Wales somehow managing to just keep getting worse
In their defence they were better against France than last week, but France were excellent yesterday.
Scotland outplayed England in almost every aspect of the game, although after Arundell's red I decided I'd spend my time better walking the dog, so I opted out of the second half - as an England-er it was tough to watch. Keeping the ball in hand is a better strategy against a team who are better than you at kick-chasing and counter-rucking.
on our boys rugby whatsapp English mate asked Scottish mate who his MOM was - answer Henry Arundell 😆
Shane WIlliams last week struggled all commentary with pronunciation of Arundell, enunciating each syllable.
Shane WIlliams last week struggled all commentary with pronunciation of Arundell, enunciating each syllable.
Sounded like he was talking about Prince Hans from Frozen!
I'm not at all 'anyone but....' but after this start I'm rummaging through the cupboards for a beret and some onions. Breathtaking
France have always been my second 5N/6N team - they play such an exciting brand of rugby. I remember them back in the 90s in a RWC playing and beating the All Blacks (i think) with an inspirational display of running rugby, so disappointed they couldn't back it up in the final.
From what I have seen of the URC and the imbalance between countries and budgets it is a pointless competition where only a few teams can win. Time for a full British competition, 2 10 team leagues maybe more with a pyramid below. France’s 2nd division is well supported and shown on TV be great to follow that model.
I was watching Montauban vs Begles Bordeaux a few weeks ago. The budgets were mentioned - Montauban's is £13m, Begles' is £38m. (Probably Euro, but I can't find that on my keyboard!)
In comparison, the WRU have offered the four Welsh regions about £4m each, if I remember correctly. Wales' second division occasionally makes it onto S4C digital, gets 30 minutes of highlights on normal TV and doesn't get any real coverage anywhere else. Meanwhile, as you say, I can watch France's second string teams, NZ second string teams, Japanese rugby...
Glasgow and Edinburgh have little more than wales to spend on players but not significantly. Glasgow are good 🙂 Its not just about money. Part of it is selection and recruitment. We do not overpay for stars, we develop young players and make stars out of journeymen overseas players. ( Many of them were at a crossroads in their career or out of contract) We accept stars will move on in the second half of their careers.
Edinburgh are still shit tho
Oh I enjoyed the calcutta cup 🙂 Much unexpected joy
Glasgow and Edinburgh have little more than wales to spend on players but not significantly. Glasgow are good
Its not just about money. Part of it is selection and recruitment. We do not overpay for stars, we develop young players and make stars out of journeymen overseas players. ( Many of them were at a crossroads in their career or out of contract) We accept stars will move on in the second half of their careers.
I love your positivity, but what have Glasgow, Edinburgh or Scotland actually won with their miniscule budgets?
Also Glasgow have won a pointless competition that only a few teams can win called the URC.
Just watched the Scotland England game, was a cracker. I enjoyed when Pollock came on he got verbals at every stoppage. Tuipoloto is a complete shithouse 😀😀😀. Would love to know what was said.
Glasgow and Edinburgh have little more than wales to spend on players but not significantly.
This is complete garbage I'm afraid!
I mean Wales a shit, we know it, they know it and they are coached by the keystone cops but I am still not really wanting to take advice from Scottish rugby who have never won a six nations....
Currently, the four regions (Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets) operate with reduced funding around £4.5m–£5.2m
While exact, separated figures are rarely public, Edinburgh's player budget was reported to be around £8 million for the 2023/24 season, a level expected to remain similar for 2025/26 despite pressures to smaller squads.
I'm hoping that the injuries aren't as bad as first thought but I'm afraid it was definitely bodies on the line stuff.
Even ford, who's usually quite composed, was rattled.
This is complete garbage I'm afraid!
No its the truth. Welsh fans do not like this fact but its the truth. Welsh fans love to play this card that the nasty WRU refuse to fund them - its bobbins. They have similar player budgets to most other URC teams and more than some
Glasgow are top of their champions cup group with 4 bonus point wins including against much richer teams. Recent URC win, Sitting pretty in the URC now
Edinburgh are still shit
Currently, the four regions (Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets) operate with reduced funding around £4.5m–£5.2m
While exact, separated figures are rarely public, Edinburgh's player budget was reported to be around £8 million for the 2023/24 season, a level expected to remain similar for 2025/26 despite pressures to smaller squads.
I presume you missed this so I posted it again.
I do understand that you think it's just the thick Welsh teams, their coaches and the fact that they spend all their money on the stars...like erm...
Zammit, no not him, Tomos, no not him, erm Jac Morgan, no not him he's off to England, OK Lake, oh no not him, or Beard?, no not him,
They have similar player budgets to most other URC teams and more than some
Any evidence for this, I guess technically we might have big budgets than one or two Saffa team but I have no idea about their contract systems tbh...I expect Eben gets paid by SA
England team to face Ireland
England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Pollock
Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Van Poortvliet, M Smith
Surprised that Arundell gets another go. Pollock to start is exciting
This is complete garbage I'm afraid!
No its the truth. Welsh fans do not like this fact but its the truth. Welsh fans love to play this card that the nasty WRU refuse to fund them - its bobbins. They have similar player budgets to most other URC teams and more than some
My point wasn't about Wales vs Scottish budgets, it was about trying to compete in a world where a fairly crap French team has a budget of almost the size of three Welsh sides combined, and a good French team has a budget ten times the size of a single Welsh team.
You jumped in with how great Glasgow are - despite the fact that they've won the URC on fewer occasions than the Ospreys, and, as pointed out, Scotland haven't won a competition of any kind in over 30 years. If you (and other Scottish fans) think that's acceptable then that's fine, but I don't. It frustrates me. Wales and Scotland cannot compete with that level of funding, player development, facilities, any of it. It's a different world.
But, this is the knd of conversation that used to take place on these rugby threads - we've been over this ground many times - and it's pointless retreading it.
Wales team to play Scotland
Wales:Rees-Zammit; Hamer-Webb, James, Hawkins, Adams; Costelow, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Francis, Jenkins, Carter, Plumtree, Mann, Wainwright.
Replacements:Elias, Smith, Griffin, F Thomas, Botham, Hardy, J Evans, Murray
The Tandy Tombola has really pulled out some odd ones this week. Costelow...another inexperienced, you midget 10, this time with the added ability to not be able to kick more than 25m, Hamer Webb, another English based reserve team player.....to replace the winger that had done ok, not the the one who is unfortunately past it, James a good young prospect 12 at 13 after France ripped that channel apart last week, luckily Scotland don't have the ability to attack that channel 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔😬😬😬😬😱😱😱😱. Carter has done nothing to suggest he can play at this level and Plumtree is a player with all the Physical gifts but gets more yellows than a faulty traffic light.....
And just for TJ who says Wales are rubbish because the thick Welsh overpay stars to play in Wales
Zammit - Bristol
Hamer Webb- Leicester
Tomos -Gloucester
Carre -Saracens
Lake -Gloucester next season
Francis - Provence
Jenkins - Exeter
Wainwright-Leicester next season
Then on bench
Smith,Griffin, Thomas all England based
Hamer Webb has been really good for Leicester when he's played. Strong carrier, quick, good under the high ball and can finish. His issues has been that he's behind the exceptional Adam Radwan when fit.
Got my WRU email this morning - they are desperate to sell more tickets.......I'm not sure i want to spend too much folding when they are this awful.
At this rate their revenue is only going to support 2 regions.....
Will Carling called the RFU old farts or similar....what is the current name for the WRU committee?
Got my WRU email this morning - they are desperate to sell more tickets.......I'm not sure i want to spend too much folding when they are this awful.
My brother was booking tickets for 2027 World Cup games last week and asked if I was interested. I replied that I'm boycotting games in Cardiff, never mind flying to Australia to watch them get hammered. We were offered free tickets for a couple of 6N games but said no. The person who offered them to us said that he can't even give them away.
Hamer Webb has been really good for Leicester when he's played
He has, but I think the point is that the problem isn't on the wing. We had a decent performance at 10, so Edwards gets dropped completely and a Scarlet who has completely failed at international level gets brought in for his umpteenth chance. We have decent back rows sitting watching TV while penalty magnets Mann and Plumtree show that they aren't quite good enough yet again. And we have another penalty magnet on the other wing, while we talk about players who aren't performing...
Hamer Webb has been really good for Leicester when he's played.
Yep he is a decent player, that's not my point, the point is we need a settled team and consistency. I reckon Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets would all beat this Wales team (hypothetically as we'd have to clone a few players) as they are better organised and know what they are doing....
OK maybe not Scarlets 😀
and a Scarlet who has completely failed at international level gets brought in for his umpteenth chance.
Costelow - 21 appearances and 54 points in those appearances. That's quite the stat for an 'attacking' outside half. On average, he's not even kicking one penalty per appearance! 😀
Predictions for the weekend?
England vs Ireland
This is the pick of the weekends games. Ireland haven't played that well so far Italy got fairly close in Dublin, starting Crowley instead of Prendergast seems like a good decision, but I think England at Twickenham will probably just have too much for a under performing Ireland.
England Win, Losing BP for Ireland
Wales vs Scotland
It would be the most Scotland thing ever to back up a brilliant performance against England by capitulating to Wales, but honestly I don't see it. Wales has some serious defense issues, Scotland love to score tries.
Easy bonus point victory for Scotland
France vs Italy
France obviously. Don't get me wrong Italy are a vastly better side than even a couple of years ago but France just look inevitable. All that power up front, probably the best half back pairing on the planet and an amazing back line.
Easy Bonus Point victory for France but I hope Italy run a couple of tries in too.
WRU still trying to flog tix this afternoon - there do seem to be fewer available seats than last week mind. Maybe everyone's hoping for that Unicorn Wales victory. I'm afraid I don't properly recognise a few names in the squad (tho Costelow is not one of them) so suspect it's Scotland's to lose.
Predictions for the weekend?
I am hopeful Wales can keep it under 50 this week and prove we don't actually need a defence coach!!!
Nothing's ever easy for Scotland, it's just not in our DNA
Hoping for another bonkers game between Wales and Scotland. As a neutral its usually a fun watch, I would be a nervous wreck if I supported either team though. Ireland to upset England as per the U20's ???
Another day for Ireland? Or rather an England pummeling.
England not at the races today
Disappointing or embarrassing - not sure why he keeps picking the same players who underperform. Ireland look to be back to their normal self.
Wasn't expecting this!!
, I would be a nervous wreck if I supported either team though
Don't think Wales fans are expecting much...
Ooft how wrong was I, England have been really poor. Ireland just dominating everything but the scrum.
I guess England just didn’t turn up again, was it?
That will be a lovely pint of Guinness tonight.
Well that was splendid.
Well that's wrecked my fantasy team two weeks in a row.
I guess England just didn’t turn up again, was it?
Turned up, but clearly had never played a game of rugby in their lives and were completely unfamiliar with the basic premise, such as "tackle", "kick", or indeed "score". Couldn't find their arse with both hands and a map, couldn't find touch from a penalty, absolute embarrassment.
And for the first 10 minutes Ireland were no better, but they just grew into the game while England shrank away from it
Suspect I should have taken one of those last tix in Cardiff
Costelow has filled out a bit
Eddie James has been watching Len Ikitau and is playing like an extra backrow
I'm going back to watching Dad's army
