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Can't believe the French season is still going on! Win the league and report back the following Monday for pre-season. Good to see HP back.
apparently both Ford and Farrell have been cited following Saturday's triumph.
Here's the photographic evidence - that's a clear gouge from Ford and a straight arm from Farrell. dirty f%&*ers
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😆 😉
Danny Cipriani told a court he was ‘a bit miffed’ to fail a breathalyser test
http://courtnewsuk.co.uk/rugby-ace-miffed-fail-breath-test/
I bet he was 😆
@duckman yes indeed and final in Barcelona due to Euro 2016 too ! Bummer as I was hoping to see the final and a lot of quality on show. Gutting for Clermont who had looked to have the game won. Highlights below
Quite a few changes for 2016/17 Season. Both Armitage's leaving Toulon along with Michalak. Trinh-Duc in (always felt he was a decent player who hasn't had the run he deserved). POC retiring - haven't seen him much perhaps injured ?
[url= http://www.planetrugby.com/news/top-14-20162017-transfer-wrap/ ]Transfers[/url]
@Stoner - my point is exactky regarding him. Back in the squad, man of the match, rwc coming up ... what's his responce. Lets go drink driving. The irony of ironies is he crashed into a taxi - a taxi is what he should have been in never mind the logic of sending the selectors a message by staying tea-total. I could of course google the image of the smashed fromt windscreen of the bus in Leeds after he decided he could "nip accross the road" whilst on the Otley Run (pub crawl)
I may be wrong, but Im pretty sure that POC announced his retirement pretty shortly after the RWC.....don't think that he was ever going to fully recover from his injury.
Cheers Jamby, that's my free period today sorted out...Mark essays or watch youtube...hmmm
I may be wrong, but Im pretty sure that POC announced his retirement pretty shortly after the RWC.....don't think that he was ever going to fully recover from his injury.
Indeed
Trinh-Duc in (always felt he was a decent player who hasn't had the run he deserved).
Allegedly increeeeeedibly difficult to stand off the pitch and more detrimental to a team than helpful
Just watching the highlights of Eng v Aus. Interestingly, the turf was only cutting up on the Aus side of the scrum, suggesting a real supremacy for us there. Had the pitch been fit for purpose they'd have been destroyed.
^ said that at the time 😉 🙂 Made the referees job pretty easy
I'll just leave this here
Nick Phipps at no 3??????? How are those ratings computed then?
He was total pish in the 2nd test. If he'd played like Gareth Edwards in the 1st test then maybe it would average out - but he didn't.
Just watching the U20 semi final.
England thrashing the little Boks. 31-3 at halftime. 😀
Looking like a final against Ireland who hammered Argentina in the first semi.
Ultimately it is meant to be a conversation starter, not a conversation ender.
I think passing a lot and playing quite a few minutes works in Phipps favour with the ranking system they used 😉
I think passing a lot and playing quite a few minutes works in Phipps favour with the ranking system they used
Indeed.
THe computer obviously can't differentiate between a pass to the ankles and a pass over the head.
After an evening of dinner with drinks, a visit to a club, a quick kip then a 4am breakfast with yet more drinks you take a taxi to get your car. A taxi to collect your car. How about a taxi home, get your car much later ?
Desperately sad really
Jeez wrong side of bed Jamba?
I bumped into Danny Cipriani out on the booze in Denver Colorado playing for the Saxons 5/6 years ago. The next day he & a few others were sent home for breaking curfew. He definately needs to sort himself out rapidly.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, George Moala, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (capt).
Replacements: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Luke Romano, Liam Squire, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo.
Wales: Rhys Patchell, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Sam Warburton (capt), Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Ellis Jenkins, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams.
So as we only have 1 decent tighthead prop and we've dropped him to the bench to start the fat sais and have jarvis on the bench too and he is a truly awful tight head who us presumeably covering loosehead.
I suspect Julian Savea will be out to prove a point. No Ardie? He's a fabulous player.
I think the ABs have Highlanders flanker Elliot Dixon at 6 with Kaino dropping out of the 23 as Hansen elects to look at some talent ahead of the RC.
It looks like 11 changes positional/personnel in the 23 but with no appreciable weakening of the side.
Highlights the lack of depth Wales have - a great starting XV but struggling a little once injuries take hold. Still, I think they've actually played really well and it's been nice to see something other than Warrenball. Don't think the third test will be any different but if Wales could hit enough purple patches then anything is possible....
great starting XV but struggling a little once injuries take hold.
Indeed, if all fit we have handy 23
1/2p Williams Davies, Roberts, North, Biggar,Webb, Jenkins, Owens, Lee, Charteris, AWJ, Lydiate, Warbs, Not Toby.
Evans, Baldwin, Francis, Tips/Moriarty, B Davies, G Davies, Priestland/Patchel, Williams
**** all depth at 1 or 8. Lydiates time may have come Moriarty adds a far better balance to the backrow. The rest is ok if we ignore the factvthat Jenkins is about 240 0000 years old.
Surprised to see Roberts playing.
Why do the Lions have to have their kit made by a NZ company? They'll go down there with the subliminal message that NZ stuff is better. Why can't they have kit made by a British or Irish firm?
Likewise for England - their kit is by Canterbury too. Why??
Just because Canterbury presumably offer more money doesn't mean they should make the England shirts. The RFU have more money than the rest put together so it shouldn't matter.
Why do the Lions have to have their kit made by a NZ company? They'll go down there with the subliminal message that NZ stuff is better.
You're over thinking it a bit imo. Ate you Clive Woodward?
Just because Canterbury presumably offer more money doesn't mean they should make the England shirts. The RFU have more money than the rest put together so it shouldn't matter.
It was made by nike previously. All about the money and there are relatively few players. I understand it's substantial.
You're over thinking it a bit imo. Are you Clive Woodward?
That's SIR Clive to you! 😉
All about the money and there are relatively few players. I understand it's substantial.
Yeah - I think it's about £5 million per annum.
Actually, as it turns out, the HQ is now in Stockport - so it's kinda British. 😳
So as we only have 1 decent tighthead prop and we've dropped him to the bench to start the fat sais and have jarvis on the bench too and he is a truly awful tight head who us presumeably covering loosehead.
How long do you give Francis before he runs out off puff? 10 minutes? Perfect player to face the AB's!
J. Savea has been quite out of sorts so far this season, non? Ardie is pretty bloody good! When I first saw him play, the speed and agility of his running had me thinking he was a winger, but he can clearly handle the grunt work too. Quite a thing to opt not to go to the olympics for a chance with the AB's too.
On the shirts and kits, as far as I am aware Adidas absolutely dominate the rugby market. I guess companies like Nike and Canterbury are throwing a ton of money at a few key things to try and change this but it is having little effect
Canterbury in UK is now owned by Pentland who own a whole load of brands includng Speedo, Berghaus etc. They are a UK company. Addidas dominate in New Zealand where they pretty much control all top players kit. Nike have pretty much stepped out of Rugby now.
England the same except Haskell injured. He's been a stand out player, I hope the new bloke is decent.
You will like him. He is a wing forward's wing forward.
Hasn't he played at 8 for a lot of the season? He's more hask-esque than Clifford who is faster and more mobile (more of a traditional open side).
He's a kiwi like the captain too!
His father was English which makes him as well qualified to play for England as George North 🙂
Canterbury make nice kit although it is a bit bizarre to see their Kiwi logo on an England shirt
Should be a proper British sportswear logo on our shirts:
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Rubbish, it should be the original English rugby brand, Gilbert.
Rubbish, it should be the original English rugby brand, Gilbert.
Yeah that would probably be better - doesn't have the same 70s kitsch though....
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Admiral have come back in Cricket and are big in US soccer.
Admiral have come back in Cricket and are big in US soccer.
Yeah I noticed that. Good for them.
The Webb Ellis brand, which started in 2003, seem to be doing really well in Argentina. Bizarrely.
The Webb Ellis brand, which started in 2003, seem to be doing really well in Argentina. Bizarrely.
I have never heard of it but Les Cusworth is very involved in Argentinian rugby - has a Argentinian wife - so I wonder if it is run by a contact/friend of his. It seems to be very West Midlands focused.
So tomorrow is this threads last day!
Come on wales lets end it with a once in 60 years result!
Ardie is pretty bloody good! When I first saw him play, the speed and agility of his running had me thinking he was a winger, but he can clearly handle the grunt work too. Quite a thing to opt not to go to the olympics for a chance with the AB's too.
Lovely player. I just have a major problem with his facial hair and hairdo itself. Fascinating. But maybe that's what distracts the opposition? 😆
I think if you can keep up with him long enough to be distracted by the hairdo then you are doing pretty darn well 🙂 The closest we get is someone like Tips but Ardie has had the full on AB super charging to take it to the next level. Frightening really the player he could become with even more experience
Jeez, Ben Smith is on fire this morning. I always think he looks like an accountant, but is an incredible rugby player.
Him and Dagg are flying !!!
Wales are getting hammered here.
Not really a surprise...
Nope. The only surprise for me was Julian Savea, thought he'd have a better game.
Dag almost apologised to Liam after scoring then!
Is there anywhere to stream the England game?
Legally?
Sky
If you can spoof IP
http://tenplay.com.au/
There will as always be hundreds of pop up filled links if you look
Don't have Sky sports.
Ah! That last one is working. Thanks.
Well, well. I'm so pleased to see Ford passing and running instead of just hoofing up a bomb every time, like he did last week. Lovely stuff so far.
Don't let em score though eh?!
Great positive start.
Strange the local commentator saying England can play differently as they have nothing to lose 🙂
Well this is a hell of a good game to watch 🙂 Great way to finish the series
Certainly is! Both teams really want it. Nice n niggly too 🙂
Great game, but nervous times!
Great game so far. Always fun to watch to fairly evenly matched teams knock lumps out of each other 🙂
Haskell is missed but credit to EJ for an early substitution. It is a bit "un-rugby" but it seems to be working for England. The difference between the teams is the quality of the place kicking really and I expect that to be the difference to the end where England come away with the win.
Oh, and is anyone else sick of the commentators trying their best to jinx every Australian shot at goal? They don't need to- Foley is more than capable of missing by himself!
[i]Haskell is missed but credit to EJ for an early substitution. It is a bit "un-rugby[/i]
Love how unsentimental he is about making substitutions. Harrison looked out of his depth, so "off ya go"! Atoje is great at flanker, so its worked.
Who'd be an inside centre ? both teams playing 10s at 12.
all square, money is on England to finish stronger for me
Woof!!
Oh my god, what a yoyo match!
Good smart play from England there, Aussies looking well like England used to
Great fun
Australia would have really helped themselves by letting Phipps play fewer minutes
Points difference at the end came down to Foley's missed kicks too as predicted.
Cracking game though from the rest of the guys on the field.
Credit to England. Historic times
Whitewash (sorry Wales!)
What a great match. What a great win. Has it ever been so good to watch England? For years I used to have to pace up and down the room, not daring to look at the screen!
Boom
Well done England
Bring on the All Blacks! 😆
Great stuff from England
Woo hoo!
Feel a bit sorry for the Aussie players - back into getting hammered by NZers in the supers...!
[quote=DezB ]Feel a bit sorry for the Aussie players
Hold that thought - nope sorry, it's passed
Great win.
Still things to improve but we're going the right way. Too many missed tackles and too much loss of control at times kept letting the Aussies back in.
If the whole side could tackle like JJ we'd be fine. He was immense defensively including stopping both Kuridrani and Naiyowhatshisname dead in their tracks.
We're still not good enough to beat the ABs but we might get there yet.