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I think that Schmidt has a teenage son with epilepsy.....I believe they're all currently based in Dublin. Shame that he's retiring as he's quite clearly the best coach in the world currently.
Andy Farrell as Ireland coach eh?
Brilliant assistants don't always make brilliant leaders - Andy Robinson anyone?
No doubt he's a great defensive coach - "Stand in a fin line lads and then run fin fast towards the b**ds with the fin ball!"
That's basically Rugby League innit?
I wonder how much he knows about rugby union? Judging him on the fact that he insisted Sam Burgess play for England in the 2015 RWC - I'd say not a lot.
He'd surely be better off teaching his son how to tackle properly? And also how not to be a little pr*ck running round pretending to be hard and feigning injury if he thinks he's about to be caught doing something naughty,
The RFU seem to have royally ballsed up their finances with the English plsyer match fee to possibly be cut but more worryingly are the comments in the press about the PGA contributing to it. I really hope they don’t scrap that in the future because it gives an element of control over the international players with better access and some enforced rest periods. The likes of Mako and Maro are flogged to death already. If that payment is scrapped in the future the clubs will hold all of the cards and will look to get the most from their ‘assets’.
How has this happened? Over the last 10 years Wales and Scotland have got their finances in order' paid of debt and now IIRC run with no losses? But the RFU with greater income is in a huge financial black hole?
Why? Where does all the money go?
Very good 😂
RFU has always been poor at the board level. The clubs hold all the power in England - same as France. It’s no small surprise that centralised contracts for test players in Wales & Ireland are reflected in Test success.
The refurbishment of the east stand was reportedly £40m over budget which as a QS myself I find hilarious / ridiculous etc.
Ian Ritchie was paid £238k for his last two months work. It sounds like those high up in the RFU have literally pissed loads of money away, made people redundant, spent too much on a refurb project and are now whining about paying the clubs for better access to the international players. Priorities are all wrong.
RFU has always been poor at the board level.
I don't think that is fair, Ian Ritchie did a lot of good. Relations with the clubs are much better than they were, albeit £220 million, which is how much the clubs are paid under the 8 year player access agreement, buys you a bit of co-operation. He managed to broker a deal with the TV companies to get the European Cup sorted and England ran the most commercially successful World Cup ever. They are putting records amounts into the grass roots game, nearly £100 million in 2017. This is down to one screwed up building project, which is again unusual for the RFU who have managed to develop Twickenham very efficiently in the past.
I wonder if Sam Burgess has a book coming out soon...
....... But control of our players is poor compared to other tier 1 nations. Clubs rule the roost.
……. But control of our players is poor compared to other tier 1 nations. Clubs rule the roost.
But that ship sailed over 20 years ago, the clubs don't rule the roost, they reasonably have far more say that in other home nations* where they essentially part of the relevant union's structure. That has good points and bad points.
*Not sure how everything is structured in Wales now.
I wonder if Sam Burgess has a book coming out soon…
No but he's just been tweeting about how the selfishness and egos of other England players led to their RWC 2015 demise.
I've nothing against Burgess - RL legend and good all round bloke - and it's a testament to his ability and competitive nature that he didn't look too out of place playing centre for England (although he was playing alongside Brad Barritt so the comparison would've helped). The coaches were to blame for the whole fiasco.
I wonder if Sam Burgess has a book coming out soon…
Hmmm... other players had agendas and egos and he really contributed to the team whereas others didn't... ??? I'm so glad he have Union figured out in a whole two caps before the RWC 🙄
My personal favourite was his whole "who is Scott Williams" press conference... found out soon enough 😀
Thats good. He is a very funny chap and has done a few good ones - used to be very active on the rugby forum I also inhabit.
They are putting records amounts into the grass roots game
I don't know if this is reflective but my kids club - a Saracens feeder club - gets lots of subsidies for kit, Sarries and International games which goes far beyond the international ticket lottery I remember from my playing days.
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-inherent-risk-of-andy-farrell
Interesting look at the Andy Farrell appointment.
Ospreys better than last week.
Couldn't have been worse than last week! Baldwin impressed me yesterday. Great play in the loose.
I assume people,had already seen the Scottish try line mishap in the Dubai 7s, so how about this piece of brilliant last ditch effort?
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1068767907050635264?s=19
Tigers have had their arses handed to them on a plate by Bristol today. Ouch. Even the bottom the table is getting chaotic and congested.
Wuss have a good opportunity to make top half of the table a reality after half time oranges.
Well this is not going well
Stoner,! Now look what you have done.
Glasgow prop clearly doesnt have Faz's invisibility cloak.
Wasn't lack of arms, rather than clear contact to the head the issue for Farrell?
I thought Faz's issue was refs not looking or applying the laws.
Scarlets were dog shit and lose
Despite having the ref do his best for them.
Despite having the ref do his best for them.
You reckon, how so? I thought he got the two cards right. The disallowed try was technically correct too, although I would gave liked to see it stand, was great play.
Barbar’s match was fun. Steph du toit’s nose won’t have enjoyed it though. Ouch.
Comes back on after that.. nutter!
As Jiffy so succinctly put it, "His nose has gone full Tindall"
😂
Yeah really enjoyed baabaas. Creevy getting agro because someone was picking on a youngster was nice.
Pumas were lucky it was not a full international could easily have spent most of the match with 14.
Creevy getting agro because someone was picking on a youngster was nice.
I did enjoy that " he's a boy, he's a boy, come after me".
Was funny - seeing as all the player did was give the lad a nudge as he ran past!
The Puma's 14 took a right battering in the first half too!
The Baa Baa’s game was pretty enjoyable despite some piss poor handling.
The Argentine set piece was destroyed though. They need to get that sorted before the WC.
Steph du Toit is officially a double hard bastard going back into the pitch with his nose like that and a black eye. That might have smarted a tad if it got knocked...
If you are really bored there's ladies rugby on BBC. Already some shoulders to the face resulting in nothing but blood replacements and tackling by the hair that make Ashton look like a saint (no pun intended) 😬
Neath RFC look on the verge of being wound up, that is tragic, Cuddy is involved and it is an open secret what kind of bloke he is.
Hope the WRFU will step in but don’t think it is a priority, can you imagine rugby in Wales with out the Gnoll?
Will be tragic if Neath go.
1/2p misses out with concussion this week following the fair charge down V Aus last month. James Davies straight back in which seems a hell of an ask.
No but he’s just been tweeting about how the selfishness and egos of other England players led to their RWC 2015 demise.
...whilst stating he was the one talented one in the line up, oh the ironing...
@danW
there is a lot of women and girls now playing with numbers rising There should be more womens rugby on the BBC. Also I dont think shoulder to the face is confined to the womens game? Hair Tackles can be a bit of an issue, not always deliberate and should be penalised as a high tackle ( it often gets a bit fighty after a few hair tackles) Got 2 long haired daughters 17,& 23 playing love watching them..
Ulster going well, which is a shame!
there is a lot of women and girls now playing with numbers rising There should be more womens rugby on the BBC. Also I dont think shoulder to the face is confined to the womens game? Hair Tackles can be a bit of an issue, not always deliberate and should be penalised as a high tackle ( it often gets a bit fighty after a few hair tackles) Got 2 long haired daughters 17,& 23 playing love watching them..
@jag61 I think you misunderstood my post. I was merely pointing out there was rugby to be watched for lazy layabouts who should be working but are easily distracted like me and that the game had some pretty brutal aspects that would have caused uproar in the men's game but the girls toughed it out without the merest of complaints! 🙂
Well played Ulster.
Good game shame about result. BlindMelon will be pleased. Scarlets too light upfront, as usual.
Edinburgh win! top of their european cup pool. How did that happen?
Yip very happy with that result. I didn’t see it unfortunately but will be at Ravers next Friday. It’s also the Christmas work do starting at 3 so not sure I’ll see much rugby.
Then Racing at home and Tigers away. Should win them all
Scarlets too light upfront, as usual.
Normal service is resumed 🙁
Losing Byrne, Barcay, Shingler, Davies, Ball and Shingler for most of the season has had a massive impact. Was good to see Davies back last night, shame Ball was still concussed from that nasty Scots prop.
Absolutely. Beirne and Barclay in particular were immense and almost impossible to replace
Well played Gloucester, most toothless Exeter performance in years at home.
Bath have turned up today against Leinster - good first half.
Well played Leinster.
I know it wasn't the biggest game of the day, but regardless of what team they put out, getting 50 on Stade is quite a result for the Ospreys!
Wasps were totally spineless (again). They really seem to be missing Cipriani. Good result for Gloucester today who have most definitely developed a backbone; Thorley had another good game. Bath actually didn’t do too badly against Leinster who I expected to dick them.
Not seen the other matches, just the scores.
Good win for Glasgow as well - that bonus point is very useful and thats Lyon right out of it. Can blues do Glasgow a favour and beat Sarries - after all after meeting the mighty Glasgow 3 of Sarries best forwards are out crocked 😉
I still canot get over Edinburgh being at the top of their group.
Leinster are so good at finding a way to win.
I felt for Bath & Wilson (3rd choice 10) today. The game turned in the intercept try. Advantage to Bath - Wilson throws a risky pass & doesn’t hear Reynards “Acv over” call. Good intercept by Lamour.
Reynard was far too quick to call Adv Over all game imho - although he was consistent. Leinster roll on, but Bath looking better than I’ve seen for a long time.
#flaggate 😀
Hope Bruce enjoyed the result.
Cockers has apparently emerged as a surprise contender to replace Jones according to the Telegraph. He’s ok north of the border but surely there is a better catch than him...
felt for Bath & Wilson (3rd choice 10) today. The game turned in the intercept try. Advantage to Bath – Wilson throws a risky pass & doesn’t hear Reynards “Acv over” call. Good intercept by Lamour.
Reynard was far too quick to call Adv Over all game imho – although he was consistent. Leinster roll on, but Bath looking better than I’ve seen for a long time.
I can't stand advantage calls like that... really pees me off and I have a great deal of sympathy for that pass. It was what, the third pass and a matter of seconds after the overthrow with no advantage gained? It is a reasonable enough gamble to go for the long pass and should be exactly the point of playing advantage
Time for the Gallagher Premiership to call for a new European Competition where English sides can decide for themselves when advantage is over.
I've got no love for English rugby but a 3s advantage with no advantage gained is a bit shitty (I mean in general as a player not specifically this match). Advantage over was called as the pass was being made to the 10 so you have to feel for the poor guy who either didn't hear or had already seen the option and didn't pull out in time.
Wouldnt hold your breath TJ, Cardiff have picked a pretty weak team, especially behind the scrum.
AA - Cardiff are doing well though and are leading Sarries at the mo. Nice try from Morgan too.
Watching Cardiff - Saracens, another rugby numpty question.
The non-try because of foot in touch. Could he (technically, not sure he had time in this specific case) throw himself a pass so he isn't holding the ball while he steps in touch. Does it have to go backwards? Is it a knock on if it doesn't touch the ground (I'm sure I've seen someone genuine fumble / juggle a pass or kick but recover it and play on)
Good Q. My instinct is no and a quick Google gives this (edit: updated from the current laws ( https://laws.worldrugby.org/?law=11)
Law 11.7 says: “A player must not intentionally throw or pass the ball forward. Sanction: Penalty.”
intuition says not but I guess it's the deliberate rather than accidental makes the offence, as I say I've seen a few fumbled catches recovered.
Shame, it's one of the best bits of One Day cricket now!!
Well played Munster.
The non-try because of foot in touch. Could he (technically, not sure he had time in this specific case) throw himself a pass so he isn’t holding the ball while he steps in touch.
Yep, Shane Willuams did it for Wales once. Caught the ball in field chucked it backwards in the air, stepped into touch than back in field and caught it again. Not seen the game you are talking about though, been out
OK, but backwards - this was full tilt after a bouncing ball, the ball went over the line but wasn't out because it was still in the air but as he pulled it back in his next step touched the line; if he'd bunted it forward with his hand and then caught it further along he could have been back in play.
At about 1.50ish mins. If you dont touch it while you are out of play and you catch it before it hits the ground its fine.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EpdTkx67-U4
Nearly a big boo-boo by Sir Nigel in the Racing/Tigers match - he went wentvto the TMO to check after the conversion had been taken - he didn’t notice the quick conversion. Luckily he said “Try” anyhow, not sure what would have happened if he’d disallowed post conversion?
Well played Racing92. I'm sure Zebo will have enjoyed running one in against the Tiggers.
On the advantage issue above - was it a scrum advantage or a penalty advantage? A scrum advantage is over when you have controlled possession usually.
Glasgow got diddled on an advantage the other week - penalty advantage on the oppositions 10 m line, glasgow carried on playing, made about 10 m in 3 rucks, advantage over called and then they lost the ball. That one was very harsh as if they had taken the penalty they could have kicked it right into the corner.
I think with a penalty advantage, the team with possession just has to go for a scoring opportunity; grubber kick, crossfield kick, whatever, or if they’re happy with it, a DG. Rumbling through the phases for too long just invites the “advantage over” call.
so how did Finn do for Racing?
Are Racing still rubbish as apparently they were last season when Glasgow Gubbed them? 😉
Bath really are tossers, you would think that after childishly demanding a replay they might tone it down,but no. Leinster flags brought over by the supporters club were confiscated as a fire hazard, Bath fans flags were obviously waved through.
The non-try because of foot in touch. Could he (technically, not sure he had time in this specific case) throw himself a pass so he isn’t holding the ball while he steps in touch. Does it have to go backwards? Is it a knock on if it doesn’t touch the ground (I’m sure I’ve seen someone genuine fumble / juggle a pass or kick but recover it and play on)
About twenty years some of the Welsh players started doing something similar (including throwing the ball up and heading it forward then attempting to catch it). It was ruled that a deliberate throw forward wasn't allowed, even if it was controlled/caught. That was at Welsh Premiership level. A Leicester player at home could probably get away with it any day of the week. 🙂
Heading the ball was a law change after an all black scored a try by heading it forward. Law changed after than - maybe 20 years ago
Duckman - didn't you know that Leinster flags are more flammable than Bath ones?
Bit of a dick move by Bath that.
Jackman sacked by the Dregs, I'm sure quality replacements are polishing their cv's across the globe!