The Rugby Thread

[E17yid]

It's not acceptable, but neither is holding the player down on the ground. There's so much that goes on the pitch that it's impossible to keep tabs on it all - that's the job of the citing commission. One of my current bugbears is blocking off runners under the high ball, and also holding players down after they've been cleared out 10 ft past the ruck.

Or players who lie on players at a ruck making it impossible for them to roll away. Pisses me off that a lot of refs fall for that.

 

[E17yid]

I think we are better than people think, if you brought Billy and Manu back, Underhill at 7, we will look really strong, last 6 nations our back row was wank and it cost us, if we play Farrel at 10 go back to a big man at 12 play with a proper 6 and 7 I think we will be stronger at the breakdown, and look a class team.

I more or less agree with this but at what point does this unwavering faith in B Vunipola subside? The guy hasn’t played rugby since 2006 and there’s no guarantees he gets back to his best and that’s assuming he can stay fit which, let’s face it, isn’t that likely.

 

[tototoner]

What’s the predictions for England V Australia this weekend. Thoughts?

Think England by 5-10 points

Wales v SA should be a good game

 

[E17yid]

Think England by 5-10 points

Wales v SA should be a good game

Yeah I think England will sneak that too.

We’ve had some good results against SA last few meetings so I’m confident of another win for us. Can’t see it being by more than 6 points though and I won’t exactly be shocked if we lose. Same fir Australia I expect them to lose but wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them win.

 

[E17yid]

Looking forward to Eddie Jones’ mind games this week against his home nation.

Against Japan he said they needed to “pray pray pray” which he has since said was a deliberate attempt to annoy them so they came out firing which is interesting.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

England v Australia: Danny Care dropped for Test; Manu Tuilagi in squad

England scrum-half Danny Care has been dropped for Saturday's match against Australia at Twickenham.

Centre Alex Lozowski and number eight Zach Mercer have also been left out of head coach Eddie Jones' 28-man squad for the final autumn fixture.

Northampton's Piers Francis has been included, as has Manu Tuilagi.

Forwards: Charlie Ewels, Jamie George, Dylan Hartley, Alec Hepburn, Ted Hill, Nathan Hughes, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Ben Moon, Brad Shields, Kyle Sinckler, Elliott Stooke, Sam Underhill, Harry Williams, Mark Wilson.

Backs: Chris Ashton, Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Piers Francis, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te'o, Manu Tuilagi, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Youngs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46259618

 

[longtimespur]

Just hope England can get their throw ins sorted, number of times we gave away possession was terrible for an international team.

 

[E17yid]

Apparently this is completely fine.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/world-rugby-turns-blind-eye-to-kolisi-headbutt-20181119

Apparently their reasoning is that he was held down and the contact wasn’t that bad. Very surprised at that. You would’ve thought if that gets seen in game (did it?) that a ref would be getting the red card out. Especially these days when any kind of contact with the head area is a big no no.

 

[Japhet]

I more or less agree with this but at what point does this unwavering faith in B Vunipola subside? The guy hasn’t played rugby since 2006 and there’s no guarantees he gets back to his best and that’s assuming he can stay fit which, let’s face it, isn’t that likely.

Nowhere near the problem when Nathan Hughes is fit.

 

[E17yid]

Nowhere near the problem when Nathan Hughes is fit.

Yeah I ain’t seen to much of Hughes tbf. Good player from what I have seen though. Bit feisty but you want that. I guess he’ll start against the Ozzie’s as his ban has finished now unless Jones uses him off the bench.

Thinking about it, as hard as your first 3 games are, if you have to play Ireland away you want them 1st game in the hope you catch them a bit cold. You win that then all of a sudden you’re being talked up as grand slam favourites and WC finalists.

 

[teok]

Apparently their reasoning is that he was held down and the contact wasn’t that bad. Very surprised at that. You would’ve thought if that gets seen in game (did it?) that a ref would be getting the red card out. Especially these days when any kind of contact with the head area is a big no no.

They make it up as they go along.

In other news more shit went down on saturday in cardiff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46262852

Three bouncers have been convicted of attacking rugby legend Shane Williams and leaving his brother unconscious outside a nightclub.

 

[E17yid]

They make it up as they go along.

In other news more shit went down on saturday in cardiff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46262852

Three bouncers have been convicted of attacking rugby legend Shane Williams and leaving his brother unconscious outside a nightclub.

Shane was involved in an altercation only the other day. Jesus.

 

[E17yid]

Ahh, it wasn’t this weekend. As you were.

 

[teok]

Good point. I missed that.

 

[teok]

The saints winger naiyaravoro is crazy. Looks like an adult playing against little kids.

 

['O Zio]

Apparently their reasoning is that he was held down and the contact wasn’t that bad. Very surprised at that. You would’ve thought if that gets seen in game (did it?) that a ref would be getting the red card out. Especially these days when any kind of contact with the head area is a big no no.

Agree. I appreciate there is the idea that the first offense was him being held, and if you're holding someone like that the ref may turn a blind eye if the other player reacts, however the reaction was so over the top and violent that I don't think it was within the parameters of gamesmanship to be honest. THe fact that he didn't make good contact wasn't throughu lack of trying and therefore doesn't mean it should go unpunished IMO. That sort of thing has no place in the game.

 

[E17yid]

Agree. I appreciate there is the idea that the first offense was him being held, and if you're holding someone like that the ref may turn a blind eye if the other player reacts, however the reaction was so over the top and violent that I don't think it was within the parameters of gamesmanship to be honest. THe fact that he didn't make good contact wasn't throughu lack of trying and therefore doesn't mean it should go unpunished IMO. That sort of thing has no place in the game.

Yeah, like @teok said it’s like they just make it up as they go along as it’s so inconsistent. Leigh Halfpenny almost got knocked out from an attempted “charge down” when we played Australia but the player knew exactly what he was doing but no card given and no retrospective action taken either but then next game you might see some players arm slip up slightly to high in a tackle and get a red. Some consistency would be nice.

 

[teok]

Dylan Hartley would have got 12 weeks for that head butt.

 

[E17yid]

Not that any of you care but it’s going to be an interesting team selection for Wales this weekend. Halfpenny still hasn’t recovered from his concussion so he misses out.

The obvious choice (and my preferred option) is to play Liam Williams there with North on 1 wing with one of Steff Evans or Josh Adams on the other wing. But we’ve got Amos back from injury who can play wing or full back as can Adams and Jonah Holmes or you could play Anscombe there too but we’ve been playing him at 10 more recently.

Will be interesting to see what they do. Josh Adams has been really good every time he’s played fir Wales and I thought Jonah Holmes had a very solid debut last week as well. Good problems to have.

 

[E17yid]

Think I’ll revise my 5-10 point England win prediction to 10-20.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46274440

England wing Chris Ashton has been ruled out of Saturday's match with Australia, who have themselves been struck down by a stomach bug.

Ashton limped off during the first half of the 35-15 win against Japan with a calf injury that England say will keep him out for a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, 10 members of Australia's travelling party, a mix of players and staff, are suffering from illness.

Full-back Israel Folau and fly-half Bernard Foley have not trained.

Back-row forward David Pocock also has a neck problem.

"Israel Folau and Bernard Foley are still recovering from a stomach bug that cropped up at the end of last week," said an Australia spokesman.

Lock Izack Rodda added: "I think there's been a few players and a couple of staff unwell, but it's been contained so it's pretty good."

Centre Manu Tuilagi is still being assessed by England after struggling with a lingering groin strain.

After a four-year absence, Ashton made his comeback to international rugby against South Africa at the start of the month, before a try-scoring return to the starting XV against New Zealand.

He will leave the England camp on Tuesday, meaning Jack Nowell and Jonny May are likely to start on the wings, with Joe Cokanasiga, who made his debut against Japan, also in contention.