The Rugby Union Thread

rsvmark

Having watched the game last night, tbh I thought the score line flattered Wales. They were competent and won as expected but the 2 late tries are misleading imho. Scotland were surprisingly poor and Hogg utterly dropped the ball, oh wait he did. I expected them to really push Ireland.
le crunch later.... will it be a spicy affair or a slug fest. I have a feeling it might be the latter

Gassage

Greetings from Stade de France. Damp and grey here but  warm. (12-14 deg)

Spent yesterday watch the closed training session with 'Mrs' Gass (pictured)

Blaendulais

Got to say reckon Hogg was sublime a few years ago but seems to have lost it a bit.  Trys too hard to make something happen.  However he's the least of SRUs problems!!!!

scrumhalf

Bloody hell, England are woeful so far. 

VimFuego

they stopped playing. why did they stop playing?!?

exocet

Have England fielded a pub team...or have they just been to the pub first?

MagicPigDetective

Only two words are needed to explain what’s happened to France: Shaun Edwards. 

exocet

MagicPigDetective said:

Only two words are needed to explain what’s happened to France: Shaun Edwards. 

Either that or Eddie Jones has actually fielded Liverpool FC.

digitalscream

This is just plain embarrassing. England totally without a clue, and Furbank makes me look back fondly at the days of Daly being at the back.

Something's got to change, otherwise this is going to be an absolute drubbing.

VimFuego

not that I'm biased here, but Exeter top of the PL, top English team to qualify for Europe, no players in starting lineup. Tigers, worst performing team in the PL (would be relegated if not for sarries), not in Europe, 4 players in starting lineup. Your pivot players at 9 and 10 are used to losing.

As I said, not biased though.,,

scrumhalf

Youngs is past whatever passes for his best. We're slow, inaccurate and too blinkered.

This could be an embarrassment, and it's not got far to go to get there. 

VimFuego

scrumhalf said:

Youngs is past whatever passes for his best. We're slow, inaccurate and too blinkered.

This could be an embarrassment, and it's not got far to go to get there. 

I'm using Youngs passes to hard boil some eggs. 

scrumhalf

VimFuego said:

scrumhalf said:

Youngs is past whatever passes for his best. We're slow, inaccurate and too blinkered.

This could be an embarrassment, and it's not got far to go to get there. 

I'm using Youngs passes to hard boil some eggs. 

Possibly the only English eggs being chased... 

crunchman

Second half was a bit less bad.  Same as last time both Vunipolas and Tuilagi were missing.  They just can't make any ground - except for Johnny May.

Need to get a bit of beef in there against Scotland.  I think they need a proper number 8, and put Lawes back in the second row.

Do we have any good young scrum halves?

Blaendulais

crunchman said:

Second half was a bit less bad.  Same as last time both Vunipolas and Tuilagi were missing.  They just can't make any ground - except for Johnny May.

Need to get a bit of beef in there against Scotland.  I think they need a proper number 8, and put Lawes back in the second row.

Do we have any good young scrum halves?

pick a number 8 play curry in his best position.  its not like there arent excellent 8's.  Eddie is just a contrary twat when it comes to selection.  It did for him in the world cup and it did for him today.  On the one hand he dismisses premiership form then picks a naive full back clearly out of his depth.  A key skill for an 8 is control and coming off the base.  Curry could do neither. Simmons can, Dombrandt can.  In fact all no 8's can!!!

sev112

Thought it was a fabulous game to watch, non stop.  At my age I don’t mind if England win or lose, I jus5 enjoy watching an exciting game, and this was miles better than both of yesterday’s 

well done France - it’s good for the game to have a good France

VimFuego

enough of this picking players out of position or on reputation. Lawes is a great player, but he's an average 6 at best. Lots of good 6's in the country, likewise 8's. Sinkler looks disinterested, not sure how many carries he made, but he seems to want to pass before he carries now. Youngs surely has to be dropped now, time to bring in some young 9's. Furbank did OK IMO, for a 1st match. It wasn't his fault the senior players choked.

Fretwired

England were pressurised by a better French team - they were beaten fair and square. The French defence was awesome and the final score flattered England. Two bits of solo brilliance from May. England then huffed and puffed and got nowhere close to the French line.

Creed_Clicks

VimFuego said:

not that I'm biased here, but Exeter top of the PL, top English team to qualify for Europe, no players in starting lineup. Tigers, worst performing team in the PL (would be relegated if not for sarries), not in Europe, 4 players in starting lineup. Your pivot players at 9 and 10 are used to losing.

As I said, not biased though.,,

What is it with rugby where they remain loyal to certain players instead of picking on form etc.

hywelg

MagicPigDetective said:

Only two words are needed to explain what’s happened to France: Shaun Edwards. 

He did seem to give them the edge in defence. They all knew what they were doing and what they had to do. England will yet again rue the day they let him do his magic for another country