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No real update on Billy, other than he’s going to be assessed again tomorrow. I’m hoping he’s rested or benched for Saturday with Wilson give some decent game time.
Your life sounds like Schadenfreude is your only source of joy…….
Not the only source of joy, I do like kitten videos too. But let's face it, the point of international sports is to destroy the dreams of the fans from the other team. If I was in charge, I'd set it up so that both sides could lose, seeing all those fans going home crying would be ace. Especially English and French fans because they keep getting their hopes up despite the woeful results over the years. By now, Australians have got used to losing at rugby so that takes most of the fun out of it. The best thing of all is when New Zealand lose, their whole country is so neurotic and insecure that they think the world might forget they're there if they weren't good at rugby. When they lose, it's amazing seeing the whole country go into a meltdown, but it's nearly as good when they win because they still get all nervous if they don't utterly destroy the opposition - Jesus, if the All Blacks don't win by 25 points, they are clearly in decline and the country is doomed.
Blimey hols2 you've put some good thought into this. Enough work there generations of psychiatrists.
Some of my Scottish mates get far more joy from England losing than they'd ever get from Scotland winning. You'd get on well with them.
TBH whilst I do enjoy laughing at the Celts when they lose, by and large I like to see everyone play well and generally I'm happy if the team that plays the best rugby wins.
You should try it....
I’m happy if the team that plays the best rugby wins.
By definition, the team that wins has played the best rugby, so you're right to be happy about that. It also means that the team that loses played the worst rugby, so you should also be happy that they lost.
Are you my mate George? You sound just like him. If you look up the word "pedantic" in the dictionary they have his picture there.
Unfortunately the team that plays the best rugby doesn't always win.
For example, kicking the ball up into the air and running after it isn't exactly great rugby but Ireland won plenty of games in the last few years (until they got found out).
Unfortunately the team that plays the best rugby doesn’t always win.
Leaving poor refereeing out of it, the team that wins has played the best rugby by definition. What you seem to be saying is that the rules should be changed to encourage a more exciting game with more running and passing instead of kicking.
Well Frans Steyn summed it up well when he said, "It's not about playing rugby, it's about winning."
Hogg to Exeter.
Good signing, that.
The hooker didn't even pretend to hook the ball, that's why the it was given as a free kick.
I'm even more surprised that Lavavini got 4 weeks, when the Italian props only got 3 weeks for the piledriver.
Italian biscuits must be nicer.
You could say the Italians got 6 weeks cumulatively! Lavanini has previous I believe so that would go against him.
That scrum Infringement was given for no attempt to hook AND a crooked feed. If he’d made an attempt to pretend to hook it he would have been fine.
I'm surprised an international coach doesnt know the hooker must lift leg to hook.
Tomos Williams," the greatest homo erotic piece of volleyball since Top Gun "
How Japan beat Ireland
Yeah the Squidge videos have been great.
Boo to World Rugby's lawyers for blocking him on YouTube. (Boo to the 6N and Super Rugby likewise).
Don't they realise that guys like Squidge promote the game brilliantly?
The NBA decided to make all their footage available to youtubers and bloggers. The result- record numbers of viewers and increased ticket sales.
CFH - old news that.
I think its a good move all round. I rate Baxter as a coach, it frees up space in Glasgow for other up and coming players. I think Hogg will prosper with Exeters style of play.
. I think Hogg will prosper with Exeters style of play.
Playing alongside a BIL great like Cuthbert can only help him!
Actually I always thought Exeter played a dull up the jumper fat forward game.
Well the French are at it again - Guirado supposedly "ousted" from his role by the coaches.
It's not often I agree with anything Mourad Boudjellal says (although he's always entertaining) but he said:
“Take control guys, take the power, because there are coaches all over the place. Our team spirit is almost non-existent,” Boudjellal said. “Individually, we have players who are world class. Collectively, for several years, that hasn’t been the case.
“Since when have we been frightened against these teams [such as Tonga], who we respect, of course, but who aren’t on our level? Take control guys, because it is your history, your World Cup.
“You are there for your career and for your country. You are there for French rugby and to try to go as far as possible, to see if you can win this World Cup – but we will only get there if you take control.
“Japan is a magnificent country to visit. Out coaches who are there, I invite you to visit Japan, go and look around, treat yourself and leave the players to tell their own stories because for years I have not understood the game plan of this France team.
“Honestly, I don’t understand. Something is going wrong, so it’s over to you guys [the players]. Tell the coaches to go on holiday. Write your story yourself.
“There is a lot of experience, there are guys in this group who will certainly be major coaches in the future, so start to be a big coach today. Start today, kick the coaches out, take control, tell your own story, because we are ready to follow you.”
Billy V has a boot on his injured ankle...
Given how pivotal he is to England's game plan, this could be big news.
Given how pivotal he is to England’s game plan, this could be big news
Well surely they can just bring in one of the other, hard-running No8s in the squad?
Oh, wait - hang on a minute.....
going to be a long day for Canada !
Jesus. Are we going to see triple figures?
According to my calculations the final score will be 112 - 0.
might be now they're down to 14
AA - thats what the pundits seem to say but everytime I have watched them they play a counterattacking game not just foreward dominated. They are the english side I support.
It’s not the end of the World if Billy is out, Wilson did a pretty good job before and Curry is pretty good. I suspect we’ll see Wilson playing v France and Billy ok for Aus with Wilson on the bench.
Billy needs a test anyway. He’s not looked at his best so far and Wilson has proved himself a good deputy in the past (more so than Hughes).
French rugby does seem to be in a bit of a state which could prove to be bad for us this weekend if they decide to sort their shit out. They’ve looked good in small patches.
I’ve always thought the Exeter game was pretty forward dominated. They score lots from driving mauls and retain the ball with lots of picking and driving. I watch a lot of the AP being English.
It’s not the end of the World if Billy is out, Wilson did a pretty good job before and Curry is pretty good.
Well, perhaps not but the game plan is built around Vunipola's carrying ability to some degree. Seems odd that there are no other number 8s, especially given Billy's tendency to get broken. Neither Wilson nor Curry can fill his shoes. Surprising that Ben Morgan never got a look in. Powerful carrier, quick feet, good hands and never played poorly for England in my recollection. Had a good season for Glaws too.
Nathan Hughes never impressed me for England. Always seemed to punch below his weight.
Anyone else more than a little nervous about tomorrow?
Got to do school drop off half way through first half. Stupid kids getting educated.
Only sort of. We should get the bonus point we need against Russia - if we don't we do not deserve to go thru,
Typhoon may cause games to be cancelled, which would put Japan through.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191008/p2a/00m/0sp/004000c
Ironically, the term kamikaze (divine wind) comes from a typhoon that wrecked a Mongolian invasion fleet centuries ago and saved Japan.
I never understood why Eddie took such a dislike to Morgan. He always played well for England, his international performances were always way above his club form. He also seems like a quite a bright rugby player.
Hughes has that one awesome season hit capped and then seemed to stop trying. He’s also lazy and seems to go awol in games.
Scotland / Russia
Its all fairly simple - we need a bonus point win. this is basically our second team. some serious questions to be answered:
Will Batman ( Ryan Wilson) start a fight?
Will the Russians mock Beakers ( Duncan Taylors) hair?
Will haircut ( Hastings) be Finn mk 2? and if so which Finn?
Anyone else more than a little nervous about tomorrow?
Yes, although its now today....nervous as hell.
You should beat Tonga surely?
Scotlands forwards look like they all took rohipnol before kick off!
And the backs should have washed the grease off their hands after their bacon butties! If Wales come out so poorly I'll be crying.
Anyone else more than a little nervous about tomorrow?
Yes, although its now today….nervous as hell.
Me too, sick in my stomach. More so than against Australia.
Whilst a Scotland win keeps their group exciting and I hope they do win, Russia have given a good account of themselves so far and I hope they have a good game.
AA - three tries in 20 mins? totally dominating?
Some days you get all the luck the ball bounces for you. This looks like one of those days.
40 mins to get the bonus point and lets try to get our PD up as well.
Listening to big Jim in the studio through bleary eyes of a long night I thought they had got in Rob Warner for a second 😀 Now I can’t unsee or unhear it. “How did he make that tackle with balls that big” ... "Laidlaw has done more for Scottish rugby than Osama Bin Laden has done for terrorism"... you get the gist. I need some sleep before the Wales match!
Darcy Graham is the man! gives wee George the easiest of run ins. Thats the bonus point. Now get Graham off to save him for Japan
Scotland are world beaters again I see!
😉
It's certainly going well, can't help feel that the mistakes we're making would be punished by a better team though.
Russia look absolutely rubbish!
Looks like Scotland are going to rack up a big old score line today.
Russia have been competitive in their games to date but look knackered and coming up agaisnt a team wanting to play quickly is going to kill them.
Had the misfortune of listening to the first few minutes in the radio...the commentary was awful. People talk about Guscott, Jiffy and Moore being biased but those two clowns took it to a whole new level. Jesus.
Absolutly CFH right now we can beat anyone. Sunday its
I’m not sure anyone thinks we’d be doing this against the ABs - although it’s Scotland,so who can tell!