The Rugby Union Thread

scrumhalf

I fell asleep at half time in the England game. Did I miss anything? 

bertie

scrumhalf said:

I fell asleep at half time in the England game. Did I miss anything? 

I switched off at 1/2 time on the Ireland game, after the red card  I knew it wouldnt be worth watching

bertie

fucking network  - causing double posts  - why cant you delete them   !!!!! meh meh meh

fretmeister

bertie said:

fretmeister said:

Pretty dull game.

No fire from Ford. Dingwall largely anonymous. Freeman was very good, as was Steward   and Root was superb
 

FTFY

As its at Twickers................... I wonder of Finn will start next week................  also Barrington-Smythe or what ever his name is

Maybe.

I'm properly disappointed in Dingwall. He's been ace in the Prem but he never seemed to go looking for work today.
White shirt nerves seem to affect him badly.

VimFuego

hywelg said:

Here's the table so far based on the opening match national anthems

1.  Wales

2.  France

3.  Italy

4. Scotland

5.  England

6,  Ireland

I think the championship will be decided by who has the most home games. Both Wales and Scotland anthems are very strong at home, I would say Flower of Scotland at murrayfield is the best, whereas Land of my Fathers is probably better on the road. Both very strong and it could come down to who holds their nerve the longest. 

hywelg

hywelg said:

Here's the table so far based on the opening match national anthems

1.  Wales

2.  France

3.  Italy

4. Scotland

5.  England

6,  Ireland

Well the actual table will be 1 and 6 reversed at the very least. Wales are going to have a very difficult season.

Rocker

fretmeister said:

bertie said:

fretmeister said:

Pretty dull game.

No fire from Ford. Dingwall largely anonymous. Freeman was very good, as was Steward   and Root was superb
 

FTFY

As its at Twickers................... I wonder of Finn will start next week................  also Barrington-Smythe or what ever his name is

Maybe.

I'm properly disappointed in Dingwall. He's been ace in the Prem but he never seemed to go looking for work today.
White shirt nerves seem to affect him badly.

Do you really expect to parachute some guy into the National team, and that this guy will flick all the right switches and transform the team into serial winners?  That simply doesn’t happen. You have to plan for the upcoming games and plan for promoting players to replace the older existing players. This takes time. And continuity. And patience. Success does not happen overnight. So give the lad a chance. Of course he will make mistakes. Accept that and he will learn from making those mistakes. Just be patient. 

tbm

hywelg said:

Here's the table so far based on the opening match national anthems

1.  Wales

2.  France

3.  Italy

4. Scotland

5.  England

6,  Ireland

I’ll grant you, Irelands Call is shiiiiiite - and Amhran Na Bhfiann isn’t much better - but of all 6 I’d submit that it’s the most important, given what it facilitates. 

I’d swap Italy and Scotland in that rundown. I really like Flower of Scotland. Otherwise that’s a solid list.  Land of My Fathers is a banger. 

rsvmark

bertie said:

fretmeister said:

Pretty dull game.

No fire from Ford. Dingwall largely anonymous. Freeman was very good, as was Steward   and Root was superb
 

FTFY

As its at Twickers................... I wonder of Finn will start next week................  also Barrington-Smythe or what ever his name is

I’ll message his mum and let you know. Ford wasn’t good. The Italians physically dominated him. But the Welsh are mounting a strong comeback so they may be a different proposition next week. The game was a snooze fest in the second half

hywelg

Well, that was a second half to savour. Don't get many like that...

And to think I nearly turned off at 0-27..

fretmeister

Rocker said:

fretmeister said:

bertie said:

fretmeister said:

Pretty dull game.

No fire from Ford. Dingwall largely anonymous. Freeman was very good, as was Steward   and Root was superb
 

FTFY

As its at Twickers................... I wonder of Finn will start next week................  also Barrington-Smythe or what ever his name is

Maybe.

I'm properly disappointed in Dingwall. He's been ace in the Prem but he never seemed to go looking for work today.
White shirt nerves seem to affect him badly.

Do you really expect to parachute some guy into the National team, and that this guy will flick all the right switches and transform the team into serial winners?  That simply doesn’t happen. You have to plan for the upcoming games and plan for promoting players to replace the older existing players. This takes time. And continuity. And patience. Success does not happen overnight. So give the lad a chance. Of course he will make mistakes. Accept that and he will learn from making those mistakes. Just be patient. 

Where did I say I expected him to be a transformative winner? To be world class at his first attempt?

I didn’t in the slightest. I don’t expect anyone to have the composure of a 50 cap man on the first try…. And I didn’t say that.

He didn’t play as well as he plays for his club. Saints would have subbed him after 30 mins with that performance.

That’s what’s disappointing. He played well below his day job capability.

As for more chances, I’d like that for him. But this is elite level and I think he’ll get dropped, at least to the bench.

ewal

That was a difficult watch. George Horne always seems to have an impact when comes on. So it was today.

Lots to work on....

Pjon

ewal said:

That was a difficult watch. George Horne always seems to have an impact when comes on. So it was today.

Lots to work on....

I think if I was GT I’d be concentrating on getting rid of all the crappy obstructions and off-the-ball cynicism and concentrate on playing actual rugby, because Scotland are quite good at that and refs get tired of the niggly cynical stuff quite quickly. 14 consecutive penalties, and there should have been more. And head contact with a shoulder has been a yellow at least for several seasons now - I’m not sure why Scotland are exempt.

ewal

I thought the commentary team explained that decision quite well. Nigel Owens also agreed too - sensible referreeing IMO.

As for Scotland being exempt - you obviously don't watch too many Scotland games 

Agree with you otherwise, as did Finn in his post-match interview. The penalty count was disgraceful. We didn't play any rugby for 30 minutes until Horne came on.

Rocker

hywelg said:

Let's hope results are based on the quality of the anthems then Wales will walk it. Ireland's is dire , it really is, it even has that classic indicator of a poor song , a key change. 

My father passed away a fortnight ago and this is the first time.in decades when I won't be able to commiserate with him after another loss by Wales or rejoice a win.

My deepest sympathy @hywelg on your sad loss.

I agree with you that the Irish anthem is dire.  It is a compromise as the Ireland team is an all Ireland team representing a country that has two separate jurisdictions.   If/when Ireland is united again, a decent anthem that represents all backgrounds and beliefs can be agreed.  I am curious why you think a key change is an indicator of a poor song.

bertie

just watched the Wales/Scotland game.................. wow if ever the "game of two halves" cliche was apt....................great comeback,  but when Scotland were back to 15 players,  they still looked the better team at the end.  

The trip to Murryfield is going to be tough

just a shame that there isnt a "jonathan davies filter"  on the broadcast

Blaendulais

Gregor Townsend has a 'golden' generation of Scotland players akin to Gatland's 2011-13 squad. He really cant hope to ever have such a good selection of players, several of whom are world class, ever again.  I'm not saying they should win the world cup but to be unable to win anything is pretty poor. Yes France and Ireland are excellent but one year Scotland should be able to string 5  performances together or at least 4 and top the table if not the Grand Slam.  

bertie

fretmeister said:

He played well below his day job capability.

As for more chances, I’d like that for him. But this is elite level and I think he’ll get dropped, at least to the bench.

especially as he had the luxury of so many Saints colleagues around him.   Shame,  I wanted him to play with Lawrence, and he could have been the partner we're looking for

After a quite wobbly start,  I think Slade showed some composure, and his kicking from hand, was reminiscent of the infamous Saracens match at Sandy Park

Personally -  once we sort out  properly 10 12 13  I think we have some very good building blocks with that squad

scrumhalf

bertie said:

just a shame that there isnt a "jonathan davies filter"  on the broadcast

Jiffy always sounds so miserable, even if he isn't. He could make a lottery win sound like a trip to the dentist. 

bertie

scrumhalf said:

bertie said:

just a shame that there isnt a "jonathan davies filter"  on the broadcast

Jiffy always sounds so miserable, even if he isn't. He could make a lottery win sound like a trip to the dentist. 

its his blatant refusal to recognise anything good done by the opposition,  Andy Nicol was the same.  Yes they're there to be a partisan,  but not blinkardly so.

oh and some more shouting at clouds,   the fucking TV camera work in Italy............ do they not have zoom lenses over there...........it was either wide angle from the top of the stand,  or up the refs nose close,    and no smooth transition from one to the other.................