The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

Great clearance from Robson.

I've been very pleasantly surprised by how we've dealt with the Exter maul thus far.

Sopoaga for Minozzi could be interesting. He's looked pretty good at 15 when he's had the opportunity.

[Tichtheid]

Terrific bit of skill from Sopoaga

[sockwithaticket]

Terrific bit of skill from Sopoaga

Yep, magnificent.

And the follow up from the team enables Willis to bag yet another turnover.

[Tichtheid]

Terrific bit of skill from Sopoaga

Yep, magnificent.

And the follow up from the team enables Willis to bag yet another turnover.

As a Highlanders fan, I’ve always liked him

[Hal Jordan]

Some big lads rumbling on for Exeter.

[sockwithaticket]

Terrific bit of skill from Sopoaga

Yep, magnificent.

And the follow up from the team enables Willis to bag yet another turnover.

As a Highlanders fan, I’ve always liked him

I think it's fair to say we've not seen his best in Coventry, but the experiments with him at fullback since Blackett took over (disrupted by injuries, alas) have been encouraging.

[Ovals]

Harsh penalty

[sockwithaticket]

Harsh penalty

Yep, can't see what was wrong with it myself (obviously). The warning CMK gave was so late he my as well have not bothered.

[Ovals]

We're in trouble here.

[sockwithaticket]

We're holding out well, but need to spend some time in the Exeter 22.

[Ovals]

That was some kick - hope we don't muck it up this time.

[Ovals]

That was some kick - hope we don't muck it up this time.

[sockwithaticket]

Why would you throw to the back there?!?!?!

[Ovals]

I think that could have been our last chance.

[Oxbow]

Why would you not go for the points in that situation?

[Ovals]

Why would you throw to the back there?!?!?!

We've taken too many of those bad options - not quite street wise enough against a side like Exeter - TBF, they've been the better side.

That's it, all over.

Well done Exeter - worthy double champs.

Shame it had to be played in such awful conditions - but that's life.

[sockwithaticket]

Exeter worth their win, they dominated territory.


Must have a whinge about CMK, though. Several times he blew for a pen as soon as he shouted a warning, giving absolutely no time for the player he seems to be calling at to make an adjustment.

[JM2K6]

Willis' quietest game all season, sadly. Hard luck wasps, close game though. Two lovely tries in ridiculous conditions. It's apocalyptic here!

[JM2K6]

Exeter worth their win, they dominated territory.


Must have a whinge about CMK, though. Several times he blew for a pen as soon as he shouted a warning, giving absolutely no time for the player he seems to be calling at to make an adjustment.

He was pretty good and fair to both sides. You can warn players but if they materially affect play there's little he can do except penalise. Warnings are just being nice.

[Tichtheid]

Jonny Gray put on the big boy trousers at the end there

[Ovals]

Exeter worth their win, they dominated territory.


Must have a whinge about CMK, though. Several times he blew for a pen as soon as he shouted a warning, giving absolutely no time for the player he seems to be calling at to make an adjustment.

Doesn't have to give a warning at all.

[JM2K6]

Jonny Gray put on the big boy trousers at the end there

Yeah, him and Yeandle did a great job in the championship minutes.

[Ali Cadoo]

Willis' quietest game all season, sadly. Hard luck wasps, close game though. Two lovely tries in ridiculous conditions. It's apocalyptic here!

He had the Wildling on his back the whole game! Baxter’s not stupid...

[Hal Jordan]

Two sparkling moments from backs and 79 minutes 50 seconds of the forwards beating the shit out of each other. That’s proper rugby.

Well done Exeter. Hard luck Wasps.

[sockwithaticket]

Exeter worth their win, they dominated territory.


Must have a whinge about CMK, though. Several times he blew for a pen as soon as he shouted a warning, giving absolutely no time for the player he seems to be calling at to make an adjustment.

Doesn't have to give a warning at all.

No he doesn't and if he just blew the whistle, that's fine. Typically, if the ref bothers with the warning they'll provide more than a milisecond for the players to change what they're doing.

[sockwithaticket]

Exeter worth their win, they dominated territory.


Must have a whinge about CMK, though. Several times he blew for a pen as soon as he shouted a warning, giving absolutely no time for the player he seems to be calling at to make an adjustment.

He was pretty good and fair to both sides. You can warn players but if they materially affect play there's little he can do except penalise. Warnings are just being nice.

I don't disagree with being fair to both sides. It's just the warnings thing, because typically players get a chance to change what they're doing if one's been issued, seemingly regardless of whether they've done something that's already slowed the ball down.

[JM2K6]

Yeah, fair enough.

Early stats aren't kind to the wasps back row (5 penalties conceded by the flankers, every attempted tackle missed by T Willis) and no killer carries either. Exeter are so good at neutering strengths. Mad.

[Ovals]

Pretty pleased with how Wasps went, given the missing players - and given we were 10th after 10 rounds - amazing to get that far. And they defended really well against a side that is notoriously clinical once they get a sniff of the line. Exeter were just too good and just that bit smarter with the options they took. Our line out cost us dearly and stopped us taking advantage of good field position. I thought Robson had another superb game - surely he's got to in the England squad now.

Good signs for next season though.

[JM2K6]

Ah yes I've been critical of him in high profile games but Robson was brilliant today.

[Ovals]

Yeah, fair enough.

Early stats aren't kind to the wasps back row (5 penalties conceded by the flankers, every attempted tackle missed by T Willis) and no killer carries either. Exeter are so good at neutering strengths. Mad.

They are very smart at protecting their ball at the breakdown - I do think they were a bit lucky not to get penalised for not staying on their feet - but the satisfied the ref that they were legal - and that's part of the skill/smarts you need.

I think we've now got 4 maybe 5 teams that could be a force over the next few seasons. These two, Bristol, Bath and maybe Sale.

[Kawazaki]

Exeter worth their win, they dominated territory.


Must have a whinge about CMK, though. Several times he blew for a pen as soon as he shouted a warning, giving absolutely no time for the player he seems to be calling at to make an adjustment.

He was pretty good and fair to both sides. You can warn players but if they materially affect play there's little he can do except penalise. Warnings are just being nice.

I don't disagree with being fair to both sides. It's just the warnings thing, because typically players get a chance to change what they're doing if one's been issued, seemingly regardless of whether they've done something that's already slowed the ball down.

I thought the ref had a great game actually - there was nothing in that match that was contentious in what were far far harder conditions to ref in than we saw last week for instance.

[sockwithaticket]

He was pretty good and fair to both sides. You can warn players but if they materially affect play there's little he can do except penalise. Warnings are just being nice.

I don't disagree with being fair to both sides. It's just the warnings thing, because typically players get a chance to change what they're doing if one's been issued, seemingly regardless of whether they've done something that's already slowed the ball down.

I thought the ref had a great game actually - there was nothing in that match that was contentious in what were far far harder conditions to ref in than we saw last week for instance.

I'm not saying the opposite. I just find it a weird approach when most refs only seem to bother to warn/coach if they're going to give the player a chance to stop doing whatever it is that prompted the ref to speak.

[sockwithaticket]

Tony Rowe is now on my shit list:

I want Exeter to be the premier club in the world and we can do that. I said [in 2017] we’d do Europe in five years. How about we do the world in the next five? It would be nice to have a world club game.

The idea of a world club game is repulsive.

All this stuff coming down about more international games – I am totally against that. We employ the players. Being forced to release them for so many international games is not good. We don’t get compensated enough. The reality is that we bred these guys for ourselves, we didn’t breed them for England.

England can get too greedy. They are very quick to run the other way when we want money. At the moment we are desperate for money in the Premiership to stay alive; we are one of the wealthier clubs and we will see it through but some clubs are really struggling. We should be able to turn to the RFU for financial support because they turn to us when they want our players.

While I agree with him that increasing international games under normal circumstances is a bad thing, he also needs to recognise that the international game is still king for fans. The difference in the number of people interested in what England do vs. what Exeter do is mighty. England don't even use that many Chiefs players. Who would they realistically expect to lose now? Slade, Williams and Nowell (if he were ever fit). Possibly Williams. Eddie thus far hasn't shown any interest in Simmonds the younger or bringing Simmonds the elder back into the frame and Hepburn is definitely quite low down the LH depth chart

The RFU doesn't exist to bail out the pro game and without international fixtures and crowds the RFU would struggle do so anyway.

[sockwithaticket]

Tony Rowe is now on my shit list:

I want Exeter to be the premier club in the world and we can do that. I said [in 2017] we’d do Europe in five years. How about we do the world in the next five? It would be nice to have a world club game.

The idea of a world club game.

All this stuff coming down about more international games – I am totally against that. We employ the players. Being forced to release them for so many international games is not good. We don’t get compensated enough. The reality is that we bred these guys for ourselves, we didn’t breed them for England.

England can get too greedy. They are very quick to run the other way when we want money. At the moment we are desperate for money in the Premiership to stay alive; we are one of the wealthier clubs and we will see it through but some clubs are really struggling. We should be able to turn to the RFU for financial support because they turn to us when they want our players.

While I agree with him that increasing international games under normal circumstances is a bad thing, he also needs to recognise that the international game is still king for fans. The difference in the number of people interested in what England do vs. what Exeter do is mighty. England don't even use that many Chiefs players. Who would they realistically expect to lose now? Slade, Williams and Nowell (if he were ever fit). Possibly Williams. Eddie thus far hasn't shown any interest in Simmonds the younger or bringing Simmonds the elder back into the frame and Hepburn is definitely quite low down the LH depth chart

The RFU doesn't exist to bail out the pro game and without international fixtures and crowds the RFU would struggle do so anyway.

[Paddington Bear]

Club rugby surely is realising that it's best hope of making it through the crisis is to support the national team in drawing as large TV audiences as it possibly can. The Premiership product on it's own is simply not a viable business IMHO.
Actually quite looking forward to the Autumn Cup, as gimmicky as it is, there should be some really decent rugby on display.

[Niegs]

[sockwithaticket]

Is that the final squad?

Good to see Willis and Robson in there. Would quite like J Hill to push ahead of Ewels in the pecking order.

Did Cowan-Dickie pick up an injury?

Little surprised to see Umaga.

Fail to see why Singlteon, Heinz, Furbank or Ludlam are still there.

[SaintK]

At least Robson is in!
Can't understand the Ludlam selection and WTF is Singleton doing there ahead of LC-D

[Choc]

Is he resting Exeter players? Only Slade in and No LCD, Nowell, either Simmons or any of the front row who have been in and around the squad for the last couple of years.

Edit. Missed Williams. But point still stands.

[Choc]

Does that mean Umaga 2nd next in line at 10. I haven’t seen many of the Bristol games but hasn’t Malins played almost exclusively at 15 with Sheedy at 10.