The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

Billy Vunipola is looking absolutely useless.

[Tichtheid]

Stop the clock! Creaky ol' Mike Brown with a stellar break that leads to Tiger's second try and they're currently beating the clock. 14 - 0 on 13 minutes.

He’s having some game

[Lobby]

And Brown scores.

He’s playing really well.

[sockwithaticket]

Stop the clock! Creaky ol' Mike Brown with a stellar break that leads to Tiger's second try and they're currently beating the clock. 14 - 0 on 13 minutes.

He’s having some game

Much like when the Argies beat the All Blacks after basically having a year without playing, maybe the less rugby the better?

[SaintK]

Tigers must heavy the oldest back line to ever appear in the Premiership
Only Scott and Potter under 30

[sockwithaticket]

Tigers defence has been immense.

Never fail to enjoy Vunipola getting petulant because things aren't going Sarries way.

[Kawazaki]

What's hilarious is sock is such a wet blanket. Suspect BillyV has flushed bigger away.

[sockwithaticket]

It's funny because he's quite happy to dish it out and reacts so poorly when it comes back it him.

[Kawazaki]

It was Chris Ashton taunting him you twat.

[sockwithaticket]

Youngs owes everyone in a Tigers shirt a beer for those two atrocious box kicks that have failed to relieve the pressure after they've worked so hard to win the ball back.

[petej]

Youngs owes everyone in a Tigers shirt a beer for those two atrocious box kicks that have failed to relieve the pressure after they've worked so hard to win the ball back.

Yep. Well that was a surprise victory for team geriatric.

[Kawazaki]

Youngs owes everyone in a Tigers shirt a beer for those two atrocious box kicks that have failed to relieve the pressure after they've worked so hard to win the ball back.

Yep. Well that was a surprise victory for team geriatric.

One of their tries was a clear foot in touch.

The match also showed up the farcical held up law for what it is.

[petej]

Youngs owes everyone in a Tigers shirt a beer for those two atrocious box kicks that have failed to relieve the pressure after they've worked so hard to win the ball back.

Yep. Well that was a surprise victory for team geriatric.

One of their tries was a clear foot in touch.

The match also showed up the farcical held up law for what it is.

Sarries should be glad of the game. Due to your cheating former sugardaddy inflating wages there was the potential for this game not to take place. Tigers partly being in trouble due to an absence of home games against wasps and worcester. Not every team can afford lose over £50million.

[Ovals]

Yep. Well that was a surprise victory for team geriatric.

One of their tries was a clear foot in touch.

The match also showed up the farcical held up law for what it is.

Sarries should be glad of the game. Due to your cheating former sugardaddy inflating wages there was the potential for this game not to take place. Tigers partly being in trouble due to an absence of home games against wasps and worcester. Not every team can afford lose over £50million.

Yeah - the salaries being paid and the unprofitability of the Premier clubs is all Sarries fault

[Paddington Bear]

Genuinely pleased for Brown and the way he performed. Sarries had more than enough chances to win that had we spun the ball wide rather than persisted with picking and going again and again. Oh well, another entertaining prem game, and absolute lol at Youngs at the end

[sockwithaticket]

Latest squad announcement.


Confirms earlier reports of Lawes and Curry back in, but also Ford and Dingwall.

[Kawazaki]

Latest squad announcement.


Confirms earlier reports of Lawes and Curry back in, but also Ford and Dingwall.

FFS, the rotting corpse of Ben Youngs is back in there stinking the place out.

[Ovals]

Latest squad announcement.


Confirms earlier reports of Lawes and Curry back in, but also Ford and Dingwall.

FFS, the rotting corpse of Ben Youngs is back in there stinking the place out.

OHC ditched altogether !! (edit - knee injury)

[Margin__Walker]

Knee injury for OHC.

Ironically he's never injured. Must be the England effect.

[Hal Jordan]

So,

6 Lawes
7 Willis
8 Curry

9 Youngs

It is, then.

[sockwithaticket]

I dunno, leaving Youngs out of the Italy matchday sqaud completely has given me the faintest of hopes that he may not survive the Tuesday/Wednesday cull.

[Punter15]

Just watched the Leicester game and (while it may be the wine) I’m really hoping that Mike Brown is a Wasp next season. What a return.

[Ovals]

So,

6 Lawes
7 Willis
8 Curry

9 Youngs

It is, then.

That's the worry. No problem with Lawes at 6 (but he needs more gametime so off the bench would be better) - but I'd be annoyed if Borthers picks a Flanker at 8 - and he could, possibly, go for either Curry or Ludlam there if he's in Eddie mode.

[sockwithaticket]

Just watched the Leicester game and (while it may be the wine) I’m really hoping that Mike Brown is a Wasp next season. What a return.

We could (and may well) do so much worse than getting him to shepherd us back to the promised land.

[Paddington Bear]

I dunno, leaving Youngs out of the Italy matchday sqaud completely has given me the faintest of hopes that he may not survive the Tuesday/Wednesday cull.

If any England coach was watching today, he will be playing for Leicester next week

[Dinsdale Piranha]

I dunno, leaving Youngs out of the Italy matchday sqaud completely has given me the faintest of hopes that he may not survive the Tuesday/Wednesday cull.

If any England coach was watching today, he will be playing for Leicester next week

If any of the Leicester coaching team were watching then he won't be.

[SaintK]

Zach Mercer badly injured in the first 2 minutes of the Montpellier match against Lyon yesterday.
Can't find the the live action link, but basically he faceplanted into the 4G pitch with two opposition players on top of him.
Looked particularly nasty as it took more than 10 minutes to get him off safely
Hopefully no lasting damage.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/ ... -26281151

[fishfoodie]

Zach Mercer badly injured in the first 2 minutes of the Montpellier match against Lyon yesterday.
Can't find the the live action link, but basically he faceplanted into the 4G pitch with two opposition players on top of him.
Looked particularly nasty as it took more than 10 minutes to get him off safely
Hopefully no lasting damage.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/ ... -26281151

The downside of playing in France, they expect you to play every minute to earn your money.

[Oxbow]

Tom Curry injured, Ben Curry back in, but no Ben Earl...

FORWARDS
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 97 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 11 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 74 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 64 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 96 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 76 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 7 caps)

BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 4 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 103 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 16 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 53 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)

[pjm1]

Tom Curry injured, Ben Curry back in, but no Ben Earl...

Bizarre - is Earl injured? Would assume it would be mentioned if Tom is. Disappointing for both and Ben Curry didn't really cut the mustard. Conversely, Earl put himself around well.

[inactionman]

Willis, Ludlam and Dombrandt would be a pretty big backrow

[Paddington Bear]

Fair amount of pace in that backline...

[pjm1]

Willis, Ludlam and Dombrandt would be a pretty big backrow

Almost as big as the one we fielded against Italy

[SaintK]

Willis, Ludlam and Dombrandt would be a pretty big backrow

Almost as big as the one we fielded against Italy

[inactionman]

Willis, Ludlam and Dombrandt would be a pretty big backrow

Almost as big as the one we fielded against Italy

They've not got any smaller, cap'n smartarse

[SaintK]

Tom Curry injured, Ben Curry back in, but no Ben Earl...

Bizarre - is Earl injured? Would assume it would be mentioned if Tom is. Disappointing for both and Ben Curry didn't really cut the mustard. Conversely, Earl put himself around well.

Didn't notice Curry T getting injured against Saints!
Not quite sure what Earls has done to be dropped
Courtney has played so little rugby the past 3 months. Must have been tearing up trees in squad training to get back into the squad
No Ben Youngs

[Lobby]

Tom Curry injured, Ben Curry back in, but no Ben Earl...

Bizarre - is Earl injured? Would assume it would be mentioned if Tom is. Disappointing for both and Ben Curry didn't really cut the mustard. Conversely, Earl put himself around well.

Didn't notice Curry T getting injured against Saints!
Not quite sure what Earls has done to be dropped
Courtney has played so little rugby the past 3 months. Must have been tearing up trees in squad training to get back into the squad
No Ben Youngs

One thing with Lawes back in the squad is that the option of him returning to the team as captain would allow Smith to start at 10 without Farrell stinking up the back line. Of course its not going to happen, but it would at least remove one of the other reasons for thinking that Farrell is undroppable.

[Ovals]

Bizarre - is Earl injured? Would assume it would be mentioned if Tom is. Disappointing for both and Ben Curry didn't really cut the mustard. Conversely, Earl put himself around well.

Didn't notice Curry T getting injured against Saints!
Not quite sure what Earls has done to be dropped
Courtney has played so little rugby the past 3 months. Must have been tearing up trees in squad training to get back into the squad
No Ben Youngs

One thing with Lawes back in the squad is that the option of him returning to the team as captain would allow Smith to start at 10 without Farrell stinking up the back line. Of course its not going to happen, but it would at least remove one of the other reasons for thinking that Farrell is undroppable.

Can't understand Ben Curry being preferred over Earl. Lawes would be a good bench option and, as mentioned above, he could take over as skipper when he comes on if they want to take Farrell off and give Smith free reign - as if

[pjm1]

Willis, Ludlam and Dombrandt would be a pretty big backrow

Almost as big as the one we fielded against Italy

They've not got any smaller, cap'n smartarse

sorry, couldn't resist.

Yeah, maybe with Lawes back in, our back row stocks are pretty full (especially if Isiekwe is seen as BS cover). Perhaps with Earl in the 23 last time and Ben dropping out, Borthwick wanted to show BC a bit of love and flip it around. Player motivation and management is important, even if it's something Eddie didn't give two hoots about...

[el capitan]

To be fair with the World Cup steaming over the horizon we do need to assess the options and use the squad (but that in turn has to be balanced against finding a settled XV and form/confidence/momentum).

Not sure B Curry fits that motive as an urgent priority though. He's towards the back of the queue as far as options go and I doubt is on the plane barring injuries.

This week I'd have kept it as 6. Ludlam 7. Willis 8. Dombrandt , with 19. Lawes 20. Earl from the bench.

Also hoped we'd see one or both of rocking Rodd/Stuart on the bench instead of those two fossils from the late cretaceous period.

I'd have liked to have seen Ribbans get some involvement this tournament as well, looking unlikely now though with the two toughest games up last.

Backline, on paper, could be rapid. How many get selected and if we decide to give them the ball is another matter......