The Rugby Thread

[Donegal Wolf]

Indeed looked good fun, with players enjoying themselves.

Saracens won their 3 English title in 4 years to show they havent gone away.

Leinster won the pro 14 to add to their champions cup, first team to do that double.

Mad stat time, was some first season for 20 year old, James Ryan where he was virtually ever present for Leinster and Ireland., wins a Pro14 title, champions cup, six nations and a grand slam, which in itself is remarkable enough, but he has achieved this whilst to date having never lost a game of rugby as a professional.

 

[Dinowolf]

Looks like James Ryan is 'doing a Maro Itoje', who had a similar amazing start to his career with Saracens and England. Good luck to him.

Ben Te'o is injured so won't travel to South Africa, whilst Nathan Hughes has been added to the squad.

 

[Dinowolf]

England team for first Test against South Africa on Saturday

England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Mike Brown, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Denny Solomona.

 

[Nando]

Cracking day of test match rugby.

The All Blacks have absolutely annihilated the French in the second half.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Indeed looked good fun, with players enjoying themselves.

Saracens won their 3 English title in 4 years to show they havent gone away.

Leinster won the pro 14 to add to their champions cup, first team to do that double.

Mad stat time, was some first season for 20 year old, James Ryan where he was virtually ever present for Leinster and Ireland., wins a Pro14 title, champions cup, six nations and a grand slam, which in itself is remarkable enough, but he has achieved this whilst to date having never lost a game of rugby as a professional.

Lost one now, (possibly Irelands best player tho), disappointing that, not much in it but Australia that little bit better.

 

[Tredman]

Only watched the last 30 mins, but Australia look to have improved a lot. Still think Ireland should win the series though.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

England against South Africa is a tough call. I think England will have just enough but it should be a cracker. No idea what to expect when I turn on Argentina v Wales later. We tend to be a bit shit against the Pumas.

 

[east-coast-wolves]

Thought Ireland were well off the pace against Australia. Aussies were no great shakes but dangerous with ball in hand and deserved to win it. Cut out some of the errors (and clear Pocock from the breakdown quicker) then it should be a series win still.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Wow - England are utterly destroying the Boks

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Or maybe not. Stunning comeback by South Africa and this is looking like a superlative test match now.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Blimey - what a game.

 

[Tredman]

Annoyingly it wasn't on in the pub, so only caught the last 15 mins. Looked a very good match, normally I'd say it was a good match to learn from, but England need to get back to winning.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Very good Wales win. Surprised by the lack of cohesion by Argentina though.

 

[Dinowolf]

So England continue to lose while Eddie Jones continues with his enigmatic selection policy.

WTF is he playing at?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I am not sure it is necessarily the selection policy which is the main factor, although it clearly has some significant influence.

The biggest problem for England seems to be a huge penalty count and bad discipline

 

[Tredman]

Eddie looks to me as though he knew England needed to do something different and is experimenting to see what that is. Yes we went on a great run, but it wasn't built on particularly solid foundations.

 

[Dinowolf]

Looks like Launchbury will be fit for the 2nd Test against SA on Saturday.

Just as well as he is one of only two experienced locks that England have in their squad, with only Isekiewe as the backup. An example of England's poor selection for this series.

 

[Tredman]

Lock is less specialised that it was - a good no8 or no6 could easily play lock and be more mobile too.

England's problem is speed at the breakdown, that will not be solved by playing average lumbering prem locks.

 

[Dinowolf]

Lock is less specialised that it was - a good no8 or no6 could easily play lock and be more mobile too.

England's problem is speed at the breakdown, that will not be solved by playing average lumbering prem locks.

Your first sentence I disagree with completely. Set piece scrummaging and lineout are specialist positions.
I agree with your second sentence although it is a bit obvious.

In addition to 'speed at the breakdown' is the support play must be more disciplined and not give penalties away. Also the spacing when defending lineouts and scrums must be better to stop de Klerk mobilising the SA backs and particularly Le Roux, preventing them hitting us at speed and creating gaps.

 

[Tredman]

Your first sentence I disagree with completely. Set piece scrummaging and lineout are specialist positions.
I agree with your second sentence although it is a bit obvious.

In addition to 'speed at the breakdown' is the support play must be more disciplined and not give penalties away. Also the spacing when defending lineouts and scrums must be better to stop de Klerk mobilising the SA backs and particularly Le Roux, preventing them hitting us at speed and creating gaps.

I played second row for years. Scrums, when they don;t collapse, just rely on strength from second row and now lifters are allowed size is not the be all and end all to lineouts and could actually be a hindrance (Tom Croft was one of the best I ever saw and he was hardly Johnson -esque in size)