Official Rugby Thread

[Somerset]

Ulster's made a great signing in Jared Payne - hes been one of the stand-outs in the opening few weeks of Super Rugby and was in tremendous form throughout the ITM Cup. Afoa's also signed for Ulster so thats certainly adding strength to their squad. Not surprised that Sivivatu's signed to play in the NH after the World Cup, Joe Rokocoko might do well to do likewise.

 

[TT Boy]

Will Sivivatu even make Henry's WC squad? On current form he doesn't warrant selection.

 

[TT Boy]

Payne to be in an England Jersey for 2015.

Ireland, surely? In the context of the IRB and their residency regulations, Ulster is Ireland.

 

[Somerset]

Will Sivivatu even make Henry's WC squad? On current form he doesn't warrant selection.

I imagine so and personally I still believe he and Jane are our best options for wing places with Dagg and Toeava the utility cover. As far as I look at it, its a long Super Rugby season and theres then enough internationals for Sivivatu to recapture his best form before September/October.

That might be harsh on Hosea Gear but hes hardly played this year and doesn't cover other positions, though I wouldn't rule him out to challenge Sivivatu for his spot in the first choice XV.

 

[Howe_zat]

Has anyone seen this?

YouTube - Manu Tuilagi Punches Chris Ashton!

the best thing is that both of them could be seen shaking hands and making up at the end of the game. Love that about rugby, they can be incredibly violent and later on it's all mates again.

I'm a Leicester supporter btw, as they're my Dad's team. Dont think I've posted here yet.

 

[ripper868]

Digy Ioane off to Japan...Spewing...but can't blame him, he's the main money earner for about 30 cousins etc and will earn plent more in jap than he could here...means the Reds have cash for O'Connor now though.

 

[Smudge]

Will there be a Rugby World Cup subforum this year?

 

[Burgey]

Polota-Nau (sp?) apparently out for three months.

When is the WC? I wonder if this'll rule him out of it? Be a blow if it does. Man is a weapon tbh.

 

[TT Boy]

September 9th it all kicks off, so if he is out for 3 months, or even 2, he is gone.

Given that, the Tri-Nations looks like it will be damp squib with weakened sides being put out or players not going at it 100% for fear of injury.

 

[TT Boy]

Spot the Englishman

South Africa's preliminary squad also named. No Peter Grant. Don't watch much NH rugby but apparently Brian Mujati and Schalk Brits were awesome for their respective clubs and unlucky to miss out. .

Springboks call on fresh faces | Rugby Union | South Africa | Rugby News | ESPN Scrum

 

[benchmark00]

Eeerrrghhh, Wilkinson.

 

[Hurricane]

Good showing by Fiji in the 2nd half while I have been watching.

 

[Hurricane]

Graham Henry does great interviews.

 

[Somerset]

Despite the scoreline, I imagine Fiji won't be too displeased about the match, particularly how they played for the first 30 minutes of the second half. I think the ABs will be happy enough too; it certainly wasn't a clinical effort by any means and obviously they committed too many errors for their liking, but a more than useful hit out ahead of the Tri Nations.

 

[Johnners]

Kwality start for the Wallabies.

 

[Johnners]

How much should one read into the result of this game? (assuming South Africa don't stage a miraculous comeback) Is this even a South African B team?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Just chuckling over Steyn's effort to tackle Ashley-Cooper. Poor kid's an absolute turnstyle defensively.

No Bok team is ever to be taken lightly, so fair play to the Wobblies. Score flattered SA.

 

[benchmark00]

I take nothing from the tri nations this year.

 

[TT Boy]

Just chuckling over Steyn's effort to tackle Ashley-Cooper. Poor kid's an absolute turnstyle defensively.

No Bok team is ever to be taken lightly, so fair play to the Wobblies. Score flattered SA.

Alex Payne on Sky was leading with the clichés, saying to Fitz and the other studio guests, that there is never a poor Bok pack but that myth was exposed years ago. Better Bok sides have lost 49 zip in Aus, yesterdays shower got off lightly. Can’t imagine how many NZ will put on them.

Morne Steyn is quickly playing himself out of the WC squad. Lambie was a breath of fresh air when he came on and Butch James is far more capable of getting the back line moving than Morne. Not sure who had the worst game, Wynand Olivier or John Smit. Smit was blowing after 5 minutes while Meisiekind was not only awful on defence but I don’t think he made one pass all game.

As for Aus, wow, what a backline. So much pace, so much creativity.

 

[TT Boy]

How much should one read into the result of this game? (assuming South Africa don't stage a miraculous comeback) Is this even a South African B team?

More like C. Last count, 23 players were missing but a lot of the big name players who were missing, Matfield, Bakkies, Spies, Banana, Burger et cetera looked poor in Super Rugby, so no guarantee that those guys will dramatically improve things.