The Rugby Thread

[Doctor Doog]

Final score 35 - 29.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

The new PRO14 League starts tonight with Ulster v one of the new South African sides the Cheetahs.

The introduction of the 2 South African sides is worth €500,000 to each of the existing teams, on the one hand it might be an interesting experiment which comes to nothing if the South African population dont take to it, danger is that the 2 sides have been extremely weakened as the other clubs have taken most of their best players and might not be competitive. On the other hand listening to South African journalists it may be a complete game changer for world club rugby, the other South African sides are watching it with great interest, it seems crowds and tv figures have dropped drastically in Super Rugby as the competition has become too convoluted, no-ones what time games kick off due to the different time zones and the schedule and logistics are skewered against the SA teams.

Big question is if they will be allowed to play in the European competitions, (which the PRO 14 have said they will back), that happens then apparently it may mean all the South African teams moving from Super Rugby, to the European Competition which would be more lucrative, more vibrant, logistically easier (no jet lag) and also added bonus of not having to play NZ sides all the time.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Isn't that almost voluntary relegation??

Surely you want to play against the best, and the NZ sides are definitely that.

 

[Dinowolf]

Billy Vunipola out for 4 months after having knee surgery following his injury on Saturday against Sale.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-unio...ix-nations-race-after-undergoing-knee-surgery

 

[Kenny]

My new favourite reason for missing a game due to an unusual injury

"Wales hooker Scott Baldwin missed Ospreys' Pro14 defeat after he was bitten by a lion in South Africa"

 

[Dinowolf]

Kyle Sinkler banned for 7 weeks for contacting the eye area of an opponent. He will miss most of the Autumn Internationals.

 

[Dinowolf]

After Nathan Hughes limped out of their match on Sunday, fears have been lifted somewhat by the announcement it is just a 'dead-leg' and he should be available soon.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Kyle Sinkler banned for 7 weeks for contacting the eye area of an opponent. He will miss most of the Autumn Internationals.

Bloody lucky to only get 7 weeks.

 

[Banjo]

Bloody lucky to only get 7 weeks.

Agreed. It should be a strict liability offence in my view. Meant to be a minimum 12 week sentence but his contrition and guilty plea were apparently mitigating factors. In my view, even if you're in the bottom of a ruck, you can tell whether you're pressing your fingers into someone's eyes or not. These aren't accidental collisions.

 

[Dinowolf]

England side to start against Argentina:

15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 George Kruis, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Nathan Hughes

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Danny Care, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Semesa Rokoduguni

Farrell and Itoje rested, Slade and Underhill get starts.

 

[Tredman]

England playing pretty well against Argentina, really nice try.

Horrible to see Brown land on his head, won’t be coming back on.

 

[Parkins left foot]

England playing pretty well against Argentina, really nice try.

Horrible to see Brown land on his head, won’t be coming back on.

Don't have Sky so will have to wait for the highlights

Watching Scotland v Samoa (with Wales v Australia to come) - not enough quality to really trouble the top teams, but a very open & entertaining game so far

 

[Dinowolf]

Any game involving England at home should be available for everyone and not PPV. IMO

I think England's game plan has been poor. Argentina have come to spoil and score off penalties and we have fallen straight into the trap.

Second half we need to move the ball in hand more and stop the crap kicking.

 

[Tredman]

It’s not PPV.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It is - you have to pay for Sky

 

[Tredman]

It is - you have to pay for Sky

Nope PPV is pay per view, ie pay for an event. Sky is a subscription.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Alright - you shouldn't have to pay FULL STOP

 

[Parkins left foot]

Scotland finally win 44 - 38

Not great defensively by either side (witnessed by the fact that there were 11 tries). Hugely entertaining though.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

Anybody who isn't watching isn't missing much to be honest. This is as dull as turds.

 

[Tredman]

Meh, england (and Wales) wouldn’t have a hope of competing with the SH without sky money. World Cup stays on terrestrial tv, which is right, but other games are there for the nations to make cash.