[Closed] Winters coming;all inclusive rugby thread.

Hmm, all this crap about the ref, I'm not sure I approve

England got very lucky with Joubert at home wales got lucky with a few at home to england. Cant see the scrumsissue though.

Yesterday at 5:56pm · ""The teacher asked her class to write down on a piece of paper the type of work their daddies did.
The children, very excitedly, scribbled their answers.
One by one, the teacher asked each child to stand and describe the job.
There was much laughter and screaming, apart from, that is, little Tommy.
“Tommy, why do you look so sad?” asked the teacher.
Tommy slowly rose to his feet, and replied: “My Dad’s a stripper in a gay bar”.
The other children remained silent, as Tommy continued:
“Sometimes, he doesn’t come home, and my Mummy sits crying. Sometimes, he sells his body for other men’s pleasure.”
There were gasps around the classroom. The teacher acted quickly and dismissed the children, telling them to go out and play.
She then walked up to little Tommy, put her arm around his shoulders, and asked: “Is all that true, Tommy?”
“No, not at all, Miss. He really plays rugby for England, but I was too embarrassed to say”.

Many fans aren't doing England any favours by less than humble in defeat

TBH I have always been proud of England in defeat, other nations are the ones who are supposed to be less than humble. I would rather we have a discussion about how to move forward.

edit:

England are entitled to "seek clarity" though, I have no problem with that if it's done for the right reasons.

I agree, in fact having now read the guardian article, it appears that england are not planning to "complain" but to seek clarity. Seems ok to me, they obviously had an issue getting on with the ref or understanding how he wanted them to play, best thing to do is make sure they do understand in the future. Bloody press sensationalising again..

anagallis_arvensis - Member
Oh and Zokes could you shut the **** up and take your dull and boring little opinions elswhere?

And if you ever wanted to see a bad example of a Welsh fan, A_A presents himself as "Exhibit A".

I have never had an inferiority complex about sporting expectations for Scotland, as I have none

That IS an inferiority complex. Being too ready to believe you are rubbish.. being pessimistic, expecting to lose.

Although that was probably entirely realistic for Scotland in the last few years 🙂

To quote Rowntree:

"We were disappointed with a lot of those calls, particularly the scrum penalties. I don't buy the whole 'streetwise' thing, we just want a clean outcome. We don't practise anything different. I spoke to Steve after the game on Saturday night but, having watched it again, I need clarification."

It depends on your definition of 'streetwise'. If you mean 'better technically' then I can see some of the issue - although Wales were still better in this regard.

I think that when pundits used 'streetwise' they meant 'playing the ref'. In this instance, Wales did play Walsh better than England, but it wasn't the deciding factor in the result.

Walsh is a grandstanding show-off. Exactly what you don't want in a sport official. I always think the best compliment a referee or umpire can receive is a spectator saying to them "I didn't realise it was you who was officiating" - meaning the game just progressed correctly without any contentious decisions or non-decisions.

We played a last game of the season cricket decider for our local county premier league. Winner takes all. It was pretty even, and the opposition were batting second. One more wicket and we were through to the tail and they were still quite a way off. The umpire had previously warned our bowler about running on the 'danger area'. The fact that he had not been previously talked to about this all season is relevant, but not crucial.

Anyway, he bowls the ball and hits the lad who is scoring the runs halfway up the shin in front of all three (right arm away swing bowler to a RH bat). Absolutely plonkers in front. The sort of LBW that a batsman ought to consider walking for.

The umpire says "that's your second warning for running on the pitch, you have to be removed from the attack".

Stunned silence. So we say "OK, then but what about the LB?"

The umpire says "I didn't see that, I was looking at where the bowler put his feet after bowling the ball".

Cue a lot of quite naughty behaviour by our side. The lad in question went on to make an unbeaten fifty and win the game for them. He came to play for us the next season (as a twist).

Turns out the umpire had a reputation for having to be 'in the game' and had been hounded out of his previous league as a result. He went on to officiate in another league and we heard that he hadn't changed one iota.

Walsh has brought this on himself. If you don't want to make yourself an easy target then don't seek attention!

There's a lot of crap spouted about rugby nationalities and their so-called arrogance or whatever. Some from actual player.

My fave has to be the example in Will Greenwood's book when Andrew Mehrtens insisted that England were 'prucks to lose to' (that's a NZ accent in case you are wondering).

Turns out that Mehrtens had never been in an All Blacks side that had lost to England, so WTF did he know about it!

wrecker - Member
it would seem the English often,and in quite a nasty way,view sport as a way of vidicating an outdated nationalistic sense of superiority.And I include Twickenham crowds in this from experience
Oh, come on duckman. Why would you stoop to this level?

What utter drivel duckman. Have you never been to Twickers and enjoyed a post match beer with supporters from other nations? Win or lose there's a post match camaraderie in pubs across south west London amongst opposing fans that put many other sports to shame.

Its only on here that the welsh are perpetuating an image of an english nationalist superiority complex. Most of us have conceded that the game was won well by Wales, and that walsh has a bias, but didn't lose us the game.

Really now, what is the problem?!

Example of why other nations get cross with England and/or their fans.

Just flicked through yesterday's i newspaper, looking for the crossword. Three pages of articles about England, none about any of the other competitors. Is i an English newspaper?

We often get a sense that it's all about England, that the nation (UK) is supporting England in the 6N.

We often get a sense that it's all about England, that the nation (UK) is supporting England in the 6N.

It isn't really the media's fault that roughly five out of every six readers in their audience is English. The solution to that problem would be to read a paper published in Wales, or watch a Welsh TV channel, or listen to a Welsh radio station...

Hardly the fans fault what happens in the media molly.

I'm guessing that i sell most of their papers in Englandshire though so are catering for their biggest audience?

Just flicked through yesterday's i newspaper, looking for the crossword. Three pages of articles about England, none about any of the other competitors. Is i an English newspaper?

This is frankly bollocks, it is only today that the guardians main online page has dropped the four stories about wales and their brilliance.

Have you never been to Twickers and enjoyed a post match beer with supporters from other nations?

It isn't really the media's fault that roughly five out of every six readers in their audience is English. The solution to that problem would be to read a paper published in Wales, or watch a Welsh TV channel, or listen to a Welsh radio station...

And this. Otherwise every time I go to Wales I should moan about the South Wales Argus

duckman - Member

Yes, 3 times.

Then you should be aware - no doubt you comment was deliberately trolling.

Molgrips - the cottage I stay in has terrestrial TV only and the two channels it showns are in welsh language. Now, bearing in mind the cottage cater for visitors to wales and I suspect the minority of watchers in the cottage are indeed Welsh, I should therefore complain eh?

This is frankly bollocks

It's not bollocks - I'm just saying why people get the feelings that they do. If you pick up a paper (whatever it is) and see too much England coverage and none for your nation, which has happened in some cases but apparently not others, then it can be annoying.

However it's a perfectly valid point that most readers are English. But on the other hand, only 1 in 6 of the players in the competition were English.

The solution to that problem would be to read a paper published in Wales

No. The i is NOT an English newspaper, it's a British newspaper.

Just to make it clear - I'm not passing comment on whether it's right or wrong, and I'm not moaning about it - I'm giving an example of what contributes to anti-english sentiment in rugby.

Molgrips - the cottage I stay in has terrestrial TV only and the two channels it showns are in welsh language

English language TV is broadcast across Wales. But see above - I'm not personally moaning about coverage.

I thought in scotland the main coverage in something like the Sunday Times was what ever match Scotland were playing?

No it is, I considered taking snapshots of it since last sunday to prove this point if it came up, but then I thought how petty it was and that the welsh would just be happy with wall to wall coverage, which there undeniably has been.

what contributes to anti-english sentiment in rugby.

is a piss poor attitude, I've lost count of the facebook photoshoppings and jokes about england since our inglorious defeat, I like it, it is funny and neccesary. But if we did it in reverse it would be arrogance to the wallys. So please stop being a wally and do not raise this. If people choose to be offended/anti english it is their choice, it is not the english's fault. END OF.

it can be annoying.

"In the three meetings we have had, we looked at picking a squad at that particular time, so we didn't pick players that were injured. Some players have come back from injury, some have picked up injuries. The next six weeks before we name the squad we are probably going to end up with a few injuries as well.

"Definitely, without even thinking about it, three names come to mind. Zebo, is currently out for 10 weeks so it will be whether he gets himself back in time to put himself into contention. He is inexperienced about at the top level but you can't deny that there is something about him in terms of scoring tries and something happens when he is on the field.

"Paul O'Connell is also coming back - but can he get himself fit enough? Dan Lydiate is the other one.

Clarification is fine - would have been better if it hadn't got into the press though. Indeed I sought some clarification from our priest on Sunday, I wanted to clarify which wag had chosen Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer as the final hymn.

Kryton; if I disagree with you I am a troll, oh well thats progress, three pages ago you would have suggested I was something else. How many Calcutta cups have you been to?

Whilst I appreciate that it can be annoying, directing that annoyance at England is plainly wrong.

I quite agree.

So please stop being a wally and do not raise this.

You misunderstand. I do not agree with it, I am simply pointing it out, as a means of better understanding the issue.

I wanted to clarify which wag had chosen Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer as the final hymn.

Now that's classy, assuming you are in England 🙂

I wanted to clarify which wag had chosen Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer as the final hymn.

In the Beginning, the Lord God Almighty turned to his best friend, The Archangel Gabriel and said, "Gabby, today I'm going to create a beautiful part of the Earth and I will call it WALES. I will make a country of breathtaking blue lakes, rich green forests and dark beautiful mountains which from time to time will be covered in snow. I will give it clear swift rivers that flow with salmon and trout.

The land will be lush and fertile, on which the people can raise cattle and grow their food. Underneath the land I shall lay rich coal seams for the inhabitants to mine. Around the coast I will make some of the most beautiful areas in the world, with white sandy beaches and cliffs that will attract all manner or wildlife and with many islands that will be like paradise to all who visit them. The waters around Wales will be abundant with fish.

I will also give them some of the most naturally gifted rugby players in the world, and many fine singers. The people of Wales will be the most friendly people on Earth and will be called the WELSH."

"Excuse me, sire," interrupted the Archangel Gabriel, "Don't you think you are being a bit too generous to these WELSH?"

"Don't talk crap," replied the lord Almighty, "wait till you see the bloody neighbours I'm giving them."

😉

Now that's classy, assuming you are in England

Oh yes, the heartland of football that is SW London.

Pffft Flash, Billy Connolly called, he wants his joke back.

Yep, the old ones are the best! 🙂

You misunderstand. I do not agree with it, I am simply pointing it out, as a means of better understanding the issue.

I think we misunderstand each other! You raised it, and your point is wrong in my opinion. To understand why people get annoyed at england "arrogance" is to understand why people make the conscious choice to get annoyed about any non issue. It is a choice to get offended, and a poor attitude is what brings it about. Anything else is just an excuse.

That is a fairly arrogant attitude to have about arrogance toys 😆

Poor attitude, yes, and logical inconsistencies. But your average person isn't known for being able to separate their emotions from logic...

Anyway, after all this arguing are we at least agreed that England are the better rugby team and Steve Walsh cost us the win?

Yep, spot on Tom!

[url= http://metro.co.uk/2011/03/22/nikes-england-grand-slam-champions-2011-advert-fail-leaked-on-youtube-645855/ ]At least this didn't happen again....! [/url]

😉

That is a fairly arrogant attitude to have about arrogance toy

It's your choice to get offended by it. One does not give offence, it is taken.

Based on those who were made Lions last time around we need to find (according to wiki trying to take in to account changes forced by injury/ suspension):
5 Props
3 Hookers
5 Locks
5 Flankers
2 No 8's
3 Scrum halves
3 Fly halves
4 Centres
4 Wings
2 Full backs

Of course utility back, utility second rows, etc shake the numbers up a little bit but it gives a good rough guide.

It's quite strange looking back over some of the names that went to SA.

Backs?

3 Scrum halves- Phillips, Care, Youngs
3 Fly halves- Sexton, Farrel, Biggar (can see Hook being in for his adaptability rather than form)
4 Centres- BOD, Roberts, Tuilagi, Davies
4 Wings- North, Cuthbert, Maitland, 1/2p
2 Full backs- Foden, Kearney

Zebo, Gilroy, Laidlaw, Lamont, Visser, Hogg, Wade, Walker could be outside bets too I reckon..

And if you ever wanted to see a bad example of a Welsh fan, A_A presents himself as "Exhibit A".

care to explain why, with examples. Or is it just that I called you a **** for being racist?

*
3 Scrum halves- Phillips, Care, Youngs
3 Fly halves- Sexton, Farrel, Biggar (can see Hook being in for his adaptability rather than form)
4 Centres- BOD, Roberts, Tuilagi, Davies
4 Wings- North, Cuthbert, Maitland, 1/2p
2 Full backs- Foden, Kearney
Zebo, Gilroy, Laidlaw, Lamont, Visser, Hogg, Wade, Walker could be outside bets too I reckon..POSTED 39 SECONDS AGO #
 REPORT-POST

cant be far off. Dont think Hook will go Gatland clearly doesnt trust him. Hogg should go Kearney has done nothing to warrant a place
Foden will have his work cut out too.

Forwards

Gethin, Healey
Best, Hibbard, Youngs
Adam, Dank Hole
AW Jones, Parling, Launbury and AN Other
6 and 7 are ver tough. Robshaw, Warbs, Tips, SOB, Wood, Ryan Jones and more???
Faletau, Beattie, Heaslip.
*

Fair points a_a

With Hook out that leaves 3 specialist 10's in the squad, all of whom are sound. Thank goodness that would leave no space for ROG

Hogg in and Kearney out would leave 4 guys who can play FB or wing

Should add i would take Murray over Care.

5 Props A Jones, Healy, Cole, Jenkins, Sheridan (wildcard) or Murray
3 Hookers Hibbart, Best, Ford
5 Locks AW Jones, Launchbury, Parling, Hamilton, Grey
5 Flankers Warburton, Robshaw, Tipuric, O'Brien, Brown
2 No 8's Faletau, Beattie

....something along those lines I reckon. Maybe substitute Brown for another Jones
Can't see Foden keeping Hogg out of the squad.

With the new bigger benches they might take 6 props. The ones wrecker has picked would do me.

Not many people have a slot for Ryan Jones? I see him as a cert to tour....maybe 4 locks plus him to cover there and 6? Gray doesn't merit a place imo. Hamilton massively outshone him this 6N's

Ryan could play 6 or 4 or 8 and captain the mid week team.

With the new bigger benches they might take 6 props.

Hopefully the benches are also stronger...

Stampy O'Driscol gets 3 weeks rest.
Cuthbert out for 4 weeks with a hamstring strain that will hamper The Blues big push for erm.... Er.... something or other.

Ryan Jones has always been on my team sheet. Versatile, superbly experienced, a leader and a lovely guy to boot.

Posted Gatland's comments earlier and, to me, it sounds like he'd take Zebo, POC and Lydiate if they prove their fitness between now and end of april.

I mostly agree with wrecker, but add those two in and maybe a different hooker.

I'd left injured players out intentionally. I'd replace o brine for lydiate if fit. Wouldn't take POC though.
I like Hamilton, he's my kind of 2nd row.

Thought Hamilton had a good 6N, a good spoiler of lineout, and a bit of an enforcer on the pitch too.

I like Hamilton, he's my kind of 2nd row.

You mean he is English!

What about ian evans? Having done well would love our captain to go but the pace may be a bit rich for big jim. Talking of Gloucester captains Gareth delve was put forward by one Paper as a wild card. Don't know why but have a sneaky suspicion he won't take both north and cuthbert. Also in this day and age is gatland the type to take wild cards as uncapped Jonny may?

Delve has been playing very well, and has good knowledge of the game down there.

anagallis_arvensis - Member
Ryan could play 6 or 4 or [s]8[/s] 5 and captain the mid week team.

True

[img] [/img]

Dleve has also been resolutely ignored by Gatland. Ian Evans has been very good but may suffer if it looks like too many welshman are going. Hamilton seems a bit brainless for me. that pen he gave away v wales was absurd.

Bear - Member
Thought Hamilton had a good 6N, a good spoiler of lineout, and a bit of an enforcer on the pitch too.

POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

He did, Hamilton, Beattie and Hogg all had a good championship.

He is brainless but he's got something about him.

Here's a thing; how about an STW Lions meet? Pick a game/pub and let's have a few beers together?

Hamilton has looked like a real pain to play against. Could be a good shout.
Hines is probably still the best Scottish lock though. Possible "wildcard" if Clermont look good in the Hiney cup.

Perhaps zokes and duckman could meet? 😀

I'd be up for that....as long as it ain't too far.....and as long as a_a isn't going......or duck man.......or pigface 🙂

Seriously, sounds like a good idea.

as long as it isn't in Wales......

😆 now now Bear

Got a bit heated today on this thread 😆 herr zokes does like saying stuff that gets him some attention 😀

Well I am leaving Gods country to move to the west country next week, wont be seeing the Ospreys that often then, Exeter will be my closest rugby town.

Where is everyone based then? I'm in Stoke so in a shithole with no nice pubs but am pretty central to travel to nicer places!

Stoner Towers must be pretty central!

I'm hopefully heading west sometime mid April for some training and might try to tie into a Bath game.

I can guarantee Tom B won't turn up even if he says he will 😆

I'm London - the done thing here is to turn up to a Walkabout pub with the Aussies of course....

Haha eff off Dan!

Walkabout....London....you're not selling this very well Kryton!

Pigface, Exeter regrets your move also... 😀

London? Any pub, as the staff will all be Aussies!

care to explain why, with examples.

A quick search for your name and rugby (or anything remotely nationalistic to do with Wales, actually) will demonstrate that amply to anyone with half a brain cell. You appear to be one of the most ill tempered, bitter posters on this forum. As evidenced quite clearly by your attitude to anyone who dares mentions even a twinkle of positivity about English rugby. The fact you couldn't hold your temper last time resulted in you being banned on several occasions for hurling obscenities around. An unfortunate illiterate trait that doesn't seem to have changed

Or is it just that I called you a **** for being racist?

You might have to demonstrate how I'm a racist before you start justifying swearing again. Or was it that you just made it up based on the fact that I'm English, and therefore [i]must[/i] be racist?

I really do hope it's just all for show and bravado on STW to make you feel 'worthy', and that people in real life don't have to put up with your attitude. If not, I pity you.

Oh zokes pack it in or indulge yourself in another way.

Why is that then Toys? Got tickets for May 4 Exeter v Glawster I will be an interested neutral 😆

Oh zokes pack it in or indulge yourself in another way.

The minute A_A stops making things up and hurling asterisks at me, I shall.

Pity, as I've said before, if he could just manage his apparent debilitating deep-seated hatred better, I'm sure he'd be a much better person all round.

Zokes - leave it, it is getting boring.

some of the rules of the internet are don't believe everything you read on forums, don't get upset by what other people post etc.

AA is opinionated and passionate about Wales and Welsh rugby. He passionately dislikes England and their rugby team. That's his choice, he's obviously wrong of course, and we can easily discredit him anyway because of his unbending man love for all things orange!!!!!

Need to get more light hearted banter back to the thread and we will all be cheering for the same team soon anyway.

Well played Wales, you deserved victory. Why oh why can't you reproduce that form consistently? If you did then all the southern hemisphere sides would fear you.

Not suggesting London just pointing out how it happens.

So we need an easy to get to town with rail stations, road links and Rugby heritage.

What about one of the Premier club towns (ie Leicester, bath cardiff etc)? Or Amsterdam 😀

http://www.cafecorso.nl

🙂

because of his unbending man love for all things orange

[img] [/img]

❓

Leicester sounds good....or Bath, very expensive but a lovely city.

Bath is very good!

Zokes, I refer you to the rules of the thread 😀

2)PLEASE no individual arguments lasting more than a page;it gets tedious.

4) A-A is,for the sake of this thread,allowed to pick fault with his home nations players and coaches even after they have won the slam without losing a try.

Quite the opposite! And just for fun...

3)Ashton is,and always will be a Merchant Banker.

Duckman's crystal ball is on fire, who could have seen that being apt several months on 😆