General Rugby Discussion II

Eod100 · 10-07-2019 8:14pm

Looks like Pienaar will be joining Cheetahs alright.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48941954

bilston · 10-07-2019 9:22pm

swiwi_ wrote: »

RIP James Small.

Anyone who was watching rugby in the 90s will remember this guy. Especially for SA at the 1995 RWC.

Only hearing this now. That was a real shock.

He makes me think of that era around the WC in SA and the '97 Lions tour.

Gone far far too young.

That's 4 players who played in the '95 RWC final who have now passed on in Lomu, Van Der Westhuizen, Reuben Kreuger and now James Small.

Burkie1203 · 11-07-2019 4:24pm

3 former grenoble players including Coulson have been sent forward for trial

Dubinusa · 11-07-2019 9:27pm

Tadg McElroy released by Sarries.

12-07-2019 10:31am

Beauden Barret to Auckland Blues for 3 years

thomond2006 · 12-07-2019 11:08am

Dubinusa wrote: »

Tadg McElroy released by Sarries.

I assume he'll stay in the Championship? He was on the loan there last year. Maybe Leinster would have a look in a season or two when Cronin leaves.

errlloyd · 12-07-2019 11:22am

thomond2006 wrote: »

I assume he'll stay in the Championship? He was on the loan there last year. Maybe Leinster would have a look in a season or two when Cronin leaves.

It sounds like he has serious discipline problems and a terrible relationship with the IRFU.

awec · 12-07-2019 11:56am

Batrachotox wrote: »

Beauden Barret to Auckland Blues for 3 years

That's quite a move.

Exclamation Marc · 12-07-2019 11:04pm

Good interesting documentary by Rugby Pass on Nemani Nadolo. About thirty minutes long and well worth the watch.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/nadolo-the-documentary

dublinman1990 · 12-07-2019 11:48pm

Any of you following the Six Nations will find this to be fantastic news.

The Six Nations board have decided at a board meeting in Dublin tonight that the tournament should remain on free to air television for the foreseeable future. They assessed the audience figures for this year's Women's World Cup & the Cricket World Cup over the lifetime of the entire tournaments. The board had decided, with a hardened resolve, that to maximize the potential audience of people watching the Six Nations; it will remain on mainstream FTA television for the foreseeable future.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/six-nations-just-made-game-16573072#ICID=Android_WalesOnlineNewsApp_AppShare

That would mean that wherever you watch the Six Nations tournament, particularly in the UK & Ireland, it will stay on FTA television for a considerably longer period of time whenever the rights contracts with the broadcasters here & in the UK expire & become renewed overtime. This decision is seen as a game-changer by the Six Nations board particularly when other sports are suffering with huge cuts in potential audience numbers when they are moved exclusively to pay TV channels here & in the UK. We heard news recently that the Cricket World Cup Final will be shown FTA on Channel 4 & More4 along with Sky Sports in the UK this Sunday. Also the audience for the FIFA Women's World Cup had hit record high audience numbers recently for the BBC in the UK. I have heard some reports that the FIFA Women's World Cup has hit very healthy audience numbers for RTÉ & TG4 where it was shown here in Ireland. Liberty Media have committed to having 3/4 of their race calendar on FTA television going into the future as audience have seen a sharp dip in numbers watching the races in the UK. Audience figures for The European Champions Cup have been very strong since it had made it's return to FTA at the beginning of last season on the back of it's current deal.

Having the Six Nations FTA for several more years here & in the UK will strengthen that resolve even more into the future.

irishbucsfan · 13-07-2019 3:05am

If they ever did go to pay TV the government would list them anyway

sydthebeat · 13-07-2019 11:50am

In other paltry rugby news... Fiji beat the maoiris 27-10 in Suva last night

13-07-2019 12:03pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

In other paltry rugby news... Fiji beat the maoiris 27-10 in Suva last night

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=BEqWYDeults

Some beautiful link play from the Fijians as ever

molloyjh · 13-07-2019 12:30pm

Some of that stuff is sheer rugby porn.

sydthebeat · 13-07-2019 12:44pm

Batrachotox wrote: »

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=BEqWYDeults

Some beautiful link play from the Fijians as ever

Beautiful stuff!!!

Akira ioane isn't going to do his fight for an AB's spot and good with some of those highlights

sydthebeat · 15-07-2019 3:18pm

https://www.the42.ie/world-rugby-scrum-law-axial-4725329-Jul2019/

WORLD RUGBY HAS confirmed an amendment to its law book that aims to end the dangerous practice of ‘axial loading’ at scrums.

Law 19.10 (b) reads: “The front-rows crouch with their heads to the left of their immediate opponents’, so that no player’s head is touching the neck or shoulders of an opponent.”

Squidgy Black · 15-07-2019 3:43pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

https://www.the42.ie/world-rugby-scrum-law-axial-4725329-Jul2019/

WORLD RUGBY HAS confirmed an amendment to its law book that aims to end the dangerous practice of ‘axial loading’ at scrums.

Law 19.10 (b) reads: “The front-rows crouch with their heads to the left of their immediate opponents’, so that no player’s head is touching the neck or shoulders of an opponent.”

I'm sure some of the old guard won't be happy with this, but it's a decent move in terms of player safety. Removes any hit at all and makes sure the players are engaged before the balls put in.

AbusesToilets · 15-07-2019 4:15pm

Surely they could avoid any of this and other scrum stability issues by going to a progressive engagement sequence? Front rows bind tightly, followed by 2nd row and backrow. Would make it easier for refs to see who is pushing early or backing off.

NeonWolf · 16-07-2019 10:14pm

James O Connor returns to the Wallabies! Raelene Castle sending out mixed signals with this one.

Cocaine = good , Bible passages = bad

16-07-2019 10:23pm

NeonWolf wrote: »

James O Connor returns to the Wallabies! Raelene Castle sending out mixed signals with this one.

Cocaine = good , Bible passages = bad

Can't believe Folau has come out and apologised for his actions and recanted his statements. I feel like I would have heard about that.

AdamD · 16-07-2019 10:41pm

Bible passages have probably caused more problems than cocaine :pac:

NeonWolf · 16-07-2019 10:57pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Can't believe Folau has come out and apologised for his actions and recanted his statements. I feel like I would have heard about that.

Only one of the two was arrested for a crime. I mean its all about the brand right? Thats the narrative they have been selling us.

Cocaine is far more dangerous than the perceived homophobia in my opinion . Id hate the young fans to think doing cocaine was ok.

Dog Botherer · 16-07-2019 11:23pm

NeonWolf wrote: »

Cocaine = good , Bible passages = bad

Correct.

uptherebels · 16-07-2019 11:46pm

NeonWolf wrote: »

Only one of the two was arrested for a crime. I mean its all about the brand right? Thats the narrative they have been selling us.

Cocaine is far more dangerous than the perceived homophobia in my opinion . Id hate the young fans to think doing cocaine was ok.

Perceived?

Christy42 · 16-07-2019 11:49pm

NeonWolf wrote: »

James O Connor returns to the Wallabies! Raelene Castle sending out mixed signals with this one.

Cocaine = good , Bible passages = bad

Insulting others due to how they were born = bad

If that so in the bible than that is the Bibles problem.

I mean cocaine can mess you up but hey as long as he just messes himself up.

irishbucsfan · 17-07-2019 6:37am

What Folau said isn't even in the bible

molloyjh · 17-07-2019 7:30am

Deleted User wrote: »

NeonWolf wrote: »

James O Connor returns to the Wallabies! Raelene Castle sending out mixed signals with this one.

Cocaine = good , Bible passages = bad

Can't believe Folau has come out and apologised for his actions and recanted his statements. I feel like I would have heard about that.

This. Showing remorse and reforming = good. Of course that inconveniently gets in the way of the narrative being peddled here.

irishbucsfan · 17-07-2019 7:35am

The Wallabies shouldn't go anywhere near O'Connor. He's an absolute liability. Its got nothing to do with Folau though.

Quin_Dub · 17-07-2019 9:36am

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The Wallabies shouldn't go anywhere near O'Connor. He's an absolute liability. Its got nothing to do with Folau though.

To be fair to O'Connor he does seem to have sorted out his act and should be commended for that.

He got success very very young and the money and attention obviously got to him and he hit the booze and drugs hard.

He appears to have come out the other side , so fair play.

Having said that , he hasn't played anything like International standard in quite some time and probably shouldn't be making a WC squad..

17-07-2019 9:52am

Quin_Dub wrote: »

To be fair to O'Connor he does seem to have sorted out his act and should be commended for that.

He got success very very young and the money and attention obviously got to him and he hit the booze and drugs hard.

He appears to have come out the other side , so fair play.

Having said that , he hasn't played anything like International standard in quite some time and probably shouldn't be making a WC squad..

I'm not entirely sure he has to be honest, he still comes out with some mad stuff, albeit - no convictions in a while.

He arrived on the scene at a bad time, some really negative influences around him in Cooper and a few others. A more disciplined mature setup and he'd have been a world beater.

Clegg · 17-07-2019 9:55am

O'Connor had once in a generation potential. He amassed 44 caps for Australia by the age of 23 which is just incredible. I suppose his biggest problem back then was lack of fixed position. He played on the wing against Ireland in the 2011 World Cup and was starting at 10 for Oz against the Lions in 2013. If he hadn't went off the rails I'm sure he eventually would have settled at 12 and been world class there. He could have been their BoD, or at the very worst another Adam Ashley-Cooper. Someone talented enough to play anywhere across the backline and still win over 100 caps.

AdamD · 17-07-2019 9:58am

Weird to see O'Connor and Fran Steyn back in the squads for their countries, both had huge amounts of caps at a young age and easily could have gotten over 100 caps but haven't for various reasons.

Quin_Dub · 17-07-2019 10:04am

Clegg wrote: »

O'Connor had once in a generation potential. He amassed 44 caps for Australia by the age of 23 which is just incredible. I suppose his biggest problem back then was lack of fixed position. He played on the wing against Ireland in the 2011 World Cup and was starting at 10 for Oz against the Lions in 2013. If he hadn't went off the rails I'm sure he eventually would have settled at 12 and been world class there. He could have been their BoD, or at the very worst another Adam Ashley-Cooper. Someone talented enough to play anywhere across the backline and still win over 100 caps.

Absolutely..He was 18/19 yrs old and a regular starter and just had ridiculous skill levels. then it all went wrong.. Properly managed and mentored he could have been sitting on well over 100 caps now with a few world player awards on the mantle.

stephen_n · 17-07-2019 10:16am

NeonWolf wrote: »

James O Connor returns to the Wallabies! Raelene Castle sending out mixed signals with this one.

Cocaine = good , Bible passages = bad

Have you ever tried snorting the Bible? That **** fu@ks your nose up.

sydthebeat · 17-07-2019 5:31pm

38 yo schalk brits on the bench for SA v australila

coetzee on bench

The Springbok team to Australia in Johannesburg:

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps – 5 points (1 try)

14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 – 20 (4t)

13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 – 60 (12t)

12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 – 0

11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 – 20 (4t)

10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 – 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)

9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped

8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 – 45 (9t)

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 – 20 (4t)

6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped

5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 – 20 (4t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 – 15 (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 – 5 (1t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 – 15 (3t)

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 – 10 (2t)

Replacements:

16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 – 5 (1t)

17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped

18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 – 0

19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 – 0

20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 – 30 (6t)

21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 – 10 (2t)

22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 – 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)

23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 – 5 (1t)

Squidgy Black · 17-07-2019 5:49pm

Rassie wasn't lying when he said he was going to be putting out a mix up of a squad against Australia.

Frans Steyn in the 22 shirt, and delighted for Coetzee making the 23.

sydthebeat · 17-07-2019 5:53pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Rassie wasn't lying when he said he was going to be putting out a mix up of a squad against Australia.

Frans Steyn in the 22 shirt, and delighted for Coetzee making the 23.

Yeah, it's hurt my spread a bit but I think they are still good enough to beat Australia...

Who are basically the brumbie forwards with a bunch of utility backs

Squidgy Black · 18-07-2019 4:48pm

AB squad named for Argentina, Sevu Reece will pick up his first cap.

15. Ben Smith
14. Sevu Reece
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
12. Ngani Laumape
11. Jordie Barrett
10. Beauden Barrett
9. Aaron Smith

8. Ardie Savea
7. Sam Cane (captain)
6. Vaea Fifit
5. Patrick Tuipulotu
4. Brodie Retallick
3. Angus Ta’avao
2. Dane Coles
1. Ofa Tuungafasi.

Replacements:

16. Liam Coltman
17. Atu Moli
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Jackson Hemopo
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Brad Weber
22. Josh Ioane
23. Braydon Ennor.

sydthebeat · 18-07-2019 4:52pm

Australia playing 3 full backs against SA, with another on the bench

Nic White walks onto the starting 15 for his first cap since 2015

Squidgy Black · 18-07-2019 4:58pm

Nic White for Australia, Francois Steyn and Schalk Brits for the saffers.

What year is it again?

18-07-2019 6:53pm

Quin_Dub wrote: »

To be fair to O'Connor he does seem to have sorted out his act and should be commended for that.

He got success very very young and the money and attention obviously got to him and he hit the booze and drugs hard.

He appears to have come out the other side , so fair play.

Having said that , he hasn't played anything like International standard in quite some time and probably shouldn't be making a WC squad..

It's a real shame how his career went. Back as an 18/19 year old I thought he was the most talented player in the world of his age bar none, thought the sky was the limit.

Dog Botherer · 18-07-2019 6:54pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

AB squad named for Argentina, Sevu Reece will pick up his first cap.

15. Ben Smith
14. Sevu Reece
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
12. Ngani Laumape
11. Jordie Barrett
10. Beauden Barrett
9. Aaron Smith

8. Ardie Savea
7. Sam Cane (captain)
6. Vaea Fifit
5. Patrick Tuipulotu
4. Brodie Retallick
3. Angus Ta’avao
2. Dane Coles
1. Ofa Tuungafasi.

Replacements:

16. Liam Coltman
17. Atu Moli
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Jackson Hemopo
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Brad Weber
22. Josh Ioane
23. Braydon Ennor.

Whisper it, but that’s a very beatable NZ team.

NeonWolf · 18-07-2019 7:32pm

Dog Botherer wrote: »

Whisper it, but that’s a very beatable NZ team.

Reckon Argentina get spanked by 15+ points.

Ardie at 8 and Ngani at 12 give them ball carrying they have been lacking from Read and Crotty respectively.

Hopefully Read is pulling a McCaw or Carter-esque world cup peaking trick but he has been playing within himself for quite a while.

Ardie has the hot hand.

That Allbacks team may be green, but its arguably the form 15 from Super Rugby.

Ennor has test rugby written all over him. He is going to be a worldie.

sydthebeat · 18-07-2019 7:35pm

Delight to see the bearded wonder that is Liam coltman make the bench.... He has a real shout of making the 16 jersey his ahead of Harris.

NeonWolf · 18-07-2019 8:40pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Delight to see the bearded wonder that is Liam coltman make the bench.... He has a real shout of making the 16 jersey his ahead of Harris.

Harris didn't make the squad........

Aumua, Taylor, Coles and Coltman are the hookers.

hahashake · 18-07-2019 9:08pm

NeonWolf wrote: »

Reckon Argentina get spanked by 15+ points.

Ardie at 8 and Ngani at 12 give them ball carrying they have been lacking from Read and Crotty respectively.

Hopefully Read is pulling a McCaw or Carter-esque world cup peaking trick but he has been playing within himself for quite a while.

Ardie has the hot hand.

That Allbacks team may be green, but its arguably the form 15 from Super Rugby.

Ennor has test rugby written all over him. He is going to be a worldie.

Read came into some form at the end of the season - not his POTY attacking form but did all his core roles very well.

This isn't the form team though, this is the team minus 8 Crusaders players (rested) and minus Reiko Ioane (to allow Reece a start).

Argentina:

Emiliano Boffelli; Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Ramiro Moyano; Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (capt); Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti; Juan Figallo, Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Replacements: Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lezana, Felipe Ezcurra, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Joaquin Tuculet

NeonWolf · 18-07-2019 11:54pm

hahashake wrote: »

Read came into some form at the end of the season - not his POTY attacking form but did all his core roles very well.

This isn't the form team though, this is the team minus 8 Crusaders players (rested) and minus Reiko Ioane (to allow Reece a start).

Argentina:

Emiliano Boffelli; Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Ramiro Moyano; Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (capt); Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti; Juan Figallo, Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Replacements: Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lezana, Felipe Ezcurra, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Joaquin Tuculet

Yeah minus the crusaders, but Ardie trumps Read for me on form . Mo'unga and Barrett are 50/50 and Goodhue and ALB are also a coin flip.
Whitelock and the front row from the Crusaders sure.... Rieko hasn't been tearing it up although he is the incumbent. George Bridge has been the better winger.

swiwi_ · 19-07-2019 10:55am

Squidgy Black wrote: »

AB squad named for Argentina, Sevu Reece will pick up his first cap.

He's pretty fast and hopefully he plays well

"Reece lightnin, go, Reece lightnin"

Yeah_Right · 19-07-2019 11:55am

sydthebeat wrote: »

Delight to see the bearded wonder that is Liam coltman make the bench.... He has a real shout of making the 16 jersey his ahead of Harris.

He's a good player but Coles and Taylor are definitely the starting and bench hookers for the big matches this year. If Coles gets back to his best, he starts. But Taylor certainly grabbed his opportunity while Coles was injured. They are both world class and I don't think Coltman is at that level.

It will be interesting to see if they go with Coltman or Aumua for the RWC. Coltman has the experience and is better at the core duties but Aumua is so dynamic with the ball. Possibly the most dangerous front-rower in the world with ball in hand.

Exclamation Marc · 22-07-2019 5:02pm

Bastareaud moving to Lyon as a medical joker during the WC before his move to USA.

He's been signed as a number 8 which is really odd. He's 20 stone so has the heft but has he the stamina and ability at that position. We'll see!

General Rugby Discussion II

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