NPR

WTF was Roebuck doing there, having a drink when Exeter about to kick for touch on his wing, then drops the ball

Sam James carrying on the strong Sale tradition of dumbshit yellow cards.

ASMO wrote: Sun Mar 06, 2022 3:21 pm More than 50% tackles missed, i expect Brazil is kicking kittens

He's not watching which will help household harmony.

sockwithaticket wrote: Sun Mar 06, 2022 3:23 pm Pretty much all Chiefs in this opening quarter.

Chiefs looking as sharp as they have all season
Not sure how much that is due to all Sales errors

Hogg is looking very meh

Sale's bodycount for this game is ridiculous and few of those who've had to go off hadn't long come on.

They have stabilised things and made it more of a contest, though.

I'm not sure whether that was craven or savvy at the end, ensuring a losing bonus point but eschewing the remote chance of a win

Prembore wrote: Sun Mar 06, 2022 4:58 pm I'm not sure whether that was craven or savvy at the end, ensuring a losing bonus point but eschewing the remote chance of a win

Craven in the extreme. Collect the kick off and try and win a pen. Average game full stop, thought Hogg was awful

Dombrandt has tested positive for Covid, so won’t be able to train with the rest of the squad, and is doubtful for the Ireland match

Lobby wrote: Sun Mar 06, 2022 9:29 pm Dombrandt has tested positive for Covid, so won’t be able to train with the rest of the squad, and is doubtful for the Ireland match

Quirke concussed in last premiership game - not that he'd be in the matchday squad. There's a few new additions..

England squad
FORWARDS: Alfie Barbeary, Jamie Blamire, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill.

BACKS: Orlando Bailey, Elliot Daly, George Ford, George Furbank, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Louis Lynagh, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Jack Nowell, Luke Northmore, Harry Randall, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Ben Youngs,Raffi Quirke.

Bath reinforcing that they can at least squeak wins against 14 men.

I caught a bit of the commentary, lovely to hear a game narrated in Coochie's wurzel accent, and it sounds like Bristol were hammering us up front and it was only cards that let us back into the game. Not good, at home against a team who are also struggling a bit.

The end of the season and a chance to regroup can't come quickly enough.

Twitter is ablaze with people mocking Eddie for uh, saying Ireland are favourites. Murray Kinsella seems to think it's some sort of ridiculous ~mind games~ statement.

Does anyone here believe they're not favourites to win this one?

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:41 pm Twitter is ablaze with people mocking Eddie for uh, saying Ireland are favourites. Murray Kinsella seems to think it's some sort of ridiculous ~mind games~ statement.

Does anyone here believe they're not favourites to win this one?

Does he? Unless I missed a tweet, he's just quoting EJ.

Of course they are favourites.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:41 pm Twitter is ablaze with people mocking Eddie for uh, saying Ireland are favourites. Murray Kinsella seems to think it's some sort of ridiculous ~mind games~ statement.

Does anyone here believe they're not favourites to win this one?

You seem to be confused. We're England. That means that even if we'd lost the last 20 games in a row, no matter who we're playing next, they cannot possibly be favourites.

The reason being, is that we've got a ton of people who rock up at their local clubs to get drunk each week, and pull on a pair of boots beforehand. Since me playing poorly in something like the 11th division, clearly helps our international team significantly, it's inconceivable for another team to be considered favourites.

Margin__Walker wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:46 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:41 pm Twitter is ablaze with people mocking Eddie for uh, saying Ireland are favourites. Murray Kinsella seems to think it's some sort of ridiculous ~mind games~ statement.

Does anyone here believe they're not favourites to win this one?

Does he? Unless I missed a tweet, he's just quoting EJ.

Of course they are favourites.

Do you not think it's kinda pointed of him to quote just that from Eddie? He's made two tweets quoting Eddie, both of which are "big" statements, and nothing about anything else Eddie wrote. Meanwhile his followers and reply guys and quote tweeters all pile in. Kinsella knows exactly what he's doing with those two tweets.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 3:08 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:46 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:41 pm Twitter is ablaze with people mocking Eddie for uh, saying Ireland are favourites. Murray Kinsella seems to think it's some sort of ridiculous ~mind games~ statement.

Does anyone here believe they're not favourites to win this one?

Does he? Unless I missed a tweet, he's just quoting EJ.

Of course they are favourites.

Do you not think it's kinda pointed of him to quote just that from Eddie? He's made two tweets quoting Eddie, both of which are "big" statements, and nothing about anything else Eddie wrote. Meanwhile his followers and reply guys and quote tweeters all pile in. Kinsella knows exactly what he's doing with those two tweets.

I think he's a journalist picking out the newsworthy snippet. Murray has his head screwed on, so I very much doubt he thinks it's a ridiculous statement.

Margin__Walker wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 3:12 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 3:08 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:46 pm

Does he? Unless I missed a tweet, he's just quoting EJ.

Of course they are favourites.

Do you not think it's kinda pointed of him to quote just that from Eddie? He's made two tweets quoting Eddie, both of which are "big" statements, and nothing about anything else Eddie wrote. Meanwhile his followers and reply guys and quote tweeters all pile in. Kinsella knows exactly what he's doing with those two tweets.

I think he's a journalist picking out the newsworthy snippet. Murray has his head screwed on, so I very much doubt he thinks it's a ridiculous statement.

Jones said a fair bit: https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... -the-world

Kinsella rarely comments on Eddie, except to pick out a statement like that. He knows full well what he's doing.

It's part of the whole act that justifies certain elements acting the twat when they play England - they have to be massive underdogs and we have to be arrogant.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 3:15 pm
Jones said a fair bit: https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... -the-world

I find it very difficult to read and listen to Eddie Jones without cursing or even uttering something out loud.

He talks about certain England players not having many caps as if that has absolutely nothing to do with him.

Lynagh now not holding tackle bags as he has Covid as well.

I suspect we'll see Ben Youngs back in the starting line up for the Ireland game. Reckon Eddy will be preparing for a more physical encounter.

Barbeary and Launchbury kept, Isiekwe returned to his club

ENGLAND SQUAD (26 vs Ireland, Saturday)
FORWARDS (16)
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 39 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 64 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 54 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 69 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 91 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 77 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 50 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)

BACKS (10)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 55 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 13 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 10 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 46 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 8 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 115 caps)

Are you boys starting a match thread for this?

Or do you actually want us to camp here on your thread ???!!!

Ymx wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 8:48 pm Are you boys starting a match thread for this?

Or do you actually want us to camp here on your thread ???!!!

It's only Tuesday and a game I suspect few of us are looking forward to. Someone will probably knock on out on Thursday after the team's announced.

I’m really looking forward to it.

Think it’s going to be a tough old battle.

Ovals wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 8:47 pm Barbeary and Launchbury kept, Isiekwe returned to his club

ENGLAND SQUAD (26 vs Ireland, Saturday)
FORWARDS (16)
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 39 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 64 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 54 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 69 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 91 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 77 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 50 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)

BACKS (10)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 55 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 13 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 10 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 46 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 8 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 115 caps)

1. Genge
2. George
3. Sink
4. Itoje
5. Launch/Ewels
6. Lawes
7. Curry
8. Dombrandt

9. Randall
10. Smith
11. Nowell
12. Slade
13. Marchant
14. Malins
15. Steward

Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Launch/Chessum/Ewels, Simmonds, Youngs, Ford, Daly

If we go for a 6/2 split it gets a bit tasty as to who gets the chop, I guess Ford. With Barbeary getting on the bench?

I’m not a betting type, and the odds over here are hard to figure for my decimal brain.



So, that’s
Eng 2.2 for a win
Ire 1.72 for a win

In familiar to me terms.

Raggs wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 9:16 pm

Ovals wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 8:47 pm Barbeary and Launchbury kept, Isiekwe returned to his club

ENGLAND SQUAD (26 vs Ireland, Saturday)
FORWARDS (16)
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 39 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 64 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 54 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 69 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 91 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 77 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 50 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)

BACKS (10)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 55 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 13 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 10 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 46 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 8 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 115 caps)

1. Genge
2. George
3. Sink
4. Itoje
5. Launch/Ewels
6. Lawes
7. Curry
8. Dombrandt

9. Randall
10. Smith
11. Nowell
12. Slade
13. Marchant
14. Malins
15. Steward

Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Launch/Chessum/Ewels, Simmonds, Youngs, Ford, Daly

If we go for a 6/2 split it gets a bit tasty as to who gets the chop, I guess Ford. With Barbeary getting on the bench?

I think he'll start with Youngs - on the basis that this will be a bit of a bruiser - and we'll be looking win win it up front - possibly playing a lot of time without the ball.

If it's a bruiser, good thing we have a couple of backs available can turn bad ball into a presentable platform.

Sinkler is nursing an injury and will undergo a fitness test on Thursday. Be a bit of a blow if he's ruled out - far old drop back to the 2nd and 3rd choices.

Pundits reckon the bench will have a 6:2 split - so I guess Ford will miss out but Barbeary will get a debut from the bench - it'll be interesting to see how he gets on, assuming he gets enough time to make an impact.

Evidently Gleeson is trying to revolutionise the way England play - and for England to play in a way no one has seen before !! Rather ambitious of him - certainly haven't seen much sign of it so far.

‘We want to play a new way of rugby,’ said the 41-year-old, hired by Eddie Jones last summer after proving his union credentials at Wasps. ‘We have a vision of how we want to play, where we are not copying anyone else.

Ovals wrote: Wed Mar 09, 2022 11:52 pm Sinkler is nursing an injury and will undergo a fitness test on Thursday. Be a bit of a blow if he's ruled out - far old drop back to the 2nd and 3rd choices.

Pundits reckon the bench will have a 6:2 split - so I guess Ford will miss out but Barbeary will get a debut from the bench - it'll be interesting to see how he gets on, assuming he gets enough time to make an impact.

Evidently Gleeson is trying to revolutionise the way England play - and for England to play in a way no one has seen before !! Rather ambitious of him - certainly haven't seen much sign of it so far.

‘We want to play a new way of rugby,’ said the 41-year-old, hired by Eddie Jones last summer after proving his union credentials at Wasps. ‘We have a vision of how we want to play, where we are not copying anyone else.

Sounds like an Ed Sheeran fan.

Might stop Sinckler standing rigid in the 10 channel, at any rate.

Time for Mighty Will Collier!

Gleeson seems like an absolute chancer but eh, what do I know. Maybe he'll revolutionise back play for the first time ever

JM2K6 wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 9:36 am Time for Mighty Will Collier!

Gleeson seems like an absolute chancer but eh, what do I know. Maybe he'll revolutionise back play for the first time ever

Hard to take any of this succession of backs/skills coaches too seriously, as we all know they'll be replaced twice over by the time of the RWC.

Ovals wrote: Wed Mar 09, 2022 11:52 pm Sinkler is nursing an injury and will undergo a fitness test on Thursday. Be a bit of a blow if he's ruled out - far old drop back to the 2nd and 3rd choices.

Pundits reckon the bench will have a 6:2 split - so I guess Ford will miss out but Barbeary will get a debut from the bench - it'll be interesting to see how he gets on, assuming he gets enough time to make an impact.

Evidently Gleeson is trying to revolutionise the way England play - and for England to play in a way no one has seen before !! Rather ambitious of him - certainly haven't seen much sign of it so far.

‘We want to play a new way of rugby,’ said the 41-year-old, hired by Eddie Jones last summer after proving his union credentials at Wasps. ‘We have a vision of how we want to play, where we are not copying anyone else.

(a) if someone else has a good idea I'm not sure why you'd refuse to copy it just to do your own thing, although (b) he does know we have seen rugby league games I assume?

(c) the lack of carrying in the pack and the lack of pace out wide both concentrate resources in the middle which is where our attacking seemingly wants to go and we're giving up the decision making experience of Ford to develop Smith in that area whilst already having the extra breaking threat Smith brings, but in compressing the middle we're giving Smith less scope to attack transition so it's a little counter intuitive

It's actually a little reminiscent of Burt now because it could work, but we're more reliant on good decisions around keeping the ball alive and our support play whilst keeping pace on the game. It could happen, but it's proved hard given the physicality in modern rugby for NZ to do that, and you'd hazard a guess NZ are somewhat better at it than England. It'd be more understandable if we didn't have more carrying options and pace in the back three we weren't overlooking

Stuart and Heyes if Sinckler's out. Not sure either will fare particularly well against Porter and Healy.

Kilcoyne rather than Porter you'd think

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:28 am Kilcoyne rather than Porter you'd think

Ah, did he get injured against Italy? I'll confess to not having given that game my full attention.

That may be a bit more manageable, but then I've no idea what sort of form Kilcoyne is in.

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:33 am

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 10:28 am Kilcoyne rather than Porter you'd think

Ah, did he get injured against Italy? I'll confess to not having given that game my full attention.

That may be a bit more manageable, but then I've no idea what sort of form Kilcoyne is in.

Not sure. I gave up watching aft the hooker got sent off, the red card was the correct call but 15 vs 13 seemed a pointless watch. Porter is out for the 6N though with an ankle injury

JM2K6 wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 9:36 am Time for Mighty Will Collier!

Gleeson seems like an absolute chancer but eh, what do I know. Maybe he'll revolutionise back play for the first time ever

Very, very much a chancer who's failed upwards due to Eddie's need for lickspittles as a coaching staff.