The Rugby Thread

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  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Peyper is not going to spoil le party...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Christ alone knows how Ben Youngs has 115+caps or why Furbank has even 1 cap.
    Eddie Jones has been a disaster for English rugby since the RWC final.
  • skyblueamateur
    skyblueamateur Posts: 1,498
    Come on Ireland………er I mean England
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    As I suggested, I sense a sea change here.
    Nerves are going to become a factor.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Ellis Genge has become a superstar this season...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    edited March 2022
    blazing_saddles said:

    As I suggested, I sense a sea change here.
    Nerves are going to become a factor.

    Well, trust Dupont to be the guy to blow up my theory.
    Still plenty of time though.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    edited March 2022
    blazing_saddles said:

    ddraver said:

    France Looking scary good...

    I don’t think they are unbeatable though.
    Apply pressure like Wales did last week but finish more clinically.

    They are certainly vulnerable in the air...

    Rugby a deux tailles....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    As with all good teams, les bleues win all the 50 50s, and even some of the 40 60s...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    I think they're there now.
    Another good result for the 6 Nations.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Indeed, of one of those nearly moments had come off to add a bit of drama that would have been nice, but, Fair Play Les Bleus...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    Well, it was far from a walkover. England gave their defence another tough work out.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Good to see the best team win the tournament with a Grand Slam. Only one wobble, against Wales.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,580
    A better performance but the best team clearly won.
    How good could they be if they learned to pass higher than knee level?
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,670
    Dorset_Boy said:

    Christ alone knows how Ben Youngs has 115+caps or why Furbank has even 1 cap.
    Eddie Jones has been a disaster for English rugby since the RWC final.

    Things fell apart against Ireland when Youngs came on. Randall is a far better player at present I reckon and I felt Care was the better player for much of their early careers.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,670
    ddraver said:

    Ellis Genge has become a superstar this season...

    Genge is up there with Itoje and Lawes as England players I wish were Welsh.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Thought this was interesting...

    https://thematchreport.co.uk/2022/03/23/why-the-six-nations-coverage-is-an-embarrassment-to-year-round-rugby-fans/
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    edited March 2022
    ddraver said:

    Thought this was interesting...

    https://thematchreport.co.uk/2022/03/23/why-the-six-nations-coverage-is-an-embarrassment-to-year-round-rugby-fans/

    TBH I would expect regular pundits to have a better working knowledge of the modern game.
    However, claiming the “old boys” know nothing about the game, is excessive criticism.
    It seems to be quite a subject piece to me, written with a heavy bias towards the English game.
    In any case, the BBC in particular, only pay lip service to the 6 Nations these days, preferring to concentrate on the woman’s tournament. No doubt cost is a major factor.
    As the saying goes: you get what you pay for and this is also true of commentary teams.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,670
    I think that article over-stretches the point. I agreed with a lot of it but the BBC team included quite a few current or recently retired professionals. Agree on Flatman. Monye and Alphonso - all very knowledgeable and engaging.

    I don't think the anchor presenters help (although I do rate Gabby Logan) as they don't make the most of the pundits and usually ask them dumbed down questions. However, that in itself probably reflects the target audience of rugby 'supporters' who only switch on for internationals and criticise the referee all match without having a clue about the laws.

    I tend to avoid people I know who want to talk rugby at 6 Nations (or RWC) time as they are usually just flag wavers with no knowledge or love for the game. Then there's the supporters the Unions love that will pay over £100 for a ticket only to spend the match mainly walking to the bar or toilet or looking for the nearest camera in the hope they'll get spotted.

    Sorry for the rugby snob rant!

  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    I'm definitely guilty of the bar and bathroom thing but camera? Ffs
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    There is a touch of truth about it, and unfortunately it's particularly true with the Butler/Jiffy combo. Reminds me a bit of cycling with the new influx of people from GCN vs the legendary, but rather uninsightful these days, Sean Kelly...

    (not to mention P&P (RIP)...)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    edited March 2022
    ddraver said:

    There is a touch of truth about it, and unfortunately it's particularly true with the Butler/Jiffy combo. Reminds me a bit of cycling with the new influx of people from GCN vs the legendary, but rather uninsightful these days, Sean Kelly...

    (not to mention P&P (RIP)...)

    Who just happened to be the only two, non English persons to make the article.
    (btw Jiffy has since spoken a lot of sense about the endemic problems facing Welsh rugby)
    On the opposite side of the coin, no mention of Warburton, Barclay or Heaslip.

    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Butler, Jiffy, Nichol, Hastings, Johnson are all dreadful.
    Wilko, Warburton, Barclay, Alfonso are all excellent.
    Gabby is great, Sonja is dire.
    Then Ugo, Kay & Motor Mouth are all the BT guys that ITV buy in.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,278
    I've got so used to watching sport the eurosport way. I switch on for kick off, mute for half time and switch off at full time. For everything.

    At least with rugby they can't really cut away when there's actual sport going on. The BBC coverage of athletics is the most infuriating thing to watch. You can see sport in the background when someone is talking about a brit who did amazing to come 6th.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    kingstongraham said:

    I've got so used to watching sport the eurosport way. I switch on for kick off, mute for half time and switch off at full time. For everything.

    At least with rugby they can't really cut away when there's actual sport going on. The BBC coverage of athletics is the most infuriating thing to watch. You can see sport in the background when someone is talking about a brit who did amazing to come 6th.

    This.
    Very much
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • laurentian
    laurentian Posts: 2,587
    blazing_saddles said:

    ddraver said:



    On the opposite side of the coin, no mention of Warburton, Barclay or Heaslip.

    Sam Warburton is an absolutely brilliant pundit IMO - I too noticed his omission from the linked article.
    Wilier Izoard XP
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Warburton is the exception that proves the rule tho, no?
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • laurentian
    laurentian Posts: 2,587
    ddraver said:

    Warburton is the exception that proves the rule tho, no?

    I'd say so yes, but just thought that while he venerated the BT team and called for some of the YouTubers to be BBC/ITV pundits he didn't give SW due credit as he's better than anyone else I've seen recently (admittedly, I haven't seen much).
    Wilier Izoard XP
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    Sale vs Bristol was as exciting as pulling teeth.
    Why is it that loads of tries are scored in most premiership games, but put two teams in a cup match and they become like hen’s teeth.

    Sale defence had to become comatose in order for one to be scored.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Surprised no one mentioned Tom Smith passsing away this week. Far too young at 50 and was the cornerstone of the 1997 Lions win in SA.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,670
    Dorset_Boy said:

    Surprised no one mentioned Tom Smith passsing away this week. Far too young at 50 and was the cornerstone of the 1997 Lions win in SA.

    Was a superb player, ahead of his time but still a superb scrummager despite being fairly small

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