[Closed] Rugby Thread 2017/18.

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!!