[Closed] STW 2014/15 Rugby Thread

What DD said.
Ireland are definitely favorites for both this weekend and against at least half of the major SH teams.

No, England are favourites this weekend. 🙂

DD is right, hence so am I.

You're welcome to the title, it'll only make the winners over confident surprise finalist utterly humiliated by England, SA or NZ anyway. 😉

Ireland instinct has them reaching for skies | The Times
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/share/uuid/981c18c0-bc52-11e4-bece-37cb40b96bfd

Sorry for the rubbish link. Wonder if any of the Irish have a take on this?

Link doesn't show more than first sentence for me. Need membership.

Guessing...

is it an English man saying kicking should be banned from the game of rugby?

😉

I think it's a "Those Irish are only any good at catching it because they've grown up playing Gaelic Football" article.

Sorry, poor first guess. Where would they be without kicking for touch.
try again...
[i]is it an English man saying [s]kicking[/s] catching should be banned from the game of rugby?[/i]

😉

I think they actually want to ban Gaelic Football.

I always thought it was the Gaelic sports that wanted nothing to do with rugby union as it was a garrison game

is it an Jonny May saying kicking catching should be banned from the game of rugby?

Ftfy

It is saying that it makes the Irish good under the high ball,hands above head,not at chest height,nothing about banning catching. And talks about the SARFU hiring some Irish bloke to teach their pro teams to catch. I think it finishes by saying that not nearly enough Irish were shot after the Easter uprising as well and the North got it too easy during the spud famine*

*The last bit may be bollocks.

I read something recently (I [i]think[/i] an interview with shaun edwards) saying that there is loads of kicking in the modern game. Due to all of the recent fuss about the battle of nantes and doping, I watched a good proportion of the game on youtube, and there was * loads of kicking! They barely passed the bloody thing! PING! up it goes! PING! up again!
They may have royally *ed the scrum up, byt the game is probably more attractive now than it was then.

duckman - Member

It is saying that it makes the Irish good under the high ball....... the North got it too easy during the spud famine*

*The last bit may be bollocks.

Very droll. 😆

As a schoolboy I remember watching Scotland/Australia at Murrayfield in the 1981 and marvelling aloud at the prowess of towering Aussie fullback Roger Gould under the high ball. The bloke behind me chipped in that he'd come from Aussie Rules by way of explanation.

I think it still happens, but I remember the first few times (I think in the eighties) the GAA had a combined rules competition with AFL where three games were played, one Gaelic Football, one Aussie Rules and one combined rules. Jesus, they absolutely mullered the living daylights out of one another. It really was like a cross between rugby and the IRA. 😀

N-Buzz,was that the tour with the Ella brothers? If it was,I was there.(Schoolboy seats)

was that the tour with the Ella brothers?

No, Paul McLean was at fly half. Marke Ella toured with the Wallabies in '84 and played fly half at Murrayfield when Scotland got thrashed (37-12). I was there too.

I think the Ella brothers tour was later. '88 maybe?

It really was like a cross between rugby and the IRA.

I remember those well - don't recall anything about the scores, or the play, or the ball but the fights were brilliant! 😆

At 22, North will become the youngest player in international rugby union history to make 50 Test match appearances - 47 for Wales and three as a British and Irish Lion.

Insane 😯

Crazy too that it is possible to rack up 50 caps in 4 years nowadays too

I read something recently (I think an interview with shaun edwards) saying that there is loads of kicking in the modern game

North is incredible (re age/caps stat)

Crazy too that it is possible to rack up 50 caps in 4 years nowadays too

Too many international games these days.

At his current rate he'll have around 150 aged 30 then!!!!

Special talent though isn't he....let's hope that he can get a bit of form.

His form has been ok for Northampton. Its getting a pass into space thats the problem.

Crazy too that it is possible to rack up 50 caps in 4 years nowadays too

Too many international games these days.

Roughly half of those must be against Australia?

All this talk about Goode has me worried. I have visions of the other one back in a white shirt and that gives me palpitations, thank goodness we are not playing a prop ( 😉 ) at 15!

Roughly half of those must be against Australia?

Probably! I couldn't find out his caps but 5 of his 21 tries have come against Australia 😀

All this talk about Goode has me worried. I have visions of the other one back in a white shirt and that gives me palpitations, thank goodness we are not playing a prop ( ) at 15!

The other Goode is a good prem player. Certainly when he was at Worcs, most of their good play cantered around him (unless they were playing the Tigers then you were guaranteed that he'd do something daft and get carded).

I still reckon he had a pint, a pie and a fag at half time though!

North's form for Saints has been pretty good. I think it's about gettng no the best out of him and Saints manage to bring him into the game, I'm not sure Wales managed that against England.

You've got to love the bloke!
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

I've just realised its a Sunday match. I'll be riding around in a field when it's on aaaargh.

I think I'd sooner have fatty Goode in my side than the other Goode. Decent prem player as Mindmap says but so easy to dislike for some reason. He looks more suited to playing a tax collector in a Robin Hood film than a professional rugby player 😀

He never did it for england, but the guy has talent in spades. Only a fool could deny that.
It does make me laugh that he's still going at a high level and in the backs despite the fact he's 34, verging on obese and he looks like this chap;
[img] [/img]

The guy has some unbelievable points records for someone so often ridiculed. Plus, he high tackled Dan Carter (he who must not be tackled in the SH) which takes some balls 😆

He'd be in my team just for the skullet....it's a thing of beauty!

That's got to be worth a few points as the opposition pause to marvel at it.

Most searched Google images are "Andy Goode Body" and "Andy Goode hair" 😆

mindmap3 - Member

Skullet! Genius,sir. I am off to purchase a hat just so I can take it off to you.

Ireland team. No surprises Murphy for Heaslip and TOD on bench.

Kearney
Bowe
Payne
Henshaw
Zebo
Sexton
Murray
Murphy
SOB
POM
POC
Toner
Ross
Best
McGrath

Cronin
Healy
Moore
Henderson
TOD
Reddan
Madigan
Jones

link doesn't work so pointless post (just like all my others)

How come Healey is on bench? Is he just back from injury or something?

From the urbandictionary.com:

skullet

This subspecies of mullet refuses to let go of its cherished plumage. Too many years of Pabst Blue Ribbon and 7-11 hookers have made this mullet confused and nonsensical. What isn't on top, it more than makes up for in the back. It keeps its locks locked-up in a ponytail for good luck and to keep the chicks hot

Jane: Bobby your daddy has a skullet!!!
Bobby: No he aint go no dog gone sku-let.
Jane: oh yeah he do Bobby
Bobby: Hey Woman how bout you go get me a beer?
Jane: *heads for the fridge*

yes

Played about 20 minutes in the last 3-4 months, v France last week

Mcgrath's been number 1 at Leinster.

Funnily enough at Leinster, Marty Moore looks like first choice on the other side now, ahead of Mike Ross.

But I like the way Schmidt's handling it and keeping Ross involved - hopefully no surprise retirements in World Cup year. You don't find experienced tightheads down the back of the sofa 😉

^You should tell Gatland that ^

Chaninging the subject slightly, apparently the Premirshicp is going to scrap relegation. Que? I don't get it, does that mean the 12 sides who are in stay in for ever?

I don't get it, does that mean the 12 sides who are in stay in for ever?

Yep, no relegation so no worries about planning for the future (investment etc) and could possibly mean teams start to play to win As opposed to trying not to loose (Leicester for example) maybe then the exciting attacking teams are going to do a bit better, as per the super 14. I hope it doesn't go down the pro 12 route though where teams only seem to care about winning to keep a European place alive and fans don't seem to care at all!

No to ending relegation. Its a league therefore teams can come into it/fall out of it depending on their performances. Whilst LW have been awful, Exeter are now top 4 contenders . I would hate to see it become the Pro12.

no relegation so no worries about planning for the future (investment etc) and could possibly mean teams start to play to win As opposed to trying not to loose ([b]Leicester for example[/b])

Yeah, they always seem to be too concerned with not getting relegated 😉

I hope it doesn't go down the pro 12 route though where teams only seem to care about winning to keep a European place alive and fans don't seem to care at all!

You English by any chance?

Relegation and promotion is important for the english game, specifically a professional 2nd tier.
I'm against complete ringfencing, however would be prepared to see an overhaul of the current system (top plays bottom/every other year/whatever). The stupid play offs need to go.

I'd happily see two up two down, with the winner of the championship gaining automatic promotion and 2-5 having a play-off. I think that comes from seeing Bristol choke the play-offs all the time. 😀

The trouble is darcy; with an expanded prem there aren't two more teams in the champ who could compete in the AP. Nobody wants to see another pathetic effort a la LW.

Oh right, yeah...don't see any reason for an expanded premiership myself...but I don't pay a lot of attention to it to be fair. I suppose it might lead to more broken players for the internationals though. 🙂

Only really Bristol and Wuss who have experience of the Prem, although the newly branded Yorkshire Carnegie (Leeds) may remember something.
Its been touted that 'basil' will be leaving Sale to join Carnegie as DoR next season so perhaps they intend to mount a premiership challenge.

It's not just the experience, it's the facilities, infrastructure, fan base, academy and the finances to mount a decent challenge. Clubs will need to bring something to the prem, which is something that seems to have escaped LW.

I don't follow the blooding young English talent pish either,end to LV and relegation and the salary cap removal will surely see a situation similar to the French league,where local players are playing second fiddle to highly paid furry-ners.I think LW are a special case,they abandoned the model that made then fairly competitive last time with disastrous results. And as somebody who played for the side currently sitting third in the Championship,what is the point of them or any other ambitious/semi pro team bothering any more?

I don't follow the blooding young English talent pish either

Two division british league with a properly organised season with international breaks.

With a quota system to keep the Welsh involved in European competition? 😉

No need for that loum,Shite floats.

Would be happy to see no quota. Wont happen though back to watching ospreys play leinster a game no one gives a **** about. Or maybe away at glasgow with a a crowd of six men two dogs and a haggis.

So Duckman was it your dog that attacked Castro?

If so hope you made sure its vaccinations were up to date first!!

Why would Welsh supporters come to Glasgow when it is a long trip and they can just see their team pumped at home and save on horseshoes and turnpike road fees!

Nowt to do with my mutt A-A, however if he was ever left alone with Ashton...

Thats it fella you come out fighting 😉

Who is this Horne fella. Shame the McShingler poach didnt work out.

Scots on a huge whingefest already, get over it ffs. YOU ATE NOT WELSH!!!

Two division british league with a properly organised season with international breaks.

Promotion between the two or from below? The later would be almost impossible to set up but with a strictly enforced wage cap it could be good I suppose.

At least between the two, probably the one below too.

Good game this

Clancy is making the scrum a farce. I thought the point was bring the front rows closer to eliminate the "hit".

FFS.

One of my mates is on the bench for Scotland today. Hope he gets on.

I hate the Clancy Clown.

Why can't McLean reproduce this form for Sale?

Here we go. Let's see how the lad plays.

Hamish has to be better than Beattie who has been rubbish.

He's certainly not been afraid of getting in about the play.

Classic hometown ref decision.

Awful reffing.

Too late clown.

HOLY SHIT!

Fantastic!

Go Italy!

I take it all back, he grew a pair in the end.
why is colin charvis the scotland water boy.