The Rugby Thread

[talkshowhost86]

I bet you don't seeing as he's gone for Alun Wyn to start. Good to see he hasn't let his bias rule his selection and recognises Jones is still the best lock out there.

Totally agree about the link up point. I think Webb, on his day, is quite a bit butetter than Murray but with the lack of cohesion and training time you've got to go for combos so would have no qualms with him going for Murray. It's why I'd also go for Farell and Joseph and the Irish front row and Welsh back three (though again, won't complain if Hogg plays instead of Halfpenny though I would be tempted to play Williams there and have North and one of Daly/Watson on the other wing)

First test is so crucial. Lose that and we're fucked.

I won't even go into the AWJ bit...

I was wondering about Williams at full back. I think everyone has concerns about Hogg defensively, so it's certainly something we'll have to think about. Not sure who's had more experience at full-back though out of Williams and Watson. Also if crap George North turns up rather than good George North (and the odds do favour that) then Williams will be needed on the wing anyway.

(I'm not even mentioning Halfpenny)

 

[E17yid]

I won't even go into the AWJ bit...

I was wondering about Williams at full back. I think everyone has concerns about Hogg defensively, so it's certainly something we'll have to think about. Not sure who's had more experience at full-back though out of Williams and Watson. Also if crap George North turns up rather than good George North (and the odds do favour that) then Williams will be needed on the wing anyway.

(I'm not even mentioning Halfpenny)

Liam Williams is a FB who can play on the wing, not the other way round. Not sure about Watson but I've only seen him on the wing

I have faith North will have a good tour. His form in the last 2 games was better and, to be honest, it's not like his poor form came out of nowhere and was unexplainable. It was always going to be tough for him to get back to the level he was at a year or so ago. Like I said, signs are that he's getting back to where he was and im sure he lions will add that extra incentive he needs to have a blinder. I can see him picking up Savea in a firemans lift and running the length of the pitch a la Australia.

 

[teok]

In more interesting news (for me) check out the england squad for argentina, loads of new caps/youngsters. Those twins the curry kids look so good for their age, I reckon ben(?) curry will be the out and out 7 england have been crying out for all this time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39652871

 

[E17yid]

In more interesting news (for me) check out the england squad for argentina, loads of new caps/youngsters. Those twins the curry kids look so good for their age, I reckon ben(?) curry will be the out and out 7 england have been crying out for all this time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39652871

Pleased for Underhill even though he's leaving us for Bath.

 

[E17yid]

Don't we have any Kiwis on here? Would be interested to hear what their thoughts are. @Barmy_in_Palmy is the only one I can think of.

 

[mpickard2087]

Pretty bonkers squad from Eddie. Think he's just taking a load of the U20's and the likes of Solomona, Underhill and Francis along to be in camp and see what they've got.

 

[E17yid]

Pretty bonkers squad from Eddie. Think he's just taking a load of the U20's and the likes of Solomona, Underhill and Francis along to be in camp and see what they've got.

Crazy how your leagues top try scorer can't even get in the squad even when all your main players are with the lions. His defence must be awful

 

[talkshowhost86]

Crazy how your leagues top try scorer can't even get in the squad even when all your main players are with the lions. His defence must be awful

I think the feeling is that he'll never be defensively good enough for the main squad so why bother including him on this tour? It's the same with Cipriani in that he's definitely good enough to go on merit, but probably better looking at someone who might genuinely play for England at some point.

The one I do find odd is Rokodoguni as surely he's at least as good as Jonny May?

 

[E17yid]

I think the feeling is that he'll never be defensively good enough for the main squad so why bother including him on this tour? It's the same with Cipriani in that he's definitely good enough to go on merit, but probably better looking at someone who might genuinely play for England at some point.

The one I do find odd is Rokodoguni as surely he's at least as good as Jonny May?

I think Rokodoguni is the second highest try scorer in the prem as well. I just find it strange but I guess it goes to show the depth of the pool of talent England has to choose from.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think Rokodoguni is the second highest try scorer in the prem as well. I just find it strange but I guess it goes to show the depth of the pool of talent England has to choose from.

It's odd though that the pool of wingers England have picked recently don't really score many tries at club level (May, Yarde, Watson, Nowell, Daly etc).

I think Jones goes for a more complete player rather than just a try scorer which is why the likes of Wade, Roko and Ashton don't get a look in (although for Ashton it's also because he's a plum).

 

[mpickard2087]

Roko is far too raw as a player for international level in my opinion, not unexpected given his route into the game. He's like 29/30 so can see why Eddie doesn't see the value in investing in him. Wade I think they see as too small and that the less space he would get at international level means his attacking threat doesn't outweigh his often really shoddy defensive work.

Cipriani has been gash this season and is another who is late 20's, suspect attitude/temperament and they don't see the value of backing.

Eddie does seem to be passing over those mid 20's age bracket and going for the youngsters coming through who might be there for ten years.

 

[E17yid]

Anyone see this? I know it's league but fuck, it's savage.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...ening-moment-player-brutally-punches-12957368

 

[talkshowhost86]

Anyone see this? I know it's league but fuck, it's savage.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...ening-moment-player-brutally-punches-12957368

What a prick. A shame some of the oppo players didn't give him more of a kicking.

 

[Japhet]

Anyone see this? I know it's league but fuck, it's savage.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/sickening-moment-player-brutally-punches-12957368

Cowardly too. Won't ever see him on a rugby pitch again, and deservedly so.

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

Don't we have any Kiwis on here? Would be interested to hear what their thoughts are. @Barmy_in_Palmy is the only one I can think of.

I think the avg NZ fans view is "we don't care who you pick we will beat you anyway". I think more people were interest in the gatlands son being picked for one of the teams playing against the lions.

Warren Gatland said when asked about it (paraphrased) "we'll both have played against the lions but only one of us will have been victorious"

 

[E17yid]

I think the avg NZ fans view is "we don't care who you pick we will beat you anyway". I think more people were interest in the gatlands son being picked for one of the teams playing against the lions.

Warren Gatland said when asked about it (paraphrased) "we'll both have played against the lions but only one of us will have been victorious"

Yeah I saw that. He had a cheeky grin on his face as he said it, naturally.

I don't think anyone is on your level but if the lions had a couple of months extra training time and not such a busy schedule it would be a lot more interesting, imo.

 

[teok]

Yeah I saw that. He had a cheeky grin on his face as he said it, naturally.

I don't think anyone is on your level but if the lions had a couple of months extra training time and not such a busy schedule it would be a lot more interesting, imo.

That's the silly thing about the lions a full strength ireland or maybe england side would have a better chance of beating them because they all know each others game. It's like any sort of "all star" team, it might seem good to a casual fan on paper but it's much weaker it just has more depth.

Any way, I've moaned enough the lions and I know others enjoy it and it makes money for the sport so I'll pipe down.

 

[talkshowhost86]

That's the silly thing about the lions a full strength ireland or maybe england side would have a better chance of beating them because they all know each others game. It's like any sort of "all star" team, it might seem good to a casual fan on paper but it's much weaker it just has more depth.

Any way, I've moaned enough the lions and I know others enjoy it and it makes money for the sport so I'll pipe down.

I think this tour will diminish the allure of the Lions a bit.

There are far too many games to start with so people won't be that interested, and it will also mean some of the first team players will have to play a lot more than is ideal.

Also some of the 'warm-up' games are against teams that on their day are ridiculously good themselves so wouldn't be surprised to see the Lions lose a couple, which would make the tests look a bit daft.

And with Gats in charge I think we'll see a 3-0 whitewash.

Hope I'm proved wrong, but everything seems set up for the Lions to fail.

 

[E17yid]

That's the silly thing about the lions a full strength ireland or maybe england side would have a better chance of beating them because they all know each others game. It's like any sort of "all star" team, it might seem good to a casual fan on paper but it's much weaker it just has more depth.

Any way, I've moaned enough the lions and I know others enjoy it and it makes money for the sport so I'll pipe down.

I agree all i would say is that a lot of these guys know each other very well and historically the lions has only ever really been 2 countries. This time it's a good mix of 3. If we weren't playing the chiefs, Highlanders etc etc and had a good 2 months prep time out there it'd be a totally different ball game.

 

[E17yid]

It also doesn't help that it's at the end of our season and the start of theirs.