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The Rugby Thread

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
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France are so frustrating to watch (a bit like england). How can they give away so many penalties. They should be a so much better side.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I also think Mako is an impact sub but not a starting loose head. Marler saps energy out of opponents which is crucial in the first half and Mako is a proper handful when the game gets more open. We've been slow out of the blocks all through the tournament and I think this is one of the reasons.

Fair points. Marler keeps doing daft things though that's killing his international career. Mako looks a bit tired and stale to me, and I think he hasn't been helped this tournament in that he's basically been the only carrier we've had in most of the games (bar a massively unfit Hughes) and so is easier to shut him down. I don't think it was a coincidence today that he had Sinckler sharing the load and so looked a bit better - I felt both carried well today and played well in the loose. Scrum though is obviously a concern.
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
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33,607
All the english lads look jaded through out the whole tournament. Compare them to what they looked like on the lions tour. I made this point before it started.

In england we need to reduce the amount of game time at club level. Either/or scrapping the anglo welsh tourney and ring fencing the premiership with a slightly reduced division.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
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5 million vs 53 million. we're over achievers. 2nd in the world too. we'll take that.

I’m pleased for you Haxman, you’re a gentleman. (y)

Over achieving though, that’s Wales, or New Zealand.

Anyway, only posh bastards play it in England.

Seriously though, hats off to the Irish. By far the most measured and controlled side in the tournament this year, and executed superbly when it mattered. Deserving of champions, no doubt.
 

StockSpur

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2004
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Fair points. Marler keeps doing daft things though that's killing his international career. Mako looks a bit tired and stale to me, and I think he hasn't been helped this tournament in that he's basically been the only carrier we've had in most of the games (bar a massively unfit Hughes) and so is easier to shut him down. I don't think it was a coincidence today that he had Sinckler sharing the load and so looked a bit better - I felt both carried well today and played well in the loose. Scrum though is obviously a concern.


Its mako's first season as a ball carrying forward from the start of each game, hes really turned it round and he wil get better.

Well done Ireland, but its clear from all the other scores today and how shit each side has been that the only game any of them are up for is against England. (and that includes the refs).
 

StockSpur

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2004
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Oh yeah, I came up with a funny, when is a shoulder charge not a penalty and a yellow card?
When it's followed by a headbutt..
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Its mako's first season as a ball carrying forward from the start of each game, hes really turned it round and he wil get better.

Well done Ireland, but its clear from all the other scores today and how shit each side has been that the only game any of them are up for is against England. (and that includes the refs).

England beat Wales. Were Wales not bothered about the rest?
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
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England beat Wales. Were Wales not bothered about the rest?

True. It must mean Wales are awful given recent results E17!

Commiserations!

In reality, as more than a few have alluded to here, momentum and form are massive in the six nations. In terms of ability, you can throw a blanket over England, Wales and Ireland imo, with Scotland in the mix too. If France can finally build a base, they’ll be involved in the discussion as well.
Behind New Zealand, despite what that mong Matt Dawson has apparently said today*, it’s really quite close between the next 6/7 sides. Fine margins


*Matt Dawson announced that Ireland are now the best team in the world and he could never have envisioned New Zealand beating that England team at Twickehnam today:ROFLMAO:
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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True. It must mean Wales are awful given recent results E17!

Commiserations!

In reality, as more than a few have alluded to here, momentum and form are massive in the six nations. In terms of ability, you can throw a blanket over England, Wales and Ireland imo, with Scotland in the mix too. If France can finally build a base, they’ll be involved in the discussion as well.
Behind New Zealand, despite what that mong Matt Dawson has apparently said today*, it’s really quite close between the next 6/7 sides. Fine margins


*Matt Dawson announced that Ireland are now the best team in the world and he could never have envisioned New Zealand beating that England team at Twickehnam today:ROFLMAO:

I know. Getting beat by the second worse side in the 6N takes the shine off our 2nd place finish. ;)

Agree. There’s not much between Ireland,Wales and England. Scotland and France still a cut below but they’re closer to our level than Ireland are to NZ
 

onthetwo

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2006
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Im coming to the conclusion that aside from Farrell, Daly, Vunipola and perhaps Itoje England have been worked out and carry no fear for the opposition. I keep being told that we have great depth but then i watch today’s performance (and the back-row for instance) and wonder what im missing. The SA tour will be interesting in particular if we dont start to gel again as a team.
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
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Im coming to the conclusion that aside from Farrell, Daly, Vunipola and perhaps Itoje England have been worked out and carry no fear for the opposition. I keep being told that we have great depth but then i watch today’s performance (and the back-row for instance) and wonder what im missing. The SA tour will be interesting in particular if we dont start to gel again as a team.

The attacking system they use not the team has been "worked out". In the english prem the refs use slightly different versions of the rules so teams can fan out and not commit numbers at the breakdown without getting punished.

It's really stupid though. English teams in euro club competition and now england have been completely undone by not adapting. They all knew the score. That being said it's not like it can't be fixed medium - long term.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
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11,110
Im coming to the conclusion that aside from Farrell, Daly, Vunipola and perhaps Itoje England have been worked out and carry no fear for the opposition. I keep being told that we have great depth but then i watch today’s performance (and the back-row for instance) and wonder what im missing. The SA tour will be interesting in particular if we dont start to gel again as a team.

Can’t underestimate how important Billy Vunipola is to how England play. He’s brilliant.

England have looked stodgy as fuck and weak as piss this tournament. The amount of minutes played by their players is well documented and perhaps has an element of truth to it. Post Lions, traditionally all four Lions nations have struggled ( France have won something like 4/5 of the last 6/7 tournaments following a Lions tour ) but it looked like only England were suffering at times.

The backrow should be fixed within the next 12 months. Jones has a massive hard on for the Curry twins and Underhill will get his chance again. Brad Shields will be presented with the 6 shirt the day he steps off the plane this Summer. He’s turned down an all blacks call up for it. Get Vunipola back fit and suddenly there’s options a plenty.

I hope Marler settles down now. He couldd be starting games, along with Williams and George in the front row. Having Mako, LCD and Sinkler coming on after the starting front 3 have ground sides down is one hell of a weapon.
Locks need to be grunt and athleticism. Launchbury and Lawes until Itoje and Kruis find their form. Isiekwe could outperform the lot in time.
Backrow, Shields, Underhill, Billy.
Youngs, Ford, Nowell, Farrell, Daly, Watson, Brown.

The depth is huge, especially when considering the recent under 20 sides, who regularly pound that scene.

I like how Schmidt has Ireland playing smart, simple rugby. They have a nice composure about their play at the moment.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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doesnt appear so from the way they have played.

We weren’t bothered against Ireland or Scotland? Ok.

Even yesterday (where we were poor) our defence was still pretty good so to say we weren’t bothered is a little bit silly.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Congrats to our Irish fans by the way. Certainly the most clinical and the best disciplined team in the 6N. Deserved winners.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,336
54,970
Taking nothing away from Ireland, who fully deserved the GS, but watching the game yesterday, with the relentless grinding of successive phases taking them downfield yard by yard, was I the only one thinking that it was just a little bit boring?

I know England - and others, but England especially - have employed the same tactics to great effect, but I found myself wanting just a bit more adventure from the best Northern hemisphere team.

Unfair?
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Taking nothing away from Ireland, who fully deserved the GS, but watching the game yesterday, with the relentless grinding of successive phases taking them downfield yard by yard, was I the only one thinking that it was just a little bit boring?

I know England - and others, but England especially - have employed the same tactics to great effect, but I found myself wanting just a bit more adventure from the best Northern hemisphere team.

Unfair?

Are you joking? Ireland have been boring for years.

Not to take anything away from them as they’re very efficient and they do score tries but what you wrote isn’t even debatable.
 

werty

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2005
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I wouldn't say we're boring. We run it if it's there to do it but we don't force it like other teams. We're very creative of the first few phase from set pieces. We keep it very tight and don't throw it around much in the opposition 22, but if it aint broke and all that.

Most of the games in the Six Nations were hardly barn-storming either, so it's not just Ireland who play "boring" stuff.
 

Luka Van der Bale

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2011
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13,611
Its mako's first season as a ball carrying forward from the start of each game, hes really turned it round and he wil get better.

Well done Ireland, but its clear from all the other scores today and how shit each side has been that the only game any of them are up for is against England. (and that includes the refs).
Such a fucking myth peddled by the English. Can’t have watched Ireland Wales or Ireland Scotland in particular.
 
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