A place where escape goats go to play
https://www.notplanetrugby.com/
Agree, too many players have suffered alreadyinactionman wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2024 4:03 pmit needs to be a mantra that we can't have people suffering brain injuries and life-long disability just because big hits are fun. Everything else should be secondary to that.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-uni ... 0m38y77yoMaro Itoje aims to prove former England coach Eddie Jones wrong as he takes on the Saracens captaincy.
Jones questioned whether Itoje was suited to captaincy in a 2021 book, claiming the second row was "very inward-looking" and did not "usually influence people off the field".
"I felt that was a wrong diagnosis of who I am," said Itoje.
"Most people who know me, most people who read those comments who knew me, would say that was an inaccurate conclusion to who I am as a person.
"I guess it was unfortunate that your coach would say something like that about you, but in life not everyone is going to see the things that way you see it."
The 29-year-old also denied Jones' claim that he had taken "acting lessons" to improve his leadership.
Sure, no fan is going to be happy when their player is sent off. But that was a gripping and tense final not at all ruined by the card as a spectacle or a contest. Did it change the result? Yeah, probably. Is that a bad thing? Well, most major events can have a big impact on the final result. What it didn't do was rob the spectators or the players of an excellent contest.inactionman wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2024 4:03 pmThey may have been exciting, but as a Bath fan I'd really rather Obano wasn't sent off.JM2K6 wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2024 3:42 pmMeagher is the fucking worst for this stuff and it's the same handful of coaches every time. Tedious whining about matches being ruined while referring to brilliant contests. Pricks, the lot of them.inactionman wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2024 8:26 am I haven't missed this debate though - it's just never-bloody-ending.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/ ... g-the-game
But, yes, the whole ongoing back-and-forth is tedious, and it needs to be a mantra that we can't have people suffering brain injuries and life-long disability just because big hits are fun. Everything else should be secondary to that.
My mate was in at Saints yeaterday doing some work with Scottish hooker Smith. He had a chat and a coffee with Sam Vesty who said he thought Saints were a little undercooked and about a week away from where they should be!!!Saints: Furbank (c); Ramm, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Sleightholme; F Smith, James; Iyogun, C Langdon, Davison; Scott-Young, Munga; Kemeny, Pearson, Graham.
Replacements: R Smith, West, Green, Hunter-Hill, Augustus, McParland, Thame, Freeman.
Should have a player in the bin for being a twat. Hate that sort of shit.Paddington Bear wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:26 pm Bath are looking pretty serious here, bit of a statement
100%. All very unnecessary.petej wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:31 pmShould have a player in the bin for being a twat. Hate that sort of shit.Paddington Bear wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:26 pm Bath are looking pretty serious here, bit of a statement
Truepetej wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:39 pm Saints definitely look undercooked but you win the title in may (I think these days) not September.
I think Ted Hill is up there with Russell and Du Toit as a key difference maker for Bath. When fit, he adds an extra dimension to the back row and I’m a little mystified how he doesn’t get more focus as a potential England squad player. Maybe his injury record counts against him?
Strong rumours that Joe El-Abd will be next England defence coach. Currently head coach at Oyonnax was a flatmate with Borthwick at Bath University
Hearing that Alex Mitchell has a fairly bad neck injury. You heard anything?Oxbow wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 12:43 pm Having to play a backrow at lock isn't ideal, not sure why Hunter-Hill isn't starting he's looked quite impressive in the warm ups. Saints by 40 (or likely a narrowish win for Bath).
All I heard was that he was having a scan, sounds like it could be more serious than originally thought. Huge loss if he's out for a while, James is a decent enough replacement but it slips off after that, McParland still doesn't look ready for Premiership rugby.SaintK wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2024 5:01 pmHearing that Alex Mitchell has a fairly bad neck injury. You heard anything?Oxbow wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 12:43 pm Having to play a backrow at lock isn't ideal, not sure why Hunter-Hill isn't starting he's looked quite impressive in the warm ups. Saints by 40 (or likely a narrowish win for Bath).
Edit: Mitchell has been stood down from all rugby activities. Seeing a second specialist on Thursday. Hopefully not as serious as it sounds
Ben Youngs incoming?SaintK wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2024 5:01 pmHearing that Alex Mitchell has a fairly bad neck injury. You heard anything?Oxbow wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 12:43 pm Having to play a backrow at lock isn't ideal, not sure why Hunter-Hill isn't starting he's looked quite impressive in the warm ups. Saints by 40 (or likely a narrowish win for Bath).
Edit: Mitchell has been stood down from all rugby activities. Seeing a second specialist on Thursday. Hopefully not as serious as it sounds
God forbid!!!!Hal Jordan wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 7:20 amBen Youngs incoming?SaintK wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2024 5:01 pmHearing that Alex Mitchell has a fairly bad neck injury. You heard anything?Oxbow wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 12:43 pm Having to play a backrow at lock isn't ideal, not sure why Hunter-Hill isn't starting he's looked quite impressive in the warm ups. Saints by 40 (or likely a narrowish win for Bath).
Edit: Mitchell has been stood down from all rugby activities. Seeing a second specialist on Thursday. Hopefully not as serious as it sounds
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/ ... es-haskellSeven of the 10 English Premiership clubs are balance sheet insolvent, according to an independent financial industry report which has prompted a stark warning that unless the sport embraces change it is “heading for a precipice”.
It's really got to something when we're getting sound commercial advice from James Haskell.I think this is now a line in the sand moment where all the spin and bravado around how rugby is faring needs to stop
Here's the report :inactionman wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:08 am As expected, not good news re the independent report into club finances.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/ ... es-haskellSeven of the 10 English Premiership clubs are balance sheet insolvent, according to an independent financial industry report which has prompted a stark warning that unless the sport embraces change it is “heading for a precipice”.
The Hask has spoken:
It's really got to something when we're getting sound commercial advice from James Haskell.I think this is now a line in the sand moment where all the spin and bravado around how rugby is faring needs to stop
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/ ... -by-report
Yeah, agree. Perplexed by this too. This is like one of these stories that come up every time accounts are filed with a line in about them being essentially insolvent without benefactor support.JM2K6 wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:48 pm "Most clubs would be dead instantly if it wasn't for the owners propping them up" has not been news for a very long time, basically the entire professional history of the sport in this country barring one brief period prior to the salary cap arms race. What am I missing and why is this now being announced as bombshell news?
Indeed. Many football clubs could fall over including the one that has won 7 of the last 8 premiership titles (I think). Chelsea's ownership structure is mental and the assumption in increased values of players as they mature is part of a high risk strategy.Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 1:08 pm And as football so aptly shows you can have vastly higher revenues in the game and merely use that to create far higher levels of debt again.
Actually, one might care to consider just how many businesses, industries and frankly individuals are debt dependent. Rugby isn't a standout in this.
I think Sorries were post £5million losses every year through the salary cap arms race period.JM2K6 wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:48 pm "Most clubs would be dead instantly if it wasn't for the owners propping them up" has not been news for a very long time, basically the entire professional history of the sport in this country barring one brief period prior to the salary cap arms race. What am I missing and why is this now being announced as bombshell news?
Handy to see it quantified, if nothing else.JM2K6 wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:48 pm "Most clubs would be dead instantly if it wasn't for the owners propping them up" has not been news for a very long time, basically the entire professional history of the sport in this country barring one brief period prior to the salary cap arms race. What am I missing and why is this now being announced as bombshell news?
Yep I’m not sure quite how much balance sheet insolvency matters in a rugby context, beyond reducing their leverage in tv/sponsorship negotiationsJM2K6 wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:48 pm "Most clubs would be dead instantly if it wasn't for the owners propping them up" has not been news for a very long time, basically the entire professional history of the sport in this country barring one brief period prior to the salary cap arms race. What am I missing and why is this now being announced as bombshell news?
"Gardening Leave"sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 1:56 pm Joe El Abd confirmed as new defence coach. Will be doing the role alongside hsi role at Oyannax until the end of the season when he'll be exclusively with England.
Meanwhile Felix Jones will serve out his notice remotely. Whatever that means in a defence coach context.
I suspected, although I'd quite like to see someone try and coach via Teams. Probably involves a lot of squiggly lines on the digital whiteboard.Lobby wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 2:57 pm"Gardening Leave"sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 1:56 pm Joe El Abd confirmed as new defence coach. Will be doing the role alongside hsi role at Oyannax until the end of the season when he'll be exclusively with England.
Meanwhile Felix Jones will serve out his notice remotely. Whatever that means in a defence coach context.
The article I read said Jones will be doing analysis work for Borthwicksockwithaticket wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 3:04 pmI suspected, although I'd quite like to see someone try and coach via Teams. Probably involves a lot of squiggly lines on the digital whiteboard.Lobby wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 2:57 pm"Gardening Leave"sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 1:56 pm Joe El Abd confirmed as new defence coach. Will be doing the role alongside hsi role at Oyannax until the end of the season when he'll be exclusively with England.
Meanwhile Felix Jones will serve out his notice remotely. Whatever that means in a defence coach context.
The Tour is in Australia. You don’t need a defence coach.SaintK wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 3:20 pmThe article I read said Jones will be doing analysis work for Borthwicksockwithaticket wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 3:04 pmI suspected, although I'd quite like to see someone try and coach via Teams. Probably involves a lot of squiggly lines on the digital whiteboard.
He will also be released from his contract should he be offered a Lions coaching position