[Closed] Rugby Thread 2017/18.

Wales were certainly lucky with a few bounces there leading to tries.

Glad to see them get something but not entirely happy with the performance yet.

not entirely happy with the performance yet.

A team with Scott Andrews, Dacey, Cory Hill, Shingler, Navidi, Parks and Stef Evans beat SA...thats pretty ****ing amazing tbh

Watching Cheetahs v Scarlets..Phillips looked tired after 5mins!!!
Can we find that Cheetahs 11 a time machine and 3 years in Gwent in time for the 6 nations please!!

SA are all over the place at the moment but we'd have lost that with first choice players until very recently. Heck of a result. Seeing AWJ's reaction at the end I don't think I'd be whispering it wasn't a good win anywhere near him 😆

Amos has also been a good player but I've never reeeaaallly rated him. He has to be one of the standout "new" players, making a lot of things look very easy. As you say a_a, fair play to the Welsh players who as individuals were way out of their depth but grafted throughout. Cory Hill was visibly shaking in the last quarter whenever they could catch a breath before packing down for a scrum. Must have been spent!

The 14 is pretty handy too!! Bloody brilliant try!

Why aren't you all watching the Ospreys lay champagne rugby, making it look easy as they put Munster to the sword?

(Ok, there may be some inaccuracy in this post. Ospreys will count it a victory not to concede 50.)

Munster get a yellow card for repeated penalties close to their line. They are 31 points up. They are either stupid or find it impossible not to cheat.

Losing bonus point for the Scarlets under8's. Looked like hard work chasing those rapid Cheetahs backs at altitude!!
When does McNicol qualify for Wales?

When does McNicol qualify for Wales?

Not soon enough. (Edit: hasn't he been capped by NZ?)

Only about another two years I think 😆 He was the only one who didn't look absolutely f***ed! Good to see a different style of game all together compared to the sloppy, rainy drudgey games we are used to this time of year in the Celtic league

Could be qualified in time for the RWC apparently

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/id-like-play-wales-scarlets-11178959

Dont think so.

Anyway dear Santa for christmas I'd like to see this team fit and firing for the 6 nations

L Williams
Amos
Davies
O Williams/Parks
North
Bigger
Webb
Faletau
Warburton
Moriarty
AWJ
Charteris
Lee
Owens
Evans

Wyn Jones
Elias
Francis
Ball
Tipuric
G Davies
Patchel
1/2p

Could be qualified in time for the RWC apparently

😀

hasn't he been capped by NZ?

Could have sworn he had! 😳

Anyway, moral victory to the Ospreys for only losing 36-10. They've turned it around guys! Northampton must be quaking.

What does Charteris have to do to get a game besides forge a new DOB?

Get a NZ passport? Should make the Welsh selectors notice him...

I find myself in the odd position of being more than just hopeful for scottish Rugby.

Glasgow unbeaten in the league ( but blown their chance in Europe?) Edinburgh competitive with still a chance at Europe. Good autumn international series giving Aus a cuffing and pushing NZ hard. Injuries are a bit of a worry but we have shown a bit of strength in depth and blooded a few guys.

Looking to the six nations then we fear no one with only Englands forward power maybe too much for Scotland to cope with. Winning 4 has to be the minimum aceptable

Looking to the six nations then we fear no one with only Englands forward power maybe too much for Scotland to cope with. Winning 4 has to be the minimum aceptable

First game vs Wales in Cardiff, then France followed by England in Edinburgh. It's all about momentum. I think they'll lose that first game.

I am liking Scotland doing well but feel they suffer the same problem as Wales with the lack of strength in depth.

IdleJon - Member

First game vs Wales in Cardiff, then France followed by England in Edinburgh. It's all about momentum. I think they'll lose that first game.

If its all about momentum then Scotland will beat Wales. Beast 'em last year, higher ranked, better results in the AIs 🙂

If Wales get something near that team I posted up there out v Scotland it will be a tough game. How will Scotland cope with the favourites tag? It could be a tough 6 Nations for whichever team loses.

Pigface - Member

I am liking Scotland doing well but feel they suffer the same problem as Wales with the lack of strength in depth.

We have unearthed a bit more depth this year and in most positions the drop off in quality isn't too bad for the first replacement. A lot of players out and we still had a good AI series. 5 front row, Big Ritchie, couple of back rows, scrum half and captain, couple of centres, Full back for the Aus match

anagallis_arvensis - Member

How will Scotland cope with the favourites tag?

It could be a tough 6 Nations for whichever team loses.

True

I fear, I can only see Scotland winning a couple of games. I hope for once they live up to the hype.

England 65 -0 NZ

Defining moments:

a) 4th minute SH in centre position receives long pass, skips through 3 players and runs the length of the oppo half to score
b) 11 minute SH sweeping in wing position stops their "big" winger dead in his tracks with a text book hip-shoulder tackle, then drives him back 20m into his own 22
c) 19th minute SH darts off the base between the flanker and 10 channel, steps the FB to run in a try from 30m.

...according to junior who wants to be Danny Care (said SH), who's team thrashed Harrow 13-0 today 😀

Felt a bit sorry for the Harrow boys and a bit mixed when their coach/ref decided he didn't wanted a second match. I understood why for motivations sake, but IMO the experience would have been better for playing on.

I won't be watching the Scotland game "live". We're not going to field those players that really fronted up in the past few weeks.

The best thing from my point of view is put the returning players on the bench and make everyone play for their places. Oh and put laidlaw in a suit.

Aled Davies to leave Scarlets for Ospreys..massive step down from Webb to him but it makes sense for him to be first choice somewhere..

Beeb article had this gem though

"I believe the Ospreys game plan will suit my style of play."

There's a game plan? Who knew?

Is there a consensus amongst Welsh fans that the rules re international selection will get modified to accommodate Webb?

Is there a consensus amongst Welsh fans that the rules re international selection will get modified to accommodate Webb?

I think all fans want something but it doesnt look great.

Everyone that I've spoken to (ie english fans) is pretty convinced that something will be sorted, purely on the basis that he's a genuine world class scrum half and one of your best players, so it's madness that it wont be sorted!

Thanks to the lurgi I've spent today watching a few AP matches and I've got a nagging concern that there's going to come a time, pretty soon, when the national sides are full of foreign imports who qualify under residency rules. Surely that's going to have a detrimental effect on the juniors coming through and the game in general. Great for SA and incomes into the Pacific Islands.

Surely that's going to have a detrimental effect on the juniors coming through and the game in general.

About 10years ago?

Seems the citing system has broken again.

[img] [/img]

Saw that one in real time.

Nasty.

The saffa on the telly box seemed to get his knickers in a twist over this. Cant for the life of me see whats wrong with it.

[img] https://m.imgur.com/GCfFuPV [/img]

https://m.imgur.com/GCfFuPV

First ones nasty, second one, I cant see anything wrong at all with it!

Well its a pen for in the side but on the tellybox he was goingnon about hitting his ribs which he doesnt from what I can see.

well yes, he's in at the side but that's normal practice as far as I can work out.

Wales without Ball, Davies and Warburton for 6 nations.
Itoje with a broken jaw may struggle too for England

...while Bath are in trouble with Premier Rugby for releasing Faletau outside the international window. No one cwuld have expected that, or course, when he has publicly stated that he has a release clause in his contract which is clearly contrary to PR regs. 😕

Saints got hit for £60k for North...since Bath don't seem to have learnt from this then my money is on a stricter punishment

I don't think money is an issue, it'll have been factored in at signing stage

Thanks to the lurgi I've spent today watching a few AP matches and I've got a nagging concern that there's going to come a time, pretty soon, when the national sides are full of foreign imports who qualify under residency rules. Surely that's going to have a detrimental effect on the juniors coming through and the game in general. Great for SA and incomes into the Pacific Islan

There are still plenty of English players in the AP and a decent coveyot belt of players coming through the academies, some clubs have more imports than others. Imports are not necessarily a bad thing. Guys like Nicky Evans was no mercinary and bought a lot to Quinn's and the AP.

Bath were aware of the trouble they would be in for releasing Faletau but couldn't do anything about it due to the contract he signed. Blackadder has asked for the grey area around contracts to be clarified; what takes priority the players contract or the rules set out by the league.

Good news for England.....Manu Tuilagi has been to see a witch doctor in a bid to overcome his bad luck with injuries.

Not so quite good though is that Itoje has a fractured jaw.

Great for SA and incomes into the Pacific Islan

Somewhat less great for the SA domestic game, or the Scottish one which was decimated years ago

Not so quite good though is that Itoje has a fractured jaw

Bad news for Itoje, but England have a lot of depth in that area.

A_a that's my point. Watching a Fijian opposing a Fijian and being called Fijians when they play in white and gold seemed odd. Same with toolis the Australian playing Australia.

Manu will apparently play again before Christmas. I suspect he'll be broken by the new year. It barely feels fair for the guy, each time he gets the ball, 3 players hit him and his knees / groin go pop. I still think he's the best answer at 13 for England. We've found a lot of play makers recently, but need some bosh.

Shame about Itoje, how unlucky after being 'rested' during the AI's?

Well realistically he doesn't need to be fit for game 1 of the 6n's.... he's hardly going to be missed v Italy. I expect he'll feature in the latter games....although he has had two plates fitted in his jaw, so really will be touch and go I guess. If Kruis gets a bit of form back then at least there's plenty of world class cover for us in that area.

Manu is a great player, but I think if he can get a couple of seasons of club rugby in at this stage then that'd be seen as a success....whilst he'd be an asset to pretty much any team in the world, England haven't exactly struggled for wins without him. The fact that he seems to be an absolute tool means that I really couldn't give a shit whether or not he plays for England again.

The fact that he seems to be an absolute tool means that I really couldn't give a shit whether or not he plays for England again

I have to see if agree with this.

Two plates in your jaw at Itojes age? That's horrendous. What price playing for your country.

So are all the refs in here looking forward to getting a copy of the new simplified law book coming out soon?

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/world-rugby-introduces-simplified-rule-book/

It could be brilliant. It could leave huge grey areas to manage too.

Dragons seem to be putting some good signings down. Jordan Williams could be so much further forwards in his career if he wasn't by all accounts an utter jebend and Rhodri Williams is a joy to watch as a proper 9. Not mega stars but good solid additions without having to spend too much you'd have thought. Seem to be heading the right direction

Jordan is electric. He was not going to get a look in next year with c piutau on his way and another Welshman (protheroe) playing so well (who I think is as good if not better)
Rhodri is very good with the right game plan . Poor chap spent much of his time in the AP kicking the ball into the sky at Robinson's instruction. Since Lam has taken over, he’s been unstoppable albeit against lesser opponents. Both good players with loads of ability but also clear downgrades from Liam and Rhys.

<Two plates in your jaw at Itojes age? That's horrendous. What price playing for your country>
TBH of all the injuries he could receive, a broken jaw isn't the worst. Having had 2 plates in mine since my mid 20's (club rugby league 😉 ) I'd rather have that again than another torn ACL or shoulder.
He'll be back by the 6 nations.

What price playing for your country

He did it playing for Saracens.. but I hope he is back. damn fine player.

Genge out for a couple of months as well with minor shoulder surgery. In other news, Leicester about to be properly turned over at Munster. i see a proper kicking coming there!

Warburton confirmed out for season

Also....

Quade Cooper to the Dregs?

Nel a doubt for the 6N too.

Glasgow had a little 10 min iumplosion against montpellier. Leading 17:5. Yellow card, try, penalty try and a second yellow now 17:19

OOps. If glasgow don't get 5 points then they are out

Quade Cooper to the Dregs?

and George North and and and... we'll see.

Glasgow doing there best to lose to Montpellier. Great game for the neutral though!!

Missed the first 30 mins 'cos I was working 🙁

Buggeration. two stupid yellow cards cost Glasgow dear - that and mucking up lineouts

You welshists need to keep an eye on Matt Protheroe (playing for Bris). This kid is seriously f***ing good, as good a prospect as I can remember at the club (and we have had a few). Lightning quick, great vision and he'll also be understudy to Charles Piutau next year so he'll only get better. Overjoyed he's at the club, but very jealous on an international level. I wouldn't be remotely surprised if he ends up in a welsh shirt.

two stupid yellow cards cost Glasgow dear

They were lucky that the first wasn't a red. Shoulder charging a player in the back so hard he needs to be replaced is probably just as bad a taking out a man in the air, and he did it deliberately and with intent to hurt. Pity, I was enjoying the way they were playing up to that point.

Just the usual Glasgow shit-the-bed extravaganza that is our European campaign every year.

What was it 17-5 up after 30 mins they needed to put their foot on the ball for a bit. Russel still has things to learn!

You welshists need to keep an eye on Matt Protheroe

Been poached by England so far... though I suspect when (if) the time comes he would play for whoever gives him a game

anagallis_arvensis - Member

What was it 17-5 up after 30 mins they needed to put their foot on the ball for a bit. Russel still has things to learn!

Nowt to do with Russell. Thats the way Glasgow play. thats how Rennie wants them to play. When you are on top go for the kill not try to control the game. From what I understand they were attacking hard at the point of the first yellow and they needed the bonus point.

They had 3 tries and the second half to get a fourth. I very much doubt Rennie was wanting them to play like complete muppets and lose.

You welshists need to keep an eye on Matt Protheroe (playing for Bris)

What position is he?

2 tries at that point and well on top - thats the time to go for the kill. How often do Glasgow score 2 or 3 tries in a short space of time?

I agree that once the yellow came then its different - but before that? Go for the kill. thats the Glasgow way

Go for the kill. thats the Glasgow way

No wonder they dont win anything

The yellows didn't help but they didn't kill us.

It was like watching pre-Townsend Glasgow in the second half. Just unforced error after unforced error. Two phases was about all they could string together.

Like I said, Glasgow put in a typical European performance which is just depressing.

Scarlets doing similar!

anagallis_arvensis - Member

Go for the kill. thats the Glasgow way

No wonder they dont win anything

apart from 1 pro 12 win and undefeated in the league. P_lus the demolition of racing and whoever it was home and away last year in europe.

Its high risk high reward strategy and Edinburgh and Scotland are being coached the same way. Leads to demolitions of Aus and being demolished by England - and in this instance implosion against Montpellier

Beating Racing counts for nothing if you dont back it up

So whats happening with Sarlets? I didn't bother watching 'cos I thought it would be dull? Betteton up and a red card?

Unbelievable last few mins. I'll have to watch it on youtube later

Beating Racing counts for nothing if you dont back it up

I know I'm shitting on Glasgow a lot at the moment but you did just remind me of [i]that[/i] Leicester game so that cheered me up a bit.

Two poor kicks from Priestland which lost the game for Bath. It's this lack of accuracy which make me think that he's not international quality.

Only got the chance tho because of Toulon making a mess of a defensive lineout.

Toulon I thought were really uninspiring in the backs - just bosh bosh bosh