[Closed] 2013/14 Rugby Thread

TBH the bloke who beats 7 men, whilst it looks good, it's unrealistic in test rugby..

Tell that to us Scotiish fans 🙁

Wales U20 had already been beaten Ireland 0 -16 away and while Ireland lost 33-9 at Franklin Gardens to England there was nothing to indicate Wales would ship a cricket score to England.

On a separate note if Scotland were to beat wales would the knives be out for Gatland or has he sufficient credit in the bank? (realise it is a big if!)

Some knives are already out but the **** in charge Roger Lewis has signed him up for till after the world cup. Unless Lewis goes Gatland will go nowhere. Having said that with the regions in revolt anything could happen.

In other neTrevor woodman is glaws new scrum coach. Much needed.

Tuilagi back in the 23

England squad for Italy (23)

Forwards (13)

David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (10)

Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

Returning to Aviva Premiership clubs (9)

Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

oh god is Tom Youngs consistently the 2nd best hooker we have got?

If he could sort out his lineout throws, he'd be the best.

Not sure I agree, Hartley, much as I hate him, is a damn fine player. If he were welsh I'd love him!!

Hartley, much as I hate him, is a damn fine player

He can't actually hook which I would say is no small part of his job description. Good around the pitch though.

Talking of front rowers doing their job can anyone explain scrummaging technique?

Watching the Eng v Wal game I thought it looked like Jenkins on the LH side was turning and driving in (same happened with Domingo (I think it was) for France) the wire camera above the pitch made this pretty clear to me however per the linky Jenkins and coach thinks he has been singled out. So what can the opposing tighthead do to make the loosehead appear to be driving in at an angle.

Or was the ref correct and Jenkins was driving in and this is just players/coaches trying to get doubt in the Refs head prior to this weekend?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26533504

I think the issues is that they feel the ref went in looking for one thing only and focused on pretty much one thing only during the game rather than taking in to account lots of factors. No reset scrums in kind of positive but you can see their unhappiness without a single scrum being reset and penalties being given so quickly.

I think a_a said it before that Wales scrummaged strongly but not intelligently. Perhaps the approach by the ref could be improved but so could the scrummaging on the day too. The feeling I get from article is not that the Welsh coaches are disagreeing with this statement but more that they want to ensure fair treatment in the future and not have one thing on one player focused on only.

[img] [/img]

Wilson could be boring in on Hibbard, Gethin could be driving in on Wilson, who knows which, but once Wilson was protected by the ref what would stop him? He'd have been negligent not to do it. I find it hard to think a 104 capped loosehead wouldnt have at least tried to stop being pinged. The most obvious offense in this pic is Wilson binding on the arm.

Yep , Gethin did keep saying about binding on the arm. That's usually the first thing refs ping for as it is the easiest to spot without having to know anything else about what is going on in the scrum. Right or wrong this is what seems to happen normally.

England also did very well to take a yard forwards on the setting of the scrum (on both feeds) which must help in setting everything up for them with more control. Wales needed their tactic from last year of letting themselves being driven back on the setting of the scrum and rack up free kicks 😉

and if he's binding on the arm he will be pulling down which will cause the loosehead to turn in.

England also did very well to take a yard forwards on the setting of the scrum (on both feeds) which must help in setting everything up for them with more control.

AKA an early shove. AKA a free kick for first infringement, rising with repeated occurrences.

The IRB Refs board need Brian Moore, Sean Fitz, the Raging Potato etc to sit down in a room with all the refs and bang their heads together, for the good of all!

Of course an early shove, but I didn't see it mentioned at all in the commentary or elsewhere at the time. I think England did it just subtly enough to get the benefit but also get away with it.

Adam Jones view of what happened in the scrum, apparently a LH can't drive in without the opposing TH doing the same.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26544882

Saying that the irb have sent videos to refs highlighting Gethin was quite striking!

He can't actually hook which I would say is no small part of his job description. Good around the pitch though.

To be fair, there cannot be many current international hookers who have ever had to hook. It's a new skill for everyone.

I think Hartley is excellent too, and I like him too. In fact I sent him a valentines card.

Cant hate Hartley, Kiwi's are OK in my book! Anyway he may well be being coached not to Hook but to drive.

Just for the Tom Youngs haters out there, I've been trying to find some stats about his throwing only thing I could get was some opta stuff tweeted just before the 6 nations started.

Posted Feb 12 by @OptaJonny: 92% - Youngs has a lineout success rate of 92% (103/112) in @premrugby this season, compared to 89% for Hartley (93/105).

Also posted by @OptaJonny, this time Jan 9: 91% - Tom Youngs has thrown the most successful lineouts in the league & Europe this season, at a better success rate than the top 10.

The next tweet says that Hartley's was 88% at the same stage.

I got this from someone on the tigers forum but i reckon it show's he's actually as bad as people are making out.

Oh and yes I am a Leicester fan, so probably a bit on eyed 😉

One eyed Leicester fan, come on pull the other one 😉

Maybe we should change our mascot to be a bit pudsey-esq in future!!

sadly though, despite his ability to find his man at Leicester, he's seemingly unable to do so for England at the moment. Didn't do too badly in the summer while the kiwi biter was banned for abusing a ref though...

Gatland and Hartley....

Two kiwis who hate [to] Hook 😀

Oh the irony of the Welsh complaining about the refereeing of the scrum ... you can't have Walsh every week you know

Good point Jambalaya; but just for balance,can we have also have five pages in the thread dedicated to it,as we did last year? Lots of Welsh complaining about how Poite has always hated them...Over to you AA!
I am also still waiting for it to be mentioned on the front page of the times sports section as it was last year...

The problem is the welsh had the edge in the scrum in both games and had the shove on England. I dont think people are moaning anyway as I said earlier the welsh tactic of dropping the ball every time the were on attack had a far bigger impact on the game. Its called discussion we could just not bother talking about the rugby and talk about ......... Er......

Don't claim to be any type of expert, but the was the Welsh habit of dropping the ball actually the fault of the Welsh players, or was it the speed & aggressiveness of the English defence?
Before the game there was much talk about hitting the Welsh hard in defence as the Irish had done because that Wales/Ireland game had shown up deficiencies in the Welsh attack when countered with fast, hard hits.

99% fault of Welsh players the other 1% down to weather conditions, slippery ball etc etc

Next question 😉

Who knows a bit of both, Wales are a very predictable to defend against but when they get it right and gain momentum it doesnt matter. At times the other day it was done badly as waled were going round the corner and england had more defenders than wales had attackers. Another common move is the 9 making a dart and then passing direct to Roberts. Webb didnt really get the timing right and Roberts always had
several defenders on him. Phillips times this much better and will just keep hold himself if its not on.
The welsh tactic of kicking long and inviting Nowel and May to run it back worked well though the bigger welsh backs out rucked them and it gained at least three pens.

Fickou to start in place of Memoz v ireland. Tales at 10 and Picamole back at 8. Shambles, how is Fat Basteraud still getting picked. I thought Memoz was solid last week.

Biggar and Spikey look like starting, apparently.

More to follow!

Shambles

They will still win. 🙂

Wales backs:
Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips

Wales forwards:
Jenkins,Owens, Rhodri Jones, Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Lydiate, Warburton (Capt) Faletau

You are joking Scarlets third choice loosehead starting at tighthead, whilst the young first choice scarlets tighthead cannot get in the squad! ****ing hell. Williams is shite too would much prefer Hook at 15 (where he plays most of his rugby these days).

Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan).

Strong bench but only because all the shite is starting!!

France may well win....... Remember World Cup . Shocking all the way through but nearly won it

Very positive for England I think: 3 good loose heads, 2 decent tight heads, 2 hookers (except tom youngs throwing), great second row, 2 good 8's, backs coming together, and quite a few out injured

LNcaster I think takes a lot of credit - got them playing pretty fearlessly, very aggressive, "will fight you for a scrap of bread" (nz herald) - very un English. Given some players a run when they could have been dumped (Farrell, 12 trees, marler) which is starting to pay off; seems to have tamed the nutters (Hartley (well almost), lawes, care) and found some good uns (Burrell, launchbury)

Few less penalties and few more converted chances would be handy

Then we'll lose to Italy ....

France may well win....... Remember World Cup . Shocking all the way through but nearly won it

I've been trying to forget!

I have no interest in France winning unless they put a solid 40 points or so on Ireland and Italy can keep England within reach. Hmmm.... doesn't sound likely but it would be pretty funny for them to swoop in and steal the 6N after such shocking performances and the squabbling between the home nations here 😀 Sadly, it isn't unthinkable for the French to mess everything up and inadvertently help out the English 😕 Come on Ireland! Pressure could really be on them as the last game of the weekend.... Ireland are great under pressure.... right???

Ferris back on bench tomorrow. Good luck to him hope he stays fit. A damn fine player.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26536194

O'Mahony back in too. Can only be a good thing. 🙂

They'll still lose though.

Ferris was a machine, good to see him playing again.

Its great to see Fez back, hopefully he can get back to his previous form, if only that he can line out against Saffacens in the Heine so we can sing, Our Fez is bigger than yours!

There was one hiney(?) match he played in and it was as close to a perfect game as I have ever seen from a back row.

Possibly the 2012 game against Tigers at Ravers. Total destruction from him in defence and attack.

Looking good so far for Ulster 3 tries already. bowe looking back to his best

Gareth Davirs is quick!

He's very sharp AA. Looks a decent player. Here comes the Fez!

First tackle in 15 months by ferris and it was worth waiting for, he looks faster than ever.

Great to see a great player back but christ I hope the commentator has a date with him after!!

That 9 sub for ulster is a dirty little ****.

Aye big Jim is just a bit of a fan boi. What did sub scrum half do?

I missed how that last try was given. Pity Fez isn't back for Saturday. He's awesome.

Although...even if he was back, we'd still lose anyway. 🙂

Stamped on the rolling away tackler at two rucks in a row, didnt see what happend at the third but the scarlets 9 got into a scuffle with him over something.
Joke of a tmo decision at the end. If the ref had said any reason why I cant it would be fair enough but he said try yes or no and you couldnt see it.
As for the commentator, **** me he seemed to think Emyr Phillips trying to stop a try was foul play!

DD keep the faith man. We can do it!!

AA I missed that but he is a gobby wee shite at the best of times. The TMO was always going to give that he was the pro at my first senior club, in Ulster in case you didn't guess.

Did you notice that the assistant commentator sauce that Ferris had clocked the fastest running GPS time this season, surely that can't be right can it?

I have no doubt we [i]can[/i] do it BM. But we won't.

Have to agree with a-a on the try - no way that The TMO could see a clear grounding of the ball.

We will. Man for man we are better.

Even I agree that he couldn't see that was a try. Terrible second half they didn't deserve the bonus

DD man up. I think you will do it. I reckon Italy will push us mega hard and we will either only just win or more likely get an upset. Your glory is assured. If you lose the title, I'll buy you a consolation guiness.

BM not sure if you are better man for man but you have the beter half backs, are a much better team in much better form with a much much better coach.

Game of the day in Cardiff, should be a cracker between two class sides full of invention and running rugby.

Come on Wales

Don't know what is going on in Rome or Paris 😉

and a loosehead for wales who has only been trusted to.start LV matches for Scarlets, repacing Adam on the tighthead

AA I know but I am ignoring Gatlands obvious recent head injury 🙁

Kinnel 12trees gets run over, "thats a great tackle" ffs take the blinkers off!

Poor italian degence out wide. Some good tries from England. Wish Robinson would shut up.

There's more points here, just need to put it through the hands instead of all these bloody miss passes!

I know its easier to see from my settee rather than on the pitch 🙂

Keep their heads, it's not 7s.

AA, would you not accept that thru the champs, 36 has played better than (you would have) expected?

Tough little bugger to tackle old brown!!!!

I am not sure who is trying too hard at the moment, England to score or Woodward with his "fashion". The latter is clearly losing though.... 😉

I know it's "just" italy but can really start to see why burrell is in the side - just hope the wings start to improve with experience.

Come on England!
Not surprised there's a couple of handling errors - such a quick game and theyre trying to rack up points...
Italy can't cope.

AA, would you not accept that thru the champs, 36 has played better than (you would have) expected?

not really he's average.

Bloody hell thats harsh.

The petulant one has his magic boots on so far....will it matter???

All of a sudden a 50 point margin looks feasible...

Seems a bit unfortunate for burrell - i might have given him the commentators curse 😳

Tom Youngs..... Why?

anagallis_arvensis - Member
Tom Youngs..... Why?

POSTED 2 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Goodish impact runner.............unfortunately at a detriment to all other aspects a hooker should bring to the game 🙄

Another 36 assist.
The form British centre.

Balls!

Ooooops

V costly mistake. Too many changes for me....three scores, ten minutes, too much chasing.

The form British centre

taken off!!