The Rugby Thread

[Cormack74]

Not at all becoming!

Not at all, you probably come across as the least biased in this thread where everyone else has an agenda in some capacity or another. Was just pulling your leg a little.

Thanks mate

This is potentially the best thread on Est because we all support different teams and will often be watching different games, so have different stuff to share.

But equally when it comes to the Internationals we have rivalry too.

I'm always genuinely interested to hear everyone's view and to be honest I'm a bit disappointed that Nev hasn't given us a bit more on why he's hanging Sexton and Stockdale out to dry

Given Ireland only had to win by 6 (or 7 or whatever it was) I was a bit surprised that they didn't try and keep the scoreboard ticking over a bit more when they had the opportunity rather than going for the big plays.

Nev - was this your view too?

[Cormack74]

Yeah - Finn does it every game. Ntamack is a great player though.

It was my sons birthday so I’ve missed almost everything today.

I’ve got the Scotland game recorded but apparently it was a shocker, with high winds. Also I heard Finn and Adam Hastings went off with injuries

Congrats to England worthy winners of a strange old tournament.

I think any away win in the 6N is a good result TBH - other than Italy which really doesn't count

Scotland are building as are France, Wales might be about to have a lull but Ireland aren't so far away even if they lost yesterday. They maybe just need to shake up the personnel a bit.

England were brilliant against Nev's boys and for 3/4 of the game v Wales but they got the 50 - 50 against your lot Buzzo and it could have gone either way and they were bang average v the French.

So overall I don't know how worthy England were to come out as winners. The fact that 4 teams had 3 or more wins suggests to me that it was all pretty close this year and maybe the fact the title was decided on points difference underlines that. It's going to be interesting to see what's changed and what hasn't when we go again for the 8 nations in a few weeks time.

Can't wait

[Irishnev]

Thanks mate

This is potentially the best thread on Est because we all support different teams and will often be watching different games, so have different stuff to share.

But equally when it comes to the Internationals we have rivalry too.

I'm always genuinely interested to hear everyone's view and to be honest I'm a bit disappointed that Nev hasn't given us a bit more on why he's hanging Sexton and Stockdale out to dry

Given Ireland only had to win by 6 (or 7 or whatever it was) I was a bit surprised that they didn't try and keep the scoreboard ticking over a bit more when they had the opportunity rather than going for the big plays.

Nev - was this your view too?

They should have played it as a test match - win it and then see. Kicking the corners when 3 points were on offer time and again was daft. Win the game and see if is by enough - we coughed up such handy scores to France to keep them motivated through bad errors compounded by worse execution. I didn’t have much expectations but I just found it so frustrating for some reason and Sexton has been a legend but his time is up.

Thankfully James Lowe qualifies soon and we might see Conway at fullback instead of Stockdale. Zebo would be better but no exceptions for non centrally contracted players unless your name is Johnny

[Cormack74]

Yeah we're on the same page with how they approached it

Not familiar with Lowe (at least I don't think I am), but Zebo is a big miss IMO - it's rare I'm not impressed when watching him play.

They need to write the cheque and get him back to provincial rugby pronto.

[Buzzo]

Scotland wise, having watched the game I was impressed. We look mean in defence. Not sure I’ve ever said that before. Steve Tandy and Pieter De Villiers have made a huge improvement there. We also have genuine front row depth.

If we can get the backs firing we could be quite a team. I’d say the area that isn’t working for us is centre, we are trying a lot of combinations and can’t find anyone with flair who also has a strong defence. But. For a work in progress I’m pretty happy and the watershed from the last World Cup has brought progress.

We’ve sacked off the ‘fastest brand of rugby’ chat which is good.

Quite a frustrating 6Ns for us. We should have beaten Ireland and we will never know v England because of the weather. On the day we just couldn’t get across the line.

We seem capable of finding 3 wins, we cannot get to 4 or the holy grail of 5.

[Buzzo]

Kicking for the corner is very in vogue. I think it’s from Exeter as they pretty much guarantee 7 points line out and maul their way over. Hogg was trying to get us to do it yesterday with an easy three on offer.

Taking the 3 is almost old fashioned.

[Irishnev]

Yeah we're on the same page with how they approached it

Not familiar with Lowe (at least I don't think I am), but Zebo is a big miss IMO - it's rare I'm not impressed when watching him play.

They need to write the cheque and get him back to provincial rugby pronto.

He seems very settled in Paris and with Donncadh O Callaghan there with him he has local company. He also has a good relationship with Russell.

Lowe is a Kiwi been playing on the wing for Leinster and he qualifies for Ireland next week. Same story with us - industry in the pack but nothing behind the scrum - we are crying out for creativity in the centre or at out half but all get get is one out runners. Ringrose I really rate but he gets injured all the time.......we still have some massive prospects coming through across the country so if they make it them we might be ok

[Buzzo]

Yeah we're on the same page with how they approached it

Not familiar with Lowe (at least I don't think I am), but Zebo is a big miss IMO - it's rare I'm not impressed when watching him play.

They need to write the cheque and get him back to provincial rugby pronto.

He was floating the idea of leaving Racing. He is class and a big miss for the 6Ns. He was also hoping Ireland might change the ruling. I think they should.

[Zapater]

Kicking for the corner is very in vogue. I think it’s from Exeter as they pretty much guarantee 7 points line out and maul their way over. Hogg was trying to get us to do it yesterday with an easy three on offer.

Taking the 3 is almost old fashioned.

Not a fan of it at all unless you're really looking to grind a tired opponent down or if there's something tactically in the maul to expose. Will never forget the Bulls losing a Super Rugby semi 7 or 8 years ago against the Brumbies I think because Potgieter consistently kicked for the corners.

[Cormack74]

If we can get the backs firing we could be quite a team. I’d say the area that isn’t working for us is centre, we are trying a lot of combinations and can’t find anyone with flair who also has a strong defence. But. For a work in progress I’m pretty happy and the watershed from the last World Cup has brought progress.

I only watched some of the game as it was by no means a thriller and I went outside to make the most of some drier weather, but you're right, the centres caught the eye but only because they weren't great. A year or two back you had some quality there - what happened?

[Cormack74]

Kicking for the corner is very in vogue. I think it’s from Exeter as they pretty much guarantee 7 points line out and maul their way over. Hogg was trying to get us to do it yesterday with an easy three on offer.

Taking the 3 is almost old fashioned.

Haha, as a back and playing for Exeter he probably thinks it's a piece of cake getting 5 (7) every time.

[Buzzo]

I only watched some of the game as it was by no means a thriller and I went outside to make the most of some drier weather, but you're right, the centres caught the eye but only because they weren't great. A year or two back you had some quality there - what happened?

I think we were exposed a bit by having guys with quick hands and a bit of flair. But on occasion we were conceding territory and losing games. Now we are pragmatic and a bit... too safe.

Huw Jones form fell away big time to the point he is now starting at Full back for Glasgow. Not sure what the story is with Sam Johnson. Matt Scott was jettisoned by Exeter.

[Zapater]

Just finished watching the Chasing the Sun documentary. Hasn't been released internationally yet, apparently they're in talks with distributors so it could be available soon elsewhere. Not convinced it will travel brilliantly.

It looks at the world cup campaign with a camera crew filming the whole of Rassie's reign. Thought it was okay, but nothing special - in terms of showing the actual technical and management process I preferred the Spurs Amazon series. This goes between the rugby and story telling.

Whilst it is a bit heart warming and it shows some great insight to the players as people - I do hate the narrative that South Africa/South Africans are hapless, hopeless, intolerant, poverty stricken, depressed people; but suddenly we win a few matches of rugby and everyone is delighted and the nation is 'together', whatever that means. That Invictus movie with Matt Damon makes me sick.

I've always known Rassie as a terrific coach and a strong leader, but I was really impressed with what I saw. He reminds me a bit of Klopp in all honesty, obviously not as good but impressively close. He must have been the only one who believed the Boks could have won the WC when he took over, he said it from day one and I always thought of it as BS. His English is hilarious - wonder what the Irish players thought of his accent.

Some of the insights to match prep was interesting, doing drills in slow motion in hotels etc so no one can film sessions or look into secrets. A lot of the guys; Beast, Etzebeth, Mapimpi, Vermeulen etc come across really well. I also learnt that Elton and Herschelle Jantjies aren't related - genuinely thought they were brothers.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO7h6SaIw80&feature=emb_logo"]Chasing the Sun | A BTS Documentary on the Springboks 2019 Rugby World Cup Triumph | SuperSport - YouTube[/ame]

Not sure if this will be watchable in other regions - but there's the trailer.

[Buzzo]

Not a fan of it at all unless you're really looking to grind a tired opponent down or if there's something tactically in the maul to expose. Will never forget the Bulls losing a Super Rugby semi 7 or 8 years ago against the Brumbies I think because Potgieter consistently kicked for the corners.

The one that always springs to mind is Chris Robshaw.

I’ll bet he thinks about that decision once or twice a week.

[Cormack74]

I think we were exposed a bit by having guys with quick hands and a bit of flair. But on occasion we were conceding territory and losing games. Now we are pragmatic and a bit... too safe.

Huw Jones form fell away big time to the point he is now starting at Full back for Glasgow. Not sure what the story is with Sam Johnson. Matt Scott was jettisoned by Exeter.

Sam Johnson rings almost no bells

Huw Jones looked good for a while - didn't realize he was gradually moving backwards

I can recall Matt Scott at Gloucester but not at the Chiefs - was he definitely there?