The Official English Rugby Thread

[Brazil]

FFS, I never said they were. Do you cunts ever fucking read threads?

So your argument is that if you go low you'll be less likely to be handed off? Or that grabbing an arm and then wrapping might be a penalty if you get it wrong, like it is already?

Just read the fucking thread, Jesus wept!

To attack a hand-off the tackler has to remain upright which won't look good.

If a tackler tries to go under the hand-off the attacker can just fend him off by pushing him down.

Don't attack the fending arm then. Which will be easy because you'll be low anyway, then you can wrap the legs.

[Kawazaki]

Like I said - we'll have to see what happens. I don't think it's a real problem in any way. Firstly because the concern that people won't be allowed to grab the arm or attack the fend seems unfounded, and secondly because I think players tackling waist high or lower are a) more likely to not give a shit about the fend and focus on the tackle, and b) less likely to be fended off successfully than going high in the first place.

Nothing about it screams big problem to me.

I bet you that the higher the standard of the players the more this will specifically be an issue. It's an obvious area for a coach to exploit.

What are they exploiting?

If you're a ball carrier and you know in advance what the tackle choice is of the defender then you exploit that.

[JM2K6]

I bet you that the higher the standard of the players the more this will specifically be an issue. It's an obvious area for a coach to exploit.

What are they exploiting?

If you're a ball carrier and you know in advance what the tackle choice is of the defender then you exploit that.

Right, yeah, that seems reasonable. Players no longer being able to tackle chest high will have an impact on the game. We agree there.

Though there's still a difference between waist-high driving tackles and chop tackles. However even the FRENCH KLAXON ALERT other trials showed the game was faster and more open as a result.

[Kawazaki]

Don't attack the fending arm then. Which will be easy because you'll be low anyway, then you can wrap the legs.

[JM2K6]

Don't attack the fending arm then. Which will be easy because you'll be low anyway, then you can wrap the legs.

As Raggs pointed out, noted big busting ball carrier Manu got tackled there.

[Kawazaki]

Don't attack the fending arm then. Which will be easy because you'll be low anyway, then you can wrap the legs.

As Raggs pointed out, noted big busting ball carrier Manu got tackled there.

Sure. I believe everything I read in here as well.

[JM2K6]

As Raggs pointed out, noted big busting ball carrier Manu got tackled there.

Sure. I believe everything I read in here as well.

Well, here's the next shot



Manu Tuilagi, scorer of England's second-half try, is tackled by Vincent Clerc during the Six Nations victory over France.

(tbf, that looks like Parra to me)

[Kawazaki]

As Raggs pointed out, noted big busting ball carrier Manu got tackled there.

Sure. I believe everything I read in here as well.

Well, here's the next shot



Manu Tuilagi, scorer of England's second-half try, is tackled by Vincent Clerc during the Six Nations victory over France.

Brave.

Got the shot after that one?

[JM2K6]

In fact, here it is:



An object lesson in taking a still photo and claiming it supports your perspective. Tuilagi's fend there does sweet fuck all, Parra goes straight under it and nails him to stop the try

[Kawazaki]

Nailed him is a bit strong, he didn't complete the tackle but it isn't the best example.

I maintain that if I was a coach with decent players, I'd be looking to exploit this. It might improve things, we might have 55-53 scorelines. Who knows.

[Paddington Bear]

Italy game well on course to be the lowest attendance since the South Stand was being redeveloped. Only themselves to blame for dire product on the pitch and a cheapest ticket of £93. That's over doubled in six years

Have we ever not sold out 6N home game?

Serves the RFU right for continuing to gouge with prices.

Not to my knowledge - probably there's been the odd single seat available but that would be it.
Just madness as well, I came up from uni to an Italy game a few years ago with a largeish group of us. Tickets were at least half the price of what they will be this year but we put more than the difference each behind the bars

[SaintK]

Italy game well on course to be the lowest attendance since the South Stand was being redeveloped. Only themselves to blame for dire product on the pitch and a cheapest ticket of £93. That's over doubled in six years

Have we ever not sold out 6N home game?

Serves the RFU right for continuing to gouge with prices.

Not to my knowledge - probably there's been the odd single seat available but that would be it.
Just madness as well, I came up from uni to an Italy game a few years ago with a largeish group of us. Tickets were at least half the price of what they will be this year but we put more than the difference each behind the bars

There are swathes of seats available in the North and South upper stands for that match. I've been doing the international tickets at my club for years and never seen so ,many available so close to the start. Cost of living plus RFU greed!

[Tichtheid]

Far be it from me to avoid giving a corporation a kicking when I can, but aren't the prices a reflection of monies lost during Covid?

Of course, international rugby has become prohibitively expensive for many over the last decade, but recent events have probably accelerated the price rises.

[SaintK]

Far be it from me to avoid giving a corporation a kicking when I can, but aren't the prices a reflection of monies lost during Covid?

Of course, international rugby has become prohibitively expensive for many over the last decade, but recent events have probably accelerated the price rises.

Yes, most definitely

[Lobby]

Far be it from me to avoid giving a corporation a kicking when I can, but aren't the prices a reflection of monies lost during Covid?

Of course, international rugby has become prohibitively expensive for many over the last decade, but recent events have probably accelerated the price rises.

Indeed, but they also need to be aware of the commercial realities and price their tickets at a level that will sell, and they have clearly failed to do so for the Italy match.

Tickets for the Womens 6 Nation match between England and France in April are priced at £25 for Adults and £5 for children, so they don't have to charge £95 a ticket for all games at Twickenham.

[SaintK]

Far be it from me to avoid giving a corporation a kicking when I can, but aren't the prices a reflection of monies lost during Covid?

Of course, international rugby has become prohibitively expensive for many over the last decade, but recent events have probably accelerated the price rises.

Indeed, but they also need to be aware of the commercial realities and price their tickets at a level that will sell, and they have clearly failed to do so for the Italy match.

Tickets for the Womens 6 Nation match between England and France in April are priced at £25 for Adults and £5 for children, so they don't have to charge £95 a ticket for all games at Twickenham.

They've pitched the pricing wrongly for the Italy match though child price is £30
£195 for the Premium tickets for the last match against the AB's. Sold out my club allocation in less than 24 hours

[Lobby]

Far be it from me to avoid giving a corporation a kicking when I can, but aren't the prices a reflection of monies lost during Covid?

Of course, international rugby has become prohibitively expensive for many over the last decade, but recent events have probably accelerated the price rises.

Indeed, but they also need to be aware of the commercial realities and price their tickets at a level that will sell, and they have clearly failed to do so for the Italy match.

Tickets for the Womens 6 Nation match between England and France in April are priced at £25 for Adults and £5 for children, so they don't have to charge £95 a ticket for all games at Twickenham.

They've pitched the pricing wrongly for the Italy match though child price is £30
£195 for the Premium tickets for the last match against the AB's. Sold out my club allocation in less than 24 hours

My recollection is that the Italy match has always been the hardest sell of the 6N matches, and used to be the only one for which there were still some tickets left for public sale after the club allocations had been sold. Mind you, I've never seen as many tickets still unsold as this year.

[Tichtheid]

I was at the Calcutta Cup match ten years ago, I've just had a look at some photos and we were towards the top of the middle tier, between halfway and the 10m line, in the stand opposite where the players run out. The tickets were around £80 iirc.

What would these seats sell for now?

[SaintK]

I was at the Calcutta Cup match ten years ago, I've just had a look at some photos and we were towards the top of the middle tier, between halfway and the 10m line, in the stand opposite where the players run out. The tickets were around £80 iirc.

What would these seats sell for now?

Without checking as I’m on a train £140 I think

[Hal Jordan]

Good news, everyone!

Jack Willis is out of the training camp with an injury, but not sure how long term it is!

Apparently he was training in a trio of him, Ben Curry and Dombrandt, so one of Earl or Ludlam should step in, or Simmonds out of position, or another bloody 5.5.

[Raggs]

Good news, everyone!

Jack Willis is out of the training camp with an injury, but not sure how long term it is!

Apparently he was training in a trio of him, Ben Curry and Dombrandt, so one of Earl or Ludlam should step in, or Simmonds out of position, or another bloody 5.5.

Injuring players all the time, bloody Eddie Jon.... Borthers.

[sockwithaticket]

FFS. In other news, Cockers out after the 6N apparently.

[Paddington Bear]

Far be it from me to avoid giving a corporation a kicking when I can, but aren't the prices a reflection of monies lost during Covid?

Of course, international rugby has become prohibitively expensive for many over the last decade, but recent events have probably accelerated the price rises.

Of course, but there's a limit and £100+ for poor seats for Italy on a Sunday is poor commercial awareness. It will be the first home game vs Italy I've missed in a long time and I'm sure others will be in the same boat, and so the RFU misses out on everything all of us would have bought inside the ground. I've said in here before, no issue with premium seats being gouged for all their worth and I understand the commercial realities, but charging those prices for that game just takes the piss, and clearly a fair chunk of the English rugby public agree with me.

[Hal Jordan]

I'm getting regular begging emails from the RFU marketing Italy tickets to me. Not sure I've seen that this close to the 6N before.

But put on a shit spectacle and charge high prices, don't be surprised when no one turns up.

[Paddington Bear]

I'm getting regular begging emails from the RFU marketing Italy tickets to me. Not sure I've seen that this close to the 6N before.

But put on a shit spectacle and charge high prices, don't be surprised when no one turns up.

Yep. It isn't uncommon for Italy to go on general sale, it is uncommon for those tickets not to be snapped up. Two x £60 say is a great Christmas present, not hard to see how this isn't working

[Kawazaki]

Just imagine how shite ticket sales would be if Eddie Jones was still in charge!

[Ovals]

Good news, everyone!

Jack Willis is out of the training camp with an injury, but not sure how long term it is!

Apparently he was training in a trio of him, Ben Curry and Dombrandt, so one of Earl or Ludlam should step in, or Simmonds out of position, or another bloody 5.5.

Bugger - we've got cover in depth in the Backrow but that's definitely a blow.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

England v Italy used to be one of the games I'd wander up to the stadium at around kickoff time and see if the touts were unloading cheap tickets. I got a few cheap games doing that. Paying face value back then seemed bad value, let alone now.

[Ovals]

Good news, everyone!

Jack Willis is out of the training camp with an injury, but not sure how long term it is!

Apparently he was training in a trio of him, Ben Curry and Dombrandt, so one of Earl or Ludlam should step in, or Simmonds out of position, or another bloody 5.5.

Bugger - we've got cover in depth in the Backrow but that's definitely a blow.

Evidently he's not injured though - just has to return to the Toulouse Squad today and is, therefore, unavailable to train with England this weekend. All being good he'll return early next week. Not ideal though.

[Raggs]

Good news, everyone!

Jack Willis is out of the training camp with an injury, but not sure how long term it is!

Apparently he was training in a trio of him, Ben Curry and Dombrandt, so one of Earl or Ludlam should step in, or Simmonds out of position, or another bloody 5.5.

Bugger - we've got cover in depth in the Backrow but that's definitely a blow.

Evidently he's not injured though - just has to return to the Toulouse Squad today and is, therefore, unavailable to train with England this weekend. All being good he'll return early next week. Not ideal though.

He's not? That's good. He may not be good to go for the first match, but hopefully he can get into the squad.

[Hal Jordan]

Seems I assumed "not available" to mean "injured". Understandable in light of Jones' training camps.

Hopefully we've also moved on from the seaborne squad building activities, too. I appreciate the male form as much as anyone, but I draw the line at Tweets of props in Speedos.

[Kawazaki]

Seems I assumed "not available" to mean "injured". Understandable in light of Jones' training camps.

Hopefully we've also moved on from the seaborne squad building activities, too. I appreciate the male form as much as anyone, but I draw the line at Tweets of props in Speedos.

Borthwick cancelled a Portugal training camp.

[Tichtheid]

I was just having a look at the three European league tables and a question occurred to me regarding the English leagues - what happened to the points gained/lost during games involving Wasps and Wuss?

[Margin__Walker]

I was just having a look at the three European league tables and a question occurred to me regarding the English leagues - what happened to the points gained/lost during games involving Wasps and Wuss?

Points taken away. League tables are as if they had not been played. Only semi fair way they could do it really.

[Tichtheid]

I was just having a look at the three European league tables and a question occurred to me regarding the English leagues - what happened to the points gained/lost during games involving Wasps and Wuss?

Points taken away. League tables are as if they had not been played. Only semi fair way they could do it really.

Thanks, yeah it is the only fair way, really.

[SaintK]

Daly out for 12 weeks with serious hamstring injury and will miss all the 6N

[JM2K6]

Borthwick really is the continuity candidate eh

[Raggs]

Borthwick really is the continuity candidate eh

Daly's injury came from the Sarries match.

[Kawazaki]

Daly out for 12 weeks with serious hamstring injury and will miss all the 6N

Bloody hell. Sarries have lost their best forward and their best back.

[JM2K6]

Borthwick really is the continuity candidate eh

Daly's injury came from the Sarries match.

<needle scratch> Is there no end to the damage they are willing to do to English rugby?