The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Confirmed out for tournament

Absolute nightmare. Ah well, there’s always next year

[Irishnev]

**** sake.

Probably only three players we can’t afford to be injured and Sione is one of them (Russell and Zander Fagerson the others). Word on the street is he is out for the tournament…

https://twitter.com/independent/stat...34223512817815

Confirmed out for tournament

[Buzzo]

Even BOD had Sione as his Lions 12

Not normal to have my quiet confidence extinguished this early in the year.

[Irishnev]

Not good - it’s between him and Aki for the Lions 12 Jersey I think and I’d fancy him. To be honest I’ve given it zero thought, we are going for 3 in a row which has never been done

[Buzzo]

**** sake.

Probably only three players we can’t afford to be injured and Sione is one of them (Russell and Zander Fagerson the others). Word on the street is he is out for the tournament…

[ame]https://twitter.com/independent/status/1880934223512817815[/ame]

[ChesterDave]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c1mr0kgjk4ro

Six Nations rebrand gets mixed reception from fans

A new logo for the men's Six Nations which aims to encapsulate the "electrifying action" of the tournament has attracted derision from many fans.

Organisers unveiled the rebranding of the tournament on Saturday, with an orange ball symbol and 'M6N' in the foreground, saying it was inspired by "the vital spark of connection" created by the Six Nations.

"The modern brand signifies the optimism fans feel when they come together at the end of winter to experience the Six Nations," they said.

However, supporters on social media were unconvinced.

"Absolutely shocking", "terrible" and "the ugliest thing I've ever seen" were among the reactions on X, with users comparing it with the branding for a Mars bar, the credits for 1996 film Space Jam and entries into a primary school competition.

A minority of comments praised how the logo echoes that of the women's Six Nations which, having run alongside the men's event until 2021, now has its own calendar.

"The launch of the new identity is intended to articulate the evolution of the Championship and modern game of rugby," added Six Nations organisers.

"The electrifying action and experiences that fans look forward to and enjoy every year, is expressed through the versatile new identity that has been informed by feedback from all corners of the game."

Rob Alderson, editor of Design Week,, external said the rebrand caught him off-guard, but added that it may age better than fans expect.

"I was surprised, it didn’t feel to me like the Six Nations," he told BBC Sport. "But that might be exactly what they are going for.

"If they are trying to expand the Six Nations to reach new people, something that doesn't feel like the Six Nations is probably quite a smart move.

"The problem is we get this stuff as a visual, without the context of what they were going for or how it will be used.

"We haven't seen it in context, on kit, in stadiums or in on-screen graphics.

"The most famous example in the design world was the London 2012 logo – people hated that logo when it came out in 2007, but by the time the Games came round and people saw it on different things and around London, minds had changed and it had become sort of loved.

"People took a lot of patriotic, creative pride in it. That does happen once you see things in context.

"In some ways, it is a good sign you get a strong reaction, because that shows people care. If you roll out a new logo and everyone shrugs, you haven't done a good job or people don't care that much about what it is attached to."

The logo will be used across next year's tournament, which begins with France taking on Wales in Paris on 31 January.



---


It looks like some low budget BBC school learning programme

[Buzzo]

Awesome you were at the game! I watched the first 20 mins, and thought the Wallabies looked good- getting over the gain line and keeping the ball well.

Then switched over to the Liverpool game and was quite surprised to read later just how dominant the Scots were. Wallabies well beaten by all accounts

Yeah they had a solid ten mins from KO for sure but even then never really looked like scoring. Our defence was very robust, which was encouraging.

Sua’ili’i got himself injured with a full on bad technique tackle he tried on Tuipulotu - I’ve met Sione and shaken his hand he is built like a bag of rocks.

Speaking of whom, this pretty heart warming content from last week.

[ame]https://twitter.com/tightfive_rugby/status/1859551990268694989[/ame]

[Sus]

Should be ruled out for going full England style and over celebrating that 50/22 the other week.

Was at the game yesterday. Quite a convincing win, against a supposedly resurgent Aussies. Our defence was rock solid. If anything we should have scored more points. Think we are stuck in that just behind top 4 but ‘could do some thing on our day’ position.

We could 100% do with a tight 5 bomb squad.

Awesome you were at the game! I watched the first 20 mins, and thought the Wallabies looked good- getting over the gain line and keeping the ball well.

Then switched over to the Liverpool game and was quite surprised to read later just how dominant the Scots were. Wallabies well beaten by all accounts

[Irishnev]

Should be ruled out for going full England style and over celebrating that 50/22 the other week.

Was at the game yesterday. Quite a convincing win, against a supposedly resurgent Aussies. Our defence was rock solid. If anything we should have scored more points. Think we are stuck in that just behind top 4 but ‘could do some thing on our day’ position.

We could 100% do with a tight 5 bomb squad.

Ireland play them next, I think they like open games and lose in tight up front battles…. Like what I’d have said previously about ye

Every team can do with a bomb squad - only ZA have such depth! I think we are a little in transition now, a few older guys, a few young guys replacing them and we’ve not settled yet in a few positions.

[Buzzo]

Where do Wales go from here

Hard to say. There is a lot of endeavour and effort but the games don’t get any easier. And getting crushed whilst putting it that level of effort has got to be crushing.

Will be interesting to see what happens to Gatland. I don’t think he wants the job anymore.

[Buzzo]

Should be ruled out for going full England style and over celebrating that 50/22 the other week.

Was at the game yesterday. Quite a convincing win, against a supposedly resurgent Aussies. Our defence was rock solid. If anything we should have scored more points. Think we are stuck in that just behind top 4 but ‘could do some thing on our day’ position.

We could 100% do with a tight 5 bomb squad.

[Irishnev]

Short of just having a South Africa 15 it is hard to argue with any of that.

Lowe is questionable tbh - KLA prob more deserving or Penaud

[Buzzo]

Short of just having a South Africa 15 it is hard to argue with any of that.

[Irishnev]

I’d question Malcolm Marx due to fitness issues, I thought Bongi Mbonambi or Dan Sheehan would be better picks

[Irishnev]

PSDT but the world player of the year and the team of the year is below

World Rugby men’s 15s dream team of the year: 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand); 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), 13. Jesse Kriel (South Africa), 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa), 11. James Lowe (Ireland); 10. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); 1. Ox Nche (South Africa), 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa), 3. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand), 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland).