The Official English Rugby Thread

[inactionman]

Bath's intensity a lot better, but Saints seem to have caught a dose of Bathitis - making silly mistakes to kill their own momentum.

Just as I finish typing, Collins walks one in out wide - after Bath make a few silly mistakes.

[sockwithaticket]

Bath's intensity a lot better, but Saints seem to have caught a dose of Bathitis - making silly mistakes to kill their own momentum.

Just as I finish typing, Collins walks one in out wide - after Bath make a few silly mistakes.

Although their sloppiness is stopping them from capitalising, momentum very much seems to be with Northampton at the moment.

[inactionman]

Bath's intensity a lot better, but Saints seem to have caught a dose of Bathitis - making silly mistakes to kill their own momentum.

Just as I finish typing, Collins walks one in out wide - after Bath make a few silly mistakes.

Although their sloppiness is stopping them from capitalising, momentum very much seems to be with Northampton at the moment.

Yep, although I think there's a bit more solidity to the Bath defence, quite a few ruck penalties. Furbank looks a bit of a curate's egg here, some good lines and runs but really odd, basic mistakes -passes direct into touch.

Ted Hill on for Bath debut at replacement 8.

[JM2K6]

Blimey, didn't expect Daly to get overhauled by slade. Exeter looking lively so far.

It's always slower to turn and run back than to just run forward.

Yes, but Daly was still ahead of him halfway there and still got overtaken.

[sockwithaticket]

Bath's intensity a lot better, but Saints seem to have caught a dose of Bathitis - making silly mistakes to kill their own momentum.

Just as I finish typing, Collins walks one in out wide - after Bath make a few silly mistakes.

Although their sloppiness is stopping them from capitalising, momentum very much seems to be with Northampton at the moment.

Yep, although I think there's a bit more solidity to the Bath defence, quite a few ruck penalties. Furbank looks a bit of a curate's egg here, some good lines and runs but really odd, basic mistakes -passes direct into touch.

Ted Hill on for Bath debut at replacement 8.

Looks I cursed Saints, because since that post momentum veyr much swung the other way. That intercept from Redpath looks like it could be decisive.

[JM2K6]

Ben Kay thinking Nowell not running fast is tactically treading water rather than his top gear

[inactionman]

Although their sloppiness is stopping them from capitalising, momentum very much seems to be with Northampton at the moment.

Yep, although I think there's a bit more solidity to the Bath defence, quite a few ruck penalties. Furbank looks a bit of a curate's egg here, some good lines and runs but really odd, basic mistakes -passes direct into touch.

Ted Hill on for Bath debut at replacement 8.

Looks I cursed Saints, because since that post momentum veyr much swung the other way. That intercept from Redpath looks like it could be decisive.

Good rolling maul try from Saints, still life in this one I think.

[JM2K6]

Saracens got shafted at that maul, Exeter straight in the side

[sockwithaticket]

Yep, although I think there's a bit more solidity to the Bath defence, quite a few ruck penalties. Furbank looks a bit of a curate's egg here, some good lines and runs but really odd, basic mistakes -passes direct into touch.

Ted Hill on for Bath debut at replacement 8.

Looks I cursed Saints, because since that post momentum veyr much swung the other way. That intercept from Redpath looks like it could be decisive.

Good rolling maul try from Saints, still life in this one I think.

Good win for Bath that. A lot more grit and coherence than we saw from them even a few of rounds ago.

[Tichtheid]

That was tense.

[Oxbow]

Could have pretty much guaranteed Saints would give Bath their first win today. We are annoyingly so much poorer than we actually should be, have been for ages now and no-one seems to have worked out what to do about it.

[JM2K6]

Saracens scrum wins penalty number one billion and Goode nails the kick. Saracens win 22-20. They made heavy weather of it but their pack saw them through. Backs looked a bit off for once, the midfield especially and Farrell didn't have a great game either.

Exeter were better in the second half but eh.

Good sign for England that Mako had such a great time in the scrum.

[Kawazaki]

England dodged a bullet with Eddie's Namibian poach as well.

[sockwithaticket]

Latest Wasps exit, Bristol get Will Porter. Good bit of business for them.

[JM2K6]

I'm still hoping we're in a position to offer him a contract after his injury cover time at Bristol is done. He'd be ideal for us.

[Madness]

I think Glos should go for Robson, make a big difference as I think scrum half is their biggest weakness at the moment.

[sockwithaticket]

Resilient performance from Quins up at the AJ Bell. Scrambled well when necessary and took opportunities when they were presented. Sale very error strewn, but part of that was down to Quins' committed defending.

I'm still hoping we're in a position to offer him a contract after his injury cover time at Bristol is done. He'd be ideal for us.

Certainly looks like he'd be an upgrade on your existing Care back ups from what little I've seen of them.

[JM2K6]

Yeah, they're gash.

That performance was a big surprise. Under the cosh away from home against a beastly team and in the end we made it look comfortable. Surprisingly shit performance from some of sale's bigger names.

Nice to see Marcus tweak a few noses with a superb performance largely off the back foot, too

[SaintK]

Yeah, they're gash.

That performance was a big surprise. Under the cosh away from home against a beastly team and in the end we made it look comfortable. Surprisingly shit performance from some of sale's bigger names.

Nice to see Marcus tweak a few noses with a superb performance largely off the back foot, too

Quins well worth the win

[ASMO]

Yeah, they're gash.

That performance was a big surprise. Under the cosh away from home against a beastly team and in the end we made it look comfortable. Surprisingly shit performance from some of sale's bigger names.

Nice to see Marcus tweak a few noses with a superb performance largely off the back foot, too

Quins well worth the win

i can 100% guarantee that Marcus Smith will say 100% in the answer to every question he is asked.

[ASMO]

Yeah, they're gash.

That performance was a big surprise. Under the cosh away from home against a beastly team and in the end we made it look comfortable. Surprisingly shit performance from some of sale's bigger names.

Nice to see Marcus tweak a few noses with a superb performance largely off the back foot, too

Quins well worth the win

Might be a rocky evening in a certain bordies household ;-)

[Brazil]

Yeah, they're gash.

That performance was a big surprise. Under the cosh away from home against a beastly team and in the end we made it look comfortable. Surprisingly shit performance from some of sale's bigger names.

Nice to see Marcus tweak a few noses with a superb performance largely off the back foot, too

Quins well worth the win

Might be a rocky evening in a certain bordies household ;-)

No.1 son is wearing the quins shirt (marked wit a 10 on the back). I am muttering Tyler Durden quotes to myself.

[ASMO]

Quins well worth the win

Might be a rocky evening in a certain bordies household ;-)

No.1 son is wearing the quins shirt (marked wit a 10 on the back). I am muttering Tyler Durden quotes to myself.

At least you ar enot making him wear sack cloth and ashes

[assfly]

Much better from Quins. Their first try was class. I like Herbst, he's providing some much-need grunt in the second row. But we really could do with a proper fullback. Is Mike Brown busy these days?

[JM2K6]

Much better from Quins. Their first try was class. I like Herbst, he's providing some much-need grunt in the second row. But we really could do with a proper fullback. Is Mike Brown busy these days?

Very much not and judging by his TV appearance, desparate for a contract anywhere. But David is a proper fullback and is an absolute menace of an attacking player. With Bassett around now we can slot him in.

Herbst's huge grin after mixing it with Wiese and Du Preez was a delight. He's a monstrous human being.

[inactionman]

Rumours that Thomas De Toit moving to Bath from Sharks, with Koch filling his not inconsiderably sized boots in South Africa.

[SaintK]

Any England Jersey training squad updates? Haven't seen any
May and Arundell looked buggered on Friday and Farrell and LC-D on Saturday
Lawes has already withdrawn as he's still recovering from concussion!

[ASMO]

Any England Jersey training squad updates? Haven't seen any
May and Arundell looked buggered on Friday and Farrell and LC-D on Saturday
Lawes has already withdrawn as he's still recovering from concussion!

[SaintK]

Any England Jersey training squad updates? Haven't seen any
May and Arundell looked buggered on Friday and Farrell and LC-D on Saturday
Lawes has already withdrawn as he's still recovering from concussion!

Thanks
Good to see Radwan called up

[assfly]

Where is Louis Lynagh these days?

[sockwithaticket]

Where is Louis Lynagh these days?

Broken

[Oxbow]

Dave Attwood has been banned for three weeks for striking Fraser Dingwall in the Bath v Saints game, despite the ref and TMO calling it a 'rugby incident '. Could have made all the difference, Bath kicked the penalty to go further ahead, or, penalty reversed and Bath down to 14. Saints didn't really deserve to win the game but that was rank poor officiating.

[SaintK]

Brad Shields has signed for Perpignan
Robin Hislop has signed for Sarries
Vincent Koch to Stade Francais (medical joker)
Paolo Odogwu to Stade Francais (medical joker)

[Paddington Bear]

Just catching up on Rugby Tonight, with an interview with Mike Brown.

I know he was a hate figure for the celts during his England years but he’s never come across as anything but a deeply shy guy who cares.

Poor bloke ended up bursting into tears when shown the picture of him and Care with the 6N trophy in 2016, having talked a lot about a ‘transition’ that seemed to be describing unemployment with a young family. Doyle tbf to him realised what had happened pretty immediately and they all handled it well with him.

[inactionman]

Dave Attwood has been banned for three weeks for striking Fraser Dingwall in the Bath v Saints game, despite the ref and TMO calling it a 'rugby incident '. Could have made all the difference, Bath kicked the penalty to go further ahead, or, penalty reversed and Bath down to 14. Saints didn't really deserve to win the game but that was rank poor officiating.

I caught bits of the match and I thought Dingwall was lazing about holding onto the tackled player on the wrong side and could easily have been carded.

To be clear, I'm saying Dingwall could also have been penalised, not that he deserved his face bounced off another player's swede.

Attwood correctly apologised and recognised that - although Bath need to get intensity up - his actions weren't on.

[Slick]

Just catching up on Rugby Tonight, with an interview with Mike Brown.

I know he was a hate figure for the celts during his England years but he’s never come across as anything but a deeply shy guy who cares.

Poor bloke ended up bursting into tears when shown the picture of him and Care with the 6N trophy in 2016, having talked a lot about a ‘transition’ that seemed to be describing unemployment with a young family. Doyle tbf to him realised what had happened pretty immediately and they all handled it well with him.

I didn't hate him, just didn't think he was very good, but actually really admired his tenacity and in your faceness. We sometimes laugh at English players for not having passion (they most certainly do) so couldn't really complain when one wore his heart on his sleeve, to use a shit phrase.

In saying that, I met him twice, once with a mutual friend of his then girlfriend now wife, and he was a cock both times. To be fair to him maybe it was because he was really shy, don't know.

[Tichtheid]

Just catching up on Rugby Tonight, with an interview with Mike Brown.

I know he was a hate figure for the celts during his England years but he’s never come across as anything but a deeply shy guy who cares.

Poor bloke ended up bursting into tears when shown the picture of him and Care with the 6N trophy in 2016, having talked a lot about a ‘transition’ that seemed to be describing unemployment with a young family. Doyle tbf to him realised what had happened pretty immediately and they all handled it well with him.

I didn't hate him, just didn't think he was very good, but actually really admired his tenacity and in your faceness. We sometimes laugh at English players for not having passion (they most certainly do) so couldn't really complain when one wore his heart on his sleeve, to use a shit phrase.

In saying that, I met him twice, once with a mutual friend of his then girlfriend now wife, and he was a cock both times. To be fair to him maybe it was because he was really shy, don't know.

I can't say I hated him, I just didn't think he was all that as an international fullback, he was certainly never in my mind as a contender for the Lions , not in front of 1/2p, Williams, Hogg, Maitland or Kearney.

That sounds a lot harsher than it's meant, you don't get that many England caps if you're a mug.

[sockwithaticket]

Just catching up on Rugby Tonight, with an interview with Mike Brown.

I know he was a hate figure for the celts during his England years but he’s never come across as anything but a deeply shy guy who cares.

Poor bloke ended up bursting into tears when shown the picture of him and Care with the 6N trophy in 2016, having talked a lot about a ‘transition’ that seemed to be describing unemployment with a young family. Doyle tbf to him realised what had happened pretty immediately and they all handled it well with him.

It's definitely sad to see that he's struggling, but I get the impression it's a little self-inflicted.

I came across this interview.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/mike-brown-is-li ... -football/

Between that and the Rugby Tonight appearance it seems like he hasn't really been setting anything up for post-rugby over the last few years and still envisioned playing at the moment, which, as a 37 year old outside back, is probably a bit optimisitic. Over the last few years of podcasts and sundry other interviews I've heard from various players in their 30s who are deep into preparing for life after rugby even while they're still actively playing and planning on doing so for a little while and younger players who should have long careers ahead of them who are setting up small businesses on the side. The RPA apparently do offer a lot of support with this stuff now as well as the clubs themselves..

[Paddington Bear]

In saying that, I met him twice, once with a mutual friend of his then girlfriend now wife, and he was a cock both times. To be fair to him maybe it was because he was really shy, don't know.

Can't argue with that!

It's definitely sad to see that he's struggling, but I get the impression it's a little self-inflicted.

I came across this interview.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/mike-brown-is-li ... -football/

Between that and the Rugby Tonight appearance it seems like he hasn't really been setting anything up for post-rugby over the last few years and still envisioned playing at the moment, which, as a 37 year old outside back, is probably a bit optimisitic. Over the last few years of podcasts and sundry other interviews I've heard from various players in their 30s who are deep into preparing for life after rugby even while they're still actively playing and planning on doing so for a little while and younger players who should have long careers ahead of them who are setting up small businesses on the side. The RPA apparently do offer a lot of support with this stuff now as well as the clubs themselves..

Yes I did have the same thought about self inflicted. Got a sense that a mate of his with media connections (Care?) had arranged for him to go on and there's clearly people worried about him given the extent to which even someone with no real reason to go out to bat for him like BOD was touting him for a gig somewhere.

[SaintK]

Brad Shields has signed for Perpignan
Robin Hislop has signed for Sarries
Vincent Koch to Stade Francais (medical joker)
Paolo Odogwu to Stade Francais (medical joker)
Dan Frost to Exeter