Winters coming;all inclusive rugby thread.

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 under

Posted 10 hours ago #

It isn’t Mike Tindal’s smoker 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

Got to agree with Hugh but probably best not to slag off your workmates on social media

Jesus, that’s a bad tackle. Should have been a red without doubt, but I wonder if the ref contracts have something in them saying “thou shall not criticise other refs elst thou shalt be cast adrift”. If so, then stupid man for tweeting what everyone else would be thinking.

However, seeing some refs constant bias / failure to ref certain parts of the game ( different from ref to ref) I do wonder what type of behind the scenes reviews actually happen.

Its not really a slagging though is it more a statement of fact, its not personal

Tinybits my boss is on the 6N ref panel and was at the last World Cup they were all briefed on social media protocol. I’ll find out what the craic is. They are all assessed at every match, TJ TMO and all

I agree totally AA but in his role he should have known better

I’m surprised at that, wonder why the inconsistencies then.

Ok I’ll try to explain this. The refs when employed by their unions have an obligation to not bring the union into disrepute. However at IRB contracted events like the World Cup and presumably HK 7’s there is an obligation to not bring the IRB into disrepute. ie Don’t criticise your refereeing panel team mates.

Is George Ford off to Barth then? He’s an excellent prospect-it’s hard to care where Gavlaa winds up, he hardly plays and is pretty average these days.

Ford is off to b***. Gav has been good when he’s played, but that’s not been often; started 6(?) games this season. I don’t blame him being a bit gun shy, he’s made of glass these days.
Whilst I’m no fan of their flanker skaysbrook, I’m hoping Exeter get the HC spot.

Ford’s a good prospect but really one of two things are going to happen. He’ll either become the ‘flair’ flyhalf and play against teams that have been worn down by faz, or he’ll be on the bench for the rest of his natural if faz learns to run and pass. Either way, a rubbish player to pay high wages for as a club player.

A-A,thoughts on Watkins are as been pointed out. There are very strict lets call them guidelines, on social media. Watkins had a really high profile,so is a sacrificial lamb so all the rest of the refs take the hint.

Those arent your thoughts they are a summary of what happend 😆

The WRU is becoming like the bloody mafia, they really get my goat these days. The epitome of the words self serving.

Thats a good point A-A,and it was subconscious. Fact is that I knocked reffing every week on the head this year. The realisation that a) 3/4 games a season of 5th official/running touch in the Rabo was as far as I was going to get. b)After teaching all week, who needs to spend all day Sat driving down to a Borders town to have somebody refuse to shake your hand after a game? c) My eldest is getting into the hills etc and I would rather be with him.
So now I ref local schools and u18’s every couple of weeks, but still have the conditioning to have no real(negative) opinion of another official. It is truly thankless,even at the level he moved in.

Fair points Duckman, shame you get people who are arses to ref.
Seems Wigan have confirmed Powell is off to do some ground shagging.

‘ground shagging’ 😆

Right, less than a week to go…..one name, who will be lions captain?

My choice: A W Jones