The Rugby Thread

[Lord Knows]

Wasps have signed Australia's most capped forward, Wallaby flanker George Smith.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He must be about 903

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Dylan Hartley in the shit AGAIN. This time charged with a headbutt in the Northampton loss to Saracens.

5 strikes and he really must be finally out. It is a shame because I really rate Hartley as a player but he is an absolute liability for club and England from a disciplinary point of view.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He's an idiot. I'd be happy if he were never considered for England again, good player but how can you trust him to not do something crazy in a World Cup semi final or a massive Six Nations match? And he isn't so good as to make it worth the gamble.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

My thoughts exactly. You would have thought that blowing a lions tour by being a dick might have made him think but clearly not.

Not my place to really comment on England selection obviously, but there are enough other cabs on that particular rank that he should never wear the shirt again. I don't want to sound pious as Wales have had their fair share of disciplinary buffoons at times, but it just seems so stupid. Tuilagi is another massive problem, but it looks like Jonathan Joseph has solved that one perfectly for you anyway.

EDIT - Don't forget, raging as I was about the injustice of it at time, Sam Warburton probably committed the most crazy stupid thing in a world cup semi-final. Which I still believe Wales would have won had he not got that red. However, it appears to have been a one-off and he is captain fantastic for us, injuries permitting.

 

[Tredman]

If dropping Hartley means Youngs gets the nod I'd rather keep the raving nutball. Even with a red card sat in the stand he could still throw straighter.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I can understand that Tredman, but do really want England packing down with 7 men in a crucial match in September because Hartley has gone rogue and got a red card? Or leaving a gap in the backs against, say Wales, so you still keep 8 in the trenches? Hartley's indiscipline could be hugely costly, no matter his relative merits as a player versus Youngs.

 

[Tredman]

Agreed, but his disciplinary record for England is not that bad. It's a shame as I think he's a great player, and he seemed to have sorted himself out.

Besides, even with 7 in the pack we'll be fine against Wales

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

We'll see in September! I think it could be a classic match. Hopefully we both smash the Convicts.

 

[Tredman]

That would definitely be the best result, get them out at the start.

 

[Dinowolf]

If dropping Hartley means Youngs gets the nod I'd rather keep the raving nutball. Even with a red card sat in the stand he could still throw straighter.

I'd rather Webber played than Youngs and Cowan-Dickie has been picked to play against the Barbarians, so there are good alternatives, although Lancaster does prefer Youngs.

 

[Tredman]

I'd rather Webber played than Youngs and Cowan-Dickie has been picked to play against the Barbarians, so there are good alternatives, although Lancaster does prefer Youngs.

The problem is only Hartley has the combination of mobility and technical ability. Youngs offers the former and Webber the latter, but no one else offers it all.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

We have the same issue. Can never combine a hooker who is brilliant in ruck, scrum, and in the loose, with one that delivers the ball perfectly at the lineout. Hibbard is ace at most of that , but our lineout win percentages are poor for a reason. Finding a perfect hooker isn't easy. Ooooo-eerr stick that in the fnaar thread.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Jonathan Davies out of the World Cup, bad news for Wales.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yup. His partnership with Jamie Roberts is important to how the backline plays.

 

[Dinowolf]

Hartley gets four week ban, so will miss the three warm-up games and the first WC game against Fiji.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He will almost certainly not be selected for the squad now I would think.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Great finish in the Worcester/Bristol game last night, two tries in the last 5 minutes earn Worcester promotion by a single point over the 2 legs.

Good for West Midlands rugby to have a club in the premiership

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Gutted for Bristol. Dominated that division for five years and never win the playoffs

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Sky saying that Hartley will be dropped from the squad now.