The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

Much better from Wasps at the start of the half.

[fishfoodie]

We're shit.



Nah, he could've gone lower. Easily. Doesnt need to go down by much to be safer.

We'll agree to disagree

I think this is one of those situations where the slow-mo isn't helping

I get that it's all happening pretty fast, but he's had time to make a decision to go high to tie up Miller's arms and grapple to keep him upright, he's got time to dip his head 30 degrees and still hit miller in the chest.

Yeah; the players have to just cut some options right out; & adopt different tactics.

It's going to take some time for them to adjust; but it looks like any tackle/contact above the nipple is going to end in a card

[Paddington Bear]

Interestingly, with no TMO both Sarries and Pirates are flying around with shoulders akimbo

[sockwithaticket]

We'll agree to disagree

I think this is one of those situations where the slow-mo isn't helping

I get that it's all happening pretty fast, but he's had time to make a decision to go high to tie up Miller's arms and grapple to keep him upright, he's got time to dip his head 30 degrees and still hit miller in the chest.

Yeah; the players have to just cut some options right out; & adopt different tactics.

It's going to take some time for them to adjust; but it looks like any tackle/contact above the nipple is going to end in a card

Which would be a good way for them to start thinking about it! Even if you think you're low enough, go a bit lower to create a margin for error.

[Raggs]

Jeff Toomaga Allen for All Blacks 10!

[sockwithaticket]

That was fucking gorgeous and we got a tighthead prop rumble as a huge part of it.

[Raggs]

Wasps shouldn't shout for the card. But if that's a penalty, that's a stone cold yellow.

[sockwithaticket]

I'm worried that we're squandering too many opportunities...

[Kawazaki]

I'm worried that we're squandering too many opportunities...

Gauzere would have given a try to Bassett there.

[ASMO]

Bath 16 , Pick and Drive 24

[Saint]

Sarries set piece getting monstered at the moment

[fishfoodie]

Bath 16 , Pick and Drive 24

Correct answer.

We would also have accepted; Rugby 16 - Anti-Rugby 24

[sockwithaticket]

That's a bizarre call from Carley. In no way shape or form has Le Bourgeois deliberately knocked that on in the air.

[Kawazaki]

I've never watched a game of rugby that has been enhanced by having Carley referee it.

[Paddington Bear]

Exeter are boring me so switched over to the Wasps game. Meanwhile Sarries still losing and making untold amounts of errors against a pumped up Pirates

[sockwithaticket]

Take the points! Close the gap and spend the next 10 minutes looking for another score...

[Raggs]

Take the points! Close the gap and spend the next 10 minutes looking for another score...

It wasn't an easy kick, and why take an option that leaves you needing another score?

[Paddington Bear]

Excellent finish

[ASMO]

Matavesi apart from the occasional offload is pretty shit as is the winger Muir who butchered 2 tries.

[sockwithaticket]

Take the points! Close the gap and spend the next 10 minutes looking for another score...

It wasn't an easy kick, and why take an option that leaves you needing another score?

There'd be 10 minutes left in the game and given the number other opportunities we'd squandered, being within 3 with that amount of time left felt safer than being further out.

Well finished by Bassett and I'm happy to get the try, but I'd seen little so far this game to suggest we'd get anything out of that position.

[Paddington Bear]

Pirates absoluting dominating the scrums, up by a point with 5ish to play. Bleak

[Paddington Bear]

Another shocking error from Saracens and Pirates score. Should be 7 points and game over. Appalling performance

[Raggs]

Take the points! Close the gap and spend the next 10 minutes looking for another score...

It wasn't an easy kick, and why take an option that leaves you needing another score?

There'd be 10 minutes left in the game and given the number other opportunities we'd squandered, being within 3 with that amount of time left felt safer than being further out.

Well finished by Bassett and I'm happy to get the try, but I'd seen little so far this game to suggest we'd get anything out of that position.

So because we'd been struggling to score tries, we should take an option that would still require us to score a try?

[Raggs]

Another shocking error from Saracens and Pirates score. Should be 7 points and game over. Appalling performance

Can't forget that Sarries will have Mako, George, Itoje, Farrell, Daly all coming back into the side (and potentially their loaned players too?).

EDIT - I mean in terms of the season overall, not this game of course.

[Saint]

Sarries let the ball bounce again and let Pirates in for the try. 25-17, around 5 or 6 minutes to go

[sockwithaticket]

It wasn't an easy kick, and why take an option that leaves you needing another score?

There'd be 10 minutes left in the game and given the number other opportunities we'd squandered, being within 3 with that amount of time left felt safer than being further out.

Well finished by Bassett and I'm happy to get the try, but I'd seen little so far this game to suggest we'd get anything out of that position.

So because we'd been struggling to score tries, we should take an option that would still require us to score a try?

We'd have been within 2 if the pen was kicked, which then would put us within pen range of taking the lead. Thus our profligacy when it comes to scoring tries could be mitigated if necessary.

[Raggs]

There'd be 10 minutes left in the game and given the number other opportunities we'd squandered, being within 3 with that amount of time left felt safer than being further out.

Well finished by Bassett and I'm happy to get the try, but I'd seen little so far this game to suggest we'd get anything out of that position.

So because we'd been struggling to score tries, we should take an option that would still require us to score a try?

We'd have been within 2 if the pen was kicked, which then would put us within pen range of taking the lead. Thus our profligacy when it comes to scoring tries could be mitigated if necessary.

Yeah, sorry, got my numbers off. Still think we took the right position. Had we been 8 behind, I'd have agreed with you.

[Saint]

Pirates win

[Paddington Bear]

Another shocking error from Saracens and Pirates score. Should be 7 points and game over. Appalling performance

Can't forget that Sarries will have Mako, George, Itoje, Farrell, Daly all coming back into the side (and potentially their loaned players too?).

EDIT - I mean in terms of the season overall, not this game of course.

I’m not convinced that is supposed to make me feel better!

Game over and not even a bonus point. Pirates were excellent in terms of energy and drive but offered little and capitalised off mistakes. Sarries were piss weak up front, poor at the line out and missed touch at key points. Every side will fancy their chances now.

[Ovals]

Awful from Wasps, especially in that last 7 mins.

Can't even beat the bottom club with a man advantage for half the game.

Looking pretty grim for the rest of the season now.

[sockwithaticket]

We are in one serious rut. That was actually a fitting way to finally conclude the game - it feels like our lineout has become a lot less reliable and is part of the whole squandering territory and posession issue.

[Saint]

Another shocking error from Saracens and Pirates score. Should be 7 points and game over. Appalling performance

Can't forget that Sarries will have Mako, George, Itoje, Farrell, Daly all coming back into the side (and potentially their loaned players too?).

EDIT - I mean in terms of the season overall, not this game of course.

The season is only 10 games long + playoff so the loanees won't come back in time. Sarries can't afford to slip up many more times if at all, as I could easily see at least one side going unbeaten all the way through

[Niegs]

Bath 16 , Pick and Drive 24

Correct answer.

We would also have accepted; Rugby 16 - Anti-Rugby 24

Watched their ladies against Wasps. Was pretty much the same thing. A miracle that Wasps Ladies held off a few attacks (held up over the line) as it's impossible to contest when two players either flop on top of the tackled player or are squatted so low and long (surely not holding their weight) that you can't even counter-ruck (but you could easily step over, though not allowed). They also set up a few caterpillars to box kick too.

[Paddington Bear]

Bristol really are fun to watch

[Paddington Bear]

Worcester making a serious stab at this, excellent try

[Glaston]

We are in one serious rut. That was actually a fitting way to finally conclude the game - it feels like our lineout has become a lot less reliable and is part of the whole squandering territory and posession issue.

That 2 week break has killed Wasps.

[Paddington Bear]

Beast mode run from Batley!

Think Worcester will regret not putting this to bed

[Margin__Walker]

Another shocking error from Saracens and Pirates score. Should be 7 points and game over. Appalling performance

Can't forget that Sarries will have Mako, George, Itoje, Farrell, Daly all coming back into the side (and potentially their loaned players too?).

EDIT - I mean in terms of the season overall, not this game of course.

I’m not convinced that is supposed to make me feel better!

Game over and not even a bonus point. Pirates were excellent in terms of energy and drive but offered little and capitalised off mistakes. Sarries were piss weak up front, poor at the line out and missed touch at key points. Every side will fancy their chances now.

Unlucky. The Championship can be a bit of a wake up call.

You don't have a lot of x factor outside backs or playmakers featuring. What you absolutely do have is some massive packs who can really give you a game up front. Ealing are obviously going to be tough, but trips away to the like of Pirates and Jersey are not to be sniffed at, as you are their cup final.

[Saint]

Think this could be a long afternoon for Saints. Lots of last minute injuries on too of international callups

[Paddington Bear]

Superb try