The Official English Rugby Thread

[Paddington Bear]

Scoreline flattered us, Newcastle were far better

[JM2K6]

Very Marler-esque finale for Marler, really. Did enjoy him putting Fitz Harding in his place when the young lad pulled him over at a ruck.

His announcement on twitter is worth a read. Wouldn't get many like this in pro sport I reckon. Extremely honest and not at all kidding himself about the chances he was given that led to him having this career





Edit: ends with a literal mic drop

[Hal Jordan]

At least he got a traditional second half Quins collapse to see him off.

[Paddington Bear]

Sarries are being absolutely battered, more so than the scoreline suggests. Newcastle have missed two pens, one of which was a sitter. Meanwhile on the terrace I, a man who has Raynaud’s Syndrome, realised on the walk to the ground my gloves are on the windowsill at home. So all in all an emotional evening on Tyneside

Shit, Raynauds is bloody painful
Bet the Falcons fans are in short sleeved t shirts though

Worse when feeling returns!!

Newcastle fans are great fun and there were a fair number inexplicably wearing shorts - I’d recommend a weekend up here for the game to anyone.

[Tichtheid]

Rather than go back and quote - Big Bill Mata is woefully short of match fitness. I've watched the game up to his try which he walked over the line, which is the pace he's played at all evening.

He may be injury free, but he is a guy that can change a game with a sprint on the outside and a frankly ridiculous offload to a supporting player running a line either inside or out.
Tonight he trundled around as a passenger really. Bristol need to get him fit if they are going to benefit from what he brings to the table

[Torquemada 1420]

Snouts in the trough with Sweeney.
Who the fuck agrees these?

However, buried on page 96 of the report in the “notes to financial statements”, the RFU declares that total compensation paid to “key management personnel” rose from £2.8 million last year to £4.9 million. The increase is partly down to “the payout of the long-term incentive plan which accounts for £1.3 million and the increase in executive directors”.
Those to receive the LTIP bonus are:

Executive director of performance rugby: Conor O’Shea
Executive director of engagement & business Growth: Claudio Borges
Executive director of legal & governance: Angus Bujalski
Executive director of rugby development: Steve Grainger
Executive director of communications: Kathryn Williamson
The report also states that Sue Day, the RFU’s former chief financial officer, who resigned earlier this year to join the Football Association, did not qualify for an LTIP payment because she left before it was paid out, but still received what was effectively a golden-goodbye bonus on top of her annual bonus, which saw her salary increase from £509,000 to £554,000.

The governing body’s financial largesse at a time when it has recently made 42 staff redundant and posted a record deficit has been widely criticised. The £1.3 million paid in LTIP bonuses to the five executive directors and Sweeney is more than the £1 million that the RFU pays to Championship clubs.

FM. This is like Fre rugby of the bad old days.

As for the waste of money on Twickenham, I'm immediately minded of what the WRU's focus on the Millennium (and the national team to the exclusion of the all levels below) has led Welsh rugby inevitably to.

[Torquemada 1420]

Very Marler-esque finale for Marler, really. Did enjoy him putting Fitz Harding in his place when the young lad pulled him over at a ruck.

His announcement on twitter is worth a read. Wouldn't get many like this in pro sport I reckon. Extremely honest and not at all kidding himself about the chances he was given that led to him having this career





Edit: ends with a literal mic drop

Thx for posting that. Not something I would have read or found otherwise.

[sockwithaticket]

Northampton their own worst enemies in the second half. Had ample opportunities to secure a win, but errors and profligacy cost them.

Wonder what might have happened if Finn Smith had been allowed to return to the field. He passed an HIA, but because the process took more than 10 minutes he had to stay off. Is that a new rule? Don't remember hearing it before.

[Stranger]

I am from 0 from 3 on superbru so far this weekend

[SaintK]

I am from 0 from 3 on superbru so far this weekend

Me too

[Oxbow]

Northampton their own worst enemies in the second half. Had ample opportunities to secure a win, but errors and profligacy cost them.

Wonder what might have happened if Finn Smith had been allowed to return to the field. He passed an HIA, but because the process took more than 10 minutes he had to stay off. Is that a new rule? Don't remember hearing it before.

In my current grumpy state I'd say they were shit. The only shining light was the return of Alex Mitchell who showed just what England has been missing.

Edit: Update on this, apparently Smith passed his HIA but couldn't see out of one of his eyes after getting a knee in it.

[sockwithaticket]

I genuinely thought Anthony Watson had had to retire, was surprised to see him run out for Leicester today.

[SaintK]

Pretty poor fare so far
Penalties and mistakes left right and centre centre

[sockwithaticket]

Pretty poor fare so far
Penalties and mistakes left right and centre centre

Must admit, I had my suspicions that these two would deliver the dullest game of the weekend.

[SaintK]

Sale have sorted themselves out second half
Though Tigers still in it

[SaintK]

Deserved win for Sale in the end 39 25

[SaintK]

I am from 0 from 3 on superbru so far this weekend

Me too

Called the last 2 matches ok and ended up gaining 6 places on the leaderboard

[inactionman]

Well, the Bath match won't last long in the memory.

I'm not really sure where Exeter are going with their backline, Slade was put at 10 but just spent the game kicking. To be fair, he did kick very well, but it's hard to see what they're aiming at.

I'll assume losing Joe Simmonds wasn't in their control, but it's not helped.

Also, Barbeary sparked out again - twice now he's been off for concussion after hitting the back of his head on the ground.

[Oxbow]

Surprised more hasn't been made on here of the Hugh Tizard cleanout on Sammy Arnold, horrible stuff. Should get proper lengthy ban for that.

[Stranger]

I am from 0 from 3 on superbru so far this weekend

Me too

Called the last 2 matches ok and ended up gaining 6 places on the leaderboard

I called tigers so ended up 1/5 dropped 20 places

[Biffer]

RFU have cancelled the staff Christmas party at Twickenham according to the Times.

[JM2K6]

Cool

[SaintK]

Surprised more hasn't been made on here of the Hugh Tizard cleanout on Sammy Arnold, horrible stuff. Should get proper lengthy ban for that.

Arnold out for up to 5 months according to Diamond

[inactionman]

Surprised more hasn't been made on here of the Hugh Tizard cleanout on Sammy Arnold, horrible stuff. Should get proper lengthy ban for that.

Only just seen it. Oof. That's not good, not good at all.

[Sandstorm]

https://www.ruck.co.uk/six-month-ban-in ... ou-cringe/

Arsehole

[fishfoodie]

RFU have cancelled the staff Christmas party at Twickenham according to the Times.

The Torygraph said that while the big bash is cancelled, it'll be replaced with every dept having their own party, so it'll probably save nothing.

[laurent]

https://www.ruck.co.uk/six-month-ban-in ... ou-cringe/

Arsehole

Way too mild, deserves an IRA treatment

[sockwithaticket]

Highlights only show one angle. It's at best reckless with zero regard for the health of a fellow player.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/six-month-ban-in ... ou-cringe/

Arsehole

Ruck Clickbait shite.

Stretching 'England star' to breaking point with a player whose highest international honour is an A team cap.

And they'll know as well as anyone that there's zero chance he'll see anything close to 6 months no matter how bad the clearout was. Once all reaductions have been applied I'll be astonished if it's more than 2.

[JM2K6]

Think he loses his footing a bit on the plastic turf, but fuck him anyway, Judas

[Rhubarb & Custard]

RFU have cancelled the staff Christmas party at Twickenham according to the Times.

The Torygraph said that while the big bash is cancelled, it'll be replaced with every dept having their own party, so it'll probably save nothing.

I'd assumed they'd cancelled it for bad optics, and they think that's the issue,, not having spent millions on bonuses for the select few that it was a money saving measure

[SaintK]

Surprised more hasn't been made on here of the Hugh Tizard cleanout on Sammy Arnold, horrible stuff. Should get proper lengthy ban for that.

Still nothing! Thought disciplinary panel was usually on the Tuesday/Wednesday following the red card?

[JM2K6]

It can't have escaped your notice that post match citings have almost entirely disappeared

[epwc]

It can't have escaped your notice that post match citings have almost entirely disappeared

Why is that? (I have noticed)

[SaintK]

It can't have escaped your notice that post match citings have almost entirely disappeared

Now you mention it.

[JM2K6]

It can't have escaped your notice that post match citings have almost entirely disappeared

Why is that? (I have noticed)

Can only hazard a guess that the increased number of red cards made them more gun-shy about trying to ban people for incidents not caught, and/or confusing new laws leading to really inconsistent off field rulings is worse than on-field ones. Given they've already walked back the clamping down on headshots, dramatically diminished the red card, and made a joke of themselves with decisions during the AIs, I can only assume that the money men have demanded the product be sacrosanct

Or players are just a lot cleaner now, which is genuinely possible I guess

[fishfoodie]

It can't have escaped your notice that post match citings have almost entirely disappeared

Why is that? (I have noticed)

Can only hazard a guess that the increased number of red cards made them more gun-shy about trying to ban people for incidents not caught, and/or confusing new laws leading to really inconsistent off field rulings is worse than on-field ones. Given they've already walked back the clamping down on headshots, dramatically diminished the red card, and made a joke of themselves with decisions during the AIs, I can only assume that the money men have demanded the product be sacrosanct

Or players are just a lot cleaner now, which is genuinely possible I guess

Have you been at the Turps ?

It is rather at odds with the efforts to cut out dangerous play, that is otherwise being clamped down on, that the citings have apparently stopped.

Is there an assumption the the TMO is now catching everything, so there's no later run thru of the tape, or teams raising serious fouls that they feel weren't caught at the time ?