The Rugby Union Thread

elstoof

Same here, can’t really bring myself to get behind another English team. To be honest I was done with them since the move to the Ricoh. I’ve taken to following my wife’s local team more closely, Racing 92, but it’s not quite the same

elstoof

.

Pjon

tbm said:

See Gatland offered his resignation in the changing room yesterday? I dunno. As far as I can tell 10 is an issue. 9 too. You’d have to think that Wales would be further up the table if Biggar or Anscome was around. Isn't Anscome back in the picture next year? Wales had leaders everywhere for years. Jenkins, Jones, Warbs, Biggar, Davis, Halfpenny. Gatlands USP is getting players to go to another level in a red shirt. Build a team around Refel, Jenkins and Winnett? If anyone can….

As far as you can tell, 10 is a problem? Jeez, that's some in-depth analysis!   Costelow looked so far out of his depth that it wasn't really a joke - all of Wales seemed to see it earlier in the tournament and have been wondering why Gatland was persisting with him. Yesterday, he missed touch multiple times, missed penalty kicks, looked like a rabbit in the headlights when there were counter-attacking chances, flinched away from tackles, and didn't have the forward platform to play even a basic schoolboy game. I haven't seen such a poor display from a 10 at any level for along time. He really shouldn't be anywhere near this team. Ioan Lloyd is barely any better, and the third choice, Cai Evans, has barely played first class rugby but may be a better option for the future.

No 9s aren't the problem. We have loads of quality ones, and the issue wasn't their poor play, it was that forward platform thing I just mentioned. The front row were abysmal all the way through, the second row hard workers but not big or skilful enough, and the back row are young and learning, and probably also too small and not abrasive enough. Without a decent pack even a great no10 will suffer. It's not that we haven't got leaders, we haven't even got players.

One way to think about the quality of a team is how many players will fit into the team that beats them - how many Welsh players are good enough to get into that Italian side? Maybe Reffell? Maybe Grady? Other than that, not a single one by my reckoning and that's a terrible indictment of Welsh rugby. The Lions tour next year may have the lowest Welsh presence in decades.

VimFuego

"The Lions tour next year may have the lowest Welsh presence in decades."
so the Lions should be in with a good chance then. 

digitalscream

VimFuego said:

"The Lions tour next year may have the lowest Welsh presence in decades."
so the Lions should be in with a good chance then. 

And who knows? Without Gatland in charge, there might be more than a couple of token Englishmen

Pjon

VimFuego said:

"The Lions tour next year may have the lowest Welsh presence in decades."
so the Lions should be in with a good chance then. 

But it will be full of people with Saffer and South Seas names....

Gassage

The @etoro & @PlanetRugby Team of Round 5 selected by @nick_easter and I

France dominate but only three nations make the cut in a thrilling final round.

Francois Cros is our player of the round for a near flawless performance in Lyon

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/nick-easters-six-nations-team-of-the-week-flawless-frenchman-and-italys-tackle-jackal-machine-feature-after-super-saturday

Schnozz

France starting to pull away from Ireland now...

Shame the ref can't detect a forward pass, otherwise it would be closer.

Schnozz

Claire Thomas has the uncanny ability to ruin any game.

"The dump truck driver turned Sorceress" (referring to a Scottish sub...)

Schnozz

Wales got porked by Scotland in their own back garden.

crunchman

LRZ has signed with the Chiefs.

With the new kickoff rules, there may be a role for him as a returner while he learns the nuances of playing on offense.

drofluf

crunchman said:

LRZ has signed with the Chiefs.

With the new kickoff rules, there may be a role for him as a returner while he learns the nuances of playing on offense.

In a specific position?

barnstorm

Presume as with Christian Wade that there's the rather large hurdle of making the roster yet. One step closer to making the move financially worthwhile, though, and if he's not bored to tears by American football then good on him.

Schnozz

The Red Roses are really stompin' Wales

Jalapeno

Schnozz said:

The Red Roses are really stompin' Wales

True, but the best bit for me was when the Ref said "use it" and England No 9 kepy buggering about with a ruck caterpillar for must've been 7 secs and the Ref pinged her.  I wish more Refs would !

rsvmark

Jalapeno said:

Schnozz said:

The Red Roses are really stompin' Wales

True, but the best bit for me was when the Ref said "use it" and England No 9 kepy buggering about with a ruck caterpillar for must've been 7 secs and the Ref pinged her.  I wish more Refs would !

Saints sh (Park?) got pinged on Friday night by Luke Pearce…. And there were 2 charge downs that led to tries.

Schnozz

Womens Six Nations going well despite the atrocious kicking.

Schnozz

Ireland 28 - 0 Wales ('44 mins).

Schnozz

England bonus point before 20 mins against Ireland.

crunchman

Schnozz said:

England bonus point before 20 mins against Ireland.

I was at the match.  England were impressive, but it would have been a better match if it had been more competitive.

Twickenham isn't geared up for having lots of female fans.  There were huge queues for the women's toilets, and women coming into the men's to use the cubicles in there.