[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

He's no Worsley!

I think england will win and I will say no more about it, I really hate living here from now until the end of next Monday when all the england fans will of emerged given me some stick and scuttled back to their footy loving ways.

Sounds like Swansea

Will Wales be targeting Ford?

Wont they think about his parents FFS? 😉

Oh heck, LC-D to come on at 60m for [s]the kiwi biter[/s] our captain. That's not good

I really hate living here from now until the end of next Monday when all the england fans will of emerged given me some stick and scuttled back to their footy loving ways.

Don't worry - we'll give you stick on here longer than that.....

😉

Jones and McBryde must have been reading this thread!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35774334

6 weeks a year and a few weeks every four years?

We're being invaded by 'one match every year' experts... 😆

I thought he'd banned himself from talking to the media..he does go on doesnt he!

So we were very disappointed in that England game to fall on the wrong side of decisions and we felt the problem lay elsewhere."

However, Jones says he is "quite upset" by Wales' approach to the set-piece.

"They play the laws very well," the Australian told BBC Radio 5 live. "They pre-engage all the time, which is against the laws of the game.

"And then they get penalised one or two times at the start of the game, but the referee gets sick of penalising it.

Six Nations table
"Because if the referee keeps penalising it, you know what happens? The referee gets criticised.

"We really want to have a scrum contest on Saturday - it's an important part of the game - so we are really hopeful the referee enforces the law in that area."

Jones added: "If you are the referee and you keep penalising Wales for pre-engaging, then all the smart guys in the commentators' box say 'this referee is ruining the game'.

"But they are not ruining the game, it's the team that is scrummaging illegally which is ruining the game.

"So we want the referee to be really hard, and if he has to ruin the game, he has to ruin the game."

I likes him!

I thought he'd banned himself from talking to the media

Quality line of argument 😉

Bringing scrutiny on a front row that will at some point contain the human right angle that is Marler may backfire on him.

The London Times is reporting that Ford was emptied by Dangleberry yesterday. No report of parents rushing to his bedside though,maybe Irish parents just care more? 😀

I'm in Japan for this one - 0200AM kickoff 😯

At least it's on tv here.

Also on the England pages are the words referring to Tuilagi "he's so special he's running lines straight through our own defence"

Hmmm, well hold on a minute surely that means....

Meh,I saw that,but it isn't as if Wales have a big fast powerful centre is it?

U20s results anyone?

England 16 Wales 42

Oof.

Not exactly news. This team has been beaten by the scots and irish too. Sometimes you just get a shit intake.

shit intake

The correct spelling is Shontayne Hape.

😉

😀
You did a funny!!!!!

The U20's are pretty ropey this year. Callard the coach has come out with some drivel about learning from defeat etc.

Hopefully the big boys will play better. My heart says England but my head is still saying Wales. After all the guff spouted by both coaching teams this week, the scrums will no doubt but a farce. I just hope they're not the deciding factor.

More pressure on Mike Ford after a pretty shambolic 60 minutes against Quins last night.

At the main event at Sixways today. Then may watch the Welsh game.

After all the guff spouted by both coaching teams this week, the scrums will no doubt but a farce. I just hope they're not the deciding factor.

Indeed, should be a fun, close match between two strong teams - lets hope the headlines are about good play not the whistle.* The unpredictability of the 6N makes for more interest IMO with many different permutations.

* can't be bothered to watch too much rugby because of the dominance of the ref's voice - "roll away blue....it's a maul...use it." Shut up.

Do irb need to make a special rule for scrum penalties. Like it must be tap and go, or the ball can't go out on the full? Quins bath last night had some good scrums in decent positions but on the go forward instead of shipping the ball they held it in for the penalty.

At the main event at Sixways today

Arse. Circumstances dictate I won't see this live, and will watch it tonight on record. It's just not the same, and I'll have to avoid this thread and all social media until later!

All bs and armchair opinion aside let's hope for a cracking game whomever wins, it really is too close to call.

Well, I've just been out for a ride with a Welsh lad here in Japan, and he blew up on the big climb - let's hope that's an omen! Recovery food now of Gyoza and sushi, a few hours sleep, then up at 2AM for the match 😯

Itv.... Ugh... Maybe the scrum faff will be the least of the irritations today

Wrecker - nd how is your team doing these days? Lol

Wrecker - nd how is your team doing these days? Lol

We have unique supporters!

You certainly do!

Glorious day in South West London, Corky has promised a decent spread in the car park and then hopefully a quality bit of rugger.

Predictions I'll go England 0 Wales 0 defences on top!

I'm not calling a winner as i really can't decide. Will be close and by 2 or 3 points though

Corky has promised a decent spread in the car park

[img] [/img]

Jeez this italian team are dreadful.

Well, Ireland certainly had their Weetabix this morning

[img] [/img]

Erm.....bit early with that, wouldn't you say? Assuming Wales can't win the triple crown after the draw with Ireland.

Nah, he is called Corky because he served some corked wine once despite tasting it, can't let a chap forget that.

Fantastic 😀 Can we have a running commentary please mefty?

Well given the choice of Ire/Ita or Wasps/Leicester I went for the latter. Not only is the coverage and commentary on BT vastly superior to ITV but the rugby is better too.

At least both sides have turned up.......

🙂

A year ago, I posted to look out for a young bristol academy product called ellis genge. He's on the bench for tigers today, be interesting to see if he gets on and how he plays if he does.

be interesting to see if he gets on and how he plays

He'll be fine as long as he stays out of the way of Frank "The Tank" Halai's hand-off!

Have you seen the size of ellis?!?!?
[img] [/img]

Yeah he's a big boy but Halai doesn't seem to discriminate who he hands off. He's got an arm like a piston....

CRacking game anyway. I'll update if Genge gets a run out.

I've put it on now thanks nb. I do love watching wasps play when they're in the mood.

He's on! Let's see how the young knowle wester does!

Yeah Genge just got on but looked like he was pinged at the first scrum?

Those Piutau brothers are handy.

Yeah, he's a back row convert so he still has a bit to learn about the scrum.

he still has a bit to learn about the scrum.

Don't we all?

Especially the refs!

He's not shy is our ellis!
He's done well today. He's only at Tigers on loan but if he carries on like this, I'll be surprised to see him in Bristol colours again 🙁

Amazingly not tense today. Half hope we lose so that we have a go at developing our game.

I'll be surprised to see him in Bristol colours again

They have the man god in their yeam already all they need is 14 other average joes!!!

Good game so far! Both decisions correct by the refs - ball stripped, but Youngs didn't ground it, imho.

Amazingly not tense today

Tell that to the guys on the pitch. Wales looking very shakey so far 😕

Wrong question again tef!

Did Marler really just call Samson Lee "gypsy boy"?

😐

And the elbow shot.

Could be working for the citing team there.

Just had a quick hello to nick wood, Gloucester's most capped player today! Probebly won't mean much to most rugby fans. and to fair considering the loss he was not best pleased, but even so one of the all time great English props!

Please don't kick the ball to North all day 8O. Good tackle by Ford though.

Yes we have to reconsider the kicking tactic - just giving it away.

Commentary team are PITA. It's not about the ref

Samson is having a torrid time at the scrum.

Have they changed the offside rule re chasing the kick? 😉

(tbf not just in this match)

I've got Japanese commentary - probably better!!! You can hear the ref mic though.

Thm - the kicks are in response to Wales rush defence. It's now keeping them back a little, creating us some space.

This is like 2013 reversed. Almost identical possession and the same outcome so far

The tactic is working now but not at the start - but we offside when chasing

12 and 15 having good times!!! 😉

Nice feed to the second row... again. Couldn't even see the ball in the gap from the side on view!

Itoje having a stormer!!

Itoje straight on his elbows there.

Itoje is playing a blinder, especially with welshmen queuing up to be tackled.

Matt

He's playing well, though. That wasn't a penalty.

Welsh line outs not remotely straight.

Well played England so far. Wales as poor as I can remember.

especially with welshmen queuing up to be tackled

This implies Wales have had some ball! 😳

I thought that too C'pn

Will Wales turn up in the 2nd half ?

I'll take that!!

Should be an interesting second half, as Wales HAVE to come out flying.

England very deserving of the score line so far. Not great but certainly no where near as bad as Wales who haven't shown up yet. In fairness, England have played the right game, not allowing Wales to establish their normal structure or have any time on the ball to get in to any sort of pattern or flow.

I'd like to see clifford for the hask, manu on, farrell to 10, ford off and care for youngs please.

Just seen the tmo replay for the disallowed try. Clear punch from Marler.