Marler's background. Imagine my surprise now that I've learned he was born in the same hospital and went to the same secondary school as me. Small world.

Marlers English isnt he? Hughes and Hartley not

Marler

https://twitter.com/Smallclone/status/922765629337124864

Hartley

Not seen the Hughes incident yet.

Marler will need good biscuits, Hartley may get away with it.

Marlers English isnt he? Hughes and Hartley not

Yes. I thought your crossing out related to all of them, but wasn't sure Marler was not English, hence I looked up the information on Wikipedia.

Marler out? Good, that’ll be genge starting who’s turning into a beast! Pretty good in the scrum despite a dwarf hooker and average second rows for Leicester but bloody superb around the pitch, he’s genuinely great

Hartley is pretty damn english (as english as George north is welsh). Hughes not.

I'm liking the Scotland squad. Barclay as captain, a few canny callups as not too many injuries. Not much bulk in the centres and inexperienced front row subs. Not a lot of back row depth with two guys out for forgetting "don't be a dick"

Hartley is pretty damn english

Apart from sounding very kiwi!!

I thought Hughes "effort" was the worst of the lot, Harleys timing off, poor execution. Marler is just a fud.

Apart from sounding very kiwi!!

At least his mum's actually English. That's better than grannies / I've lived somewhere for a couple of years so am no English / Welsh / Scottish etc.

I always thought England wanted the qualification rules tightened up not so much to stump the likes of the players above, but to reduce New Zealand's taking of islanders. I think it is fantastic of the RFU to be so keen to see Fijian, Samoan and Tongan rugby strengthened...I mean, that's the reasoning; isn't it?

Isn't the reasoning to get some return on the £millions it spends on the AP academies?

I think it is fantastic of the RFU to be so keen to see Fijian, Samoan and Tongan rugby strengthened...I mean, that's the reasoning; isn't it?

Let's not forget all those successful league converts like erm...

Hold on...

On the tip of my tongue...

Isn't the reasoning to get some return on the £millions it spends on the AP academies?

😆

Hartley has been cleared following his citing so is available for Saints / England. Not seen owt about the others yet.

The RFU whining about young players getting snapped up by other nations they have connections too is a bit silly, especially when some of (most of) these guys aren't even in the radar for Jones etc so may not even have been capped.

Wasnt Moriarty widely used in the pictures too? FFS his dad and uncle are welsh leg ends.

I think he was - was he even seriously on England's radar? Alright he played for at U-20's level but I've read nothing to say that he was a shoe in for the Saxons or main team. Like you said, given his family links it's not really surprising he ended up playing for Wales.

It's no different to Underhill getting capped just before his three years were up is it?

Spouting crap like this doesn't do the RFU any favours.

Marler has been banned for three weeks (was four but was reduced for being an arm rather than an elbow strike). Guessing that Mako will start with Genge on the bench.

Only worry is Hughes, but no news yet.