[Closed] 2013/14 Rugby Thread

There's probably a good reason why there's not been that much bickering in this thread. I wonder if anyone can work out why.

Because I've mellowed?

Not seen much of Care other than piss weak defence as he waved williams past. Is he going well?

Oh yes. He's been slicing teams apart as has foden. Youngs has the better box kick but that's about it. If we're talking about terrible defence, brown is a complete liability.
Oh, and I think Wales are going to do the Aussies this year and that it'll be a belter of a game.

There's probably a good reason why there's not been that much bickering in this thread. I wonder if anyone can work out why

Doesnt Care play for Quins who have been rubbish?
Faletau could miss the first game at least which will be a huge loss. Wales team likely to be

1/2p
Liam Williams
Davies
Scott Williams
North
Priestland
Phillips
Faletau/Warb
Tips/ Warb
Lydiate/Warb/R Jones
Evans/Girafferis
AW Jones
Adam
Hibbard
James/Gethin

Gethin/James
Owens
Andrews (dear god please let Adam stay fit)
Giraffers/Evans
Ryan Jones
Lloyd Williams
Biggar
Eli Walker/Hook

Quins have blown hot and cold this year. The AP is all over the place this year. With the exception of any game Worcester are in, you can't tell who's going to win one week to the next. Sarries have been playing pretty rugby and glaws are getting bullied around!

Agree about Foden but not Care

I'm hoping Quade will start, guaranteed entertainment one way or the other. England to beat Wallabies (ugly) and Argies before NZ take revenge for 2012, "sadly" I cannot make that game.

@wrecker I've been in France most of the past 2 months so not following English game so closely but when have Quins blown hot this year ?

They've not had the results, but they have played some good rugby (more so than their record would suggest)
I think they'll do ok this season.

I think just like the rush defence Wasps did so well a few years ago, teams have sussed that Quims will try and play a fast tempo game,and force them to commit players more.Do they not also have a less capable pack this year as well,something that is killing Glaws.
A-A; cracking piece by Stephen Jones on the Newport game in the Times yesterday.

I think Scotland will beat Japan and get within 10 of OZ but SA will be too good.

Unfortuntely Tim Visser got a really nasty looking leg injury on Friday the sort that the players round about turn away from looking a bit green as soon as it happened.

Bad luck for Visser hope he recovers ok. Always a worry when a player whose main weapon is speed injures a leg.

Excellent signing for London Irish - http://www.london-irish.com/news/Exiles94778.ink

Any chance he'll be playing on Nov 17th?

Cripes. Australia 1st XV to London Irish. He must have pulled some G's falling that far!
You're right though, good signing.

Yup the not-nots(copyright DD) have been missing a little something since the Armitages left.

Thug?
JOC is a drunk not a cheapshotting thug. (with apologise to the fat armitage).

I only know him as a damn good rugby player. Look forward to seeing that.

What's the news on McVisser?

Australians at twickenham on Saturday bloody hell that has come round quick, I am going to see Glaws take on Wasps. Weather is looking a bit dicey.

What's the news on McVisser?

Broken fibula. 2- 4 months out. Quite an easy bone to break, I've done my left once and my right twice.

Fractured Fibula and needs an op to sort ankle ligament damamge

"Edinburgh Rugby winger Tim Visser has been ruled out for around three to four months with a leg injury.

The club’s top try scorer was injured in Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 win over Treviso (20-13) at Murrayfield, with an x-ray revealing he had fractured his fibula (shin).

A subsequent MRI scan conducted at the SPIRE Murrayfield Hospital yesterday (Monday) showed further damage to the his ankle ligaments, which will require consultant surgeon John McKinley to operate"

EDIT: Beaten to it, I am slow typing fool

The bloke who sacked Phillips
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9955355/French-tycoon-Alain-Afflelous-private-jet-used-for-40m-cocaine-trafficking.html

Forwards (13)

David Attwood (Bath Rugby) 
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) 
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) 
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps) 
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) 
Joe Marler (Harlequins) 
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) 
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) 
Billy Vunipola (Saracens) 
Mako Vunipola (Saracens) 
David Wilson (Bath Rugby) 
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) 
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (10)

Chris Ashton (Saracens) 
Mike Brown (Harlequins) 
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) 
Owen Farrell (Saracens) 
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers) 
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints) 
Joel Tomkins (Saracens) 
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) 
Marland Yarde (London Irish) 
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Parling has mild concussion

looks a bit I dont know, not settled lacking world class players. Big season for Lancaster he needs to decide on his best players.

Lawes and the potty mouthed Kiwi? If they both start at least one will be forced to have a rest 😆

Got to agree with AA a bit uninspiring, but that could be down to my unbridled hatred of the england XV 😆

No Wade?!!!!

I presume that it's Ashton and Brown on the wings then?! Or is Yarde going to start?

Looks pretty average to me. Luther Burrell has been the best centre by far this season....certainly better than Tomkins.

Wade has to be on the bench. Shirley

My one eyedness would suggest that not one of those english players would get in the welsh 15 assuming everyone was in form.

Ok maybe Lunchboy or Lawes to partner AW Jones.... No others though.

Doh that is the whole squad very surprised Wade is not included. Who is Marland Yardie? Off I go to google.

Edit ah that's him.

Lawes has been superb this year, I am worried(actually not really that worried,I'm Scottish) that the English didn't pick the Exeter(?) back rower,bald guy. He has been at the front any time I have seen them this year. I am also surprised Burrell didn't make it. Wilson has a real chance to stake a claim for the 6n this year.

Lawes has been very good. Yarde is a great find, I hope he does well. You're thinking of Johnson duckman, good club player but not an international IMHO. England are without two of their best players; Corbs and Manu and have a lot of new blood in the side. Can't fathom how Care hasn't been included. Actually, Burrell and Trinder have been the best two centres in the AP this year. 36 has been poor. See how it goes, I don't think we'll be setting the world alight.

Lyn the Lip says some interesting stuff about Spikey, on the beeb Wales nes page, can't do links from my I pad 🙁

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24730276

Cheers Flash

I saw that, seemed at odds with his praise and defence of Henson in similar circumstances.

I saw that, seemed at odds with his praise and defence of Henson in similar circumstances.

England and Oz teams

England Team: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Joel Tomkins (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Marland Yarde (London Irish), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Youngs (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Tom Wood (Northampton), Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Joe Marler Harlequins), David Wilson (Bath), Dave Attwood Bath), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Ben Youngs (Leicester), Toby Flood (Leicester), Ben Foden (Northampton).

Australia team: Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs); Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs), Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies), Matt Toomua (ACT Brumbies), Nick Cummins (Western Force); Quade Cooper (vice-captain, Queensland Reds), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); James Slipper (Queensland Reds), Stephen Moore (ACT Brumbies), Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies), Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies), Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs), Ben Mowen (captain, ACT Brumbies)

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a (Queensland Reds), Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Western Force), Nic White (ACT Brumbies), Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies), Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)

@Pigface, links from iPad are easy, same as normal computer - just hold your finger on web address, "select all" then paste into the URL pop-up on here

My major concern is Brown at FB. I hope the aussies don't get a chance to run at him, although I suspect they will.

I would be most worried about the loss of Barritt in the centre, England have got away with a lack of proper openside by having the very hardworking Robshaw combine with the equally hard working Barritt doing a lot of the clearing at rucks, I cannot see 12trees or Tomkins doing this job for them. You're proper ****ed if Robshaw gets broken early too with that bench. And surely there must be a better 14 in England than Chris Ashton?
I stand by my comment that none of that 15 would get in the Wales 15 apart from one of the locks, but bizarrely all of them would be in or around the wales squad (apart from Ashton and maybe the centres). So much depth in the England squad but very little spark or real top quality. Looking forward to seeing how Billy V goes.

Now I'm no Ashton fan but it's fair to say he's been rejuvinated this season. He has been playing very well for sarries (in fact has been the best winger in the AP full stop) and has earned his spot.

he's shit 😆 but if playing well he may be a better wing option than Brown I suppose 😆

Englands problem is too many good players and too much tinkering. I reckon this 15 would be as good

Foden
Armitage
Eastmond
Burrell
Strettle
Flood
Care
Morgan
Kvesic
AN Other
Attwood
AN Other
Wilson
Hartley
Marler

would give that team a bloody good match

Foden
*Yarde (he's actually very good)
Eastmond
Burrell
*Ashton (can't miss him out if on form)
Flood
Care
*B Vunipola
*Robshaw (it may be fashionable to dislike him but he's indespensible)
*Wood/Clarke
Attwood
*Lawes
Wilson
Hartley/Webber (great showing in arg)
Marler
Kvesic just plainly isn't that good. I'd be surprised if he ever gets a regular spot, there are better prospects coming through who I expect will overtake him. Morgan gets no start until he sorts his fitness out. Obviously Corbs and Manu get starts if fit.

Wrecker, do you think Ashton has lost a yard and is starting to look for work on the inside again as a result? Mako will also have to cope with the same player who beasted him,but this time in a weaker front 5 unit. Wilson is a bear and would have been my pick.

Can I just post my favourite picture of Mike Brown here?
[img] [/img]

🙂

Oh,oh...Are we posting our favourite pictures of English full-backs?

[URL= http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc223/theboydonald/_47776719_cattlomu_get_282_zps72e5a832.jp g" target="_blank">http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc223/theboydonald/_47776719_cattlomu_get_282_zps72e5a832.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Wrecker, do you think Ashton has lost a yard and is starting to look for work on the inside again as a result?

Mako will also have to cope with the same player who beasted him,but this time in a weaker front 5 unit. Wilson is a bear and would have been my pick.

that's 15 wasn't what I thought should be picked it was just to show the strength in depth, Wales are very weak below the top 15. The lack of a settled 15 is a problem too this was who played Aus last year

England: Goode; Ashton, Tuilagi, Barritt, Sharples; Flood, Care; Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Palmer, Parling, Johnson, Robshaw, Waldrom.

Sorry, my mistake, I was supervising a NAB and was bored 😳 Lancaster smarter than I gave him credit for in that case.

that's 15 wasn't what I thought should be picked it was just to show the strength in depth,

Even so, the saxons team depresses me. Crane, Slater, Waldrom, Monye etc (a few examples) are all good players but the team should be brimming with bright young things preparing for a step up to the EPS. At 29, is Myler realistically going to break into the 1st XV?

Could be worse did you see what happend to wales in the summer? Mind you Japan must be pretty good beat the team that were the last team to beat NZ. Japanby 20 this weekend.

[img] [/img]

Quade Cooper 😆

How old is that list?

Published yesterday in the daily flail. Guess who wrote it!

Wheen Keet Wood and Willie John see it they'll blow a gasket.

[img] [/img]

😆

I'd find room for Folou and North and Dagg hasnt been great defensively recently.

Best in the World: Quade Cooper, the man who couldn't get a game a few months back. Looking forward to seeing him tomorrow, great for me as you know you sell some good, bad and ugly.

Match reminds me that one of England, Wales and Australia won't make it to the QFs of the 2015 RWC and the two who do are going to be battered.

England Legends v Australia on Sky now. How fit is Billy Whizz!?
Entertaining stuff.

Quade could get a game for just wasnt picked for Australia but that wasnt for rugby readons. He tore the Lions a new arsehole for his clu/region/franchise/whatever they are called.
Not as good as Carter though.

Cooper was awful in the Rugby Championship though. Dunno why they kept picking him over Tamoua.

Thanks to jambalaya, of this parish, I am looking forward to this tomorrow! Should be close. Who's the ref? I haven't watched much this season so I hope the bore that is the modern scrum has been sorted (says an ex2).

The Clancy Clown is ref. Dont expect an open flowing game. Good luck England I love seeing the crims lose.

Good game so far....

It certainly is a slog.

Yay, Farrell! 😀

Poor decision imo but get in!

Poor decision

Really? Two international referees agree that the obstruction wasnt sufficient to justify denying the try but you think it's "poor"?

I reckon Hartley was as fooled by the dummy as the Ozzies, which was why he stopped moving (and hence got in the way)(a bit)

Really? Two international referees agree that the obstruction wasnt sufficient to justify denying the try but you think it's "poor"?

seeing as how clancy told the video ref what to say we'll nsvsr know will we.

12trees is as bad as I expected. Has he ever broken a tackle in his career?

I don't think 36 will remember this game with great fondness in years to come ffs!

Lovely.
Burrell for inside centre next game please.

Not an amazing game for the neutral but the England fans seem to be content. A win is a win... which I suppose should be the England motto 😉

Turning point was replacing the chubby centre who can't throw for the Kiwi loiterer 😀

Genuine question, who is world class in the England squad? There are a lot of "good" players but you could probably pick 2 or 3 different starting 15's and not gain or lose anything. Brown is perhaps the only X-factor in the team but we all know about his defense... Wood seemed to be everywhere too which is encouraging

wrecker - Member

Even so, the saxons team depresses me. Crane, Slater, Waldrom, Monye etc (a few examples) are all good players but the team should be brimming with bright young things preparing for a step up to the EPS. At 29, is Myler realistically going to break into the 1st XV?

Agreed, apart from one thing, Ed Slater is a very good player, who gets better every week, and is only 25.

Ed Slater is a very good player, who gets better every week, and is only 25.

Sheesh. Where was his paper round, Beirut?

England workman like. Yarde shows promise, Ashton still shite and neither centre can draw and pass. Dickson wasnt much cop. Billy V shows promise too, Wood was very good. Hartley has to start next up and I reckon Cole maybe on borrowed time Scrum looked more stable with Wilson on.
Australia were dogshit poor but will still beat Wales at the end of all this.
Sky Sports are a ****ing comedy act of one eyed shitness.

Fair summary a_a

I would add... Lawes still standing in the backline half the time and diving in to "tackles" with no arms and head first, Farrel still a tad wobbly since the IRB player of the year nomination and new "Ice Man" nickname

Let's be honest, Farrell is never going to be a great. He's currently the best we've got and will keep the shirt until we can breed a better FH. I thought the pack were very good today, no problems with lawes' game at all.
36 is the most overrated player in rugby IMHO. Brown is immense going forward, we were lucky that his defence didn't get tested too hard today. I'm not really worried, that 15 shirt is Anthony watsons soon enough I reckon. We still haven't got an inside centre, and didn't pass to him anyway. We may as well have got a couple of flankers and stuck them in the centre, although tomkins looked good in defence (didn't get a chance to get the ball in his hand).

Tomkins didnt look that great when he got the massive hand off from Kudriani (I think it was).
Folou is ace isnt he.
Lineout is a worry.
Wish Wales could beat Aus when not playing well. We lost to them 240 000 times last season.

Weird match - neither side excelled at all. England flattered by the score IMO. Set pieces were weak. The ex-hooker in me makes it hard to watch Youngs inability to throw in and scrummage was also poor. But the most frustrating thing was the total lack of ambition in the back line. Watching live was odd - the back line was like an U11 side, No shape for most of the time - literally groups of 3-4 players in a group without shape or structure. And hard to remember any back move at any stage. I get so frustrated watching front row forwards playing at inside centre, and merely slowing everything down. Where is the speed, the dummy runners, the moves etc?

Disappointed that Lawes didn't seem able to use his strength to break tackles. But Brown and Yarde really stood out especially Brown. Hard to see why he gets so much flak when he stood out so much today.

How did Farrell last so long? It would have been good to see Flood for whole of 2H.

But the mood and excitement did build in the end and we did finish the stronger team. Left the ground in good spirits but fearful of what the AB would do to this team in a couple of weeks.

Thanks Jambalaya!!!!

Ashton backed out of quite a few tackles right in front of us. Borrowed time?