The Rugby Thread

[bacon]

that's the sporting trip of a lifetime -what an amazing experience and bettered by the fact we got a 'positive' result.

Might contact you in 12 years for advice about going

Just go mate - be prepared for every night [and more than a few days] out on the lash - its an awesome experience

[bacon]

Yes me - in the previous post to yours

[Rigadon]

Great Lions tour. Every game was like a test. As for the actual series - the two best rugby sides in the world. Glad this year’s tour was in NZ (SA and Australia are very poor at the mo’).

Such an odd feeling in the stadium on Saturday at the final whistle. Lions and AB fans didn’t know how to react. As for the post-match celebrations/hangover – I’m still suffering.

I think Gatland did incredibly well. His test selections were excellent (only two positions that I would have changed were LW {struggling under the high ball} and AWJ {better in second test but thought Lawes deserved to start with Henderson on the bench}).

Gatland and Warburton – undefeated coach and captain in successive Lions series against Australia and NZ. Brilliant!!

Three players not really mentioned much during the tour/series – Watson, Daly and George. They were excellent. England have a very bright future….unfortunately

[Cormack74]

[Buzzo]

Pretty groundbreaking stuff by the pro12.

Invite in 2 SA teams and rebrand as the pro 14.

I quite like that Rugby Union doesn't get bogged down when faced with a big revolutionary decision, this has all happened in the space of 2 months. Here is how it works.

[ame="https://youtu.be/2LetCD4mJqg"]The #GUINNESSPRO14 is here! - YouTube[/ame]

That away trip to Port Elizabeth is going to be a *******.

[Cormack74]

When this first came up I wondered if they might just base the SA teams over here.

[Buzzo]

I can't see them flying back every week, so I'd imagine they will have clusters of away games followed by clusters of home games? It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[Zapater]

It'll have to be done like that 'tours'. Similar to how the Jaguares play in Super Rugby. Geographically nowhere near NZ, Australia, SA or Asia.

They had to find a solution because the Super Rugby expansion from last season wasn't working there was too much travelling and too many fixtures. Also the quality of the competition was getting diluted. Problem is the teams/fans etc, especially the Cheetahs would never accept not having a team entered into an international competition. I think it's impossible that the franchises will be based abroad for that reason alone.

It'll be interesting to see how it goes, because often these kind of experiments don't work out great. I also wonder if it'll be more financially viable in terms of sponsorship and bonuses for SA players to be playing in this competition i.e. the advantages of some overseas benefits from home regarding payment structure. I'm also curious to see if this will impact upon international selection.

[Buzzo]

England players Manu Tuilagi and Denny Solomona have been sent home from a training camp over "team culture issues", says the Rugby Football Union.

Team Culture Issues...?

I wonder how many pints these culture issues involved?

[Chris]

Australia getting a brutal, brutal beating.

[Buzzo]

They just aren't the same force right now.

We beat them in Australia this summer with a massively under strength XV.

[Buzzo]

27-54 now...!

[Chris]

New Zealand completely stopped trying after I typed that haha!

[Rigadon]

They just aren't the same force right now.

We beat them in Australia this summer with a massively under strength XV.

There were thousands of empty seats in the stadium. Union's in a bad place in Australia.

New Zealand completely stopped trying after I typed that haha!

It was far too easy for them first half. Australia missed so many tackles and the ABs were clinical.

Wayne Barnes had a good game

[Rigadon]

The New Zealand v Australia game was a cracker. Definitely worth watching.