The Official English Rugby Thread

[ASMO]

Wow, didn't see that coming. Pretty gutless performance from Saracens. Itoje aside, some big names having a shocker today. Earl has been extremely poor, George rubbish, Liam Williams was a disaster, and Lozowski picked a bad time to give a Billy Twelvetrees tribute act.

Bath very impressive even after taking half the team off, always good to see Lawrence in his correct position, Ted Hill has been monstrous, Ben Spencer had one of his better days, and the wings just made hay. Russell has had a lot of fun even with his usual number of potentially disastrous mistakes.

Really enjoyed Ojomoh's cameo too. Hope he can stay fit.

Just watched match highlights. How can Borthwick not pick Lawrence at 13?

errrms cos its Borthwick? Same reason people like Barbeary and Willis and Ted Hill and Northmore to name but a few dont even get a look in

[ASMO]

Anyone else notice in the pre match interview when asked who he was going to be watching, the first 2 names he mentioned were Steward and JVP...both (Steward in particular) had poor games

[SaintK]

Anyone else notice in the pre match interview when asked who he was going to be watching, the first 2 names he mentioned were Steward and JVP...both (Steward in particular) had poor games

Nuff said!!!!

[JM2K6]

Wow, didn't see that coming. Pretty gutless performance from Saracens. Itoje aside, some big names having a shocker today. Earl has been extremely poor, George rubbish, Liam Williams was a disaster, and Lozowski picked a bad time to give a Billy Twelvetrees tribute act.

Bath very impressive even after taking half the team off, always good to see Lawrence in his correct position, Ted Hill has been monstrous, Ben Spencer had one of his better days, and the wings just made hay. Russell has had a lot of fun even with his usual number of potentially disastrous mistakes.

Really enjoyed Ojomoh's cameo too. Hope he can stay fit.

Just watched match highlights. How can Borthwick not pick Lawrence at 13?

He wants Lawrence to be a crash ball player. He obviously isn't, though he can do it reasonably well. He's better off in a yard of space where he can put the footwork on, bring out the massive fend, and either make a break through his own pace and power or draw defenders to put someone else away. In other words, what he's been doing at club level for a few years.

But no, we want him to run straight at 3 big guys instead

[Kawazaki]

Tizard got a 12 week ban reduced to 6 weeks.

No intent but 'seriously reckless'.

Available to play again 14th January.

[SaintK]

Tizard got a 12 week ban reduced to 6 weeks.

No intent but 'seriously reckless'.

Available to play again 14th January.

Hmmm. I'm assuming the reduction is due to his previous record.
It was potentially career ending reckless for the Falcons player.

[inactionman]

Gloucester having a bit of a mare with injuries.

Thorley and Mercer out for season, so that's probably Mercer done in English rugby - a sad way to end it if so.

For Fasogbon :

Following consultation with a specialist, he will now face several months on the sidelines, with a view to making a return before the end of the season

So unlikely to feature in 6N, if that was an option.


https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/conte ... r-fasogbon

[JM2K6]

That's the risk of relying on such a young player in such a challenging position, unfortunately.

Talking of injuries, find it a bit weird that Saracens demanded a second opinion on the severity of the injury in the Hugh Tizard hearing. That seems needlessly antagonistic, but also I'm not sure what difference it was supposed to make.

[geordie_6]

Wow, didn't see that coming. Pretty gutless performance from Saracens. Itoje aside, some big names having a shocker today. Earl has been extremely poor, George rubbish, Liam Williams was a disaster, and Lozowski picked a bad time to give a Billy Twelvetrees tribute act.

Bath very impressive even after taking half the team off, always good to see Lawrence in his correct position, Ted Hill has been monstrous, Ben Spencer had one of his better days, and the wings just made hay. Russell has had a lot of fun even with his usual number of potentially disastrous mistakes.

Really enjoyed Ojomoh's cameo too. Hope he can stay fit.

Just watched match highlights. How can Borthwick not pick Lawrence at 13?

It's the "must have Tuilagi at 12" mindset. Manu isn't around anymore, so they've gone for another hard carrying centre. Trouble is that Lawrence has so much more to his game which is limited when at 12.

[Hal Jordan]

It's weird, too, because in two in the three periods of great success, we didn't have a big 12 to bust lines.

90s - Carling, yes, traditional carrier, but had good hands too.

Woodward and early Jones era - Greenwood or Farrell, both tough enough, but not picked to smash heads and take names. Hell, the 2016 team didn't even have a Tindall type at outside centre, we had JJ.

[Torquemada 1420]

That's the risk of relying on such a young player in such a challenging position, unfortunately.

Talking of injuries, find it a bit weird that Saracens demanded a second opinion on the severity of the injury in the Hugh Tizard hearing. That seems needlessly antagonistic, but also I'm not sure what difference it was supposed to make.

Either they were accusing Tizard's injury of being fake (based upon what? Can't believe Sarries had any independent medical evidence for such a claim) OR Sarries just being the c**ts that they are.

[Paddington Bear]

Dull game at Welford Road thus far, nothing to suggest this will be anything but a 20 point + win for Leicester

[fishfoodie]

Is Baxters job in danger ?

How can a club with the resources of Exeter be only 2 points ahead of Newcastle, & the owner not be fuming ?

[Paddington Bear]

Shows what I know. Slade goes through the gears and Exeter are ahead

[Brazil]

Kay and Healey really need to be kept away from the mic for Tigers games. Actually, just away from the mic generally.

[Paddington Bear]

Been the best part of a decade since I’ve seen a Youngs snipe to score in the wild. Game over

[fishfoodie]

Nutmegged by Bin Youngs ...

I'd give the game up & join a Monastery

[Margin__Walker]

Is Baxters job in danger ?

How can a club with the resources of Exeter be only 2 points ahead of Newcastle, & the owner not be fuming ?

Money's pretty tight at Exeter these days. They'll have one of the lowest playing budgets in the league outside of Newcastle. It's definitely showing on the pitch.

[SaintK]

Is Baxters job in danger ?

How can a club with the resources of Exeter be only 2 points ahead of Newcastle, & the owner not be fuming ?

Money's pretty tight at Exeter these days. They'll have one of the lowest playing budgets in the league outside of Newcastle. It's definitely showing on the pitch.

Yes they’re way below the salary cap
Repaying their Covid loans has caused them major cash flow issues.
Think I read in The Rugby Paper that Rowe is looking to unload his shareholding and bring in new investors

[Paddington Bear]

Superb defensive set from Sarries, Itoje takes it 50 metres, dummy switches and takes 10 more. Next phase Willis skins a bloke on the wing and goes 20+ to score in the corner. Unreal stuff

[Kawazaki]

Superb defensive set from Sarries, Itoje takes it 50 metres, dummy switches and takes 10 more. Next phase Willis skins a bloke on the wing and goes 20+ to score in the corner. Unreal stuff

Why do you reckon Borthwick watches Willis play then goes away and thinks, yeah, I prefer Dombrand?

Madness. Willis is so good, genuine top tier.

[SaintK]

Superb defensive set from Sarries, Itoje takes it 50 metres, dummy switches and takes 10 more. Next phase Willis skins a bloke on the wing and goes 20+ to score in the corner. Unreal stuff

Why do you reckon Borthwick watches Willis play then goes away and thinks, yeah, I prefer Dombrand?

Madness. Willis is so good, genuine top tier.

That’s the best 40 minutes of No 8 play from an Englishman I’ve seen in ages.

[fishfoodie]

Is Baxters job in danger ?

How can a club with the resources of Exeter be only 2 points ahead of Newcastle, & the owner not be fuming ?

Money's pretty tight at Exeter these days. They'll have one of the lowest playing budgets in the league outside of Newcastle. It's definitely showing on the pitch.

Yes they’re way below the salary cap
Repaying their Covid loans has caused them major cash flow issues.
Think I read in The Rugby Paper that Rowe is looking to unload his shareholding and bring in new investors

I guess any sale will be a lot easier to make if the Club isn't a financial basket case, & they've done a good job of managing their debt levels compared to the rest of the clubs.

[Paddington Bear]

Superb defensive set from Sarries, Itoje takes it 50 metres, dummy switches and takes 10 more. Next phase Willis skins a bloke on the wing and goes 20+ to score in the corner. Unreal stuff

Why do you reckon Borthwick watches Willis play then goes away and thinks, yeah, I prefer Dombrand?

Madness. Willis is so good, genuine top tier.

It’s astonishing - he is offering everything England are screaming for and we keep giving a squad spot to a bloke who has repeatedly shown himself to be miles below the level

[Paddington Bear]

And Willis sets up another for the bonus point

[Paddington Bear]

Shame to give up a BP but otherwise a very solid outing. Onto Limerick with a chance to get a very decent seeding

[Kawazaki]

Weird. Saracens played all the champagne rugby and Bristol got four dull catch and drive tries.

[Paddington Bear]

Fast start at the Gardens in the smoke

[Paddington Bear]

Bath being torn to absolute shreds, Northampton putting on an attacking masterclass so far

[SaintK]

Bath being torn to absolute shreds, Northampton putting on an attacking masterclass so far

Three brilliant tries

[Kawazaki]

Fin Smith is the best 10 in England, bar none.

He's an enabler which is exactly what a 10 is. Doesn't need a crash ball 12 to play either.

[sockwithaticket]

7 - 1 split being exposed for the nonsense it is. Bayliss is a quick flanker, but you don't want to play the majority of the match with a back row in the back three.

Good game so far.

[Oxbow]

Fin Smith is the best 10 in England, bar none.

He's an enabler which is exactly what a 10 is. Doesn't need a crash ball 12 to play either.

He also just melted Miles Reid.

[Paddington Bear]

Fin Smith is the best 10 in England, bar none.

He's an enabler which is exactly what a 10 is. Doesn't need a crash ball 12 to play either.

He also just melted Miles Reid.

He’s having an absolute stormer, hell of an advert for his 6N chances

[SaintK]

Fin Smith is the best 10 in England, bar none.

He's an enabler which is exactly what a 10 is. Doesn't need a crash ball 12 to play either.

He also just melted Miles Reid.

He’s having an absolute stormer, hell of an advert for his 6N chances

Which of course is why Borthwick will choose Ford ahead of him
Not sure why Lawrence wasn’t carded for that late hit that’s put Hendy out of the match

[Oxbow]

He also just melted Miles Reid.

He’s having an absolute stormer, hell of an advert for his 6N chances

Which of course is why Borthwick will choose Ford ahead of him
Not sure why Lawrence wasn’t carded for that late hit that’s put Hendy out of the match

Yeah, I reckon that should have been a yellow, it was a deliberate late hit with the shoulder.

[SaintK]

Mitchell and Spencer showing exactly where JvP should be in the pecking order

[Kawazaki]

Barbeary should retrain/return to the front-row. His career will last a lot lot longer and his body can adjust to what it's ideally built for.

[Paddington Bear]

He also just melted Miles Reid.

He’s having an absolute stormer, hell of an advert for his 6N chances

Which of course is why Borthwick will choose Ford ahead of him
Not sure why Lawrence wasn’t carded for that late hit that’s put Hendy out of the match

About the most blatant cheap shot I’ve seen for a while

[sockwithaticket]

A less free-flowing second half, but compelling to watch still.