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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.
Their problems can't all be laid at the feet of the misguided quota system though, they were actually in the game until NZ scored their second try. The same thing also happens in NZ and has for years,yet they seem to be able to cope; Remember Stephen Donald got a WC winners medal while Nick Evans was at Quins jumping up and down and shouting "pick me!" I wonder if it is a wider reflection of how young talented people in SA see their future prospects?
I am sure AA will be even handed in condemning the ref in the Cardiff/Glasgow game
I didnt think the ref was paticularly biased just usual pro14 shit. His lack of decision making with scrums was a particular highlight as was the "breakdown". But how all the team could miss some of those knock ons was just bizare.
Big miss from McShingler at the end. Blues battled hard and missing all those players out injured doesnt help. Was nice to see Cuthbert actually powering into contact and throwing his weight around in defence maybe he'll come good again.
Glasgows try was a cracker Fin Russel is great on the front foot but does need to play % sometimes, tries too hard on occasion.
They are reaping what they have sewn
Dont get this, they are being negatively impacted by the money in France and England surely? Never been a bok fan but this gives me no joy.
I thought the missed kick was karma after the Blues not going down to 14 a couple of mins earlier!
What was that for I have to admit I was only half watching on my phone.
@aa I think previously talented players stayed for the honour (and money) of playing for the 'boks. I met Neil McDonald in '85 at Uni and he was offered a "job" to stay in UK but was determined to go back and play for SA. Now I think he'd stay. With the selection system and admin above they are saying no thanks. Its been going on in business for many years with the way contracts are awarded, some of my best colleagues came to the uk that way.
I wonder if it is a wider reflection of how young talented people in SA see their future prospects
Indeed but add in the word "white".
Young players in NZ grow up with hope that they'll pull on the black jersey one day.
A lot if young white South Africans don't nurture similar dreams and look at the fairer systems elsewhere.
Nobody in their right mind could ever argue that apartheid wasn't evil but that's 25yrs ago now. Transformation is still unfair.
Sure, the Boks were in the game and the ABs were sublime and the difference isn't as great as the scoreline suggests - but rugby needs a strong Springbok side. Currently it doesn't have one.
The money in europe will mean that soon only nz will have strong domestic sides
An SA friend, whose brother is well connected with SA Rugby, told me there are more than 250 professional SA rugby players plying their trade outside SA now. Rugby is still important there, Schools rugby is still ridiculously serious (an area Australia is struggling with I understand).
I met Neil McDonald in '85
A very different time, pre-professionalism and the old regime was still in power. Big bugger though, difficult to get the ball off.
What was the Boks record coming into the match?
Went to bed after first half. SA in the match for first 10, then a sublime example of ABs ruthlessly punishing mistakes and executing brilliantly - with some artistry from Barrat.
AB were brilliant in finishing but score slightly flattered. To justify headlines I am guessing BOks capitulated in 2H?
To justify headlines I am guessing BOks capitulated in 2H?
Not really, they kept struggling manfully and didn't lay down. Unlike, say, the French did in the RWC.
250 players overseas? I'd read 350 in one article but, either way, it's a lot.
A young Kevin Pietersen was once excluded from the Natal side in favour of a black player so he came to play cricket in England. How many rugby players will do the same?
Glasgows try was a cracker Fin Russel is great on the front foot but does need to play % sometimes, tries too hard on occasion.
Indeed. How many crap gubbers did he put in giving the ball away. Much more professional from the tee. Well below par overall tho. Stilllooks rusty.
- Yup - a load of missed knock ons both ways. Blues where playing for penalties at the scrum a tactic I hate but the ref gave some and didn't give some. At least one scrum pen was the wrong way tho. Still - dodgy pen on 78 mins got a dodgy kick so that at least was poetic justice.I didnt think the ref was paticularly biased just usual pro14 shit. His lack of decision making with scrums was a particular highlight as was the "breakdown". But how all the team could miss some of those knock ons was just bizare.
Glasgow gave 23 turnovers - you can't do that and expect to win too many games.
Nice to see the Weegie from Fiji back and looking lively. Defences seem afraid to get near him sometimes. Boy is he fast
Far too little control from Glasgow. Yes its nice to play high tempo and to run it out from your own 22 - but sometimes it needs to be slowed down and sometimes the clearance kick is worth doing.
Glasgow need to play a bit more basic and controlled game.
Blues lucky to keep 15 on the pitch I thought - punches thrown, high tackles, some cynical play. cuthbert could easily have had two yellows on another day. Somone rattled his cage. Zander could have been carded as well.
Not a great game.
Blues lucky to keep 15 on the pitch I thought - punches thrown, high tackles, some cynical play. cuthbert could easily have had two yellows on another day.
Most of the niggle seemed to come from Glasgow taking players out when well beyond the ruck, both Williams and Cuthbert had words with players doing it
Joe Marler.
What a monumental ****.
A bit of niggle / handbags in the Quins Wasps game between Marler and Haskell leading to a yellow for Haskell - all a bit embarrassing really.
Good game so far otherwise...
I did say Zander could have been carded as well. also don't a lot of teams try to wind opponents up into losing their temper? I thought he had got his niggle under control but maybe not. Just because he is an actual choirboy and a national champ on a mountainbike he really does not need to prove he is a WWF champ as well.
Ref should have had much better control of this whole thing.
That Marler Haskell thing is hysterical and tragic all at once.
Pigface - Member
That Marler Haskell thing is hysterical and tragic all at once.
Agreed - makes me a little nostalgic for the bad old days; you can't imagine the same scenario between Dallagio and Leonard...
250 players overseas? I'd read 350 in one article but, either way, it's a lot.
I couldn't recall the precise number so erred on the side of caution. I presume that this is guys with full time contracts, rather than guys like my niece's boyfriend who are paid to play.
Was at the Wasps Quinns game yesterday - I thought Wasps looked a bit flat really. The big names and internationals didn't really seem to rally people or do much.
Haskell and Marler were silly and a bot childish really. Marcus Smith looks like he could become a very good player one day; its nuts to think that he sat his A Levels a few months ago.
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41342719 ]Oh dear SOB[/url]
Probably easy to be that outspoken if you aren't in the welsh squad, but the content probably isn't much of a surprise. Lions coaching themselves eh...
Wales would be better in attack without Howley doing the coaching, to be fair.
Howley being shit isnt really news ( although he coached Wales to a win over Schmidts Ireland) but SOB should keep his gob shut really. Also he's making himself look a bit stupid as The Lions were a red card and a dodgy ref decision away from being white washed so trying to make out the coaches were the issue rather than shoulder some blame for the NZ players being, you know, much better is daft.
Who wants a signed Lions shirt?
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-signed-british-lions-shirt#post-8732064
Ospreys being spanked by Treviso
Cheetahs 31-5 up v Leinster!!!
Yeah...carrying on as at the end of last season
Treviso deserve that win....Ospreys seem bereft of ideas
Ospreys are simply shit!!
That too...I'm going to see them play Scarlets in 2 weeks. I might take a book to read.
Wonder if they're regretting giving Tandy a multi-year extension?!