The Official English Rugby Thread

[inactionman]

Not a wonderful story, and all very tabloid so apologies in advance, but the England rugby player who was investigated for rape has been exonerated.

A woman in Manchester fabricated stories about Marland Yarde raping a 16 year old, and sold the rape story to the press. She's just been found guilty of stalking him for 14 months - where it came out that she'd made up the rape allegations.

I'm not his greatest fan, but absolutely shocking that his career was essentially ended by this.

[Yeeb]

Not a wonderful story, and all very tabloid so apologies in advance, but the England rugby player who was investigated for rape has been exonerated.

A woman in Manchester fabricated stories about Marland Yarde raping a 16 year old, and sold the rape story to the press. She's just been found guilty of stalking him for 14 months - where it came out that she'd made up the rape allegations.

I'm not his greatest fan, but absolutely shocking that his career was essentially ended by this.

She’s on the BBC now.

(The news & media source I mean)

[Brazil]

It was Huget who was utterly hopeless

Now there was an uber c**t.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... matic-dive

and forgot to add this one
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... -on-marais

Huget was not even a decent winger...

It was Huget that Boucherie Ovalie ran a picture of with the caption "'Chat' not only means pussy, it can also mean big hairy cunt", wasn't it?

[inactionman]

Felix Jones back with South Africa. I thought it was supposed to be Munster but who knows what any more.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... dee4ey6qjo

[Simian]

Felix Jones back with South Africa. I thought it was supposed to be Munster but who knows what any more.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... dee4ey6qjo

Think Munster have the chief’s coach coming in for next season.

[Slick]

Felix Jones back with South Africa. I thought it was supposed to be Munster but who knows what any more.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... dee4ey6qjo

Rassie couldn't help himself being a cock even with this.

After spending some time in England, his experience of studying opposition teams in the Six Nations

[Kawazaki]

Not a wonderful story, and all very tabloid so apologies in advance, but the England rugby player who was investigated for rape has been exonerated.

A woman in Manchester fabricated stories about Marland Yarde raping a 16 year old, and sold the rape story to the press. She's just been found guilty of stalking him for 14 months - where it came out that she'd made up the rape allegations.

I'm not his greatest fan, but absolutely shocking that his career was essentially ended by this.

She’s on the BBC now.

(The news & media source I mean)

I saw what you did there.

Small chuckle.

[SaintK]

Felix Jones back with South Africa. I thought it was supposed to be Munster but who knows what any more.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... dee4ey6qjo

Think Munster have the chief’s coach coming in for next season.

Yep.McMillan has signed a 3 year deal this week

[fishfoodie]

Saw this I wonder how much shit the Irish on the board would have made if an English international had inadvertently gouged one of their players causing a career ending injury.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... q1w11egz1o

It's a bit cuntish of you to immediately assume that any of us would react the way you apparently feel entitled to ?

It was an unfortunate accident, that sadly meant the end of a players career; it was no-ones fault, it's just a fact of life in contact sports.

[Paddington Bear]

Not a wonderful story, and all very tabloid so apologies in advance, but the England rugby player who was investigated for rape has been exonerated.

A woman in Manchester fabricated stories about Marland Yarde raping a 16 year old, and sold the rape story to the press. She's just been found guilty of stalking him for 14 months - where it came out that she'd made up the rape allegations.

I'm not his greatest fan, but absolutely shocking that his career was essentially ended by this.

She’s on the BBC now.

(The news & media source I mean)

Really tough one as there are far more women that will never get justice than there are men like Yarde who are falsely accused and see their lives ruined, however you have to feel a load of sympathy for a man who has seen his life ruined as a result of this. Can only hope he is able to make a living in rugby through his 30s and make up for some of the time he has lost

[Torquemada 1420]

Now there was an uber c**t.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... matic-dive

and forgot to add this one
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... -on-marais

Huget was not even a decent winger...

It was Huget that Boucherie Ovalie ran a picture of with the caption "'Chat' not only means pussy, it can also mean big hairy cunt", wasn't it?

That's one I missed. Vile human being.

[Yeeb]

Saw this I wonder how much shit the Irish on the board would have made if an English international had inadvertently gouged one of their players causing a career ending injury.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... q1w11egz1o

It's a bit cuntish of you to immediately assume that any of us would react the way you apparently feel entitled to ?

It was an unfortunate accident, that sadly meant the end of a players career; it was no-ones fault, it's just a fact of life in contact sports.

I seem to recall Irish posters & social media going rather bezerk when Brian o Driscoll got injured in that lions game spear tackle , where they all also ‘a bit cuntish?’

Am not sure the phrases ‘it was an unfortunate accident , no one’s fault, just a fact of life in contact sports’ would have gone down too well at that time with anyone from team green.

[SaintK]

Not a wonderful story, and all very tabloid so apologies in advance, but the England rugby player who was investigated for rape has been exonerated.

A woman in Manchester fabricated stories about Marland Yarde raping a 16 year old, and sold the rape story to the press. She's just been found guilty of stalking him for 14 months - where it came out that she'd made up the rape allegations.

I'm not his greatest fan, but absolutely shocking that his career was essentially ended by this.

She’s on the BBC now.

(The news & media source I mean)

Really tough one as there are far more women that will never get justice than there are men like Yarde who are falsely accused and see their lives ruined, however you have to feel a load of sympathy for a man who has seen his life ruined as a result of this. Can only hope he is able to make a living in rugby through his 30s and make up for some of the time he has lost

A bit of background
https://archive.ph/LzCOX

[inactionman]

Bath clearing the bench Vs Quins and have gone from 28-7 down to 34-28 up

[Paddington Bear]

Bath clearing the bench Vs Quins and have gone from 28-7 down to 34-28 up

Just watched on catch up - great entertainment

[SaintK]

He's not wrong!!!

Former captain Will Carling has questioned the quality and experience of England's current coaching set-up, suggesting it is preventing the team reaching their full potential.
England recovered from an opening-round defeat by Ireland with dramatic one-point wins over France and Scotland, but have still been criticised for their style of play so far in the Six Nations.
"We do have some talented players there's no doubt and maybe we're seeing a slightly restricted version of them," Carling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-uni ... 352jzkko

[Hal Jordan]

We could do with someone of his quality at 12 right now.

[SaintK]

Message to Scabnose: It aint effin well working!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20 ... orthwick

[sockwithaticket]

Message to Scabnose: It aint effin well working!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20 ... orthwick

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

[Hal Jordan]

Problem is, when the kicking is done by your 9-10-12 axis, that stifles everything unless you have a mutant kick chase game, which we really don't.

[Paddington Bear]

Message to Scabnose: It aint effin well working!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20 ... orthwick

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

We did also score four tries against France in fairness, which has nothing to do with their handling and seems to be getting overlooked. Kicking into position followed by well executed strike moves is not a horror show for spectators at all and seems to be what they’re attempting. A few handling errors and a dumb pen from Earl prevented it getting off the ground v Scotland but you can see what they’re trying to do.

Scotland in any case was exceptional in that the team shat themselves as soon as they realised it was a ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to play rugby day’ as opposed to ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to show off his beach weights and whinge at the ref’ day, leading to a decision to not offer Scotland any turnover opportunities in our own half. Take out a phenomenally dumb lineout pen in the last 5 minutes and the tactic probably leads to a 19-10 win over a bogey side and I’m convinced the narrative would be different

[Oxbow]

Holy shitballs, Borthwick has actually dropped Slade (or maybe he's injured, I don't care) and Dingwall starts. On a less positive note, Daly starts at 15, because that always worked out

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

[SaintK]

With 5 Saints in the backs starting and Slade dropped, lets hope the ball gets through the hands a bit more.

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

[Hal Jordan]

With 5 Saints in the backs starting and Slade dropped, lets hope the ball gets through the hands a bit more.

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Not with Borthwick's data.

[Paddington Bear]

Really hope Dingwall makes the most of this chance.

Daly… you can’t keep a good man down

[Deveron Boy]

Message to Scabnose: It aint effin well working!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20 ... orthwick

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

We did also score four tries against France in fairness, which has nothing to do with their handling and seems to be getting overlooked. Kicking into position followed by well executed strike moves is not a horror show for spectators at all and seems to be what they’re attempting. A few handling errors and a dumb pen from Earl prevented it getting off the ground v Scotland but you can see what they’re trying to do.

Scotland in any case was exceptional in that the team shat themselves as soon as they realised it was a ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to play rugby day’ as opposed to ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to show off his beach weights and whinge at the ref’ day, leading to a decision to not offer Scotland any turnover opportunities in our own half. Take out a phenomenally dumb lineout pen in the last 5 minutes and the tactic probably leads to a 19-10 win over a bogey side and I’m convinced the narrative would be different

That’s a great take you keep thinking this england team are on the cusp of being special…. They played almost zero running rugby in the entire 80 mins

[Deveron Boy]

Message to Scabnose: It aint effin well working!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20 ... orthwick

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

We did also score four tries against France in fairness, which has nothing to do with their handling and seems to be getting overlooked. Kicking into position followed by well executed strike moves is not a horror show for spectators at all and seems to be what they’re attempting. A few handling errors and a dumb pen from Earl prevented it getting off the ground v Scotland but you can see what they’re trying to do.

Scotland in any case was exceptional in that the team shat themselves as soon as they realised it was a ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to play rugby day’ as opposed to ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to show off his beach weights and whinge at the ref’ day, leading to a decision to not offer Scotland any turnover opportunities in our own half. Take out a phenomenally dumb lineout pen in the last 5 minutes and the tactic probably leads to a 19-10 win over a bogey side and I’m convinced the narrative would be different

That’s a great take you keep thinking this england team are on the cusp of being special…. They played almost zero running rugby in the entire 80 mins

[sockwithaticket]

Message to Scabnose: It aint effin well working!!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20 ... orthwick

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

We did also score four tries against France in fairness, which has nothing to do with their handling and seems to be getting overlooked. Kicking into position followed by well executed strike moves is not a horror show for spectators at all and seems to be what they’re attempting. A few handling errors and a dumb pen from Earl prevented it getting off the ground v Scotland but you can see what they’re trying to do.

Scotland in any case was exceptional in that the team shat themselves as soon as they realised it was a ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to play rugby day’ as opposed to ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to show off his beach weights and whinge at the ref’ day, leading to a decision to not offer Scotland any turnover opportunities in our own half. Take out a phenomenally dumb lineout pen in the last 5 minutes and the tactic probably leads to a 19-10 win over a bogey side and I’m convinced the narrative would be different

In isolation, sure, it looks like maybe it's progress and they're building to something, but this is Borthwick's 3rd campaign and at least the 5th for this squad where there's been a mixture of horrific anti-rugby, promising attack, shizophrenic defence and a whole lot of mediocrity. I accept that we're not going to play a champagne rugby blinder every single game, let alone against decent opposition, but getting back to a place where we can at least look as fluid as the other leading teams and as cohesive in what we're trying to do shouldn't be too much to ask and yet it's been years.

[SaintK]

Holy shitballs, Borthwick has actually dropped Slade (or maybe he's injured, I don't care) and Dingwall starts. On a less positive note, Daly starts at 15, because that always worked out

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Don't mind Daly at 15, he was the best full back in the Prem leading up to the 6N. Dingwall really needs to grab this chance with both hands.

[Kawazaki]

Holy shitballs, Borthwick has actually dropped Slade (or maybe he's injured, I don't care) and Dingwall starts. On a less positive note, Daly starts at 15, because that always worked out

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Daly is a much much much better fullback than Marcus Smith is. And you can double the much content when you compare him to Freddie Steward.

[Oxbow]

Yes, but it's not really moving forward though is it. How did Carpenter get on in the 'A' game, I would rather have seen him given a run against Italy with Daly providing plenty of cover on the bench.

[SaintK]

Yes, but it's not really moving forward though is it. How did Carpenter get on in the 'A' game, I would rather have seen him given a run against Italy with Daly providing plenty of cover on the bench.

Carpenter did ok in what were dreadful weather conditions. I'd not have a problem if he'd been given a start in this match

[Punter15]

Holy shitballs, Borthwick has actually dropped Slade (or maybe he's injured, I don't care) and Dingwall starts. On a less positive note, Daly starts at 15, because that always worked out

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Daly is a much much much better fullback than Marcus Smith is. And you can double the much content when you compare him to Freddie Steward.

All very true, but Smith does at least attempt to tackle. Still a huge upgrade on Steward.

[Kawazaki]

Smith does at least attempt to tackle.

He does what?

[Paddington Bear]

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

We did also score four tries against France in fairness, which has nothing to do with their handling and seems to be getting overlooked. Kicking into position followed by well executed strike moves is not a horror show for spectators at all and seems to be what they’re attempting. A few handling errors and a dumb pen from Earl prevented it getting off the ground v Scotland but you can see what they’re trying to do.

Scotland in any case was exceptional in that the team shat themselves as soon as they realised it was a ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to play rugby day’ as opposed to ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to show off his beach weights and whinge at the ref’ day, leading to a decision to not offer Scotland any turnover opportunities in our own half. Take out a phenomenally dumb lineout pen in the last 5 minutes and the tactic probably leads to a 19-10 win over a bogey side and I’m convinced the narrative would be different

That’s a great take you keep thinking this england team are on the cusp of being special…. They played almost zero running rugby in the entire 80 mins

OK, and we still beat you. Which ought to raise questions on your own thread which aren’t about the ref. And anyway I wrote exactly what I wrote and not what you wrote

[Ovals]

Smith does at least attempt to tackle.

He does what?

He's made plenty of tackles in this 6N @ completion rate of 70% - somewhat better than Earl. Marcus certainly doesn't lack conviction in tackling.

[Paddington Bear]

Unofortunately, it did bag two narrow wins against decent opposition and we may well end up 4 from 5 by the end of the tournament, which would certainly be taken as evidence that it is working even if we could quite as easily be 2 from 5.

We did also score four tries against France in fairness, which has nothing to do with their handling and seems to be getting overlooked. Kicking into position followed by well executed strike moves is not a horror show for spectators at all and seems to be what they’re attempting. A few handling errors and a dumb pen from Earl prevented it getting off the ground v Scotland but you can see what they’re trying to do.

Scotland in any case was exceptional in that the team shat themselves as soon as they realised it was a ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to play rugby day’ as opposed to ‘Jamie Ritchie has arrived to show off his beach weights and whinge at the ref’ day, leading to a decision to not offer Scotland any turnover opportunities in our own half. Take out a phenomenally dumb lineout pen in the last 5 minutes and the tactic probably leads to a 19-10 win over a bogey side and I’m convinced the narrative would be different

In isolation, sure, it looks like maybe it's progress and they're building to something, but this is Borthwick's 3rd campaign and at least the 5th for this squad where there's been a mixture of horrific anti-rugby, promising attack, shizophrenic defence and a whole lot of mediocrity. I accept that we're not going to play a champagne rugby blinder every single game, let alone against decent opposition, but getting back to a place where we can at least look as fluid as the other leading teams and as cohesive in what we're trying to do shouldn't be too much to ask and yet it's been years.

I agree. I think they are trying and in Borthwick’s defence until three weeks ago he couldn’t catch a break and that left him and the side far more under the pump than they ought to be (isn’t his fault Earl flew off his feet in the last minute in France, Smith missed 3 kicks in Dunedin or Ford missed a last minute dg etc etc). There was clearly a monkey on their back v Scotland particularly (see how many times the players mentioned it in Inside Line).

If we play shit rugby in the next two matches I’ll happily reverse course but I can see what they’re trying to do

[Punter15]

Smith does at least attempt to tackle.

He does what?

He's made plenty of tackles in this 6N @ completion rate of 70% - somewhat better than Earl. Marcus certainly doesn't lack conviction in tackling.

Toga is deflecting from the point which is that Daly is a turnstile.

[Paddington Bear]

He does what?

He's made plenty of tackles in this 6N @ completion rate of 70% - somewhat better than Earl. Marcus certainly doesn't lack conviction in tackling.

Toga is deflecting from the point which is that Daly is a turnstile.

You’ve seen Smith’s defence at full back?

[Kawazaki]

Smith does at least attempt to tackle.

He does what?

He's made plenty of tackles in this 6N @ completion rate of 70% - somewhat better than Earl. Marcus certainly doesn't lack conviction in tackling.

He's rarely in the correct place to make the tackle in the first place! And he's a wet rag when he does get there.

It's hilarious reading the Quins board, they seriously think Marcus Smith is some kind of rugby God.