If we can't agree on Hamilton; its wildcard time!
I'm volunteering shaw. Yes he's old, but he's wise, playing brilliantly for Toulon and is rugby to the core.
Shaw is a freak. Quite how a second row is still playing regular rugby at his age is beyond me.
He toured in 97 ffs!
I'm volunteering shaw. Yes he's old, but he's wise, playing brilliantly for Toulon and is rugby to the core.
lets have hill, dilly dally and back too!
Why not!
M Williams was about the same amount past his best when he last toured!
Fair one wrecker, but is he better than Hines? 12 months ago it would have been Grey and A.N. Other in second row, but Grey has been poor this year. Hamilton is a monster,but if the game is played at pace he struggles. When we were able to drag the other team into a close quarter brawl (henceforth referred to as proper rugby) a la Ireland game,then he is brilliant.
Thing that is going to mark this team is that there are no players going who are the best in the world in their position. It means Gatland has to find the correct "mix" of players who complement the things each are good at. I can't wait,and the Aussies are not the mugs people think they are, even up front.
If we're taking ageing second row wildcards, then Hines is a great pick.
But I'd be happy with Hamilton going too. To be fair, I'll support whoever's in the team once it's picked. Ryan's not popular on here, but he's a good lineout organiser and jumper, and plays a fair bit at 6 too so not slow for a lock. Probably "suited" to the Oz conditions, but not had as good a year as last season so unlikely to go.
I've heard he's gonna take 35 or 36 so you've still got a few spots free in that squad from earlier.
Fair play for posting something up for others to critique, aa, it's a lot braver than just picking holes in someone else's choice. Doesn't really matter how serious you were, and whether that was "who you'd take" or "who you think He'll take"?
You've chosen to leave them out, but personally I can't see Kearney, Zebo, O'Brien, and Heaslip not going.
And I can only guess that you must have forgotten about Gordon D'Arcy. 😉
Zebo would be a good option and I see Bowe is back fit both can cover more than one position too. I dont rate Heaslip and SOB is a bit like Phillips fantastic rugby player but whats his position
And for the record I'd take Gav (fnarr, fnarr).
Don't rate Heaslip myself either, but there's still talk of him as a possible Capt. Very bad move IMO, but I'd say that probably put's him on the plane. Maybe midweek captain?
SOB is the best 7 in Europe.
He is also the best 6 available.
So I reckon he'll be at 6, with Faletau and Tipuric.
Not much mention of Ryan Jones-he'd probably be my captain, if not then definitely the midweek captain. Probably a better option in the second row than some of the names being touted too.
Loum,I think Gatland will have enough options to include Warburton with SOB and Falatau, Not a bad back row.However I think Beattie would add a bit to that,I have always seen Falatau as a carrier for hard yards, Beattie is quicker and fitter. Let SOB be the seven and Warburton and Beattie would love the space.
Surfer are seeing this year as some sort of a blip
Well I havent said that but some of the play this season has been outstanding and some outstandingly bad!
SOB is the best 7 in Europe.
He is also the best 6 available.
One of those comments is wrong, the other is very wrong and his form hasnt been good since his hip op.
One of those comments is wrong, the other is very wrong and his form hasnt been good since his hip op.
Agreed. SOB should never be ahead of warbs, robshaw or tipuric for 7, nor lydiate or wood for 6.
Kick an injury time winner in a world cup final and be a national hero forever or.......top up ya tan, its your call Gav 😆
,I have always seen Falatau as a carrier for hard yards, Beattie is quicker and fitter.
Faletau has his faults but he is a ****ing hard working machine, look at his tackle stats they shame most other 8's no way Beattie is fitter although he is a better carrier. I doubt Beattie is faster either check out the second one against exeter, the lad has serious wheels
Ryan Jones was outstanding v France but Gatland has only picked him to cover injuries in recent times he is also currently broken I dont know for how long.
Lydiate will go, I'd bet my reputation on it 😉
wood for 6.
good point I'd forgotten about him after his time at 8 (which was very forgetable). Ferris is the only 6 near or better than an on form Lydiate and he's broken too.
Ferris is a girl. The most over rated back rower in the game.
I'd start Beattie over faletau, sorry a_a.
No need to be sorry, thats what its all about. I just dont think Duckmans view on him was right in terms of the type of player he is.
Surely Waldrom is the stand out 8? He's the sort of athlete that could really excel down under 🙂
WHilst I realise you don't rate him AA, Croft at number 6 is going to be almost a certain given the fast pitches they are going to be playing on. He was bloody excellent yesterday as well.
Croft at number 6 is going to be almost a certain giv
I'll be shocked if Croft is picked. He was awful v wales
One bad game doesn't make a bad player.
Just as one good one doesn't make a good player. I'll bet a pint he's picked for at least one test.
Ferris is a girl. The most over rated back rower in the game.
And your reasons for this ridiculous statement are?
I'll bet a pint he's picked for at least one test
done
He was shockingly bad v italy too. He wouldnt have got in the team at all if Wood hadnt shifted to 8 to replace Morgan. He's done nothing of note at international level since the last Lions tour.
Tom B - Member
Surely Waldrom is the stand out 8? He's the sort of athlete that could really excel down underPosted 10 hours ago #
It isn't [s]Mike Tindal's smoker[/s] sorry,the WC, so this time they are going to mostly play a bit of rugby, so no need for the fat bloke on the tour, who doesn't play, but can skull a yard of ale faster than anybody.(every club has one!)Actually yes there is... (tannoy)Jacobson to the departure lounge!
The thought of chunk and fatty bumbum waddling out against the Aussies makes me smile 🙂
And your reasons for this ridiculous statement are?
Pretty simple. He's like Haskell but less intelligent 😀
That's not possible, he'd keep forgetting to breath.
Chunk has been working through his badges as he did the SRU rugby apprenticeship years. I remember being on a course with him a few years ago, two things;1) he is a wide as he is tall,yet strangely quick. 2) He drinks pints of wine.
Somebody has also "updated" his Wiki entry 😀
Allan retired from international rugby on 19/11/2012 [3] and is set to compete at the next winter olympic games in the skeleton bobsled event. His natural streamlined, athletic body shape is sure to make the transition from international rugby to falling down a hill a simple one.
2) He drinks pints of wine.
Is that true? 😯
Pretty simple. He's like Haskell but less intelligent
That made me laugh at least! Fez is a cracking player and if fit would have been a nailed in starter. In every aspect of the game he is very good and excellent tackling, carrying and in the line out. Just a pity he wrecks himself all the time.
Anyway back row of SOB, Tips and Toby for me
excellent tackling, carrying and in the line out.
I can't argue with that, but back row play has evolved. Lydiate, Wood and SOB as smarter players offer more.
My NI family worship him; he comes from the same village as my grandparents lived and went to the same school as my dad, and my cousins currently attend.
Wrecker; it was part of a game...but yes, he wandered about the tables with a pint glass hoovering up. SRU free bar mind so rude not to. Those were the days, now you get drinks vouchers....bah!
So...it was a free bar and he went around minesweeping? Sounds like a hell of a night....
So, the almighty orange one looks set on a move to Bath.
That's a bit too close for comfort (I can see the ground from my house).
My b*** supporting colleague is NOT pleased. 😀
Oh Lordy, that's funny. 😆
So, the almighty orange one looks set on a move to Bath.
really? When he's played this season he has been very good. Hasnt played much
Yep! Can see it as an Oly Barkly type replacement.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22248375
Second Bridge will be rammed with orange hunters!
It seems they view him as a 12. B*** have no need for a 10 with Ford on the way and Heathcote playing well. Mind you, they don't really need a 12; Eastman is a very good player and getting better all the time.
If they want him at 12 I hope his tackling improves. He has been very, very good at times for Welsh any premiership club would benefit from having him playing well and regularly, but he has looked very tackle shy which is actually OK for a 10 who is the only playmaker as he has been at Welsh, you dont want him at the bottom of a ruck but I have my doubts. His passing game is still as good or better than any other player I've seen and he can kick from hand and the deck as well as most. If Bath can keep him away from the ice cube try and uninjured he could be a good signing.
A-A; This season He has been heard to shout "Please God,not the face" before making a tackle. Duncan Weir released from hospital today,surgery successful on his broken leg,poor wee sod. xmas comeback 🙁
He's not been that bad, he certainly hasnt been used as a speed bump like O'Gara gets, when he has to he has tackled but its all round the ankles stuff, no hits. Glad Weir looks to be doing OK. Was meaning to ask you your thoughts on the Hugh Watkins resignation
Finally, spare a thought for Welsh referee Hugh Watkins, who has resigned even before the WRU meted out a 12-week ban for his angry tweet over the appalling tackle in the Fiji v Wales Hong Kong Sevens final."Sorry that's a shocker. Had to be red no other option. We need referees to be consistent in this," tweeted Watkins after he watched Ilai Tinai piledrive Lee Watkins headfirst into the ground. Once again, few could deny he was right.
Watkins has been around for yonks. He's a good official with a good record of long service who was eyeing a well-earned semi-retirement spot in the TMO box. Yet he was not even given the time of day by the IRB, who more or less instructed the WRU to take Watkins to task.
The WRU also failed to recognize Watkins' outstanding long and faultless service giving him a ban the same length as that copped by Jerome Fillol for spitting in Peter Stringer's face. Watkins, disgusted by the whole scenario, resigned for life just before the hearing.
12 weeks? For a tweet? A tweet that reflected public opinion, stated an opinion and not once made any kind of personal attack on anyone involved in the incident beyond telling it as it was: a shocker.
Just for the sake of consistency, we feel we should now challenge the WRU and officially wonder what Adam Jones will get for his tweet of support, which was also a distinctly welcome instance of telling it as it is: 'Maybe If the WRU worried about themselves and the regions sorting their crap out and not banning a ref for tweeting we may get somewhere!'
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_8665672,00.html
Hugh Watkins ?@Hughwatkins
For the record I have been given a 12 week suspension by the WRU for a comment on Twitter. Fillol spits in face of player and gets same ban
Hugh Watkins ?@Hughwatkins
Sorry that's a shocker. Had to be red no other option. We need referees to be consistent in this.
This is tweet that got me 12 weeks.
this was the tackle in question
[img] 
[/img]
Got to agree with Hugh but probably best not to slag off your workmates on social media
