The Rugby Thread

[badpiggy]

It's a great sport. ****ing brilliant to watch.

Of course the culture surrounding it in England is largely still elitist ****e. In Wales, it's so inclusive it's unreal. People of all ages, races, social backgrounds and genders come together to watch it. There are also similarities with LFC in terms of culture, things that make them not a team just to support, but to love.

A boring football match is a thousand times worse than an uneventful rugby match.

[Red_Polo]

Agree with both of those posts

Although, BP, I may not have said that immediately post Scotland - Wales

[Liverpel]

Have you seen them?!

Good point!

[captainfog]

Very much reminiscent of you and Shaggy in the cycling threads

It's a great game and actually a lot of skill involved.

Obviously rugby is currently dead to me after the showing at the weekend but come the Lions tour I'll have forgotten

I've played before. I was in the school rugby team, so I know from first hand experience that there is little skill involved. Take the ball (or egg), for example, the egg shape is a great leveller because if it hits the ground it spins off in random directions.

Limited skill, little or no finesse, next to no tactics.... just a bunch of lumps running at each other and grabbing each others penises in the scrum.

It's a terrible sport. Absolutely ****. Even American Football is better than it. At least they have complicated plays and tactics.

[Red_Polo]

Nice try

[souliv]

Well done to the Welsh and to the Ireland Women's Rugby team on their grand slam win

End of the line for Declan Kidney, a new manager with fresh ideas is needed , thanks for the Grand Slam but time to go.

[RichC]

I've played before. I was in the school rugby team, so I know from first hand experience that there is little skill involved

behave

[Gingawaria]

I keep watching the anthem being sung. I'm not very patriotic at all really but I've had goosebumps every single time.

[captainfog]

behave

It's true

Being able to catch and run doesn't require any great level of skill. Any fool can do it.

[badpiggy]

I keep watching the anthem being sung. I'm not very patriotic at all really but I've had goosebumps every single time.

Same here but only for the french one. Ireland's call makes me want to gut Phil Coulter.

[Liverpel]

Well done Munster.

RONAN O'Gara kicked all the points as Munster overpowered Harlequins to book a Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne.

The two-time European champions produced a devastating second-half performance, led by captain Paul O'Connell and their dominant back row, to kill off any hopes Harlequins had of a famous victory.

Harlequins had led 9-6 at the interval, courtesy of three Nick Evans penalties, but they were hit by a ferocious Munster onslaught in the second period.

O'Gara, back at the venue of his first Heineken Cup match 14 years ago, kicked four penalties in a devastating 16-minute spell that Munster spent camped in Harlequins territory.

Munster conceded 50 points to Glasgow in the RaboDirect PRO12 last weekend but displayed all their European pedigree to down the English champions and reach a remarkable 10th Heineken Cup semi-final.

There were plenty of performances that will have caught the eye of British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland, particularly O'Connell's towering display.

This was Harlequins' first Heineken Cup quarter-final since the Bloodgate scandal erupted at the same stage of the competition four years ago.

Harlequins are a better side and a better club than they were in 2009 but their wait for a debut Heineken Cup semi-final appearance goes on.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/oconnellinspired-munster-overpower-quins-for-famous-win-29179636.html

[Liverpel]

JOE SCHMIDT is expected to be ratified as Ireland's head coach and successor to Declan Kidney by the end of next week.

The Leinster boss is believed to have been the final candidate interviewed as the IRFU concluded the recruitment drive last night and an announcement is expected once contract details are ironed out. During an appearance on last night's 'Late Late Show', Schmidt emphasised how the national position would be less demanding on his time – which appeals as he has a young family.

Schmidt may still request that an official announcement be put back until after Leinster's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Biarritz next Saturday, however, it is likely that the IRFU will want to end speculation before the end of the week.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/schmidt-poised-to-be-announced-as-new-ireland-head-coach-29209752.html

[Liverpel]

This is sad if true.

http://balls.ie/rugby/ronan-ogara-has-played-his-last-game-for-munster-according-to-tomorrows-indo/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

[Chazza]

Lions squad announcement tomorrow at 11am

Wales flanker Sam Warburton is expected to be named as British and Irish Lions captain when head coach Warren Gatland reveals his squad at around 11:00 BST on Tuesday for the tour of Australia.

Gatland is reluctant to pick any players from French clubs, so Jonny Wilkinson is unlikely to make the cut.

England skipper Chris Robshaw could also miss out on the three-Test series.
"I think Warburton would be Warren's favourite," said four-time Lions boss Sir Ian McGeechan.

Gatland, who is taking a sabbatical as Wales coach in order to lead the Lions to Australia, appointed Warburton, then aged 22, as Wales captain ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

The flanker suffered an injury early in Wales' 2013 title-winning Six Nations campaign and did not resume the captaincy when he returned to the starting XV.

But McGeechan believes a Gatland-Warburton axis is "the obvious combination".

"It all comes down to the coach-captain relationship," the Scot explained. "You do have to have that relationship because you need to be honest and get really good feedback, and you need trust both ways, with what you are thinking about and how you are developing things.

"You need someone you feel you know well."

Former England fly-half Wilkinson was man of the match as Toulon beat Saracens to reach the Heineken Cup final on Sunday, reigniting the debate about the 33-year-old Lions' chances.

But the tourists' first game is against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on 1 June - the same day as the French Top 14 final, in which Toulon are tipped to feature.

And Gatland, who has "the most demanding job in Test rugby" according to former Lions, Wales and New Zealand coach Graham Henry, is keen to have all his players involved for the whole tour, including the pre-departure build-up.

Six Nations champions Wales are predicted to provide the biggest contingent, potentially supplying half of what is expected to be a 38-man squad for the trip, which culminates in three Tests against Australia, starting on 22 June.

While Warburton looks to have seen off the captaincy challenges of Irish pair Paul O'Connell and Brian O'Driscoll, current England skipper Robshaw could miss out completely, given the considerable strength in depth among back row contenders.

England second row Joe Launchbury also looks destined to miss the cut, while other difficult calls will have been made in the final selection meeting on Monday.

Areas for discussion included the identities of the remaining two props to accompany Cian Healy, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Dan Cole, Scotland lock Richie Gray's fitness and a third fly-half/midfield option behind Jonathan Sexton and Owen Farrell.

Billy Twelvetrees, Ian Madigan, James Hook and Greig Laidlaw are all thought to be in that latter mix, while it is understood Saracens props Mako Vunipola and Matt Stevens have warranted close scrutiny for front-row selection.

Gray, meanwhile, is battling to overcome a hamstring injury but if guarantees over his fitness can be given then it is thought he will be on the plane.

Welshmen Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau are all expected to join Warburton in the squad.

Ireland are tipped to have double-figure representation, with O'Driscoll set to feature in his fourth Lions tour having made his debut on the 2001 trip to Australia.

But England appear unlikely to improve on their nine-strong selection in South Africa four years ago and Scotland could end up with only four players.

After the game in Hong Kong the Lions fly to Australia for a series of warm-up matches against state sides before the Test series against the Wallabies, which takes place on three consecutive Saturdays.

The Lions' last tour in 2001 ended in a 2-1 series defeat but overall they have won 75% of their games against the Wallabies, with 15 victories in 20 Tests.

Lions down under 2013
Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
Sat 8 June, Queensland Reds, Brisbane
Tue 11 June, Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
Sat 15 June, NSW Waratahs, Sydney
Tue 18 June, ACT Brumbies, Canberra
Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
Tue 25 June, v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
Sat 29 June, v Australia, Melbourne
Sat 6 July, v Australia, Sydney

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22345677

[Chazza]

No Wilkinson.