Official Rugby Thread

[social]

Eddie Jones to coach England - decidedly meh appointment

Cant believe that the Poms don't have a coach with a pulse in their own setup

 

[Furball]

God I'd love the England job. Paid hundreds of thousands a year then sail off into the sunset with a fat payoff after my farewell "sorry, I tried but the quarters were our limit" press conference.

 

[WalkingWicket]

A rather disappointingly familiar England starting XV from Eddie Jones.

Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell, George Ford, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis, Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and Billy Vunipola.

Not a single young, exciting talent really (excluding Watson, Joseph and Nowell who are all hardened at international level now). Disappointed Robshaw is still there, but hey, whatcha gonna do.

 

[hendrix]

it's not about selecting a different group of players, it's about changing the abilities and style of play of the players you have.

 

[ripper868]

Hartley captain, Brown and Farrell as assistants...expecting 2-3 broken noses for the Scotland team and England to finish with 13 men.
Scotland by 4.
France by 13
Wales by 8

 

[vogue]

Going to be watching the Ireland vs Wales game in Dublin...best not mention I have Welsh blood floating in my veins....

 

[Uppercut]

Decent game and fair result but after the World Cup I can't shake the feeling that the whole tournament is second-tier rugby.

 

[vogue]

Decent game and fair result but after the World Cup I can't shake the feeling that the whole tournament is second-tier rugby.

Didn't feel like it yesterday in Dublin.. Sat in Kehoes and it was very tense lol..

 

[ripper868]

While each match was close and tense etc, the only one that scratched the entertaining rugby scale was France v Italy, with the he Italians being the more exciting team for mine, shame about the way it ended, Parisse would have ascended to new heights if he knocked it over.

Found the England v Scotland and Wales Ireland games to be more of the same - big men running into each other until a scrum could be forced, in which a penalty could be pursued, hopefully see some more flair in the second round when Itsly record a famous W over England.
Italy by 35
Ireland by 4
Wales by 8

 

[vogue]

While each match was close and tense etc, the only one that scratched the entertaining rugby scale was France v Italy, with the he Italians being the more exciting team for mine, shame about the way it ended, Parisse would have ascended to new heights if he knocked it over.

Found the England v Scotland and Wales Ireland games to be more of the same - big men running into each other until a scrum could be forced, in which a penalty could be pursued, hopefully see some more flair in the second round when Itsly record a famous W over England.
Italy by 35
Ireland by 4
Wales by 8

Do you think Italy have become a better/tighter team these last few years?

 

[ripper868]

To a degree, yes, but I think the decline of the French and the stagnation of the Scots has made them look better than they are. As we saw in the last round last year, when Wales put them to the sword in the last round they really fell away quickly. Think overall though all of world rugby is closer to each other in terms of skill than previously. Who ever would have picked Japan to beat South Africa or Argentina to put 49 past Ireland in a RWC quarter final?

 

[vogue]

To a degree, yes, but I think the decline of the French and the stagnation of the Scots has made them look better than they are. As we saw in the last round last year, when Wales put them to the sword in the last round they really fell away quickly. Think overall though all of world rugby is closer to each other in terms of skill than previously. Who ever would have picked Japan to beat South Africa or Argentina to put 49 past Ireland in a RWC quarter final?

Agreed...although I have to say I am looking forward to the England - Italy game on Sunday, even though the score will be eye watering I have no doubt.

 

[vogue]

Great to see Maggie Alphonsi on the commentating line up for the England - Italy match today.

 

[vogue]

So...the grand slam in England's sight.. Just France in the way...

 

[Scaly piscine]

That was surprisingly good from Scotland.

 

[wpdavid]

That was surprisingly good from Scotland.

Indeed. One to enjoy.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Eddie Jones to coach England - decidedly meh appointment

Yep, real meh.

 

[social]

Yep, real meh.

England have simply won matches where they were rightfully favourites and the performances have been little more than ok

There are some good signs from players like Itoje but for others it has been a case of same old, same old

 

[vogue]

England have simply won matches where they were rightfully favourites and the performances have been little more than ok

There are some good signs from players like Itoje but for others it has been a case of same old, same old

Good to see Itoje got motm in Saturday's game.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Good effort from England. They might win one test in Australia this year, but Oz will win the series. Wales and Ireland will get slaughtered by NZ and South Africa