The Rugby Thread

[Bit on the shaggies]

FT Aust 28-13 Fiji

No bonus point so Australia go 3rd.

I think we can now see how good England's win was esp. considering the pressure that was on, opening the competition.

Yet Rob Jones has said this on the BBC:

"They've set a bit of a benchmark that Wales and England will be looking at."

Forgotten that it finished England 35 - 11 Fiji Rob???????

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Japan looking tired. Harsh playing so soon after such as massive game.

Agreed. Surely over a six week tournament they could have given Japan a couple more days rest.

 

[Sniffer]

Oh dear, it looks like we're going with this in midfield.

Good news for Wales I fear.

Confirmed. Billy Vunipola also comes in at number eight for Ben Morgan

 

[Dinowolf]

Wtf. No Slade on the bench????
Is he injured? If not, then why pick him for the squad?

Lancaster has decided to take on Wales head-on, and if it's not quite right he can't really change it much during the game, except for bringing on Ford and moving Farrell to centre.

It's a bit of a gamble but we have to have faith.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Lancaster will get crucified if this doesnt work out, changing 3 players for 1 out injured.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Lancaster will get crucified if this doesnt work out, changing 3 players for 1 out injured.

I fear Jamie Roberts' nous against Burgess' naivety could decide the match on its own.

 

[Johnny75]

Wtf. No Slade on the bench????
Is he injured? If not, then why pick him for the squad?

I've never worked out why the rest of the squad isn't named on the bench. With the injury count as it is at the moment it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to have a replacement for all the players would it.

Lancaster will get crucified if this doesnt work out, changing 3 players for 1 out injured.

He will but he will also be hailed as a tactical genius if we batter the Welsh and Burgess runs in 3 tries.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

I fear Jamie Roberts' nous against Burgess' naivety could decide the match on its own.

Yep, me too. And as it's been pointed out, if Bugess gets found out we won't be able to use the bench to get ourselves out of trouble.

Lancaster may well have dropped a big bollock here.

 

[Dinowolf]

I've never worked out why the rest of the squad isn't named on the bench. With the injury count as it is at the moment it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to have a replacement for all the players would it.

The rules of the tournament would have to be changed as presently there is a matchday limit of 23 players i.e. 15 players plus 8 replacements.
I suppose the smaller nations may complain that what you are suggesting would favour the larger nations, but I don't know.

 

[Johnny75]

Well yes I realise the rules would have to be changed, but as the game lurches more towards and American football-esque level of injury then why not just name entire 30 man squads. I do conceded the smaller nations may complain about this but then it does open up opportunity for others to come in.

 

[Dinowolf]

According to Sky, "Wales receive an official warning after including several players in training not part of World Cup squad".

Gatland angry, saying someone needs to show him which rule they've broken.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

According to Sky, "Wales receive an official warning after including several players in training not part of World Cup squad".

Gatland angry, saying someone needs to show him which rule they've broken.

Indeed he doesn't sound a happy camper about it.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...breaching-rugby-world-cup-rules-31554720.html

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Wales: L Williams; G North, S Williams, J Roberts, H Amos; D Biggar, G Davies; G Jenkins, S Baldwin, T Francis, B Davies, AW Jones; D Lydiate, S Warburton, T Faletau.

Reps: K Owens, A Jarvis, S Lee, L Charteris, J Tipuric, L Williams, R Priestland, A Cuthbert.

Wales have managed to cobble together a front row despite all their poorly props, no Mike Phillips, Cuthbert and Tiperic dropped (although we will definately see him second half), Think Lydiate into to do his chop tackle thing to Sam the Smash when he tries his smashy thing over and over again.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Namibia totally outclassed by the All Blacks, as was expected, but fair play to them, they never stopped.

And I chucked at this comment by John Kirwan:

With the size of the Namibian front row, you wouldn't want to go to the buffet table after them.

 

[Dinowolf]

Sir Ian McGeechan, Sean Fitzpatrick and George Gregan when asked tonight on ITV about Lancaster's team and the selection of Burgess for Saturday were all in favour and felt Lancaster has reacted positively and 'wisely'. McGeechan even said that he doubts Gatland had prepared for this particular formation.

Of course what any of them think, for or against, is immaterial to what will actually happen, but it's nice to listen to what the game experts say.

 

[Lord Knows]

Namibia totally outclassed by the All Blacks, as was expected, but fair play to them, they never stopped.

And I chucked at this comment by John Kirwan:

With the size of the Namibian front row, you wouldn't want to go to the buffet table after them.

What impressed me the most was the complete respect the All Blacks always show the opposition as illustrated by their first points on the board coming from a penalty kick rather than kicking for position and a possible try.
When you take nothing for granted, do the basics first and add the flair later you know your going about it the right way.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

What impressed me the most was the complete respect the All Blacks always show the opposition as illustrated by their first points on the board coming from a penalty kick rather than kicking for position and a possible try.
When you take nothing for granted, do the basics first and add the flair later you know your going about it the right way.

One of the reasons South Africa came unstuck, they turned down kickable penalties in the first half to go for tries, showed the little respect they had for Japan at the time.

 

[lemonjelly]

Gatland is really ramping things up.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Gatland is really ramping things up.

Dunno I thought he answered it reasonably when asked about Burgess,I think its more a case of journalists trying to stir the shit (surprise surprise) in the same way yesterday when Burgess was asked about Scott Williams and said "who?", reading the headline made it sound like he was dismissing Scott Williams as a nonentity, then when you heard the audio its clear that he didn't catch the name when the question was asked.

(Fuck cant believe I have defended shitbag Gatland)

 

[Dinowolf]

When you make incendiary statements like:
"We won't be trying to single out Sam Burgess at all," said Gatland.
"We will be going out there to smash him like everyone else," he added.
.....people will think you're ramping things up.