Rugby: General Chat

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

Considering there's a general chat for Cricket, and the Aviva Premiership kicks off on Friday night, I thought I'd make a topic to discuss all things Rugby, rather than having ones pop up every 6 months or so for the internationals/six nations.

I'll get the ball rolling:

I expect Bath to give Newcastle a battering on Friday. Newcastle have got some good players in their squad, but I think Bath's backs will be too much for them. Should be a good game to start the season though

Don't know who to tip for the title though, I'm hoping Tigers can win it again, but we were lucky we avoided Sarries in the final last year and that Hartley is a word removed. Quins will be strong again this year despite not having too many great players and I reckon Gloucester will do well too, Burns is a brilliant player and will have a great season IMO.

[colhint]

Well It should be a good year for Hull Ionians under 11's. We struggled a bit last year, but that was mainly down to some new lads getting up to speed. Now though things change this year, we go from a 9 man game to 12 man. So this time we have a back row and a fullback. We dominated scrums last year and this year with the back row I can't see anyone touching us

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

I've only ever played 7s and 15s, I joined my club at u14s so never played 12s and don't really know what differences there are at that level. What positions don't play? I always thought back row was the last positions to be added. In junior rugby, scrums don't tend to be all that important IIRC, it's more about quality in the backs and generally faster players are the better players.

 

I hated youth rugby, our team was awful. We lost every match by ~30+ points, and we ended up having to find a team roughly our standard who we played about 8 times a year. But about three years later after we stopped at u17, 5-6 of our age group have played first team rugby for our club, another 4 have played second team (including me) and most have played third team and one of our squad is now 3rds captain. It's crazy how much a team can change in just a few years.

[colhint]

Well under 10's was 9 a side played on about a third of the pitch. It was 3 in the scrum a scrum half and 5 backs. Its not so about the backs making all the difference, They obviously do, but its more breakaway tries they get. I think the majority of tries come from good forward play. And to be honest at this level good forwards are better then good backs. That's because there isn't that much difference in speed compared to pro's. Sure the backs generally win, but its much closer. What is more important at this age, 4 big tackles and they tend not to come near you again

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/rugby-club/news/8907969/brian-odriscoll-resents-warren-gatlands-decision-to-drop-him

 

 

 

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll has admitted that he still feels resentment towards Lions coach Warren Gatland over his omission from the team for the third Test against Australia this summer.

The 34-year-old toured with the Lions for the fourth time this year and played in the first two Tests, which were shared.

With tour skipper Sam Warburton sidelined by injury, O'Driscoll appeared to be a leading candidate to lead the side in the deciding Test but instead he was left out of the 23-man matchday squad altogether.

Gatland opted for an all-Welsh midfield of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies, and was justified to a large extent, as the Lions romped to a 41-16 series clinching win.

Asked if the decision still rankled with him, O'Driscoll told The Rugby Club: "Yeah, there's resentment of course. Is he (Gatland) on the Christmas card list? Unlikely.

"When you're left with disappointment that way, you can't but feel a little bit of resentment.

"People will say the decision was justified because of the results and the performance.

"The way the team played, I felt within the 13 jersey that I might have been able to do a decent job within that part of the team, the way they played in that game.

"That is absolutely not taking anything away from Jonathan's performance, I thought he was pretty good that day and made some big plays at important times.

"But I guess it comes back to you backing yourself, feeling you too could have done some things that maybe others didn't do on the day."

 

 

Pretty interesting article, I still think BOD should've played even though Roberts played quite well.

[villaajax]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/rugby-club/news/8907969/brian-odriscoll-resents-warren-gatlands-decision-to-drop-him

 

 

 

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll has admitted that he still feels resentment towards Lions coach Warren Gatland over his omission from the team for the third Test against Australia this summer.

The 34-year-old toured with the Lions for the fourth time this year and played in the first two Tests, which were shared.

With tour skipper Sam Warburton sidelined by injury, O'Driscoll appeared to be a leading candidate to lead the side in the deciding Test but instead he was left out of the 23-man matchday squad altogether.

Gatland opted for an all-Welsh midfield of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies, and was justified to a large extent, as the Lions romped to a 41-16 series clinching win.

Asked if the decision still rankled with him, O'Driscoll told The Rugby Club: "Yeah, there's resentment of course. Is he (Gatland) on the Christmas card list? Unlikely.

"When you're left with disappointment that way, you can't but feel a little bit of resentment.

"People will say the decision was justified because of the results and the performance.

"The way the team played, I felt within the 13 jersey that I might have been able to do a decent job within that part of the team, the way they played in that game.

"That is absolutely not taking anything away from Jonathan's performance, I thought he was pretty good that day and made some big plays at important times.

"But I guess it comes back to you backing yourself, feeling you too could have done some things that maybe others didn't do on the day."

 

 

Pretty interesting article, I still think BOD should've played even though Roberts played quite well.

 

Roberts played well but BOD's place was taken by Davies (struggled to remember who) who made absolutely no impact on the game at all.

[snowychap]

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the new scrum laws as I saw an article the other day reporting that Barnes has said that they're going to be quite strict with enforcing what they've told the players in advance of the season.

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

 

 

 

Roberts played well but BOD's place was taken by Davies (struggled to remember who) who made absolutely no impact on the game at all.

 

 

I supose technically Davies did replace him as he played 13, but Davies was the one who should have been dropped out of the two. IIRC, Roberts did nothing until his try, he made some brilliant runs but was never passed to, it was a role any of the centres could have done, which kind of makes the BOD decision even more baffling.

 

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the new scrum laws as I saw an article the other day reporting that Barnes has said that they're going to be quite strict with enforcing what they've told the players in advance of the season.

 

 

They needed to sort it out though, it was getting silly. Maybe Adam Jones will finally start getting penalties against him now you have to bind properly whilst setting

Edited September 6, 2013 by MessiWillSignForVilla

[bickster]

Gatland picked a team of people he trusted to do a job, the team won with a wide margin, job done.

The fact that BOD feels resentment is his problem and his alone. The fact that he is still going public about his resentment even now shows he has something of the wrong attitude. Coach made a call, coaches call paid off. Prove him wrong not whine about it like a big girls blouse, that is one of those questions that should be side stepped by anyone with the right attitude.

[villaajax]

Davies, who took BODs place was non existent in that match so how does that prove he made the right call in dropping BOD? It doesn't. Not at all.

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

To be fair to BOD, he didn't go public with it, he was asked a question whilst being interviewed on The Rugby Club, I don't think he's the kind of guy to just whine about it. And as he says in the video, he can't help how he personally feels about it, I mean, if it was my last Lions tour and I got dropped for the last test after never winning one before, I'd be pretty pissed, no matter how happy I was that the team won.

 

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy Australia v South Africa, should be a cracker

 

Holy Crap! South Africa are awesome at rolling mauls 

Edited September 7, 2013 by MessiWillSignForVilla

[bickster]

To be fair to BOD, he didn't go public with it, he was asked a question whilst being interviewed on The Rugby Club, I don't think he's the kind of guy to just whine about it. And as he says in the video, he can't help how he personally feels about it, I mean, if it was my last Lions tour and I got dropped for the last test after never winning one before, I'd be pretty pissed, no matter how happy I was that the team won.

 

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy Australia v South Africa, should be a cracker

 

Holy Crap! South Africa are awesome at rolling mauls 

There are plenty of ways to sidestep that question

[villaajax]

Rather than give your honest opinion which is what people want?

[CarewsEyebrowDesigner]

Wasps v Harlequins is on BT Sport later. Should be a good one.

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

Anybody watch Tigers today?

 

I was watching the Petrov game (I assume like everyone else?) so didn't watch much.

 

A nice bonus point victory to start off the season, and without Youngs, Flood, Tuilagi and Tait too, which is a positive for the international periods.

 

Watched Australia v South Africa yesterday too. Australia were awful, and the Boks really put them to the sword. If the Argies can get on the front foot against them next month, I can see them finishing this Rugby Championship with 0 wins.

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2415458/Leicester-prop-Dan-Cole-faces-disciplinary-hearing-alleged-bite.html

 

Didn't see the game so can't really say what happened but from the picture in the article it looks like Cole got tackled in the mouth, if he gets a ban for that it's ridiculous!

[LoughboroughLion]

Anybody watch Tigers today?

 

I was watching the Petrov game (I assume like everyone else?) so didn't watch much.

 

A nice bonus point victory to start off the season, and without Youngs, Flood, Tuilagi and Tait too, which is a positive for the international periods.

 

Watched Australia v South Africa yesterday too. Australia were awful, and the Boks really put them to the sword. If the Argies can get on the front foot against them next month, I can see them finishing this Rugby Championship with 0 wins.

I've got a season ticket at the Tigers so went down there yesterday. An underwhelming win by all accounts if I'm honest. Although we got the bonus point and never really looked like losing, if we had been playing against a better team they would have punished us. Still, a good start to the season, and looking forward to lifting the trophy again this year.

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

 

Anybody watch Tigers today?

 

I was watching the Petrov game (I assume like everyone else?) so didn't watch much.

 

A nice bonus point victory to start off the season, and without Youngs, Flood, Tuilagi and Tait too, which is a positive for the international periods.

 

Watched Australia v South Africa yesterday too. Australia were awful, and the Boks really put them to the sword. If the Argies can get on the front foot against them next month, I can see them finishing this Rugby Championship with 0 wins.

I've got a season ticket at the Tigers so went down there yesterday. An underwhelming win by all accounts if I'm honest. Although we got the bonus point and never really looked like losing, if we had been playing against a better team they would have punished us. Still, a good start to the season, and looking forward to lifting the trophy again this year.

 

 

I saw that Lamb had a bit of a stinker with the boot, but it's good that we can grind out wins without our main threats in the backs. I imagine if it was against someone like Saracens then we probably would of lost then?

 

I suppose it's quite promising that we can get bonus points against teams and still have Youngs and co. to bring into the side. I'm pretty hopeful for the season, I reckon at least the Premiership Final and semi's of the Heineken 

[Zatman]

this idea to have an Anglo-French cup instead of Heineken Cup is absolute terrible decision for the sport

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

this idea to have an Anglo-French cup instead of Heineken Cup is absolute terrible decision for the sport

 

From a Pro12 point of view, possibly. But from the view of the Premiership and Top14, it'll be much fairer. The Heineken cup currently gives an advantage to the Pro12 teams as they don't have to worry about qualification for the competition and can rest players in the League to save them for Europe. But French and English teams need to get the top half of their domestic league so need to be trying to win every single game. Although this isn't to important towards the start of the season, towards the end when it gets to the quarters, teams in the Pro12 don't need to worry about where they finish in the league (unless it's in the play-offs) so can just concentrate on the Heineken/Amlin, whereas Anglo/French teams need to worry about European qualification, Play-offs and Relegation as well as the Heineken/Amlin, so have to really spread themselves.

 

The ERC refused to budge on the qualification issue, so the RFU and FFR (or whoever made the decisions) have had to force the issue. Pro12 teams will be able to participate still, so it's not as if you'll have the Heineken and this Anglo-French Cup.