Official Rugby Thread

[vogue]

Nice try today by Masi ...Italy leading 8-6 at half time ... yesss!!!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Predictable England bottled it. They aren't a very good side at present, still too good for Australia though.

 

[Uppercut]

The Six Nations has gone the same way as the footy- everyone's suddenly become a bit poo.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Thomas Waldrom ready for English call-up | Stuff.co.nz

I'm a big fan of Thomas Waldrom as a player, but seriously if England play him then it's a bloody joke. With the number of Kiwis that'd be playing for England, it least it should shut up some of the northern press whinging about eligibility. Waldrom's nothing but Kiwi.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Thomas Waldrom ready for English call-up | Stuff.co.nz

I'm a big fan of Thomas Waldrom as a player, but seriously if England play him then it's a bloody joke. With the number of Kiwis that'd be playing for England, it least it should shut up some of the northern press whinging about eligibility. Waldrom's nothing but Kiwi.

TBF having an English nan arguably makes him more of a pom than Hape, Flutey & Vainikolo who all qualified on residence alone.

Not sure how I feel, tbh. Rate the boy, great carrier (even if he's on the short side as #8s go) and if he's eligible (as he appears to be) and willing (which he definitely seems to be) I don't think we can not pick him.

Playing up here means he wouldn't be considered for the ABs anyway, wouldn't it?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Playing up here means he wouldn't be considered for the ABs anyway, wouldn't it?

Exactly. To be fair, I don't think he was ever quite All Blacks quality - not with the other #8 options available, but I've always rated him very highly. I do think it would be a joke if a guy who learnt and played his rugby up until the age of 27 (I think, maybe 26) in New Zealand could just hop on a plane and be straight into the England XV. Would make England's line up look more Kiwi than the England Cricket Team looks Yarpie.

As a matter of interest, who would be his competition for the #8 jersey? Would Waldrom be ahead of the other contenders?

Also, should I expect Jerry Collins to be getting a call-up for Wales before long?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Exactly. To be fair, I don't think he was ever quite All Blacks quality - not with the other #8 options available, but I've always rated him very highly. I do think it would be a joke if a guy who learnt and played his rugby up until the age of 27 (I think, maybe 26) in New Zealand could just hop on a plane and be straight into the England XV. Would make England's line up look more Kiwi than the England Cricket Team looks Yarpie.

As a matter of interest, who would be his competition for the #8 jersey? Would Waldrom be ahead of the other contenders?

Also, should I expect Jerry Collins to be getting a call-up for Wales before long?

Nick Easter's obviously the incumbent and has a lock on the position short of injury. He's (from memory) 32 though, so this is likely to be his last world cup.

I'd guess Luke Narraway of Gloucester might be the next specialist #8 in line, he played a couple of times in the 2009 6 Nations but is a little lightweight for my taste. Waldrom's clubmate Jordan Crane has also had a go there recently though and he'd now behind Waldrom at the Tigers' pecking order so Tommy wouldn't be too far down the list.

EDIT: Jezza being an ex-AB renders him ineligible for yer leekists or I suspect they'd snap him up.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Well, I reckon Waldrom would be easily good enough for International Rugby. I guess it would be a shame for his if he never got an opportunity, but with too many more Kiwis in their team I think England would be pretty embarrassed.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Well, I reckon Waldrom would be easily good enough for International Rugby. I guess it would be a shame for his if he never got an opportunity, but with too many more Kiwis in their team I think England would be pretty embarrassed.

Yeah, like I said, definitely mixed feelings at best.

I don't want to be a little Englander but at the same time so many of our team being kiwis flying flags of convenience is a little embarrassing.

Another issue being none of them have actually been that good either. Flutey comfortably the best Anglo-NZ import (if we disregard Hartley, who has at least played all his senior rugby in Blighty) and he's been injured as often as not. All the league converts have never really looked the goods. Hape can't pass off his left hand and has no kicking game to speak of.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Hmmm. To my mind, if you're going to go down the passport-of-convenience route, then Johnny Foreigner needs to be markedly better than the local alternatives in the same position.

If Waldrom was clearly the best option for #8, then I can't say that I couldn't understand picking him but I don't know why you would ever pick a foreign player who is at best equal to the local players you have for that position.

 

[Somerset]

I never really considered Thomas Waldrom for the ABs at any point - quality NPC/ITM Cup player who made a good fist of things in Super Rugby (albeit limited opportunities from memory), but he hardly commanded the attention of the national selectors for an AB call-up. Personally, if Waldrom's the best number 8 England have I'd be a little worried about their depth. Would be a bit ironic if he ends up representing them having spent his whole life and played his rugby basically exclusively in New Zealand though I guess England are welcome to him if Waldrom's committed to representing them.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I never really considered Thomas Waldrom for the ABs at any point - quality NPC/ITM Cup player who made a good fist of things in Super Rugby (albeit limited opportunities from memory), but he hardly commanded the attention of the national selectors for an AB call-up.

Quite, though I think his opportunities were restricted in Super rugby due to the quality of the other options available (at the Hurricanes and then the Crusaders) rather than any lack of quality on his part. He should have gained more opportunities at the Canes and as I recall he did fairly well at the Crusaders. He tore up in the NPC though.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Nick Easter's obviously the incumbent and has a lock on the position short of injury. He's (from memory) 32 though, so this is likely to be his last world cup.

Shows the level of the back row in the NH when a 20-yo Scot was near the player of the Six Nations, doesn't it?

 

[TT Boy]

South African police said that one of the man's victims had been decapitated. Others were assaulted, but managed to escape.

The 34-year-old's identity is being withheld from publication to prevent his daughter from being identified.

However, it is understood that the girl was attacked after a break in at the family's home in Durban.

A gang of four burglars abducted the teenager then raped her in a nearby wooded area. She subsequently was diagnosed with HIV.

Over a period of at least four evenings last week, the former Springbok and Blue Bulls player is said to have stalked one of the impoverished townships near his home where he is said to have launched the attacks, apparently at random, at black men returning home from work.


Former Springbok 'went on axe-murdering rampage' - Telegraph

Appears to be massive fail on the part of the Telegraph as the reported player in question, Joseph Ntshongwana is black, not a former Springbok who never played Super Rugby for the Bulls. Terrible story. Truly sickening. Lamontville where the attacks took place is a truly scary place.

 

[TT Boy]

Shows the level of the back row in the NH when a 20-yo Scot was near the player of the Six Nations, doesn't it?

Andrea Masi player of the Six Nations. Nuff said.

 

[TT Boy]

Thomas Waldrom ready for English call-up | Stuff.co.nz

I'm a big fan of Thomas Waldrom as a player, but seriously if England play him then it's a bloody joke. With the number of Kiwis that'd be playing for England, it least it should shut up some of the northern press whinging about eligibility. Waldrom's nothing but Kiwi.

As Brumby alluded to, England usually poach through residency so at least Waldrom has links. Of course it’s farcical and reflects badly that a 27 year old who has spent all of six months in England could represent England but international rugby is just rife with poaching and counter poaching.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

FFS. The post world cup defections have started already. First Sitiveni Sivivatu's put pen-to-paper in the Northern Hemisphere.

Sitiveni Sivivatu signs to play in France | Stuff.co.nz

And now my favourite non-Wellington player. Just as he seems on the cusp of getting a chance with the All Blacks, this is guaranteed to put him out of contention given the wealth of options in his position(s).

Jared Payne signs with Ulster | Stuff.co.nz

Plenty of other names on the Northern Hemisphere hit list. What price on Rodney So'oialo or even Cory Jane being lured by the big bucks?

 

[ripper868]

Always going to happen mate, in a 10 year career, Money talks.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Always going to happen mate, in a 10 year career, Money talks.

Yeah, I can understand a guy who's reached his peak and can only head down going for the money (like Sivi) but someone like Payne could be missing out on ever getting an All Blacks cap and he could have easily waited a year or two more to find out.

 

[ripper868]

Payne to be in an England Jersey for 2015.