The Rugby Union Thread

tbm

Great analysis of the last few mins yesterday:
https://the42.ie/6322776

TJT1979

The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to think Wales will win today. If they get early momentum to quiet the fans, they could get a win. I hope so... they've shown glimpses of promise.  

fretmeister

tbm said:

Great analysis of the last few mins yesterday:
https://the42.ie/6322776

Paywalled. Boo. 

rsvmark

IMO it’s a 50/50 call today. The drop in form of the French has to be one of the biggest and unexpected declines we have seen in recent times. Teams develop and improve over time- look at the Scots….. they have been building and building for what, 7-8 years now and are back up there as a genuine force in world rugby. Look at England. Been out of sorts until yesterday for several years.

so how the hell have the French fallen from grace so far so fast. Dismantled by Ireland, the Scottish video issue and a draw against Italy when they charged and arguably should have been retaken, they might be at the bottom of the table. 

With the Welsh playing for pride, it has the makings of a good contest

tbm

fretmeister said:

tbm said:

Great analysis of the last few mins yesterday:
https://the42.ie/6322776

Paywalled. Boo. 

Ah shite, sorry. I think it’s free for the first few hours after publish. 

digitalscream

tbm said:

fretmeister said:

tbm said:

Great analysis of the last few mins yesterday:
https://the42.ie/6322776

Paywalled. Boo. 

Ah shite, sorry. I think it’s free for the first few hours after publish. 

You can still read it on a desktop, with the refresh-and-scroll approach. I did that, and...actually learned something. I'd completely missed Earl's tackle on his own man to defeat the choke tackle.

Yeah, he's a proper legend in the making.

Arfashandi

digitalscream said:

tbm said:

fretmeister said:

tbm said:

Great analysis of the last few mins yesterday:
https://the42.ie/6322776

Paywalled. Boo. 

Ah shite, sorry. I think it’s free for the first few hours after publish. 

You can still read it on a desktop, with the refresh-and-scroll approach. I did that, and...actually learned something. I'd completely missed Earl's tackle on his own man to defeat the choke tackle.

Yeah, he's a proper legend in the making.

Absolutely he will be up there with McCaw Pineaar Smith

guitars4you

So why can England play so well, with a game plan that worked and at times be exciting and beat one of the best 2/3 teams in the world - Yet by and large for the last few years, be largely boring to watch, be it they win or loose - Why can't we see more of such an English side, on a more regular basis - Less hit 'n' miss please

Crikey, France or Wales for the wooden spoon - Who would have thought that  

tbm

Is France bovered?

I think not. 

rsvmark

That reverse pass on its own deserved a try/price of admission. Superb

tbm

Look! It’s 2011 to 2019 France! 

Schnozz

Wales at the bottom of the table where they should be, gulpin' all dat azz gravy. Tee hee 

TJT1979

France deserved winners. Scrappy at times but they played much better than in previous matches. 

tbm

They faded badly didn’t they? Italy will fancy picking Wales off. How much good will does Gatland have banked I wonder? I feel he should be left at it. There are some great players there but 10 seems to be an issue. 

exocet

tbm said:

They faded badly didn’t they? Italy will fancy picking Wales off. How much good will does Gatland have banked I wonder? I feel he should be left at it. There are some great players there but 10 seems to be an issue. 

Wales just don't have the players to cope with the huge gulf in forward power. Game really fell apart when subs came on - especially at outside half. Doesn't matter who coaches Wales right now, without the players to pick from / club sides that can compete, its a bit of a lost cause. Really can't see them beating Italy next week.

koneguitarist

At start of season I was expecting Wooden spoon, looks like I’m not gonna be disappointed. Retirements, injuries, 25 cap rule, lack of money for regions to compete. 

Perfect storm to kill the game in Wales. 

Radical, but we need To go to two regions, pay for top players and coaches, import some power players from SA and Argentina and in 3-4 years we will start to be competitive again. 

exocet

koneguitarist said:

At start of season I was expecting Wooden spoon, looks like I’m not gonna be disappointed. Retirements, injuries, 25 cap rule, lack of money for regions to compete. 

Perfect storm to kill the game in Wales. 

Radical, but we need To go to two regions, pay for top players and coaches, import some power players from SA and Argentina and in 3-4 years we will start to be competitive again. 

Difficult to argue with the logic but I think Welsh Rugby will die off completely before there's an acceptance that there's only enough cash to support 2 regions. A few of my English mates (old like me) have had a downer on the impact of money in Rugby. After this weekends England result, all is well again.

TJT1979

Yep, Italy will be confident next week. 

Eng v France could be interesting too. Both teams have clicked this weekend (Eng moreso than Fra, probably) and a final match in Paris could be a cracker. 

I think Ireland will be very determined and precise after being shocked this weekend. I reckon that even if Scotland play well, Ireland will be considerably better. 

p90fool

exocet said:

koneguitarist said:

At start of season I was expecting Wooden spoon, looks like I’m not gonna be disappointed. Retirements, injuries, 25 cap rule, lack of money for regions to compete. 

Perfect storm to kill the game in Wales. 

Radical, but we need To go to two regions, pay for top players and coaches, import some power players from SA and Argentina and in 3-4 years we will start to be competitive again. 

Difficult to argue with the logic but I think Welsh Rugby will die off completely before there's an acceptance that there's only enough cash to support 2 regions. 

For most of us it has already. Hardly anyone goes to matches and it's not really on TV any more. 

Sadly, unless we import some absolute monster sized overseas players like France have then I fear we're just settling into our natural place in the pecking order instead of punching well above our player base weight like we have for the last century or so. 

Gatland has enough goodwill to be allowed to keep trying for at least another season, but I think we're pretty much over as a world force. 

koneguitarist

Gatland is probably the best coach in NH, working with hands tied behind his back and numpties like Humphries supposedly coaching the forwards. 

We have a very limited stock of quality players at the best of times, a few injuries and we are down to bare bones. When was the last time wales had a bench that added impact and power? I can’t remember. 

The Regions are on their knees with underinvestment and all in lower half of URC league. 

Going to four regions was never going to work with the teams picked. They all look for investment and sponsorship from a small pool of businesses along a 60mile stretch of M4. 

No real identity to the regions either, yet there is a natural identity for two regions East and West. 

Sooner or later WRU has to bite the bullet. Apart. From Scotland we have the smallest pool of players in 6Nations, why do we think we can run four fully professional teams?