The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

And another one! Quins superior pace in the backs + Exeter down a man is causing havok.

[Paddington Bear]

Any idea who stuck that rocket under Smith’s arse

Exeter look absolutely flaccid, though Quins have been a joy to watch

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Any idea who stuck that rocket under Smith’s arse

Exeter look absolutely flaccid, though Quins have been a joy to watch

It takes a special skillset to make Smith look ordinary. England have those skills.

[sockwithaticket]

Any idea who stuck that rocket under Smith’s arse

Exeter look absolutely flaccid, though Quins have been a joy to watch

It takes a special skillset to make Smith look ordinary. England have those skills.

Nodding sadly in agreement.

[Paddington Bear]

Am I reading too much into this or can I sense Smith has decided to demonstrate/has been asked to demonstrate how he can implement England’s gameplan? Seems to have been more attacking kicks than he usually uses and the drop goal attempt etc

[Kawazaki]

If the call is made he can join Will Fraser, Jack Clifford and Tom Rees on the 'promising young 7s with careers cut unfairly short through injury' bench.

You can also add that Wasps flanker who Eddiot broke in 2016.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

If the call is made he can join Will Fraser, Jack Clifford and Tom Rees on the 'promising young 7s with careers cut unfairly short through injury' bench.

You can also add that Wasps flanker who Eddiot broke in 2016.

Wasn't he broken by a Sarries player? Or was it not Itoje that swept the leg?

[JM2K6]

Am I reading too much into this or can I sense Smith has decided to demonstrate/has been asked to demonstrate how he can implement England’s gameplan? Seems to have been more attacking kicks than he usually uses and the drop goal attempt etc

No, he's been using those kicks for a few years now - think I mentioned in the last 12 months about how silly it was that some coach had taken credit for him using chip kicks more when he was actually over-using them about 3 years ago. Although the two deliberate touchfinders during the duels were "new" I guess.

Nice that his first league start in 5 months gets a response from the team. Quins were a bit fortunate with the ref here and there but that's a hell of a display and sorely needed. Great to see Chisholm back, Kenningham put in his best display since his injury against Exeter and while Exeter can feel a bit sore about some of the decisions they can fuck off given how we were robbed blind down at Sandy Park.

That non-penalty-try decision was a weird one, wasn't it? Illegal, a penalty, and clearly denied a try - but deemed just a matter of timing and not cynical so not a penalty try. Erm, run that one past me again... glad it didn't matter at all.

[Paddington Bear]

Am I reading too much into this or can I sense Smith has decided to demonstrate/has been asked to demonstrate how he can implement England’s gameplan? Seems to have been more attacking kicks than he usually uses and the drop goal attempt etc

No, he's been using those kicks for a few years now - think I mentioned in the last 12 months about how silly it was that some coach had taken credit for him using chip kicks more when he was actually over-using them about 3 years ago. Although the two deliberate touchfinders during the duels were "new" I guess.

Nice that his first league start in 5 months gets a response from the team. Quins were a bit fortunate with the ref here and there but that's a hell of a display and sorely needed. Great to see Chisholm back, Kenningham put in his best display since his injury against Exeter and while Exeter can feel a bit sore about some of the decisions they can fuck off given how we were robbed blind down at Sandy Park.

That non-penalty-try decision was a weird one, wasn't it? Illegal, a penalty, and clearly denied a try - but deemed just a matter of timing and not cynical so not a penalty try. Erm, run that one past me again... glad it didn't matter at all.

Yes it was the deliberate touchfinders that first got me thinking it and the drop goal attempt that solidified it.
Agreed on the penalty try, I think he plain didn’t want to give one.

[sockwithaticket]

If the call is made he can join Will Fraser, Jack Clifford and Tom Rees on the 'promising young 7s with careers cut unfairly short through injury' bench.

You can also add that Wasps flanker who Eddiot broke in 2016.

Sam Jones. Yeah, I hesitated to name him because, although he was impressive, I don't think he'd put in the kind of dominant "I'm a bonafide international starter" performances at club level that the others had at that point. Of course we never got to find out whether he would.

[geordie_6]

I tend to think that for the most part the pathway coaches know what they were doing.

Barbeary played centre as a schoolboy. Cool, but I remember him playing Under 18 for England and he was genuinely the best player on the pitch as a forward.

England age grade teams over the past decade have had players looking genuinely promising at 12. Johnny Williams, Ojomoh, Redpath, Butler, Cokanasiga off the top of my head. None of them were really squad filler in those teams, they were players people talked of with potential. For whatever reason none of them kicked on (for England at least). You go through fallow periods in positions (like at 9 too). It happens, and I really don't think it's because pathway coaches are mindlessly funnelling talent into the pack.

Did Ojomoh pick up an injury or just drop down the pecking order at Barf? He seemed to vanish.

[Margin__Walker]

I tend to think that for the most part the pathway coaches know what they were doing.

Barbeary played centre as a schoolboy. Cool, but I remember him playing Under 18 for England and he was genuinely the best player on the pitch as a forward.

England age grade teams over the past decade have had players looking genuinely promising at 12. Johnny Williams, Ojomoh, Redpath, Butler, Cokanasiga off the top of my head. None of them were really squad filler in those teams, they were players people talked of with potential. For whatever reason none of them kicked on (for England at least). You go through fallow periods in positions (like at 9 too). It happens, and I really don't think it's because pathway coaches are mindlessly funnelling talent into the pack.

Did Ojomoh pick up an injury or just drop down the pecking order at Barf? He seemed to vanish.

I'm not really sure. Assume some of it may have been injury related (although he's played a fair amount - 22 games last season) and he's still young. That said, I've not really seen him really look outstanding in a Bath shirt on the occasions I have seen him.

[sockwithaticket]

I tend to think that for the most part the pathway coaches know what they were doing.

Barbeary played centre as a schoolboy. Cool, but I remember him playing Under 18 for England and he was genuinely the best player on the pitch as a forward.

England age grade teams over the past decade have had players looking genuinely promising at 12. Johnny Williams, Ojomoh, Redpath, Butler, Cokanasiga off the top of my head. None of them were really squad filler in those teams, they were players people talked of with potential. For whatever reason none of them kicked on (for England at least). You go through fallow periods in positions (like at 9 too). It happens, and I really don't think it's because pathway coaches are mindlessly funnelling talent into the pack.

Did Ojomoh pick up an injury or just drop down the pecking order at Barf? He seemed to vanish.

He played the last 10 minutes of the game today. Just seem that Redpath is preferred (now that he's stayed fit for more than 5 seconds).

[geordie_6]

Thanks lads shame he doesn't seem to have kicked on.

[SaintK]

Barbeary badly injured his leg on Bath debut yesterday, Rugby Paper saying out for the rest of the season!!!

[Oxbow]

Barbeary badly injured his leg on Bath debut yesterday, Rugby Paper saying out for the rest of the season!!!

Poor lad. I haven't really seen enough of him to comment, but is there the possibility that he's just one of those players who are made of biscuits?

[sockwithaticket]

Barbeary badly injured his leg on Bath debut yesterday, Rugby Paper saying out for the rest of the season!!!

Poor lad. I haven't really seen enough of him to comment, but is there the possibility that he's just one of those players who are made of biscuits?

It's certainly starting to look that way. A lot of injuries for such a young player.

Admittedly rest of the season is a bit under 3 months, so TRP may be milking things a bit by using the phrase, but he looked in a lot of pain when trying to even walk on the leg. As commented up the thread, he did it about 9/10 minutes into his appearance. Must be so gutting having just come back from a long lay off.

[Paddington Bear]

Pretty brutal stuff from Sarries so far, Sale nowhere

[Brazil]

Never let it be said that cheats don't prosper. Good to see sarries have turned Tizzard into a cunt

[Brazil]

And the BT refs league try to influence the game again

[Paddington Bear]

That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

[Lobby]

Alex Goode’s yellow card proving costly for Saracens

[Kawazaki]

This cunt of a TMO is never good news for Saracens. She is utter shite.

[Lobby]

That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

TBF most refs and TMOs seem to be ignoring all but the most egregious forward passes atm.

[Brazil]

This cunt of a TMO is never good news for Saracens. She is utter shite.

You should have a look at what she did to us at tampon

[Paddington Bear]

That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

TBF most refs and TMOs seem to be ignoring all but the most egregious forward passes atm.

Pass from what 2-3m in front of the 22, taken behind it? If they decide hands are backwards etc fine but not to even check that is bizarre

[Kawazaki]

That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

TBF most refs and TMOs seem to be ignoring all but the most egregious forward passes atm.

The pass fulfilled all the criteria to qualify as 'egregious'. In fact it went beyond egregious, passed flagrant and fell just short of heinous.

[Paddington Bear]

Aled Davies is a poor player, this distribution is criminal

[Brazil]

Fantastic try. Carpenter will be knocking on England's door soon. If he learns to pass.

[Paddington Bear]

First remotely competent rugby from Sarries in the second half. Should be a cracking finish

[Paddington Bear]

Well that was really fucking stupid, didn’t even tackle him

[sockwithaticket]

Aled Davies is a poor player, this distribution is criminal

Bracken jr. is going well for the U20s, might as well get him in now. At worst he'd be on par with Davies and getting valuable experience.

[ASMO]

Well that was really fucking stupid, didn’t even tackle him

Deserves a red card for being a fucking idiot...tackling upright even when there are red cards being strewn like confetti for it, deserves what he got.

[Kawazaki]

Aled Davies is a poor player, this distribution is criminal

Bracken jr. is going well for the U20s, might as well get him in now. At worst he'd be on par with Davies and getting valuable experience.

He get the shit kicked out of him. He needs another year of conditioning.

[Paddington Bear]

Same as at Welford Road, Sarries putting in a brainless last 10 with the game on the line. 6:23 expired since we turned down 3 points in front of the posts

[ASMO]

How brainless are the Sarcens forwards? Told they would be free kicked if they went into a huddle before a lineout...and what do they do? Morons

[Brazil]

Great win for the good guys.

[Kawazaki]

Saracens have had the shit end of the stick from the referee team. It's clearly affected the players.

[ASMO]

Sarries got everything they deserved out of that game.......nothing...

[Kawazaki]

Sarries got everything they deserved out of that game.......nothing...

Well they clearly deserve a losing bonus point.