And in other news, Georgians are good a scrumaging and Lawes is not that great at boxing, bet SBW is better!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=56jyIj4tt8w
Don't see the issue AA, English crowd, players and commentators are correct, as they were last weekend...
"Don’t see the issue AA, English crowd, players and commentators are correct, as they were last weekend…"
So the tmo was incorrect and you are a bit of a hypocrite, thats fine..I wonder if Cueto has stopped whining about it yet..foot clearly in touch!
I think we can all move on from the try that never was, that wasn’t given now. I’d like to see professional, tech savvy TMOs embedded with the broadcasters to get exactly what they want.
That scrummaging video is interesting. Lots of penalties given each way. To really know what was going on, you’d need to know what the Georgians were asked to do. It’s never as simple as a straightforward pushing contest. There was a lot of early shoves going in - Inimagine England wanted to practice against every scenario, legal and illegal. Good to see Hughes back in and packing down at 8 - almost didn’t recognise him with the beard.
I think we can all move on from the try that never was, that wasn’t given now.
We can indeed, AA won't as noted by his response to my obvious trolling comment above...
As for the Georgian practise, clearly a rehearsal for Scottish scrum collapsing and all over the place.
oh, and 😉
"We can indeed, AA won’t as noted by his response to my obvious trolling comment above…"
You really are an odd one
Teddy Thomas booted out of french squad. Thomas is a good welsh name we'll have him!!
Moriarty injured, hopefully its just so he doesnt have to play for Glaws this week..
Is Adams going back to Worcester? Might see him lose out to North.
Ospreys.
Half time.
Urgh.
Got the 4 tries in the end. Only thing shittier than the two teams was the ref!!
Quite. Ref was abysmal. So were the Ospreys, apart from Arhip who was sublime in the tight and brutal in the loose.
edinburgh beat ulster in Ireland with the last kick of the game. that puts them in a euro cup place 😉
AA; Adams is back with Worcester so North may well take his place.
Williams looked in reasonable fettle for Sarries last night; scored the only try but was also yellow carded in what was a dour game.
As a slight aside I just want to write in praise of Saracens. Causing me to reminise about my youth spent playing in the streets i reflected on this half term, whereby Saracens ran a two day “Rugby Camp” for kids U12 and U9. Junior attended 5 hours a day with lunch in the middle, made loads of new friends and spent a great deal of time learning - he was in U12 as he’s tackling now - tackle technique, rucks and balls skills. He loved it, learned loads and made some new friends and seems to have found the position I always suspected might be his - Scrum half. He earned the nickname Mr Fast from the Sarrys coaches as well 🙂
Thanks to the Saracens coaches for taking the time out to do this I’m sure the many kids and north London clubs appreciate the effort even if they don’t see recognise the opportunities they have today!
"he’s tackling now – tackle technique, rucks "
"seems to have found the position I always suspected might be his – Scrum half"
Tackling and rucking are optional for him now!! 😁
Kryton - i went to a sarries home game last year, v exeter, the players were brilliant before the game signing programs for the kids. Such a small gesture but the kids loved it.
Ref was abysmal
I assumed that he was there for comedy effect. Is it a tackle, is it a maul, who knows? I'll call tackle then give a scrum for a maul. Habberfeld complaining about being taken out at the ruck - yes, his hands were on the ball but the SA player was almost behind him. But mainly the ref didn't control the game and allowed the Kings to disrupt everything, which the Ospreys couldn't cope with. They were dreadful though. Not aggressive or abrasive enough, lazy getting back in position, naive in letting other bully them - even the Kings!
"Is it a tackle, is it a maul, who knows"
It was comedy genius when he shouted tackle and all the SA players shouted maul so he changed his mind and agreed with them!
Wonder how that obviously forward try scoring pass was missed.
Leinster Rugby v Scarlets – KO 15:15
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 67th competition game)
AR1: Frank Murphy (IRFU). AR2: Jonathan Peak (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Read more at https://www.pro14rugby.org/referee-appointments/#xEcqMyZfu8C8PS36.99
Nice work Leinster.
Had the new drier arrive so missed the last few mins, why were Scarlets down to 14? Cant stomach sky sports any longer to find out!
North, Adams and Loopy Liam all playing and scoring this weekend.
Worcester beat Exeter last week and Gloucester this week 😳
We now have the possibility of going ahead of Northampton 😳
Six Nations call ups is benefiting us in two ways. Oppositions are weekend and the **** O’Teo is with England.
So the ref in the Ospreys:Kings game actually had lost his cards!!!
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ospreys-claim-ref-made-unusual-14302228
Biggar, Faletau and 1/2p fit to be picked by wales this weekend. Some big decisions ahead. No news on Moriarty. As Tips was released last weekend maybe Moriarty is fit and Toby to bench.
1/2p, Biggar and Williams will be needed to counter Irelands kick it in the air gameplan imo.
No NotToby, and a little harsh on Patch, I think.
Otherwise, tidy.
<b>Wales team:</b> Halfpenny (Scarlets); L Williams (Saracens), S Williams (Scarlets), Parkes (Scarlets), S Evans (Scarlets); Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Lee (Scarlets), Hill (Dragons), AW Jones (Ospreys capt), Shingler (Scarlets), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Moriarty (Gloucester).
<b>Replacements:</b> Dee (Dragons), W Jones (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), B Davies (Ospreys), Tipuric (Ospreys), A Davies (Scarlets), Anscombe (Blues), North (Northampton).
No NotToby, and a little harsh on Patch, I think.
likely to be a lot of kicking from Ireland and biggar is better in the air and better kicking for territory, patch had a bit of a shocker under the highball against England (although weather deff played a part), however suspect he'll start again against Italy to build experience / confidence. anscombe offers more cover across the back, so no place for patch unfortunately
Ireland-Wales will show us how much England need to improve by game 5.
prediction time,
Ire 18-15 Wal
sco 26-35 Eng
Fra 32-20 Ita.
IRE 15pts on WAL
ENG 22pts on SCO
FRA 8pts on ITA
The Orc hoard have announced their starting line up.
Great news for England , Russell starts,
Of course Russell starts . We have no one else. Scots unchanged bar the bench where Nel, Swinson and Grigg coming in. Scotland set up with pace and guile if a bit lightweight in places. Its the dancing elves V the Orc horde 😉
I think Horne is very underrated. Great rugby brain and reads the game well and an elusive runner. 2nd playmaker as well with a good boot on him. We are missing Dunbar and Taylor badly.
I can't see Ireland by 15 points Stoner, one score game I think that I will be happy if we come out the right side of.
Also seeing Ireland Wales as much closer.
I'm supporting Wales this weekend of course.
Farrell a small doubt, but should he miss the game Teo and Joseph in the centres is a bit of a worry for the little Scots. Predict our pack will give them a hammering and we'll be running through the backs from tries 2nd half.
They'll be a shock try from Scotland I imagine.
DD, I'll buy at 1/2 a pint a point from 15pts IRE over WAL.
You can pay me my beers next weekend when I see you 😀
(TBF Sporting index has the spread at 8-11 pts. Im a little bullish at 15.
FRA v ITA at 16-19 pts - I'm backing a French ****-up.
ENG v SCO at 6-9pts looks very stingy for ENG. That's worth buying IMO)
Italy by 2
England by 15
Wales by two falls and a submission
Predictions - Ireland by a score, France by a couple, And as for the Calcutta cup? Whilst not the foregone conclusion it has sometimes been in recent years its hard to see past a England win and a comfortable one at that.
Key matchups in the back row. Watson and Barclay key for scotland going for turnovers and most critical of all has Toonie been able to put Russells head on properly for this game?
I'm going for a high scoring entertaining game. england by 12+
HT @cheekyruck
Not really a surprise but England unchanged except for Hughes in at 8. JJ starts to quell the running game and Two comes on at 60 to bash holes. Fairly predictable from England.
That picture of Allanah-Gwen Jones has completely ruined all my dreams of me and Taylor Swift, I need to find another source of "inspiration".
Personally I think England have looked a little fragile and Scotland are going to give us a very hard time. I reckon Scotland in the lead by half time and then a nail biter at the end. Could go either way.
I don't follow the others to know enough but I too will be supporting Wales.
The build-up to the Calcutta Cup game is woefully predictable!
Big, physical loose forward states that his team's loose forwards are going to target the oppo's 'mercurial'* playmaking flyhalf.
Oppo coach issues thinly veiled warning to ref to allow his 'mercurial'* playmaker to run the game.
Yawn.
*For 'mercurial' read 'flaky'.
The expression on Hogg's face as Russell waved Teddy Thomas through was priceless. Scotland only really won that game because they subbed off Flaky Finn.
And Townsend wants a meeting with the Ref as he's spotted something in Englands defensive line. Yeah, good luck have a chat with Nigel Owen's Gregor...
Pre-match meetings with officials should be banned.
Appropriate response:
”**** off mate, I’m the ref, you’re a coach. You stick to your job and I’ll stick to mine ta very much”.
Knowing Owens this is probably roughly what he’ll say anyway.
Yup, all too predictable.
Has there ever been a fly half who hasn't been a target for the opposition back row? Wilkinson used to get singled out by Betson a lot when we played France etc.
Scotland need to outthink England, play their best ever game yada, yada ,blah blah...
We wont run away with it, last year was an anomaly. Scotland will make us work hard and will no doubt do us at the breakdown repeatedly now that English rugby as a whole had decided it can no longer be contested. Hopefully we'll win.
Ireland missing Furlong and Henderson for the Welsh game. Slightly concerned that Wales are looking to revert to Warrenball which will be a shame because they've played some good rugby this tournament. I'll b supporting Wales for sure this weekend.
The thing is Russell relishes the challenge of being targetted as iut creates more space outside of thim. Some of Scotlands best triues have come this way. I'll give 50 / 50 tho England get a yellow for a late hit on him and that at least once he leaves Farrell floundering
Russell has set the floundering standard this year with his attempt to tackle Thomas...😂
Ouch = pass the fire extinguisher - I just got burnt 😉
Tj:
I’ll give 50 / 50 tho England get a yellow for a late hit on him and that at least once he leaves Farrell floundering
Real money or pretend? And do you mean you’ll give 50/50 that both will occur, or 50/50 for either as separate bets? I’m not a gambler, but I’d take that bet.
the forfeit was worked out earlier - apparently if I lose I have to take on AA singlehanded. the bet is that both will happen 🙂
if I lose I have to take on AA singlehanded
You'd lose
Sorry TJ, couldn't help that one!
Bit shit this one!!
France are making good ground, but white line fever x 3
Or x 4!
Pretty dull this one. France look disjointed and are giving away lots of field position with silly errors or penalties. The crowd will start getting grumpy soon.
Wonder why these 2 are at the bottom of the table !
Mindmap - it was a good burn 😉
In other more interesting news - Edinburgh win again! With a bonus point! Glasgow lose WTF is happening in Scottish Rugby?
Head says England will win, heart says get intae them Scotland
Red Roses beat Scotland ladies but England U20's lost after being in the lead at half time. Hmmmmm. I really can't call tomorrow.
Cracking try by Italy.
Sport index had pricing on FRAvITA bang on then at 16-19
Missed the mmatchas was flying bub sounds like didn't miss much
Scotland u20s beat England? that was unexpected seeing as the scottish squad are mainly schoolkids ( as the best u20 scots are playing for the full side or their clubs)
Here we go. Unfortunately I don’t see Wales winning today, let’s hope it’s a great game.
Anthems are a bit muted, maybe its the sound recording
Cmon Wales!
Cracking pass
Ref doesnt seem to like Wales does he.
Irish co commentator trying to blame Biggar for Shingler giving away a pen!!
Nice 😀
Sexton hasn't brought his kicking boots has he?!
Hard to believe that Wales are infront!
Sexton trying to gouge while handing off (seriously he is such an unpleasant player. Pretty much the only player in the world who I’d applaud for breaking his leg).
Aki having a poor start. Interesting that Ireland are using really sharp flat passes in Wales's 22. Previous games they seem to have run out of ideas when they get close, I wonder if this is their answer. Not sure how Wales are winning but it will keep the game lively.
White line fever for Ireland.
Good game so far. Ireland getting round the blitz at will..
Ref doesnt seem to like Wales does he.
I don’t understand the rules well enough, but it does appear that way.
Is it just me, or do Ireland seem to be getting away with a lot at the breakdown. Last attack, I thought that there was a clear no arms clearout, and then also a neck roll on AWJ
Not sure its worth bothering with us coming out for the second half given the refs "interpretations"
Ffs Ireland are getting away with anything they want, whether it’s obstruction, offside, doing anything in the breakdown, holding on the floor. Jackson is the only reason that Ireland are winning because he’s not applying a single law to Ireland.
He penalised Shingler for offside a few minutes ago. Shingler was onside but a fat Irish forward flopped through the ruck and (illegally) collapsed on Wales’ side so it looked like Shingler became offside despite not having moved.
Tom - you can see loads of infringements the ref misses in every game. Clothesline tackle on a Irish back for one and Navidis use of the creative patented John Jeffries offside line 😉 Wales lying all over the ball in their goalline defense as well. Lucky not to see yellow for repeated infringments on the line. Not saying Ireland are innocent but a ref if he saw and whistled for everything would be stopping the game every tackle just about
Shingler was miles offside. He is supposed to be behind the back foot - he was about 2m forward of that
TJ I thought NZ had bought that patent.
😉