The Rugby Thread

[Cormack74]

A lot of talk around this, wouldn't be a fan of this at all, although I'm pretty sure it will happen sooner or later.

I'm doubtful. There are several teams (e.g. Georgia) who have a stronger claim to be part of it.

And if any teams were added it would have to mean a change of format with couple of divisions and promotion and relegation - they can't keep adding games to an already packed schedule.

[Buzzo]

Lottery was what it looked like on TV especially when Heinz, Ford and Daly were taking it in turns to kick the ball out on the full.

I wouldn't actually have cared if England had lost in those conditions because there seemed to be quite a lot of pot luck involved and I was just pleased that they played with a more intensity.

But actually you were right in your pre-match comment about England's front five. As it turned out the scrums in the last quarter were probably the difference.

And Stuart Hogg must be about to have an absolute blinder in the next match after what's happened in the last two. It's just a shame that FR looks increasingly unlikely to be part of this year's competition.

Yeah, actually, although he is a massive, massive whopper Eddie Jones gambled on the weather forecast being right and loaded the bench with forwards which probably was the reason England got the win.

The game was horrendous, realistically it should have been called off - the weather came in just on kick off. The rain is one thing, but the wind destroyed the game as a spectacle. The match was pretty much a coin toss with nothing of any substance happening in between. For about 25 mins the game went England out on full, Scotland choosing to throw to the back of the line. Both teams failing to read the conditions. It was cold and wet and a **** watch.

We are in the ****. We’ve not been awful but that’s another two defeats. Finn Russell’s fairly well put interview in the Times today shines the light on the SRU and Townsend. We need a couple of massive performances but I’m not sure we’ve got the squad unity. Italy looked good today so they will be well up for beating us and if they do... it could be game over for Gregor.

No Finn = No try’s.

[Buzzo]

You couldn’t get a feel for the wind on TV.

[ame]https://twitter.com/mar_pry/status/1226535245496963072[/ame]

[Cormack74]

Nice try from Hogg last night which he started in his 22 then finished off after exchanging passes with Simmons.

Wondered if he needed a week off but it looked like the game did him some good.

[Buzzo]

Nice try from Hogg last night which he started in his 22 then finished off after exchanging passes with Simmons.

Wondered if he needed a week off but it looked like the game did him some good.

Just saw it. That was a nice try, and I agree given the last two weeks it may have done Hogg a lot of good to get out of camp and get some rugby in with the chiefs.

Proper Warriors try this.

[ame]https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/1228431319115456512[/ame]

[Cormack74]

WTF is going on at Exeter?

First they have a pretend Scot - Skinner.

Then they sign a real one - Hogg- then another Gray.

Now Hidalgo-Clyne is on his way there.

They'll be renaming themselves Exeter Caledonian at this rate

[Buzzo]

WTF is going on at Exeter?

First they have a pretend Scot - Skinner.

Then they sign a real one - Hogg- then another Gray.

Now Hidalgo-Clyne is on his way there.

They'll be renaming themselves Exeter Caledonian at this rate

Hidalgo-Clyne is a solid Scrum Half. I'd actually forgotten all about him this season.

[Cormack74]

I can't pretend I know loads about him. I saw him at Edinburgh and he looked handy but then he went to Wales I think but got loaned to Quins so clearly it didn't work out. Not sure what happened there? Was he injured?

And then on to France, initially as WC cover I think I read somewhere, so I've no idea if he's played much since.

Anyway he's going to be hungry I should imagine and that's the type of player they seem to relish at Chiefs.

In any event he's going to be an upgrade on Nick White. Well IMO although White seems to be pundits choice whenever I watch a game which is one of life's mysteries to me.

He clearly suits Chiefs quick tempo game but always has an error in him and often takes poor options it seems to me. And his box kicking is woeful which is at least 50% of a modern 9's armoury.

I've thought for a couple of years that a better SH would manifestly improve Exeter so maybe HC is that man.

My only worry Buzzo is that at this rate an English club is going to get your national team back into some sort of form

[Buzzo]

It definitely cant hurt having players in that environment, and hopefully with Richie Gray heading back to Warriors it increases the strength in depth for the national team.

It is hard to know what to say about Scotland... I am starting to think to get us to where we need to be we need a Gatland style SH coach, to install better values and maximise the quality we definitely have. We have a few players about to gain residency this summer, we have strong performers in pretty much every department (maybe lacking a bit front row) but we cant seem to find any sort of form.

The Finn Russell situation is a failure of management no matter the rights and wrongs of how Finn has reacted. I think Townsend is in big trouble if we don't start winning. Our Summer and Autumn schedule is brutal so it could be a tough year.

The Italy match is huge. We should be strong favourites... yet...

[Cormack74]

Winning becomes a habit and for various reasons Scotland have lost that habit.

Perhaps having more players at a Chiefs team that's used to winning will help.

I still think you'll beat the Italians and I wouldn't write off the French fixture just yet either (although Scotland will have to considerably up their scrummaging). They're a new team and if England had even remotely turned up in the first half France would have lost that game. Plus they have to go to Wales before going to Murrayfield and I can't see them winning that one. So confidence may be starting to ebb a bit.

The summer does look tricky though. It might be useful to still have GT in a job and let him take the flack before a new broom sweeps through in the autumn.

[Cormack74]

In other news no Mako for England this w/e Nev.

I know you'll be sad about that

On the one hand we lose a bit of ball carrying but on the other I think the srcum is a touch stronger without him. Plus we get to enjoy more of 'Baby Rhino'. Who doesn't enjoy watching that

[Zapater]

Seldom watch Premiership Rugby, but must say the Wasps are putting together some stunning party pieces.

[Cormack74]

Not normally like Sarries - the attitude is usually spot on even from the 2nd / 3rd team, but I think a combination of having nothing to play for in the league and the fact they're missing a significant International contingent had a fairly significant part in that.

[Buzzo]

Another Bonus Point win for Edinburgh who are topping the division.

Huge changes in that we now are getting wins in during the internationals.

[Buzzo]

Hastings is no Russell.

Missed a simple pen and followed up with the ball out on the full.