Can’t believe the French season is still going on! Win the league and report back the following Monday for pre-season. Good to see HP back.

Rugby ace was ‘miffed’ to fail breath test

@duckman yes indeed and final in Barcelona due to Euro 2016 too ! Bummer as I was hoping to see the final and a lot of quality on show. Gutting for Clermont who had looked to have the game won. Highlights below

Quite a few changes for 2016/17 Season. Both Armitage’s leaving Toulon along with Michalak. Trinh-Duc in (always felt he was a decent player who hasn’t had the run he deserved). POC retiring – haven’t seen him much perhaps injured ?

Transfers[/url]

I may be wrong, but Im pretty sure that POC announced his retirement pretty shortly after the RWC…..don’t think that he was ever going to fully recover from his injury.

Indeed

Allegedly increeeeeedibly difficult to stand off the pitch and more detrimental to a team than helpful

^ said that at the time 😉 🙂 Made the referees job pretty easy

Nick Phipps at no 3??????? How are those ratings computed then?

He was total pish in the 2nd test. If he’d played like Gareth Edwards in the 1st test then maybe it would average out – but he didn’t.

I think passing a lot and playing quite a few minutes works in Phipps favour with the ranking system they used 😉

After an evening of dinner with drinks, a visit to a club, a quick kip then a 4am breakfast with yet more drinks you take a taxi to get your car. A taxi to collect your car. How about a taxi home, get your car much later ?

Desperately sad really

I bumped into Danny Cipriani out on the booze in Denver Colorado playing for the Saxons 5/6 years ago. The next day he & a few others were sent home for breaking curfew. He definately needs to sort himself out rapidly.

I think the ABs have Highlanders flanker Elliot Dixon at 6 with Kaino dropping out of the 23 as Hansen elects to look at some talent ahead of the RC.

It looks like 11 changes positional/personnel in the 23 but with no appreciable weakening of the side.

Highlights the lack of depth Wales have – a great starting XV but struggling a little once injuries take hold. Still, I think they’ve actually played really well and it’s been nice to see something other than Warrenball. Don’t think the third test will be any different but if Wales could hit enough purple patches then anything is possible….

Ooooh….spendy
https://www.canterbury.com/men-c1/the-lions-t127#page1:infscr23774

Why do the Lions have to have their kit made by a NZ company? They’ll go down there with the subliminal message that NZ stuff is better. Why can’t they have kit made by a British or Irish firm?

Likewise for England – their kit is by Canterbury too. Why??

Just because Canterbury presumably offer more money doesn’t mean they should make the England shirts. The RFU have more money than the rest put together so it shouldn’t matter.

It was made by nike previously. All about the money and there are relatively few players. I understand it’s substantial.

How long do you give Francis before he runs out off puff? 10 minutes? Perfect player to face the AB’s!

J. Savea has been quite out of sorts so far this season, non? Ardie is pretty bloody good! When I first saw him play, the speed and agility of his running had me thinking he was a winger, but he can clearly handle the grunt work too. Quite a thing to opt not to go to the olympics for a chance with the AB’s too.

On the shirts and kits, as far as I am aware Adidas absolutely dominate the rugby market. I guess companies like Nike and Canterbury are throwing a ton of money at a few key things to try and change this but it is having little effect

England the same except Haskell injured. He’s been a stand out player, I hope the new bloke is decent.

Hasn’t he played at 8 for a lot of the season? He’s more hask-esque than Clifford who is faster and more mobile (more of a traditional open side).

His father was English which makes him as well qualified to play for England as George North 🙂

Should be a proper British sportswear logo on our shirts: