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Is that a negative for him? Or Dean Richards, his ex coach, seeing something there than playing?
Times article reads that he's not happy. "I chased the club for weeks about a new contract and when they finally brought me in for a meeting, it lasted four minutes" admitting to crying in the carpark.
I know clubs won't throw good money at players who are not worth it and although he's in form how many years has he left? He'd be pretty inspiring to the youth set up at quins.
It does seem to be his choice.
Fair enough, article I saw didn't have that much detail.
Tempted to put up that interview vid and laugh, but the intolerable **** is growing on me when I've seen him interviewed recently... Good luck to him at Newcastle, I suppose he is like an English Loopy Liam, clearly a bit of a ****, but driven by his competitive streak which is what has helped make him the player he is...
He could still start a fight in an empty room though. A couple of weeks ago he was offering the entire opposition pack out to the carpark; I think somebody had stopped a quick throw in...
Exeter beaten at home by Leinster...that's some result!!!
Is toonie to get free attacking reign or will garland impose his ideas? Really Russell or Farrell?
loum
Free Member
...Leinster through to play Exeter or Lyon next week. There’s a lot of support for Simmonds as lion , could be interesting cos Conan is a very similar style of fast open field 8. Did well with his try and assist v England too.Still a lot to play for in the club game for many teams,
Posted 1 week ago
Conan won this one too.
Vdf and kelleher looked a class above too.
Weirdest results in the all French Heineken quarters today
24-21
21-12
All penalties
Leinster / Exeter game was an interesting one for Lions selection, not necessarily all positive from an Irish point of view as Sexton possible reinforced his injury record. I thought Luke Cowan Dickie was very poor, Hogg & Thomas Francis also struggled. Although the latter 2 have credit in the bank. On the Leinster side Kelleher did his chances of touring no harm and maybe Van Der Flier might also have booked a seat
Hogg & Thomas Francis also struggled.
Yeah well one is amongst the very best in the world the other other is an honest trier but not really that good. Both have shit hair.
Van Der Flier
Him, Tipuric, Curry, Watson...pick 2, tough call
Watson said to be “too small” for SA. But they said similar about a certain Mr Back.
Kryton57
Full Member
Watson said to be “too small” for SA. But they said similar about a certain Mr Back.
I was stud counter at at Edinburgh game a few years ago, stood beside him as he went back on from an enforced rest. I am just under 6"3" so in theory am just over an inch taller than his claimed 6"1" I would be suprised if he is much over 5"10" Completely square though, looks like a flesh cube with a mullet.
Looks like North could well be out of Lions contention, frees up space for an extra token Scot I suppose.
North needs to retire before his brain turns completely to mush
North needs to retire before his brain turns completely to mush
Given he has a knee injury, that's a strange thing to say, bordering on a disgrace. I'm sure he has had better advice on his health than you.
Its out of concern for him. too many head knocks / concussion. It makes me wince everytime I see him play.
What about Blade Thompson, many have been worse than North
Aye - he is not the only one but I genuinely am concerned for his future. Denton retired after too many head knocks and he is not the only one.
TJ - any game of rugby is worrying, to single North out with an injury that had nothing to do with this incident is bonkers.
Didn't look good as he went down when there was no contact with anyone, feel sorry for him as he has been playing very well lately and looks fit, keen and liking his rugby.
sorry - it was just my first thought.
I'm with TJ on this one. I'm surprised North came back after his last series of concussions. Watching last two weeks premiership games still a few players taking a bang looking dazed giving a head shake then piling back in. I know as a player you want to play on but you need someone to look out for you.
But who's going to form an independent group who will assess players purely for brain injuries and potentially end their careers? Clubs/leagues/nations and players would fight you if you said "that's it" but on the other hand we have players taking the unions to task/court over not doing enough to protect them.
Ruddy 'eck - what is going on the the "rainbow cup"? Benetton gave Glasgow a humping yesterday and Dragons gave Scarlets one today!
Ruddy ‘eck – what is going on the the “rainbow cup”
No one really gives a shit. Dragon's had a much stronger team out than Scarlets. Rio Dyer is officially bloody quick!!!
North confirmed out of Lions with ruptured ACL 😟
North confirmed out of Lions with ruptured ACL 😟
Launchbury same.
Shit
Esterhuizen banned again. Likes a strike to the head/face.
So how much of a rumpus will there be, if Marcus Smith goes on the Lions Tour and Finn Russell does not?
When does the shit fight commence?
Thursday I think. Not long now. Surely it can’t be as contentious as in 2017? 😂
So how much of a rumpus will there be, if Marcus Smith goes on the Lions Tour and Finn Russell does not?
Not a huge amount I would think. Most of us realise Finns foibles do not necessarily make him the best candidate for the lions. I'll me more cross if Farrell goes instead.
I would be more annoyed if Itoje was captain as some sections of the English media are pushing. Test starter he will be,but all he does is celebrate penalties in other players face. And then winges when he gets his nose broken for it...looking at YOU Glasgow rugby.
Duckman - to give him his due he did not whinge after that match by my memory. 🙂 I think anyone would get a bit miffed if they had Ryan Wilson in their face all game
I think North’s injury possibly pushes Farrel into greater contention, there will be different 10’s for midweek/weekend games. But I can’t see Russell and Farrell being on the pitch at the same time, they’ll just be an argument. Advantage Farrel for the weekend perhaps, they need a bit of solidity and beligerance.
AWJ almost certain for Captain I’d say, and on the basis of the above perhaps Farrell Captain mid week.
It does make me laugh that Youngs withdrawal was kind of met with a “so what” shrug of the shoulders; I suspect only a minority saw him as the Lions SH anyway. Itoje, Curry, Watson and Farrell and Sinckler the only England players to go I suspect.
The only reason Farrell should even be getting talked about is his ability to play 2 positions. George might sneak onto the plane but he hasn't been especially good this season. Come to think of it, Itoje has had one good game.
Duckman – to give him his due he did not whinge after that match by my memory
He did,was asked about slapping all the Glasgow players backs when Salaries got a penalty and immediately complained about his nose. I quite like the idea that people can still get sorted out even with all the camera angles etc, even though it was actually Jones that did it.
sorted out
It obviously worked as:
a) Itoje finished the game
b) Salaries won
The week after Itoje put in his best performance of 2018 when they beat Lyon.
Yawn.
AWJ captain
He would/will be a fantastic captain, but is he still better on the pitch than Henderson and Beirne? Itoje will start, that makes it a real fight for him. I picked Henderson as lock in front of him,because I want the Lions to run the legs off them but I could see AWJ doing 50 mins. I like a bit of a fairy story in my lions squad (Tom Smith, Bentley,Greenwood) so seeing him lead out the team wouldn't be the end of the world....Unless that test is at altitude.
Backs: Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Gareth Davies, Owen Farrell, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray, Ali Price, Louis Rees-Zammit, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Anthony Watson, Liam Williams.
No Sexton.
Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan Dickie, Tom Curry, Zander Fagerson, Taulupe Faletau, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Iain Henderson, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Wyn Jones, Courtney Lawes, Ken Owens, Andrew Porter, Sam Simmonds, Rory Sutherland, Justin Tipuric, Mako Vunipola, Hamish Watson.
No Billy Vunipola
No Navidi : (
Surprised Navidi isn't in there. I thought he absolutely immense throughout the 6 nations
Daly and Jonny Hill are a shock to me, neither having great international experiences of late.
Looks like Gatland wants to move SA around a bit.
Which back row player in the squad is he better than; Conan maybe? Hill is a surprise pick for me, as are Lawes and Fagerson. I would have had May instead of Durham, but can see why he picked him. And Daily hasn't been great but can play a couple of positions, as can Lawes.
Yep, you have Henderson, AWJ, Itoje, Lawes as locks, I’d have had Navidi in for Hill.
Bit of a statement that Simmons is in, I thinks it’s great he’s been rewarded and I hope he make EJ look a bit less smug by making the most of it.
I think Simmonds is the best 8 in England,but he has a lot of competition in Faletau and Beirne( who is also a lock) for a test spot. But again, those are 3 totally different number 8's. He has picked a clever squad with lots of different skills sets in the guys that play the same position.
Pretty happy from the scots point of view. Ickle jonny misses out but thats such a competitive area. I would have him instead of hill and I would have ford rather than Farrell but apart from that?
Farrell can play in two positions, 36 man squad. 13 of the squad have international experience in more than one position. £75k with a 10k bonus each for a series win, that would soothe being a dirt tracker.
And Daily hasn’t been great but can play a couple of positions, as can Lawes.
This seems to be the key. I am expecting a lock like Lawes, Itoje or Bierne at 6 hence Navidi missing out.
Hill is a shock.
Earlier in the year I said I wouldn't pick May in the starting 15 and was roundly shouted down by Englanders.
Gatland is going to play ultra conservative I reckon, he hasn't the game time to bed in much in the way of "creativity". Expect Hogg at 15 with Loopy, plus one on wing to dominate in the air, Harris and Henshaw in midfield with Biggar or Farrel at 10, Russell to bench so we can play high risk catch up if needed and as I said a massive pack with a lock at 6.
Farrell can play in two positions
sort of. Barely competent ten. less than that at 12
Agree 6 will be a Beirne style player. Matches SA a bit so they don't get steamrolled.
Also looks like he's taken enough locks and br, and flexible backs, to give the option of a 6-2 split bench.
A midfield of Biggar, Farrell, Harris and it doesn't matter who is in the back 3 - they are getting no ball!
Henshaw has a good chance to start and is better at 13 than twelve. Always plays there when Aki is in the side, back to their Connacht days.
I'd back Russell, Aki, henshaw over that tj midfield.
sort of. Barely competent ten. less than that at 12
and you accuse me if being one eyed!
In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king
The person I am really pleased for is Aldi Price. He has really worked at his game over the last couple of years and had a superb and mature 6N. Watson gets his recognition as well.
Now its all about how Gatland wants to play and who performs on tour.
Bigger, Acki, Henshaw, Watson, Williams and Hogg. Thats a pretty robust back line with some flyers too.
Farrell on the bench to cover 10/12.
Back row then could be Curry, Faletau and Beirne. That would make Faletau the lightest forward at 16 stone. Bring Watson on at half time and tell him Vemullen has been sexting his other half and thinks Watson is too wee to do anything about it.
That would make Faletau the lightest forward at 16 stone
He'd still be the best rugby player amongst them!!
I take it back, googled and he is 17 and a half stone.
The Daly comment made me chuckle.
Brown raging against the dying of the light then! Red card for stamping on Tommy Taylor's face.
Just seen the Brown red card, he just confirmed my impression of him, what a dick.
With reduced suspension for good biscuits he'll be back for last game against Newcastle. (Browns 1st red card!)
he’ll be back for last game against Newcastle
I am one of the few people that likes/support Brown, but I think if you cannot control your temper to that point, there is not a place for you on the pitch.
12 weeks reduced to 6 because its his first ever red card.
That's weird. Why isn't the punishment based on the action only. Hate the "he's usually such a nice chap, have a biscuit" defence.
According to what I read on twitter (which no I can't find) they committee were unanimous that it was not deliberate, but was still reckless and against the rules. Hence the mitigation.
The bold but is quite hard to believe. I guess that they had more angles than the 1 angle I have seen.
That’s weird. Why isn’t the punishment based on the action only. Hate the “he’s usually such a nice chap, have a biscuit” defence.
Really? So if someone is a serial offender they shouldn't been treated differently to someone who hasn't had a red in 400 odd games.
Is the tour party going to be vaccinated?
It's how our legal system works.
It’s how our legal system works.
The legal system differentiates between guilty and sentence.
No history is allowed to be considered when weighing up if someone is innocent or guilty, but the history is taken into account when sentencing.
As far as I know, citing works on the same process, although it is difficult to ignore history when the commissioners obviously know who the various parties are.
It's a horrible mismash. Not allowed to plead your case/innocence, if you don't accept guilt the ban is longer. Accept guilt and good previous counts. There doesn't seem to be a cumulative points process that would lead to a massively extended ban.
‘‘McRae has an exemplary rugby record and has never been sent off or sin binned. The Committee gave full weight to his record and his contrition"
This was the O'Gara beating at the hands of Duncan McRae which led to a 7 week ban but it's fine because he's usually a nice chap.
That McRae incident was assault, pure and simple. So bad that if I remember his teammate dragged him off O'Gara.
They were all a bit smirky when talking to the ref, glad he got his red.
Have there ever been criminal prosecutions due to on pitch violence?