The Official English Rugby Thread

[petej]

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)

I agree very different players. Vesty was a really clever skillful player with the lack of any outstanding physical attributes or outstanding kicking that is required at international level. Glad he has ended up as a coach and is doing excellent work at saints.

12trees had a massive boot and good physical size but lacked consistency because there was plenty of natural talent.

[Hal Jordan]

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?

I thought his bete noire was Robshaw.

[JM2K6]

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

Dug out an old link, think it was Openclash?

I thought his bete noire was Robshaw.

He and Toga also hated 36. Big fans of posting gifs of missed tackles.

[Hal Jordan]

Toga vs Mike Brown.

[Sinkers]

Is it a fight? I’d put my money on Brown all day long.

[Sinkers]

[Biffer]

[duke]

Jack Rowell, former Bath and England coach, passed away on Monday.

[Hal Jordan]

Jack Rowell, former Bath and England coach, passed away on Monday.

He's up there selecting 3 no 8s for the Celestial XV backrow as we speak.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Jack Rowell, former Bath and England coach, passed away on Monday.

He's up there selecting 3 no 8s for the Celestial XV backrow as we speak.

Not a man lacking in confidence, he's probably up there (or down there) enquiring 'do you know who I am?'

[petej]

Pretty happy with that team. Glad to see sleightholme make the bench.

[JM2K6]

Pretty happy with that team. Glad to see sleightholme make the bench.

Yup, seems good. Will be interesting to see if Slade handles the physical threats opposite him; Freeman at 13 and Sleightholme on the wing might be how the second test starts

[SaintK]

Pretty happy with that team. Glad to see sleightholme make the bench.

Yup, seems good. Will be interesting to see if Slade handles the physical threats opposite him; Freeman at 13 and Sleightholme on the wing might be how the second test starts

I'd like to see that at some stage. They are both pretty powerful runners.

[sockwithaticket]

Slade's also 31, no guarantee of him going to the next world cup. No need to jettison him over that necessarily, but one eye does have to be kept on succession planning. Particularly after the example of Eddie leaving it very later to refresh the team.

[geordie_6]

Emmanuel Iyogun replaces Marler, who is out with a foot injury.

[Oxbow]

Pleased for Iyogun, he looks a really good prospect. Guessing he's just there to make up the numbers though and it'll be Rodd and Baxter.

[Sinkers]

Slade's also 31, no guarantee of him going to the next world cup. No need to jettison him over that necessarily, but one eye does have to be kept on succession planning. Particularly after the example of Eddie leaving it very later to refresh the team.

With his little attempted grubbers and all I’ve thought during a few recent games that Slade seems to be the one guy left still playing the old regime’s game plan.
He has some classy touches and I guess his experience and/or left boot are valued, but he just doesn’t seem to fit in now.

[SaintK]

Emmanuel Iyogun replaces Marler, who is out with a foot injury.

With Obano suspended that's probably the right call.
Not going to get any game time, but good experience for him.

[sockwithaticket]

Saints have revealed their logo re-design. It's shit.



Supposedly it harks back to their earliest logo, but it is a marked step down from this



The drive over the last several years for teams to simplify their branding in the name of marketability is incredibly sad.

[Oxbow]

Seems to have divided opinion amongst the fans. It's decidedly meh but I can't get too worked up about it, at least it does hark back to Saints' beginnings rather than some random unrelated image.

[Hal Jordan]

Seems to have divided opinion amongst the fans. It's decidedly meh but I can't get too worked up about it, at least it does hark back to Saints' beginnings rather than some random unrelated image.

It's objectively terrible on all fronts. Seize on an obscure bit of lore from the dawn of time, portray it as honouring the fans' wishes to reflect the club's history and ensure that it's also an appallingly cheap and shitty looking design.

Some consultants robbed Saints blind.

Shit, why not just use the stickman logo, it was basically the unofficial crest already.

[Oxbow]

Seems to have divided opinion amongst the fans. It's decidedly meh but I can't get too worked up about it, at least it does hark back to Saints' beginnings rather than some random unrelated image.

It's objectively terrible on all fronts. Seize on an obscure bit of lore from the dawn of time, portray it as honouring the fans' wishes to reflect the club's history and ensure that it's also an appallingly cheap and shitty looking design.

Some consultants robbed Saints blind.

Shit, why not just use the stickman logo, it was basically the unofficial crest already.

That I can definitely agree with.

[Sinkers]

Thought it looked ok on the actual shirt

[Hal Jordan]

Problem is, it's designed for digital scaling on social media and will look terrible everywhere else.

[sockwithaticket]

Someone on Reddit knocked this up in the time since the announcement. Looks loads better.

[Oxbow]

Angus Scott-Young came up with these when the news about the new badge was announced. Not saying they're better than the official one, but...

[SaintK]

Another England A match confirmed for November.

The RFU have announced that England A will return later this year to face Australia A at the Twickenham Stoop.
The sides will face each other on Sunday November 17, the day after England’s senior side host world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

[Sinkers]

Good for both I imagine
Any little thing the Aussies can do to display alternative opportunities to bogging off to NFL for younger players

[pjm1]

Problem is, it's designed for digital scaling on social media and will look terrible everywhere else.

Exactly this - the original (well, prior) one is an absolute car crash on digital devices. You lose everything and unless you know the features in detail, it’s basically a pixel mash.

I think Saints did some tests and even fans couldn’t recall specific features of the prior crest. So what’s the point?!

I’m not a fan of change for change’s sake but this might actually make logical sense, even if it looks crap.

[inactionman]

Is there an official Welsh rugby thread, or is it all too painful at the minute?

Anyway, Ragan Grace has scored in his start for Wales against Queensland Reds - he's rehabilitated at Bath so hoping to see him in a few games next year. Great footwork and rapid.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2g161l9p0t

[Raggs]

Is there an official Welsh rugby thread, or is it all too painful at the minute?

Anyway, Ragan Grace has scored in his start for Wales against Queensland Reds - he's rehabilitated at Bath so hoping to see him in a few games next year. Great footwork and rapid.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2g161l9p0t

He basically just ran fast down the sideline, did look quick though, decent acceleration. Sort of try you'd hope any winger would score, but some wouldn't have the pace.

[inactionman]

Is there an official Welsh rugby thread, or is it all too painful at the minute?

Anyway, Ragan Grace has scored in his start for Wales against Queensland Reds - he's rehabilitated at Bath so hoping to see him in a few games next year. Great footwork and rapid.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2g161l9p0t

He basically just ran fast down the sideline, did look quick though, decent acceleration. Sort of try you'd hope any winger would score, but some wouldn't have the pace.

I've not managed to catch any on stream, which given Wales' recent performance is perhaps a blessing.

[Raggs]

Is there an official Welsh rugby thread, or is it all too painful at the minute?

Anyway, Ragan Grace has scored in his start for Wales against Queensland Reds - he's rehabilitated at Bath so hoping to see him in a few games next year. Great footwork and rapid.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 2g161l9p0t

He basically just ran fast down the sideline, did look quick though, decent acceleration. Sort of try you'd hope any winger would score, but some wouldn't have the pace.

I've not managed to catch any on stream, which given Wales' recent performance is perhaps a blessing.

It's all reds at the moment. Wales maul defence doesn't look good. Defence also needs work. Wales started off with good intensity, but it's dropped right off now.

[SaintK]

He basically just ran fast down the sideline, did look quick though, decent acceleration. Sort of try you'd hope any winger would score, but some wouldn't have the pace.

I've not managed to catch any on stream, which given Wales' recent performance is perhaps a blessing.

It's all reds at the moment. Wales maul defence doesn't look good. Defence also needs work. Wales started off with good intensity, but it's dropped right off now.

Wales won 36-35 in the last minute
First win in over a year!!!!

[Raggs]

I've not managed to catch any on stream, which given Wales' recent performance is perhaps a blessing.

It's all reds at the moment. Wales maul defence doesn't look good. Defence also needs work. Wales started off with good intensity, but it's dropped right off now.

Wales won 36-35 in the last minute
First win in over a year!!!!

Lost the resulting kickoff after their last try too. Could have easily gone another way! Fun enough match for the neutral though!

[SaintK]

Ben Youngs almost gooooooooooooooooone!

England’s most-capped player Ben Youngs has revealed he underwent heart surgery after collapsing during an open training session.
The Leicester scrum-half says he is “on the mend” and hopes to be fit for the new English club season which begins in mid-September.
The 34-year-old had been diagnosed with arrhythmia and supraventricular tachycardia, which is a type of irregular heartbeat that causes the heart’s upper chamber to beat fast or erratically.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/07/23 ... collapse/

[inactionman]

Ben Youngs almost gooooooooooooooooone!

England’s most-capped player Ben Youngs has revealed he underwent heart surgery after collapsing during an open training session.
The Leicester scrum-half says he is “on the mend” and hopes to be fit for the new English club season which begins in mid-September.
The 34-year-old had been diagnosed with arrhythmia and supraventricular tachycardia, which is a type of irregular heartbeat that causes the heart’s upper chamber to beat fast or erratically.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/07/23 ... collapse/

Scary stuff - Marc Vivien Foe died on the pitch of a condition linked to arrhythmia.

[Raggs]

Jesus, hope he recovers quickly!

[SaintK]

Jesus, hope he recovers quickly!

Hopefullyhe has

He had a two-hour operation in Birmingham following the episode while training with Leicester earlier this year.

[Sandstorm]

Jesus, hope he recovers quickly!

Hopefullyhe has

He had a two-hour operation in Birmingham following the episode while training with Leicester earlier this year.

Hopefully the nurse passed the scalpel to the surgeon with more accuracy than Ben passes a rugby ball?