General Rugby Discussion

razorblunt

Unlucky not to sign with anyone? Or just not good enough?
He'd be unlucky not to get a contract at home but to not get a contract anywhere would surely indicate something else.

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

You're right, he didn't say it.

Posting in the third person now, Mark?

icdg

The Anglo Welsh Cup, the daftest tournament in rugby union if not organised sport, is coming back this year, sponsorless and with coverage taken over by BT Sport, who will show two games each weekend, no doubt at least 50% of the build up to each will consist of explaining the tournament format.

http://sport.bt.com/football/bath-and-leicester-launch-bt-sports-anglo-welsh-cup-coverage-S11364075535545

wp_rathead

Suppose seen as just the 1 Welsh side in the CC the Regions are delighted

bilston

icdg wrote: »

The Anglo Welsh Cup, the daftest tournament in rugby union if not organised sport, is coming back this year, sponsorless and with coverage taken over by BT Sport, who will show two games each weekend, no doubt at least 50% of the build up to each will consist of explaining the tournament format.

http://sport.bt.com/football/bath-and-leicester-launch-bt-sports-anglo-welsh-cup-coverage-S11364075535545

I'd rather the provinces were in this than the British & Irish Cup.

sydthebeat

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/17160851/crusaders-sign-former-wallabies-winger-digby-ioane

Digby Ioane to replace Nadolo for the crusaders???

hummmmm not exactly like for like.....

pickarooney

One has been stifled and broken by the to 14 while the other has yet to go through that?

sydthebeat

pickarooney wrote: »

One has been stifled and broken by the to 14 while the other has yet to go through that?

stifled and broken??

he was homesick.... sounding out a return home less than one season in.

anyway at 31 his best years are behind him unfortunately, a squad player at most for the saders

swiwi_

sydthebeat wrote: »

stifled and broken??

he was homesick.... sounding out a return home less than one season in.

anyway at 31 his best years are behind him unfortunately, a squad player at most for the saders

Crusaders fans were like sweet Rieko or Akira!

Then we found out it was Digby. A top winger in 2011. Geriatric in 2017. But we see I suppose.

Yeah_Right

swiwi_ wrote: »

Crusaders fans were like sweet Rieko or Akira!

Then we found out it was Digby. A top winger in 2011. Geriatric in 2017. But we see I suppose.

You can keep your thieving Cantab mits off those Ioanes!! I know the Crusaders would probably turn them into outstanding players but ...... Stop poaching our players!!

Digby is (was) an outstanding players. Haven't seen much off him recently but could be a good squad pro for young players to learn from.

Felix Jones is God

I see on sky sports that Nick Easter has retired, was that expected, I hadn't heard anything about it?
Edit: seems to be just the right time for him and he's now on the Quins coaching ticket

b.gud

Felix Jones is God wrote: »

I see on sky sports that Nick Easter has retired, was that expected, I hadn't heard anything about it?

I don't think it was due to injury if that's what you mean. Isn't he pushing 40? Very few back rowers would still be able for such a high level at that age do hardly too surprising.

I was listening to Joe Marler talk on a podcast this week and he said that Easter was taking over as defence coach for Quins

Teferi

The final of the inaugural season of PRO rugby is on at the moment. Not a great standard but entertaining enough. It's streaming on youtube.

AbusesToilets

Exciting games, atrocious handling. Went to the opener in San Diego, decent spot to enjoy a match.

golfer555

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Exciting games, atrocious handling. Went to the opener in San Diego, decent spot to enjoy a match.

Amazing last game Ohio won in extra time but Denver won the championship with 2 bonus points. Good crowd today with free streaming around the world. I think Pro Rugby USA will grow and grow, it's been a great start.

AbusesToilets

golfer555 wrote: »

Amazing last game Ohio won in extra time but Denver won the championship with 2 bonus points. Good crowd today with free streaming around the world. I think Pro Rugby USA will grow and grow, it's been a great start.

You'd feel for Ohio alright. Barnstorming finish, scoring winning try at the death and losing the championship on BPts.

I'm hoping the league can ape MLS and grow at a slow and steady pace.

Felix Jones is God

England have named their elite training squad. Cipriani is out, Ashton seems to have a face that doesn't fit, no matter how well he played for his club, and am surprised that Burrell has been dropped too

sydthebeat

http://www.allblacks.com/News/29522/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2016-investec-rugby-championship

No Damien McKenzie in the kiwi squad.
Though he's involved in three training camp.

No new caps.

irishbucsfan

sydthebeat wrote: »

http://www.allblacks.com/News/29522/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2016-investec-rugby-championship

No Damien McKenzie in the kiwi squad.
Though he's involved in three training camp.

No new caps.

It's that crazy bloody kiwi natural conservatism I tell ya!

former total

Felix Jones is God wrote: »

England have named their elite training squad. Cipriani is out, Ashton seems to have a face that doesn't fit, no matter how well he played for his club, and am surprised that Burrell has been dropped too

Ashton is on the naughty step after turning down a Saxons tour in the summer.

Burrell is OK but England have much better centres.

Felix Jones is God

former total wrote: »

Ashton is on the naughty step after turning down a Saxons tour in the summer.

Burrell is OK but England have much better centres.

Eddie Jones doesn't like Ashton I think that is fairly apparent, but it's his team's and he can pick who he wishes.
Burrell should be in the 45 no question at all

swiwi_

sydthebeat wrote: »

http://www.allblacks.com/News/29522/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2016-investec-rugby-championship

No Damien McKenzie in the kiwi squad.
Though he's involved in three training camp.

No new caps.

Hey syd, the basic views from Kiwis on the squad is

1) Ofa Tu'ungafasi can't really scrum, but plays both sides of the scrum...hence his inclusion. Basically the new Ben Franks. At the end of the year with a larger squad I expect maybe extra specialist TH and LH props

2) No-one thinks too much Luke Romano is still NZ's 4th best lock. Various drums have beaten for Barrett, Bird, and the 2 Canes locks.

3) A lot of people feel Luatua is unlucky, but there is a split on whether he should have replaced Squire or Dixon

4) Most people hope Barrett starts at 10

5) The midfield remains an issue. As expected TBH when you're replacing a long-standing highly successful pairing. Fekitoa has lost a fair number of fans. SBW + Crotty + Moala seem the favoured 3.

6) Savea has become a marmite selection. Despite NZ's talent pool, I think Piutau would have walked into the 11 shirt.

At the end of the year, versus yous, I expect some young talent to get a look-in: McKenzie, the Ioane brothers, Lienert-Brown etc. And NMS will be back and possibly Ngatai will get a chance.

Commiserations for the weekend...I'm half supporting the Lions, they have been excellent viewing this season, and their record stands to inspection

Played NZ teams 7 times for 4 wins and 3 losses

Chiefs 32 Lions 36 (Rnd 2)
Highlanders 34 Lions 15 (Rnd 3)
Lions 37 Crusaders 43 (Rnd 6)
Lions 17 Hurricanes 50 (Rnd 10)
Lions 43 Blues 5 (Rnd 12)
Lions 42 Crusaders 25 (1/4)
Lions 42 Highlanders 30 (1/2)

irishbucsfan

McKenzie to Leinster

Yeah_Right

swiwi_ wrote: »

Hey syd, the basic views from Kiwis on the squad is

1) Ofa Tu'ungafasi can't really scrum, but plays both sides of the scrum...hence his inclusion. Basically the new Ben Franks. At the end of the year with a larger squad I expect maybe extra specialist TH and LH props

2) No-one thinks too much Luke Romano is still NZ's 4th best lock. Various drums have beaten for Barrett, Bird, and the 2 Canes locks.

3) A lot of people feel Luatua is unlucky, but there is a split on whether he should have replaced Squire or Dixon

4) Most people hope Barrett starts at 10

5) The midfield remains an issue. As expected TBH when you're replacing a long-standing highly successful pairing. Fekitoa has lost a fair number of fans. SBW + Crotty + Moala seem the favoured 3.

6) Savea has become a marmite selection. Despite NZ's talent pool, I think Piutau would have walked into the 11 shirt.

At the end of the year, versus yous, I expect some young talent to get a look-in: McKenzie, the Ioane brothers, Lienert-Brown etc. And NMS will be back and possibly Ngatai will get a chance.

Ofa is still just a kid though. They obviously see some potential. Don't think he'll be getting much game time.

It's mad to think that Romano and Retallick debuted at the same time. One racks up 50 caps and becomes the best in the world, the other turns out to be a solid journeyman.

It's tough on Luatua but he let his place go and now has to earn it back.

Yes for Barrett.

Don't know who I'd have in the midfield. Probably Crotty and A. Nother.

Savea has to get back into form. Obviously he does it this weekend.

There will definitely be a few new faces on the end of year tour. Do you think both Ioane bros will make it? Which Lienert-Brown? The prop?

irishbucsfan

McKenzies just wanna have fun

swiwi_

Yeah_Right wrote: »

. Do you think both Ioane bros will make it? Which Lienert-Brown? The prop?

Suppose it depends on 7s/Mitre 10 Cup form. Both seem like stars in the making. Akira is probably more proven the Rieko. I suppose Hansen will have an eye on the Lions, and in that sense I think Akira is more likely to be selected. Rieko would help his cause by playing well at 11, but my understanding is that he is more of a centre than a winger, and that is what Hansen sees too.

No Anton, the centre (included in the extended group), not his brother the prop.

And with that I wrap up my comments in the General Rugby thread on the NZ rugby squad for the rugby championship.

irishbucsfan

Fare thee well, kiwi swiwi, fare thee well for the while,
and when the rugbys over he'll return with a smile,
to tell all the paddys about their impending doom,
before the games in chicago when his boasts shall resume

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Fare thee well, kiwi swiwi, fare thee well for the while,
and when the rugbys over he'll return with a smile,
to tell all the paddys about their impending doom,
before the games in chicago when his boasts shall resume

By the second line I was hearing Christy Moore singing that, and it was brilliant!

swiwi_

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Fare thee well, kiwi swiwi, fare thee well for the while,
and when the rugbys over he'll return with a smile,
to tell all the paddys about their impending doom,
before the games in chicago when his boasts shall resume

Wherefore art thou irishbucsfan,
And not poet laureate?
For thine prose is witty,
And doth cut to the quick.

former total

Felix Jones is God wrote: »

Eddie Jones doesn't like Ashton I think that is fairly apparent, but it's his team's and he can pick who he wishes.
Burrell should be in the 45 no question at all

Of course he should, just that if Ashton was trying to get on the boss' good side, then declining the Saxons tour wasn't a great idea.

Burrell got hauled off early in the first test in Australia and didn't feature again, so he hasn't had a great start under Jones. With Tuilagi, Daly, JJ, Slade, Te'o and that young guy whose name I forget, England aren't short of options at centre.