[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

Scotland scored 5 against the notoriously tough USA defence.

In fairness, Scotland have struggled for a long time to score tries and really got it together last season. Credit where it is due.

Indeed to be honest I was gutted for them that they didnt beat us (well not really but they are my third team after England then Ireland).
My house will be painted blue on sat and I will be screaming for a win against Wales.

toys192 - Member

Scotland scored 5 against the notoriously tough USA defence.

Posted 12 hours ago #

And only three against OZ,which pales into insignificance with the way England put them to the sword with a masterclass of running rugby...Oh wait... 😀

Wales could have played for a week like last weekend and not scored a try from open play.

I had Scotland down to beat England last week. They seem to have dropped form since the WC.

Wales team: Liam Williams (Scarlets); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).

Good to see an unchanged side from Wales, a bit more time together to work on the wide channels and hopefully we'll use some of the overlaps we create this time. I suspect we may well see a few more tries.

Interested to see how Rhys Webb gets on on his return to domestic duties, as I thought Gareth Davies looked tired & slow last week, so maybe a possibility to get web back for the England game a get a bit more quick ball

And only three against OZ,which pales into insignificance with the way England put them to the sword with a masterclass of running rugby...Oh wait...

Why are we comparing england and scotland through australia, when an absolute, direct and conclusive comparison was carried out last week?

😛

I think Webb should stay well clear of wales for a while. It was a very nasty injury he had, it'll take time for him to get back.

I think Webb should stay well clear of wales for a while. It was a very nasty injury he had, it'll take time for him to get back

indeed it was, but he wouldn't be coming back domestically unless he was fully recovered. there's obviously a big difference between recovered and match fit, but with a month to the england match he's got the opportunity to get some decent game time in.

hopefully it's a moot point anyway and davies will be a bit sharper this week.
also hoping that sanjay and warbs are also a bit more on point (not that either had a bad game last week, but neither looked at their best)

wales by 10 i reckon

indeed it was, but he wouldn't be coming back domestically unless he was fully recovered.

Might take his head a while to agree with his body!

True, always going to bit a little cautious after an injury like that. Any news on 1/2p's recovery, obviously not going to be back for he 6N, but haven't seen any updates on when he's likely to return?

Why are we comparing england and scotland through australia, when an absolute, direct and conclusive comparison was carried out only last week?

Because it seems that Scotland won the RWC. Something that I must admit that I missed. 🙂

My two fav Scotland rugby facts:

0 tries v England at Murrayfield since 2004
3 games won in the 6N's between the last two WC's

For balance, my two fav England rugby stats

We started Sam Burgess at centre in a world cup

James Haskell put in the best performance in an England 7 shirt for a few years last week!!!

We were in it for a week longer than the mighty English. Still I would hate to divert you from your research and preparation for the latest excuses,you know; poor choice of coach/centre/ref/captains decision/3 mins from beating Wales, as reasons why you didn't win the Grand Slam/WC. All of this whining adds to your "unique" standing in the popularity stakes.5 pages on Steve Walsh anybody? Of course when ex players like Ali Williams point things like this out,they are sledging or jealous. We managed our expectations,you have a sense of self entitlement way beyond anything your team demonstrates. There are more rugby players in Madagascar than Scotland,yet you lot are crowing about beating us?

Who was whining about being knocked out?

The RWC is history, as are the results from last week. It's there for the record. Two teams head to head and a clear result. Next.....?

Now everyone can move on to how their teams will play in the next match....or can they?

I think both big Gav and wee Andy N need your lessons about expectations management duckman, they seem a little off script at the moment (even last night on R5L in Gav's case), rather like the excitement and decibel levels in Cotter's commentary.

Who was whining about being knocked out?

Hang on I'll be back in 6 hours with a definitive list!!

Did someone mention me?

[img] [/img]

Poor choice of shorts.....

Thanks for the offer AA, but really need, most have moved on (ok I guess this is still a RWC thread for one suffering from nostalgia)

So this weekend....?

So this weekend....?

England to put an underwhelming PD vs Italy. Haskell to me MoM at 7 (Grrr), he goes to 6 and on comes Itoje for Robshaw only to surpass his performance easily. Brown to argue with someone, Ford/Farrel at 10/12 with a swap to Farrell/Devoto once if have a 10pt lead.

Wales to beat Scotland say, 25-10, France to scare Ireland in a close match, 14-15.

Wales by 5
France by 5
England by a technical knockout (ok15-20 and are back as world beaters again)

We were in it for a week longer than the mighty English. Still I would hate to divert you from your research and preparation for the latest excuses,you know; poor choice of coach/centre/ref/captains decision/3 mins from beating Wales, as reasons why you didn't win the Grand Slam/WC. All of this whining adds to your "unique" standing in the popularity stakes.5 pages on Steve Walsh anybody? Of course when ex players like Ali Williams point things like this out,they are sledging or jealous. We managed our expectations,you have a sense of self entitlement way beyond anything your team demonstrates. There are more rugby players in Madagascar than Scotland,yet you lot are crowing about beating us?

Bear - Member
Poor choice of shorts.....

You were expecting the tight Speedos?

Did someone mention me?

I'm not sure about that look. Is it Blue Steel or Magnum?

That's 'did I leave the gas on?'

Looks like England are going to bash it up through the fatty's (and they are fatty's according to Carling) with 6/2 bench split. At least Itoje is on the bench and will hopefully come off with 20 mins to go and put forward a good case for winning more caps.

Alex bloody Goode still on the bench though - not exactly a game changer. He looks good at AP level but has shown time and time again that he's not quick or strong enough for international rugby.

1 centre in the whole match day 23!

1 centre in the whole match day 23!

What's the worst that can happen? Gulp.

Our one centre isn't even in great shape either whereas Italy's centre pairing looked pretty lively last weekend.

I guess Nowell will cover centre if owt happens to JJ with Brown moving to the wing and no Goode coming on at FB. Bold call by EJ.

I think the pack looks as good as it has in the last few years. Only a good 7 from being pretty badass.

The backs, not so much. Ben Youngs? why? He was shit last week.

EJ seems to have clear plans that are simple and hopefully effective. Lancaster and other regimes seem wrapped up in too much IT and less flexible process

Experience for Murrayfield and ability to suffocate Scotland - different horses for the weekend. Breath of fresh "free" air

Got tickets for Wales - Scotland tomrrow so hope its not like the time Hogg was red carded a couple of years ago!

Just to remind the English fans of a few stats (from 2014 world rugby year in review)

[b]Country - registered players - total players[/b]
England - 340,347 - 2,057,797
France - 291,202 - 383,757
Ireland - 96,880 - 172,491
Italy - 82,143 - 82,143
Wales - 73,444 - 73,444
Scot. - 49,305 - 169,231

It's a miricle England aren't better and smashing grand slams every year, it just shows what a massive cluster fvck the English Rugby Union is making of things.

You should be sympathetic to the burden that this represents - imagine carrying that around every day. How woeful we are, the shame....

In contrast, Scotland are the most successful team based on financial resources and player numbers - much better than England. So everyone's a winner. Who do we hand the cup back to?

It's a miricle England aren't better and smashing grand slams every year

wrecker - Member

BOOOOOOOORING!!!!!!

Not as boring as being a Scotland suporter, being given a glimmer of hope and excitement every year but quickly watcing as that is snuffed out by basic errors and poor descisions.

Going to watch Scotland is very like buying a fancy seatpost on the internet, the pre [match/purchase] reports are good, excitment builds as the [postie comes/ match day arrives], but once [out riding/watching the match] absolutly nothing has changed and you've wasted £75.

Harsh but 😀

I think the 6N is much more fun when the games are close and any one of several can win as has been the case in recent times. Even if it is tense to watch. Take last weekend, one underdog won, another almost/should have done so and one draw. ok lots of errors but entertaining nonetheless.

I think the pack looks as good as it has in the last few years. Only a good 7 from being pretty badass.

The backs, not so much. Ben Youngs? why? He was shit last week.

Agreed - Robshaw looked off the pace last week. Ditch him, Haskell to 6 and give Kvesic a whirl.

Ben Youngs hasn't been much cop for a long time now and the form SH (Simpson) is broken at the mo.

Loads of Scots wandering around town (Swansea) wearing kilts.

Q to the Scots on here - do you get self conscious wearing a kilt in public places outside Scotland? One bloke on his own looked it.

I never have.

The massive attention from women can make me feel self conscious though - I'm nit used to it you see.

Despite being an arrogant English git, I really fancied Scotlands chances against us and the were quite threatening at times, and I do support them unless its against Ireland or England.

I was wondering how do you fix Scotland, is it a grassroots issue? I know they only have two "premiership" clubs, would they be good enough to get into the aviva? Lot of their players are in the prem anyway, its not like they don't have some good players, but I guess they need more well funded local clubs/schools to bring the talent along?

"Chippy bitterness" Wrecker? Bitter about what exactly? I could mention Steve Walsh again,but it would appear you are using the Twickenham defence.

To the above poster,kids here (and adults) don't play sport. I posted about a hundred pages ago about how the shrinking pool of players means prem teams need to poach players from smaller clubs just to run two sides. This has the knock on effect of smaller sides struggling and indeed folding,this leads to a drop in standard at the smaller clubs as well. The guys they are nicking aren't good enough for the level they are attempting to move up to,so aren't pushing the pool of established players at their new club. None of the home nations teams could cope with the Aviva at first,the pro12 doesn't prepare teams for the level of intensity. Also,if you are an ambitious club like Pirates or Leeds,or even Bristol...Bet you would be ( quite rightly) pissed about Ospreys,Glasgow and Ulster being parachuted into the promised land of the Aviva. Likewise the guarantee of European revenue isn't something the SRU can afford to lose. Anyway,is the Aviva not going to pull up the drawbridge in the next couple of years.

Well obviously EJ wants to strong arm Italy. No invention behind Vunipola though is there. Why not play Devoto in the final 30?

On a side note: Kryton Jnr's club got a deal to watch Saracens & 'Quins at Wembley in April with a pre-match circuit of the pitch while the players warm up, for £26 inc. the bus there. Just me & him going, can't wait!

"Chippy bitterness" Wrecker?

the Aviva not going to pull up the drawbridge in the next couple of years.

The Scots can bring what they like today, but with Stanley Baker at 10 and Michael Caine at 9 i reckon we'll be OK, particularly our defence!

[url=

balls, why can i never get links to work first time!

.

Relegation and promotion mean it's competitive and exciting at the top, middle and bottom. Plenty of TV money to go around.

I'm very jealous of how much money there is in the English game. I was listening to R6M the other day and Mark Radcliffe was talking to a season ticket holder of a football club in effectively their 7th division. He paid about £300 per year, pretty much the same as a season ticket for the Ospreys, supposedly the pinnacle of Welsh club rugby. Different sports and all that - and I'm aware that it sounds like I want ticket prices to increase which I don't! - but I really do wonder where money in the Welsh game goes.

I really wish that I could go back and watch a competitive Swansea RFC play in a meaningful competition with top-class players, like you can in the English 2nd division. (Whatever it's called these days?)

. None of the home nations teams could cope with the Aviva at first,the pro12 doesn't prepare teams for the level of intensity.

I don't think this is the case. Look at the last 10 years or so in Europe and the 6N the Irish have been very successful in both competitions and the Welsh in the 6N. Pretty much all the Irish play in the pro 12.

The Aviva as a league offers better watching but I don't think Glasgow and Edinburgh playing in the Aviva would improve Scotland's results. The lack of success for them and England is more due to the unions not making the most of their resources.

None of the home nations teams could cope with the Aviva at first,the pro12 doesn't prepare teams for the level of intensity.
I don't think this is the case. Look at the last 10 years or so in Europe and the 6N the Irish have been very successful in both competitions and the Welsh in the 6N. Pretty much all the Irish play in the pro 12.

The Aviva is much more competitive and at a higher level than the pro12. The English players are more prepared to play at a higher level. The problem is they are not allowed to peak for the international window and dont get time to prepare.
The pro12 is shit.

Dear god that was shit!

And Wood is a complete and utter knob end.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzz.....

Well at least the team trying to play rugby won

I missed it - so dull I fell asleep!

Dull dull game :/

Jackson on,ah well;maybe next year.

Nice to see Andy N looking optimistic 😉

How long is gatland going to be in charge for now then? surely he's had his shot,Wales were unlucky at the world cup with injuries but isn't it time for someone else with maybe fresh ideas to have a shot?

Cotter really struggles to hide his excitement doesn't he!?!

Get in

That will do it, Gogzilla !!!!!!

Well played Wales. WTF is Nicoll going to say in the wrap up???

Jamie's big hit!!!!

Damnit, another valiant loss. Getting bored of this.

Good but at times a scrappy win by Wales. Scotland still not got the killer instinct. And the Southern Hemisphere still not remotely worried.

Well I still don't like losing, but being narrowly (can I say that - 4 points?) beaten by a decent size in Cardiff feels slightly better than being beaten by a mediocre side in Edinburgh.

I'm trying to look on the bright side you understand. We did play [b]some[/b] decent rugby this week.

I really should go skiing for the 6 nations - yes the whole couple of months. In Colorado where they don't follow rugby.

Another good weekend so far, Sale beat Exeter, Tigers get stuffed by Falcons and Wales win. Just need a good English win tomorrow..

WTF is Nicoll going to say in the wrap up???

TMO's fault

mikey3 - Member
How long is gatland going to be in charge for now then? surely he's had his shot,Wales were unlucky at the world cup with injuries but isn't it time for someone else with maybe fresh ideas to have a shot?

Do we normally sack coaches at half time then? 🙂 As has been mentioned many times in this thread, Wales has approximately 17 good players. What fresh ideas can you come up with for such a limited range of talent? "Jamie, if you could just learn to sidestep and offload like Sonny Bill, that would be marvellous..."

He doesn't need to sidestep. He can just use his massive chin to knock the opposition over or out. A clash of heads and the flanker goes off with concussion. 🙄

Can we sack the SRU? We need to stem the rot from grassroots.like the old murrayfield pitch it's rotten, nematodes or nepotism, stop importing and relying on second rate SH players. A quick fix is not a fix.

How long is gatland going to be in charge for now then?

A more pertineent question would be about Schmidt. Ireland play anti rugby AND dont win.

Glad Wales scraped by.

I think it is a mix of lots of things; some of the key players not being as sharp as they once were (e.g. North, Mini Jiffy), key players missing (e.g. 1/2p, Williams) or carrying injuries and not match fit (e.g. Lydiate) or knackered from rugby overload (e.g. AWJ). Only Roberts is really looking fresh and loving his rugby.

Get some of these properly fit and sharp and Wales won't be too bad.... in the 6N at least.... no idea how you take the few decent players and consistently beat the SH. Having said all that, there was a time you'd wouldn't imagine Wales winning a match without 1/2p or with the front row we played today so there is progress and development going on.

How are the Irish fans feeling today? I'm not sure it was so surprising as it happened but at the same time I think most would have had them to win. More injuries on top of the loss must be a huge downer too 🙁 I feel France really bullied Ireland in the first half with and got away with lots of niggle which gave them a very French kind of advantage despite being poor themselves

A more pertineent question would be about Schmidt. Ireland play anti rugby AND dont win.

I'm very happy with Joe 2 championships in your first two seasons is a great achievement in Irish rugby. As for anti rugby, I think it's the ref that had that effect. Last week we had 5 line breaks to Wales' 0 so that's rubbish.

Dan, expectation in Ireland is quite low this season due to the injury list and the poor performances in Europe from the provinces. We had 2 of our first choice pack on for most of the game so it was always going to be difficult. We have real problems at tight head, when Mike Ross goes out we are very exposed. However I'm very positive for the future we have some great young players coming through and we might see more of them later in the championship and in SA in the summer

I'm very happy with Joe 2 championships in your first two seasons is a great achievement in Irish rugby.

And we are told Wales lack ambition, you got owned by Argentina in the World Cup, completly demolished and all you do is crash bang, maul and kick.

all you do is crash bang, maul and kick.

And the choke tack....Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn...le

Williams is hardly a key player. Boping to see Lydiate start next week. Tipuric just doesnt fit Gatland ball. Hopefully Liam, North, Jiffy Junior and Sam are playing themselves into a bit of form.

True, Scott Williams isn't a "key" key player but he's a very decent bench option and usually someone who can make something happen and Wales could use a spark at the moment.

Lydiate probably won't even make 40 or 50 mins if he starts but I agree that he's better off starting than Tips to absorb the initial pressure and get Wales playing how they want from the start

Has Hartley been sent off yet?

😉

ITV coverage is poor. I'd even prefer Inverdale's Waffle to much of their studio rubbish. Maggie is good, though.