The Rugby Union Thread

scrumhalf

The new high tackle rule is one thing, but something needs to be done to reduce player attrition. Too many players are spending too long out through injury. We need to get back to rugby as a set of skills and not as some sort of macho smashing-into-each-other crap.

exocet

fretmeister said:

Manu out for the season.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/01/04/manu-tuilagi-ruled-rest-season-knee-injury-end-six-nations-lions/

Can't help thinking this might be the beginning of the end.

He certainly won't play International again, I pretty much called that 18 months ago when he was injured / ruled out for bad behaviour. I don't think England will miss him but Leicester probably will.

Gassage

Billy V may be back for the first 6 Nations game

Re Manu, Cockers was dead set against the £500k deal; Simon Cohen and Glynn were the architects of it.

fretmeister

Liam Williams has signed for Sarries.

There seem to be an awful lot of Welsh internationals relying on the wildcard slots.

fretmeister

Robshaw out of the 6N

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38559130

scrumhalf

Geordie Haka

tbm

Steyn red card in the Leinster Montpellier game. Late, high tackle. Very harsh. By the (new rule) book probably a red, but jaysus, officiating these high tackles is a mess now. Sexton was stooping to pass, Steyn caught him in the neck. It's ruined he contest. 

fretmeister

Calum Clark leaving Saints for Sarries.

fretmeister

Ethan Waller leaving Saints too - going to the Warriors.

Not really a surprise - he's always 2nd choice and he's not getting enough game time.

cj73

Warriors.  Wtf?  Wish I'd went down now 

scrumhalf

What the hell is going on at Welford Road? I didn't see the game, but I'm beginning to wonder if they sacked the wrong man.

eSully

cj73 said:

Warriors.  Wtf?  Wish I'd went down now 

Hell of a result and well done Glasgow. I was watching Munsters hard fought win over Racing and they were cutting to the Glasgow tries every so often, 35 minutes in and Glasgow have the bonus point. Hard to imagine a Tigers team didn't register a score twice in the pool stages.

fretmeister

The WWF have announced a new fund for endangered tigers.

eSully

Munster have confirmed that Hanrahan is moving back in the summer. He'll have a tough time usurping blyenthaal who's been fantastic this season.

fretmeister

Arse.

scrumhalf

fretmeister said:

Arse.

No, he got sacked.

koneguitarist

Well teams are announced, Wales predictable as usual with Biggar picked as a safe option. Wonder if Howley knows we have to score tries this year to get bonus points! 
And why would any team put Roberts on the bench, start him or lose him. His game is not applicable to what Wales are trying to do? So why the f***pick him. We have two full backs on pitch, one of the wingers can play center, so pick someone with serious speed to score bloody tries! 

scrumhalf

I may be biased (okay, I am biased) but I can't see how Thomas Young hasn't even made the 23.

koneguitarist

scrumhalf said:

I may be biased (okay, I am biased) but I can't see how Thomas Young hasn't even made the 23.

It's Howley lets play safe routine again. Why isn't Sam Davies starting instead of Biggar, this is what we do, wait till last minute and hope for the best. But with Bonus points up for first time we have to not only win we have to go out and score try's and best team to start that against is to the Italians, no offence it ain't gonna be easy but if we cannot put them away, then we have no right being in six nations ourselves. 

hywelg

We will be challenging for the wooden spoon this year.  I fear we might even struggle against Scotland. And worse than all that with Howley at the helm we will probably lose whilst playing unexciting predictable rugby. At least in previous lean spells we often lost in style.