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The All Purpose Rugby Union Thread (P2)
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CGG_12
24-02-2015
Originally Posted by Mike Teevee:
“Anyone but Goode please, he'd be my third choice at best FB (Foden would be there if not injured).

I'd rather Elliot Daly be given a chance, but I don't think England are paying him any attention.”

Goode is a very solid option. Might lack a bit of pace and is nowhere as good as Brown in running from deep, but has good positioning sense, very good at link up play and a big boot. Brings a bit more physicality than Brown too. If you took out last year's six nations I'd be pretty sure Goode would be England's first choice, Brown hasn't been much more than solid since then and Goode has been tremendous for Sarries

He's much more solid than Foden anyway who I never really rated as top international standard if I'm honest. Similar to Ashton in that he's a very capable club player but there's better option for England in Brown, Goode and now Pennell. Think foden's "celebrity" status has often tended to elevate his standing at times. Though I've always rated him more as a scrum half actually

Saying all that their best full back really is D.Armitage for me though given his disciplinary record and the fact there's quality options available I can't really see SL gambling on him for RWC
CGG_12
24-02-2015
Jonny May dropped with Nowell set to start

Aside from that a case of same again with Goode in for Brown if he doesn't make it

Unsurprisingly no Lawes, Parling or Corbisiero
Kierenj
25-02-2015
Originally Posted by CGG_12:
“Jonny May dropped with Nowell set to start

Aside from that a case of same again with Goode in for Brown if he doesn't make it

Unsurprisingly no Lawes, Parling or Corbisiero”

I was surprised Lawes didn't make the bench at least... and same with Corbs. That said knowing Lancaster he has an eye on the World Cup already and will be thinking that those players need to be nursed through to then. I don't get to see much PL rugby as I'm living in Australia, but this weekend I'll be watching the Force vs the Hurricanes so looking forward to seeing Nonu, Smith and Savea.

Agree on Delon being a better player at FB, he's just one of the most annoying blokes out there, he's constant aggro and frankly I don't think he'd bring much more than Brown for all the negatives he could bring with him.
CGG_12
25-02-2015
Originally Posted by Kierenj:
“I was surprised Lawes didn't make the bench at least... and same with Corbs. That said knowing Lancaster he has an eye on the World Cup already and will be thinking that those players need to be nursed through to then. I don't get to see much PL rugby as I'm living in Australia, but this weekend I'll be watching the Force vs the Hurricanes so looking forward to seeing Nonu, Smith and Savea.

Agree on Delon being a better player at FB, he's just one of the most annoying blokes out there, he's constant aggro and frankly I don't think he'd bring much more than Brown for all the negatives he could bring with him.”

Corbs was only on the bench for Saints at weekend and Lawes didn't even make the bench so it comes way too soon for both.

Yeah there's no need call up Delon. If Steffon gets done for assault too that's his RWC gone aswell
CGG_12
25-02-2015
Brown confirmed out

Goode to start, with Nowell on the wing

I see the latter as more one for the future but he's having a good year and is better under the high ball than May

For Ireland, two positions up for grabs. Number 8 and a choice between Healy and McGrath for 1. Very likely Murphy and McGrath will get the nod though
Mike Teevee
26-02-2015
Team news

Italy: L McLean (Sale Sharks) , M Visentin (Zebre), L Morisi (Benetton Treviso), E Bacchin (Benetton Treviso), G Venditti (Zebre), K Haimona (Zebre), E Gori (Benetton Treviso); M Aguero (Zebre), L Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers), D Chistolini (Zebre), G Biagi (Zebre), J Furno (Newcastle Falcons), F Minto (Benetton Treviso), S Favaro (Benetton Treviso), S Parisse (Stade Francais).

Replacements: A Manici (Zebre), A De Marchi (Sale Sharks), L Cittadini (London Wasps), M Fuser (Benetton Treviso), S Vunisa (Zebre), G Palazzani (Zebre), T Allan (Perpignan), G Bisegni (Zebre).
Mike Teevee
27-02-2015
Scotland: Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); Dickinson (Edinburgh), Ford (Edinburgh), Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), J Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Cowan (Edinburgh), Beattie (Castres).

Replacements: Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Cross (Edinburgh), Toolis (Edinburgh), Watson (Edinburgh), Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), Tonks (Edinburgh), Scott (Edinburgh).

England: 15. Alex Goode (Saracens, 16 caps), 14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 6 caps) ,13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 8 caps), 12. Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints, 9 caps) , 11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps), 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 8 caps), 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 44 caps), 1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 28 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 63 caps), 3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 47 caps), 4. David Attwood (Bath Rugby, 18 caps), 5. George Kruis (Saracens, 6 caps)
6. James Haskell (Wasps, 55 caps), 7. Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 34 caps), 8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 14 caps)

Replacements: 16. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps), 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 17 caps), 18. Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby, 7 caps), 19. Nick Easter (Harlequins, 49 caps), 20. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers, 39 caps), 21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 18 caps), 22. Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
23. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 18 caps)
Mike Teevee
27-02-2015
In other news....

RFU and Premiership Rugby discuss expansion plans

I know it wouldn't be be popular to scrap relegation, but I think this might be a better idea than what's in place currently. London Welsh haven't exactly proved the case for keeping promotion and relegation as it is.

I'm guessing similar to Super League there would be fixed term franchises for replacement clubs.
Mike Teevee
27-02-2015
Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ulster), J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), S Zebo (Munster); J Sexton (Racing Metro), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster); D Toner (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster); P O'Mahony (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster), J Murphy (Leinster).

Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), M Moore (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), T O'Donnell (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), I Madigan (Leinster), F Jones (Munster)
Mike Teevee
27-02-2015
France: Brice Dulin; (Racing Metro); Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux Begles); Camille Lopez (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Morgan Parra (ASM Clermont Auvergne); Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Rabbah Slimani (Stade Francais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Metro), Damien Chouly (ASM Clermont Auvergne).

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Vincent Debaty (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Remi Tales (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon).

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Paul James (Bath), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
irishfeen
28-02-2015
Quote:
“Gareth Thomas: ‘Fcuking crazy’ pre-match rituals in Dublin

Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas has described the pre-match ritual in Dublin before internationals as “very strange”, and said it has a destabilising effect on visiting teams.

Thomas believes Ireland will win Sunday’s Six Nations clash with England and said the build-up to the match could be a factor in the win.

Thomas was writing in his blog on Paddy Power. He said the national anthems were sung with passion, but the fact that President Michael D Higgins then came on the field and met all the players took the momentum away from the visiting players.

Thomas, Wales’ most-capped player, said the Irish team thrived on the drawn-out ritual, but not so the opposition forced to meet what he described as “random dignitaries”.

“You’re stood there thinking, ‘Can we not get on with the f***ing game already?’,” he wrote. “It takes a long time to get to kick-off.”

He summed up the thoughts of the players as they waited for the game to start: “For f***s sake, who else have we got to meet? Are you going to bring your mother and father down next? This is f***ing crazy.””

So does the Presidential handshake, away anthem, Irish national anthem and Ireland's call bother any other teams or is it just the Welsh?? I don't think Thomas fully realises the fact that the Irish Rugby team is an All-Ireland team means it has to be different to other nations.

I don't like Ireland's call but I understand the reason the IRFU has put in in place and tbh the elected president of Ireland shaking hands to visiting players IMO adds a bit of class to the game and formally welcomes them to Dublin.. don't see why any player should have a problem with that.
Michael_Vaughan
28-02-2015
Originally Posted by irishfeen:
“So does the Presidential handshake, away anthem, Irish national anthem and Ireland's call bother any other teams or is it just the Welsh?? I don't think Thomas fully realises the fact that the Irish Rugby team is an All-Ireland team means it has to be different to other nations.

I don't like Ireland's call but I understand the reason the IRFU has put in in place and tbh the elected president of Ireland shaking hands to visiting players IMO adds a bit of class to the game and formally welcomes them to Dublin.. don't see why any player should have a problem with that.”

Quite a generalisation there, that a bloke who last captained Wales 8 years ago having an issue means that all our players still do.

Most players at any level are keen to get out and stuck into the game ASAP.

Ireland's call is one of my favourite opposition anthems.
CGG_12
28-02-2015
Ireland's call is awful, just awful

Presidential salute is a complete waste of time imo though it doesn't really bother me personally

Anyway, my predictions for weekend

Scotland by 15
Wales by 5 (think this could be a cracker)
England by 5
CGG_12
28-02-2015
Jeez very turgid stuff altogether by Scotland. Would love to see Italy do it. Only for they gifted them an early pen and handed them a try they'd likely be leading at the break

If Italy don't run out of steam they can win this
Michael_Vaughan
28-02-2015
Italy win 19-22.Very well done.

I wonder if Andy Nichol will find a reason to blame the officials this time.He spent a large amount of the pre match chatter complaining about the ref against Wales.

That papered over some cracks in this Scottish team.
Michael_Vaughan
28-02-2015
McGeechan now balancing up that punditry with praise for Italy.
mounty
28-02-2015
Well that was a dramatic conclusion
CGG_12
28-02-2015
Very happy to be wrong, genuinely thought Scotland would win this comfortably. I'm very happy for Italy

Crikey, just when it seemed Scotland were improving under Cotter, they looked as bad as ever today.

Italy can build on this, two home games to come, they'll be up against it in both, but wouldn't be surprised to see them take one of them tbh

Originally Posted by Michael_Vaughan:
“Italy win 19-22.Very well done.

I wonder if Andy Nichol will find a reason to blame the officials this time.He spent a large amount of the pre match chatter complaining about the ref against Wales.

That papered over some cracks in this Scottish team.”

He's awful

All this "woe is us" stuff throughout the match, it becomes painful to listen to after a while
PaloAlto
28-02-2015
Originally Posted by irishfeen:
“So does the Presidential handshake, away anthem, Irish national anthem and Ireland's call bother any other teams or is it just the Welsh?? I don't think Thomas fully realises the fact that the Irish Rugby team is an All-Ireland team means it has to be different to other nations.

I don't like Ireland's call but I understand the reason the IRFU has put in in place and tbh the elected president of Ireland shaking hands to visiting players IMO adds a bit of class to the game and formally welcomes them to Dublin.. don't see why any player should have a problem with that.”

Not sure the welsh can complain about pre-match entertainment given the 'discotheque' we had to endure a few weeks ago...
Stunty
28-02-2015
Originally Posted by CGG_12:
“

He's awful

All this "woe is us" stuff throughout the match, it becomes painful to listen to after a while”

True ......... however anyone who is a Scotland supporter probably sounds the same. It is one long tale of woe for them over the past several years.
Stunty
28-02-2015
I thought that we would have Eddie Butler commentating on Wales today ....... alas we have to suffer Andrew Cotter.

Could they not restrict Cotter to the Scotland games?
Stunty
28-02-2015
Leigh Halfpenny getting a bit emotional at the anthem.
Michael_Vaughan
28-02-2015
Originally Posted by PaloAlto:
“Not sure the welsh can complain about pre-match entertainment given the 'discotheque' we had to endure a few weeks ago...”

Indeed that was awful.Thankfully WRU chairman Roger Lewis is finishing in his role after the World Cup.The lightshow has been one of a number of awful decisions in his tenure.
Michael_Vaughan
28-02-2015
Quite an obstruction of French players then LOL.Their backline was playing Rugby with an invisible ball.
Michael_Vaughan
28-02-2015
Halfpenny penalty 0-3,8mins played.
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