General Rugby Discussion

Davei141

I have always thought this forum badly needed a thread about general discussion, many a time I would come in to discuss something (probably not a new thread worthy topic) and there was nowhere to discuss within the mega threads.

Reading this story of Owen Williams was frightening. It wasn't too long ago at all that poor Alex McKinnon was left paralyzed playing league.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/28091906

The Cardiff Blues centre, who suffered a "significant injury" to his cervical vertebrae and spinal cord, was transferred by air ambulance at the weekend.

I hope the guy manages to walk and lead a normal life again, forgetting completely about the rugby. Thoughts are with him and his family.

ssaye2

Midi Olympique say Waratahs head coach Michael Chieka is interested in taking over from Jacques Brunel in Italy after the World Cup.

I'd love to see that happen.

ssaye2

Ruaidhri O'Connor ‏@RuaidhriOC So the last RWC place to be decided in Siberia on Aug 2 where Russia play Zimbabwe with Nigel Owens in charge. All a little surreal.

ssaye2

Our players set themselves some challenges with @Dyson equipment after training. Take a look http://bit.ly/1oJtOwI pic.twitter.com/csoGNYExJA



Jesus he is in good shape, UNREAL

CatFromHue

Does he know the cost of those heaters? Just don't break 'em!!

I had a laugh at this. They used the airblades you'd usually find in a toilet as tackle bags

.ak

Ouch.

.ak

Devastating news, not sure if it's been mentioned before. Thoughts are with his family.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11288749

sydthebeat

.ak wrote: »

Devastating news, not sure if it's been mentioned before. Thoughts are with his family.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11288749

that is scary scary news !!

ssaye2

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9382512,00.html

Tindall retired

stephen_n

.ak wrote: »

Devastating news, not sure if it's been mentioned before. Thoughts are with his family.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11288749

I know it seems like one of those freak accidents that can happen in any sport but that is scarey.

.ak

BT have nabbed BOD for punditry.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-cup/brian-o-driscoll-joins-bt-sports-1.1868138

bilston

.ak wrote: »

BT have nabbed BOD for punditry.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-cup/brian-o-driscoll-joins-bt-sports-1.1868138

Glad he has turned up somewhere TV wise but as far as coverage of the Irish teams is concerned Sky would have been a much better fit. Ah well better than nothing.

El Horseboxo

I've really gotten into rugby lately. Glad I can hear BOD's opinion as I really respect him as a player. Just have to look out for some streams for this BT channel.

bilston

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I've really gotten into rugby lately. Glad I can hear BOD's opinion as I really respect him as a player. Just have to look out for some streams for this BT channel.

The thing is he won't be covering much Irish rugby. Sky will have most games in the Champions Cup involving Irish sides. I think BT will at best have two games per province in the pool stage, maybe more in the knockout stages though. Sky, BBC and RTE are sharing the internationals and the Pro 12 is on Sky, TG4 and BBC. He will spend most of his time talking about the Premiership clubs I'd have thought.

Yeah_Right

bilston wrote: »

The thing is he won't be covering much Irish rugby. Sky will have most games in the Champions Cup involving Irish sides. I think BT will at best have two games per province in the pool stage, maybe more in the knockout stages though. Sky, BBC and RTE are sharing the internationals and the Pro 12 is on Sky, TG4 and BBC. He will spend most of his time talking about the Premiership clubs I'd have thought.

That could be why he went with BT. Maybe he didn't want to be commenting on guys that he recently played with especially as he is mates with a lot of them. He might have felt it would be hard to be objective talking about a Leinster team that he was in a few months ago.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Yeah_Right wrote: »

That could be why he went with BT. Maybe he didn't want to be commenting on guys that he recently played with especially as he is mates with a lot of them. He might have felt it would be hard to be objective talking about a Leinster team that he was in a few months ago.

Or maybe he is just doing part time for the rugby challenge cup weekends. We are not really sure on his role as yet.

former legend

Yeah_Right wrote: »

That could be why he went with BT. Maybe he didn't want to be commenting on guys that he recently played with especially as he is mates with a lot of them. He might have felt it would be hard to be objective talking about a Leinster team that he was in a few months ago.

He should be great on Newstalk so... I'd wouldn't be surprised if he pops up on BBC during the Six Nations too.

I'm going to be cynical/realistic and say that BT just offered him a better deal.

Teferi

BOD tweeted very specifically about being a pundit with BT for the Champions Cup. That could be leaving the door open for him doing something with RTE/Sky for the Pro 12.

OldRio

Teferi wrote: »

BOD tweeted very specifically about being a pundit with BT for the Champions Cup. That could be leaving the door open for him doing something with RTE/Sky for the Pro 12.

As far as I know RTE are not covering the Pro12.

justsomebloke

Truthfully I think Shaggy is a better pundit then BOD.

bilston

justsomebloke wrote: »

Truthfully I think Shaggy is a better pundit then BOD.

Shaggy is really good, albeit clearly a bit Leinster centric which is perfectly normal and no different to Quinny, Sheahen and Howe.

I've only seen BOD do it once or twice and I thought he was pretty good so hopefully he will do a good job.

bilston

former legend wrote: »

I'm going to be cynical/realistic and say that BT just offered him a better deal.

Realistic I'd say!

Either that or Sky weren't interested but I'd be surprised if that were the case.

former legend

Teferi wrote: »

BOD tweeted very specifically about being a pundit with BT for the Champions Cup. That could be leaving the door open for him doing something with RTE/Sky for the Pro 12.

As mentioned, RTE only have internationals this season, and there is no way BT would let him work for Sky.

I hope BOD rations himself, the last thing we want is Sheahan/Quinlan style media saturation of him.

bilston

The problem with BOD doing analysis on the Six Nations or any Ireland game this coming season is that the big story will be who plays 13 so hr is probably best to stay clear of that if you ask me.

.ak

justsomebloke wrote: »

Truthfully I think Shaggy is a better pundit then BOD.

He is, but in fairness he has a bit of practice. I think BOD will iron out the nerves and then he'll be grand. He's got a good bit of wit on his side which always helps.

Yeah_Right

former legend wrote: »

He should be great on Newstalk so... I'd wouldn't be surprised if he pops up on BBC during the Six Nations too.

I'm going to be cynical/realistic and say that BT just offered him a better deal.

You are probably right. I was just trying to put a nice spin on it

I would be curious to know if there was anything in his contract with BT saying he could or couldn't be a pundit on other networks. I could be wrong but Quinlan does RTE and Sky doesn't he??

bilston

Yeah_Right wrote: »

You are probably right. I was just trying to put a nice spin on it

I would be curious to know if there was anything in his contract with BT saying he could or couldn't be a pundit on other networks. I could be wrong but Quinlan does RTE and Sky doesn't he??

Sky and RTE aren't in direct competition though, at least they weren't until Sky got the UK AI rights.

Buer

justsomebloke wrote: »

Truthfully I think Shaggy is a better pundit then BOD.

BOD is media polished to within an inch of his life. Appearing on BT and/or Sky isn't going to change that. I think he'll be very bland.

razorblunt

Lads, what's on that NZ Herald link, it won't open for me at all?
Cheers.

former legend

Buer wrote: »

BOD is media polished to within an inch of his life. Appearing on BT and/or Sky isn't going to change that. I think he'll be very bland.

I think it's possible to be polished and not be bland; Conor O'Shea being a prime example, very smooth but offers really good insights. Your point about BT/Sky is valid though, he can only be interesting/controversial if he's asked the right questions and is given enough time to answer properly and that may not be the case.

Yeah_Right

razorblunt wrote: »

Lads, what's on that NZ Herald link, it won't open for me at all?
Cheers.

A 17 year old kid in Northland died after a head clash during a game.

razorblunt

Yeah_Right wrote: »

A 17 year old kid in Northland died after a head clash during a game.

Thanks for that, horrible news alright.

ssaye2

http://www.andymcgeady.com/quarrie-kicking-chat/

ssaye2

http://www.thescore.ie/eoghan-hickey-rugby-massy-leinster-1583621-Jul2014/

Teferi

ssaye2 wrote: »

http://www.thescore.ie/eoghan-hickey-rugby-massy-leinster-1583621-Jul2014/

That's a good read from a low-mid level guy who's making money but more importantly making decisions that will benefit him later in life.

thomond2006

He's got a great deal there. MBAs in the top business schools in France can be €30k plus in fees.

justsomebloke

I wonder if it's something Nagle would have looked into before taking the sabbatical from Rugby. Yes I know he seems to have a job lined up in the states but I can't imagine they would be paying for his college over there

ssaye2

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/you-can-say-it-without-having-a-character-assassination-there-are-plenty-of-ways-to-skin-a-cat-30452398.html

ssaye2

Did I hear right that Simon Thomas said Euro fixtures put back a month, cant find tweet, seems really late

ssaye2

Eddie O'Sullivan's first Pro D2 game in charge of Biarritz will be against Jeremy Davidson's Aurillac side on the 24th of August

The Lost Sheep

ssaye2 wrote: »

Did I hear right that Simon Thomas said Euro fixtures put back a month, cant find tweet, seems really late

He tweeted mid august when theyre likely to be announced. With all kerfuffle surrounding european rugby this summer they were bound to be late enough but it cant see it being that problematic.

ssaye2

http://www.thescore.ie/keith-wood-irb-hall-of-fame-1598590-Jul2014/

molloyjh

I see Serge Blanco has been drafted in to sort out, sorry I mean help out, PSA.

http://www.thescore.ie/serge-blanco-france-rugby-1594880-Jul2014/

I'm not sure how he's going to be able to help them. The 6 Nations table is fixed and the RWC draw is done. There's no way they'll be able to draw Zebre or Treviso now... :pac:

justsomebloke

Ah he'll probably end up swinging an easier fixture list. First 2 build up games against Italy and Scotland, then the harder games against Wales and ireland followed by the grand slam decider against Georgia

thomond2006

justsomebloke wrote: »

Ah he'll probably end up swinging an easier fixture list. First 2 build up games against Italy and Scotland, then the harder games against Wales and ireland followed by the grand slam decider against Georgia

It's a mad one. Blanco did a good job in ruining Biarritz and falling out with senior players like Yachvili.

The Lost Sheep

Kieran Treadwell, an exile, who was an Irish Youth in 2013 but played for England Under 18 in 2014 is playing for Harlequins in the Premiership 7s in Franklins Gardens tonight,
This round and all the rounds are live on BT
Interestingly Leinster and Ulster had tried to sign him but Conor O Shea helped persuade him to stay with Harlequins

The Lost Sheep

Russia beat Zimbabwe 23-15 in world cup Repechage qualifier in Krasnoyarsk today. They advance to Repechage final against winner of todays other qualifier, Uruguay or Hong Kong.
The final is played over two legs which will be played at end of September/start of October
Nigel Owens refereed the Russian Zimbabwean game and George Clancy and Romain Poite are scheduled to referee the Repechage final legs.

The Lost Sheep

Uruguay won 28-3.
First leg of repechage final to be played in Russia and second in Uruguay

19543261

Will they be streamed, does anyone know?