NPR

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:16 pm

tc27 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 3:29 pm I think Wales would beat us right now..Gatland is just a better coach than Bortwick and they are executing the 'kick and be very fit' gameplan much better than us.

Think we could beat Fiji TBH. But the semi wouod be like an express train coming down a tunnel towards us

Tbh I think Gats and Borthwick have done a very similar job. We’re unlikely to find out in a direct contest but you’d back both to make the semis from here, which isn’t a bad outcome

Really sticking the knife in on Scabnose there

Quins racing to a significant lead with surprising speed against Saracens in the Prem Cup. Tea sheets look pretty comparable in terms of quality to me.

For anyone interested, Ben Earl doing an AMA on reddit* this afternoon:

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/com ... _anything/


* Ask Me Anything of a notable person who volunteers to answer questions posted on the Reddit forum. Can be an utter car crash, more typically it's a bit sterile. I leave it to your better judgement of what to ask him.

inactionman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:22 am For anyone interested, Ben Earl doing an AMA on reddit* this afternoon:

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/com ... _anything/


* Ask Me Anything of a notable person who volunteers to answer questions posted on the Reddit forum. Can be an utter car crash, more typically it's a bit sterile. I leave it to your better judgement of what to ask him.

Thinking about chiming in with something about his excessive on-pitch celebrations of non-pivotal moments, but that will probably be ignored.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:29 am

inactionman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:22 am For anyone interested, Ben Earl doing an AMA on reddit* this afternoon:

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/com ... _anything/


* Ask Me Anything of a notable person who volunteers to answer questions posted on the Reddit forum. Can be an utter car crash, more typically it's a bit sterile. I leave it to your better judgement of what to ask him.

Thinking about chiming in with something about his excessive on-pitch celebrations of non-pivotal moments, but that will probably be ignored.

He'd probably answer. Pretty sure I've seen him asked by journalists and said it's not something he's planning on changing, not bothered by the criticism as it works for him on the pitch etc.

"Hybrid" contracts for 20 England players in the EPS!!!

The RFU and the top-flight English clubs have been thrashing out terms on a new Professional Game Partnership agreement for months, with the current terms due to expire next summer.
And now one of the key agreements is understood to be a hybrid contract element for up to 20 top England stars.
The RFU are expected to pay Premiership clubs upwards of £30million per year for extended control over and access to a group of elite Test stars.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby ... 962.html

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 12:30 pm "Hybrid" contracts for 20 England players in the EPS!!!

The RFU and the top-flight English clubs have been thrashing out terms on a new Professional Game Partnership agreement for months, with the current terms due to expire next summer.
And now one of the key agreements is understood to be a hybrid contract element for up to 20 top England stars.
The RFU are expected to pay Premiership clubs upwards of £30million per year for extended control over and access to a group of elite Test stars.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby ... 962.html

If that means more time with Fun Boy Steve, then they'll just keep getting worse. They haven't thought this through at all.

Unlikely to see the match this weekend, I'm in that London with the wife for a celebration.

Against Fiji England will have to make so many tackles, I suspect it is a fair bet Owen Farrell will be redcarded within 10 minutes.

Your fullback isn't too clever in the tackle either.

Fiji ain't Argentina, England won't be able to beat them with 14 men.

No trolling the national threads.

England team:



Ponderous. Farrell shoehorned in at 12 with Manu given yet another chance at 13 after doing basically fuck all compared to Marchant (shunted to the wing) and Lawrence (on the bench). Marchant probably the quickest player which is a real worry. Earl back at 8 despite there being a major difference between his performances at 7 and 8 for England. Dogshit Billy on the bench ahead of Willis.

But Samoa are shit so it won't matter.

Willis is injured and out of the tournament apparently.

Agree with everything you said.

I don't hate Farrell at 12, but Manu is simply not the right option anymore. And as usual, Farrell needs to run a few lines early on to be useful. Would have much preferred to see Lawrence in the 13 shirt with them.

Jack Willis has a load of luck, unfortunately all of it bad. Wonder if his brother will be the one to benefit?

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:59 pm Willis is injured and out of the tournament apparently.

Agree with everything you said.

Ah right, yeah. So no real alternative except Ludlam. Who is still better.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 6:59 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:59 pm Willis is injured and out of the tournament apparently.

Agree with everything you said.

Ah right, yeah. So no real alternative except Ludlam. Who is still better.

I think I'm right in saying Ludlam's featured in every game so far, so I guess the rationale of the selection is giving him a break and the two muppets who got themselves banned recently chances for some more minutes in a game we should be winning.

Would still prefer putting Ludlam on the bench to Billy.

Gutless from Borthwick. May, tuilagi and Farrell ffs. The centre's really irritates. Feel sorry for Marchant and Lawrence. Back in the familiar selection dilemma where the selector accepts Farrell as lone playmaker doesn't work but won't drop him.

Said it before but the only thing coming out of our game today is concussions. Japan had a try called back with 15 mins to go against them and had it not been you could see the floodgates to total headloss opening. They’re going home and are likely to want nothing more than a few big hits to be remembered by

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 12:30 pm "Hybrid" contracts for 20 England players in the EPS!!!

The RFU and the top-flight English clubs have been thrashing out terms on a new Professional Game Partnership agreement for months, with the current terms due to expire next summer.
And now one of the key agreements is understood to be a hybrid contract element for up to 20 top England stars.
The RFU are expected to pay Premiership clubs upwards of £30million per year for extended control over and access to a group of elite Test stars.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby ... 962.html

Well that’s Ben Youngs retirement fund getting a new boost.

Well, I may yet see this extravaganza, we did the tour of The Globe this morning and Oxford Street was a bust, so we're on the train home.

The best summary I have seen is England have won four games but there are more questions than answers about the team.

Highlight of the match for me was the instant replay of the pass off the floor from (i think) Luatua. The Space Cadet didn't turn to see the ball had gone until the new ball carrier was past him

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:13 pm Well, I may yet see this extravaganza, we did the tour of The Globe this morning and Oxford Street was a bust, so we're on the train home.

Oxford Street’s decline is pretty tragic to watch and completely unnecessary. There’s a parallel here

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:24 am

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:13 pm Well, I may yet see this extravaganza, we did the tour of The Globe this morning and Oxford Street was a bust, so we're on the train home.

Oxford Street’s decline is pretty tragic to watch and completely unnecessary. There’s a parallel here

When was Oxford Street not shit? I can't remember when it wasn't an overcrowded, bus jammed chainstore hellhole.

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:00 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:24 am

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:13 pm Well, I may yet see this extravaganza, we did the tour of The Globe this morning and Oxford Street was a bust, so we're on the train home.

Oxford Street’s decline is pretty tragic to watch and completely unnecessary. There’s a parallel here

When was Oxford Street not shit? I can't remember when it wasn't an overcrowded, bus jammed chainstore hellhole.

It used to at least have a lot of half decent shops, certainly my childhood memory. Now it’s just american candy money laundering fronts. No excuse for it

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:06 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:00 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:24 am

Oxford Street’s decline is pretty tragic to watch and completely unnecessary. There’s a parallel here

When was Oxford Street not shit? I can't remember when it wasn't an overcrowded, bus jammed chainstore hellhole.

It used to at least have a lot of half decent shops, certainly my childhood memory. Now it’s just american candy money laundering fronts. No excuse for it

Lots of development going on where the old DEbenhams used to be and around the Bond St underground area.
Evidently the Grovesnor Estate and other landlords are no longer letting properties to the candy store and vape shop operators

Underworzly called up to replace Willis

ASMO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:15 pm Underworzly called up to replace Willis

Which means an unfit and ineffective Vunipola is still the only out and out 8 in the squad. Should've been Mercer or T. Willis, both of whom can also play on the flank if required.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:30 pm

ASMO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:15 pm Underworzly called up to replace Willis

Which means an unfit and ineffective Vunipola is still the only out and out 8 in the squad. Should've been Mercer or T. Willis, both of whom can also play on the flank if required.

Bloody stupid call!!!!

He'll be concussed inside 10 minutes, poor sod.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 1:30 pm He'll be concussed inside 10 minutes, poor sod.

Should slot right in with the rest of the team for the remaining 70 then.

notfatcat wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 4:53 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 1:30 pm He'll be concussed inside 10 minutes, poor sod.

Should slot right in with the rest of the team for the remaining 70 then.

slotted right back into not giving a shit with the selection and not surprised by the performance.

Should have been Tom Willis or Mercer

Eh, Dombrandt or Willis. Willis looked a bit off the pace when Dombrandt inspired a Quins win the other week, but he suits the current game plan, such as it is.

Parachuting Mercer in would be panic central, he's a cracking athlete but has had even less time with the squad than those two.

I have a couple of cat 2 tickets vs Fiji for sale on the resale site from the follow your team pack (my wife is the England fan) but I would let them go for less money to someone from here, especially if I recognise your name!

Can't tell you how annoyed I am that RWC are selling a load of extra tickets while lots of us need to get rid of ours because work doesn't allow for the travel time!

charltom wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:02 pm I have a couple of cat 2 tickets vs Fiji for sale on the resale site from the follow your team pack (my wife is the England fan) but I would let them go for less money to someone from here, especially if I recognise your name!

Can't tell you how annoyed I am that RWC are selling a load of extra tickets while lots of us need to get rid of ours because work doesn't allow for the travel time!

You want people to pay for that shit!!!!

Premiership Rugby starts again tonight.
Will be interesting to see how the teams with international players away on RWC duty get on.
TV broadcast for those interested has transferred to from BT Sport to TNT sport which is on Discovery+

sefton wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:12 am

charltom wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:02 pm I have a couple of cat 2 tickets vs Fiji for sale on the resale site from the follow your team pack (my wife is the England fan) but I would let them go for less money to someone from here, especially if I recognise your name!

Can't tell you how annoyed I am that RWC are selling a load of extra tickets while lots of us need to get rid of ours because work doesn't allow for the travel time!

You want people to pay for that shit!!!!

I already have.

Waiting for the eurostar now for my sins.

Don't think I've ever been less excited about a rugby trip.

Also didn't help that when we contacted our Airbnb host yesterday to arrange access, we found out that they'd recently sold the apartment ffs.

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:32 am Premiership Rugby starts again tonight.
Will be interesting to see how the teams with international players away on RWC duty get on.
TV broadcast for those interested has transferred to from BT Sport to TNT sport which is on Discovery+

TNT Sports is BT Sport, it's a rebrand.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:37 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:32 am Premiership Rugby starts again tonight.
Will be interesting to see how the teams with international players away on RWC duty get on.
TV broadcast for those interested has transferred to from BT Sport to TNT sport which is on Discovery+

TNT Sports is BT Sport, it's a rebrand.

Ugo's still on it. Sorry.

inactionman wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:39 am

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:37 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:32 am Premiership Rugby starts again tonight.
Will be interesting to see how the teams with international players away on RWC duty get on.
TV broadcast for those interested has transferred to from BT Sport to TNT sport which is on Discovery+

TNT Sports is BT Sport, it's a rebrand.

Ugo's still on it. Sorry.

I stopped my subscription last year when I realised I never have time to watch the rugby and had zero interest in any of the other sports.