The Rugby Thread

[Zapater]

Even though this second half has been a mess, I love it. We've been too nice with Australia the last few years. Time to start hating them again. Love Mapimpi pulling his beard after that try

[Cormack74]

I was amazed to hear (if I heard right) that's the first time SA have won in AUS since 2013

[Cormack74]

Oh and just mentioning this now long before the Autumn Internationals or the 6N that Andrew Brace is the worst top level referee around by some distance. So if he refs any England games (and he probably will) then I've already put this out there and can' be accused of making excuses at the time

[Buzzo]

Problems in the prem. This can’t be sustainable.

[ame]https://twitter.com/andygoode10/status/1566384533813043201[/ame]

Saw a quote from Rob Baxter saying he did not ever imagine a scenario where he would lose a starting XV forward - Sam Skinner - to a Scottish club offering a better salary package.

If Worcester are in trouble then Wasps must be close to going out of business.

[Cormack74]

Even pre Covid I think Exeter were pretty much the only top team not making a loss, mainly due to their conference facilities etc IIRC.

But Covid caused massive issues to Premiership rugby, exacerbating existing financial fault lines. And to be fair they have tried to deal with it to some extent by reducing the salary cap which shows how tricky things are.

[Buzzo]

Yeah, seems like the pandemic put further pressure on what were some pretty unsustainable business models. The knock on effect for the English clubs, particularly with the introduction of the South African clubs to the Champions and Challenge cups will be something to keep an eye on.

Worcester seem to be in massive trouble, and I’ve no ide how Wasps address that debt.

[Cormack74]

Yeah, seems like the pandemic put further pressure on what were some pretty unsustainable business models. The knock on effect for the English clubs, particularly with the introduction of the South African clubs to the Champions and Challenge cups will be something to keep an eye on.

Worcester seem to be in massive trouble, and I’ve no ide how Wasps address that debt.

I don't really get what happened to Wasps since they moved to Coventry to make them more sustainable, with the football club as tenants and the various facilities that the Ricoh has to offer.

I think Worcester "just" have unsuitable owners, but it doesn't help they've yo yo'd between the top 2 leagues and have never got anywhere near any sort of Premiership or European success - even QF's or semis / play offs.

[Buzzo]

What a player, what a shock, what a blow for France and Racing and for the player.

Forced to retire (in France, maybe able to play elsewhere???) on medical grounds.

[ame]https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1566779213478301709[/ame]

[Zapater]

Oh and just mentioning this now long before the Autumn Internationals or the 6N that Andrew Brace is the worst top level referee around by some distance. So if he refs any England games (and he probably will) then I've already put this out there and can' be accused of making excuses at the time

So both of us getting out excuses in early then? Nice

I'm already dreading the England game. My birthday is in that week and I'll be very, very bleak if we don't win.

Think the ABs will struggle again this time around more. It seems to take them 80 mins to get to their oppositions rhythm. They won't get that chance in their northern tour, I expect more chaos from them.

What a player, what a shock, what a blow for France and Racing and for the player.

Forced to retire (in France, maybe able to play elsewhere???) on medical grounds.

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status...79213478301709

Huge loss, class player. They probably have the depth to cover it but he is a unique player with a lot of uncommon qualities. I'd use Penaud at 13 but they have other good options too. If it's something serious, hope he has the common sense to call it quits than continue his career elsewhere.

[Cormack74]

So both of us getting out excuses in early then? Nice

I'm already dreading the England game. My birthday is in that week and I'll be very, very bleak if we don't win.

Think the ABs will struggle again this time around more. It seems to take them 80 mins to get to their oppositions rhythm. They won't get that chance in their northern tour, I expect more chaos from them.

I have no idea what to expect from any team currently apart from maybe Ireland and France. The rest are alternately pretty good or utter ****.

If England can lose the habit of perpetual slow starters then they have a chance against anyone but they seem to have spent a lot of the Jones era giving their opponents leads - sometimes substantial ones - before they decide to get involved in a game.

They also need to have a setttled team and Jones needs to stop being the kid in the candy shop picking 50 different guys. He also needs to stop casting people into the wilderness when they don't perform in a game (sometimes their only game or one of only a few) and destroying their confidence for ever more.

In fact it's got to the stage where there are some highly rated players who fans don't want Jones to pick in case he ruins them and would rather wait for the next coach to pick them instead, whenever that is - presumably after the WC.

[Sus]

Was looking forward to the start of the Premiership this weekend (trying to avoid the dumpster fire that will be the Wallabies), will be disappointing if the games are postponed

[Buzzo]

Other than the rescheduling of tonight’s match it appears as if all games will go ahead.

Pragmatic as ever from the Rugby Unions.

[Buzzo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/michaelwarbur17/status/1568239667744575491[/ame]

[bacon]

https://twitter.com/michaelwarbur17/...39667744575491

[rudedog]

https://twitter.com/michaelwarbur17/...39667744575491

Came here to post this, it's brilliant. Makes me want to be Welsh