The Rugby Thread

[Lord Knows]

Perhaps we aren't that good.

Registered clubs in Aus: 767
Registered players in Aus: 42,100
Registered clubs in England: 1,809
Registered players in England: 1,990,988

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Think is England have a good squad of players, plenty of options and potential for improvement and be the dominant side in Europe for the next 5 years.

But they completely fucked it up this time.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I do think they should have picked Armitage
I do think they should have played Ford instead of Farrell
I do think the Joseph injury robbed Lancaster of the best centre partnership
I do think the Burgess experiment was ill-thought-out. Ford is playing him at six at Bath for a reason
I do think the back row was horribly imbalanced because Robshaw is not in his natural position

Saying that, even if all those issues were fixed, no guarantees that England were certainties to get out of the group. The pre-tournament hype that they were the second-best team in the tournament was clearly wrong. The turned down draw against Wales has cost them horribly though.

Australia will beat Wales by seven to ten points next weekend and then have a good path to the final. Wales against the Boks will be a tough game, but not unwinnable.

 

[Lord Knows]

Think is England have a good squad of players, plenty of options and potential for improvement and be the dominant side in Europe for the next 5 years.

But they completely fucked it up this time.

Could they have turned Burgess into an open side flanker to contest the breakdown with Pocock. utilising his Rugby league speed and strength.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yes. However, might have been rather better to pick the best player in Europe who England refused to pick simply because he is playing in France.

 

[Lord Knows]

Has that referee ever officiated a game with Joe Marler playing before last night, if so what was the outcome.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

I do think they should have picked Armitage Yep
I do think they should have played Ford instead of Farrell Yep
I do think the Joseph injury robbed Lancaster of the best centre partnership Used 18 different partnerships in 4 years then threw a novice in
I do think the Burgess experiment was ill-thought-out. Ford is playing him at six at Bath for a reason Yep Ford knows him best
I do think the back row was horribly imbalanced because Robshaw is not in his natural position Yep, a blind man could have seen that for the 3 years

Saying that, even if all those issues were fixed, no guarantees that England were certainties to get out of the group. The pre-tournament hype that they were the second-best team in the tournament was clearly wrong. The turned down draw against Wales has cost them horribly though.

Australia will beat Wales by seven to ten points next weekend and then have a good path to the final. Wales against the Boks will be a tough game, but not unwinnable.

We were worried about meeting the All Blacks in the QF is we lose next week, to get to the final that looks at the moment a better option then meeting Australia in the semi-final

 

[Nando]

Our youth teams have been the best in the world recently so the talent pool is definitely there to build upon.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Has that referee ever officiated a game with Joe Marler playing before last night, if so what was the outcome.

Highly likely, Poite has a reputation as probably the best ref when it comes to controlling the scrums, what Marler was doing was not particularly subtle or clever just Garces completely missed it in the Welsh game, for instance the Irish tv commentators were on about after about 3 scrums last week.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

The All Blacks were misfiring badly in the Georgia game. You could make a case for either of Ireland or France giving them one hell of a game. If Australia continue to play like last night I can't see past them for the whole shebang.

 

[North West Wanderer]

Registered clubs in Aus: 767
Registered players in Aus: 42,100
Registered clubs in England: 1,809
Registered players in England: 1,990,988

I repeat perhaps we aren't that good.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Having a large playing pool doesn't guarantee the highest overall quality. However, combine that with easily the biggest monetary resources and it should guarantee a better return than has been seen lately.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Jonny Sextons kicking is so composed in the Tournament so far, makes Owen Farrells robotic head movements look laughable.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Italy are keeping Ireland honest. Decent enough game.

 

[ROVERT47]

I use to talk to the physio when, what is now AFC Wulfrunians, was the Wolves training ground, and was then the National Centre for English youth rugby.
The stories he used to tell me about the hierarchy within the RUFC were unbelievable, like the LTA, there's an old fashioned arrogance at the top of the RUFC.

 

[leedswolf]

Thank goodness there will be the Grand Final to watch when I get back. So glad I've missed all of this rugger crap so far. Unfortunately I've missed the NRL Grand Final. However, congratulations to the Cowboys on winning their first ever Premiership.

 

[ROVERT47]

Two cracking semi-finals Thursday and Friday night.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

What a try that would have been from Italy!!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Good performance by Italy so far.

 

[leedswolf]

Two cracking semi-finals Thursday and Friday night.

So I heard mate. Hopefully they might still be on SkySports catch up when I get back.