The Rugby Thread

[Donegal Wolf]

It's very Naughty....

To me the IRF should come out and say if you only name 2 Hookers, there will be no uncontested scrums, it's been deliberately done to reduce the impact of packs at the scrum

No its not, your statement has no logic whatsoever, and thats aside form what Paddy says regarding player safety. Wales can hold their own with the best of them at scrums so why would they wish to reduce the impact of them?

If Wales have a hooker injured at the weekend then they can bring in Hibbard on Monday, if they have a hooker injured on a Thursday or Friday then Jarvis will have to go on the bench and be nominated as a hooker, if during the game he has to come on there will be no impact on the scrum regarding safety as you have an experienced front row man in there, infact with 3 props on you could argue the scrum could be safer.

But it would have a detrimental effect on Wales overall, especially regarding the line outs, possibly in the scrums if the opposite hooker can get a couple against the head and probably around the park as Jarvis is very unlikely to be as mobile as the hooker.

Its their gamble, Argentina have been doing it for years at World Cups with no issue.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Rather looking forward to the world cup getting started tonight. England v Fiji is a great first fixture. England should win comfortably enough, probably by twenty points, but I am looking forward to watching Fiji play the sort of barmy and carefree rugby that only they can.

 

[darlowolf64]

I've just entered a team (or two actually) on here... http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/

Does anyone else fancy entering and I'll set up a league for TWF?

 

[darlowolf64]

In fact I've set a League up so just select your team and enter the following league number 1198421-16446

 

[Dinowolf]

........and so it starts :happy::happy::happy:

 

[Lord Knows]

Really looking forward to the Southern hemisphere sides playing fast attractive Rugby and seeing if the North can live with them.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

In fact I've set a League up so just select your team and enter the following league number 1198421-16446

Joined up but have been a bit naughty and selected no hookers...

 

[darlowolf64]

In fact I've set a League up so just select your team and enter the following league number 1198421-16446

Come on Paddy...I thought you'd be all over this like a Welsh hooker!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I'm in

Current team is

G Jenkins (Wal)
T Mtawirira (SA)
C Healy (Ire)

P O'Connell (Ire)
B Retallick (NZ)

R McCaw (NZ)
S Warburton (Wal)
S Parisse (ITA)

W Genia (AUS)

D Carter (NZ) (designated kicker)

J Joseph (ENG)
M Bastareud (FRA)

I Folau (AUS)
B Habana (SA)
T Bowe (IRE)

 

[FrankMunro-371]

I am no expert on rugby, so what kind of challenge can England expect from Fiji. I would have thought it should be a straight forward win.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

They're talented, but won't be able to deal with 80 minutes of intensity. One of the major differences between the top six and everyone else is when players come off the bench from 50 minutes onwards, for the better teams there's little to no drop off in quality and for the lesser teams the difference is huge.

Given points difference may end up being a factor we should be aiming for a 20+ margin really.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I expect Fiji to play some lovely stuff at times, to be absolutely brutal in the tackle and at the breakdown, but to be overwhelmed in the set piece. England will win by twenty points at least, but I can imagine Fiji getting a couple of tries.

Going to go for England 42 Fiji 17

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Thanks Gents. Matt Dawson was on the radio this morning and said England should not take Fiji lightly. And apparently they have one very good player .

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Their scrum half is excellent, as is one of their wingers, who is MASSIVE

 

[Donegal Wolf]

There backs are quite good and talented but their forwards will not be upto it, as said earlier they will eventually get overwhelmed in the set piece and intensity of England.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Excited. Possibly my favourite sporting event

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

First thoughts - a lot to like about Fiji, but they are going to be error-strewn. England's professionalism should win this, and win it well.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Fiji going to be fortunate to escape without a yellow card here.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Great example there - won a line out against the head and then kicked it back. Disappointed that they are looking at this tackle. The fijian realised the problem and then let go because he knew it was a problem.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Never a yellow for me