The World of Rugby Thread

[Lewis]

*breathe*

[Lewis]

Ben Cunt more like.

[hfswjyr]

You alright Lewis? Enjoy that?

[Lewis]

I wanted Brisbane to win. Whatever. If Anthony Milford doesn't get the Clive Churchill (NARRATIVE) then the seethe will set in.

[ItalAussie]

That was one hell of a final. Ben Hunt won't sleep well tonight.

I was sure for the last half hour that NQ were going to break the line at some stage, but I'd abandoned that idea with about six minutes to go.

[ItalAussie]

There's no way Brisbane don't win one soon, mind. Too many young fantastic players.

[Giggles]

Which sport is the Grand Final down there?

[Lewis]

They must have engraved that last week.

[ItalAussie]

It should've been Milford. But Thurston was the reason the winning team won, so you can understand him getting it. But if ever there was a final where someone on the losing side could be considered for the award, this one is it.

[Giggles]

Is the Grand Final rugby league or union in Australia?

[elth]

League. Australia's peak union comp is the international Super Rugby.

"You just dropped the *insert name of NRL trophy here* mate."

If only.

[Lewis]

It's like Sam Burgess last year. He wasn't even the best Burgess on the day (alright he got his massive head smashed in), but provided he never went completely missing he was always getting it. It was a minor miracle when 'DCE' won it in 2013 when the entire build-up [and season] had been about 'SBW', and the poor bastard got booed by the shithead Roosters fans for ruining the moment.

I thought Jake Granville (letting him go was a good idea) could have won it as well if you want to go down the winning team route.

[Lewis]

When the Raiders play the Warriors in next year's final Shaun Johnson will benefit from the same mawkishness.

[ItalAussie]

Speaking of undeserved MOTM awards, the expression here is a bit special:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQbIGWYUwAAdY8V.png

Overcome with joy.

[Ian]

Which Englishman picked him and not Foley?

[Queenslander]

Absolutely seeeeeeeething.


As if those hill billy fuks have won a premiershiop.

[niko_cee]

I had to go out with 5 minutes of the final remaining, whilst it was still 16-12.

:face:

[Lewis]

Were you giving Ben Hunt a lift home?

[niko_cee]

Was it at the Olympic Stadium or whatever they call that these days? Fuck driving all the way over there.

I've never really liked Thurston, but it's good to see him win one, particularly against the Bennett Broncos.

[Lewis]

I reckon I'll avoid Australian media for a few weeks until the NEXT IMMORTAL stuff dies down. It took about a month for them to get over the Souths FAIRY TALE, so let's say six-eight weeks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maradona's at the Argentina v Tonga game and he's going absolutely mental at every Argentina score. It's quite touching really.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has time taken by kickers ever become an issue? Jonny Sexton just spent a full minute lining one up straight in front of the posts.

[Lee]

I was wondering that. How much concentration did that really take?

[Ian]

Has time taken by kickers ever become an issue? Jonny Sexton just spent a full minute lining one up straight in front of the posts.

Did the kickers of the past all have their own little routines to go through twenty times before each kick, regardless of distance and angle?

[The Merse]

Saint Johnny was the pioneer.

Still many occasions of direct imitation on show every weekend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Back in the day they used to just whack them over. A 'round the corner kick' was witchcraft indeed.

[Ian]

He was a bit pants at everything else but didn't Neil Jenkins basically step up to basically anything inside the opposition half and just kick it over without all this dicking about?

Out of interest Merse, as a 'neutral', what do you make of the England team player-wise? Not in terms of performances over the last few weeks, as in who would you be keeping, binning and bringing in after the World Cup?

[Lewis]

Toe-punt off a handful of sand.

[The Merse]

He was a bit pants at everything else but didn't Neil Jenkins basically step up to basically anything inside the opposition half and just kick it over without all this dicking about?

Out of interest Merse, as a 'neutral', what do you make of the England team player-wise? Not in terms of performances over the last few weeks, as in who would you be keeping, binning and bringing in after the World Cup?

A big part of the problem with England is the embarrassment of riches that they get to choose from with so many strong professional teams. They've spent 4 years capping 60 odd players. Every time someone has a one or two poor outings, they're jettisoned, to such an extent that there is no consistency in the partnerships across the field.

The back three are ridiculous - Goode, Foden, Sharples, Abendanon, Pennel, Nowell, May, Brown, Watson, Strettle, Wade, Rokoduguni, Ashton, Yarde - there's another one or two I can't recall right now, too I'd imagine - and still, they decided to try Manu Fucking Tuilagi out there???

The pack are fairly set, but I'd still move Robshaw back to his old Harlequins position at 6 and end the ban on overseas based players to bring in Armitage, who is one of the finest 7's in the world. Having said that, he's not far off 30 now.

Second receiver needs sorting out with a playmaker - Burgess/Barritt are ridiculously poor there and should be sat at 13 organising defence and making back row carries when required not just lining up a wallop after every ruck - Twelvetrees was going great guns before hitting two bad games and being sacked off, and Henry Slade is the most in form answer, Danny Cipriani also offers so much flair but plays his club rugby at 10. At the very least, get him on the bench as 10/12/15 cover.

Nick Abendanon may offer more from 15 than Brown too, but again he's in France and is close to thirty.

There's no need for wholesale change, but I would make the above, it's the focus really - try and play some real rugby for fucks sake, and once you've found a good, winning XV, try to stick with it a bit.

The other problem is harder to fix - England have more test-standard players than anyone else in the NH, probably even the world. But there's a lack of real world class players there that can change a game. I was looking forward to seeing if Joseph, Ford and Brown could be at the RWC

[Lewis]

'He (Andrew Johns) was severely intoxicated. I am a 42 year old woman that he asked to kiss him. When I refused to kiss him and replied I was happily married and had three sons, his question to me was "did you have a cesarean birth?"'

What a great chat up line. Worth breaking the embargo for.

[The Merse]

Lewis Just reminded me that I'd forgotten another RL convert - Chris Ashton from that list of back 3 players under Lancaster. Never understood him losing his place, being as he was about as prolific a try scorer as any in the world at Test level.

Edit - I suppose that he couldn't really defend, but neither can most England wings. High ball was a real issue as well I guess.

[Lewis]

Do you mean Chris Ashton?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The pasta squad making a quite unexpected go of this.

[The Merse]

Do you mean Chris Ashton?

Yeah, I'm not sure why I said Tomkins there at all... Weird since I watch league about once a year.

Edit - I also had him in the list after all :facepalm:

Train of thought fuck ups - I was thinking of James Tomkins, the centre when it came to mind. James Tomkins, by the way is utter, utter gash.

[Lewis]

Joel Tomkins. How did he get capped for England? Was he promised a fast-track or something? He's crap (well, overrated) at league as well. More so since he came back thinking he's a hardman. Sam Tomkins would have made a brilliant winger at one point, but he's lost a bit of pace to injuries and would probably just get flattened now.

[TG09]

Do you mean Chris Ashton?

Where was he? a few players that should of been in that squad. Manu Tuilagi for starters

[niko_cee]

Unfortunately England have a lot of unselectable wankers and foreign based players. You could probably cobble a team out of them which would beat the World Cup XV.

[The Merse]

Where was he? a few players that should of been in that squad. Manu Tuilagi for starters

Hit a bad run and he's woeful in defence, but fare more dangerous in the opposition 22 than anyone else.

Tuilagi fell victim to JJ being better than him at a time when he was (yet again) in trouble with his discipline.

[The Merse]

Unfortunately England have a lot of unselectable wankers and foreign based players. You could probably cobble a team out of them which would beat the World Cup XV.

Hartley, Tuilagi, The two Armitage boys and Abandanon probably deserved the nod ahead of Youngs, Burgess, Barritt, Robshaw and whoever was officially covering second 15, maybe even Brown.

[Lewis]

Tuilagi always struck me as a fundamentally dense player, so I never really bought into the hype that surrounded him (although I'm sure he's a good bench option). Is his passing and awareness of other players still non-existent?

[The Merse]

Tuilagi always struck me as a fundamentally dense player, so I never really bought into the hype that surrounded him (although I'm sure he's a good bench option). Is his passing and awareness of other players still non-existent?

Yep, but he's better than Barritt and Burgess.

[Lewis]

True. I'd like to see him in league. He'd make a decent second row if he could get the tackling right (memories of Andy Powell stealing a living at Wigan).

[The Merse]

Andy Powell. Fucking hell. The most average player ever to win a grand slam and be a Lion (in the shit games).

[Lewis]

You could see the idea behind his conversion, even if it was unusually risky for sensible Wigan, since he was big and always ran with his head up, but he wasn't fit enough and couldn't tackle (as in genuinely couldn't do it, rather than just being bad at it). Gareth Thomas was good, if unlucky with injuries; but then he's a legend and would probably succeed at most sports if he bothered.

[TG09]

Yep, but he's better than Barritt and Burgess.

I thought so, didnt they bring in Burgess just because of the hype and think he could adapt from League to Union quickly.

Haskell should of got more of a run.

[The Merse]

Scotland were trying to get Danny Brough to convert at one stage, the Scotland Rugby League is a bit lol since no-one in Scotland bothers with it, but they seemed pretty good at the World Cup (which I watched) and the European Championship (did I fuck). I think the idea was to make him a 10.

Is he well rated? Seemed decent from what I'd seen? But generally, players converted to 10's and 12's from League lack the ability to be playmakers in Union, partly due to the depth or running and lack of structured attacks, along with the greater breadth of situations unfolding in front of them.

Henry Paul was shite at 10, but did a good job at Prem level at 12.

[Lewis]

Danny Brough has been the best half in Super League for years now (better than Henry Paul), and he's from the same part of Scotland as me: Yorkshire. Was Iestyn Harris good in union?

[Queenslander]

Unfortunately for Wales we lose absolutely nothing with Sean McMahon at 7.

We have 5 world class 7's at the moment.

[Waffdon]

This Scotland game. :D

Shambles

[The Merse]

We've had a real issue with the South Pacific sides for a few years. Their physicality with the ball in hand and communal in the tackle area plays to our weaknesses in a big way.

This is where John Barclay and Alex Dunbar are needed the former being inexplicably left out of the squad in favour of the good but not as good Hardie and the latter deemed to far away from the required fitness levels in recovering from his 6N injury. Matt Scott is getting turned at 12 too often and Hardie not doing enough to clear out the breakdown and I'd have stuck Barclay in at 8 as he's played a lot of rugby there this past year for Llanelli whilst retaining Hardie at 7 to imitate the Australia plan and give two genuine trufflers that can retain and win ball at the breakdown.

[Lewis]

Do Scotland go out if they lose this? I haven't watched/read anything since we BOTTLED ourselves to death.

[Ian]

If they lose and Japan beat the USA.

[Magic]

Yeah I think so.

[Waffdon]

Would be refreshing to see Scotland play well in the first half.

[niko_cee]

I always thought the point of rugger was that if you put your body somewhere it shouldn't be, or you did something you ought not do, the penalty (and hence disincentive to do it) was getting a good shoeing. Professionalism really has fucked it as a sport.

[The Merse]

And Ryan Wilson showing the kind of form that regularly sees him suspended and/or arrested. Idiot.

[Disco]

I always thought the point of rugger was that if you put your body somewhere it shouldn't be, or you did something you ought not do, the penalty (and hence disincentive to do it) was getting a good shoeing. Professionalism really has fucked it as a sport.

One suspects several burly men raking the fuck out of a person prone on the ground doesn't go down very well with the sponsors. It's a while since I played any club rugby but I would think it still goes on there.

[Waffdon]

This defending :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scott Hastings on commentary is properly seething.

[Toby]

Every single try going to a TMO for about three minutes. Just get on with it. I suppose they've at least knocked one off at last.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The way they use it is so arbitrary (and a warning for football). I reckon if the referee doesn't spot it, bad luck. As someone who isn't a rugby devotee but can be persuaded, having thrilling tries scored and then cancelled because of a minor infringement that wasn't spotted three phases ago is a poor show.

[Waffdon]

Scotland will rape them in the second.

[The Merse]

It's not so bad in the domestic game, they've gone a bit OTT at the World Cup due to 'the stakes'.

Stamping is a big no-no. It gets missed in the domestic game a lot more, but doing it to a prone body in open play is always likely to land you a spell in the bin.

[The Merse]

Do Scotland go out if they lose this? I haven't watched/read anything since we BOTTLED ourselves to death.

Losing with two bonus points would likely see us through (Japan then need a BP win) so I fancy us to make it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon Japan will bonus point the USA. They really were great against Samoa, and the USA are crap.

[Ian]

I always forget that you can get a bonus point just for not losing by too much. Probably because it's a shithouse rule which I hope will get scrapped every time I hear about it.

[Toby]

Japan not playing until 8pm tomorrow is amateurish scheduling.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do they just not have the offside rule in Samoa?

[Waffdon]

Penalty, penalty, penalty

[Ian]

It's not amateurish, Tobes, it's give-England-the-best-schedule-at-any-cost. Thankfully that worked out really well.

[Waffdon]

Surely you dish out yellow's if he is giving out a penalty every two minutes?

What a shit sport.

[hfswjyr]

Every time Scotland make a break, they panic and throw a shit pass.

Basically, they play like I do in touch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Samoa were the same against Japan, just no discipline whatsoever. They're basically playing sevens.

[Waffdon]

Another high tackle.

[Toby]

It's not amateurish, Tobes, it's give-England-the-best-schedule-at-any-cost. Thankfully that worked out really well.

They could still have done that and had the groups finish at the same time, like any sensible tournament would nowadays. Even FIFA, the greediest sporting body in the world, manage to forego some TV income to do that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rugby's a bit different. You'd never have anyone manipulating games.

[Ian]

I totally agree, Toby, though I imagine they're partly interested in building up DRAMA too.

I also agree that this Samoa team are a right shower. If Scotland manage to lose to them it'd be a proper shambles.

[Toby]

I'm not thinking of that, it's just a bit shit having a group hang in the balance for more than 24 hours after some teams have played their final games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The games were scheduled absolutely ages ago and they would have assumed that Japan v USA would be a dead game anyway. On seeding, this game now should be a decider, which is why it's now.

[hfswjyr]

That was an insane period of play. Neither of these teams has the killer touch.

[Toby]

The games were scheduled absolutely ages ago and they would have assumed that Japan v USA would be a dead game anyway. On seeding, this game now should be a decider, which is why it's now.

That doesn't make it sound any less shoddy.

[Waffdon]

Scotland's passing has been horrific.

[hfswjyr]

This Scottish team is infuriating. Learn to throw the final pass!

[Jimmy Floyd]

Didn't he knock it on?

[Waffdon]

Samoa were out of it for that whole half but their final pass was just so bad.

[Waffdon]

Jesus, Scotland are going to get hit for 70 if they don't fuck this up

[Toby]

This game has been mad. If Samoa were to kick for the draw it wouldn't (definitely) be enough for Scotland in the absence of a fourth try bonus point, would it?

EDIT: Nevermind. They've done pretty well there. Onwards to a shafting by Australia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Samoa were more disciplined they'd have won that easily.

[Waffdon]

England. lolololololololol

[Toby]

Can another STV watcher confirm that I've just heard an Aldi advert with an Aberdonian saying, "somebody's taking a shite in your jumper"? :cab:

[Ian]

Can another STV watcher confirm that I've just heard an Aldi advert with an Aberdonian saying, "somebody's taking a shite in your jumper"? :cab:

Wound it back, took me a couple of listens to realise he'd said "taken a shine to" but I still lol'd when I first heard it. :D

[Toby]

Turns out it is "shine to" apparently...

https://twitter.com/NeilSargent86/status/651017901605040128

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh please somebody spare me a Wales v Scotland quarter-final.

[Lee]

Wales are loving this so far.

[Lewis]

Grand Final. 'Mon Yorkshire. Get fucked Wigan.

[Lewis]

The Charlatans are on and nobody is interested. Lovely stuff. Pre-match entertainment needs putting in a bin.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Australians are down to 13. Dirty bastards.

[Waffdon]

Australia :drool:

[Lee]

This is pretty heroic from the Aussies.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wales have been in the 22 against 14 and then 13 men for almost 15 minutes now and haven't scored. Their scrum half constantly darting himself needs to be shot.

[Lee]

Fucking hell Wales.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's their tournament and they know it. Scotland are a free pass to the semis for the winner here.

[Waffdon]

The small in goal areas are always awful. Are Warrington shit now, Lewis?

[hfswjyr]

Fucking hell. Australia playing like champions.

[niko_cee]

It's just plain depressing England lost to this Welsh mob.

Also good to see Dan Biggar forgot how to kick them over from straight in front this week, typical.

[Lewis]

The small in goal areas are always awful. Are Warrington shit now, Lewis?

Yeah. They didn't have any creativity all season (crap halves and fullback), so whenever somebody stood up to them they just fell to bits.

Danny McGuire loves a Grand Final. :cool:

[Lewis]

Yorkshire. :cool:

Best Super League team of my lifetime.

[P_3]

I can just about see Suarez scoring a pair of tries to troll England at another sport.

[Waffdon]

Yorkshire. :cool:

Best Super League team of my lifetime.

Sinfield's haul :cool:

[Lewis]

So many dons in that side.

On to the England vs New Zealand (minus their good players) series. No Matty Smith, with his 'organising', please, selectors.

[The Merse]

Scotland's passing has been horrific.


This Scottish team is infuriating. Learn to throw the final pass!

Again, not indicative of most of the individuals on display. Russel in particular is normally a fine distributor.

Again, indicative of Scotland v Pacific Islanders (also goes for Ireland and France actually) - big bastards don't half hurt us and the handling and passing goes astray as soon as you start over anticipating the contact you're running into.

[Jimmy Floyd]

England are so fucking bad. Constant handling errors. I saw it said by some big rugby name the other day that we're trying to play a 'brand of rugby' that our players just aren't good enough for. Is there anything in that? I wouldn't know.

[The Merse]

England are so fucking bad. Constant handling errors. I saw it said by some big rugby name the other day that we're trying to play a 'brand of rugby' that our players just aren't good enough for. Is there anything in that? I wouldn't know.

Yes and no.

Traditionally Scotland (lol), Wales and France played the flair stuff. England were massively attritional and Ireland were shit. Wales are now amongst the more attritional and France take the piss. Ireland are an odd one - capable of expansive stuff but get bogged down in their admittedly quite special ability to be absolute cunts and play on the fringes of the rules, and exploiting them, because it yields smaller winning margins but is much more safe and consistent in getting the win at any cost.

England have the players to play expansive, heads up rugby these days and the Premiership is far, far more expansive than the old club rugby days of yesteryear.

However, the squad taken to the world cup was not sufficient to do so - particularly in the centres, and when Farrell is at 10.

[Lewis]

We should stick to playing shit. 2007 should be our model.

[The Merse]

With squad, especially with Farrell playing 10 (what the fuck?) it ought just be Woodward-ball on a continual basis.

Thing is... Wales Gatland-ball is actually probably superior, as are key players for them in that gameplan (both centres, all three back rowers and 10 & 9 when Webb is fit). So you'd probably still have been up against it against them.

[hfswjyr]

England are so fucking bad. Constant handling errors. I saw it said by some big rugby name the other day that we're trying to play a 'brand of rugby' that our players just aren't good enough for. Is there anything in that? I wouldn't know.

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11523622

[niko_cee]

I haven't the foggiest about the rules of Rugby (and am in some doubt as to whether anyone really does) but the two things which annoy me most about watching it are the catch and drive shit, which is so ubiquitous now (was it ever thus?) and the 'rush defence', which both serve to essentially eradicate any hope of an interesting game from a viewing perspective.

Also, lol at that Wigan kick in the last minute. Don't think I've ever seen anyone do that before.

[Kikó]

:D The kick up in the air and backwards? Massive fuck up.

[The Merse]

I haven't the foggiest about the rules of Rugby (and am in some doubt as to whether anyone really does) but the two things which annoy me most about watching it are the catch and drive shit, which is so ubiquitous now (was it ever thus?) and the 'rush defence', which both serve to essentially eradicate any hope of an interesting game from a viewing perspective.

Also, lol at that Wigan kick in the last minute. Don't think I've ever seen anyone do that before.

The line out maul was an English speciality before professionalism, and Scots too. But they were looser. Now, it's almost indefensible and shite. We've used it really effectively this tournament, but I hate it. So agree it's a shit element. It just needs balancing in the rules- basically let the defence take it down.

Regarding rush defence, I enjoy a good line speed - if you've played and watch a lot of rugby, defence is easier to appreciate, particularly when a rush leads to isolation of a ball carrier. Also, from an attacking perspective it can be fun. It's ubiquitous in pro12 and Southern Hemisphere rugby, but opportunism off the back of it is also common and exciting. On the international stage, less so.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They should just bin lineout lifting again.

[Queenslander]

The way to fix the driving maul is to prevent players joining past ball carrier or sliding up past the ball carrier. A proper rolling maul is a thing of beauty!

[The Merse]

That's already banned but not policed well enough. Regardless, just let it be dragged down legally like the old days.

[Queenslander]

It's not really enforced though is it? Every nation gets away with truck and trailier mauling at the moment.

[The Merse]

As I say, not policed well enough.

But still - even then, execute it within the law and there's nothing legal to stop it. Let the defending team take it down. It's dogshit safferball nonsense.

[Queenslander]

Blow it up as soon as the first player joins above or slides up past the trailer/ball carrier.

All the illegal stuff happens right at the start so unless it's right away we are left with the run away train nonsense.

[niko_cee]

Ireland v Australia semi should be good. Ireland look like they could shit their way past just about anyone, although they'll need someone else to account for New Zealand. France are absolute dross, so they'll probably turn in a miracle performance against them next weekend..

[Jimmy Floyd]

France were properly reversing back over their own corpses in that game just now, which is bad news for the All Blacks as you say.

Argies won't roll over either. Scotland will.

[Lewis]

It was out patriotic duty to make it as difficult as possible for the likes of Ireland. That game should have been played in Norwich.

[niko_cee]

Some Aussie (probably Chris Broad) has banned as many jocks as he can from the rest of the world cup.

:D

Is there any way to make it so most players aren't injured or suspended by the end of this?

[ItalAussie]

Some Aussie (probably Chris Broad) has banned as many jocks as he can from the rest of the world cup.

:D

Is there any way to make it so most players aren't injured or suspended by the end of this?
What an idiotic conspiracy theory.

They were cited by an Australian commissioner, but he had nothing to do with the result which was reached by an English QC. And given it wound up rubbing them out for three weeks (would have been five, but they added a two-week reduction for having a clean disciplinary record), I think it's safe to say he was on the money.

[Queenslander]

They dumped a bloke on his head...

[Lewis]

Was Pat O'Cake retiring from international rugby anyway, or have Ireland told him to piss off for going to France?

[niko_cee]

I think he was anyway.

Anyway, sore subjects, Ex-Wales international Jonathan Davies has described the tournament's disciplinary hearings as a "disgrace".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34529687

[Baz]

Who'll play Fantasy Super League next season? (Starts late Jan/early Feb 2016)

There's Love Rugby League (http://www.loverugbyleague.com/fantasyrl/?page=home) or there's Super League Dream Team (http://www.sldreamteam.co.uk/).

I picked a team on the former (http://www.loverugbyleague.com/fantasyrl/?page=oldroster&viewuser=31087) in February (missed GW1) but forgot to change it all season so don't know if it's any good.

[Lewis]

I'll do one if I don't have to fiddle with it every week.

[Waffdon]

I just had a great masterbation session of Shaun Johnson

[Lewis]

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. :nodd:

[Waffdon]

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. :nodd:

I think I got that Rugby League love-in again.

[Lewis]

You've timed that well.

[The Merse]

I think he was anyway.

Anyway, sore subjects, Ex-Wales international Jonathan Davies has described the tournament's disciplinary hearings as a "disgrace".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34529687Ford and Junior are big losses, the latter more so with Gilchrist already out. If big Jim steps out of international retirement to be called up (having retired as soon as he missed out on the 31 man squad I see him stepping back in) it's going to be all kinds of bad news for the penalty count.

Cheika, by the way is a cunt. Proper cunt. Tyring to hijack Taquele Naiyarovoro's move to Glasgow was up there amongst the cuntiest things he's ever done too, as well as capping him to tie him up for his eventual return. I'd shag him with a cactus.

[The Merse]

What an idiotic conspiracy theory.

They were cited by an Australian commissioner, but he had nothing to do with the result which was reached by an English QC. And given it wound up rubbing them out for three weeks (would have been five, but they added a two-week reduction for having a clean disciplinary record), I think it's safe to say he was on the money.

Nobody suggested a conspiracy for fucks sake.

Just that the citings have been utter bollocks so far - so many inconsistencies.

[ItalAussie]

Nobody suggested a conspiracy for fucks sake.

Just that the citings have been utter bollocks so far - so many inconsistencies.

Really?


Some Aussie (probably Chris Broad) has banned as many jocks as he can from the rest of the world cup.

[The Merse]

Really?

It's clearly a flippant comment highlighted by the use of :D, from someone with no reason to lament the suspension of two Scots.

[Queenslander]

He isn't good enough for International Rugby anyway so consider it a blessing in disguise that he won't be turning out for Scotland.
The Merse

The bloke is proper mercenary and was going to put his hand up for your lot after 3 years.

[ItalAussie]

It's clearly a flippant comment highlighted by the use of :D, from someone with no reason to lament the suspension of two Scots.

Fair enough. I'd just been reading the comments on the Guardian article, of which a large portion make the same suggestion entirely unironically.

[The Merse]

He isn't good enough for International Rugby anyway so consider it a blessing in disguise that he won't be turning out for Scotland.
The Merse

The bloke is proper mercenary and was going to put his hand up for your lot after 3 years.

No, I didn't want him turning out for Scotland. Rather would see him play for Fiji.

Not a fan of 'project players'. Now Nel and Strauss are in the dark blue, I'll support them and even trot out the McNel/Jock McStrauss stuff, but they oughtn't be there.

Junior Bulamakau will likely be capped - correctly. Been here since he was 10 as his dad was in the army and has a weird Weegee-Fiji mix of an accent, that'll do. Even Visser was ok - there's no real Dutch test standard team to speak of, whilst the likes of Big Jim are the kind of English you want - like me, Midlands schooled from a Scots/Irish heavy area, first generation to be down here, plenty of pics in Scotland tops as a kid shared in a programme... But the likes of Henry Pyrgos probably oughtn't... It's too complex to govern as really it's a question of whether the lad identifies with the nation, and that's hard to qualify.

Anyway, Naiyarovoro shouldn't play for Australia or Scotland really. He probably will be international standard though - watched about 10 games of his last year and the man can finish like a bulldozer.

Cheika was a cunt for getting involved and trying to unsettle him before he'd arrived, not for capping him so much.

[The Merse]

Fair enough. I'd just been reading the comments on the Guardian article, of which a large portion make the same suggestion entirely unironically.

Ah -yeah fair one- all Guardian comments sections are pretty similar mind, no matter how banal the article might be. :D

[niko_cee]

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/15895/production/_86131288_hi029617154.jpg

Call the citing commissioner.

[ItalAussie]

The French team has apparently mutinied. :cab:


RUMOURS have emerged in the French press that the France rugby side have staged a “discreet” rebellion, sidelined embattled coach Phillipe Saint-Andre and begun coaching themselves ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2015/france-team-reportedly-mutiny-and-effectively-sack-coach-philippe-saint-andre-at-rugby-world-cup/story-e6frf4zl-1227571108902

[TG09]

Look at Boris eyeing that kid up, in his mind is I am going to fucking crush you. ahaha


http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/15895/production/_86131288_hi029617154.jpg

Call the citing commissioner.

[Queenslander]

No, I didn't want him turning out for Scotland. Rather would see him play for Fiji.

Not a fan of 'project players'. Now Nel and Strauss are in the dark blue, I'll support them and even trot out the McNel/Jock McStrauss stuff, but they oughtn't be there.

Junior Bulamakau will likely be capped - correctly. Been here since he was 10 as his dad was in the army and has a weird Weegee-Fiji mix of an accent, that'll do. Even Visser was ok - there's no real Dutch test standard team to speak of, whilst the likes of Big Jim are the kind of English you want - like me, Midlands schooled from a Scots/Irish heavy area, first generation to be down here, plenty of pics in Scotland tops as a kid shared in a programme... But the likes of Henry Pyrgos probably oughtn't... It's too complex to govern as really it's a question of whether the lad identifies with the nation, and that's hard to qualify.

Anyway, Naiyarovoro shouldn't play for Australia or Scotland really. He probably will be international standard though - watched about 10 games of his last year and the man can finish like a bulldozer.

Cheika was a cunt for getting involved and trying to unsettle him before he'd arrived, not for capping him so much.

The ARU and the Waratahs have played a part in this as well which is shit because he'll probably never play for the Wobs again with this current batch of young wingers coming through at the moment.

From the outside looking in it does look like a cynical cap and scrap to prevent him from being available for Scotland.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I remember England playing the Dutch team in a World Cup qualifier (post professionalism). That was a great idea. Think it was a two legger and ended 100-0 in both.

Wiki says it was a three team qualifying group between us, Italy and Holland, with two to qualify. What a genius idea that was.

[The Merse]

Glasgow get a bonus point victory, Naiyarovoro debuts, Dunbar makes his comeback and Edinburgh beat Ulster.

Now Johnny Gray and Ross Ford have their bans rescinded on appeal and so are free to play tomorrow.

The gods are smiling on us. Feel good about tomorrow.

[Lewis]

Fuck off, Wales.

[The Merse]

Jesus, that was a match. Cuthbert continues to be a huge weakness for them. His positioning and decision making has always been poor, and somewhat made up for by John Davies and Leigh Halfpenny, but he was horrendously exposed at times today and his handling was incredibly poor. They missed Webb's sniping today more than at any other time in the WC so far as well.

[CJay]

Du Preez. :rasta:

[The Merse]

The number of try scorers in that SA team is ridiculous. The new generation continue the trend. Threats all over the place, with the ability to affect the flow of a match when they're at a big deficit in terms of possession and territory (not referring to todays game obviously), it creates a frightening prospect.

Still some deficiencies there mind you - if you move ball around quick enough and deny the disruptors and trufflers you've got a chance.

[Lewis]

The white players should really sit the haka out.

[Lewis]

That defence fucking hell France.

[TG09]

Smashing performance by the AB's. The passing of the All Blacks we epics, quick hands and quick feet, well played.

[Luke Emia]

I see the Welsh shit the bed just for a change. Game raising wankers.

[GS]

The French rolled over quicker than May 1940 etc.

[Foe]

Ireland are looking shaky here.

[Lee]

This is superb. I do like Argentina. I'd been impressed by what I'd seen of Ireland up to now though.

[Samadini]

Argentina look like scoring a try every time they have it.

[Byron]

As is usually the case, I'd like to say fuck Argentina but it would be pretty awesome if they put the Micks out.

[Giggles]

The Facebook reaction on this is hilarious.

Argentina :cool:

[ItalAussie]

Seven more points will see Argentina safe. Not convinced they'll get it though.

[Foe]

If this happens then in all likelihood it'll be an all Southern Hemisphere World Cup from here on in.

[GS]

That was grim.

[Giggles]

If I'd known that was going to happen I'd have went out for the lols.

[Lewis]

The Argies are still filth, but lol. Why do the Micks/Welsh even turn up for these?

[GS]

To be fair, we're missing Sexton, O'Connell, O'Brien, O'Mahony, Payne and Bowe went off injured in the first twenty minutes too. Earls is never a replacement for O'Driscoll either.

We simply don't have the depth to cope with injuries. Madigan, Henry, Earls etc. are alright - not spectacular. I'm not sure what Dave Kearney really does either.

Very disappointing, overall.

[Disco]

Wales chucked it away at the death and France got humped by nearly 50 points yesterday, this might be the second best WC yet. :drool:

[Waffdon]

What a useless cunt. 50-13.

[Byron]

Scotlol.

[The Merse]

Best first half of rugby I've seen from Scotland in a decade. The defeat is going to fucking smart a bit.

[Lewis]

Come on, Scotland. Stop pissing about.

[Waffdon]

What?

[Waffdon]

Money has swapped hands here.

[Queenslander]

Penalty not a yellow card.

Hard luck Scotland.

[P_3]

Yep, ref threw the game. Give the cunt a clap.

[Waffdon]

Penalty not a yellow card.

Hard luck Scotland.

Lol, his hand was already there.

[Queenslander]

It's not rugby league you have to make an attempt to catch the ball.

The TMO had no business calling that back though.

[Toby]

This could be a pretty interesting final twenty minutes. Nice try for Scotland.

[Waffdon]

Scotland just aren't very good at stopping tries.

[Toby]

"Nice try" probably covers it from here, just not in the sense you'd want in rugby.

[Yevrah]

Fucking hell.

[Queenslander]

Well played Scotland. :(

[Waffdon]

Scotland are going to Scotland it again.

[Toby]

Australia are outrageously sloppy. Doubt anybody would have predicted Scotland leading with five minutes to go.

[Lee]

Fuck me fair play to the Scots here. A Scotland/Argentina semi would be lovely.

[Disco]

This is great, smashing stuff from the jocks.

Lol at NH rugger though if Scotland are our most accomplished representatives, when was the last time you could say that?

[Disco]

What we need now is some outrageous reffing to get the Aussie bile up. :drool:

[Lee]

Silly fuckers.

[Toby]

Ah well.

[Waffdon]

Scotland are going to Scotland it again.

It was never going to be any other way.

[Queenslander]

We didn't deserve to win that game.

[Samadini]

Amazing

[Yevrah]

I know nothing about rugby, don't even know the rules, but that was disgustingly inevitable, no?

What did they do to give the penalty away?

[Queenslander]

Offside.

[Disco]

Jammy wankers, it's going to take some world class choking for NZ to bin it against any of this lot.

[Yevrah]

Offside.

How does offside work in rugby?

It's such an infuriatingly impenetrable set of rules.

[Waffdon]

Its the hope that kills you, eh, lads?

[Waffdon]

Yaaaaaaaas, the bitterness.

[Disco]

How does offside work in rugby?

It's such an infuriatingly impenetrable set of rules.

In general it's when you're ahead of the ball/play and affecting the game.

[Giggles]

It just gets better. I could get into this game :)

[Lee]

How does offside work in rugby?

It's such an infuriatingly impenetrable set of rules.

It is. I've enjoyed what I've made time for and have quite liked the Leicester games I've been to but I understand, at most, about two percent of what's going on.

[Waffdon]

In before death threats.

[Yevrah]

It is. I've enjoyed what I've made time for and have quite liked the Leicester games I've been to but I understand, at most, about two percent of what's going on.

Indeed. The amount of conversations I've had with people in 'the pub' that contain the words "I've been watching it for years" and "I only understand about x% of it" is staggering.

And 'accidental offside', you fucking wot?

[Queenslander]

World Rugby need to tell the TMO's to fuck off unless dangerous play has taken place.

I feel sorry for Sean Maitland because that was such a shit yellow card.

[P_3]

Shambles. All home nations knocked out. What sports are we actually any good at these days?

[Yevrah]

We've the 'World' champion in snooker. :cool:

[Davgooner]

The ref should never ref another international again on account of his conduct at full time. Hastings sounds like he's going to spark him out at the first opportunity.

Rugby's too civilised; that sort of shit should result in a riot.

[Magic]

Shambles. All home nations knocked out. What sports are we actually any good at these days?

Motor sports.

[The Merse]

Deliberate knock on.

Which was very, very, very debatable - hence the analysts at the end there and Laidlaw's seethe at the TMO not being used (actually that was the offside at the end - the TMO picked over Maitland for fucking ages).

Two big calls have shagged us a bit. Maitland shouldn't have gone for a yellow, and the offside at the end was pretty dodgy at best - but Brycey screwed the throw and Denton the jump so to be fair, we put ourselves in that position.

Immense pride nonetheless.

[ItalAussie]

If we play like that again, we won't even get to the final to lose to NZ.

[Boom-Boom]

Deliberate knock on.

Which was very, very, very debatable - hence the analysts at the end there and Laidlaw's seethe at the TMO not being used (actually that was the offside at the end - the TMO picked over Maitland for fucking ages).

Two big calls have shagged us a bit. Maitland shouldn't have gone for a yellow, and the offside at the end was pretty dodgy at best - but Brycey screwed the throw and Denton the jump so to be fair, we put ourselves in that position.

Immense pride nonetheless.

I think the ref is getting some harsh treatment. Every pundit / reporter I've listened to has said it was the right call and that the ref wasn't able to use TMO in that situation.

Still, absolutely gutted for Scotland. What a performance they put in.

I guess it's good for the tournament as it sets up a Australia - New Zealand final. I know everyone will be writing Australia off but they have beaten England and Wales fairly convincingly.

[Yevrah]

I know nothing about Rugby, but I can't read body language to a decent level and spot bullshit from biased pundits a mile off and the ITV mob were definitely guilty of that in the aftermath.

[Waffdon]

I think the ref is getting some harsh treatment. Every pundit / reporter I've listened to has said it was the right call and that the ref wasn't able to use TMO in that situation.

Still, absolutely gutted for Scotland. What a performance they put in.

I guess it's good for the tournament as it sets up a Australia - New Zealand final. I know everyone will be writing Australia off but they have beaten England and Wales fairly convincingly.

Who, exactly?

lol at this not being a penalty:

https://vine.co/v/e9nv1AZXItI

[Boom-Boom]

Who, exactly?

lol at this not being a penalty:

https://vine.co/v/e9nv1AZXItI

I don't know the names. It was on either the news or the ITV highlight show.

Not that I'm saying it was 100% the correct call. I don't have a clue on the rules of rugby.

[niko_cee]

I've not seen any such pundits, but I'd imagine they're fair dinkum cobbers mate.

Lol at the idea of a ref running off the pitch at the end of a game. I hope Hastings does catch up with him.

[Toby]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34576756?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_sport&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport


Referee Craig Joubert was wrong to award a crucial 78th-minute penalty against Scotland in Sunday's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Australia, says World Rugby.
Scotland led 34-32 at Twickenham when Jon Welsh was ruled deliberately offside for playing the ball after a knock-on by a team-mate.
The governing body said that, because Australia's Nick Phipps touched the ball, "the appropriate decision should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock-on".

That seems a pointless thing to be announcing publicly.

[The Merse]

I think the ref is getting some harsh treatment. Every pundit / reporter I've listened to has said it was the right call and that the ref wasn't able to use TMO in that situation.

Still, absolutely gutted for Scotland. What a performance they put in.

I guess it's good for the tournament as it sets up a Australia - New Zealand final. I know everyone will be writing Australia off but they have beaten England and Wales fairly convincingly.

I agree he's being vilified too harshly. I'm not a Joubert fan - grimaced at him being named ref of this after the NZ v France debacle in last RWC final (he was incredibly inconsistent in NZ's favour throughout), but still it's harsh when the man made a call in real time. However - the call was wrong, and even World Rugby have admitted it in the match report, along with Lynagh (the only ITV pundit that said he wasn't sure). Having said all of that, it's Scotland's own fault for making him make that decision - it was a stupid lineout call. Just go short and churn it.

He did also miss the late hit on Hogg immediately before the lineout, which should have been a pen, and additionally the yellow was harsh as fuck. So a bad day at the office, but we do all have them. Commiserate and critique, but let's not pillory the man. Some of the ex-internationals (of all nationalities) have gone over the top.

The thing I agree is truly poor, is him running off. Poor, poor show.

[The Merse]

Who, exactly?

lol at this not being a penalty:

https://vine.co/v/e9nv1AZXItI

Arguably worse than the one that saw Hoggy sent off in the '14 6 Nations v Wales.

[Lewis]

In what will surely turn out to be the best decision they ever make, Manly have hired John Hopoate to coach their under-eighteens.

[The Merse]

In what will surely turn out to be the best decision they ever make, Manly have hired John Hopoate to coach their under-eighteens.

Wasn't he the anal rapist?

[Lewis]

He was giving them wedgies.

[Queenslander]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ata8F7liAx0

[The Merse]

I remember it but had no idea until looking on Wikipedia that he used wedging as his excuse - 'just got it wrong 3 times boss, poor technique'. Who in their right fucking minds does that three times? Hardly inconspicuously so. I could better imagine it in rugby union in a breakdown or maul situation, but that's just insane. In those circumstances.

[Lewis]

Who in their right fucking minds does that three times?

You have your answer.

This is a decent game. I hope the Boers win.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know there are conflicts here, but the English ref should really stop being so pro-Australian.

Horrible team Australia, led by a total dickhead of a coach.

[Giggles]

You'd forget the sport ever existed or that this tournament was even still on here :D

Bandwagon cunts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Argies have literally no composure and it's cost them. Australia are allowed to basically do what they want at the breakdown which doesn't help.

[ItalAussie]

"Do whatever they want" = "Good enough to dominate the breakdown legally"

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pocock was offside about 40 times in the second half, cue 'legitimate counter-rucking!'. Wayne Barnes being fucking useless isn't a new thing though.

They're the sort of team the All Blacks will bottle it against, too.

[GS]

It'd be nice if the ABs steamrollered them.

[Disco]

Part of me really wants to see NZ bottle it again but I'm not sure it's really on the cards.

[Queenslander]

The All Blacks fitness might be a bit too much for us I fear.


English Rugby is used to plodders in the back row maybe if Neil Back was playing the rules of the breakdown might be better understood.

[Disco]

If any back row is following the letter of the law he isn't doing it right.

[Queenslander]

He's not at Rutchie levels of cheating though. Pocock is just too powerful once he is over the ball.

[ItalAussie]

We're the same as any other side. It's just that Pocock is so good that he makes it count every single time.

Either way, the All-Blacks are still better than us man-for-man. Winning isn't out of the question, but it'd be a pretty substantial upset. Given where we were a year ago, and the group we got drawn into, I'd say that making the final at all exceeds expectations by about a round-and-a-half. As long as we don't collapse totally in the final, I think that Australia will be pretty satisfied irrespective of the outcome.

[ItalAussie]

I feel like everyone who watches rugby must be happy to see Argentina coming along so well, though. They've earned a seat at the top table, and rugby's better for it.

The real question is who is going to win the World Cup first, out of Argentina, Wales, Ireland or Scotland?

[Queenslander]

The Super team will have 22 players out of this World Cup squad which is exciting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I feel like everyone who watches rugby must be happy to see Argentina coming along so well, though. They've earned a seat at the top table, and rugby's better for it.

The real question is who is going to win the World Cup first, out of Argentina, Wales, Ireland or Scotland?

Probably none. New Zealand and South Africa are always going to work out better because rugby is just such a big deal there. England have only managed a solitary win when everything aligned perfectly one time, and France have not yet done it.

Argentina definitely have the best chance though. It may sound silly but I just don't think a country like Ireland or Wales will ever win a World Cup in any major team sport. They just don't have the psyche for it.

[ItalAussie]

France/Argentina might be the big race. There'll be a new winner eventually.

I don't buy national psyche rubbish - I see it as lazy thinking - but we've had that discussion before.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The football World Cup is all the proof you need.

[Queenslander]

The Top 14 will hold the French back unless they change the rules on foreigners.

Once Argentina get their on professional league below Super Rugby I think they be very dominant. To think they have got this far with an amateur system is incredible.

[ItalAussie]

The football World Cup is all the proof you need.

In fairness, eight countries have won it, and three of those have only won it once (two of those at home). It's not exactly easy to win.

[Spoonsky]

Why is rugby big in Argentina? I thought it was basically restricted to British colonies like cricket is.