I wonder why Ashtons diving is hated but Shanes much better dives werent.
He's not the worst defender despite his size and the odd bouncing ball blooper this season.
He's certainly one of them.
Fair point a_a, Shane's dives never wound me up like Ashton's, and he was a Welshman 😉
EDIT: in fact they didn't wind me up at all, I loved watching him play. Strange that.
Some of Shane's best work was against Scotland,but he clearly loved rugby and seemed to love playing. Ashton plays to promote "Brand Ashton" I am suprised he didn't try to patent the splash.
Interesting article on Rory Best's concussion
Ashton took that punch better than Matt Smith took Hartley's elbow a few weeks ago!
This is why I'd use Yarde. He is a powerful runner, and follows the ball like Ashton, yet doesn't come with the Ashton attitude. But he can pick lines and runs into spaces not people.
He does however have the same defensive frailty as all of the above and isn't a kicker. Guess you cant have everything.
Another Anthony watson please. His brother is a very good england 7s player apparently. Get him in!!!
Yarde was absolutely awful in the Saxons game the other day, and has been pretty crap the few times that I've seen him in the prem this year too.
Ashton is an utter ****, but if we;ve finally got a midfield capable of passing him decent ball then I can think of worse things that could happen....like Farrell getting back into the team!
Anyway, we all know that Tom Varndell is the best winger in Europe. End of 🙂
Varndel makes shane williams look like brian lima
Varndel makes shane williams look like brian lima
I don't get it. And I want to because he's coming to bristol!
Varndell can tackle, and so could Shane! Not like the chiropractor granted.
Not many were/are like Lima.
That was a superbly timed tackle. He sort of looked like he was keen to make sure Hougaard was OK before carrying on as well. I like to think he was.
That's the right way to play. Hard, but fair.
Varndell is a quality club player but no more. Yarde has the physique and running ability but has looked all at sea lately on a rugby field. Wade has real potential and I'd love to see him get a few games under his belt for England. It is weird that there is the perception that he doesn't fit the mold of an international wing where certain defensive duties are expected- North and Cuthbert can't kick or defend, Ashton is yet to learn the meaning of the word tackle... in fact I can't think of many home Nations wings known for there defensive solidness.... yet many are flippin' good at scoring tries! Wade has the ability to do exactly that... but it seems too logical 😆
Lima is a folk hero in bristol. We love the bloke.
Holy crap talk about hospital pass. Give your 10 a chance! Not the sort of service you want with Lima coming at you, or anyone for that matter
in fact I can't think of many home Nations wings known for there defensive solidness.... yet many are flippin' good at scoring tries!
Bowe
Bowe
Absolutely world class when on form. Pretty damn good even off form! Cracking player.
He's good, but he's no Varndell 🙂
Ashton took that punch better than Matt Smith took Hartley's elbow a few weeks ago!
Right, so one bloke takes a punch better than some other blokes takes an elbow from a completely different bloke. Makes loads of sense that!! 😕
Matt Smith took his elbow better than that Moreno
Varndell is/was probably the fastest player in the Premiership. At 7s he was absolutely brilliant. I thought he might make it for England but he never quite had the confidence in his abilities at that rarefied level.
I remember when England toured NZ a few years back. He had a chance to score in the corner and, as the quickest player on the pitch, the speed to do it. However, he hesitated slightly, not trusting himself, and chopped his stride a touch before going for the corner and getting pushed out by the covering tackler. That was when I thought he'd never make it as an international.
As for Wade's defence - anybody on here watch Wasps on a regular basis? I don't think he's that bad from what I've seen.
Gav didn't take this punch too well 😆
Bowe
We want a team of Tommy Bowes. Even when he is mediocre he is better than most.
Apparently the IRFU are looking to see if the Liverpool player Sakho has an Irish granny
Orange one to Bristol with immediate effect
I've been asked to post this because my husband cant get the internet to defend his boyfriend.
That was just a glorified swallow dive. He was trying to catch the ball and dive all the way over the try-line. There just happened to be someone in the way 😉
That's why the full back is better off jumping to take the ball as he then cannot be tackled and it allows a bit more time for support to get to him
Apparently the IRFU are looking to see if the Liverpool player Sakho has an Irish granny
Yeah and Dembele (The guy who's tackled and goes down a bit easily) has been called in by PSA as cover for Joanne Huget seeing as he's French already.......
A nice read
[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11404665/How-England-forgot-Harry-Walker-its-oldest-surviving-rugby-union-player.html ]Harry Walker. England's Oldest Surviving International[/url]
North out Williams in due to one too many bangs on the head. Otherwise unchanged as long as Lee recovers from his bang on the head (please god). Gethin still in at least its a sunday..who will be the scottish tighthead? Wales best hope is if scotland try and run it a lot, we are screwed if they kick to the corners and pressure the lineout.
Varndell is a quality club player but no more. Yarde has the physique and running ability but has looked all at sea lately on a rugby field. Wade has real potential and I'd love to see him get a few games under his belt for England. It is weird that there is the perception that he doesn't fit the mold of an international wing where certain defensive duties are expected- North and Cuthbert can't kick or defend, Ashton is yet to learn the meaning of the word tackle... in fact I can't think of many home Nations wings known for there defensive solidness.... yet many are flippin' good at scoring tries! Wade has the ability to do exactly that... but it seems too logical
Yarde has looked a bit squiffy since moving to 'Quinns. He is quick but he seems to lack any form of rugby brain - some of his decisions (when to kick, pass, take contact etc) are awful from what I've seen at Quinns. He looked better for a poor Irish side.
Cuthbert also seems to have the turning circle of an oil tanker when the ball is put in behind him.
Right, so one bloke takes a punch better than some other blokes takes an elbow from a completely different bloke. Makes loads of sense that!!
I meant that Manu's punch was something else - he did really well to not go down like a sakc of spuds whereas Smith dropped like a footballer when given 'a bit of an elbow' (Dorrian West's words not mine).
Cuthbert also seems to have the turning circle of an oil tanker when the ball is put in behind him.
Whilst I agree, you need to bear in mind the fact that wales defend with the wings up leaving 1/2p to cover lots of ground. So when both him and north have to cover back they will have further to go. Will be interesting to see if Williams who can kick will drop deeper and help 1/2p more. We might see more cpunter attacking from 1/2p if he has more support although the welsh backrow rarely have one drop back either which makes counter attacking hard.
we are screwed if **INSERT NAME HERE** kick to the corners and pressure the lineout.
That's what you said before the England game too. Can we take it as read for the rest of the championship? 😉
Yep. Welsh lineout was shit and and the maul defence poor. Hence wales hardly getting out of their own half v england in the second half. If scotland try and play expansive rugby without doing the donkey work first wales have a chance. Or if we can convinced Hogg to get sent off at the start.
Minmap3 - I know what you meant, I just don't see the relavance. Just sounded like an excuse to slag off Matt Smith. And Dorian is a grade A Tosspiece!!
And yes I am a Tigers fan.
Minmap3 - I know what you meant, I just don't see the relavance. Just sounded like an excuse to slag off Matt Smith. And Dorian is a grade A Tosspiece!!And yes I am a Tigers fan.
I'm not a supporter of either (Worcs for my sins) but Smith seemed to be looking for niggle that day and the fall did seem a bit OTT.
It'll be interesting to see how Wales cope with the pressure this weekend and what kind of game plan that they'll adopt - I'd imagine that a win is more important so expect it to be a back to basics approach. Scotland could be dangerous - they seem pretty good (annoying) at the breakdown and have worked out where the try line is. I think they'll beat a couple of teams this year and I have a feeling it may be England, Italy and one other.
The English approach to Italy will be interesting too - a big victory may be needed for points difference come the end of the 6N. With this in mind, I hope they don't look to score as soon as they get the ball. They need to create the space first. The trouble is Italy have a habit of dragging teams into a slugfest.
what kind of game plan that they'll adopt - I'd imagine that a win is more important so expect it to be a back to basics approach.
Wales played a basic game v england, they play a basic game v everyone. Crash bang kick long in field.
I hope Wales kick it long, we have a lineout I would put against any in the 6N.Should be a cracking day for it according to the met office. Should be a cracking day out
Up at Murrayfield.....looking forward to seeing finn Russell, Bennett and Hogg hopefully take the game to wales.
I just feel Scotland will be annoyed at the near miss in France so will tear into the Welsh.
England hopefully will play with some passing the forward battle should be intresting.
Ireland vs France........close call.
I think they'll beat a couple of teams this year and I have a feeling it may be England, Italy and one other.
I'd be interested to know why you think they'll beat England enough to name them, but no mention of wales.
It's a twickenham game too. I'd be VERY surprised at anything other than a convincing England win.
hope Wales kick it long, we have a lineout I would put against any in the 6N.
Wales will kick long but infield and chase slowly in a big defensive line. Just like v england as we like to give lots of oppotunity for the oppositions best attacking player to get plenty of ball.
England - Italy 2013: 18-11 Eng
England - Italy 2012: 19-15 Eng
Neither convincing wins. I know we hammered them last year, but Italy do have the ability to force a real grind of a game. I do think we'll win, but I don't think its going to be a try-fest (please let me be wrong 😉 )
A-A,almost Scottish in that attitude to the way your team will play. I worry about how our centres will deal with yours,but they are both very clever and I thought the got the better of the Bath pair in the cup match.Is Ball playing or has how much more manly and luxuriant Geoff Cross's beard is made him pull a tactical hammy?
