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What offence?
Elbow to face.
Late, committing to a late tackle early doesnt make it on time.
I fear mindmap3 has a point. If they are not banned or injured, most of the rest of the England elect are playing terrible Rugby. Leicesters mess yesterday was a nightmare. that Tuilagi score was luck IMO, he didn’t look fast or fit in the slightest.
I must say I’m less confident of the Autumn internationals and 6N being any kind of RWC prelude than ever before.
Good to see some “unknowns” putting in massive efforts and some good Rugby though!
Not to worry the Irish are going great!! Potentially second favs for world cup...play a lot of one out bosh, low risk rugby but they are bloody effective. The fact that Beirne isnt a certainty for the match day squad let alone starting 15 says it all. I thought the Carbery was excellent for Munster yesterday too.
Wales look pretty well placed but lack the carriers in their pack to compete at the top table. At least George has had his talentectomy reversed...shame Biggar is getting it now.
Scarlets did OK yesterday but losing Bierne and Barclay as well as Shingler and Davies getting broke has weakened them. The team is set up to attack iff turnovers and without Barclay, Bierne and Davies they dont get many.
Bloody good result for Worcester last night away from home against the team second in the Top 14. They also managed to back up last weeks performance which is something that they’ve struggled with in the past.
Away win for Cardiff v Lyon..excellent stuff!!!
Mindmap, even more pleasing was that win was with a completely different 15 to the Bristol roasting. Shillcock was put injured last weekend and he came to see the my lads playing in the landrover cup. Came off the bench on Friday at 68' and scored. Great stuff.
Reffing this weekend ha been a bit.... Variable ..
Itoje. Bit of a dick.
Big Ian Wright on radio Scotland not impressed with the ref or lack of carding.
Not suprised, Salaries getting everything. Itoje is a complete cockbag as well.
Peter Wright.
Great game the Glasgow / Sarries. I thought the Sarries defence was fantastic and they hung on as they tired. Should Glasgow have kicked for the sticks?
I only caught the last 20 - whats happened to the Vunipola’s? Don’t tell me they’re injured...
whats happened to the Vunipola’s
Poorly calf for Mako, poorly arm for Billy.
Wow I'm 30 mins into the Glasgow game and sarries should be one man down already.
Its a cracker of a game
Who did the Ospreys play? Never heard of them.
mate had a great time at Gloucester, Banahan was playing at 8 and lock at times due to so many injuries.
Who did the Ospreys play? Never heard of them.
Pau wasnt it...pretty well known team.
Dregs played the Timarasu Dragons or something, no idea who they are but some bloke called Umaga scored a try!!!
Davies tackles ball carrier, maybe ref should have had a second look before giving a pen try and binning Davies!!
Big result for Newcastle sneaking past Toulon who stupidly didn’t take the three points on offer at the end.
Big result for Newcastle
Huge, really pleased for Boudjellal
getting really fedup of prem/euro refs allowing defenders off their feet at the ruck. It's killing the competition at the breakdown. Sarries diving in like loons all match.
Sarries diving in like loons all match.
Yep. But they're certainly not the only ones.
I was watching games this weekend thinking that the french and english teams emphasis on size is leading them to tire badly v the pro14 teams. Leinster smashed Wasps. Ulster beat Leicester. Munster seemed to keep running better than the massive Exeter pack, whilst Sarries visibly wilted but managed to hang on. Meanwhile Cardiff played with 3 7's in the backrow and held out over the huge Lyon pack. In addition how can Olly Robinson not get in a Premier team and could he do a job for England.
Oh Pau, why were the Ospreys calling them Section Paloise Béarn Pyrénées on Facebook?
Oh Pau, why were the Ospreys calling them Section Paloise Béarn Pyrénées on Facebook?
That is their full name, many French clubs have long full names.
Everyday is a school day 😀
Farrell has a knock, Itoje and George with broken noses. I guess they’ll be ok, but blimey England are being decimated.
Still, Cips is playing well...
Billy has hurt the other arm, hopefully it’s just a bang and will sort itself out quickly. If not Jones will probably play the unstoppable Robshaw at eight given that Hughes will be banned and Simmonds is bust.
Billy V has broken his left arm now and is out for 12 weeks...
We have no No8’s in the squad now...will Jones swallow his pride and recal Morgan or will he go with Mercer or just play one of his favs out of position?
Morgan had an excellent game v castre at the weekend. And Eddie was there.
...and has been in the press bigging himself up.
IMO, Eddie's got a get out of jail free card here, "well, with the amount of 1st team players injured...."
Robshaw will do it...Or the Hask.
Ospreys tries here. That left winger is rapid!!!
Robshaw will do it…Or the Hask.
Please god no; he’s piss poor at carrying the ball, doesn’t play 8 and seems to be on a downward slide.
Morgan is a funny player; never looks great a club level but always seemed to play well for England. Plus he’s not been flogged to death like he current squad.
Just seen Ashley Beck broke his leg playing for Worcester, shit that bloke has had the worst luck with injuries. He'd have had 50 caps for Wales by now if his body had held out.
That left winger is rapid
Yep. And the big lump on the other side of the pitch seems to be enjoying his rugby as well.
He's scoring for fun is George which is great to see. At the end of the video he comes in tobgive Morgan and Giles a hug and is three times bigger than both of them put together!
😁
I can't see Morgan playing. I'd go with Mercer, Jones will likely chuck Robshaw or Haskell there with Itoje or Lawes at 6.....which means that Tom Curry is going to have to do a ridiculous amount of breakdown work!
So Jonah Holmes, any good, anyone seen him play?
I like Lydiate but its a bit sad he's in the squad I guess with Navidi, Davies, Faletau and Shingler all broke needs must. Would prefer to see Olli Griffiths get a go or Will Boyde. Would prefer to see Charteris in for Beard. Other than it seems about right. If that squad with tge injured players back in went to tge world cup I'd be happy enough.
<h3 class="sp-story-body__cross-head">Wales squad:</h3>
<b>Forwards:</b> Rob Evans (Scarlets), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
<b>Backs: </b>Aled Davies (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors), Steffan Evans (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Jonah Holmes (Leicester Tigers), Luke Morgan (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens).
Players absent through injury include lock Seb Davies, back-rowers Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Josh Navidi and Taulupe Faletau, plus backs Scott Williams, Hallam Amos and Owen Lane.
How is Samson Lee going at the minute? He seemed to fall off the radar a bit internationally in recent times.
Robshaw not coming to anyone's rescue any time soon...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45883071
Samson did his achillies a few years back and its taken a long time for him to get up to speed again. Has been part of a strong scarlets front row this season. He defends ok in tight and even throws the odd pass but his carrying is not good, he's no Furlong but he's solid enough.
The Hask is broken just now, good to see Wales have called up the Stockport born ex England under 20 proud Welshman Holmes. Apparently his Granny once bought a sandwich in Cardiff. That could be two Englishmen on the wings for Wales; North is English as well, isn’t he? ( casts line)
Stockport born ex England under 20 proud Welshman Holmes. Apparently his Granny once bought a sandwich in Cardiff.
I thought you supported Scotland!!!
Its a crazy situation where we cant pick our best scrum half as he doesnt play in Wales but we can pick a bloke who plays for Leicester that I've never heard of!!
So Jonah Holmes, any good, anyone seen him play?
He's quick. Really quick. As in, faster than Christian Wade quick.
Seen some who've coached him saying he'd be good for 10.8 over 100m on a track. For reference, Nigel Walker was around 10.3 - 10.5, and Carlin Isles has clocked 10.2.
Holmes is a six footer clocking sub 11s and with good feet. He's going to be fun to watch!
Jonah Holmes hasn't played that much for Leicester, but has scored nearly every game he has played. I don't get to watch them very much nowadays but he's well rated on the tigers forum*.
Hopefully under Geordan Murphy he gets more game time and we see how good he is. Hopefully being called up for Wales doesn't mean he has to leave Leicester for a Welsh club though....
*that place is more argumentative than here, i'm pretty sure thee are people logging in with two accounts just to argue with themselves!!
I see Scotchland have selected Sam Skinner, who once saw a picture of a deep fried Mars bar in a newspaper.
That's ironic from you O'Falshy: is your Irishness not down to the fact you once stood next to somebody drinking a pint of Guinness in spoons?
In other news, if Hughes avoids a ban Engerland could field an all Southern Hemisphere back row, Shields, Hughes and Rhodes. All stout Yeoman, every man of them.
That’s ironic from you O’Falshy: is your Irishness not down to the fact you once stood next to somebody drinking a pint of Guinness in spoons?
What do you think about Wee Jock McBlade Thompson's selection....
People in glass houses!!
5 weeks for Kaino and the ref thought just yellow after watching all the angles!!
I thought at the time it was a straight red and was slightly surprised at the ref and pundits view.
https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/1051094824798052353
5 weeks for Kaino and the ref thought just yellow after watching all the angles!!
By Kaino’s standards that was a normal tackle - start high and drive upwards. (I was surprised at the on-field decision as well. )
AA; BOTH grandparents Scottish, so twice as qualified as both your wingers! But tell me again about those two turncoat Welsh boys who went to play for England and Sarries. If only there was a pic of them in Welsh tops...
Mako out. Jeez...
North was born in 1992 in King's Lynn in England. His mother is Welsh and from Anglesey, and his father is English and from Yorkshire. The family moved to Anglesey when he was aged two and he is a fluent Welsh language speaker.<sup id="cite_ref-Guard11Nov10_2-0" class="reference">[2]</sup> North was educated at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern on Anglesey and later at Llandovery College
So like Devon born Scotland call up Sam Skinner, he is English.
AA; BOTH grandparents Scottish, so twice as qualified as both your wingers!
I just think its funny you raised it a couple of hours before the poach tastic Scotland squad was named!!!
Is Liam Williams not Welsh? I know you like to bang on about North being English.
Hughes banned for six weeks. Jones really needs to earn his cash this year with out back row.
It feels like a bit of ring fencing going on with some of these new call ups. Gatland supposedly has his exiles list but given that some of them have little ties to the country and have represented others at age grade rugby. It’s within the rules but it stinks and England are just as bad with the likes of ‘English’ Shields.
Without taking sides you can understand why Wales, Scotland and Ireland need to stretch things to the “grandparent” extreme as there’s 2 million registered English players and only 50,000 registered rugby players in wales for example. Ireland have 153,000 and Scotland 38,500
i wouldn’t have thought you’d need to offer the same stretch in England.
Gatland supposedly has his exiles list but given that some of them have little ties to the country and have represented others at age grade rugby.
Moriarty played for England u20's you fancy telling him he should be playing for England!
The rules around British players with family from other parts are fine imo.
Burko, it is a joke; we do this every year. A-A normally posts up pictures of Billy and Mako VP in Wales tops and then Gavin Henson in no top.
Ben Morgan gets in
https://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-name-squad-for-quilter-internationals/
England men’s squad
Forwards (20)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) co-captain, Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors) *, Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs (16)
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens) co-captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
*Apprentice
Great news for Ted Hill, local lad, coached by a friend of mine at Jr level
Interesting to see Nick Schonert, another wuss, in there. SA isnt he? 🙂
it is a joke; we do this every year.
Indeed, lets not take ourselves too seriously here please, Duckies timing this year was comedy genius though!!
interesting view of the england picks and shirt numbers
Moriarty played for England u20’s you fancy telling him he should be playing for England!
He has some actual proper connections to Wales though. Holmes was born in Stockport and has probably only been to Wales on his holidays! 😂
England can’t throw stones but our neighbours happily give us grief for some of our caps.
England were banging on a couple of years ago about extending the residency period to 5 years.
Holmes was born in Stockport and has probably only been to Wales on his holidays
So a player who is qualified for Wales shouldnt be picked?
England were banging on a couple of years ago about extending the residency period to 5 years.
I think World Rugby have changed it to 5 years from 2020 - not sure whether that means that anyone resident in whatever country has to have been there since 2015 or that any project players, would need to be resident till 2025 before being picked if they move in 2020.
Welsh!!
Christian Wade hmmmm that is an interesting career move.
I'm sure it isn't all about the Benjamins...
He's a great clubman, an exciting runner. However, I don't think he'll be getting any more international appearances, so why not maximise up your income over the later years of a career? Really can't fault his decision.
Blimey, I thought he'd gone to France or something. Good luck to him. It looks like he'd got as far as he could in union, England never seemed keen.
But I can’t imagine who will be giving him the Bens, American football is a very difficult game to learn and it is not as if they are lacking in homegrown talent.
Good luck to him though
Is there any word on who’s interested in him, if anyone? All I saw was that he’s headed stateside to try gridiron. He’s 5’8” and fast. So way too small for a line-man and nowhere near strong enough as a running back. He’d be killed. I can only see him as a WR - but that’s a fairly glamorous position. There are a few of the top guys under 6’0”
There’s a documentary somewhere that shows various free agents and undrafted players going through the set of tests to try and get a spot in a roster; 50 yd dash, jump from standing still etc. It’s brutal. Even offensive and defensive line men are unbelievably athletic. And these are the guys that don’t “make it.”
I imagine he'll aim to do what Jarrod Hayne did (minus the rapey bit) specialist kick returner.
So a player who is qualified for Wales shouldnt be picked?
But you’re the first person to take a pop at England...I was waiting for the Mako picture to appear. It’s all within the rules but they bloody stink; Gatland even admitted that he was t sure re Holmes at first and had to check! Everyone does it but it seems to be getting more and more tenuous.
Whatever the rules, we’re not in for a very good autumn and our slide down the rankings will continue. NZ will absolutely batter us.
But you’re the first person to take a pop at England
Where?
I was waiting for the Mako picture to appear
"The Vinipolas are welsh"....its a joke you plum
Even Duckie who started it up there realises that!!
Gatland even admitted that he was t sure re Holmes at first and had to check!
Well I think its outrageous that Gatland doesnt know the grand parents of every pro rugby player in England, lazy ****!!