Not holding out much hope for Wasps this season I am afraid. To many other teams have moved on to much. McGeechan has joined Baths coaching team so that will be an interesting development.

I feel Sarecans have shown their hand now so won't be the threat they have been.

It is going to be a tight contest again.

I dunno our second half form was quite good, we need to keep that momentum for the coming season.

I doubt we'll have that many in Jonno EPS squad, so we should be too affected by AI or 6N. Obviously we're gonna miss Cips, as he's a good player (despite the negativity surrounding him).

I hold out hope that our academy is producing some good players capable of making the step up.

as for the league, it's a near certainty that Tigers, Saints and proabably Irish will be the leading contenders. Sarries, Quins and Bath will be up there. I just hope we can also be in the mix

roll on Sept 4th

Thom Evans retires from rugby

sad news

Yes, a great pity for him , but we should be glad that he has recovered and is able to walk.

Indeed , spoke to a physio friend of mine who works in the same hospital where he was taken after the injury. Had his spine been damaged a few centimetres from where it was he would've been killed.

http://msnsport.skysports.com/story/...241528,00.html

Another retirement in the shape of Welsh back row forward Micheal Owen at 29. He has failed to recover from knee surgery. I feel really sorry for him. He was a bit of a forgoten man for Wales and the Lions, but I think it was him as much as any player that started to put the Welsh team back on track after some disapointing years. I watched him put in some top quality performances at Saracens.

I hope he can find employment somewhere. Sad news.

England EPS squad announced yesterday

bye bye Borthwick

AllBacks are taking apart the Springboks 20 - 3 at half time.

Bakkies Botha is going to be facing a big ban when the citing commision take a look at the outragous headbut he landed on Jimmy Cowen.....(although I would headbutt Jimmy Cowan to) if you havn't seen it it is pretty shocking.

Australia are going to get an absolute beating from the All Blacks.

I think Aus wll get a beating from both of them, but yes I see a hemmering from the AB's!

WTF was that headbutt all about?

Bakkies is gonna have a lot time on his hands, as he should get a nice long ban

9 weeks! No onder he is still able to play at such a high level, he gets plenty of rest during the season, You tube him though and you will see his whole career is based on that sort of thing. Thing is he is an increadbly talented athlete and skilled rugby player but he has no control at all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO12nItzYdw

for those who didnt see it.

just amazing really, completely mental actions

in some respects 9 weeks seems a bit light

Do you know what though if you look at him as a player he is a phenomanal rugby player, he is athletic, powerfull and has good hands. I don't quite get why he cant switch the grewcock button off. I am under the impression he is a bit "dim". I think him and Cowan have some history though.

http://msnsport.skysports.com/story/...257272,00.html

Powell to Wasps...........Dia Young not really very complementry.

hmm let's hope we've kept our golf buggies locked up

Gavin Henson strongly rumoured to be appearing in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. If so , that'll surely be the end of him as a rugby player. Some persistent injuries aside , a great talent who's gone to waste whilst chasing the celebrity lifestyle. A pity he's never got his head together long enough to appear at a World Cup , or to be more of a success on a Lions tour.

well judging by yesterday's lame interview with NotW, where he didn't mention anything about coming back, I'm guessing his rugby days are well and truly over

shame as he's a very talented player on his day

He did say that his ambition is for his kids to watch their dad run out in the Red Jersey in the world cup. So many different takes on the situation I have no idea what to believe anymore.

I've always been one to defend Henson and his abilities but I'm truly fed up with the media circus that surrounds him now. His leading of the defensive line and creativity was a huge part of Wales Grandslams in the last five years but I want to hear about how he performs on the pitch from now on.
That's looking increasingly unlikely now.

Did you really rate him that highly? I am not being critical I am genuinly interested and the point you make about his defence and creativity are good too. I never really saw it, at times he looked almost disinterested. I will admit I probably never saw him at his best but he is raved about.

Just got back from first pre season session, it was amazingly hard work and run by two current England internationals.........women too!! Was the best session I have been to for years.

Yes. You should've heard the buzz about him when he broke onto the scene at Swansea as a teenager and blazed through a pre season sevens tournament.

I remember him when he was young, he was being touted as a fly half then I think?? I might be wrong on that. I even think he was a young player of the year wasn't he?