The Official English Rugby Thread

[ASMO]

It was also good to see England think on their feet a bit. I reckon they were surprised at the Japanese run everything approach, they were more expecting the percentage, kicking territory game usually favoured by Jones which is why i think Japan were the better side in the first 20 mins, but good to see the England defence held firm and they managed to turn it around after that.

[Paddington Bear]

Comfortable win and Ewells can’t play again on the tour. If that’s not a result, I don’t know what is

[PCPhil]

Wikipedia can be funny sometimes.

"On 22 June 2024, in his first international appearance following the red card against Ireland, Ewels was given a red card after attempting to remove the kneecap of Japan's Michael Leitch at ruck on 73 minutes. [21]"

[inactionman]

Oh Charlie. What on earth was that?

Missed all this as shuttling kids to rainbows, anwhere likely to be showing a rerun?

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Oh Charlie. What on earth was that?

Missed all this as shuttling kids to rainbows, anwhere likely to be showing a rerun?

It's on Rugbypass.tv. You need to register but it's free.

[inactionman]

Oh Charlie. What on earth was that?

Missed all this as shuttling kids to rainbows, anwhere likely to be showing a rerun?

It's on Rugbypass.tv. You need to register but it's free.

Merci beaucoup.

I'll let the missus practice putting up the tent and I'll watch this instead. I'll certainly be putting the fecking thing away after the kids have trashed it.

[sockwithaticket]

It was also good to see England think on their feet a bit. I reckon they were surprised at the Japanese run everything approach, they were more expecting the percentage, kicking territory game usually favoured by Jones which is why i think Japan were the better side in the first 20 mins, but good to see the England defence held firm and they managed to turn it around after that.

Jones' last stint with Japan saw them trying to run everything and he was very vocal about believing the kickfest trash was England's natural game. He tries to get teams playing to what he thinks are their strengths/identity, so I doubt they were surprised by the Japanese approach, but it is very different from what players typically face week in week out. Talking during the week about what they're going to do and responding to it on the pitch can be different things entirely.

[Stranger]

Dan McKellar sacked by tigers!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/

[epwc]

Michael Cheika in the running? FFS!

[Raggs]

Dan McKellar sacked by tigers!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/

Seems like it's just after they've let him hire some key staff members too...

[duke]

Sam Matavesi heading to Lyon from Saints - pity the Beeb managed to put up a picture of Juarno Augustus



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... ggrne99wno

[Oxbow]

BBC incompetence aside, Saints are losing a hell of a lot of experience from the pack, think this year was the year to win it.

[JM2K6]

BBC incompetence aside, Saints are losing a hell of a lot of experience from the pack, think this year was the year to win it.

Everyone's losing players without being able to effectively replace them, bar Bath. The good news is the academies are doing a good job

[Oxbow]

BBC incompetence aside, Saints are losing a hell of a lot of experience from the pack, think this year was the year to win it.

Everyone's losing players without being able to effectively replace them, bar Bath. The good news is the academies are doing a good job

I don't keep track of other clubs, but I'd guess the combined experience of Lawes, Waller, Ludlam, Matavesi and Moon would take some beating.

[inactionman]

BBC incompetence aside, Saints are losing a hell of a lot of experience from the pack, think this year was the year to win it.

Everyone's losing players without being able to effectively replace them, bar Bath. The good news is the academies are doing a good job

I don't keep track of other clubs, but I'd guess the combined experience of Lawes, Waller, Ludlam, Matavesi and Moon would take some beating.

Losing either of Lawes or Ludlam (Lawes in particular, an absolute gem of player) would be tricky, losing both out the backrow is going to leave a big hole.

[JM2K6]

BBC incompetence aside, Saints are losing a hell of a lot of experience from the pack, think this year was the year to win it.

Everyone's losing players without being able to effectively replace them, bar Bath. The good news is the academies are doing a good job

I don't keep track of other clubs, but I'd guess the combined experience of Lawes, Waller, Ludlam, Matavesi and Moon would take some beating.

I think you'd be surprised.

Some clubs lost more a year ago, presumably because it's how contracts lined up with covid, but to give some examples, Sale have lost a lot of experience in Cobus Wiese, Tuilagi, Neild, Creevy, Ellis, Veainu, and Sam James among others; Saracens have lost Farrell, Judge, Lewington, West (to Saints - great signing BTW), all three Vunipolae, Maitland, Morris, Mulipola, and Adams-Hale... Even Bristol have suffered with losing Sheedy, Sinckler, Bradbury, O'Conor, Holmes, Vakatawa, and Dan Thomas.

It's a sea change in the league.

[Oxbow]

Everyone's losing players without being able to effectively replace them, bar Bath. The good news is the academies are doing a good job

I don't keep track of other clubs, but I'd guess the combined experience of Lawes, Waller, Ludlam, Matavesi and Moon would take some beating.

I think you'd be surprised.

Some clubs lost more a year ago, presumably because it's how contracts lined up with covid, but to give some examples, Sale have lost a lot of experience in Cobus Wiese, Tuilagi, Neild, Creevy, Ellis, Veainu, and Sam James among others; Saracens have lost Farrell, Judge, Lewington, West (to Saints - great signing BTW), all three Vunipolae, Maitland, Morris, Mulipola, and Adams-Hale... Even Bristol have suffered with losing Sheedy, Sinckler, Bradbury, O'Conor, Holmes, Vakatawa, and Dan Thomas.

It's a sea change in the league.

Ah yes, big changes all round, I was originally talking specifically about the pack though. I'd say Sarries come closest with multiple 'polas and the rest.

[SaintK]

Everyone's losing players without being able to effectively replace them, bar Bath. The good news is the academies are doing a good job

I don't keep track of other clubs, but I'd guess the combined experience of Lawes, Waller, Ludlam, Matavesi and Moon would take some beating.

I think you'd be surprised.

Some clubs lost more a year ago, presumably because it's how contracts lined up with covid, but to give some examples, Sale have lost a lot of experience in Cobus Wiese, Tuilagi, Neild, Creevy, Ellis, Veainu, and Sam James among others; Saracens have lost Farrell, Judge, Lewington, West (to Saints - great signing BTW), all three Vunipolae, Maitland, Morris, Mulipola, and Adams-Hale... Even Bristol have suffered with losing Sheedy, Sinckler, Bradbury, O'Conor, Holmes, Vakatawa, and Dan Thomas.

It's a sea change in the league.

Bristol could also be without Chris Vui. He's been fighting an alleged doping offence since the World Cup and hasn't been named in the Bears squad for next season

[JM2K6]

I don't keep track of other clubs, but I'd guess the combined experience of Lawes, Waller, Ludlam, Matavesi and Moon would take some beating.

I think you'd be surprised.

Some clubs lost more a year ago, presumably because it's how contracts lined up with covid, but to give some examples, Sale have lost a lot of experience in Cobus Wiese, Tuilagi, Neild, Creevy, Ellis, Veainu, and Sam James among others; Saracens have lost Farrell, Judge, Lewington, West (to Saints - great signing BTW), all three Vunipolae, Maitland, Morris, Mulipola, and Adams-Hale... Even Bristol have suffered with losing Sheedy, Sinckler, Bradbury, O'Conor, Holmes, Vakatawa, and Dan Thomas.

It's a sea change in the league.

Ah yes, big changes all round, I was originally talking specifically about the pack though. I'd say Sarries come closest with multiple 'polas and the rest.

Saints are definitely up there for forward experience lost.

You should definitely treat hanging on to Pearson as a new signing (same for us and CCS + Will Joseph), so with adding West there's some positives. It's super easy for fans to get disgruntled by an apparent lack of replacements at the moment, but it seems fair enough.

I'm looking forward to it, honestly. Sink or swim time for a raft of talented youngsters across the league. Saints age profile must be superb at the moment!

[duke]

Michael Cheika in the running? FFS!

Cheika confirmed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 0l5pr5ry8o


That'll keep the press conferences interesting

[inactionman]

Michael Cheika in the running? FFS!

Cheika confirmed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 0l5pr5ry8o


That'll keep the press conferences interesting

I think it's good that Leicester are getting back to their old gnarly unlovable ways.

I'm still unnerved listening to any press conference where Cheika in front of the mike - not necessarily by anything he's going to say, just that his voice does not fit his body. It's either helium or he's sat on his nads.

[inactionman]

Saints have signed George Smith. Not the George Smith, but 138Kg and 6'8" NFL try-out George Smith.

A bit of a unit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c886lgqqvxyo

[duke]

Saints have signed George Smith. Not the George Smith, but 138Kg and 6'8" NFL try-out George Smith.

A bit of a unit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c886lgqqvxyo

Be ibteresting to see whether he's got the stamina and mental toughness to go with his physical attributes

[JM2K6]

Cheika is genuinely an absolute cunt and there's a real danger he will damage tigers as much as the final days of Cockerill while also obliterating their few strengths

[epwc]

Cheika is genuinely an absolute cunt and there's a real danger he will damage tigers as much as the final days of Cockerill while also obliterating their few strengths

Sounds about right. Have they ever done well under a non player? Dwyer, Meyer…

Seems a really strange choice

[SaintK]

Saints have signed George Smith. Not the George Smith, but 138Kg and 6'8" NFL try-out George Smith.

A bit of a unit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c886lgqqvxyo

Thay ahve also signed Callum Hunter-Hill from Sarries
Dowson obviously seen something in him that I've never noticed when he's played for Sarries!

[inactionman]

William Wesley Twelvetrees has called it a day

Always felt like one who got away for England when we really needed a 12, just seemed to have a couple of errors in him every time he pulled on a white shirt

[epwc]

William Wesley Twelvetrees has called it a day

He must be about 50

[duke]

William Wesley Twelvetrees has called it a day

Always felt like one who got away for England when we really needed a 12, just seemed to have a couple of errors in him every time he pulled on a white shirt

He didn't ever seem to play to his size either for England or at club level

[inactionman]

William Wesley Twelvetrees has called it a day

He must be about 50

Very annoyingly for all concerned, he's retired about 4 months before he turns 36.

[inactionman]

William Wesley Twelvetrees has called it a day

Always felt like one who got away for England when we really needed a 12, just seemed to have a couple of errors in him every time he pulled on a white shirt

He didn't ever seem to play to his size either for England or at club level

He just seemed to have all the pieces but not the full sum of the parts.

Still a very tidy player, mind.

[geordie_6]

Who was the lad on the old bored that really seemed to have it in for 36?

[fishfoodie]

Michael Cheika in the running? FFS!

Cheika confirmed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 0l5pr5ry8o


That'll keep the press conferences interesting

I think it's good that Leicester are getting back to their old gnarly unlovable ways.

I'm still unnerved listening to any press conference where Cheika in front of the mike - not necessarily by anything he's going to say, just that his voice does not fit his body. It's either helium or he's sat on his nads.

I think he forgot his glasses, & he thought he was re-signing for Leinster again.

[epwc]

Very annoyingly for all concerned, he's retired about 4 months before he turns 36.

That is definitely inconsiderate

[SaintK]

William Wesley Twelvetrees has called it a day

Always felt like one who got away for England when we really needed a 12, just seemed to have a couple of errors in him every time he pulled on a white shirt

I remember seeing him play 10 for Bedford (when he was about 19 or 20) and thinking this lad has got everything. Unfortunately the error count prevented him getting more caps than he did. Good club man for Glaws.

[epwc]

Him and Vesty, both almost men.

[sockwithaticket]

Who was the lad on the old bored that really seemed to have it in for 36?

Dragster? Can't remember him having many kind words for (then) young Billy.

[sockwithaticket]

I still think, with the relative dearth of options, that Twelvetrees deserved a bit more persistence at international level.

[pjm1]

Him and Vesty, both almost men.

I think Vesty was quite different - he had consistent skills and talent, but a ceiling that topped out at club level. Great for that but couldn't bring it internationally.

36 was just a bag of elbows and made as many howlers as he did good stuff. Both for club and country (on the occasions he got the chance)

[geordie_6]

Who was the lad on the old bored that really seemed to have it in for 36?

Dragster? Can't remember him having many kind words for (then) young Billy.

Dug out an old link, think it was Openclash?