The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

Poor game overall, but an good final 10 for Umaga. Claimed his second with 2 minutes to play and just 2 minutes between the teams.

[Paddington Bear]

Not the main point but 90 seconds between Carley restarting the clock and the ball going into the scrum. Criminal stuff

[Raggs]

Umaga clearly trying hard to make amends here... just scored his second, and there's still a few minutes left... Not sure Wasps deserve a win here, but 2bps would be nice. Now watch us let glaws score a try.

[Tichtheid]

Where was the Bath defence there?

Good play from Skinner, but it was an easy run in

[sockwithaticket]

Not the main point but 90 seconds between Carley restarting the clock and the ball going into the scrum. Criminal stuff

[Tichtheid]

Not the main point but 90 seconds between Carley restarting the clock and the ball going into the scrum. Criminal stuff

There was a weird one a couple of minutes ago where Bath had the advantage and kicked out to touch, the line out was given, ie handing possession over to Exeter, this eventually led to the try.

[Raggs]

Game ended with an Umaga knock on, but at least this time it wasn't on him, prop got in the way and deflected it I believe.

[sockwithaticket]

A handling error does for Wasps late surge, which is quite appropos. Glaws definitely deserve the victory, better team over the course of the whole 80.

[Ovals]

A handling error does for Wasps late surge, which is quite appropos. Glaws definitely deserve the victory, better team over the course of the whole 80.

Good to see Barbeary back and scoring again

2 points from that game is better than I expected when they clocked up their 35th point.

We're still a month or two from getting back some of our big names.

[Torquemada 1420]

Where was the Bath defence there?

How many seasons has that question been being asked?

[sockwithaticket]

A handling error does for Wasps late surge, which is quite appropos. Glaws definitely deserve the victory, better team over the course of the whole 80.

Good to see Barbeary back and scoring again

2 points from that game is better than I expected when they clocked up their 35th point.

We're still a month or two from getting back some of our big names.

Yeah he looked very hungry and effective.

It is heartening that we found the ability to fight back. As you say, them getting to 35 gave me a sinking feeling that we could be on the end of a proper tonking.

I saw an update in the Cov Telegraph about our injuries and many are expected back in mi-December, but some not 'til Jan, but that could be too late. Remains to be seen how bad the injuries to Watson, Crossdale and Hougaard are, but we might run out of backs soon.

[Ovals]

A handling error does for Wasps late surge, which is quite appropos. Glaws definitely deserve the victory, better team over the course of the whole 80.

Good to see Barbeary back and scoring again

2 points from that game is better than I expected when they clocked up their 35th point.

We're still a month or two from getting back some of our big names.

Yeah he looked very hungry and effective.

It is heartening that we found the ability to fight back. As you say, them getting to 35 gave me a sinking feeling that we could be on the end of a proper tonking.

I saw an update in the Cov Telegraph about our injuries and many are expected back in mi-December, but some not 'til Jan, but that could be too late. Remains to be seen how bad the injuries to Watson, Crossdale and Hougaard are, but we might run out of backs soon.

Yes, I read that - but Launch probably by end Dec - Willis, Robson, et al not until late Jan.

[Oxbow]

Couldn't even find a hooky stream so had to listen to it on the radio, but a good win for Saints down at Bristol. Totally manshamed them in the scrum as well.

[JM2K6]

Any Englishers know why Austin Healy seems to be so anti Bath and pro Exeter?

He played for Leicester at a time when bath was still the team to hate

[Tichtheid]

Any Englishers know why Austin Healy seems to be so anti Bath and pro Exeter?

He played for Leicester at a time when bath was still the team to hate

I did wonder if it went back that far.

Excuse my ignorance, I know many supporters don't like Leicester from back then, but why didn't/wouldn't they like Bath?
They were quite successful, iirc, but it can't just be that, I know Tigers were famous for Dean Richards and later Martin Johnson sticking it up the jumper, so I can get that, but I thought Bath were a running side?

I recall Les Cusworth & Dusty Hare and that era of the letters rather than numbers on Rugby Special

[Sinkers]

Solomona is leaving Sale with immediate effect, going back home.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59430741

I mentioned this on the eligibility thread. He’s eligible for Samoa under the new rulings I think. So I’m assuming he has his eye on getting to the next World Cup with them.

[Kawazaki]

Any Englishers know why Austin Healy seems to be so anti Bath and pro Exeter?

He played for Leicester at a time when bath was still the team to hate

I did wonder if it went back that far.

Excuse my ignorance, I know many supporters don't like Leicester from back then, but why didn't/wouldn't they like Bath?
They were quite successful, iirc, but it can't just be that, I know Tigers were famous for Dean Richards and later Martin Johnson sticking it up the jumper, so I can get that, but I thought Bath were a running side?

I recall Les Cusworth & Dusty Hare and that era of the letters rather than numbers on Rugby Special

Bath were more successful in the 80s and early 90s. Leicester had the success from the mid-90s to the end of the noughtie. Bath really haven't been a force for over 20 years now.

[JM2K6]

Actually got round to watching the Bath game this morning. If you didn’t know Bath were having a shocker of a season, it’s Exeter you’d imagine were the side in trouble.

Bath’s defence was excellent and they played the more intelligent and attacking rugby for most of that match. Exeter shit the bed at the set piece. Sadly, Bath’s subs dragged them down and Exeter’s subs were a big improvement. Dallaglio’s loyalty is impressive but surely he must realise that Cipriani and Simpson are shit these days?

Dave Ewers getting MOTM was fucking comical, Austin clearly didn’t expect Exeter to win. Ewers is part of Exeter’s problem this year - now that the latch has been depowered, he’s been exposed as a big bloke with terrible hands and no pace. Which is a good way to describe most of that Exeter pack, with the notable exceptions of Sam Skinner and Sam Simmonds, both of whom were much better shouts for MOTM. With that pack and Jack Maunder, Harvey Skinner, and Ian Whitten at 9/10/12, they looked like a Worcester team in different coloured shirts. Hendrickson made a big impact when he came on, and I’m sure Johnny Hill will improve them a lot, but that front row looks mediocre, they’ve a collection of one-dimensional back rowers, a mess at halfback, and Ian Whitten still getting starts strikes me as bizarre.

Looks like Nowell’s injuries have caught up with him too, he’s lost what pace he had which is a real shame.

Bath were miles better than they’ve been for some time, Ojomoh is such a talent and lovely to watch.

[petej]

Any Englishers know why Austin Healy seems to be so anti Bath and pro Exeter?

He played for Leicester at a time when bath was still the team to hate

I did wonder if it went back that far.

Excuse my ignorance, I know many supporters don't like Leicester from back then, but why didn't/wouldn't they like Bath?
They were quite successful, iirc, but it can't just be that, I know Tigers were famous for Dean Richards and later Martin Johnson sticking it up the jumper, so I can get that, but I thought Bath were a running side?

I recall Les Cusworth & Dusty Hare and that era of the letters rather than numbers on Rugby Special

People not liking a team whose main characters were Stuart Barnes and Jerry Guscott.

Tigers were a lot more fun and less stick up the jumper in the johnson era (Healey was part of that).
compared with Dean Richards era (I think I can remember a 3-0 where the most interesting thing was a clearly bored Rory underwood running 30 meters flat out to smash an opponent out of boredom). Barnes and Guscott were media presenters in that Johnson era and Healey almost certainly encountered both. From the players books Guscott comes across as a massive tosser much more so than Barnes. I have very fond childhood memories of greenwood being brilliant against the Guscott.

I can remember Ben Clarke being selected for England in front of Richards at eight and then Richards being recalled and later Clarke (an 8) being selected in front of Back at 7. Back actually only got selected at the point when a genuinely excellent 7 had emerged (R Hill).

[Kawazaki]

He played for Leicester at a time when bath was still the team to hate

I did wonder if it went back that far.

Excuse my ignorance, I know many supporters don't like Leicester from back then, but why didn't/wouldn't they like Bath?
They were quite successful, iirc, but it can't just be that, I know Tigers were famous for Dean Richards and later Martin Johnson sticking it up the jumper, so I can get that, but I thought Bath were a running side?

I recall Les Cusworth & Dusty Hare and that era of the letters rather than numbers on Rugby Special

People not liking a team whose main characters were Stuart Barnes and Jerry Guscott.

Tigers were a lot more fun and less stick up the jumper in the johnson era (Healey was part of that).
compared with Dean Richards era (I think I can remember a 3-0 where the most interesting thing was a clearly bored Rory underwood running 30 meters flat out to smash an opponent out of boredom). Barnes and Guscott were media presenters in that Johnson era and Healey almost certainly encountered both. From the players books Guscott comes across as a massive tosser much more so than Barnes. I have very fond childhood memories of greenwood being brilliant against the Guscott.

I can remember Ben Clarke being selected for England in front of Richards at eight and then Richards being recalled and later Clarke (an 8) being selected in front of Back at 7. Back actually only got selected at the point when a genuinely excellent 7 had emerged (R Hill).

I think Rowell picked Rodber/Richards/Clarke quite a few times. That's a massive backrow even by South African 2021 standards.

[Tichtheid]

People not liking a team whose main characters were Stuart Barnes and Jerry Guscott.

Well, I think we can all get behind that.


To be more serious I'm never really bothered by players off the pitch, a lot of Scottish supporters really disliked Will Carling, but I admired his courage on the field and his bloody-mindedness about his team off it.

[Paddington Bear]

People not liking a team whose main characters were Stuart Barnes and Jerry Guscott.

Well, I think we can all get behind that.


To be more serious I'm never really bothered by players off the pitch, a lot of Scottish supporters really disliked Will Carling, but I admired his courage on the field and his bloody-mindedness about his team off it.

For me England are always better off with Carling style figures in charge. No one's going to like us anyway so why bother trying. Just focus on winning.

[SaintK]

People not liking a team whose main characters were Stuart Barnes and Jerry Guscott.

Well, I think we can all get behind that.


To be more serious I'm never really bothered by players off the pitch, a lot of Scottish supporters really disliked Will Carling, but I admired his courage on the field and his bloody-mindedness about his team off it.

I used to live in Bath when Guscott was playing. He was an absolute knobhead and a real "don't you know who I am" type!! I'm sure he's mellowed since but he still comes over as a bit of a twat when he's on TV
Lovely player mind

[SaintK]

I did wonder if it went back that far.

Excuse my ignorance, I know many supporters don't like Leicester from back then, but why didn't/wouldn't they like Bath?
They were quite successful, iirc, but it can't just be that, I know Tigers were famous for Dean Richards and later Martin Johnson sticking it up the jumper, so I can get that, but I thought Bath were a running side?

I recall Les Cusworth & Dusty Hare and that era of the letters rather than numbers on Rugby Special

People not liking a team whose main characters were Stuart Barnes and Jerry Guscott.

Tigers were a lot more fun and less stick up the jumper in the johnson era (Healey was part of that).
compared with Dean Richards era (I think I can remember a 3-0 where the most interesting thing was a clearly bored Rory underwood running 30 meters flat out to smash an opponent out of boredom). Barnes and Guscott were media presenters in that Johnson era and Healey almost certainly encountered both. From the players books Guscott comes across as a massive tosser much more so than Barnes. I have very fond childhood memories of greenwood being brilliant against the Guscott.

I can remember Ben Clarke being selected for England in front of Richards at eight and then Richards being recalled and later Clarke (an 8) being selected in front of Back at 7. Back actually only got selected at the point when a genuinely excellent 7 had emerged (R Hill).

I think Rowell picked Rodber/Richards/Clarke quite a few times. That's a massive backrow even by South African 2021 standards.

28 years to the day.............and I was there

[Prembore]

The day Jamie Joseph had a little tap dance on Bracken's ankle

[JM2K6]

Fucking hell, infuriating performance by Quins, and by the foetus Ridley who has not got a fucking clue at any stage. Quins looked like they'd only just met, and compared to Irish's cohesion in attack and defence just weren't at the races - it was faintly ridiculous that we were even in with a shout of winning it at the end.

Losing Allen is a huge blow because Will Edwards IS COMPLETE SHIT, fucking hell.

One of those incredibly aggravating days when the people who normally star, like Tyrone Green, can barely do anything right.

[SaintK]

Just as well for Hassell-Collins Irish won after the two opportunities he butchered!!

[JM2K6]

Just as well for Hassell-Collins Irish won after the two opportunities he butchered!!

Yeah, he was mostly responsible for the match even being close. Parton had a poor game too, normally such an area of strength for Irish.

[Margin__Walker]

Just as well for Hassell-Collins Irish won after the two opportunities he butchered!!

Definitely the first. Head in hands moment. The second wasn't as bad. Would have been a tough pass, as Rowe was a long way away and had a defender between. He may not even have seen him.

Good win though. We've been losing games like that this season.

van Rensburg and Rona are superb together in midfield. The former is proving a great bit of business this season.

[Kawazaki]

Fucking hell, infuriating performance by Quins, and by the foetus Ridley who has not got a fucking clue at any stage. Quins looked like they'd only just met, and compared to Irish's cohesion in attack and defence just weren't at the races - it was faintly ridiculous that we were even in with a shout of winning it at the end.

Losing Allen is a huge blow because Will Edwards IS COMPLETE SHIT, fucking hell.

One of those incredibly aggravating days when the people who normally star, like Tyrone Green, can barely do anything right.

Can't be arsed to look back, trying to remember what you said about Ridley when Leicester played Saracens...

One thing he did let go was tacklers not fully releasing the tackled player before they contested/played the ball at the ruck. Quins were getting away with murder doing that.

[geordie_6]

A handling error does for Wasps late surge, which is quite appropos. Glaws definitely deserve the victory, better team over the course of the whole 80.

Good to see Barbeary back and scoring again

2 points from that game is better than I expected when they clocked up their 35th point.

We're still a month or two from getting back some of our big names.

Per Ruck, Wasps and Eddie have agreed that he will be a number 8 moving forward.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/alfie-barbeary-c ... die-jones/

[Ovals]

A handling error does for Wasps late surge, which is quite appropos. Glaws definitely deserve the victory, better team over the course of the whole 80.

Good to see Barbeary back and scoring again

2 points from that game is better than I expected when they clocked up their 35th point.

We're still a month or two from getting back some of our big names.

Per Ruck, Wasps and Eddie have agreed that he will be a number 8 moving forward.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/alfie-barbeary-c ... die-jones/

When they are all fully fit, we'll have an incredible backrow.

[JM2K6]

Is Thomas Young off? He seems the obvious weak link once everyone's fit - Tom Willis is having a great year, Jack is obviously superb in any position...

[notfatcat]

Young confirmed as off a week or to ago - to Cardiff I think.

[sockwithaticket]

Young was rumoured to be off pretty much as soon as Dai took over again at Cardiff, but with the world cup coming up and his contract expiring there were more credible rumours at the start of the season which were recently confirmed.

Some configuration of Willis x 2, Barbeary, Shields and Carr is pretty decent for a front line back row if we can keep Jack and Alfie out of the physio room.


With Cruse, Oghre and now Frost at hooker it's not clear when Barbeary would get game time there and he's such an animal of a carrier it might waste him playing a tighter position.

[Paddington Bear]

Was at the Stoop yesterday. Feet just about regained feeling now. Queue for coffee longer than the queue for beers it was that cold.

Irish looked very well drilled and were good value for the win. Quins trying to chuck 50/50 passes and offloads in this conditions was ambitious to say the least.

First time I’d been in years, the Stoop really is turning into a very nice ground.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Was at the Stoop yesterday. Feet just about regained feeling now. Queue for coffee longer than the queue for beers it was that cold.

Irish looked very well drilled and were good value for the win. Quins trying to chuck 50/50 passes and offloads in this conditions was ambitious to say the least.

First time I’d been in years, the Stoop really is turning into a very nice ground.

I was also there. Coldest I've ever been at a match.

Very nice gentleman sitting next to me - LI supporter. Said he'd been coming to 'Quins since they were playing at Twickenham and that he'd been president of London Irish rugby club in the past.

[notfatcat]

I was also there but didn't get cold. 3 layers plus hat and gloves did the trick. I was more concerned about the outrageous levels of butchery on display.

[Glaston]

Just so long as Jones doesn't try to turn Barbeary into BV mk2.

Would also prefer him to get through a season of Premiership rugby before Jones gets his mitts on him.

[notfatcat]

It'll be interesting to see if he can plough through teams at international level as a back rower. I hope this is the right move for him.