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Amazing how obsessed non-English people are about the England team
Always amazes me how consistent the dislike is. The current England team are fairly nondescript in both coaches and players. Always hated Dilly Dally and his chest beatings whereas Johnson was OK. I wonder how the players are to other players and why teams seem to dislike them so much.
Because:
Williams is a poor imitation of Campese - at least Campo's wind ups were amusing
I dont think its a wind up, just his view.
Perhaps. Timing suggests otherwise as does the time honoured tradition of pommie baiting. All part of the fun and games and utterly predictable
Still the actual rugby starts soon. The more interesting article might be to predict the first major shock.
I doubt very much it will be a shock but NZ v Arg will be the first worthwhile game I reckon.
Was watching itv's 20-10 best ever tries vid yesterday. Watching good teams destroy shit ones doesnt do it for me. Too many miss matches in the pools
I was at the Carling WC final wearing a kilt and a corked hat. I watched the 2003 final cheering for England. I would say they have improved the rugby public's perception of them as individuals 100%.(last WC excepted) I liked Johnson as much as I hated Carling,unlike Carling he captained the best team in the world but also unlike Carling didn't want publicity.England won that WC by playing the NH brand of rugby,absolute smashmouth rugby based on work and bravery and it was fantastic to watch. Never really took lol seriously after the drugs interview,but he could play. As an aside,has anybody ever seen Will Carling and Fatima Whitbred in the same room?
First shock? Scotland v SA...
After a few creepy England videos, I have to say I like the [url= http://www.rugbydump.com/2015/09/4570/friday-funnies-the-samsung-school-of-rugby-with-jack-whitehall?page=all ]Samsung adverts[/url]
Jack Whitehall testing Johnson's patience in the "Style" video or the obvious embaressment at being out sprinted by a prop is worth a laugh 😀
@DanW thanks for that 😀 used to see Loenard in the pub in London, he rarely had a beer and was more trim than when he played. He seems to have bulked back up a bit now he's RFU President
Obvious NZ troll is obvious.
Those whitehall vids are really unfunny imo. I did notice Tuifua is still up to his old tricks whilst over at the rugbydump though.
Cant stand cheapshot ****s like him. Whilst on that point Ben Teo, surely if he needs all that padding on his forearm he should stop ****ing leading with?
With people being able to connect digitally, the old myth about rugby people being somehow "better" or more noble than our round ball playing friends is being exposed as nonsense.
Loads of teams can't stand each other. Perhaps they are all united in disliking england, hopefully nobody in the set-up is so precious that they'd care. Williams was a fine rugby player but he's not sufficiently talented in the upstairs department for anyone to care what his opinion is on anything.
I saw you slagging off a Williams and was about to call you a ****. Liam is a very clever, likeable and not at all angry young man. Then I realised!!
Gav starting today I see. If I get my snipers rifle out how many do I have to shoot before he starts at 10 v England?
it's more likely that morgan will to play 10 for wales.
just thought id cheer you up!
wrecker - Member
it's more likely that[s]morgan[/s] Adam will to play 10 for wales.
just thought id cheer you up!
FTFY
more likely that morgan will to play 10 for wales.
just thought id cheer you up!
He'll be the first in my sights!!
(Secretly I'm hoping for a Shane Williams v All Blacks in 2003 type of performance from Morgan)
Adam would not get in Cementheads squad even if it was a choice between me and him for the 3 shirt and my acl is still stopping me run!
I struggle to believe Ali Williams actually put any of those words together... Reads a lot like a hack piece that they paid to have his picture put beside it
Don't you lot watch any rugby? There was plenty on this weekend, with some interesting games, but they seem to have bypassed you all? 😆
Ospreys lost, so did Blues and the baby eaters didnt they. I watched Dreg v Zebre. **** me the only thing more dire than the two teams was the ref. It was ****ing awful stuff.
Not sure if this has already been done.... World Cup Team Bases
Anyone interesting near you? I might have to go for a ride around Bath Uni woods and ask Australia to take it easy on Wales
Argentina: Cheltenham RFC (Cheltenham RFC, Leisure@, Gym 66); Haileybury School, St George's Park.
Australia: University of Bath; Dulwich College.
Canada: Cardiff Metropolitan University; West Park Leeds RUFC (West Park Leeds RUFC, John Charles Centre for Sport); Leicester Grammar School; Swansea University (Swansea University, Wales National Pool Swansea).
England: Pennyhill Park; Salford (The AJ Bell Stadium, Irlam and Cadishead Leisure Centre).
Fiji: Milton Keynes and MK Dons (Woughton On The Green, Bletchley Leisure Centre); Swansea University; London Irish RFC (London Irish RFC, Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex).
France: The Vale Resort; Trinity School Croydon.
Georgia: Woodbury Park and Bicton College (Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club, Bicton College); Bristol and SGS Wise (South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre); Celtic Manor and Newport(Newport High School/Active Living Centre, The Celtic Academy).
Ireland: Celtic Manor and Newport; St George's Park; Surrey Sports Park; Sport Wales National Centre.
Italy: Surrey Sports Park; Cobham RFC (Cobham RFC, ACS Cobham).
Japan: Warwick School; Brighton College.
Namibia: Loughborough University; Cobham RFC; Plymouth (University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth Albion RFC, Plymouth Life Centre and Royal Navy Rugby Union).
New Zealand: The Lensbury and St Mary's University; Sport Wales National Centre; Darlington Mowden Park (Darlington Mowden Park RFC, Middlesbrough FC).
Romania: Sutton Coldfield RFC (Sutton Coldfield RFC, Birmingham Metropolitan College, Wyndley Leisure Centre, CrossFitB76); Woodbury Park and Bicton College, Dulwich College.
Samoa: Sutton Coldfield RFC; University of Brighton (University of Brighton, Prince Regent Swimming Complex); Gateshead (Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead Leisure Centre, Gateshead College); Milton Keynes and MK Dons.
Scotland: Hartpury College; Leeds Metropolitan University and University of Leeds; Newcastle Royal Grammar School.
South Africa: The Lensbury and St Mary's University; University of Birmingham; Gateshead; Eastbourne College and University of Brighton (Eastbourne College, University of Brighton - Eastbourne College).
Tonga: Cheltenham RFC, Loughborough University; University of Exeter; University of Northumbria.
USA: Haileybury School; Hartpury College; Leeds Trinity University (Leeds Trinity University, Kirkstall Leisure Centre); Portsmouth Royal Navy Rugby Union.
Wales: The Vale Resort; London Irish RFC.
Here's an article which may interest some here.....
http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/09/13/foreign-born-players-rwc-2015/
*runs away*
^ Probably the most shocking thing there is the amount of New Zealanders. For such a small country they must be propping up at least half the teams in the tournament! I guess the odds on a New Zealander winning the RWC are pretty high 😀 Maybe Gatland..... if an asteroid takes out 19 other teams 😳
DanW - Member^ Probably the most shocking thing there is the amount of New Zealanders.
The article I posted a couple of pages back maybe illustrates why there are so mnay good NZ players about and hence they find their way into other RWC squads as lots into 31 doesn't fit.
[url= http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/sep/11/all-blacks-how-new-zealand-sustains-its-rugby-dynasty ]How NZ Sustains its Rugby Dynasty[/url]
That's a very good article. It does go to show how far adrift we (almost everyone else) are, and I can't ever see it changing.
For matches at the millenium stadium during the World Cup which side gets to decide if the roof is to be shut or does it remain open throughout?
Probably the same as normal, both have to agree for it to be closed otherwise it stays open????
How NZ Sustains its Rugby Dynasty
I'd missed that- excellent article.
Roof is shut
First time I visited Auckland my mate took me to Mission Bay for some food. Spent about an hour talking and eating on Mission Bay reserve and watching about 5 touch rugby games going on. All the players were Islanders or Maori and the skill they had with passing behind the back, miss passes, the lines they were running etc was unreal. I asked him if they was a tournament going on and he just laughed and said no there are always games going on. Just for fun.
Didn't see a round ball in the whole time I was there that I can remember.
Good article that.
I lived in NZ for 17 years, rugby is a way of life, far beyond any other sport. Schools nurture it, if you want to watch anything else on TV at weekends you're knackered ! Genuinely, it's an all consuming passion. Football (soccer) has only barely made it onto the radar in recent years. The quality of the rugby is fantastic, I used to overlook Rongotai school rugby ground and watched a few school games which were better than some professional games I have seen since!.
They are also incredibly well conditioned.
England Team vs Fiji
Marler
Youngs
Cole
Lawes
Parling
Wood
Robshaw
Morgan
Youngs
Ford
May
Barritt
Joseh
Watson
Brown
Subs
Vunipola
Webber
Brookes
Launchbury
Vunipola
Wigglesworth
Farrell
Burgess
I'd start Lauchbury.
I'd start Lauchbury.
With Parling or with Lawes?
I think the idea is that as no-one can really guess where Tom Youngs is gonna throw it they've put Parling in as at least he'll have half an idea.
With Lawes. I suppose they may be worried about Youngs darts though.
Launchbury is pretty out of form though isn't he?
On paper England look as good as any team...
On paper England look as good as any team
What paper you looking at?
This one looks better on my A4
New Zealand: B. Smith, Milner-Skudder, C. Smith, Nonu, Savea, Carter, A. Smith, Woodcock, Coles, O. Franks, Retallick, Whitelock, Vito, McCaw, Read.
Replacements: Mealamu, Crockett, Laulala, Kaino, Cane, Perenara, Slade, Fekitoa.
I think Parling has earned his shirt, he was excellent vs Ireland.
Great analysis here;
What's the fuss about laws?launchbury great in the tight but also gets over the gainline and for the physical thickness of him he's often available in the latter phases
Whats the fuss about Lawes? Very good in the middle of the lineout, gets through lots of work in the loose and tackles hard. I hate the ****er, wish he was welsh.
Prefer thicker limbed second rows parling,wyn Jones and Davies get the ball over the gain line strong in a maul but then pop up after 11 phases to keep the attack going.laws just smashes flat footed backs.
Lawes has sufficient respect from the ABs for him to be taken out by targeted foul play. Even with my most rose tinted glasses England are no match for the ABs on paper, fortunately high pressure test rugby produces strange results from time to time
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34251954
Wli Walkers hammy has gone, poor kid has no luck. So Gats has called in Moriarty. WTF?
So in the back 3 we have Williams (injured?), North (one bang on the head away from retirement), Amos (promising 2 cap kid) and Cuthbert (playing shit). Only one of those is a recognised 15 and even he has started most internations on the wing.
wes has sufficient respect from the ABs for him to be taken out by targeted foul play
Really, thats shocking, how many were cited?
Healy passed fit for the openers. Hopefully his neck will make it through the first two games unscathed - McGrath would be good enough for those two games but I guess Healy needs game time for the Italy & France clashes. Interested to see how Schmidt runs it.
I'm off to Kingsholm for the Tonga v Georgia grudge match. 😀 Looking forward to the occasion.
What paper you looking at?
In terms of individuals it isn't an awful team (OK, not NZ calibre) but England have managed to play less than the sum of their parts for a while now. They really need a good WC otherwise I can't see Lancaster being around long
Really, thats shocking, how many were cited?
None. This is the Ab's we are discussing of course.
Kryton57 - MemberReally, thats shocking, how many were cited?
None. This is the Ab's we are discussing of course.
Posted 10 minutes ago #Report-Post
🙄
How many got cited for the O Driscoll "tackle"?
What Kryton and wrecker said.
I don't necessarily agree that Lawes was targeted mind you. Just making the point that the absence of a citing doesn't mean that nothing went bad.
Will all the matches be live on ITV?
yes, all on itv now, better than paying for it, but still adverts 10seconds before kick off.
Yawn; Must be rubbish having the whole world against you... Steve Walsh,targeting Lawes,Scotland getting pumped to cost you the 6N....
Is this the Engerland supporters getting their excuses in early?
As for Lawes,we are talking about a player who dishes it out. Perish the thought that he may have to take some back.
Steve Walsh,targeting Lawes,Scotland getting pumped to cost you the 6N....
Don't forget Alain Rolland! 😀
Anyway that's bollards to say Kiwis don't get cited, what about Dylan Hartley?
Anyway that's bollards to say Kiwis don't get cited, what about Dylan Hartley?
Fnar, yet I for one, clearly stated:
None. This is the [b]Ab's [/b]we are discussing of course.
None. This is the Ab's we are discussing of course.
So do we have any more details of who did what to whom?
Werent tana and the hooker cited byt found not guilty?
sputnik - MemberWill all the matches be live on ITV?
My tip for the RWC is to get the ITV feed up on your screen but use BBC 5Live for the audio. As well as better commentary you get something to listen to when the adverts are on. Plus, rugby always sounds really exciting on the radio - even when it's not.
We've also got a 110" screen, HUGE sound system and 5 La-z-boys with a handy fridge for those 3 gane Saturdays - but that's all optional. 😉
[quoteMy tip for the RWC is to get the ITV feed up on your screen but use BBC 5Live for the audio. As well as better commentary you get something to listen to when the adverts are on. Plus, rugby always sounds really exciting on the radio - even when it's not.
Does this not suffer from picture/audio lag?
TMS is about a ball ahead of the Sky Sports feed - even worse in HD.
It is sad. Appatently linked to concussion too.. St Johnny hit him high and knocked him out at twickers onve so I'm blaming him!
Does this not suffer from picture/audio lag?
Depends what platforms you're using and whether you have any way of slightly delaying one or the other.
Satellite and internet feeds tend to lag a bit for sure but FreesatHD and DAB work well together (mostly).
St Johnny hit him high and knocked him out at twickers onve so I'm blaming him!
I heard it took a lot of targetted training to get that hit just right.
Do you reckon this helps fuel the Ali Williams view?
Don't be daft, Ali Williams is a troll,somebody said so.That is humour and serves NZ right for always targeting English players with no consequences.
Sad news re JT. Forgot he was so young! Met his grandparents on several occasions in Pembrokeshire, a lovely couple who were rightly proud of him.
On another note, nice tributes to Jerry Collins over the weekend as well. Am sure a few glasses were raised at Barnstaple RFC, too.
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ays targeting English players with no consequences
Se never did get an examples of poor little Timmy Lawes being picked on did we.
but use BBC 5Live for the audio
and have to put up with the bellowing oaf that is Ian Robertson 😯 worst commentator evs
Excited now. Feels like it's really starting.
Fiji:Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Niki Goneva, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Nikola Matawalu; Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto, Manasa Saulo, Apisalome Ratuinyarawa, Leone Nakarawa, Dominko Waqaniburotu, Akapusi Qera (captain), Sakiusa Masi Matadigo
Replacements: Peni Ravai, Isei Colati, Tevita Cavubati, Peceli Yato, Nemia Kenatale, Josh Matavesi, Aseli Tikoirotuma
Would have liked to see Levani Botia getting a run, but maybe they're holding back for the bigger games. 🙂
Campese Ma'afu, England just need to keep it in the scrum!!!
Commentator's nightmare that one. I expect they've been practising their arses off all week. 🙂
What time is kick off? I am looking forward to that,not so much the "lets put on a spectacle of an opening ceremony bit." One to watch out for in that side that you may not have seen before is the Glasgow back five Nakarawa,some player!
Yup, he was pretty special against Munster in the pro12 final.
Plays like a basketballer Globetrotter, all trick passes and offloads, great to watch.
The little fella Nandolo on the wing looks one to watch too.
And if Botia gets a go in another game...
anyway,8 pm KO, hula skirts and flowery leis all round
Can see Fiji getting a surprise result against a bigger team this time round. IMO, best of the Pacific at the mo.
They look like they've got a lot of good players in all the right places and haven't been stitched up in the run up this time.
For once, the fixtures may even work in their favour with them having Wales 4 days after Wales other big match
Good interview with Jonathan Thomas here:
[url= http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/Rugby_on_Off_The_Ball/105486/ ]Good interview with Jonathan Thomas here - Newstalk Off The Ball Podcast[/url]
Commentator's nightmare that one.
Always loved hearing Jiffy struggle with Imanol Harinordoquy.
Always loved hearing Jiffy struggle with Imanol Harinordoquy.
That one's easy, "Big French Thug"
😉
That one's easy, "Big French Thug"
That doesn't really narrow it down much...... 😉
Why is Harry Ordinary a thug? Good player.
Maybe he meant his dad....
Close now, getting excited.
I've promised Jnr (6) he can stay up late and watch the opening ceremony and England match with me tomorrow, feels like another little Father / Son landmark.
I may need to tone down the beer and sofa-ref vocabulary though. 😆
I may need to tone down the beer and sofa-ref vocabulary though.
I don't tend to swear at the TV much when watching rugby. (I do for anything else, weirdly.)
My kids have got used to me having conversations with the ref though...
"Can you not see the off-side there, ref?"
"Pardon Daddy?"
"Sorry, just talking to the TV."
A week later..
"What about the high tackle, you moron?"
Junior looks up at me, looks at TV, nods knowingly and mutters "TV again"
Ireland starters and bench named for Canada game. Can't say I have any problems with that. Joe has obviously decided there's no need to risk Healey this early. Looking forward to seeing how Payne does. I like him. Happy with having that 16-20 on the bench. Just wondering how the green machine will engineer the forthcoming massive disappointment with such a strong squad.
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) (capt)
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)