MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Jackson is there as a 15 only - back up to Hoggba
The point still stands then but with now with massive ****en bells on it!
maybe its just bad rfecruitment.
I think thats true with Ospreys but not the others. You are also talking like Glasgow and Edinburgh are better than their welsh counter parts. Results suggest there not. Glasgow finished below Scarlets and Ospreys and only just above Cardiff. Edinburgh beat Dragons and the two Italians only and their budget is way higher than the Dregs!
The point falls as the back up 10s are a lot better than Jackson! Even if Jackson has grown a huge beard. Horne has played 10 for Scotland. He is the second best 10 in Scotland after Russell and as I said can play the same gameplan. Hastings played 10 at age group, captained at age group and is going to be very good indeed - perhaps better than Russell. 10 for Glasgow is not a worry at all. When Russell goes south at the end of the season I expect Hastings to step right into his shoes thats 3 international standard 10s glasgow have to go with 4 international standard 9s. I think they should stop being so greedy and give some to Edinburgh. We have meatball and Tovey at 10 FFS
The point falls as the back up 10s are a lot better than Jackson!
OK I'll have some of what you are smoking if Jackson is as good a 15 as Hogg. You should change his wki page
When Russell goes south at the end of the season I expect Hastings to step right into his shoes thats 3 international standard 10s glasgow
You Scots have certainly come on a lot since you tried to poach McShingler. I expect to see Glasgow win something this season!
On the plus side this thread will make me more interested in the Scarlets games v glasgow and Edinburgh!!!
tis true AA - some great young players coming thru now. Fruits of the academy / age group systems working. I still worry that some of these guys don't actually have a huge amount of playing time under their belts but certainly the dark days seem to have gone at least for a bit.
Another couple of names to watch for this season. Matt fagerson - Zanders brother - a back row with pace ( Glasgow) ( there is a 3rd brother who is supposed to be better than both) and Kinghorn at 15 ( edinburgh) who I think will be better than Hogg in a year or two. Hoyland may make a mark as well at wing
anagallis_arvensis - MemberOn the plus side this thread will make me more interested in the Scarlets games v glasgow and Edinburgh!!!
Against Glasgow maybe. Faint signs are appearing that Edinburgh might become competitive but Glasgow are the scots team to beat. Edinburgh have been pish for years now
Kinghorn has looked good V Dregs and Blues big step up needed to play at international level though.
Yup - only a young man but plays well. Its only his first full pro season although he did get drafted in for a few games last year. If he is this good at 20 how good could he become? a lot of these guys are just stepping up from age group rugby. Matt Fagerson is 19 IIRC.
Think brits was right to be annoyed as he was crouched and out of the way of the pass, albeit in the line.
It's a really annoyance of mine the number of times the retreating player passes through the 9/10 channel at just the right time to slow the attack.
I just cant understand what happend to straight put in from last season and why refs cant spot half a team offside at kick offs..its all teams
straight put in is really obviously not happening. Anyone seen any props strike for the ball yet?
Off side at all kicks?
The KO are so blatant it's stupid
I was trying to be less negative thm!!!
Kick offs are so obvious though.
High tackles seem to be making a comeback too. Some Zebre player tried to pull Habberfields head off yesterday. Ref missed it, fair enough that happens, tv replayed it but the video ref must have popped out for a pint at that point. Was only a pen and a word but whats the point of video refs?
I'm not sure thats the case.
The three things required for success are talent, money and coaching. There is no shortage of talent in any of the home nations. Coaching is available. Money is dependent on fans watching the games, at the ground or on the TV and buying the merch. Money can buy and defence in the other two. It's a pro game.
The derbies are very well attended so each countries fans back their team. Its big problem for me is the lack of relegation and lack of competition for Euro Cup spots.
Very valid point. Now they have the conferences, perhaps there is a route to seeding and tiering?
On another note, one negative for the AP which I have noticed is the standard of refereeing. It's been bloody awful so far.
wrtecker - as far as I can see every leagues fans complain about the reffing - I think its an impossible task really and overall our ref's do a very difficult job well
The Pro14 lacks impartial refs which leads to problems, mostly imagined but things like the Scottish video refs intervention on the Dragons try at Edinburgh or Leinster having an Irish ref, two irish touch judges and an irish video ref cant be good.
Just watched the ap highlights. 3 penalty tries for collapsed mauls. Not seen that so often. all were right tho. Nice to see Exeter playing well and scoring and its interesting how much more entertaining the ap is compared to a few years ago with much more attacking play and tries being scored. Is it bonus points that have created this or what?
anyone else on BT Sport website cant see any videos on the Rugby page (or any sport page for that matter).
I just get a blank frame:
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AA - usually the ref is from another nation its just the TMOs that don't travel?
wrtecker - as far as I can see every leagues fans complain about the reffing - I think its an impossible task really and overall our ref's do a very difficult job well
I think this year has been terrible and I am watching AP games as an impartial.
AA - usually the ref is from another nation its just the TMOs that don't travel?
No, there were quite a few occasions last year where the home team had a home ref.
And almost every year Ospreys v Scarlets at Xmas get Nige as ref. He's from Scarlet country so with the best will in the world is going to be skewed in favour of one team.
usually the ref is from another nation its just the TMOs that don't travel?
Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues – KO 7:35pm
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 25th competition game)
AR1: Frank Murphy (IRFU). AR2: Eoin Hogan-O’Connell (IRFU)
TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
TG4: 7.20pm
BBC2 Wales: 7.30pm
Read more at http://www.pro14rugby.org/referee-appointments/#ifSrXLA3WLEVcGoj.99
Interesting - the rest on that page are neutral. too many irish ref teams? - that certainly looks wrong
interesting how much more entertaining the ap is compared to a few years ago with much more attacking play and tries being scored. Is it bonus points that have created this or what?
Nice backhanded compliment there...bonus points have been around for a while, even in that backward league that no one watches... 😈
You have to agree tho more tries are being scored and less teams are playing with a defensive " must not lose" mindset? Its certainly how it looks to me and the pundits were saying how many tries are being scored compared to a few years ago. the AP is certainly more entertaining to watch than it used to be in my mind and I wondered why the change?
its just the TMOs that don't travel?
These days, does the TMO even have to be there? Surely he could stay at home and do it from his armchair?
These days, does the TMO even have to be there? Surely he could stay at home and do it from his armchair?
Most seem to do it from the pub
Most seem to do it from the pub
😆
Judging by some of the decisions I've seen - that's probably true!
Captain Hovis out for the rest of the season.
Wales Online disagree.
No they dont.
Big chance for Thomas Young with Jenkins and Davies injured too. Could be looking for a 6 as well especially if Moriarty doesnt make it.. Shingler gets another chance?
Year, not season!
Doh!
😳
Are we getting more and more serious injuries due to the size and power of the players? I thin k both Glasgow and Edinburgh have 25-30% of their squads injured right now and its only 2 games into the seson.
Glasgow last week had all these guys unavailable Rob Harley (foot), Adam Hastings (thigh), Sam Johnson (head), Lelia Masaga (calf), Greg Peterson (knee), Fraser Brown (ankle), Jonny Gray (wrist), Stuart Hogg (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (ankle), Ratu Tagive (achilles), Richie Vernon (achilles) and Samuela Vunisa (knee).
Are we getting more and more serious injuries due to the size and power of the players? I thin k both Glasgow and Edinburgh have 25-30% of their squads injured right now and its only 2 games into the seson.
It's got to be part of the reason - Manu is permanently crocked, Kruis seems to have a lot of injuries at the mo too. There are a lot of AP players missing at the mo.
When the size thing comes up most people think of the collisions but TJs list is fairly typical in that most injuries in rugby are lower limb. You could argue that ligaments and tendons are working beyond capacity for the size of the players but in reality I think almost all would happen regardless of size. Intensity and volume of what these guys put themselves through year round as part of the professional game is a bigger factor IMO
I'd be interested to see the breakdown of % of injuries sustained in training versus games.
In England, roughly 40% training, 60% match though it is perhaps skewed by concussion reporting which is the biggest match day injury (25%). Concussion during match day/ training is roughly 85/ 15 split. Tackle is the biggest injury event in match time, with concussion top for both tackler and ball carrier though significantly higher for the tackler with a higher proportion of upper limb injuries whereas the ball carrier injuries after concussion are most likely to be lower limb. Hamstring, calf and ankle injuries are consistently the most frequent during training. Most studies have football as having more injuries per participant than rugby. Most injuries which cause early retirement tend to be lower limb though it obviously varies by position. Not much ties up with player size
Ulster v Scabs turning in to quite an excellent game!
Meanwhile...
People say you shouldn't tweet during games.People say a 35 year old shouldn't be Wales best number 10.
People are wrong.
@UnrealGavHenson
😀
Good win for Ulster got to feel Scarlets should have done better though.
Treviso beat Edinburgh away put TJ on suicide watch!
FFS. I hate being an Edinburgh fan!
*sulks*
Look out for exploding Cockerills!
apparently 4 scrum pens in the last 5 mins on the treviso line ending up with a sinbinned prop and uncontested scrums with Treviso with 13 players and we still couldn't score
#SafeSpaceforTJ
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*boots kittens over crossbar* 12 pts please!
Am so glad you're back in the rugby thread, TJ. Not just for moments like this, I hasten to add!
😀
Ta CFH - its one of the main things I missed.
Treviso have been looking OK the first couple of games and will beat better sides than Edinburgh this season would be my bet. I had really hoped tho that the first couple of games showed a bit of a renewal in the Edinburgh ranks but from reading comments elsewhere it would seem we had no control all match. Dunno what happened with that final run of scrums tho.
Teams have setbacks. It's early in the season, don't pass judgement just yet!
Quins were crestfallen and resigned to relegation after their loss to the not nots, they're looking OK now. Saints got SPANKED by Sarries, they have now beaten Tigers and Bath.
It's a long season. Lots can change.
Have Treviso ever won an away game other than Zebre before?
So so glad that I went to watch Sale last Friday and not tonight 🙄
Good win for Northampton over Bath, AP is shaping up to be an incredible season.
Tom - I think they have beaten Edinburgh away before. Thats the 6th time Treviso have beaten Edinburgh
Thats the 6th time Treviso have beaten Edinburgh
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Sorry.
(Not sorry!)
😆
I'll remember this you two. See when the MFLs ( metrosexual festival luvvies) beat your team I shall remind you of this
Was at the Sale game last night, was also there last week.
I'm amazed at how much difference a week makes, like two completely different teams.
Last week Newcastle came to play an extremely negative game & were highly effective at it, shutting Sale down.
Last night Irish came to play rugby which allowed Sale to do the same.
Irish came very close to scoring on several occasions, certainly see how they beat Quins on the opening day.
In fact, my only complaint about the evening was the young & inexperienced bar staff who gave me cooking lager instead of the cider I ordered!
Thought Underhill looked pretty good for Barf last night; certainly put himself about in the tackle area.
Lakes looks pretty good again last night.
Jesus H Christ. Not a good day to be a boks fan.
Just watched the ABs absolutely muller the Springboks 57-0.
First full 80 minute performance they've put together for a while. Helped by the Boks' lineout totally imploding and poor Raymond Rhule tackling like a revolving door. If ever there was a player picked due to Transformation it is surely he - whilst the very excellent (and very white) Ruan Combrinck languishes at home.
The Barrett/Milner-Skudder try was totally outlandish and Scott Barrett put in a great shift at No6 but as a team they were ruthless. The last 20 minutes was an exhibition of handling skills.
"Smart people against big oafs" was the Bobby Skinstad verdict.
Reports of the Boks' revival have been greatly exaggerated.
MD the real ale in the tent was quite good. I thought the win was as much to with getting our lineout (nearly) right with the return of Bryn (Wayne Barnes made a joke about how quick he is after his run to the line!!) the amount of ball that our wingers got (even Charnley looked dangerous!) and the fact that Newcastle are simply a better team.
No doubt Sale will move slowly into the middle of the table but that top 4 still looks a long way off.
Just when I thought the Edinburgh performance was poor along come the Boks
Its that supposed to help?
*still sulking*
Maybe they could play against each other. Edinburgh might win! 😆
Don't blame me tjagain I'm waiting for Ballachulish to win a shinty match
🙂
and the fact that Newcastle are simply a better team.
I didn't think they were actually. I think they are getting too much credit due to the result. Sale were more threatening, but they didn't play it quite safe enough given the conditions. Newcastle box kicked the shit out the ball all night and Sale just lacked that final 5% IMHO. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sale do OK this year. Wuss on the other hand.......I hope they get a win soon otherwise it will be very hard to change the habit they seem to have.
Saints revived, very pleased for Jim M, he (along with Baxter) are the two AP coaches who seem to have the most integrity.
Always some interesting comments here....I was at Sale last Friday....I too thought Sale were by far the better team but just lacked that killer instinct.
I was also sat by the Saints try line first half of the opening game of the season 😯 crazy stuff. After that game everyone online seemed to be predicting that this would be Jim M's final season.... incredible turn around from them in the last two games, they've looked very good.
Wuss look most likely to struggle of anyone I've seen this year....and I've thought that Leicester have looked pretty poor too!
Thought Underhill looked pretty good for Barf last night; certainly put himself about in the tackle area.
Pleased to hear it, he's a big lad aint he!!
Especially considering he is a hobbit
Stood next to Underhill last night, he is indeed made of something else other than flesh and blood. An impressive specimen was one of the few good things from Bath last night, the other being Faleteau who is also extraordinary.
the other being Faleteau who is also extraordinary.
He's got to be one of the best players in these islands.
Having watched him quite closely for bath a fair bit he's phenomenal, a real priveldge to watch and by all accounts a nice bloke.
Holy cow, were NZ brilliant or were the Boks awful? That is a thumping.
were NZ brilliant or were the Boks awful?
Bit of both really. SA probably had more possession and territory (didn't see the stats) but the ABs took every opportunity quite brilliantly.
It's bad for rugby. The Boks have usually been in the top three or four in the world over the last 20yrs, won the RWC twice and always presented a unique challenge. In the last RWC they came closest to beating the ABs in the semi final and that was only 2 yrs ago.
Now with Transformation and the player drain to Europe they're struggling. Really struggling.
Poetic justice, I am sure AA will be even handed in condemning the ref in the Cardiff/Glasgow game. He was such an equaliser that Glasgow nearly lost to a Welsh team.
Meh Too many mistakes from Glasgow in the first half. They need to improve but there are better players to come in.
Now with Transformation and the player drain to Europe they're struggling. Really struggling.
No such thing as positive discrimination plus getting politics involbed in sport is never a good thing. I am certain the player drain is related to the selection policy. Agreed it's tough to see as the Boks have given so much since their return to International rugby. 57-0 🙁
Watching it now. Boks good for first 10 - now quick tap and try. I guess here we go .....
And then the interception !!!!
I am certain the player drain is related to the selection policy.
Indeed Jamba, it is. Apparently it's killing domestic cricket in SA too.
Look at all the Saffas qualifying for other countries by residence. It used to be older players going overseas nearer the end of their careers. Now it's younger players who've barely played Super Rugby yet drifting to Europe and ending up in the 6N.
Now with Transformation and the player drain to Europe they're struggling. Really struggling.
Absolutely. They are reaping what they have sewn. I said a while ago that if I were a talented young (white) saffa, I'd be heading off to europe as soon as I could secure a decent contract and hope that I could qualify for another country. It wasn't a popular opinion, but it's exactly what is happening and I can't blame them at all.
The boks are still 3rd in the rankings, and wins over the (awful, and in even more disarray) argentinians will flatter their position but it will fall and it will fall sharply. To my mind they aren't as good as any of the home nations at present.