The Rugby Thread

[rodo]

It reminds me of the stag do video guy, who I yesterday discovered, is one of the options on one of those sites where you can order a video message

lads lads lads

[badpiggy]

That was bloody beautiful

[Irishnev]

Always nice to hear England and especially as I wasn’t confident going into it. We gave up a couple of soft tries at the end and another piece of indiscipline cost us. We could have scored more but England looked v disjointed and gave away a load of pens

Nice to see a few potential Lions squad players step up - Henshaw, Beirne, Furlong, Murray and Henderson

[ChesterDave]

Clearly held up for me

[ChesterDave]

Wow. What crazy last 15

[Irishnev]

Wow. What crazy last 15

I’m glad they lost - this isn’t a great Welsh side and would be undeserving of a grand slam. I think they’ll win the championship as Scotland won’t get thumped by France

[ChesterDave]

21 point win required or 20 points but scoring 6 tries. Seems unlikely but they will be highly motivated

[Buzzo]

Great days Rugby we absolutely mullered Italy. Left a few try’s out there even with an 8 try win.

And then a dominant win for Ireland. Didn’t see that coming. What happened to England? They were poor all match.’looked devoid of any ideas at all. Eddie Jones under pressure? He has to be. Some ****e selection decisions all tournament.

And then an absolute cracker France v Wales. I’m so glad France won. Wales have had literally every decision go their way. Their try could have been held up given. France multiple held up not. When a France went for that second scrum 10 points down with 3 and half minutes to play I thought they’d ****ed it. But. Somehow they came back. Welsh discipline went completely (should have been down to 12) and somehow saw it out.

I agree with Nev this Welsh team, though good, are not deserving of the Slam. It was a great game though. And, where other sports have been a bit underwhelming a great tournament. England with technical wooden spoon

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/irishtimessport/status/1374397788671205390"]https://twitter.com/irishtimessport/status/1374397788671205390[/ame]

[badpiggy]

What do people think of Ellis Genge? When I saw him first I thought what a ******. Then I saw that he's a guy from a council estate so I thought kinda good for him. Then I still see him doing his cocky rugby ****** thing and thought why should I drop my ****** assessment standards just cos the guy isn't privately educated so I hated him again. And then I see the fuss about him using the elbow on Sexton and I wonder why he's getting so much **** for it and whether it's because he's not a standard rugby guy. I like mysteries like this.

[Irishnev]

What do people think of Ellis Genge? When I saw him first I thought what a ******. Then I saw that he's a guy from a council estate so I thought kinda good for him. Then I still see him doing his cocky rugby ****** thing and thought why should I drop my ****** assessment standards just cos the guy isn't privately educated so I hated him again. And then I see the fuss about him using the elbow on Sexton and I wonder why he's getting so much **** for it and whether it's because he's not a standard rugby guy. I like mysteries like this.

The Sexton thing was a bit of needle that was common years ago but in the modern game is a red card - very surprised he wasn’t cited. He plays the game on the edge and it makes him the player he is - that doesn’t matter if he is from a council estate or not although it’s less likely an English player comes from that background.

Again in the past most rugby players came from a privileged background - in Ireland the exception to that was Limerick with clubs like Young Munster being very much ‘council estate’ background. Peter Clohessy, Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls being two very notable players to come through from YM.

If you look at Leinster there is usually a very defined path for the Dublin based guys - go to one of the fancy rugby schools and then into the Leinster academy. Outside of Dublin in recent years we’ve seen rural farmer types such as Furlong, Sean O’Brien etc make the jump without going through the school path.

Munster have always had that rural player + Mick Galway, John Hayes, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan and more. There are also plenty of players who came the elite rugby school way (Munchins in Limerick - CBC & PBC in Cork) such as O’Gara and Stringer.

What I am saying is it’s more common in Ireland than in England but I don’t think he gets more **** because of his background. He gets **** because he plays on the edge and steps over it sometimes

[Buzzo]

There were a few decisions not to give reds at the weekend which flew in the face of everything that happened in the weeks leading up. Hogg was spear tackled FFS.

I agree with Genge, ultimately a fascinating character because he doesn't fit the mould, but the mould he does fit is the one where he plays on the edge and gets away with it as many England players have *cough*Farrell*cough* over the years.

His hair is diabolical though.

[Irishnev]

A bit early but why not

[ame="https://twitter.com/irishnev/status/1375368071649562626"]https://twitter.com/irishnev/status/1375368071649562626[/ame]

[Buzzo]

Picking on reputation rather than form there mate Farrell, Vunipola and May...!!! Faletau at 8 for me. Watson just shading 7 stats wise for me. Agree with most of the rest. It would be 12 and one of the wings.

Edit: And North has been playing centre for Wales as he was way out of form on the wing.

[Irishnev]

Picking on reputation rather than form there mate Farrell, Vunipola and May...!!! Faletau at 8 for me. Watson just shading 7 stats wise for me. Agree with most of the rest. It would be 12 and one of the wings.

Edit: And North has been playing centre for Wales as he was way out of form on the wing.

I don’t get the Faletau fuss tbh - I think Billy will be stronger vs SA. I think Garland won’t risk Russell as it’s not his way - it may be Sexton or Farrell at 10 with Finn on the bench. I think Henshaw had a superb 6 Nations and deserves a start so could only squeeze North on the wing. Toss up between May and Watson but May a better finisher.

Killed me to leave out Ryan