Re: The Official English Rugby Thread
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2024 8:38 pm
And now he's injured.
I owe him an apology - shoulda kept my mouth shut- he did look terrific though
A place where escape goats go to play
https://www.notplanetrugby.com/
Lawrence is sub 100kg, Sione listed at 104kg. Lawrence is considered powerful but Sione is both powerful and a decent amount beefier too.dpedin wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:19 pmSione 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?Tichtheid wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 1:10 amJM2K6 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 12:20 am
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.
These days, it's a pretty unusual occurrence all round. To score nil against flaky Glaws must have taken some not doing.SaintK wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 9:06 am Not often a team is "nilled" in the Premiership
Quins were very poor all over the field
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 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:09 pmLawrence is sub 100kg, Sione listed at 104kg. Lawrence is considered powerful but Sione is both powerful and a decent amount beefier too.dpedin wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:19 pmSione 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?Tichtheid wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 1:10 am
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.
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.dpedin wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 11:12 amThey 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 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 9:09 pmLawrence is sub 100kg, Sione listed at 104kg. Lawrence is considered powerful but Sione is both powerful and a decent amount beefier too.dpedin wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:19 pm
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?
Tigers suicidal. Pollard's been poor.
Really pissed with the ref on this set. He let Bristol roll onto the wrong side in 5 consecutive rucks.
Have never like Smales as a ref!petej wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:49 pm Fat bearded twit notices Bristol on the wrong side
Pollard playing terribly.
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.
Quality narrative driven reffing. Wants a come back.JM2K6 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:20 pm He's pinging Bristol off the park at the moment, what are we complaining about
I see what you mean. Could just be a case of rewarding the team with the ball, mind. Some refs are like that.
Outrageous tryJM2K6 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:47 pm 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.
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.JM2K6 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:42 pmI see what you mean. Could just be a case of rewarding the team with the ball, mind. Some refs are like that.
To give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.JM2K6 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:47 pm 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.
You’ll have to wash your mouth out for thatinactionman wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:02 pmTo give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.JM2K6 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:47 pm 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.
I do enjoy watching Bristol.
It does taste a little bit muddyduke wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:07 pmYou’ll have to wash your mouth out for thatinactionman wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:02 pmTo give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.JM2K6 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:47 pm 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.
I do enjoy watching Bristol.
If your near weston-super-mare it is not just mud Wessex water mix in a lot of shit as well.inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:08 pmIt does taste a little bit muddyduke wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:07 pmYou’ll have to wash your mouth out for thatinactionman wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:02 pm
To give him his due, Ravouvou will do that to a lot of defenders.
I do enjoy watching Bristol.
I remember the water in Bath being so hard you could grout your kitchen with it.petej wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:09 pmIf your near weston-super-mare it is not just mud Wessex water mix in a lot of shit as well.
Proper weather that. Don't expect much from the second half.SaintK wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2024 6:24 pm Stodgy, error strewn match at Sale against Chiefs
They're leading 14 3 at halftime
Conditions appalling mind you!
Weather eased a bit by the looks