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I see Bath have signed Burgess or England have or something. I saw some stats recently and if he plays 12 he'll be bigger than Roberts 😯
In fairness I don't think many will be bigger than him! Be interesting to see how he copes with the smaller steppy players running at/round him. In league he seems to just deal with the big fellas just running straight at him (and deals with them very well!!) whereas in union he'll have to deal more with the more agile runners.
A hell of an athlete though, I can't wait to see him in action.
I see Bath have signed Burgess or England have or something. I saw some stats recently and if he plays 12 he'll be bigger than Roberts
6kg and 3cm difference if you believe Wikipedia (which we've discussed the accuracy of in the past!). 13cm taller but 4kg lighter than Bastereaud if you believe Wiki. Proof that being a big lump doesn't necessarily translate to destructiveness at Centre 😉
SBW isn't far off any of these guys as far as the numbers go either yet you don't tend to think of him as a big guy due to his agileness and offloads. Lots of variety in how a big lump can play Centre! 😆
Basteraud could easily lose 4kg of lard though! He's broken for fridays game with Wales, shame as it will means Fickou starts and he scares the hell out of me especially if up against a very rusty Davies or North who has only played about one whole match at 13 in his life.
Our Gav doesn't seem to get much of a look in as Bath seem to have a lot of good centres as well as flyhalves (Daddy isn't going to drop George Ford anytime soon!) Can't imagine he'll still be there next season.
Burgess looks to be a complete monster. Decent step, good pass and even a bit of pace from the highlight reels on you tube. If he can convert, then having Tuilagi and Burgess running at you is going to give you a hell of a headache, however it's a big if, not many league players have made the really successful switch and I'm not holding my breath, although obviously there's some hope!
Irish Rugby needs to get a decent PR/ Media person ASAP. Gareth Thomas/ Nigel Owens/ anyone living in the real world in 2014 may wish to have a word with Kevin Francis some time. [url= http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/oval-talk/ex-ireland-star-francis-gay-people-no-interest-201512894.html ] "Gay people have no interest in sport"[/url]
Well its fairly clear that he wants to compare himself to SBW and even he took about 3 years to really get a grasp of Union. I can't help but think Sam has left it a little late, he doesn't come over until October, so he's not going to be ready for the AI's. 6 nations are going to be a huge push, and then he's only got til the summer really to make his mark. Having said that, I think Lancaster will have him in the EPS for all of that just so he can see how he's developing first hand.
As said above though the prospect of Sam breaking the line and then offloading to Tuilagi running at a scrambling defence is going to cause some defensive headaches for opponents.
On the other hand I think SL has learnt his lesson recently that having two crash and bash centres doesn't offer as much as a ball handling 12. So it could be him and Tuilagi fighting for one place. Not a bad dilemma to have as not many weary defences would want to see either one of them taking off their tracksuit and warming up.
Bath and RFU fighting over who is paying the bill
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10638549/Bath-owner-claims-RFU-pledged-to-pay-Sam-Burgess-500k-transfer-fee-and-its-they-who-are-pushing-deal.html
Francis is an utter ****, always has been always will be
Nigel Owens ?@Nigelrefowens 8h
Disappointing to read Neil Francis comments. There are loads of gay people in sport. Most are just not out. Wish they wd stop stereotyping
Nigel Owens ?@Nigelrefowens 6m
Sport is for all. No matter who you are or where your from. Many gay people play sport at all levels. Just most have chosen not to come out
Does Francis work for the IRFU? I thought he was a journalist & broadcaster.
DanW - Member
Irish Rugby needs to get a decent PR/ Media person ASAP.
Why's that DanW?
Sorry, I meant it as a light hearted, tenuous link to the previous discussion of BOD's choice of words about Gatland in the build up to the Wales game. There was some discussion of needing some better media training to avoid emotive words or similar.
I guess I need someone to help me with my PR/ Media 😀
So Davies not recovered and Beck knackered too added to Scott Williams, Cory Allan and Owen Williams all crocked Wales have a serious problem at 13. Between Hook or North I'd say. I'd go Hook 13 and keep North on the wing, so no doubt North will go to 13 and Liam Williams will go to wing. Williams is a trier but not international class. Could put Hook to 15, 1/2p to wing and have North to 13.
Good news is that Charteris is fit.
North is wasted in the centres, especially for his level of experience there and to be alongside Roberts. Logic says get Hook in there as you say a_a!
Burgess has got to get in at centre for Bath first, they aren't short of a decent centre at the moment - Eastmond, JJ and Devoto are all young and very good prospects.
And Gav, don't forget about Gav!
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Interesting when Bath announce there team on the apt annoy, super fav get booed, from his own supporters.
That's quite a talent!
@tinybits - not surprising he gets booed given his history of anti-English remarks, he's generally seen as an all round knob by many (quote from Bath fan friend of mine). He even upset the French by having a pop at Wilkinson when he was, very briefly, at Toulon.
Even his coaches have been known to have a pop at his waterproof tan....
Saying that he came on Saturday and I think won the crucial turnover on the Bath line in the last 5 mins. He was signed as cover for 2 positions, can't see him being needed now with Ford, Heathcote, Devoto all playing 10. JJ, Eastmond, Devoto, Banahan & Burgess covering centre. although with Abendenon off might need full back cover?
and yet if you go on a bath fan forum even the skeptics seem to be impressed with how he has handled himself this season and hasnt let them down when asked to play 10, 12, 13 or 15 or kick goals. He has also been thoroughly committed playing for the seconds too.
http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s105.htm?1469,14575409
I actually think he's played well this season, better than for a long time. Still quite surprised at the reception at the rec, even Austin Healy and Johnno didn't get that - from the oppersition!
Mr Burgess.....................not many of the league fans I work with are impressed by him, be intresting to see how he goes on............what position?
If he's got pace, then it'd be centre. Probably outside depending on distribution skills (including kicking).
He won't be a forward, it'll take too long to adjust and he won't outplay the England backrow in that position in the tight.
I actually think he's played well this season, better than for a long time.
He was quite brilliant on occasions for welsh last year but got broken a lot. Has been solid this season but hasnt ever been really given a run of games in one position. Most likely off to the Dregs with Matt Morgan next season.
Scot XV: Hogg Seymour Dunbar Scott Lamont Weir Laidlaw; Grant Lawson Low RGray Hamilton Wilson Fusaro Beattie
Scot bench: Ford Dickinson Cross Swinson Denton Cusiter Taylor Evans
Still no sign of Kelly Brown!? Scott Johnson is a total clown, if I was. Vern Cotter I'd be running a mile.
On a positive note Seymour looks handy!
It is baffling. I think Swinson has been better than Hamilton but Swinson drops out. Wilson has not been great but Brown and Denton are dropped when either could do a job at 6.
I do agree that Lawson should start at Hooker though.
Swinson is totally better than Hamilton, no questions about that.
Cusiter signs 2yr deal with Sale, another ageing Scot :/
Ha ha dwarf,he is broken more than that car that started top gear on Sunday! Wee Gray was bloody good against Cardiff,suspect Hamilton got the nod because of his experience and bulk. To beat Italy we will have to nullify their pack. Brown at 6 would've been better than Wilson,but Johnston has to appear to be pursuing some tactical masterplan that only knows about.
Cusiter that desperate to get out of Salmonds utopia he's moved to Salford!
Between him & Nathan Hines, i won't be surprised to find out our next signing is William Webb Ellis!
I'd have had Cusiter in for Laidlaw, Evans for Lamont, both Gray brothers, back row of Fusaro, Denton and Beattie.
It's the stand off position that is really worrying. Sadly, Weir may be the best we've got!
Looks like Mr Johnson has a secret plan that only he knows! I suspect he won't eve tell the players about either.
Kelly Brown will probably never play for Scotland again.
I'm a league fan and gutted Burgess has gone. I'm sure he'll go fine in union. He's a monster in both attack and defence
If you've got a spare 45 mins, check out the Slammin' Sam documentary he did last year. Good insight into his life.
He'll hav to learn how to.tackl properly judging by som o the "hits" I've seen on ewetube
That's if he can grasp the Union game - being a good League player doesn't mean he'll grasp what is a very different game.
Tackling should be ok. League banned the shoulder charge a season or two back.
bits I've seen of him he uses bulk to get past people, especially as defences are 10 yards away, defender will be in his face far quicker so no chance to build momentum.
Also he's big, but then so are all the forwards in union so people will be able to put him on the floor quickly.
Hmmm. Even with his current not so great form, Cole will be missed against Ireland. This means England really don't have ANYONE playing anywhere near like a 7 at all. I see turnovers being won by Ireland, England going backward, England bashing forward. I think England will win by a small margin.
+1 for the slammin Sam documentary, really good.
having watched some of his tries i think he'll do alright, for all his size and power he is quite agile and steps out of a lot of tackles. His determination to get over the gain line/try line is pretty scary! He just shrugs people off!
still think he's left it a bit late though. If he wanted to play in the world cup he should have come now and gone back to league a season earlier if theyre his plans.
WALES (v France): Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Rhys Priestland, Rhys Webb; Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Capt), Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens; Paul James, Rhodri Jones, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar, James Hook.
Spikey dropped, which isn't really a surprise.
North v Bastareaud in the centres? Bish, bash, bosh! I suspect George is a little more agile, though.
French referee, though. 😉
Also, a Welsh rugby/beer PSA - Sainsburys appear to be doing bottles of SA or Rev James for one pound and twenty nine pennies.
Also, Tesco, instead of the usual 3 for a fiver, are doing lots at 4 for £6. Beer we come!
Liam Williams and Rhys Webb are nowhere near as good as Phillips and Hook, thats just plain stupid. Front five get mashed and flankers go awol and Wales drop the scrum half. It was ever thus!
Basteraud is broken isnt he? Fickou v North fills me with dread far more than a fat lad running straight at him.
Basteraud is fit
FRANCE (v Wales): Brice Dulin; Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastereaud, Wesley Fofana, Hugo Bonneval; Jules Plisson, Jean-Marc Doussain; Thomas Domingo, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Pape (capt), Yoann Maestri, Yannick Nyanga, Wenceslas Lauret, Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Brice Mach, Yannick Forestier, Vincent Debaty, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly, Maxime Machenaud, Remi Tales, Gael Fickou
France by 12
French team announcement, tres chic, non?
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I'm cheering for Wales 😕
Liam Williams and Rhys Webb are nowhere near as good as Phillips and Hook, thats just plain stupid. Front five get mashed and flankers go awol and Wales drop the scrum half. It was ever thus! Fickou v North fills me with dread far more than a fat lad running straight at him.
What a_a said 😕
I really,really rate fickou,he will be a real test of North's credentials. Mind you,North is pretty special. The joy of watching a game as a neutral....( welsh wife not about)
Luckily for us Fickou isnt starting as Basteraud is fit. ( watch Basteraud play a blinder now I've said that!)
Shaun Edwards will be leaving an assortment of pies and cakes on the touchline so as to distract the big French fella.
Wilson starts for england, Ford on bench.
boxfish - Member
Shaun Edwards will be leaving an assortment of pies and cakes on the touchline so as to distract the big French fella.
😀
Gatland is making a statement by dropping Spikey Mikey, Gatland is the Boss.
Hope its a good game but hate 6N games being on a Friday night
Hope its a good game but hate 6N games being on a Friday night
Agreed. Especially at 2000hrs. I understand why it's that late, to get people to the ground etc, but it's not the right time to be playing them. To be honest, I prefer them all to be on a Saturday afternoon, as per the final day, but I can understand the Sunday game idea. Friday games? No thanks.
Ireland unchanged for Sat
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 51
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 52
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 130
12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 76
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 4
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 40
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 24
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 44
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 72
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 36
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 12
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 89 capt
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 21
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 11
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 62
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 32
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 5
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) 2
19. Iain Henderson (Ballinahinch/Ulster) 7
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 19
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 7
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 23
Almost.
Jordi Murphy's in 🙂
Maybe a bit unfair on Tommy O'Donnell who let no-one down but he's a great young player.
Mini SOB
Can somebody send me a link to the rugby drinking game. I am going up to crianlarich tomorrow night to do some climbing,but since the MWIS is suggesting that Sat's weather will consist of rain low/snow high and the wind is 35-50 gusting 70 and strengthening during the day 😯 Another diversion will obviously be needed.
England team's up,
Fatman Wilson in to replace Cole. Nothing wrong with the Bath scrum, but shows how bare the cupboard is that a man with 25mins playing time in 2 months is starting! If he lasts the first half I'll be surprised.
Ford set to come in at some point, had to happen so better now than at a later date. He's kept Farrell out of FH at all age levels and can actually run and make plays, but I'm still worried he'll be too small for international rugby, and we'll see a massive attack in that channel, without Barrett in there to cover for him.
If he scrums well he'll have done his job.
IMO, England could afford a passenger with the rest of their pack, second and back rows are like a machine when they get going. and TBH, I reckon they miss Corbs more than Cole now.
Really looking forward to this weekends' games. I quite like the Friday night starter when it's a "neutral" game. Set's up a good weekend and I'm more likely to get time to watch it than two consecutive w/end days.
But to be honest, it does seem to involve the Welsh most often so can understand why some of their fans wouldn't.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26257162
a sad sad story and will be repeated with wales in five-ten years
So your predictions for this weekend please.
Wales by 5
Scotland by 10
Ireland by 3
France by ten
Italy by five
Ireland by five
France by two scores
England by one score.
Italy by less than a score. Scotland will score a try though.
Like the french game,I think England will be behind in the first half after losing a try to the Irish forwards, yet make a winning comeback in the second.
I've got 50p on Burrell tackling BoD and BoD going off injured before 50 mins is up.
I've also got 50p on Lawes & Hartley and later giving the Irish pack something coming forward at them they haven't seen in the 6n so far. And its this that determines the game IMO - if the English pack shock Ireland first half the games ours and vice versa.
Bookies have Wales, Italy and England as favourites; my 50p is going on France, Scotland, Ireland this week.
I've got 50p on Burrell tackling BoD and BoD going off injured before 50 mins is up.
That's how Williams lost his pocket money last time out. And the use of his shoulder, the dirty cheating b. 😉
Hope its an each way bet Kryton, look what happened thon Welsh boyo when he tried to shoulder charge BOD.
The forward battle is going to be huge and you are correct it will determine the result. Heaslip needs to have a big game against Vunipola and the ruck is where it will be determined. Scrum and line out should be fairly even unless Wilson goes off early.
A word on BOD since he will be the joint most capped tomorrow. Quite a career given the abuse his body has taken. The best ever? Certainly up there but for me it was Jackie Kyle, just awesome.
Thanks loum, nice article. I used to work for a travel company and I booked Jackie Kyle out to NZ for the 2005 Lions tour. He was great company and had many stories to tell. One of the most humble men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Blind melon I agree. I think Vunipola vs Heaslip that Billy is the winner. However Ireland win the 7 battle, England the 5 battle, 4 and 6 and 2 is evens. Sexton needs to have a good game and we need to be in his face, I wasn't suggesting foul play at all but Burrell needs to neutralise BoD and 36 could by a key player in undoing the Irish defence.
Mike Brown should and perhaps is the difference vs Kearney if we can get runners around him.
It's sure got a lot if promise and although I'm a staunch England supporter and if both team okay well, if Ireland win I shall applaud them.
[Couldn't notice Eve Muirhead's comments about the men's curling final - " the Canadians wanted it more!" 😉 but what would she know, she's only an Olympic medalist. Is she dating PO'M?]
Looking forward to what should be the weekend of the tournament. More relaxed tonight (c'mon wales), but tomorrow will be tense!
France by 12
England by 6
Italy by 3
Blimey guys have "some" faith - this is a home match and crappy old England almost beat them in Paris and you are much better than we are. 😉
Wales by 2
Ireland by 3
Italy by 2
Edit: so 3 close games then!
THM have you seen wales play recently. Rumour mill states that AW Jones is injured too!
Ta for the link loum. Really nice piece that.
Getting a bit excited/nervous now, not 100% in agreement with gatlands choices but the french have a few players with only a few caps so we will see how it goes.
Gutted AW Jones is out as well
Cometh the hour cometh the beard! Massive step up for him though.
1/2p looks like he's spent the week in a crack den, captain Sam looks worried!
Sam looks like he's heading to the gallows. Good luck Wales