The Rugby Union Thread

scrumhalf · January 2020

rsvmark said:

fretmeister said:
Sarries have since said they want it out there!
I wonder if different people at Sarries are giving different statements.

Your finger is more on the pulse than mine. Different people giving different statements in a rapidly moving story is entirely feasible.

@scrumhalf - were any sanctions dished out to Wasps and Quins at the time?

We were £40k over, fined 50p per £.

rsvmark · January 2020

Midway through watching this. 2 conclusions so far. 1 it’s an interesting discussion and 2, Haskell couldn’t reach a reasoned conclusion on any.....wassisname, thing and anyway.....

https://youtu.be/4CgzvnntPag

crunchman · January 2020

Rocker said:

Is there a salary cap in football? Or horse racing? Or F1? Of course not. So what is so special or fragile in the world of professional rugby that a salary cap is deemed necessary?

This whole sorry mess is the result of a salary cap that IMHO is needless and the result of small minded and short term thinking.

Lack of salary cap is a major reason why I don't watch football any more. It's dominated by a small handful of rich clubs and isn't competitive.

I'd far rather watch the NFL, where you really don't know from year to year who will win. San Francisco were awful last year and are in the Superbowl this year. That just wouldn't happen in football. The equivalent of Man City or Real would buy up George Kittle or Nick Bosa. The salary cap means that can't happen and clubs can hold on to their players.

In rugby, where would Exeter be with a football style system? There wouldn't be room for an outsider to crash the party like that.

koneguitarist · January 2020

Rocker said:

Is there a salary cap in football? Or horse racing? Or F1? Of course not. So what is so special or fragile in the world of professional rugby that a salary cap is deemed necessary?

This whole sorry mess is the result of a salary cap that IMHO is needless and the result of small minded and short term thinking.

There should have been a salary cap in football years ago.

tbm · February 2020

The Ireland Scotland game was much more entertaining the the scoreline suggests. Hogg should have had a try too.

Italy look shite

Game of the weekend tomorrow. Should be very interesting.

Wales will fancy it in Dublin next weekend. it’ll be a cracker.

VimFuego · February 2020

it's not like Hogg's missed try made a difference to the outcome of the match.

Oh wait, it did.

since he made the move down here to Exeter I've been super impressed with Hogg, but that drop was a howler.

sev112 · February 2020

Refereeing not great imo, but is it ever, and recognising it is a hard job
but Ireland spent the whole match with hands in the ruck, lying over the ball and got away with it throughout. Scotland just got pinged all the time. 2 Scottish “high tackles” penalised , which on replay were on the bicep!? Ireland defence awesome however, and probably worth the win on that differentiator,

5 mins, in, Scotland already having been pinged and lost 3 points for hands in the ruck; Scotland 15 yards out centre of pitch, and ball comes out of a Scotland attaching ruck. How on earth does the ref think the ball come out? Replay shows Ireland forward laying on the floor slapping it out, replay after replay of the same event.
i suppose that’s why we love rugby, and hate it at the same time when there’s a team of video refs watching it all in slo mo.

and I’m not Scottish either

MagicPigDetective · February 2020

Wales played well but as a contest it was a boring match. I can’t wait for the match next week in Dublin, should be epic, a proper test.

Jalapeno · February 2020

sev112 said:

5 mins, in, Scotland already having been pinged and lost 3 points for hands in the ruck; Scotland 15 yards out centre of pitch, and ball comes out of a Scotland attaching ruck. How on earth does the ref think the ball come out? Replay shows Ireland forward laying on the floor slapping it out, replay after replay of the same event.
i suppose that’s why we love rugby, and hate it at the same time when there’s a team of video refs watching it all in slo mo.

and I’m not Scottish either

There was an identical incident in the Wales/Italy match - penalty to Wales

Thought Wales made heavy weather of Italy tbh ...

Schnozz · February 2020

I never watch the Italy matches - They should be replaced as they're consistently shite. It's now become how much they're beaten by, as opposed to whether they'll win.

rsvmark · February 2020

Having watched the game last night, tbh I thought the score line flattered Wales. They were competent and won as expected but the 2 late tries are misleading imho. Scotland were surprisingly poor and Hogg utterly dropped the ball, oh wait he did. I expected them to really push Ireland.
le crunch later.... will it be a spicy affair or a slug fest. I have a feeling it might be the latter

Gassage · February 2020

Greetings from Stade de France. Damp and grey here but warm. (12-14 deg)

Spent yesterday watch the closed training session with 'Mrs' Gass (pictured)

Image: https://scontent-cdt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83984410_10157082635807066_3891804196302749696_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQl7PiMw1cURJtVm5H1kjiGbdHgPOBUnt0qtuOlF3MqwskWZCD7b0fwKJGstj6mrWCE&_nc_ht=scontent-cdt1-1.xx&oh=e2badaa7fbe8d5af8c9b3a5a0b26c317&oe=5ECE7C85

Image: https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83862706_10157082635862066_6724595901249093632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=AQnoofK447GE-KVMzPSiro9RwlRqnHAJcNDKMjh1RKoBldfDWs2HRCrcDdDwPA3i5zs&_nc_ht=scontent-cdg2-1.xx&oh=61f045ef71775460f741532ebb54fad2&oe=5E8FA9E4

Image: https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83718902_10157082636017066_4432910654726209536_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_oc=AQlQkDfxVIqc6ZUcdABqVArhZpvMX_iR66qpltbhlRtn02UuNDWOcR3xcgXvj9sef2E&_nc_ht=scontent-cdg2-1.xx&oh=6b708c705cefb9823611f4e937d73f8c&oe=5E8DEA5E

Image: https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83774336_10157082635982066_9041485390254440448_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQltLZXEsFxzHxlUfiCYV4gURj-LfMRZsROxc09XBzyPe9Wzym2cWrKKZIBOchiUXiw&_nc_ht=scontent-cdg2-1.xx&oh=ca3d55029ef0a2ed8c34d32b81c96dd8&oe=5ED100AB

Blaendulais · February 2020

Got to say reckon Hogg was sublime a few years ago but seems to have lost it a bit. Trys too hard to make something happen. However he's the least of SRUs problems!!!!

scrumhalf · February 2020

Bloody hell, England are woeful so far.

VimFuego · February 2020

they stopped playing. why did they stop playing?!?

exocet · February 2020

Have England fielded a pub team...or have they just been to the pub first?

MagicPigDetective · February 2020

Only two words are needed to explain what’s happened to France: Shaun Edwards.

exocet · February 2020

MagicPigDetective said:

Only two words are needed to explain what’s happened to France: Shaun Edwards.

Either that or Eddie Jones has actually fielded Liverpool FC.

digitalscream · February 2020

This is just plain embarrassing. England totally without a clue, and Furbank makes me look back fondly at the days of Daly being at the back.

Something's got to change, otherwise this is going to be an absolute drubbing.

VimFuego · February 2020

not that I'm biased here, but Exeter top of the PL, top English team to qualify for Europe, no players in starting lineup. Tigers, worst performing team in the PL (would be relegated if not for sarries), not in Europe, 4 players in starting lineup. Your pivot players at 9 and 10 are used to losing.

As I said, not biased though.,,

scrumhalf · February 2020

Youngs is past whatever passes for his best. We're slow, inaccurate and too blinkered.

This could be an embarrassment, and it's not got far to go to get there.

VimFuego · February 2020

scrumhalf said:

Youngs is past whatever passes for his best. We're slow, inaccurate and too blinkered.

This could be an embarrassment, and it's not got far to go to get there.

I'm using Youngs passes to hard boil some eggs.

scrumhalf · February 2020

VimFuego said:

scrumhalf said:

Youngs is past whatever passes for his best. We're slow, inaccurate and too blinkered.

This could be an embarrassment, and it's not got far to go to get there.

I'm using Youngs passes to hard boil some eggs.

Possibly the only English eggs being chased...

crunchman · February 2020

Second half was a bit less bad. Same as last time both Vunipolas and Tuilagi were missing. They just can't make any ground - except for Johnny May.

Need to get a bit of beef in there against Scotland. I think they need a proper number 8, and put Lawes back in the second row.

Do we have any good young scrum halves?

Blaendulais · February 2020

crunchman said:

Second half was a bit less bad. Same as last time both Vunipolas and Tuilagi were missing. They just can't make any ground - except for Johnny May.

Need to get a bit of beef in there against Scotland. I think they need a proper number 8, and put Lawes back in the second row.

Do we have any good young scrum halves?

pick a number 8 play curry in his best position. its not like there arent excellent 8's. Eddie is just a contrary twat when it comes to selection. It did for him in the world cup and it did for him today. On the one hand he dismisses premiership form then picks a naive full back clearly out of his depth. A key skill for an 8 is control and coming off the base. Curry could do neither. Simmons can, Dombrandt can. In fact all no 8's can!!!

sev112 · February 2020

Thought it was a fabulous game to watch, non stop. At my age I don’t mind if England win or lose, I jus5 enjoy watching an exciting game, and this was miles better than both of yesterday’s

well done France - it’s good for the game to have a good France

VimFuego · February 2020

enough of this picking players out of position or on reputation. Lawes is a great player, but he's an average 6 at best. Lots of good 6's in the country, likewise 8's. Sinkler looks disinterested, not sure how many carries he made, but he seems to want to pass before he carries now. Youngs surely has to be dropped now, time to bring in some young 9's. Furbank did OK IMO, for a 1st match. It wasn't his fault the senior players choked.

Fretwired · February 2020

England were pressurised by a better French team - they were beaten fair and square. The French defence was awesome and the final score flattered England. Two bits of solo brilliance from May. England then huffed and puffed and got nowhere close to the French line.

Creed_Clicks · February 2020

VimFuego said:

not that I'm biased here, but Exeter top of the PL, top English team to qualify for Europe, no players in starting lineup. Tigers, worst performing team in the PL (would be relegated if not for sarries), not in Europe, 4 players in starting lineup. Your pivot players at 9 and 10 are used to losing.

As I said, not biased though.,,

What is it with rugby where they remain loyal to certain players instead of picking on form etc.

hywelg · February 2020

MagicPigDetective said:

Only two words are needed to explain what’s happened to France: Shaun Edwards.

He did seem to give them the edge in defence. They all knew what they were doing and what they had to do. England will yet again rue the day they let him do his magic for another country

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