Rugby 2021-2022 Season

Fin Russell is capable of being utter garbage isn't he?

I wouldn't say he was garbage today but neither did he do anything much positive - apart from a beautiful offload to set up one of the trys.  But nothing like the last euro game he played where he was fabulous

Is it me or does Price go on holiday at times. Glasgow seemed to have the upper hand mostly due to Prices great decisions. He really put cheifs under pressure for both those tries. I thought that they were going to accelerate and win, and then he makes some crap kicks and poor decisions and the game fell apart. By the time he came off it was all too late.

I think it more a case of Exeter dictating the game and putting the pressure on.  Its much easier as a 9 to look good if you hare getting good ball  Exeter were after revenge and they got it.  I think they have payed very well rather than Glasgow poorly

Well you can say that about 2nd half. First half was much closer.I dont think Glasgow were poor in 1st half at all.

Wish we hadn't annoyed them by taking the lead. I have always felt Russell is better the more interested he is, which is unforgivable. Get his Lions test and was peerless, can't be bothered today and it shows.

5 plus 8  I agree .  Glasgow were not poor, exeter were excellent

My point is Price looked like he had the game under control, but then somehow he went under and it went wrong from there. Seemed a bit lost, there were a couple of close ups where he had that Farrel look of little boy lost when it all goes tits up.
Then it almost does not matter how good the rest of the team are if your 9 keeps stitching you up it is hard to dig back against quality opposition.

I wouldn’t say he was garbage today

No, overall he. Was bang average, but 2 pen kicks to touch in a row which he kicked dead in the last ten mins was garbage. I think Duckman is right with his view. He had such a dominant pack and back line around him he didnt need to try.

To my eyes Fagerson^2 and Darge and no 6 were killing Chiefs attack, and meanwhile Price was sending ball out into space, kicking well and generally marshalling the game nicely. The two tries were commented as cheifs leaving the door open, but it was more pressure and then Price putting the ball into the gap. I just couldn't figure why he lost control and he seemed to not be able to work it out.

In the first Exeter/ Glasgow game the Exeter supporters had been asked to refrain from the Native American headgear and the tomahawk chop chant. With the exception of a group that sat together wearing them and trying to start the chant they did it. Glasgow have about 5 pipers who play when they run out and score.(TJ's posh lot would play but a harp and a grand piano are buggers to cart about) They got their pipes confiscated on entry yesterday. Exeter; cracking club being spoilt by a bell end owner and a small group of supporters empowered by him.

To my eyes Fagerson^2 and Darge and no 6 were killing Chiefs attack, and meanwhile Price was sending ball out into space, kicking well and generally marshalling the game nicely

Glasgow were just hanging on 1st half,I watch both teams and chiefs were poor 1st half. They kicked up a gear and once our backrow unsurprisingly tired Price was compressed for time and space and unprotected so his game management went. The mental collapse in the last 20 minutes was a worry as a Glasgow supporter but at no time did I think we would win.

England Squad announced for Six Nations training camp.

Gutted about Underhill being injured, the rest look quite exciting.

FORWARDS

Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)

Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)

Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)

Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)

Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)

Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)

Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps)

Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)

Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)

Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)

Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)

Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)

BACKS

Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)

Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)

Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)

Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)

Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)

Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)

Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)

Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)

Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)

Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)

No Ford and Farrell still in there. WHY!

I have the same feelings about Farrell and Youngs, they have been there so long we can easily find fault. But they both get results and are consistently recognised wordlwide as being top class.

Farrell is not consistently recognized as being top class.

Farrell splits the rugby world - those that see what he does think so, those who see what he doesn't do think not

Last calcutta cup game he kicked away a 7 on 2 overlap.  Is he the best 10 or 12 in England? or even in the top 3?

Lets put it this way - every Scotland fan will be really happy if he starts the next Calcutta cup match

This made me laugh from a Scotland fan having seen the England squad:

Not having a dread of facing England is weird...means we are likely to be hammered

🙂

Farrell is not consistently recognized as being top class.

Sorry TJ but you and Duckman are not really the arbiters of worldwide opinion...

No - but I am on a big rugby forum that is international - and there amongst the england fans its a 50/50 split also on the guardian rugby and BBC  pages the BTL comments are a similar split.

Ask any opponents of England - we are all happy if he is in the side as we know that he will nullify the attack.  also Scotland definitely have his number

Have a read on the comments here for example https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60036981

Or here https://www.606v2.com/t70510p100-english-6-nations

11 mins 15 seconds on this - farrell kicks away a 7 on 2 overlap! then watch the next minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9raZjouPuRQ

Sorry TJ but you and Duckman are not really the arbiters of worldwide opinion…

I didn't actually get involved but since he hasn't made the world player of the year shortlist for 6 years I will that suggest while not the arbiter,in this case teej IS sharing popular opinion of fans, rugby journalists, coaches and his fellow professionals.

I think he is actually a really interesting case.  English Rugby needed a new hero after Wilkinson retired and Farrell was it.  good looking chap, model professional, dead eye kicker and " warrier"  trouble is he is unable to play "heads up rugby" just follow the script and when the script does not work he is lost.

The "anti Russell" if you like.  Want a player to slot the last kick of the game to win?  Farrells yer man.  But want a player to unlock a good defense?  He is not the man.  Thats when you need Russell

Russell gets the ball there is at least half a dozen things he can do with it at least one of them utterly stupid.  Farrell gets the ball he can only play to the script and takes no chances hence the kicking away the 7 on 2 overlap but he makes many less mistakes

He is certainly a marmite player and divides opinion.  Just look at the fan comments which are either WTF is he doing in the squad" or " first name on the teamsheet every time"  Nothing inbetween

All I know is if he runs out for the calcutta cup then our chances have just gone up hugely.  He is also slow over the ground.  ford at 10 with deceent centres outside him or Smith at 10?  i would be worried.  Farrell at 10 or 12?  We know the england outside backs will not be seeing much of the ball which is a sin given how good they can be

Russell at his worst is a far worse player but Russell at his best does thing Farrell cannot even imagine

The “anti Russell” if you like.

Having watched him last weekend, that's a good thing!!

Welsh squad is out too, its shit, oh well at least my expectations are low!

Only when we have the shit Russell 🙂

the 38 all draw really shows the difference. England ran away with the first half.  Russell off his own head mixed up the tactics in the second and took the team with him to get Scotland into the lead. Farrell just looked bemused and had no plan B. /Ford got the last minute equalizing score

Scotland Six Nations Squad

Forwards

Ewan Ashman - Sale Sharks – 2 caps

Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby – 2 caps

Jamie Bhatti - Glasgow Warriors – 22 caps

Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby – 14 caps

Andy Christie - Saracens – uncapped

Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors – 21 caps

Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped

Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 17 caps

Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 42 caps

Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby – 48 caps

Jonny Gray - Exeter Chiefs – 64 caps

Nick Haining – Edinburgh Rugby – 10 caps

Jamie Hodgson - Edinburgh Rugby – 3 caps

Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 43 caps

WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby – 43 caps

Jamie Ritchie - Edinburgh Rugby – 31 caps

Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby – 4 caps

Javan Sebastian – Scarlets – 1 cap

Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 15 caps

Rory Sutherland – Worcester Warriors – 16 caps

George Turner - Glasgow Warriors – 20 caps

Hamish Watson - Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps

Backs

Mark Bennett – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps

Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps

Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby – 31 caps

Stuart Hogg – Exeter Chiefs – 88 caps - Captain

Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints – 5 caps

Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors – 21 caps

Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby – 28 caps

Rufus McLean - Glasgow Warriors – 2 caps

Ali Price - Glasgow Warriors – 46 caps

Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby – 1 cap

Kyle Rowe – London Irish – uncapped

Finn Russell – Racing 92 – 58 caps

Kyle Steyn - Glasgow Warriors – 3 caps

Sione Tuipulotu- Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap

Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors – 13 caps

Ben Vellacott – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped

Ben White – London Irish – uncapped

Really short at tighthead, so no red cards or injuries there please. We finally have some strength in depth so a home defeat to Italy is on the cards this year. Delighted Redpath is back in after the year he has had, played 10 for Bath at the weekend and was pretty good, but no Hastings is a bold call especially as bettet is a jack of all trades/master of none. Dargie has been good for Glasgow this year but I am not sure he is ready for international rugby yet. No idea who that Scarlets boy is.

We finally have some strength in depth so a home defeat to Italy is on the cards this year

classic scots fan!  I don't rate Hastings so that does not bother me.  Russell is only ever going to get subbed for injury so no need for a specialist 10 on the bench anyway.  King Blairhorn has been coming on leaps and bounds at 10 so he makes a good utility back covering 10, wing and 15 - I guess that will be his role

Not too much of the Toonbola in that selection.

Really short at tighthead,

Javan Sebastian – Scarlets – 1 cap 😄😄😄🤞😜

I'm sure TJ was telling us recently that you were well stocked for props. Javan struggles to get in the Scarlets match day 23 let alone the Welsh squad and both have some shite props.

That said the bloke is a good honest trier!!

Better than we were. dunno what has happened to Kebble mind you.  Maybe Sebastian will play better in a decent team AA?  😉

Meh, Nel is old and slow; but so is anybody unfortunate enough to scrummage against him after a couple of set pieces.

Scrum I feel reasonably comfortable about.  I think we will have the English Scrum on toast  Genge and Sinkler might be good general players but they are not top level scrummagers.

Scrum I feel reasonably comfortable about. I think we will have the English Scrum on toast

God I hope it doesn't all go Pete Tong for you Scots again....maybe it's my lack of hope for Wales this year that is making me feel this way!!

The odds of something goi g Pete Tong are high.

Fagerson gets int a fight and gets carded.  Russel gets carded for something utterly daft.  Couple of injuries and boom

I think we will have the English Scrum on toast

Genuine Lol.

Genge George Sinckler

v

Nel McInally and Sutherland / Schueman

Jones has selected for all field game, toonie for scummaging

do you really think the english front row is better?

Genge has been a brute in the scrum in the prem. Fortunately angry genge is back lucky to not be carded. When Dan Cole takes you away to cool off you know it's bad.

Firstly; I have no optimism about this year...

I think Marler is the better scrummager at loose,Genge carries much more.

Kryton57
Full Member

Genuine Lols

Strange, it was widely reported in such notable Scottish media outlets such as the Telegraph how you had been beaten soundly at the set piece. We took three penalties from you last year at the scrum for dropping and popping alone. I would have thought the Saffers had burst that bubble for you on the WC to be honest; why do you think Marler gets to tell a nippy sweetie like Jones when he plays for England?

Looking increasingly likely that Tipuric will never play again 😪

That's pish, how are the WRU at looking after guys like that? For their many failings our lot are good at getting guys who's careers end suddenly Developtment/team jobs. He was a player,to be honest I preferred him to the breadman.

Anyone fancy predictions for the 6N?  My record on predictions is a fabulous one of being totally wrong every time!

I think for Scotland it will be 3 wins again and end up 3rd or 4th because of a lack of bonus points

I think Scotland will beat England, Wales and Italy and be beaten by Ireland ( our bogey team) and France

1) France
2) Ireland

3)Scotland / England

4 England / Scotland

5) Wales

6) italy

France and Ireland out front, England, Wales and us could be in any order. Italy bottom.

I would have thought the Saffers had burst that bubble for you on the WC to be honest

TJ was talking about Scotland

Yes thats right I was.  How have England moved on?  its the same front row.  the same front row we had the beating of last year.

Genge and Sinkler you could argue are better in the loose - certainly than Nel.  But in the scrum?

Farrell injury, 6N in doubt.

🙂 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Bummer for him and for us 🙂

I'm not at all unhappy about that. It brings the RWC champs beating squad back up to par.

I wouldnt wish injury on anyone, but it could be good for England to really see what they've got if Farrell can't play. Seems like EJ needs to have his hand forced so he (rather than Smith) isn't relient on Farrell.

My 6n prediction = same as Duckman. Scotland will likely win a game that they shouldn't have and lose one that they should have won. Italy for the wooden spoon. That's a shame about Tipuric if it's correct I always dreaded seeing his name on the Wales team v Scotland.

I'll change my prediction in the light of Farrell being out - I doubt we will beat England if they do not play him

A shame Ryan Wilson is not playing for us.  A world class windup man and I bet he could get Genge carded 🙂

Richard Hibbard has retired at the age of 38!!
Wish we had a hooker like him now 😟

Something strange happening in Edinburgh.  We win 66 -3

An issue for Scotland is that no one in the squad is a regular goal kicker for their clubs.  Both Russell and Kinghorn can kick goals but neither is the man you want to be taking that 82nd minute kick to win the game.  I really hope that does not come back to bite us on the bum.

We win 66 -3

That's nothing Cardiff have beaten Toulouse 28:0 away from home 😄😄😄

Wales really are screwed going into 6 Nations the entire Welsh squad combined have played about 3 games since November!! Although on the plus side Calamity Cuthbert is banned, the downside is the comission realised it was him and have ended the ban just before the Welsh games start 🤪🤪🤪😂😂😂

Talking of Wales squad I'm surprised Lane didn't make the squad, yes he got shown up v NZ but he was hardly alone, got to be a better option moving forward than Cuthbert. Also I would have liked to see Shane Lewis Hughes in the squad, he's the only big 6 we have really other than Moriarty who has hardly played all season and don't start me off again on how Cherry got away with his assault on Botham...he's exactly the type of physical 7 we need to offset our midget 6's and 8's. I love Ellis Jenkins but not sure he has the pace for 7 anymore and isn't big enough at 6 at the top level.
I reckon we will see:

Loopy (hopelessly not match fit)
McNicol (not really good enough)
Adams (out of position)
Halaholo
LRZ
Bigger
Williams
Wainwright (a good 6 playing 8)
Bashan (young and raw, is he better than Jac Morgan)
Moriarty/Jenkins
Rowland (because he is big shame he's not very good)
Beard (underated player imo)
Francis
Elias (couldn't hit a barn door with a Banjo)
A loose head most likely the unfit and out of form Wyn Jones although Gareth Thomas might get the nod

Last night I looked on flight radar to see why a helicopter was flying laps of our valley and saw a small jet heading our way. Was about to text my pal in Glasgow and say ‘I never knew you could fly Glasgow to La Rochelle, why haven’t we done that’ when I realised it was clearly the La Rochelle team flying in for the game tonight. Luckily my wife didn’t realise how close she was to Victor Vito for a few minutes or she might have come over all funny

Bath v Leinster on Channel 4 this afternoon at 1ish
Bristol Scarlets on S4c at 5ish
Bristol have Ioan Lloyd at 12 which is interesting from a Welsh perspective. Any regular Bristol watchers able to offer an opinion on him this season, I have seen he's been on the wing mostly has he had any opportunities at 10?

Bath Leinster is the afternoon game after I watch the mighty Harris RFC. There are probably better games but for some reason I have always hated Bath even before I supported Gloucester. Bearing in mind how terrible they are this year, that will be a good one to watch.

6 nations predictions:

Looking at all the games and taking home/away games into count. I have Ireland, Scotland, England and France all on 2 wins, with another 3 possible wins. Lots of games are difficult to call. Wales with a single win against Italy, who will lose all their games.

France and Ireland, both look strong and playing well as a team. England looking like they could be on a path to having a very good, exciting (for the firdt time ever) team, but perhaps need more games together to fully 'click'.

Scotland. If scotland do not win the championship this year, you have to wonder if they ever will. Numerous Lions in their team, best this, best that, best the other... Townsend has been coach for long enough to do his best. Away games against Wales and Italy, with home games against England and France. The away game against ireland will be tough, but did they not come close last year and could have won it 'if it wasn't for this, that or the other...'

I do not foresee a Grand Slam and it could all come down to bonus points and red cards (and possibly Covid-19), but my gut feeling is:
France
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Italy

Scotland. If scotland do not win the championship this year, you have to wonder if they ever will. Numerous Lions in their team, best this, best that, best the other

I don't agree, becasue if they don't win does it mean that the so called best players are actually not the best after all? I'm not sure.
Anyway I don't think Scotland will win this year, but they could at soem point.

Also AA - I feel like a stuck record, but the other 5 nations would write Wales off at their peril. A loose team of has beens and children is all Wales ever are, and yet they put it together.

Just watched highlights of Edi game. Some great tries there, like the basketball style passes.
Pitch looks like astro? Its in great condition of not.

I think its a hybrid pitch so artificial with grass in the gaps.  Not certain tho

I think it's Desso grassmaster

👍👍 looked fast.

What i can't get over is building a stadium now with pillars holding the roof up.    Just seems weird in this day and age to have restricted view

Bath getting the expected spanking

Leinster really are awesome.  I think they would give most top international sides a good run for their money.  But somehow I find them unlikable.  Dunno if its Sexton the mouthy so and so ( copyright POM) or what.

But somehow I find them unlikable.

Very robotic aren't they.
I like Lamour though

No doubt most others are aware, but Scarlets v Bristol is on S4C (BT sport too) today. Kick off at 17:30
Patchell playing for Scarlets - it will be good to see how he gets on. Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies too, to see how ready they are for the 6Nations. As, as A_A says, the Wales players have hardly played any rugby (and that that they have, has not been reassuring).
Piutau and Radradra paying for Bristol who are always good to watch. Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd also playing.
I just wish my Welsh was better

Good game so far. I hope Ioan is okay, he's having a good game.
Patchell is such a good player!

Cracking first half in Scarlets game...can Patches keep his performance up? Samsung and Williams making a mockery of the fact they are not in the Welsh squad... Loopy looks bang out of form. Cronbeer a handful, shame Lloyd went off for them.

I think it's fair to say their bench was stronger. Afoa or Sebastian...let's think about that!! Good game, last 15 a bit horrific though.

Bears! Nice work.

I have a bright idea for sorting out this eligibility issue for once and for all time

You play for the country your name suggests.  So Hamish or Cameron - you play for Scotland.  Rupert or Charles you play for England, Dewi or Alun you play for wales etc etc

Easy, transparent and sensible - don't you agree?

Yeah, the Welsh get Owen Farrell and we can have Marcus Smith.

Yeah, the Welsh get Owen Farrell

He's injured so there's a fair chance he's Welsh!

I have watched a lot of Rugby this weekend.  A fair few weird results and I think Mike Adamson has take nthe mantle of the worst ref around from Frank Murphy on this weekends displays

Can any England fan tell me why Sam Simmonds is not in the england team?  I thought he was great today

Why oh why all thru the Exeter game did the commentators keep going on about Glasgows chances of going thru?  glasgow do not deserve to go thru with one win and a - 35 pts difference.  It would be a mockery if they did quite honestly

commentators generally were pure pish as well - not understanding the laws and whining about decisions going against the team of the country they are from and why do they talk over the ref whenthe ref is explaining decisions?

Nice to see Barnes carding a player for swearing at him.

I can guess it's tough reffing at that level and Adamson is doing his best but I'm not sure it's good enough.
A good example was french side got advantage for a knock on but were under pressure and always going backwards but never got the call. Whereas quins almost same area under less pressure called up within seconds.
Last try was terrible as called by commentary.

Rugby is almost impossible to ref I agree.  too many subjective decisions and too much to see.  all refs make multiple errors every game even the best.

Anyone know why Jonny Gray was not playing for Exeter?  Have the broken him?

“Owen Farrell will undergo surgery today on an ankle injury sustained in training last week.

https://ggrugby.com/eddie-jones-about-owen-farrell-injury-update/

tjagain
Full Member
Anyone know why Jonny Gray was not playing for Exeter? Have the broken him?

Not really over his shoulder surgery/ match fit I suspect. Exeter have said recently that he is on a reduced training schedule because of "issues" He had played a couple a games and had a cracker for them over Xmas.

Ta Duckman - I watched that game where he had a cracker and thus wondered why he didn't play the weekend.  One thing I really like Baxter for - he doesn't seem to flog his players into the ground.  I really rate him as a coach

Hopefully nice and ready for the 6N

Real bummer for Farrell.

Has Ashman been announced in the Scotland squad? If not he should be.