The Official English Rugby Thread

[Stranger]

And now he's injured.

[Tichtheid]

And now he's injured.

I owe him an apology - shoulda kept my mouth shut- he did look terrific though

[SaintK]

And now he's injured.

I owe him an apology - shoulda kept my mouth shut- he did look terrific though

Looked like he over extended his ankle
Was having a bloody good game

[JM2K6]

Sione is also a huge carrier, though. He makes serious yards in heavy traffic and is built like a brick shithouse. Likewise, Jordie Barrett is a ball player first but he's also a big, big lump of a guy who can hit a hard line. Having a player like that is critical, regardless of what their primary role is. The fact that both of these guys (like Fickou) are also superb ball players and top tier defenders is what makes them world class.

Moefana is a bit taller than Ollie Lawrence and the same weight, and France relied on Danty for a very long time. It's not like Fickou isn't bigger than any of our centres either.

Hell, even the Aussies dwarf England at the moment; Ikitau + Suaaili is more beef than we were able to put out, and Kerevi's still a unit.

No successful team picks a pairing that doesn't have a top tier carrier. I'd say England has one of the worst in Lawrence, mostly because it's not his natural game - he's a 13 who prefers playing wide rather than being the guy thrown up the middle all the time - and because he's not actually huge (quite a lot shorter than Redpath and only a bit heavier), just very powerful for his size, squat, and direct. England have been trying to make up for it with power wings and the occasional big 15, but with other sides also having those, it's a real deficit for England regardless of who's playing 10. And that's one reason why I'd rather see Freeman given some chances at 13 if we're going to persist with Lawrence at 12, though I think that dream is dead now that we've lost a genuine playmaking 15 to injury.

I usually watch all the Gallagher Prem games but I haven't this season so I can't say who is hot and who is not, but over the course of a few seasons I've always liked the look of Fraser Dingwall.

Speaking of Saints, Hutchinson is another vying for the 12 shirt in Scotland, but again he is not a big bosher.

Sione is listed as 5'10" and 103kg so not huge compared to some centres and about the same as Lawrence. However he runs with real intent and is very good at targeting the right defender and the right shoulder in attack. Unlike many he accelerates into the tackle area and gets into a low profile before contact. I would argue he isnt a huge centre but has the aggression and technique to look like he is?

Lawrence is sub 100kg, Sione listed at 104kg. Lawrence is considered powerful but Sione is both powerful and a decent amount beefier too.

[Kawazaki]

Can somebody point out where the creative genius who plays flyhalf for Harlequins is and the line breaking 8 they apparently also have?

[JM2K6]

Can't believe Smith keeps making Anyanwu crowbar or drop the ball

[Kawazaki]

Quins really are shite. Gutless.

Flat track bullies.

[SaintK]

Not often a team is "nilled" in the Premiership
Quins were very poor all over the field

[Torquemada 1420]

Not often a team is "nilled" in the Premiership
Quins were very poor all over the field

These days, it's a pretty unusual occurrence all round. To score nil against flaky Glaws must have taken some not doing.

[dpedin]

I usually watch all the Gallagher Prem games but I haven't this season so I can't say who is hot and who is not, but over the course of a few seasons I've always liked the look of Fraser Dingwall.

Speaking of Saints, Hutchinson is another vying for the 12 shirt in Scotland, but again he is not a big bosher.

Sione is listed as 5'10" and 103kg so not huge compared to some centres and about the same as Lawrence. However he runs with real intent and is very good at targeting the right defender and the right shoulder in attack. Unlike many he accelerates into the tackle area and gets into a low profile before contact. I would argue he isnt a huge centre but has the aggression and technique to look like he is?

Lawrence is sub 100kg, Sione listed at 104kg. Lawrence is considered powerful but Sione is both powerful and a decent amount beefier too.

They are very similar builds and weight but 'big centres' are/were the likes of Esterhuizen at 6'3" and 113kg, Danty at 5'11" and 110kg, McCloskey at 6'3" and 112kg, Jamie Roberts at 6'3" and 110kg or of course Bastareaud at 6' and 120kg. Lawrence is also an aggressive runner and attacks the gain line well but Sione just seems to have better feet and sees a gap better than Lawrence. Of course it could be that playing outside Russell has helped both Lawrence at club level and Sione at international level to create gaps in defenses?

[JM2K6]

Sione is listed as 5'10" and 103kg so not huge compared to some centres and about the same as Lawrence. However he runs with real intent and is very good at targeting the right defender and the right shoulder in attack. Unlike many he accelerates into the tackle area and gets into a low profile before contact. I would argue he isnt a huge centre but has the aggression and technique to look like he is?

Lawrence is sub 100kg, Sione listed at 104kg. Lawrence is considered powerful but Sione is both powerful and a decent amount beefier too.

They are very similar builds and weight but 'big centres' are/were the likes of Esterhuizen at 6'3" and 113kg, Danty at 5'11" and 110kg, McCloskey at 6'3" and 112kg, Jamie Roberts at 6'3" and 110kg or of course Bastareaud at 6' and 120kg. Lawrence is also an aggressive runner and attacks the gain line well but Sione just seems to have better feet and sees a gap better than Lawrence. Of course it could be that playing outside Russell has helped both Lawrence at club level and Sione at international level to create gaps in defenses?

Hey, all I'm saying is Sione is demonstrably heavier than Lawrence and is as close as the likes of Danty and Roberts in terms of weight as he is to Lawrence. I agree that he is also a better player overall, although with the caveat that Lawrence is being shoehorned into a specific role that doesn't suit him simply because The Coaches Demand A Tuilagi.

I'm also no Jeff The Bear and fully acknowledge that power isn't just weight and speed! Sione is both big enough and powerful enough to be very effective as a direct runner when he needs to be.

[SaintK]

33 points in 20 minutes at Welford Rd
Very enjoyable

[petej]

33 points in 20 minutes at Welford Rd
Very enjoyable

Tigers suicidal. Pollard's been poor.

[SaintK]

Bonus point try for Bears

[JM2K6]

The annual Big Game shaping up to be a genuine circus

[petej]

Bonus point try for Bears

Really pissed with the ref on this set. He let Bristol roll onto the wrong side in 5 consecutive rucks.

[petej]

Fat bearded twit notices Bristol on the wrong side

Pollard playing terribly.

[SaintK]

Fat bearded twit notices Bristol on the wrong side

Pollard playing terribly.

Have never like Smales as a ref!
40 12 is a long way for Tigers to come back

[petej]

Fat bearded twit notices Bristol on the wrong side

Pollard playing terribly.

Have never like Smales as a ref!
40 12 is a long way for Tigers to come back

Bristol playing him well to be fair. If you can go off your feet on your own and opposition ball you should do it. It creates very fast ball. You can see how Bristol lost so heavily to Leinster who will do that faster if allowed by a ref. Leicester poor as well pollard is on about -21 on his own with the slip, stupid failed chip and missed touch.

[JM2K6]

Lmao Randall vs Steward was even funnier than Murley vs Wade last night

Ouch

[petej]

Don't know the rules with this ref. He's not consistent.

[JM2K6]

He's pinging Bristol off the park at the moment, what are we complaining about

[JM2K6]

Bristol unhappy with the ref and unsurprisingly so given a) a tackle off the ball and b) an "advantage" which was a couple of carries (one knocked on) ten yards behind the original knock on offence

[petej]

He's pinging Bristol off the park at the moment, what are we complaining about

Quality narrative driven reffing. Wants a come back.

[petej]

Tigers shit. Players and coaches should donate a week's salary for being this crap.

[JM2K6]

He's pinging Bristol off the park at the moment, what are we complaining about

Quality narrative driven reffing. Wants a come back.

I see what you mean. Could just be a case of rewarding the team with the ball, mind. Some refs are like that.

[JM2K6]

I don't want to come across as bullying the poor guy but Steward just got roasted again, this time by Ravouvou. Got nowhere near him.

[SaintK]

I don't want to come across as bullying the poor guy but Steward just got roasted again, this time by Ravouvou. Got nowhere near him.

Outrageous try
Stole the ball in his own 22 and smoked them

[petej]

He's pinging Bristol off the park at the moment, what are we complaining about

Quality narrative driven reffing. Wants a come back.

I see what you mean. Could just be a case of rewarding the team with the ball, mind. Some refs are like that.

He let Bristol get away with a lot first half. Then for 20 minutes pinged them for everything. Terrible performance from Tigers as well. Genuinely, coaches and players should donate a week's salary to charity for this shit.

[petej]

This ref is genuinely bad.

Edit: narrative meant tigers had to at least get a BP try.

[inactionman]

I don't want to come across as bullying the poor guy but Steward just got roasted again, this time by Ravouvou. Got nowhere near him.

To give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.

I do enjoy watching Bristol.

[petej]

I want that ref for like a saints vs quins game. Would be highly entertaining for the neutral.

[duke]

I don't want to come across as bullying the poor guy but Steward just got roasted again, this time by Ravouvou. Got nowhere near him.

To give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.

I do enjoy watching Bristol.

You’ll have to wash your mouth out for that

[inactionman]

I don't want to come across as bullying the poor guy but Steward just got roasted again, this time by Ravouvou. Got nowhere near him.

To give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.

I do enjoy watching Bristol.

You’ll have to wash your mouth out for that

It does taste a little bit muddy

[petej]

To give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.

I do enjoy watching Bristol.

You’ll have to wash your mouth out for that

It does taste a little bit muddy

If your near weston-super-mare it is not just mud Wessex water mix in a lot of shit as well.

[inactionman]

You’ll have to wash your mouth out for that

It does taste a little bit muddy

If your near weston-super-mare it is not just mud Wessex water mix in a lot of shit as well.

I remember the water in Bath being so hard you could grout your kitchen with it.

On that note, Newcastle-Bath kicks off in 15 mins, Guy Pepper starts against his old club.

I'll have it on record to watch it with a few beers once kids are down

[Slick]

Marvellous afternoon watching Amersham & Chiltern smash Tring - even better as Tring were a bunch of cheap shot merchants with an incredibly moany support and a cheating touch judge.

Even met up with PB’s dad after a lot of years!

[SaintK]

Stodgy, error strewn match at Sale against Chiefs
They're leading 14 3 at halftime
Conditions appalling mind you!

[Brazil]

Stodgy, error strewn match at Sale against Chiefs
They're leading 14 3 at halftime
Conditions appalling mind you!

Proper weather that. Don't expect much from the second half.

[SaintK]

Stodgy, error strewn match at Sale against Chiefs
They're leading 14 3 at halftime
Conditions appalling mind you!

Proper weather that. Don't expect much from the second half.

Weather eased a bit by the looks
Sale 28 10
Exeter coughed up 17 penalties
They really need sorting out