The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

From the Wasps pov, the AJ Bell is not a happy hunting ground and I'm not sure this is the team to redress the balance, though I appreciate Blackett giving the non-first choice players, particularly the young half back pair, more game time. The absence of our internationals, particularly Robson, for much of this season so far has revealed that we need their understudies and the rest of the team to learn how to get by without them.

I keep seeing Odogwu doing good things in highlights. How's he doing throughout the match? Likely to be a regular in the 13 shirt?

I think he's got a little bit of work to do defensively, but, considering it's a not a position he's really played a lot until very recently, he's already doing far better than I would have expected in that aspect and going forward he's great. Genuinely think it could be a good move for him and us. His general stockiness makes him a useful carrier in a way that probably isn't exploited well enough on the wing (on the rare occasion he was actually getting picked). Probably not doing well enough to displace a fit and firing Feikitoa, but a legitimate option.

[sockwithaticket]

Officials have fucked that up.

At the very least de Klerk should be getting a yellow for recklessness. There's no need for his leg to be up and out like that. Healy was right to point out the paralells with Odogwu's red card for something very, very similar.

[Paddington Bear]

They’ve left a real cliffhanger for tallest prem player - would have guessed Gillies

[JM2K6]

Sopoaga could not be bothered to defend that properly.

[sockwithaticket]

I'm still annoyed they had the possession to score that after CMK chose to ignore Gaskell being hit off the ball then penalise him for being a little in at the side (in a way that's frequently ignored) at the next ruck.

Neither side have done much other than that score.

They’ve left a real cliffhanger for tallest prem player - would have guessed Gillies

Did they mention Charteris? Thought he was 6'10"

[sockwithaticket]

Looks like Sopoaga is going to be having one of those games. One more error and get him off, he rarely comes correct.

[JM2K6]

Sad to see a big saffa run into a defender and milk a penalty by pretending he got hit in the face.

[JM2K6]

Tom Curry has had a monstrous half of rugby. Barbeary, er, hasn't - that insanely stupid attempted pass through his legs at the end has summed up his half.

[sockwithaticket]

Wonder how long Porter and one of Atkinson or Le Bourgeois get before Robson and Gopperth are sent on. We desperately need more direction out there.

Tom Curry has had a monstrous half of rugby. Barbeary, er, hasn't - that insanely stupid attempted pass through his legs at the end has summed up his half.

Mmm, that was a shocking decision. I think it was him desperately trying to have an impact. Sale have had him well marshalled and he's not really experienced that so far.

[sockwithaticket]

That was really nice from Atkinson.

[sockwithaticket]

Good moment for Barbeary to do something positive.

[JM2K6]

That's more like it from Barbeary. Sale have started this half really sloppily.

[sockwithaticket]

Ah fuck, that's not good to see. Time for Willis the younger to fight for his shirt back.

[Raggs]

Why am I not surprised. Why can't we have nice things :(.

[sockwithaticket]

Ugh, how did that not end in a try?! Never seen Bassett look that slow.

[sockwithaticket]

Fair play to Sopoaga, he's proven useful off the tee today.

[sockwithaticket]

Yarde's just killed Kibirige by accident at the end of that footrace.

[JM2K6]

That incident was funnier when I thought he'd just fallen and twatted himself and not a potential awful injury

[Paddington Bear]

Thought it was innocuous in real time, this seems grim

[sockwithaticket]

I really hope all of that turns out ot have largely been precautionary, but I doubt we'll be seeing Kibs any time soon.

[Raggs]

Rather peeved with that scrum call. Sale tighthead lost his bind, went onto the elbow of the loosehead, then had no bind at all.

[Paddington Bear]

Yet again, minutes wasted setting up scrums in the last 10

[JM2K6]

Wasps look like they're crumbling here

[sockwithaticket]

Shit. Just as I was thinking we'd survived the pressure quite well.

[Raggs]

Wasps look like they're crumbling here

I'd be feeling a bit shaky if one of my mates may have just broken their neck...

[sockwithaticket]

Christ thst was excruciating, I've seen us undone by trying to run the clock down that way over too long a period a few times before...

First win against Sale at home in quite some time iirc.

[JM2K6]

Ref being very generous with those rucks at the end. Sale had their chance to break, though - don't think trying to run at Juan de Jongh was the right call.

Hope Kibirige is okay.

[SaintK]

Ref being very generous with those rucks at the end. Sale had their chance to break, though - don't think trying to run at Juan de Jongh was the right call.

Hope Kibirige is okay.

Yes indeed

[Raggs]

Ref being very generous with those rucks at the end. Sale had their chance to break, though - don't think trying to run at Juan de Jongh was the right call.

Hope Kibirige is okay.

Yes indeed

He's up and walking about.

[Punter15]

Thought it was innocuous in real time, this seems grim

Couldn’t work out what happened, did he land badly or get clipped by Yarde?

Good to see him up and about.

[sockwithaticket]

Thought it was innocuous in real time, this seems grim

Couldn’t work out what happened, did he land badly or get clipped by Yarde?

Good to see him up and about.

They wouldn't show the clearest replay because it looked so bad, but it seems that he kind of smacked his head on the ground and got kneed in the back of the head by Yarde (accidentally) at the same time.

Robson tweeted this out to let everyone know he's ok:



Odogwu in the background looking like he plans to challenge Caucau and Bastareaud for the "looks least like an outside back" award.

[Hal Jordan]

Got his university rig on.

[SaintK]

Ref being very generous with those rucks at the end. Sale had their chance to break, though - don't think trying to run at Juan de Jongh was the right call.

Hope Kibirige is okay.

Yes indeed

He's up and walking about.

Good to hear it

[SaintK]

Yes indeed

He's up and walking about.

Good to hear it

Update

Focusing on Kibirige, Blackett added: "Zach has recovered pretty well actually considering how big a head blow [he had]. Obviously wouldn't even dare consider him for this week but we're just going to have to monitor him and see how he goes in the next couple of weeks. But yeah he's pretty positive signs actually from Zach."
Blackett confirmed Kibirige also travelled back with the team: "He was on the bed for a fair bit, I spoke to him probably 15, 20 minutes after the incident, he was still on the bed then but by the time I'd come down from media he was up and walking around in the changing rooms, pretending he was alright I think."

And Barbeary

"Alfie's got a syndesmosis [high ankle] injury, he'll see the specialist tomorrow so we'll know more from that. It's not the greatest but it's not an out-and-out disaster but that's his injury."
The hooker, who has starred in the back row for Wasps to move to eight tries in 12 senior games, could face a spell of up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Blackett added: "It's hard to know because there's still question marks here in terms of will he need surgery. If he needs surgery he'll be a fraction longer than that, if he doesn't I think you're probably around the right point [six to eight weeks] but you're guessing game here. Until he sees a specialist which is due tomorrow then we'll know a lot more from tomorrow night, what's happening."

[Raggs]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

[JM2K6]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

I don't think we can retroactively change results thanks to Covid (but it's worth a try)

Worcs - Quins must be in doubt though ;)

[Raggs]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

I don't think we can retroactively change results thanks to Covid (but it's worth a try)

Worcs - Quins must be in doubt though ;)

Lol, yeah, that's more likely :D.

Having seen legitimate concerns that the league relegation may end up being decided by covid, I'm backing the idea that we cancel relegation this season, just doesn't seem fair...

[JM2K6]

Agreed. Although with the virus as it currently stands, I find it baffling that we're still playing right now.

[Raggs]

Agreed. Although with the virus as it currently stands, I find it baffling that we're still playing right now.

I guess with all the testing they're doing the clubs would rather risk missing a couple of fixtures each week, but still have the money coming.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Bristol Quins off due to Quins having to isolate too many front row players after 1 positive covid test.

I don't think we can retroactively change results thanks to Covid (but it's worth a try)

Worcs - Quins must be in doubt though ;)

Lol, yeah, that's more likely :D.

Having seen legitimate concerns that the league relegation may end up being decided by covid, I'm backing the idea that we cancel relegation this season, just doesn't seem fair...

Ringfence for one season, increase the league size, or relegate two sides the next season again?