The Rugby Thread

[E17yid]

Ollie Thorley got try of the season (e17 already wrote this off as terrible apparently after I posted it previously )

OT is an amazing prospect deceptively strong and incredibly quick.

Did I? I think I just said it was bad defending which, to be fair, it was. Nice finish though.

 

[mpickard2087]

Good final. Went back and forth until Sarries landed the killer blows late on. Exeter were probably the better team for 60-65 mins, but the impetus off the subs bench made a big difference in the final quarter.

 

[teok]

Yep that was a sucker punch for exeter. Nowell was brilliant. Hope he isn't badly hurt.

 

[E17yid]

Was a good final but there was that one really shit bit of refereeing from Barnes when it was 22-16 to Exeter when he called advantage over for Exeter from a pen almost straight away.

When Exeter players said why haven’t you gone back for the pen he said I called advantage over you almost scored a try but he called advantage over before the ball was fly hacked through.

Exeter should’ve had the chance to make it 25-16 or a chance to put it in the box for a 5 meter line out.

You’d think it didn’t have a effect on the result but it was a key point in the match.

 

[longtimespur]

Was the only bright part of the weekend for me, with Sarries winning.
It was a great entertaining game to watch, especially with the result, as opposed to the dire, turgid game of football in the evening, especially with the result..
Sick from watching the CL final, a terrible standard of football from both sides, and even sicker watching the news fawning all over Liverpool's victory.

 

[E17yid]

Talk about stating the obvious.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48612974

 

[Japhet]

Talk about stating the obvious.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48612974

Boringly predictable.

 

[E17yid]

Gatland conforming he 100% wont be taking over England. Said Eddie is meant to be signing an extension but might’ve just been taking the piss.

 

[E17yid]

Boringly predictable.

If the Lions tour was this summer he’d be everyone’s captain and would be a shoo in to start. Even you and TSH would agree with that surely.

If he maintains form and, like Gats said, continues to be looked after, then why wouldn’t he?

 

[Japhet]

If the Lions tour was this summer he’d be everyone’s captain and would be a shoo in to start. Even you and TSH would agree with that surely.

If he maintains form and, like Gats said, continues to be looked after, then why wouldn’t he?

Nope.

 

[E17yid]

Nope.

You don’t think he was player of the 6N? Or the best performing 2nd row?

 

[Japhet]

You don’t think he was player of the 6N? Or the best performing 2nd row?

Doesn't matter what I think. Gatland will pick him anyway.

 

[E17yid]

Doesn't matter what I think. Gatland will pick him anyway.

What do you think? I’m interested to hear the 2 locks who were better than him in the 6N

 

[Japhet]

What do you think? I’m interested to hear the 2 locks who were better than him in the 6N

As Gatland himself says, the Captain has to be undroppable, and for my money that's Farrell.

 

[E17yid]

As Gatland himself says, the Captain has to be undroppable, and for my money that's Farrell.

You’d make a good politician. Everyone is droppable.

Forget captain, if the lions tour was this summer which locks would get ahead of him based on current form?

 

[E17yid]

I must admit, just looking at leadership qualities, it’d be a really tough choice between the guy who captained his country to a grand slam and the guy who kept his team on the pitch at HT when they are 30 odd points up and then totally crumbled in the the 2nd half, at home against Scotland no less.

 

[SugarRay]

I don’t think Farrell is elite level captain material anyway but what do I know?

Also, I’ve never been a big fan of the Lions so meh to all of it.

 

[teok]

Marler back for england. That is great news meaning we don't have to run mako into the ground.

 

[mpickard2087]

All over for Care, Robshaw, Hughes, and looks like retirement beckons for Hartley - though I still wouldn't be shocked if he gets picked as 3rd hooker, if at some point he manages to haul himself out onto a pitch, purely for the leadership aspect.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-training-squad-announced-ahead-rugby-world/#

Surprised that Hughes got cut, unless Dombrandt forces his way in I guess that means Shields gets in. No word on Marler, still seems he is retired. Mike Brown made the cut, probably needed at the World Cup I'd say in knock out rugby and a few injury issues in the outside backs.


For the record, my 31 man squad would be:

Vunipola, Moon, Sinckler, Williams, Cole; George, Cowan-Dickie, Hartley (if fit, otherwise Dunn); Lawes, Launchbury, Itoje, Kruis; Wilson, Underhill, Curry, Hughes, Vunipola;

Youngs, Spencer, Robson; Ford, Farrell; T'eo, Tuilagi, Slade, Joseph; May, Daly, Nowell, Brown, Watson (just, ahead of Cokanasiga).


Historically, most teams take five props with the extra tight-head as it's the more specialised position, so I stuck with that formula. Obviously looks like Hughes wont go, I don't think Moon will (either be Genge, or Marler if he eventually decides to play), and Brown will probably miss out to get big Joe C in the squad. Also rumours we might only take two scrum halves, in which case Shields will probably get selected too but with four locks, all who can cover 6, don't see the point in extra back row forwards.

 

[teok]

I saw this linked with the phrase "the lord works in mysterious ways":

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/113726953/israel-folaus-gofundme-page-shut-down