Official Rugby Thread

[Somerset]

Only just started watching the game. Just found out an Irish player copped a red card. Any thoughts on that?

The Irish number eight fully deserved the red card; you can't deliberately thrust your knee into a helpless opponent's head, twice, right in front of the referee, and expect to get away with it. O'Gara's cynical pulling back of Cory Jane was also deserving of a yellow card.

All in all, its a bit difficult to think too negatively of a game in which you score more than 60 points against a side that barely lost a game last year, even moreso when you consider that we had six debutants (some of which were very good, some a bit quieter, like Victor Vito). Though Ireland deserve credit for coming back in the second half (no excuse for the dumb plays from their sinbinned players mind) and theres certainly something for the All Blacks to work on, given the Irish managed three second half tries and spent much of the half in All Black territory.

 

[Somerset]

& one back for Tuohy on debut from the kick-off. Basketball rugby.

Sam Whitelock also managed two tries on debut, one with his first touch of the ball like Tuohy. Ben Franks scored a try in his first test too. Something to keep in mind for a trivial rugby question...

 

[Somerset]

Anyways - Dissapointed the Sonny Bill wants to play 2nd 5 - I would rather he challenge Conrad smith for a spot than Maa Nonu.

I don't know enough about rugby to know which of the two positions centre or 2nd 5 is the more difficult to play.

I heard someone say 2nd 5 is harder on Radio Sport.

I think its a bit rich to say that playing at 12 or 13's harder than the other. With regards to SBW, I'm a bit over him already with all the talk about him coming back for an All Black position and a spot in the team, etc. IMO he needs to play regularly for a province in the domestic competition (now called the ITM Cup I believe), get a Super 15 contract for 2011, and earn his spot just like everyone else. He hasn't played a game of professional rugby in New Zealand and until he does alongside his contemporaries, I'm not really paying much attention to him and his All Black aspirations.

 

[benchmark00]

If that last play before half time (the kick into touch despite being 14-0 down) doesn't epitomise English sport I'm dead set not here.

 

[Somerset]

England play yer Wallabies tomorrow, a fact that seems to have been largely overlooked with the round ball code having some minor summer tournie going on.

Hape to debut at 12, which is, er, interesting. Hope his journey from Kiwi league international to England union cap rather less bumpy than Henry Paul's or Vainikolo's were.

Wallabies front row looks a bit ****house, even by their own low standards, but the backs will still run rings round our mob on half the ball our pack will deliver.

Genia benched, I note. Odd call, for mine. Bloke looks the goods.

Dead right about Australia's scrum - has been battered so far, though without being an expert on scrummaging, it does look as though England are causing some of the collapses. As for Hape, bit difficult to access his worth when he, along with the rest of England's backline, don't get the ball! Genia's easily the best halfback in Australia and I'd say that Burgess is starting to give him a chance to actually have some gametime at international level with Genia taking centre stage.

 

[Somerset]

If that last play before half time (the kick into touch despite being 14-0 down) doesn't epitomise English sport I'm dead set not here.

Did laugh at that myself - I know Flood will argue his side were better off regrouping at halftime and so kicking the ball dead was the right option but its hardly the way to give into halftime on a positive note...

 

[BoyBrumby]

Oz props aren't taking a square hit; any pressure and they go to grass. Owens pinging Cole before the break was farcical.

Care flat out dire tho; has bollocks for hands and can't pass. Yeah, he's quick(ish), but I want more in my scrum-halves.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Had to come. Woeful scrummaging from Oz.

 

[Burgey]

This is why I love rugby. Nothing like 15 scrum resets.

What a spectacle.

 

[BoyBrumby]

TBF if your blokes hit square we'd just have one each time. The card was long overdue.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Another penalty try. Crowd don't like it, but it's the correct call. Push straight or face the consequences.

Never seen a worse test front three tho, it must be said.

 

[benchmark00]

Another penalty try. Crowd don't like it, but it's the correct call. Push straight or face the consequences.

Never seen a worse test front three tho, it must be said.

Butcher, Atherton and Hussain worth a shout imo.

 

[Burgey]

TBF if your blokes hit square we'd just have one each time. The card was long overdue.

They're crap, no doubt. Just a bizarre sport that places such emphasis on an aspect where the game is static and the crowd can't see the bloody ball.

 

[BoyBrumby]

They're crap, no doubt. Just a bizarre sport that places such emphasis on an aspect where the game is static and the crowd can't see the bloody ball.

As my old games master used to say: league is for the fans, union's for the players.

 

[benchmark00]

Aussie Rules for both then I guess?

 

[PhoenixFire]

How come James O'Connor was kicking?

 

[benchmark00]

How come James O'Connor was kicking?

Gits out injured, replaced by Barnes.

 

[social]

Another penalty try. Crowd don't like it, but it's the correct call. Push straight or face the consequences.

Never seen a worse test front three tho, it must be said.

3rd choice front-row pair at best (so no. 5 and 6 ranked props) and 3/4 ranked hooker

If Eng hadnt pushed that side around the park, there should've been a royal commission

 

[KennyD]

Does Ben Foden really grasp how to kick effectively? He is very high drop with a high arch leg, gets under it, and can't hit distance.

I like Quade.

 

[BoyBrumby]

RIP Andy Ripley

From the BBC.

Ex-England and British Lions back row passes away at just 62. Was an amazing athlete; won the BBC's iconic Superstars comp and, not mentioned in the obit, nearly qualified for the Cambridge crew in the boat race at 50.