Rugby Union

[Auld-Yin]

And of course the real reason is Russell is a Scot!!

 

[the_guru]

And of course the real reason is Russell is a Scot!!

Not at all. I’d feel exactly the same way if he was Welsh

 

[Fang_Farrier]

Well that was because Russell was to blame. I get there’s a requirement to play an expansive game but there’s a time and a place for that. That’s why Fiji don’t win more. They run it from some daft positions and it goes spectacular wrong on occasions. That where Russell comes up short. He doesn’t seem to understand when the best time to run it or put it in the stands is. It’s not in dispute that he’s got that ability to produce something from nothing in the style of Carlos Spencer or Quade Cooper but I don’t think his move selection thought process is there.
PS it’s always the ref’s fault. Did you see Owens making it all about him at the end ?

Your desire to slate him would have nothing to do with his contribution which saw the late Racing try which put Saracens out of Europe this year?

 

[06FA56Paderborn]

Your desire to slate him would have nothing to do with his contribution which saw the late Racing try which put Saracens out of Europe this year?

Well if you put it like that, I know think he can do no wrong.

 

[johnboyzzz]

2020/21 HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

POOL A (with opponents in brackets)
Bordeaux-Bègles (Dragons, Northampton Saints)
Leinster Rugby (Montpellier, Northampton Saints)
Wasps (Dragons, Montpellier)
Bath Rugby (La Rochelle, Scarlets)
Edinburgh Rugby (La Rochelle, Sale Sharks)
RC Toulon (Sale Sharks, Scarlets)
La Rochelle (Bath Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby)
Sale Sharks (Edinburgh Rugby, RC Toulon)
Scarlets (Bath Rugby, RC Toulon)
Dragons (Bordeaux-Bègles, Wasps)
Montpellier (Leinster Rugby, Wasps)
Northampton Saints (Bordeaux-Bègles, Leinster Rugby)

POOL B (with opponents in brackets)
Exeter Chiefs (Glasgow Warriors, Toulouse)
Lyon (Glasgow Warriors, Gloucester Rugby)
Ulster Rugby (Gloucester Rugby, Toulouse)
Bristol Bears (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Connacht Rugby)
Munster Rugby (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Harlequins)
Racing 92 (Connacht Rugby, Harlequins)
ASM Clermont Auvergne (Bristol Bears, Munster Rugby)
Connacht Rugby (Bristol Bears, Racing 92)
Harlequins (Munster Rugby, Racing 92)
Glasgow Warriors (Exeter Chiefs, Lyon)
Gloucester Rugby (Lyon, Ulster)
Toulouse (Exeter Chiefs, Ulster Rugby)

2020/21 season weekends

Round 1 – 11/12/13 December 2020
Round 2 – 18/19/20 December 2020
Round 3 – 15/16/17 January 2021
Round 4 – 22/23/24 January 2021
Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, 1st leg – 2/3/4 April 2021
Challenge Cup Round of 16 – 2/3/4 April 2021
Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, 2nd leg – 9/10/11 April 2021
Challenge Cup quarter-finals – 9/10/11 April 2021
Semi-finals – 30 April – 1/2 May 2021

2021 finals – Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Challenge Cup final – Friday 21 May
Heineken Champions Cup final – Saturday 22 May

 

[the_guru]

Your desire to slate him would have nothing to do with his contribution which saw the late Racing try which put Saracens out of Europe this year?

Nothing to do with that at all. Saracens have been weakened massively so it was unrealistic that they’d win this year. I didn’t even watch the game. Happy to put Leinster out though. Try not to think so conspiratorially. I just think he’s a liability in his decision making. That’s not what we need for the Lions. If it was the Baa Bass touring, he’d be right in there.

 

[the_guru]

Heinz has pulled out of the England squad and that stubborn sort Jones hasn’t called Spencer up. The one criticism I have of him is he has his favourites. Spencer has been the best 9 in the NH since play restarted. He also clearly doesn’t like Sam Simmonds.

 

[retread2]

The England team to play Italy:​

STARTING XV​

15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 50 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 56 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 83 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 99 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 59 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 49 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 38 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 23 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps)

FINISHERS​

16. Tom Dunn, (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 2 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
23. Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)

 

[johnboyzzz]

Wales and Lions great JJ Williams dies

Legendary Wales, British and Irish Lions and Llanelli wing JJ Williams dies at the age of 72.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[johnboyzzz]

Looking forward to seeing the French play, they are certainly getting a good squad together

 

[Auld-Yin]

Wales and Lions great JJ Williams dies

Legendary Wales, British and Irish Lions and Llanelli wing JJ Williams dies at the age of 72.

www.bbc.co.uk

Sorry to hear that. A great player in a great team in probably Wales's best era.

 

[MuddyOldEngineer]

A couple of young players in the pack and back line who are going to be in at the deep end against a very strong looking France. I don't either Ireland or France can get the points from this one to get the title

 

[Murphy_Slaw]

Wales and Lions great JJ Williams dies

Legendary Wales, British and Irish Lions and Llanelli wing JJ Williams dies at the age of 72.

www.bbc.co.uk

Legend is an overused phrase in regard to sportsmen these days...................but not in this case.
One of the all time greats.

 

[Murphy_Slaw]

The England team to play Italy:​

STARTING XV​

15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 50 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 56 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 83 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 99 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 59 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 49 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 38 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 23 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps)

FINISHERS​

16. Tom Dunn, (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 2 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
23. Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)

Maro back in the 2nd row with the debutant Hill will be interesting, Plus I always prefer England with Farrell at 10. England to win by 20+ points (as long as Farrell uses his arms!)

 

[the_guru]

RIP JJ Williams. True great of the game.

 

[Gout Man]

Wales and Lions great JJ Williams dies

Legendary Wales, British and Irish Lions and Llanelli wing JJ Williams dies at the age of 72.

www.bbc.co.uk

Shame, him and JPR and the rest of the Welsh team were great to watch.

 

[johnboyzzz]

Latest Toony tombola

Scotland team​

Scotland: Hogg (c), Graham, Kinghorn, Harris, Lang, Russell, Price; Sutherland, Brown, Z. Fagerson, Cummings, Gray, Ritchie, Watson, Thomson

Replacements: McInally, Kebble, Berghan, Toolis, Du Preez, Steele, Hastings, Van der Merwe

 

[DAS]

A couple of young players in the pack and back line who are going to be in at the deep end against a very strong looking France. I don't either Ireland or France can get the points from this one to get the title

View attachment 516057

Will be very strange to see an empty Stade (as per other games). Will this change the dynamics I wonder?

 

[MuddyOldEngineer]

Will be very strange to see an empty Stade (as per other games). Will this change the dynamics I wonder?

I might learn a new swear word or two in French courtesy of the ref mic. Other than that the absence of the usual partisan home crowd we are guaranteed the usual Wayne Barnes francophone roadshow .

 

[johnboyzzz]

I might learn a new swear word or two in French courtesy of the ref mic. Other than that the absence of the usual partisan home crowd we are guaranteed the usual Wayne Barnes francophone roadshow .

Is Barnsey not still in isolation