The Rugby Union Thread

drofluf

crunchman said:

Schnozz said:

England bonus point before 20 mins against Ireland.

I was at the match.  England were impressive, but it would have been a better match if it had been more competitive.

It does seem that the real competition is for second place as England are so much stronger than all the other teams. 

TJT1979

I haven't seen any of the women's matches, and know little about it. Are France likely to compete for the win next week, or is it likely to be one-sided?

sev112

England haven’t played France yet,they are playing for first even before the first game

i enjoy it though, the game over recent years has got better and btter

crunchman

France should be a cut above the other sides England have faced.  They beat Wales 40 - 0 today.  They are also undefeated so the match is the Grand Slam decider. 

TJT1979

Sounds like it'll be worth watching, thanks!

Schnozz

drofluf said:

crunchman said:

Schnozz said:

England bonus point before 20 mins against Ireland.

I was at the match.  England were impressive, but it would have been a better match if it had been more competitive.

It does seem that the real competition is for second place as England are so much stronger than all the other teams. 

The other teams have been warned to up their game (and have had plenty of time to). Apparently they're going to replace Wales with another English County next year, in order to make it more competitive; I believe its between Yorkshire and Cornwall, but Gassage will no doubt know more about the inside scoop. Someone high up said that it's just becoming a bonus point/points difference match for the other teams (cant remember the name). 

I thought it was nice to see a bit of atmosphere at Twickenham for a change. No Swing Low to be heard and less seating for unassociated corporate todgers.

p90fool

crunchman said:

France should be a cut above the other sides England have faced.  They beat Wales 40 - 0 today.  

I was at the match, France put out what was practically a second team with a lot of sevens players, knowing that they'd have the space to cut loose. 

The Welsh women's setup is in a very bad place at the moment behind the scenes and it's showing on the pitch with a serious lack of pace and professionalism. 

England have always been way out front but Wales are now looking like they're ten years behind Scotland, Ireland and Italy. 

exocet

Schnozz said:

drofluf said:

crunchman said:

Schnozz said:

England bonus point before 20 mins against Ireland.

I was at the match.  England were impressive, but it would have been a better match if it had been more competitive.

It does seem that the real competition is for second place as England are so much stronger than all the other teams. 

The other teams have been warned to up their game (and have had plenty of time to). Apparently they're going to replace Wales with another English County next year, in order to make it more competitive; I believe its between Yorkshire and Cornwall, but Gassage will no doubt know more about the inside scoop. Someone high up said that it's just becoming a bonus point/points difference match for the other teams (cant remember the name). 

I thought it was nice to see a bit of atmosphere at Twickenham for a change. No Swing Low to be heard and less seating for unassociated corporate todgers.

The other home nations simply can't compete with the financial and player resources available to England and any warning to up their game is just bullshit (if indeed it is the truth). The womens game in England has been Pro for well over 10 years. I can cite a girl who was in same school as my daughter back in 2014 (bog standard Kent secondary school)   She was scouted by English Rugby, attended training camps, was supported through Loughborough Univesity (including support for gaining a place). She didn't make the national team, I think she's currently a squad player at Harlequins. I think Wales finally  turned Pro 3 years ago..and it shows. 

p90fool

My wife retired from international rugby in 2004, and England women were being paid even then, although not in the kind of contracts they have today. 
There were a handful of full timers though. 

Schnozz

6th place for the men and... 6th place for the women of Wales. Best of luck to Cornwall for 2025, following their promotion up into the Six Nations.

fretmeister

Billy Vunipola: England and Saracens number eight arrested in Spain - BBC Sport

Billy V tasered and arrested.

Creed_Clicks

fretmeister said:

Billy Vunipola: England and Saracens number eight arrested in Spain - BBC Sport

Billy V tasered and arrested.

I can imagine the police sizing him up and thinking "f**k that, get the tasers out"

Gassage

There's very few players I've encountered in the game I'd file under 'Shit Bloke' but Billy Pies is top of my list.

Absolute bell end.

fretmeister

Creed_Clicks said:

fretmeister said:

Billy Vunipola: England and Saracens number eight arrested in Spain - BBC Sport

Billy V tasered and arrested.

I can imagine the police sizing him up and thinking "f**k that, get the tasers out"

Inde is reporting they tazered him and it had no effect so they had to do it again.

TJT1979

Gassage said:

There's very few players I've encountered in the game I'd file under 'Shit Bloke' but Billy Pies is top of my list.

Absolute bell end.

I can't imagine you can say much on a public forum but I'd love to know why!!

rsvmark

What a game so far. Fitting final but Toulouse well on top imho

Gassage

That tackle by Cros on Doris. I actually heard it from the press box. Atomised.

rsvmark

Toulouse defence is sensational. Leinster are throwing everything at them and they are still holding out

scrumhalf

Well done Toulouse. Jack Willis was incredible.

tbm

We need a top quality 10. The Byrne brothers are decent URC level 10s, and Crawley is a TOP class utility back. We had all the momentum going into that second period of ET, and there was zero game management. I suspected we didn’t have the game to beat Toulouse, and both teams absolutely deserved what they got. 

Three finals on the bounce. I’m hurtin’ something fierce….