The Rugby Thread
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teok
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- Aug 11, 2011
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That game the other weekend was so depressing. The first 20 mins seemed to be just england conceding one stupid penalty after another. I'm hoping they were all just physically destroyed from the intense training camp and are looking to peak around the start of the tourney (I can't think of any other reason for them coming off second best so often).
nightgoat
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- Sep 12, 2005
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It's not like that hasn't been done before, though. Tuilagi was similarly inexperienced at international level when selected for the last World Cup.
- Oct 2, 2004
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They knew what position he was going to play though, and he'd been good at club level.
The same cannot be said for Burgess.
Who would you have selected ahead of him?
- Oct 2, 2004
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Burrell.
I know he's not been in the best form at Northampton but in the six nations I thought he and JJ formed a decent partnership and he always seems to up his game for England. Plus, and for me this is quite a big plus, he's actually a centre.
Hell I'd even have taken Eastmond ahead of him to provide an interesting alternative off the bench.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
- Jun 13, 2008
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Cant agree that Burrell looked good in this years six nations alongside JJ. He was much better the year before when he was paired with Billy 36, amazingly considering these two are the most erratic we have to pick from they did alright with 36 playing as the second playmaker and leading the defensive blitz and Burrell wider and having more space to bosh through. Since then though he has done very little, especially when picked at 12. He doesn't have enough about his game in attack or defence.
E17yid
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- Jan 21, 2013
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Good win for Wales over the weekend. Nice little confidence booster. It'll be interesting to see how the English fare against Ireland this weekend.
Alun wyn Jones was immense, as always, but feel so sorry for Tipuric (a player I've highly rated for years) who always finds himself on the fringes no matter how well he plays. I'd be half tempted to drop Lydiate (which would be a tough call) and move warburton to 6 with Tipuric at 7. Or maybe even move warburton to 8 and keep lydiate.
Shame to hear Alun Wyn Jones has picked up a injury. Should be fit against England but you never know. What be a massive loss if he does miss out.
Alun wyn Jones was immense, as always, but feel so sorry for Tipuric (a player I've highly rated for years) who always finds himself on the fringes no matter how well he plays. I'd be half tempted to drop Lydiate (which would be a tough call) and move warburton to 6 with Tipuric at 7. Or maybe even move warburton to 8 and keep lydiate.
Shame to hear Alun Wyn Jones has picked up a injury. Should be fit against England but you never know. What be a massive loss if he does miss out.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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Interesting that a number of countries have been a bit bolder with squad selections. England giving Slade & Burgess the nod, NZ have dumped proven players at the last second for rookies who are in form, Wales have made a couple of surprising picks and a number of countries seem to be running light in certain positions (a number of teams only taking two Hookers for instance, or only 3 Locks).
We'll see who has the luck and their selections look inspired, and who ends up with egg on their faces!
We'll see who has the luck and their selections look inspired, and who ends up with egg on their faces!
I'm off to Eng v Aus which I'm effing excited about! Not confident at all though about that game. Now the Aussies have something resembling a pack, they are massively dangerous. I'm pretty confident of victory against Wales but the Aussies scare me ( cue a loss to Wales and a huge win against Oz! )
The closer it gets though the more obvious it is that New Zealand will walk it if they show up. England aren't as far along as they should be ( Lancaster has naffed about too much ) given their playing resources. Saffas have looked beatable for the past 12 months. Hopefully everyone can raise their game and run the all blacks close. Can't wait!
The closer it gets though the more obvious it is that New Zealand will walk it if they show up. England aren't as far along as they should be ( Lancaster has naffed about too much ) given their playing resources. Saffas have looked beatable for the past 12 months. Hopefully everyone can raise their game and run the all blacks close. Can't wait!
Spurger King
can't smile without glue
- Jul 22, 2008
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I got Australia in the sweepstake at work. That's where my interest in this God-awful sport begins and ends 
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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England 12 Ireland 3 HT.
Should be more in all honesty. Not much has gone right for Ireland so far, and England could be out of sight. Last 5-10 mins momentum has swung slightly. England looked a bit tired from the tempo/intensity, tell tale signs of taking the ball standing still for instance, and so a couple of mistakes crept in.
Still close enough on the scoreboard, Ireland not out of it but they will have to play much better in the second 40. England more of the same, run hard and straight, then use the backline which is looking very good going into the World Cup.
Should be more in all honesty. Not much has gone right for Ireland so far, and England could be out of sight. Last 5-10 mins momentum has swung slightly. England looked a bit tired from the tempo/intensity, tell tale signs of taking the ball standing still for instance, and so a couple of mistakes crept in.
Still close enough on the scoreboard, Ireland not out of it but they will have to play much better in the second 40. England more of the same, run hard and straight, then use the backline which is looking very good going into the World Cup.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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Well both teams have a lot to work on...
E17yid
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It's not good. He's done. Right knee but won't know until next week whether it's ACL or whatever.
The only way yesterday could have been worse from a Welsh perspective is if Biggar got inured. Not because Biggar is better than LH or RW (though he is in good form like RW) but because we'd be relying on Priestland to come in and cover which would mean we might as well not bother.
Even though he's a Scarlett I've always been a big fan of Liam Williams and I was gutted when I thought he'd miss the WC and was elated, in equal measure, when I found out he recovered in time to make the sqaud. He's not as good under the high ball as LH or as good position or perhaps defensively as well but he's a great running FB. You can count on him joining the line and attacking with intent a lot more than LH will. His game is more similar to Brown in that attacking respect but no matter how I dress it up, Halfpenny wins us games on his own so it's a huge loss.
The really devastating one is Rhys, though. One of the most in form players in world rugby and the second best scrum half in the world, in my humble opinion, though I'm bias obviously.
Either way, we are done now, sadly. Perhaps one big game changer we could afford to miss but not 2. Like I said, the only way it could have been worse was if Biggar went down. The English boys must have been loving last night, can't say I blame them. Not even heard anything about Alun Wyn Jones's injury either. It could be embarrassing if he's not back in time to face England.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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With May I think it shows how much of a difference confidence makes. 18 months ago he would have overthought things and wouldn't have backed himself, now he knows he can and just goes for it. We need to get him more involved in the game in my opinion because at the moment he is looking lethal.
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