[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

Ford sacked by Bath

Nah, this is who they need!![img] [/img]

[s]Ford [/s] Cipriani keeping the england bench warm. He's been [s]shit [/s] really quite good all year.

Ford sacked by Bath

@wrecker yup me too, Lancaster deserves a decent role. Mike Catt could be in the frame too perhaps ?

@wrecker yup me too, Lancaster deserves a decent role.

😳

I would have got the joke if you'd said Farrell

You weren't to know!

Ford sacked

Heard he was shagging George's mum

I would sack anybody who looked at David Denton since he had enough money for takeaways and thought he was worth a £60k fee and £150k a year!

Lancaster deserves a decent role

I think McDonald's are hiring at the moment. He could improve the "culture" by getting all the relatives and friends of the burger flippers to write to them and tell them how proud they are and what a great job they're doing.

Good article in the Grauniad about the lows of playing in the 2nd tier of professional rugby.

[url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/may/17/championship-wild-west-professional-rugby-union-dangers ]https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/may/17/championship-wild-west-professional-rugby-union-dangers[/url]

And at the other end of the scale; Armitage to Wasps?

So when do Wales lose to England? Followed by losing 3 games to NZ and then no doubt an autumn series of NZ, SA and Aus losses? Think we have Italy first up in Six Nations next year...hope we are not going into that on the back of 7 or 8 losses.

😆

End of May I think. Exclusively on Sky of course.

A-A; does it not affect rankings this Summer? We are going to Japan and the Pitcairn Islands. I think Vern is also trying to arrange a test match with Bora-Bora as well.

Don't forget the first leg of the championship play off finals is on sky tonight. Brizzle vs Donny.
Remember to cheer for Brizzle (please).
A_A; young Calum Sheedy is starting at 10, he's been immense recently (far better than morgan ever was!).

I expect the seedings for the world cup will be done after November to ensure Wales are again as low as possible!!

Forgot we also get to lose to the chiefs this summer.

Apparently we have aus, arg, japan and SA this autumn..SA game is outside the window so we will have a shit team out. Still at least we dont have to play NZ again!

does it not affect rankings this Summer?

Pool allocation for next RWC will be May 2017. AFAIR, the pool allocation for RWC2015 was made in 2012. Wales had had a shocking streak up till then which left them 9th - leading to all the fun of that group. (Although it was England that suffered in the end.) IRB have said that three years was too long so are leaving a gap of two this time. So the Summer & Autumn tests will have a fair old impact on the home nations & France who occupy places 4,5, 7, 8 & 9. And an extra bit of spice for next year's 6N competition as those games will be taken into account too. I imagine Argentina will stay in the top 8, so again, looks like a home nation or France will be occupying that lovely 9th position. 🙂

EDIT

I expect the seedings for the world cup will be done after November to ensure Wales are again as low as possible!!

One of the most vocal critics of the three year gap was Gatland! Looks like he got his way.

We are going to Japan and the Pitcairn Islands. I think Vern is also trying to arrange a test match with Bora-Bora as well.

I think it looks like it's a bit of the other way round.
Japan are 9th at the moment and would overtake Scotland with a series victory.
WC Wouldn't want the hosts going out in the group stages again, would they?
Best shot at getting them through is to get them seeded and best shot at getting them seeded is , sorry to put it this way, play Scotland.
You've been "chosen". 😉

Doncaster 13-28 Bristol. 😀

Looking forward to going to the second leg next week at Ashton Gate. Surely they can't mess it up from here? Can they? 🙂

We were rubbish and still won by a decent margin. Game at bris will be a strangle job.
Point 1; our centres look like they are under-17s players who have accidentally walked into a senior game.
Point 2; Why TF aren't Cortez, Traynor and Brooker starting? Losing all scrums in the first 60 mins isn't a ruse, it's stupid.
Point 3; Glad my mate Jamie did well again. That 8 shirt suits him.

@aa yes 20-something of May, really pointless match. In other news Marler is taking the summer off

really pointless match

Indeed.

However, a number of Welsh players have missed out a lot of the season and might benefit from a run out. Plus all the Welsh regions ended their seasons early May.

It's also a good chance for some of the fringe England players not involved in the play-offs to stake a claim as well.

Not sure who the fanboi on this thread was but [url= http://www.rugbydump.com/2016/05/5076/jarryd-hayne-set-to-compete-with-fijis-superstars-in-a-bid-for-an-olympic-spot ]Jarryd Hayne has quit his dream whilst having a dream to follow another dream after his dream wasn't a dream anymore... dream[/url]

Jarryd Hayne has quit his dream whilst having a dream to follow another dream after his dream wasn't a dream anymore... dream

He should stop eating so much cheese before going to bed.

I think Hayne probably left the 49ers before he was pushed - by the incoming head coach.

I can't see how he's going to make the Fiji squad. They're already the world's best and it's not like they're short of talented athletes either.

The Aussie 7s squad actually gave him an open invite a few years back if the NFL didn't happen but he claims he's never heard from them.

If he'd come in with Fiji or Australia, got conditioned and played in a bunch of tournaments then you could see him making it. It looks doubtful that he's even going to play at the London 7s so where does that leave him?

Also on my RD browse this morning...

He may have made a gypsy comment too in the past but he seems like an alright kind of bloke

I can't see how he's going to make the Fiji squad.

Let's be fair to the bloke, he's an exceptional athlete (better than Burgess IMHO).

Have to pick him for this to have a proper look I'd say

Yeah I reckon so Jamba. He's bloody good though, I'm not at all surprised he's under consideration and with all that NFL coaching(!), I bet he's faster and stronger than ever.

Come on you Chiefs!!!

Congratulations to Exeter, whilst they are the romantic choice I fear Saracens will be just too street smart with too much quality.

Saracens look hard to beat after today's showing.

WOW!! Well done Scotland 7's!!!!!

Ben Teo and his magical arm guard in the England squad...can I just point out that I was calling him a **** well before he became English so dont accuse me of being anti english!

Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), J Clifford (Harlequins), E Genge (Leicester), J George (Saracens), T Harrison (Northampton), D Hartley (c) (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hill (Northampton), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), M Mullan (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins), K Sinckler (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens).

Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), E Daly (Wasps), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), J Nowell (Exeter), H Slade (Exeter), B Te'o (Worcester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), A Watson (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester).

No Ashton...you need him back in!!

Strange one, no Ashton.

[i]WOW!! Well done Scotland 7's!!!!![/i]

Yes! amazing! Every team I wanted to win this weekend lost, then Scotland go and beat SA. Fantastic 😀

No Cipriani, maybe Jambalaya had a word?

Jones is a realist, not a fantasist. He wants a big, hard team. Cipriani would get smashed by the Aussies IMHO. Care, Farrell, Slade, Joseph, Watson, Nowell, Goode looks a nice back line. Not seen Teo play yet. Ashton obviously not popular with Jones.

He wants a big, hard team.

+

Care, Farrell, Slade, Joseph, Watson, Nowell, Goode

=

Does not compute 🙂

Farrel Gashton Teo Burrel Banahanahanahan Goode

Thats much bigger, pick that

Cipriani v Farrell weakens the defence considerably. There are no bad tacklers in my line above. I don't know enough about Teo, but he must have something about him to have made the trip.

Teo, ex league, big strong and physical. Nothing special Roberts would own him. 29 too so might be struggling to make next world cup. Dont see the point. Ties him to England I suppose and would be good solid back up.

Cipriani is yesterdays news never mind his Drink Drving case. Personally I think he should call an end to his England career and focus on the club side, look at France too. What's the point of getting knocked around with the Saxons, he should just rest

Top try scoring wingers this season:

Semesa Rokoduguni 12
Christian Wade 12
Chris Ashton 11

So Yarde and Knowle get picked. Cool, why would England want wingers who score tries eh?

why would England want wingers who score tries eh?

Fair question but Ashton and Wade have both played for dominant teams which helps. Wade got 6 tries in one game, most of which were simple run ins.

Roko's rate has been pretty good considering how crap Bath were.

Actually I think Wade should be in and that Ashton is decent too but EJ knows what he's doing. Ashton's out on the "we can only accommodate one dickhead rule" and he's said Wade needs to defend better.

I can't see Yarde's worth myself but EJ talked about his power when running over Ritchie McCaw for a try in NZ a few years ago and thinks he can be the real deal.

Wasn't always a big Nowell fan but he's really proved himself. Watson should be at 15 because neither Brown nor Goode are ever going to be top international fullbacks.

we can only accommodate one dickhead rule

Which [i]one[/i] did you have in mind that was kept? 🙂

Can't agree more on Wade getting a shot, Nowell proving himself decently so far and Watson being better suited to 15 and being a better long term bet than the others

I wouldn't care if there was 20 dickheads if they were the best players!

Which one did you have in mind that was kept?

My guess would be Care but there are a few other candidates...

I wouldn't care if there was 20 dickheads if they were the best players!

In theory yeah but if you look at the history of team sports you need a cohesive side and if the maximum dickhead to decent bloke ratio is exceeded then it all falls down.

The Netherlands football team at many World Cups for example. Or imagine a cricket team of 11 Kevin Pietersens?

I can't see how he's going to make the Fiji squad.

Aaaaand he's in!

Indeed but I meant I can't see how he'll make the squad for Rio.

For anyone still interested in Jarryd Hayne's brave struggle to achieve his lifelong dream of representing Fiji in 7s at the Olympics - and I must admit I'm starting to lose interest - there's a good, pithy article [url= http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/05/24/hayne-sixes-sevens-rugbys-short-form/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+theroar%252Frugby-union+%2528The+Roar+-+Rugby+Union%2529 ]HERE[/url]

I wouldn't care if there was 20 dickheads if they were the best players!

Edit: I see @namaste has made the point very well

Like Cipriani he's yesterdays news

Is that the Danny Cipriani who is clearly in the Saxons to get game time, the one who has just been signed by England's spendiest club or a different one?

[b]#JAMBYFACTS[/b]

[i]..building a team with discipline...[/i]

Manu's in, Hartley's in...
I don't know about this who is a "dickhead" stuff to be honest. They're rugby players, I guess I don't follow enough of the gossip to get it and to pretend I know their personalities... I just know that time and again England leave the best players out for some stodgy, flairless rugby that is pure frustration to watch. Time will tell.

I just know that time and again England leave the best players out

That may have been the case in days gone by but I think EJ seems a shrewd judge of character. If he thinks any individual, no matter how good, will have a negative impact on the ability of the side to reach their full potential then he'll be left out.

Graham Henry did it to Justin Marshall.

Word is Ashton was offered a place on the Saxons tour but turned it down. It's Saracen's gain. It means they'll have him for the whole season - except when he's banned, of course. 😉

Manu is out according to Beeb

Is he (Manu) just fragile in a way that some big guys can be? E.G. Simon Taylor,a lion at 20,and little afterwards; and dare I say it, Warburton who seems to just find form and then get broken? (Not that he is big by modern standards)

Is he (Manu) just fragile in a way that some big guys can be?

Dunno. What I do know is that his brothers didn't seem as fragile.

I don't think England can ever base their attack around a guy who's never fit - although that's what SL did.

I don't think England can ever base their attack around a guy who's never fit - although that's what SL did.

I do wonder if half the idea of Teo coming in, is as a poor man's Manu

@duckman from an England perspective, I suggested he focus on his club rugby.

Having just seen some Hayne clips for Fiji 7's.... he runs with all the speed and grace of a prop which can't be ideal in such a fast and loose style of play....

Warburton who seems to just find form and then get broken? (Not that he is big by modern standards)

WTF...Warburton is ****ing huge!! Always makes me laugh when people moan about England needing a proper 7 like Sam..Sam is as big as most 6's

I thought Ashton is not in the England team as he couldnt tackle a kebab, same with Wade.

Having just seen some Hayne clips for Fiji 7's.... he runs with all the speed and grace of a prop

Havent seen his 7's stuff but he if you can find a prop who can run like him I'd be suprised. A bloke doesnt get near nfl rostas as a kick returner without being an athlete.

Midget

[img] [/img]

Fat prop running

I watch loads of Hayne playing in the State of Origin and there is nothing prop-like about him.

Are there any props in League ?

Manu - I think on e yiu've been oit a while with an injury you lose some of that resiliance and its easy to pick up other injuries coming back too soon

I do wonder if half the idea of Teo coming in, is as a poor man's Manu

When England beat the ABs in 2012 Lancaster thought it heralded a new golden era - with a wrecking ball centre at 12, England were going to dominate the world game. He became fixated on the idea that if Manu was right, everything was right. When Manu was gone he tried a succession of lumpen luminaries to fill the Manu sized hole. Such as Barritt, Burgess and (to a lesser extent) Burrell.

Te'o looks OK but, at 29, why bring him in from nowhere unless it's a short term fill-in for the Manu sized hole? Surely a younger English player would benefit more in the long term?

[i]Are there any props in League ?[/i]
[img] ?_r=1406206166[/img]

there is nothing prop-like about him.

No but compared to his gazelle like team mates he did look more like a hippo.

Of all the XVs high flyers only SBW has made a decent fist of 7s. He gave up everything else and has stuck in the whole season. He's not the force he is in XVs but he's learned and he's effective.

I didn't see him in the 7s. Well for about 10 seconds. Certainly wish I could be that much of a hippo.

No but compared to his gazelle like team mates he did look more like a hippo.

I think you've explained it better. Maybe it is a comparative thing but in his brief appearance Hayne did look like a hippo. Hippos are not slow by any means but they aren't especially graceful. That isn't a bad comparison 🙂 Didn't follow his NRL or NFL stuff too much but 7's is a different kettle of fish again. It is good 7's is coming in to the mainstream limelight again and it is interesting to see most of the crossover players struggle

Te'o looks OK but, at 29, why bring him in from nowhere unless it's a short term fill-in for the Manu sized hole?

That is exactly what I wonder, but if you want that type of player then who do you look to in the younger players... not many options I can think of

Having just seen some Hayne clips for Fiji 7's.... he runs with all the speed and grace of a prop

Where did you see these clips? I looked on youtube and saw that he played for 4 mins and touched the ball once. If you think he should be described as a hippo or a prop either you are clueless or were looking at the wrong bloke. Not got great love for him but he is clearly a talented runner with a good step.

Of all the XVs high flyers

You do realise he's never played XV's dont you?

You do realise he's never played XV's dont you?

Indeed. I was merely comparing and contrasting him with some of the stellar XVs players who've been giving it a whirl.

No doubt he's a phenomenal athlete and making that transition to the NFL was stunning. However, he's coming in far too late, he's not in condition, he doesn't understand the game and he's trying to get into the best side in the world. If he was trying to play for Portugal then Ok - but Fiji??

SBW is one of the greatest cross code athletes of all time. He's worked at it. Hayne seems to think he can just turn up and walk in now he's been dumped by the 49ers. It's disrespectful.

AA he has actually put on weight,he was billed as 98kg when he was Lions captain, 15 and a half stone. Hardly massive in international or club back row standards. But it is what you do with it and I am sure he would have proved that against England,but alas he is injured and not playing. He has also only played 60 times for the Blues since 2009, which compares unfavourably with Toby at 110 and SoB at 103 in less time. I'm not slagging him off,I am making the point he spends a lot of time broken,as does Manu.

he's trying to get into the best side in the world

He suceeded in that on saturday (or sunday).

Yeah Warbs is made of glass. However I think he is "managed". I think he may have played v England if anyone gave a shit. He made it through the world cup too. Hardly ever plays for The Blues....
Touch wood Talupe is a freak.

He suceeded in that on saturday (or sunday).

Well they stuck him in to see what he could do. Only because of who he is rather than what he can do at 7s.

If he gets into the Rio squad on merit - he'll have suceeded.

It's unlikely.

Oh right, so he wasnt picked despite playing, thats cleared that up.

Anyway this weekend, what team will England put out? Wales likely to be:

Loopy Liam
North
S Williams
Roberts
Amos
Biggar
Webb
Faletau
Turnbull
Lydiate
AW Jones
Davies
Samson
Evans

Gethin
R Jones
Owens
Ball
Moriarty
Davies
Anscombe
Morgan

I'd start Moriarty at 8 and put Faletau to 7 and send Morgan back to Bristol or is it Cardiff now?

We might chose a Hooker too. Baldwin will start, I would prefer Owens.

Baldwin is seen as the big lump to weather the initial storm when everyone is fresh and then I guess the idea is you can get more from Owens's strengths when the game is a touch more open. I do agree though, I'd love to see Owens given a start to see how he goes as I convinced he's more than just the impact sub the coaches seem to think he is.

Can't we play England at their own game and have Moriarty and Lydiate as two 6's 🙂

We will anyway. Turnbull is a 6. We only have one 7 in the squad and he's broken

enough of this irrelevancy!
The big game is on at Ashton Gate tonight!
Am going down to support the Brizzle in what [i]should[/i] be the slam dunk promotion fixture. I will take a box with me for Bravissimus to stand on so he can watch it all too.

Then we can have a proper Wuss/Brizz "derby" next season. (Glos arent much of a competition really 🙂 )