The Official English Rugby Thread

[JM2K6]

The big selection decisions I expect Borthwick to make will be Steward back at 15 and maybe Lawrence for Marchant

We're fucked up front anyway; it's nice that Itoje finally produced a display like his old self but three of our four props are worse than four years ago, George is not the force he was, Curry is flirting with disaster, and we don't have an effective heavy carrying 8 in the squad.

Two cancerous teams, but one of them is actually good at rugby and is well coached and capable of bright play, they're just cynical as fuck

[Paddington Bear]

Very hard to see a way through. I suppose we’ve just got to be absolute animals in defence and shoot on sight every time we’re in their half. Faz’s dg looked very premeditated and that’s probably our way of staying in touch.

[Brazil]

Meanwhile, in the land of magical thinking:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... ople-think

“I think he is a fantastic leader, he’s the kind of leader I know I’d want to follow on to the pitch,” Borthwick said of Farrell. “I think he’s a brilliant player who thrives in the contest, and these big occasions, he just gets even better. So we’re very fortunate to have Owen as a player in this team and as our leader. And he should be very proud of his performance and the way he led this team.”

Apart from nearly getting carded for a deliberate knock on, and screaming like Violet Elizabeth Bott whenever things don't go his way, Steve.

[Paddington Bear]

He played well yesterday under a lot of pressure, not that it will change any minds

[Sandstorm]

He played well yesterday under a lot of pressure, not that it will change any minds

If he scores 50 points and saves 8 drowning kittens on Saturday, he'll still be a cnut.

[SaintK]

He played well yesterday under a lot of pressure, not that it will change any minds

If he scores 50 points and saves 8 drowning kittens on Saturday, he'll still be a cnut.

Haters gonna hate!

[SaintK]

Some rugby perspective..................tragic!
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023- ... by-match

[JM2K6]

He played well yesterday under a lot of pressure, not that it will change any minds

He didn't make too many fuck ups but he got away with two high shots and threw several passes that put the runner in trouble. Far from his worst game though and he cut out the personal errors (that ridiculous penalty aside) that have plagued him in recent times.

[petej]

He played well yesterday under a lot of pressure, not that it will change any minds

He didn't make too many fuck ups but he got away with two high shots and threw several passes that put the runner in trouble. Far from his worst game though and he cut out the personal errors (that ridiculous penalty aside) that have plagued him in recent times.

Glad, I'm not the only one who notices this. Another thing that drives me nuts with Farrell is his passing is minutely off in timing/placement which just fractionally slows the receiver. More natural passers like Smith and Ford don't do this.

[Line6 HXFX]

I'm finding it incredibly difficult to support England, with all the violence their supporters are bringing to the world cup..gotta be honest.

I like my rugby supporters happy, inclusive, dancing, joyful...not angry, vengeful, hateful and punchy.



I mean even catholic Irish supporters were singing the Unionist song Zombie..it calls the IRA zombies..a song about a conflict within our lifetimes...Englishmen want to attack if you wear a Napolian costume.

It's hard to fathom.

[sockwithaticket]

National thread, Welsh trolls get the fuck out.

[Paddington Bear]

He played well yesterday under a lot of pressure, not that it will change any minds

He didn't make too many fuck ups but he got away with two high shots and threw several passes that put the runner in trouble. Far from his worst game though and he cut out the personal errors (that ridiculous penalty aside) that have plagued him in recent times.

Glad, I'm not the only one who notices this. Another thing that drives me nuts with Farrell is his passing is minutely off in timing/placement which just fractionally slows the receiver. More natural passers like Smith and Ford don't do this.

I don’t think the high shots were illegal, just about on the right side. He also threw a few excellent piercing passes and managed a challenging game very well. There was a point I thought we’d win by 20. Will likely watch it again on the eurostar later and would still play Ford but he did well.

[JM2K6]

He twice made high shots that were prevented from being extremely illegal by the ball carrier blocking with the ball. Upright shoulder first tackles that required a bit of luck to avoid being head clashes even with the ball in the way, and had the ball not been there it was lights out time.

He has not changed his technique.

[Line6 HXFX]

National thread, Welsh trolls get the fuck out.

Trolling?

How can you troll the already incensed? They are already dialed to 11. You troll them just by I dunno..giving them fifty quid..

No my point is, i thought I would bring up the troubles in Northern Ireland as a reminder of a conflict within our lifetimes, that the Irish are getting over in a healthy way. Compared to the Napolianic wars, that seemingly still enrages the English to this day, when they visit France, and sit amongst Frenchmen wearing the costume of their boy.
Its just interesting.

All that hate.

[Happyhooker]

National thread, Welsh trolls get the fuck out.

Trolling?

How can you troll the already incensed? They are already dialed to 11.

No my point is, i thought I would bring up the troubles in Northern Ireland as a reminder of a conflict within our lifetimes, that the Irish are getting over in a healthy way. Compared to the Napolianic wars, that seemingly still enrages the English to this day, when they visit France, and sit amongst Frenchmen wearing the costume of their boy.
Its just interesting.

All that hate.

I also witnessed a couple of Welsh fans ejected from their game, so do fuck off will you.

[SaintK]

National thread, Welsh trolls get the fuck out.

Trolling?

How can you troll the already incensed? They are already dialed to 11. You troll them just by I dunno..giving them fifty quid..

No my point is, i thought I would bring up the troubles in Northern Ireland as a reminder of a conflict within our lifetimes, that the Irish are getting over in a healthy way. Compared to the Napolianic wars, that seemingly still enrages the English to this day, when they visit France, and sit amongst Frenchmen wearing the costume of their boy.
Its just interesting.

All that hate.

No hate for the Welsh
Now fuck off you mong!

[Sandstorm]

Some rugby perspective..................tragic!
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023- ... by-match

RIP

[Line6 HXFX]

I'm sorry, did you not all see the epic disgusting violence of " England" fans?
How can you not unsee it?

Explain yourselves.

England should be thrown out of the world cup and banned from competing for 10 years...at least.




[media] [/media]

[sockwithaticket]

Seriously, fuck off. This has been posted in the match thread, we don't need your low level troll nonsense clogging up our national thread.

[Hal Jordan]

He twice made high shots that were prevented from being extremely illegal by the ball carrier blocking with the ball. Upright shoulder first tackles that required a bit of luck to avoid being head clashes even with the ball in the way, and had the ball not been there it was lights out time.

He has not changed his technique.

He also got run over trying to go high at least once.

[Zapp Bannigan]

Refry, any more trolling on this thread, you'll be on a non paid leave of absence.

Zapp.

[Happyhooker]

Refry, any more trolling on this thread, you'll be on a non paid leave of absence.

Zapp.

Tbf, he's used to not getting paid

[Simian]

I'm finding it incredibly difficult to support England, with all the violence their supporters are bringing to the world cup..gotta be honest.

I like my rugby supporters happy, inclusive, dancing, joyful...not angry, vengeful, hateful and punchy.

How do you feel about throwing up on kids?

https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-11- ... alia-match

[Paddington Bear]

Refry’s right, there were English people all over the old port all weekend, almost certainly sending messages back to the Admiralty. With fair winds from Gib there’s almost no chance of them getting to Egypt undetected now. Sickening

[Sandstorm]

Refry’s right, there were English people all over the old port all weekend, almost certainly sending messages back to the Admiralty. With fair winds from Gib there’s almost no chance of them getting to Egypt undetected now. Sickening

[Line6 HXFX]

Just want the English to let the Napolionic Wars go that's all, so as not to relive them during our sacred game. Remember Waterloo, Chaps. The Old Gaurd, English in Box formation, French Cavalry not able to make an impact...Prussians (wasn't it) arriving in the nick of time..England stealing all the glory off them..jumpers for goalposts, never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake..By god sir, I have lost my leg..(isn't it).

[Line6 HXFX]

Crikey..in another shameful display, that besmirches every Englishman.....the English are only getting coked up, and attacking the Welsh now too.


Is anyone safe?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67133095.amp

Two Welsh rugby fans were taken to hospital after an alleged attack by two England supporters in Marseille following the World Cup quarter-final.

Police were called to an altercation on the Canebière, the city's main avenue, at 23:45 local time (22:45 BST) on Sunday, a French police spokesman said.

A Wales fan, 57, was treated for head injuries and later discharged along with his son, 24, the spokesman said.

A British man in his thirties was arrested, the spokesman added.

He said the man who was arrested had been in possession of a "small amount" of cocaine.

Thousands of Welsh fans flocked to the Stade Velodrome in the city in southern France for Wales' defeat against Argentina in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

The city was also host to thousands of England fans who watched their team beat Fiji on Sunday to progress to the tournament's semi-final.

The UK Foreign Office has been asked to comment.

[Zapp Bannigan]

Ignore me at your peril. Enjoy a week off.
Zapp.

[Raggs]

Thank you Zapp.

So do we reckon brutal intensive defence for the first 50-60 minutes? But still getting ground down having a couple of scores against us, before the floodgates potentially open? Maybe with a shot or two back ourselves? Or we attempt that, but Curry and Farrell get it wrong early, and we end up with cards for high tackles and just get mullered?

[Paddington Bear]

Thank you Zapp.

So do we reckon brutal intensive defence for the first 50-60 minutes? But still getting ground down having a couple of scores against us, before the floodgates potentially open? Maybe with a shot or two back ourselves? Or we attempt that, but Curry and Farrell get it wrong early, and we end up with cards for high tackles and just get mullered?

I’m not going to be shocked if we get battered but I think a repeat of Dublin earlier this year is much more likely, and hopefully we keep 15 on the park throughout.

[sockwithaticket]

I have real concerns about conceding a couple of fairly early tries to their insanely rapid wingers. Whether it's them latching onto a kick through or us fumbling a high ball, if they can get any space they're gone and all of a sudden we're chasing the game. We are not good at hunting down an opposition lead.

[Oxbow]

The thought of Steward, May and Daly as a back three is just a tad concerning.

[SaintK]

Thank you Zapp.

So do we reckon brutal intensive defence for the first 50-60 minutes? But still getting ground down having a couple of scores against us, before the floodgates potentially open? Maybe with a shot or two back ourselves? Or we attempt that, but Curry and Farrell get it wrong early, and we end up with cards for high tackles and just get mullered?

I’m not going to be shocked if we get battered but I think a repeat of Dublin earlier this year is much more likely, and hopefully we keep 15 on the park throughout.

Well as long as it isn't as bad as France at Twickenham

[Paddington Bear]

Thank you Zapp.

So do we reckon brutal intensive defence for the first 50-60 minutes? But still getting ground down having a couple of scores against us, before the floodgates potentially open? Maybe with a shot or two back ourselves? Or we attempt that, but Curry and Farrell get it wrong early, and we end up with cards for high tackles and just get mullered?

I’m not going to be shocked if we get battered but I think a repeat of Dublin earlier this year is much more likely, and hopefully we keep 15 on the park throughout.

Well as long as it isn't as bad as France at Twickenham

Also a possibility. As is us pulling a win out from nowhere as we did against them in 2021, which was Eddie’s last hurrah at actually attempting to implement a gameplan. Semis are funny things and I wonder what their quarter has taken out of them

[geordie_6]

On the Instagram team announcement, someone claimed that Arundell not being picked was sensible as he is poor defensively and under the high ball.

Apparently though, May and Daly are easy picks defensively...

[Hal Jordan]

The thought of Steward, May and Daly as a back three is just a tad concerning.

You may commence the concerning.

[sockwithaticket]

Mike Brown still bossing things at 38.

[Brazil]

Absolutely horrific call on the Shillcock steal. We should be seven points further up and tigers should be down to fourteen.

[inactionman]

I know it's only 2 games in, but the Premiership table is pretty much exactly the opposite way round to what I feared/expected.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... ship/table

[petej]

I know it's only 2 games in, but the Premiership table is pretty much exactly the opposite way round to what I feared/expected.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... ship/table

The premiership is a very competitive league and the two teams probably missing the most players being bottom is evidence of that.