The Rugby Union Thread

scrumhalf

Gassage said:

scrumhalf said:

I'd have swapped Joubert for the joker who reffed the Wasps-Connacht game.

Ruiz. He's highly thought of. Not quite Garces or Poite though yet.

We've got Garces for the return game this weekend. I will welcome his competence.

tbm

JJs return points to Keatleys contract not being renewed. He'll probably end up in the Premiership.

As an aside, has anyone heard The Rugby Pod podcast? It started in July but I've only just discovered it. Basically Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton talking about rugby. It's really entertaining. They're two very funny lads. 

http://www.therugbypod.com/

Gassage

Winnie has been called upon to give Dylan a character reference.

Here she is, at the RFU today, before giving evidence.

fretmeister

Gassage said:

Winnie has been called upon to give Dylan a character reference.

Here she is, at the RFU today, before giving evidence.

Err, isn't the hearing at Heathrow?

Gassage

fretmeister said:

Gassage said:

Winnie has been called upon to give Dylan a character reference.

Here she is, at the RFU today, before giving evidence.

Err, isn't the hearing at Heathrow?

Have you never seen a dog with a Helicopter licence before?

What sort of sheltered life do you lead?

fretmeister

6 week ban for Dylan

Free to play on 23rd January.

Gassage

fretmeister said:

6 week ban for Dylan

Free to play on 23rd January.

Winnie clearly played a crucial part.

fretmeister

Twitter is already full of conspiracy junkies saying this is an RFU stitch up.

Despite this being a EPCR Panel with 2 welshmen and an italian on it.

scrumhalf

According to the Beeb he will have racked up 60 weeks of bans once this is over.

Gassage said:

Have you never seen a dog with a Helicopter licence before?

Would that not be a ruff ride?

tbm

6 weeks is a bit of a joke no? Given his record I thought he'd get more. Doesn't send the best signal. 

fretmeister

Blame the Welsh.

2 of them on the panel.

fretmeister

The decision is up

http://www.epcrugby.com/news/34283.php#.WFGaM-aLSUl

tbm

fretmeister said:

The decision is up

http://www.epcrugby.com/news/34283.php#.WFGaM-aLSUl

To be fair, when you read that, they applied the law. Mid range offence + history - guilty plea = 6 weeks. 

fretmeister

http://mugbys.gift/nigel-owens-this-is-not-soccer

Xmas gift!

eSully

Just read the judgement. Mid range offence, 2 weeks added for previous record and 1 removed for admission of guilt. Fair enough really. I, for one, am really happy England will have him available for the 6 nations ...



  

Hanrahan was/is really highly rated at Munster. Lots of raised eyebrows will he moved to the Prem and poor Axel got it in the neck from a lot of fans that thought he should have been playing ahead of Keatley. Still surprised he's moving back. How do you feel about that move @fretmeister ? Did he make much of an impression with Saints fans, I know he had a lot of injury issues this season.

fretmeister

Funnily enough I saw a story last night that it was Munster saying JJ was going home, but that JJ has since stated he hasn't decided yet. So it seems it's not quite a done deal either way.

He's been very good at everything apart from his kicking accuracy. He has been injured a lot, but when he's been fit he's played well. If he could kick like Myler then I think Myler would be on the bench.

fretmeister

Rumour mill is going mental that Mallinder will be out "very shortly" and that Lancaster is getting the job.

Pinch of salt I think, but we'll see. A fair amount of the 'fans' seem more concerned about how long it takes to queue for a beer on match days.

tbm

Given how well things are going at Leinster they'd be reluctant to let Lancaster go I reckon. He's only on a year long contract but has stated that he's enjoying actually coaching again. We'll see. I like Lancaster though, and he's popular with the fans here. 

fretmeister

He was seen at the Gardens yesterday. And then in the estate agent down the road.

Sounding more likely to me now.

tbm

"He was seen..."

Would Saints be that obviously disrespectful to Mallinder? Still, if it's true it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world. Shame for Leinster though. Cullen is still raw as a coach so it was good to have a more experienced operator behind him.