The Rugby thread. Union & League

[webpunter]

I've just wazzed up Sarra Elgan Rugby presenter on the WWWWWE thread with some pics
Her 6 nations preview worth a watch
She's looking very milfy FAF @ 47 yes please


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[webpunter]

The match supposedly switched to avoid clashing with the winter olympics
Really ?

TV adverts in match supposedly to help the tournament be available free to air by generating advertising income
Which is a positive
However I cant see that a couple of ads per match will materially alter the ITV bid
& in any event the likes of Sky could also include adverts so its neutral
Overall quite a small audience compared to other sports so relatively easy for ITV to secure a considered high brow posh ish sporting event
& the organisers + the RFU generating additional income which is good for the sport & free-to-air a convenient explanation
& as mentioned a test event
Thats the bbc outta the picture maybe Wimbledon next as lots of opportunities to have adverts with lots of breaks in play
The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club + snobby fucker wimbledon debenture holders will be beside themselves 

On other matters Rugby is becoming a game of two squads
The french rotating the entire front five at the same time
8 subs overall permitted
IMO a positive in that it keeps the matches going
Going back with two or three subs you would see the tempo of the matches ease back in the 2nd half as players [not unsurprisingly] tire
Now it keeps on going & if anything gets more intense which is great for viewers at the staduims [especially - at Rugby HQ it can be off the scale if a tight match] & on TV
Also good for the players coming off potentially avoiding injury in an already dangerous sport
A disadvantage to Italy whose squad doesnt yet have the depth which is disappointing as they are very likeable play some great rugby the players the  people & country
& the druids also thats what happens when those running the national team are giving a good impression of being incompetent, enuf for the players to go on strike a couple of years ago
I'm trying to think what is the welsh national dish if they get the wooden spoon again & need to be stirring something
They've had the last year to practice 

To close & as a question @ Murrayfield is the pitch 4G / 5G ?

[timsussex]

6 nations starts on 5th Feb

....
   
On recent form England have a great chance of winning it. I expect a threeway battle between England, France and Ireland for the title , Scotland and Italy behind them. Wales for the wooden spoon ( sorry MissWolf )
   

looks like the wales scotland game could be the wooden spoon decider

[webpunter]

looks like the wales scotland game could be the wooden spoon decider

indeed dot com
the half century was sooo close 
how many sendings off for wales 4 or 5 ?
england without the powerhouse itoje for most of the match given that he only came on in the 2nd half
didn't need him rest him a sound plan unleash him next weekend
the final match against the french could also be a decider

[Sunny]

Needs to be changes in the 6N or there will be too many non-competitive games.

[MissWolf]

6 nations starts on 5th Feb

On recent form England have a great chance of winning it. I expect a threeway battle between England, France and Ireland for the title , Scotland and Italy behind them. Wales for the wooden spoon ( sorry MissWolf )
   

No offence taken MrB after all its nothing we are not expecting 

[mr.bluesky]

Needs to be changes in the 6N or there will be too many non-competitive games.

Italy used to be the whipping boys of the six nations but you can't say that about them now, they have improved over the years by constantly playing against  better nations.

[MissWolf]

Italy used to be the whipping boys of the six nations but you can't say that about them now, they have improved over the years by constantly playing against  better nations.

There will always be some teams in form and others not, its a natural cycle of rugby as older more experienced team members fall away and younger ones come into a squad. Coaching teams change too with a change of style that teams need to adapt to.
Wales will rise again, they always do, just like the other nations.

[webpunter]

There will always be some teams in form and others not, its a natural cycle of rugby as older more experienced team members fall away and younger ones come into a squad. Coaching teams change too with a change of style that teams need to adapt to.
Wales will rise again, they always do, just like the other nations.

The wheels have come orf the chariot more than once tho not for too long
Me thinks it will takes Wales a while longer
Mentioned during the match that Welsh players heading to England to play which may help them longer term with the local teams
The same happened with English players heading to France banned from the national team
Is this ruling still in force ?
Its great to see the rise of Italy 

[timsussex]

The wheels have come orf the chariot more than once tho not for too long
Me thinks it will takes Wales a while longer
Mentioned during the match that Welsh players heading to England to play which may help them longer term with the local teams
The same happened with English players heading to France banned from the national team
Is this ruling still in force ?
Its great to see the rise of Italy 

Yes England players must play in England - unless special circumstances like club going bust
IIRC Wales have a similar rule but only applies to players with less than 25 caps

[Sunny]

Italy used to be the whipping boys of the six nations but you can't say that about them now, they have improved over the years by constantly playing against  better nations.

6N really needs to improve it's competition in the near future or rugby is in real trouble. The only meaningful games you will get is England vs France. Lets hope we get some new merging nations like Germany, Spain to enter the fray. Ireland face the same challenges as Wales with all their experienced group of players slowly departing, they are screwed.

Italy, Germany and Spain could replace Wales, Ireland and Scotland

[timsussex]

6N really needs to improve it's competition in the near future or rugby is in real trouble. The only meaningful games you will get is England vs France. Lets hope we get some new merging nations like Germany, Spain to enter the fray. Ireland face the same challenges as Wales with all their experienced group of players slowly departing, they are screwed.

Italy, Germany and Spain could replace Wales, Ireland and Scotland

Ireland have been top level for 5 years - IF, and its a big if, they are in decline and another team takes over isn't that justification of the 6N ?
Especially if Italy finish mid table ?

But yes a pathway for the top 2nd tier nation would be great and that would be Georgia not Germany and Spain they are much lower and Italy are already there! Perhaps a playoff with the 6N bottom team getting home advantage ?
The biggest hurdle might be a suitable home stadium

[Pillowtalk]

6N really needs to improve it's competition in the near future or rugby is in real trouble. The only meaningful games you will get is England vs France. Lets hope we get some new merging nations like Germany, Spain to enter the fray. Ireland face the same challenges as Wales with all their experienced group of players slowly departing, they are screwed.

Italy, Germany and Spain could replace Wales, Ireland and Scotland

Agreed. Promotion and relegation is needed to shake the 6 nations up. It is far less competitive than it was in the past and not as interesting as a consequence.

[timsussex]

Agreed. Promotion and relegation is needed to shake the 6 nations up. It is far less competitive than it was in the past and not as interesting as a consequence.

If italy win 2 games and finish mid table it will have  taken 25 years of 6 nations to make up the gap.
How long do you think it would take Spain and Germany to make up an even bigger gap ?
points difference often dictates champions and I'd hate to see it decided on how well Germany played against the top 2 especially if they only played one of them at home

[mr.bluesky]

If italy win 2 games and finish mid table it will have  taken 25 years of 6 nations to make up the gap.
How long do you think it would take Spain and Germany to make up an even bigger gap ?
points difference often dictates champions and I'd hate to see it decided on how well Germany played against the top 2 especially if they only played one of them at home

The problem with Spain and Germany is they don't have strong leagues to pick players from where as Italian clubs Benetton and Zebre play in the URC against Welsh, Irish and Scottish teams on a weekly basis

[timsussex]

what about a left field idea  Japan in a northern Hemisphere  championship ?
 - sure its a long way but
1) they are pretty strong (same level as Wales) so surely deserve a chance to join the top tier ?
2) what other option do they have ?
3) Japan is as close to Europe than it is to Aus. NZ,  and closer than SA or Argentina

Argentina playing in the Southern Hemisphere championship has been a success in just about every way and it is further from Arg to Aus/NZ  than Japan to Europe

[mr.bluesky]

what about a left field idea  Japan in a northern Hemisphere  championship ?
 - sure its a long way but
1) they are pretty strong (same level as Wales) so surely deserve a chance to join the top tier ?
2) what other option do they have ?
3) Japan is as close to Europe than it is to Aus. NZ,  and closer than SA or Argentina

Argentina playing in the Southern Hemisphere championship has been a success in just about every way and it is further from Arg to Aus/NZ  than Japan to Europe

It has been often mentioned about South Africa being invited to  join the Six Nations after all Four South African club teams play in the URC  ( Stormers, Bulls, Sharks & Lions ). The're a lot closer to Europe than Japan. A seven nations championship would give it more balance with each country having three home games and three away games. If they were to leave the southern hemisphere based Rugby Championship they could be replaced by Tonga, Samoa or Fiji 

[webpunter]

It has been often mentioned about South Africa being invited to  join the Six Nations after all Four South African club teams play in the URC  ( Stormers, Bulls, Sharks & Lions ). The're a lot closer to Europe than Japan. A seven nations championship would give it more balance with each country having three home games and three away games. If they were to leave the southern hemisphere based Rugby Championship they could be replaced by Tonga, Samoa or Fiji 

SA can off you fuck
Have been to various matches @ Rugby HQ for the autumn internationals
The kiwi & aussie fans are good laarf in the bars b4 & after the match
The boks are painful & their accents are even worse grating all day
I prefer the french to the boks they're generally a good rugby crowd thankfully not like most of their fellow countrymen

[Sunny]

Italy could win the 6N in the near future. Completely dominating Ireland.

[timsussex]

Italy could win the 6N in the near future. Completely dominating Ireland.

Italy set piece scrum dominant but only ahead because current crazy rule that a player with the ball can lead with their head and charge into the Irish 9 who ends up with a yellow card

[scouting]

SA can off you fuck
Have been to various matches @ Rugby HQ for the autumn internationals
The kiwi & aussie fans are good laarf in the bars b4 & after the match
The boks are painful & their accents are even worse grating all day
I prefer the french to the boks they're generally a good rugby crowd thankfully not like most of their fellow countrymen

I was in France last week webby - they were asking after you 

[mr.bluesky]

Italy could win the 6N in the near future. Completely dominating Ireland.

Ireland holding on for the win after a better second half performance. All credit to Italy who pushed them all tbe way.

[mr.bluesky]

I was in France last week webby - they were asking after you 

Why's that , hadn't he paid his  hotel bar bill 

[scouting]

Italy set piece scrum dominant but only ahead because current crazy rule that a player with the ball can lead with their head and charge into the Irish 9 who ends up with a yellow card

Casey was unfortunate on that particular occasion, but the law makers made the changes in order to change behaviour. The laws rightly reward the offensive player, obligation is on the defender to be low enough to avoid head contact. Holly Davison was correct in her interpretation, the only time I disagree with the law as it currently stands is where the attacker drives so low that it is impossible for the defender to go beneath.

BTW as the match continued with a full complement the Italian scrum became even more dominant. I can't remember seeing an Irish front row flying so regularly.

[scouting]

There will always be some teams in form and others not, its a natural cycle of rugby as older more experienced team members fall away and younger ones come into a squad. Coaching teams change too with a change of style that teams need to adapt to.
Wales will rise again, they always do, just like the other nations.

Completely true Miss W. Last week the England U20's only narrowly beat Wales. There's also the ancient tribal effect of the smaller Celtic nations against their imperialist enemy.

[timsussex]

Casey was unfortunate on that particular occasion, but the law makers made the changes in order to change behaviour. The laws rightly reward the offensive player, obligation is on the defender to be low enough to avoid head contact. Holly Davison was correct in her interpretation, the only time I disagree with the law as it currently stands is where the attacker drives so low that it is impossible for the defender to go beneath.

BTW as the match continued with a full complement the Italian scrum became even more dominant. I can't remember seeing an Irish front row flying so regularly.

Ref was correct but current law gives attackers such an advantage (a yellow/red can cost the game) that they now lead with their head and target the opposition in the hope of gaining a yellow card. 
The change in high ball law has also lead to defender standing under the ball and attacker flying in - there will be a serious injury

It is rare to see a side under so much set scrum pressure as Ireland win; the English pack must be looking forward to the Ireland game and the Italy game could be "interesting"

[Sunny]

Really wished ITV replaced Nick Mullins.

[Sunny]

England getting destroyed, too many mistakes, Freddie Steward is useless.

[timsussex]

England getting destroyed, too many mistakes, Freddie Steward is useless.

High ball has always been Steward's strength
Seemed a very harsh yellow card as Arundell regained his feet but did not in refs opinion sufficiently released the player  Hate to see games decided by a yellow card

England scum starting to  dominate even on Scotch put in

[webpunter]

England having a bad day at the office 
Outplayed they deserve to be behind
Scotland consistently raise their game against the sassenachs
Understandable for them its their world cup final / home nations most important match
There's never been any danger of them getting to the RWC final or winning the home nations

[bigden40]

 

[ulstersubbie]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 !

[ulstersubbie]

Outplayed they deserve to be behind

Understandable for them its their world cup final / home nations most important match

Aye, but if you think it's our most important match you're dreaming Webby, typical English nonsense orchestrated by a pro English media, if England are so f**king great why don't they win the World Cup more often both in rugby and football considering how supposedly great they are at both sports.

[mr.bluesky]

Aye, but if you think it's our most important match you're dreaming Webby, typical English nonsense orchestrated by a pro English media, if England are so f**king great why don't they win the World Cup more often both in rugby and football considering how supposedly great they are at both sports.

As Al Murray the pub landlord once said " we invented these sports so when some one else wins them it's a victory for us by default 

[Milfman1112]

England having a bad day at the office 
Outplayed they deserve to be behind
Scotland consistently raise their game against the sassenachs
Understandable for them its their world cup final / home nations most important match
There's never been any danger of them getting to the RWC final or winning the home nations

Oh dear....🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[webpunter]

The scottish players wanted it more
When you have a player missing for 30 mins [self inflicted] its always going to be difficult near impossible
10 mins is manageable slow things down - scoring less of a priority make sure you dont concede
Add in two individual player errors - Genge & Ford and instead of +3 points its -14 

Bet it was a banging night in Edinburgh having battered England [the score line didn't really reflect how England got taken apart]
Sore heads this morning [lots of em will still be sound asleep]

Me thinks Italy would rather have been playing England next weekend with the wheels having come off the chariot, will still be a very tricky game in two weeks especially as away
I wonder what France can do with Wales this afternoon ?

[mr.bluesky]

Going by their performance against Ireland I can only see Wales getting a right tonking by France unless all 15 play out of their skin.

[ulstersubbie]

As Al Murray the pub landlord once said " we invented these sports so when some one else wins them it's a victory for us by default 

Very witty MrB.   

[bigden40]

Going by their performance against Ireland I can only see Wales getting a right tonking by France unless all 15 play out of their skin.

Looks like a prison-style man-shaming is on the cards for Wales.

[bigden40]

Looks like a prison-style man-shaming is on the cards for Wales.

Could have been worse for them, at least it was better than the 73-0 against SA.  Wales really are poor just now.

[webpunter]

Could have been worse for them, at least it was better than the 73-0 against SA.  Wales really are poor just now.

It could be a plan to replace Wales with maybe Georgia at least give another country / players a chance to develop

[mr.bluesky]

It could be a plan to replace Wales with maybe Georgia at least give another country / players a chance to develop

Perhaps they should include Georgia anyway, make it the seven nations championship. It would balance things out, each nation would have three home and three away fixtures

[bigden40]

Perhaps they should include Georgia anyway, make it the seven nations championship. It would balance things out, each nation would have three home and three away fixtures

I do think World Rugby needs to reorganise a bit to develop the game in second tier countries.  Having a 6N division 2 with maybe promotion and relegation wouldn’t be a terrible idea. South Africa should probably come into a European “conference” for time zone purposes and your second tier would include Georgia, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Namibia, Zimbabwe.

They should have an Americas conference (Argentina, USA, Canada, Uruguay, Chile) and a Pacific conference (Aus, NZ, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa) too.  Over time you’d develop a bit of depth and have more of a global game.

[webpunter]

Perhaps they should include Georgia anyway, make it the seven nations championship. It would balance things out, each nation would have three home and three away fixtures

A sound idea especially with regards to balancing H & A matches
The RFU would be pleased as it would balance out money generated from ticket sales only two home matches 2026 this spring so a bit of a dent

Tblisi would make for somewhere different to go for a few dayts & i've checked out the punting scene [obvs]
Seems to be the usual indies massage burds parlours and strip clubs albeit on a fairly small scale, kind of nice like this
One upside is that the action is focused on a small city centre a couple of different areas close by each other
Which is ideal for a rekky patrol tour taking in the sights etc
Much better than for example munich where the clubs are often on business / industrial estates outside the city a ball ache to get to & the taxis aren't cheap
Especially when you take a risk getting dropped off there if it turns out to be crap, so fingers crossed uber doesnt take too long & off to plan B C D
Sooo much better when stuff is concentrated in a compact central area

It will no doubt take a while for this to be considered let alone happen given that the RFU is run by 57 old farts
Plus there's the situation of getting all the countries to agree signing up
There is of course the french to deal with & given that they are a bunch of cunts on most things this could prove problematic
Yes Macron can have a special seat with a hidden cushion as he's such a short arse he won't be able to see over the person in front otherwise
By the time this all happens [if it were to] the special operation will have hopefully finished things returning to normal as the ruskies are next door

[mr.bluesky]

What a game in the Rugby League World club challenge. Hull KR 30- Brisbane Broncos 24. Hull KR seemed to be running away with it in the first half but a tremendous fight back by the Aussie team in the 2nd half closing the gap to just 6 points left Hull KR hanging on. A tremendous advert for Rugby League. Hats off to both teams 
I follow both union and league but when you watch games like this you have to say Rugby League is the far better sport.
Always nice to beat the Aussies at any sport too 

[Adoniron]

What a game in the Rugby League World club challenge. Hull KR 30- Brisbane Broncos 24. Hull KR seemed to be running away with it in the first half but a tremendous fight back by the Aussie team in the 2nd half closing the gap to just 6 points left Hull KR hanging on. A tremendous advert for Rugby League. Hats off to both teams 
I follow both union and league but when you watch games like this you have to say Rugby League is the far better sport.
Always nice to beat the Aussies at any sport too 

I was there. Great game and a great atmosphere. 10 more minutes I think and the Broncos would have won it but overall Rovers were the better team and deserved to win.

[mr.bluesky]

I was there. Great game and a great atmosphere. 10 more minutes I think and the Broncos would have won it but overall Rovers were the better team and deserved to win.

  it looked a great atmosphere on tv, the right decision to move the game from Hull KR's stadium to Hull's stadium too . Like you say Hull KR started out at a fast frantic pace  it would be near impossibe to maintain it for 80 minutes and had the game gone on a little longer Brisbane would have just edged it. Both teams a credit to the sport. English teams having won it 16 times now compared to NRL's 14. 

[ulstersubbie]

What a rare great Saturday for moi, Scotland beat the taffs (only just but we'll take it), England destroyed by the Irish and my wee team Partick Thistle won as well.      

[mr.bluesky]

What a rare great Saturday for moi, Scotland beat the taffs (only just but we'll take it), England destroyed by the Irish and my wee team Partick Thistle won as well.      

Congrats ulstersubbie, my team back to winning ways ( away from home) but not happy that England rugby had their arses well and truly kicked by Ireland 

[ulstersubbie]

Congrats ulstersubbie, my team back to winning ways ( away from home) but not happy that England rugby had their arses well and truly kicked by Ireland 

Cheers MrB, the Ireland result surprised me but every team gets thumped from time to time and being Scottish I know this only too well. Coventry still going great guns, can definitely see your team in the Premiership next season.