The Official English Rugby Thread

[Margin__Walker]

Glaws - Worcester's cancelled fixture has finally seen a points decision made. 20 - 0 to Glaws, 5 table points. Probably what was expected apparently the 'reasoned decision' will be out next week, this is just a headline announcement.

It will be interesting to see the full decision.

Seems from memory to be a similar situation to the LI v Bath cancellation earlier in the season, where covid plus standard unavailability resulted in Bath being unable to field a front row.

Assume this one must have been materially different as the split there was 4-2

[Margin__Walker]

England U19 team for Italy at the weekend.

FAMOUS DAD WATCH - Yes that is Kyran Bracken's lad on the bench

15. Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
14. Conor Oresanya (Harlequins)
13. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Wasps)
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
10. Monty Bradbury (London Irish)
9. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
1. Archie McArthur (Wasps)
2. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
4. Kaden Pearce-Paul (Saracens)
5. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
6. Mackenzie Graham (Bath Rugby)
7. Josh Dingley (Bath Rugby)
8. Greg Fisilau (Wasps) - Captain

Replacements
16. Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
17. Tom Sims (Bristol Bears)
18. Archie Maggs (Bath Rugby)
19. James Pollard (Gloucester Rugby)
20. Rob Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
21. Simon Koroiyadi (Leicester Tigers)
22. Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
23. Jed Walsh (Leicester Tigers)
24. Charlie McCaig (Exeter Chiefs)
25. Jack Walsh (London Irish)
26. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... play-italy

[Margin__Walker]

Teams for Newcastle v LI tonight. Big game for LI who need the win to stay in contention for a top 8 finish (assume that's still where the HC cut off is) after a bad run.

[Raggs]

England U19 team for Italy at the weekend.

FAMOUS DAD WATCH - Yes that is Kyran Bracken's lad on the bench

15. Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
14. Conor Oresanya (Harlequins)
13. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Wasps)
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
10. Monty Bradbury (London Irish)
9. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
1. Archie McArthur (Wasps)
2. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
4. Kaden Pearce-Paul (Saracens)
5. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
6. Mackenzie Graham (Bath Rugby)
7. Josh Dingley (Bath Rugby)
8. Greg Fisilau (Wasps) - Captain

Replacements
16. Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
17. Tom Sims (Bristol Bears)
18. Archie Maggs (Bath Rugby)
19. James Pollard (Gloucester Rugby)
20. Rob Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
21. Simon Koroiyadi (Leicester Tigers)
22. Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
23. Jed Walsh (Leicester Tigers)
24. Charlie McCaig (Exeter Chiefs)
25. Jack Walsh (London Irish)
26. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... play-italy

Ma’asi-White hasn't really impressed me in the games I've seen him in (not easy on youtube). Looks like he was the big kid at age grade, but now is just another biggish centre. Forget that he's still so young though, so maybe something will come.

[Kawazaki]

England U19 team for Italy at the weekend.

FAMOUS DAD WATCH - Yes that is Kyran Bracken's lad on the bench

15. Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
14. Conor Oresanya (Harlequins)
13. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Wasps)
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
10. Monty Bradbury (London Irish)
9. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
1. Archie McArthur (Wasps)
2. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
4. Kaden Pearce-Paul (Saracens)
5. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
6. Mackenzie Graham (Bath Rugby)
7. Josh Dingley (Bath Rugby)
8. Greg Fisilau (Wasps) - Captain

Replacements
16. Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
17. Tom Sims (Bristol Bears)
18. Archie Maggs (Bath Rugby)
19. James Pollard (Gloucester Rugby)
20. Rob Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
21. Simon Koroiyadi (Leicester Tigers)
22. Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
23. Jed Walsh (Leicester Tigers)
24. Charlie McCaig (Exeter Chiefs)
25. Jack Walsh (London Irish)
26. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... play-italy

I didn't think England still played Colts?

Good to see though, I preferred it when there was a RWC at U19 and U21 instead of just a U20 one.

[Margin__Walker]

I didn't think England still played Colts?

Good to see though, I preferred it when there was a RWC at U19 and U21 instead of just a U20 one.

The U19 games often tend to be ad hoc one offs at this time of year. Not a formal thing necessarily. Gets most of the lads (who haven't been playing up a year like Bell, Cleaves etc) used to the environment before potentially being involved in the U20 EPS next year.

[Margin__Walker]

Newcastle LI game finished 14-42 to LI.

Dickson watch highlight was a Double red (Gigena and Graham with the TMO pleading with him saying they shouldn't be reds) for handbags when 10 mins before a head on head tackle leading to an HIA given as a pen only ('low degree of danger').

Edit -Highlights

[FalconJock]

Newcastle LI game finished 14-42 to LI.

Dickson watch highlight was a Double red (Gigena and Graham with the TMO pleading with him saying they shouldn't be reds) for handbags when 10 mins before a head on head tackle leading to an HIA given as a pen only ('low degree of danger').

Edit -Highlights

I always thought that Dickson had an inbuilt dislike of Falcons from his playing days but after the Scotland v France match became convinced he is just entirely incompetant.

The head on head should have been a yellow, IMO, low force but always high although the player was tackled into him with very little time to react but there could have been no complaints if he had gone for a red.

I could almost forgive missing the knock on from the up and under as he was too far back to be certain but the 2 x reds and the yellow were at the time baffling decisions, the handling of the scrums were attrocious and to echo what DR said after Exeter the referees either have a preconcieved idea of who the stronger team is before the match or just don't understand the scrums and/or scrum laws and the less said about his interpretation of the breakdown the better.

LI were the better team last night without a doubt and fully deserved their win and Falcons can have no complaints, we were always going to be up against it as they have a number of good players and are a well drilled unit, by comparisson we are a complete shambles at the moment.

[Margin__Walker]

I always thought that Dickson had an inbuilt dislike of Falcons from his playing days but after the Scotland v France match became convinced he is just entirely incompetant.

The head on head should have been a yellow, IMO, low force but always high although the player was tackled into him with very little time to react but there could have been no complaints if he had gone for a red.

I could almost forgive missing the knock on from the up and under as he was too far back to be certain but the 2 x reds and the yellow were at the time baffling decisions, the handling of the scrums were attrocious and to echo what DR said after Exeter the referees either have a preconcieved idea of who the stronger team is before the match or just don't understand the scrums and/or scrum laws and the less said about his interpretation of the breakdown the better.

LI were the better team last night without a doubt and fully deserved their win and Falcons can have no complaints, we were always going to be up against it as they have a number of good players and are a well drilled unit, by comparisson we are a complete shambles at the moment.

Yeah, yellow would have been about right for the head on head as there was a bit of mitigation there. It's just the lack of consistency that can be baffling sometimes.

Yellow for Robinson was nailed on for me (but then I probably would say that). Approaching the tackle from the wrong side and playing at the ball to prevent the offload a metre from the Newcastle line after a break.

Was good to get the win at KP after getting thrashed there this time last season, which was a real low. Newcastle look like they could do with a freshen up behind the scenes, rather than just promoting Walder. Other than some individual brilliance from Nordli-Kelemeti and Carreras they were fairly easy to defend against and played fairly predictably with ball in hand. Still got a lot going for them though if the pieces can fit together in the right order. Could perhaps do with a decent playmaker or two coming into the midfield.

[sockwithaticket]

Wasps with a healthy win over Worcester in the end. Scoreline slightly belies that Wasps were scrappy and imprecise throughout. Worcester made plenty of opportunities, but, between dogged defence and their own ineptitude, they mostly didn't come to anything.

[Tichtheid]

Quins Tigers was good entertainment.

[Torquemada 1420]

Unsure whether Barf or Stains are the greater muck.

[Ovals]

Wasps with a healthy win over Worcester in the end. Scoreline slightly belies that Wasps were scrappy and imprecise throughout. Worcester made plenty of opportunities, but, between dogged defence and their own ineptitude, they mostly didn't come to anything.

Key match v Irish next week - need to win that if we're to qualify for the Champions Cup next season.

[Lady P]

England U19 team for Italy at the weekend.

FAMOUS DAD WATCH - Yes that is Kyran Bracken's lad on the bench

15. Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
14. Conor Oresanya (Harlequins)
13. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Wasps)
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
10. Monty Bradbury (London Irish)
9. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
1. Archie McArthur (Wasps)
2. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
4. Kaden Pearce-Paul (Saracens)
5. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
6. Mackenzie Graham (Bath Rugby)
7. Josh Dingley (Bath Rugby)
8. Greg Fisilau (Wasps) - Captain

Replacements
16. Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
17. Tom Sims (Bristol Bears)
18. Archie Maggs (Bath Rugby)
19. James Pollard (Gloucester Rugby)
20. Rob Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
21. Simon Koroiyadi (Leicester Tigers)
22. Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
23. Jed Walsh (Leicester Tigers)
24. Charlie McCaig (Exeter Chiefs)
25. Jack Walsh (London Irish)
26. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... play-italy

Wonder if Archie Maggs is another son of?

[Margin__Walker]

Wonder if Archie Maggs is another son of?

Did a quick google before posting that and didn't find a link. Possible though

[sockwithaticket]

Wasps with a healthy win over Worcester in the end. Scoreline slightly belies that Wasps were scrappy and imprecise throughout. Worcester made plenty of opportunities, but, between dogged defence and their own ineptitude, they mostly didn't come to anything.

Key match v Irish next week - need to win that if we're to qualify for the Champions Cup next season.

We're certainly unlikely to get much from the trip to Welford Road and Sale could well do us at home, so Irish is definitely the one to target. It could still prove to not be enough.

[Deveron Boy]

Craig maxwell Keys letting the cheating cnuts Saracens pull the wool over his eyes at every turn

[Torquemada 1420]

Craig maxwell Keys letting the cheating cnuts Saracens pull the wool over his eyes at every turn

He looks about 12.

[Kawazaki]

Craig maxwell Keys letting the cheating cnuts Saracens pull the wool over his eyes at every turn

Probably doesn't like the racist cunts from Devon.


#hackneyedshit

[Deveron Boy]

[quote="Deveron Boy" post_id=201926 time=<a href="tel:1650812727">1650812727</a> user_id=562]
Craig maxwell Keys letting the cheating cnuts Saracens pull the wool over his eyes at every turn

Probably doesn't like the racist cunts from Devon.


#hackneyedshit
[/quote]

Neither racist or from Devon - ref has been shit

[Kawazaki]

Neither racist or from Devon - ref has been shit

Yeah yeah, it's all the nasty refs fault.

[Deveron Boy]

The hits just keep coming…

[Kawazaki]

Dallaglio and Healey are so bad. They just pump up the morons who think the ref is being shit.

[Kawazaki]

If you're standing behind your tryline then you can't be offside. Even children know this rule but Dallaglio doesn't.

[Deveron Boy]

If you're standing behind your tryline then you can't be offside. Even children know this rule but Dallaglio doesn't.

That’s not why the ref said he was legal… nice decision on Townsend there mmmm

[Kawazaki]

If you're standing behind your tryline then you can't be offside. Even children know this rule but Dallaglio doesn't.

That’s not why the ref said he was legal… nice decision on Townsend there mmmm

Indeed, Dallaglio was wrong twice.

[Torquemada 1420]

This game has been all about the breakdown. Sarries have been excellent there whilst Exeter have been inaccurate and, as a result, forced to concede pen after pen. Feels like the Devon side needs a rethink on tactics for next season i.e. they've been found out.

[Kawazaki]

This game has been all about the breakdown. Sarries have been excellent there whilst Exeter have been inaccurate and, as a result, forced to concede pen after pen. Feels like the Devon side needs a rethink on tactics for next season i.e. they've been found out.

Nah, Exeter are only losing because of the ref.

And because Saracens cheated three years ago.

[Torquemada 1420]

This game has been all about the breakdown. Sarries have been excellent there whilst Exeter have been inaccurate and, as a result, forced to concede pen after pen. Feels like the Devon side needs a rethink on tactics for next season i.e. they've been found out.

Nah, Exeter are only losing because of the ref.

And because Saracens cheated three years ago.

That too of course

[ASMO]

I just wish the camera panned for a shot of that sour faced old cunt Rowe at the final whistle

[sockwithaticket]

This game has been all about the breakdown. Sarries have been excellent there whilst Exeter have been inaccurate and, as a result, forced to concede pen after pen. Feels like the Devon side needs a rethink on tactics for next season i.e. they've been found out.

They've always been one of the less breakdown oriented sides and without Sam Simmonds or LCD there, they lose a lot of their threat in that area.

They need tactics that reflect their personnel. Over the course of the last couple of seasons their pack personnel have changed and they can no longer steam roll other teams in the way they'd become accustomed.

The requirement to rebuild hits every side at some point and often comes with a dip in performance. It's remarkable that Exeter have managed to go this long without that being the case.

[Torquemada 1420]

This game has been all about the breakdown. Sarries have been excellent there whilst Exeter have been inaccurate and, as a result, forced to concede pen after pen. Feels like the Devon side needs a rethink on tactics for next season i.e. they've been found out.

They've always been one of the less breakdown oriented sides and without Sam Simmonds or LCD there, they lose a lot of their threat in that area.

They need tactics that reflect their personnel. Over the course of the last couple of seasons their pack personnel have changed and they can no longer steam roll other teams in the way they'd become accustomed.

The requirement to rebuild hits every side at some point and often comes with a dip in performance. It's remarkable that Exeter have managed to go this long without that being the case.

I'm not a knocker. What they've achieved is remarkable.

[Kawazaki]

Unlikely, but Saracens can still pip Leicester to the top seeding in the playoffs with three games to go. Leicester also have the EC game against Leinster in the middle to contend with.

[Kawazaki]

This game has been all about the breakdown. Sarries have been excellent there whilst Exeter have been inaccurate and, as a result, forced to concede pen after pen. Feels like the Devon side needs a rethink on tactics for next season i.e. they've been found out.

They've always been one of the less breakdown oriented sides and without Sam Simmonds or LCD there, they lose a lot of their threat in that area.

They need tactics that reflect their personnel. Over the course of the last couple of seasons their pack personnel have changed and they can no longer steam roll other teams in the way they'd become accustomed.

The requirement to rebuild hits every side at some point and often comes with a dip in performance. It's remarkable that Exeter have managed to go this long without that being the case.

I'm not a knocker. What they've achieved is remarkable.

Come on, they're dreadful to watch. Despite appearances and myth they don't produce many players via their academy either. And they are very very well funded.

[JM2K6]

Exeter's academy is pretty good: https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/academy/introduction - that's 8 current internationals and a host of decent Premiership players & youngsters.

Good to see Farrell playing with more freedom, he seems nailed on for the England 12 shirt so hopefully he can replicate that form there. The offloading is a nice addition.

[Kawazaki]

Exeter's academy is pretty good: https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/academy/introduction - that's 8 current internationals and a host of decent Premiership players & youngsters.

Good to see Farrell playing with more freedom, he seems nailed on for the England 12 shirt so hopefully he can replicate that form there. The offloading is a nice addition.

He'll play like Eddie Jones tells them to play. Like they all do.

[Torquemada 1420]

Come on, they're dreadful to watch. Despite appearances and myth they don't produce many players via their academy either. And they are very very well funded.

You make it sound like having money is a sure fire root to success. In which case I give you Bath. Rugby's strength is in diversity. God forbid it ends up like League. Exeter, like Munster, are not a pretty watch but that does not invalidate the former's remarkable progress and achievements. They are the epitome of a well run club.

[JM2K6]

Exeter have a decent amount of creativity in the backline and usually reel off a number of breaks per game. Despite largely being on the back foot against Sarries, they made more breaks and beat more defenders - almost entirely down to Slade, that back 3, and then the battering ram Hendrickson. Against the best defence in the league, with a centre playing at 10, that's not a bad effort.

They pick a pack that has virtually no attacking talent bar the injured Simmonds, which is part of the "problem" but it's also what gives those backs some space.

[Torquemada 1420]

Exeter have a decent amount of creativity in the backline and usually reel off a number of breaks per game. Despite largely being on the back foot against Sarries, they made more breaks and beat more defenders - almost entirely down to Slade, that back 3, and then the battering ram Hendrickson. Against the best defence in the league, with a centre playing at 10, that's not a bad effort.

They pick a pack that has virtually no attacking talent bar the injured Simmonds, which is part of the "problem" but it's also what gives those backs some space.

I've really not seen much of them this season outside of Europe but did wonder if the artificial surface yesterday actually helped their game plan.

BTW, mention for you on the T14 thread. The MH v Bordeaux game yesterday was right up your street in regards Fre refs and the breakdown. Basically all offences were ignored and the game became increasingly more dangerous with players exocetting in from all angles, sides and heights. Someone will end up paralysed or dead unless a grip is taken on this.

[JM2K6]

Exeter have a decent amount of creativity in the backline and usually reel off a number of breaks per game. Despite largely being on the back foot against Sarries, they made more breaks and beat more defenders - almost entirely down to Slade, that back 3, and then the battering ram Hendrickson. Against the best defence in the league, with a centre playing at 10, that's not a bad effort.

They pick a pack that has virtually no attacking talent bar the injured Simmonds, which is part of the "problem" but it's also what gives those backs some space.

I've really not seen much of them this season outside of Europe but did wonder if the artificial surface yesterday actually helped their game plan.

BTW, mention for you on the T14 thread. The MH v Bordeaux game yesterday was right up your street in regards Fre refs and the breakdown. Basically all offences were ignored and the game became increasingly more dangerous with players exocetting in from all angles, sides and heights. Someone will end up paralysed or dead unless a grip is taken on this.

Eugh. And the funny thing is, we're actually starting to see a resurgence in proper counter-rucking in the Premiership, which doesn't involve this sort of bullshit.