The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Bealham is the prop - he did quite well tbh and didn’t give away more pens than anyone else. Playing for Connaught is a big difference vs the French front row. Still, these are the challenges you need to overcome so let’s see how the others step up

It was the pother prop then. The one with the beard - Sheridan? His card was marked by the ref second half.

[Zapater]

ah, the nuance.

Tiopolotu's gran is Scottish (true story). So he's not residency either

I absolutely agree though, and the big winner is International Rugby. But, and I suspect this is because the main media narrative is English - it always gets brought up when we win.

Van der Merwe left ZA as he could not get a game, went to Montpellier, could not get a game. Went to Edinburgh when they were poor, got a game. Improved year on year in that environment. Qualified through residency and his career took off.

I've no issues with it, and I suspect as you point out, the main nation who could feel grievance, is South Africa. But they have hardly struggled!

I don't care about van der Merwe, he never would have amounted to anything at home, so good for him. Wouldn't get anywhere near our team, same goes for the other Scotland exports. Even if he was good enough (which I don't think he is) quotas would rule him out with world class players of colour in his position.

We have profited from the continent too though. Gary Teichmann, Brian Mujati, the Beast and Chavhanga were all born in or grew up in Zimbabwe for example. The difference is that they don't have top level rugby and rugby coaching in their countries. I wouldn't have minded if Jacques Burger was a reserve flank though.

Although it's **** that World Rugby do nothing to stop poaching. If English players started leaving England to try to qualify for SA in some alternative universe, there'd be a rule put in place immediately. The "scramble for Africa" is nowhere near finished. A little protection would be nice rather than encouraging it. Teams in the north should develop their own players rather than pinching second rate Kiwis, Aussies and South Africans anyway.

[Buzzo]

On a wider point, from what I am seeing having South African teams in the URC is a massive benefit for the tournament. Overall the standard is much higher, which drives interest. The format could do with a bit of fine tuning, but uiltimately it is all about getting to the end of season playoffs. Tnere was a belting match between Edinburgh and Cell C Sharks a few weeks ago. This is realistically the only way we can get that player development you talk about. We only have 2 teams and in the recent U20s v England they fielded a team who all had first team experience and we fielded a team with none.

Our players being good enough now to play in England, France and Ireland has meant we can push more players into competitive action which creates a stronger squad. I would say it has taken the best part of a decade for this to happen. Italy the same, they are starting to see results from a project which has been over 20 years in the making.

[Irishnev]

It was the pother prop then. The one with the beard - Sheridan? His card was marked by the ref second half.

Insert generic Irish name

Andrew Porter - picked on the Lions but got injured. His best position is where Furlong plays so he’s had to retrain for the other side

[Buzzo]

Insert generic Irish name

Andrew Porter - picked on the Lions but got injured. His best position is where Furlong plays so he’s had to retrain for the other side

He did also put in a miracle tackle on the line to hold Wales up.

[Irishnev]

Another key player out - Sheehan arguably the form hooker in the world injured now

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Rob Herring, Finlay Bealham; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Bundee Aki.

We’ll find it v tough

[Buzzo]

Haha. You say that ahead of every game (though there are no easy wins in the 6Ns).

I think you will beat France

We have Zander Fagerson back to play wales but other than that unchanged. Gatland has ditched the dinosaurs so no idea what to expect. The talk from camp has been pretty focused and we definitely didn’t over celebrate beating England. We’ve ****ed up v Wales soooo many times and Gatland has never lost to us so the stats are in their favour.

Fascinated by the England Italy match. Italy looked good.

[Irishnev]

Haha. You say that ahead of every game (though there are no easy wins in the 6Ns).

I think you will beat France

We have Zander Fagerson back to play wales but other than that unchanged. Gatland has ditched the dinosaurs so no idea what to expect. The talk from camp has been pretty focused and we definitely didn’t over celebrate beating England. We’ve ****ed up v Wales soooo many times and Gatland has never lost to us so the stats are in their favour.

Fascinated by the England Italy match. Italy looked good.

We need to make home advantage count, first time in 4 years we’ll have a home crowd vs France. We’ve not beaten them under Farrell and we are kidding 5 starters so I’m wary but we’ll give it a good shot

You guys and Wales us hilarious….. they always have your number but I can’t see ye not winning, especially at home

[Buzzo]

Set up for another cracking set of fixtures.

[Irishnev]

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[Buzzo]

I think there is a reasonable amount of context to this quote, unless Eddie has had a full personality transplant?

“Expanding the attack sometimes takes away from your strengths and they’re going through that difficult period now where they’re trying to get the balance right. Steve’ll fix it. There’s no no doubt he’ll fix it. And keep blaming me, that’s alright. I’ve got a pretty strong back and strong shoulders to absorb that.”

[Irishnev]

I think there is a reasonable amount of context to this quote, unless Eddie has had a full personality transplant?

I posted it here knowing ye’d yet the full context. New manager blames last manager yet he was part of the coaching ticket Eddie being himself with his razor sharp retorts……

Eng v Aus will be a bit tasty next time

[Buzzo]

Definitely.

He is so ****ing spikey. Though England miss a bit of his 'edge'.

[Irishnev]

Close win for u-20s v France, won it last year and going well again. Some big prospects coming through, u-20 rugby is a good watch

[Buzzo]

Watched us beat Wales at U20s our first win in years.