[Closed] STW 2014/15 Rugby Thread

High sixing 😀

*sings Flower Of Scotland*

High sixing

Doesn't take much 🙂

😆

Tim McVisser off to Quims,they obviously see something in him that Embra and the SRU don't.

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32123930 ]B.O'Driscoll thinks North should not play again this rugby year. [/url]

No, not [i]that[/i] BOD. 🙂

Says this season doesnt it. Which is no doubt sensible but I really do think the Drs looking after him are best placed and he should have the time off he needs not an arbitary length of time determined by someone who hasnt assesed him. If he needs a year he needs a year. If its two months its two months. Making arbitary sweeping statements doesnt help his cause imo as people will try to cover concussion up. It needs to be dealt with in a fact based manner so that the needs of individuals are met. If he needs two years so be it but let impartial experts who are caring for him decide.

I think one of the main issues a_a is that even the experts don't have black and white time scales for rest and recovery for an individual. The information you have to go on when making assessments is quite small and the information as to the best course of action as a result of that assessment information is even smaller. I don't know a huge amount about the subject but whenever I've heard the top docs in rugby talk about concussion it seems to be a very poorly understood subject and there's a lot of, usually precautionary (thankfully!), guesswork going on.

The thing I find interesting also is that head and neck injuries are very emotional subjects for discussion (quite rightly as the consequences can be severe) yet the most common injuries and injuries most affecting quality of life after retirement are those to the lower limbs.

anagallis_arvensis

stuff.....

All correct but any bets the Northampton club doctor reckons he'll be fine? (Possibly because, like North, he's paid by Northampton.)

He's seeing a consultant neurosurgeon isnt he? It needs to be someine independent.

DanW true but an expert should know how to account for some element of the unkown and take a precautionay approach. I just rhink uncle Barry say x months is not helping his very important cause.

I think uncle Barry putting his oar in is exactly what the sport and sport in general needs. Head injuries are still not being treated seriously enough in elite level sport. Ironically they are treated more seriously in the amateur and semi-professional game.

Kevin Sinfield switching codes to Yorkshire Carnegie it seems.

Head injuries are still not being treated seriously enough in elite level sport.

duckman - Member

Tim McVisser off to Quims,they obviously see something in him that Embra and the SRU don't.

Or possibly he sees something at Quins that he won't see at Edinburgh - more money and a better league to play in?

Or possibly he sees something at Quins that he won't see at Edinburgh - more money and a better league to play in?

When you are the third choice winger,the league you are playing in is academic.

High wages are being paid for people to play not sit out injured.

Where's the smiley jambas - not a serious point surely? Or if so, is it a lament?

When you are the third choice winger,the league you are playing in is academic.

True but he was back in the frame for Scotland though wasn't he?

Sean Maitland has done the same - going to London Irish.

I don't know the pay structures but I'd guess they'll both be getting more in the Premiership.

I don't know the pay structures but I'd guess they'll both be getting more in the Premiership.

Greig Laidlaw apparently doubled his salary by moving south.

The SRU is ruining the game in Scotland.

What do people think of this for a score?

Good to see a Scottish team getting some luck after the ball has rebounded off the post!

Good to see a Scottish team getting some luck after the ball has rebounded off the post!

Look again - look closer this time. The ball doesn't touch the post.

True but he was back in the frame for Scotland though wasn't he?

No,they called up Fife instead when Lamont was injured. I am sure he is getting more money,but I really can't see why a team with ambitions of winning silver is interested in him.

OK but he was on the bench.

I don't rate him much either but before he got injured he had a decent run of form for Embra. Seems like a decent finisher and direct runner but not a great all round rugby player to me.

He's fast and can score tries but for a big bloke he's a bit lightweight.

DanW true but an expert should know how to account for some element of the unkown and take a precautionay approach.

I don't think anyone really knows what do with someone in North's position, even after examination. If he messed up his leg like JDV for example it would be easy to know how much time is required to recover.

I think uncle Barry putting his oar in is exactly what the sport and sport in general needs. Head injuries are still not being treated seriously enough in elite level sport. Ironically they are treated more seriously in the amateur and semi-professional game.

Don't normally agree but I can not argue with this.

There isn't really such a thing as independent medical advice in elite rugby. There are too many interested parties funding the care/ advice and most, if not all of them want the player to play as concussions are seen as nothing being obviously physically wrong = no problem, lets get our money's worth. Players are under huge pressure to play, doctors are under huge pressure to let them play and the players themselves more often than not feel fine and want to play. Players that do seek someone outside of rugby for their advice and end up needing time off risk finding their contracts not renewed and suchlike. Northampton's first reaction to this latest KO is "he seems fine and we expect him to play next weekend" and that is a typical attitude which is hard to argue against without firm evidence of necessary recovery times etc which are a huge grey area

I see Mike Blair has signed for Glasgow. His brother is a far better player, but unfortunately made of glass.

I think the Sexton case was 12 weeks off after 4 concussions in 12 months.
It was the French Top14 rugby doctors that prescribed it, but once in place, it carried over in to the Ireland 6 nations games.

As it's a protective measure, to prevent future damage, it would make sense if something similar was prescribed in similar circumstances. However, in the North case - he's not under Top14 doctors so may be subject to different regulations and recommendations.

I think what's happening with him has become a little political, and not necessarily all in his best interests. There's two parties who'd prefer him to rest at different times.
Obviously his club would like to protect him and for him to see the season out safely.
And his country would like to protect him and for him to be in good health for September this year.

Our rules/guidelines (RBS Premiership) are that if someone has three concussions in a season then that is there season over. They also have togo through the graduated return to play protocol after each concussion. We have baseline SCAT measurements for each player also.

Wrt head injuries, the film The Crash Reel is well worth a watch if you haven't seen it. It's primarily about a snowboarder and is a very traumatic film to watch but it most definitely gives some perspective on TBIs.

Is Charles Piutau any good? I've never heard of him, Ulstet signed on a two year deal

Bravo to Geoff Cross, by the way!

Before....
[img] [/img]

Then, after raising £10k for https://www.woodenspoon.org.uk/

After..
[img] [/img]

(Insert obvious joke about Scotland, wooden spoon etc here. 😉 )

But, good work that man!

No news on the Williams citing. Must be still eating the biscuits. He strikes me as a man who would bring lots of biscuits!!

Is Charles Piutau any good? I've never heard of him, Ulstet signed on a two year deal

Yes, put it this way, if he signed for the Ospreys I'd be very pleased.

Looks shit, wouldnt get a game in a welsh region, you can have him 😉

If this lad can keep this pace and awareness, he'll go far!

http://www.eatsleeprugby.co.uk/school-boy/tyrese-johnson-fisher-tearing/

WOW!

Could the Puitau signing be sign of things to come for NZ? This guy isn't a player at the end of his career, or without any chance of playing for the ABs. This is a regular name in the match day 23 and someone who is only 23 years old. On one of the forums I follow for rugby this has got some of the kiwi posters panicking about an exodus after the World Cup.

The Ulster fans seem to be more annoyed that the significant salary that Puitau is reportedly earning wasn't spent on a back-rower.

That Tyrese Johnson-Fisher is ridiculous! He apparently runs a sub 11 second 100m. At 15! And he appears to have the brawn to go with it. I hope he's not just an early developer!

This guy isn't a player at the end of his career, or without any chance of playing for the ABs. This is a regular name in the match day 23 and someone who is only 23 years old. On one of the forums I follow for rugby this has got some of the kiwi posters panicking about an exodus after the World Cup.

Byron Kelleher ring any bells? Perhaps the best 9 they had in decades, but didn't want to play for New Zealand and left.

If this lad can keep this pace and awareness, he'll go far!

We've had a couple of lads like that in our younger teams - the thing that happens is they are brilliant at schoolboy and u20s level and set the world alight, but people catch up with them physically and they get injured a lot becasue they've not really got the technique because they haven't had to have it. They still tend to turn pro, but dont really go much further than elite development.

Nathan Hughes (Wasps Rugby) appeared before an RFU Disciplinary panel this evening, charged with striking with the knee and/or shin, contrary to Law 10.4(a), during Northampton Saints v Wasps RFC on Friday March 27 in the Aviva Premiership.

Hughes was found guilty of the charge and given a three-week ban*, starting today (March 31). He is free to play again on April 28.

Commenting on the judgement, Sir James Dingemans said "This was a three week ban on the basis that no intention was found.

"However, there was recklessness meaning that, notwithstanding the harm, it was a low entry point of four weeks with mitigation of one week to reflect his previous clean playing record."

The Panel comprised Sir James Dingemans (Chair), Aidan O'Brien and Martyn Wood.

*To include three meaningful fixtures.

Sounds like "nothing that wrong, but we have to do something for the carelessness". Kind of fair enough I suppose

You dont get a 3 week ban for doing nothing wrong. They can rule the red is enough.

Saw this on another bored
[img] :large[/img]
[img] :large[/img]

Really don't see the ban.

Lung is right. SRU have a reputation for wrecking players. They wreck them with gym work to bulk them up but as teens that ruins their bodies. Seen it with a few players from schoolboy, who should have gone places but haven't, not helped by the strange they're foreign so must be better policy they ran for a while.

CaptainFlashheart - Member

If this lad can keep this pace and awareness, he'll go far!

http://www.eatsleeprugby.co.uk/school-boy/tyrese-johnson-fisher-tearing/

WOW!

I posted up this video several pages back - do keep up.....

SRU have a reputation for wrecking players. They wreck them with gym work to bulk them up but as teens that ruins their bodies. Seen it with a few players from schoolboy, who should have gone places but haven't,

And we both know that we're talking about the very same players. Good job that they have rich parents and a decent education, in particular combustion chemistry, to fall back on.

SRU have a reputation for wrecking players. They wreck them with gym work to bulk them up but as teens that ruins their bodies.

Really? can't say I had ever heard of that reputation. One of the guys who used to be involved in the 7's and junior strength and conditioning is an aquaintance of mine. If you email me the name of the player,I could put any concerns to him.

One of the guys who used to be involved in the 7's and junior strength and conditioning is an aquaintance of mine

What's his name?

You first,you are the one making the accusations.He also did the ref's fitness course,and rehab and always seemed very switched on.

I'm not making any accusations. Plus I'm bound by patient confidentiality - so sorry but I can't say.

Williams gets 8 weeks rest...

"The disciplinary committee, chaired by Roger Morris (Wales), along with Rhian Williams (Wales) and John Doubleday (England), having viewed footage of the incident and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, found that the incident was at the top end of the World Rugby sanctions for this type of offence, meriting a 16-week starting point.

"In the absence of any aggravating factors and in light of several mitigating factors, including the player's exemplary previous playing record, the disciplinary committee applied an eight-week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for eight weeks.

"Taking into account the matches remaining this season, and two warm-up matches scheduled for the start of next season, Nick Williams is free to resume playing from Monday, 1 September 2015, and has the right of appeal."

As the irish posters on here said nothing in it not even a yellow.

😯

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32169805

North is taking a month off. It's a start, but nothing like long enough.

Seems a very short length of time to me.

He is going to be reassessed at the end of the month so it may be longer

Mils Muliaina arrested in Gloucester last night for alledged sexual assault in Cardiff a few months ago!

BM
Chiefs v Blues sky sports 3 starting now (7.30) if you want to see Piutau playing at 15

Also Cruden/SBW at 10/12 in opposition - every chance that's what Johnny and Robbie will need to beat in this year's final 😉

Do you think SBW will be chosen ahead of Nonu?

Do you think SBW will be chosen ahead of Nonu?

It's a hard one.

SBW has been consistently excellent since his return from the NRL. Nonu has traditionally been pretty average in Super Rugby but has stepped it up this season from what I've seen. Of course his partnership with Conrad Smith has been on of the best ever.

Maybe if Cruden gets the nod at fly-half that'll mean SBW alongside him. Either way, it's a good problem to have.

When it came to the crunch - 2011 RWC Final - they went for Nonu.

Roberts did a number on SBW last autumn. It was only when they took SBW off that NZ ran away with it. Roberts sucked him into a head banging dick swinging contest! Having said that I've not seen any Super rugby and that was only SBW second game back I think.

anagallis_arvensis - Member

Mils Muliaina arrested in Gloucester last night for alledged sexual assault in Cardiff a few months ago!

He started the game and was appallingly bad. Went off before half time - I assumed that he was injured and that's why he was playing so poorly. Obviously not.

loum - Member
BM
Chiefs v Blues sky sports 3 starting now (7.30) if you want to see Piutau playing at 15

I watched the Blues game last week and Piutau showed some nice touches, although didn't get much chance to excel because the Blues are going through their worst series of results in their history. They don't look good at all this season. Curiously Piutau seemed to spend a lot of time in midfield, despite playing fullback.

Guessing the ABs centre combo won't be easy.
Playing outside Cruden (if picked) should be a plus for SBW as a working combo, but CSmith and Nonu have that at Hurricanes too - with Barrett, Savea and Jane there also.
And then there's Fekitoa - playing prob better than all of them - with ASmith at 9 and BSmith at 15 for the Highlanders.
They'll use all 4, CSmith and Nonu are the tried and trusted, but IMO it'll need one of Fekitoa or SBW to really take off to win it. More likely Fekitoa.

Anyway, biggest gweekend in european club rugby so far and we're on about ABs.
Who's going to win the big Welsh derby for that semi final place.

And will Leinster stop Ford and JJ?

And the English away in France?

I'll go for 4 home wins in big cup.
And 4 home wins in the other, despite Cardiff being up already.

loum - Member

And then there's Fekitoa - playing prob better than all of them

I'll go for 4 home wins in big cup.

who's going to win the big Welsh derby for that semi final placeho's going to win the big Welsh derby for that semi final place.

I fancy the Dregs. Both v poor teams though.

come on leinster, beat the posh ****s!

@loum, yup 4 home wins look likely (Leinster winning against Bath, I admit that I've seen that score when making my prediction !)

Heads up to people here I may have 2 spare tickets to the final at Twickenham on May 2 as a mate has double booked himself and has asked me to move his tickets on. I'll be going but you don't have to speak to me !

Very close in the end...possibly dodgy penalty going Leinster's way to win it. Ford created two (and scored one of them) tries, but his game management for the rest of it was average at best. Leinster should have put the game away in the second half with their possession and pressure, but it was a bit like watching Ireland at times...kicked up in the air a bit too much in the second half, when ball in hand may have created more.

Stringer got a great reception when he came on for Bath, which was nice to see. 🙂

Does this mean we don't have to hear anything from Mike Ford for the rest of the season? Please?

Get involved #bbcrugby
Deadly Darcy: And here comes Burgess. This will be interesting.

Anyone we know?

Anyone we know?

Someone else has nicked my username!!

There can be only one!

😳

From being blocked by Matt Dawson to a mention on the BBC feed...it's been a rollercoaster of a year. 😆

Northampton in danger of this game running away from them completely. Clermont in total control at the moment.

EDIT: 20-0 down at 32 mins. 😯

Northampton in danger of this game running away from them completely. Clermont in total control at the moment.

Glad the welsh regions dont have to face that!!

27 nil at half time!

Clermont really can destroy teams at home. Have had to watch Munster getting taken apart a few times there...heroic defeats a plenty.

Ref is Lacey, ex-Munster 😀 fastest ref in the world apparently.

To be fair, nothing is going to help Northampton if they insist on missing nearly twenty tackles in the first half. Watching Clermont is like seeing how France could be if they really wanted to.

Saints humiliated. Fofana, Abendanon and the Clermont 10 are running riot.