Official Rugby Thread

[_Ed_]

Highlanders back Connor Garden-Bachop has died

Garden-Bachop, also a Māori All Black, made his Highlanders debut in 2021.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[Fuller Pilch]

That's terrible.

 

[Brook's side]

Trying to identify what happened to various members of England's 2023 WC squad compared to current squad. I've got as far as follows:
Marler - picked
Rodd - picked
Sinckler - dropped?
Stuart -picked
Genge - injured?
Cole - picked
George -picked
Dan -picked
Walker - not needed?
Itoje - picked
Chessum - injured?
Ribbans - France
Martin - picked
Earl - picked
TCurry- picked
Lawes - Sadly retired
JWillis - dropped?
Ludlam - dropped?
BVunipola - retired?
VanPoortvliet - dropped?
Care - retired?
Youngs - retired?
Farrell - retired?
Ford - dropped?
Smith - picked
Manu - retired?
Marchant - dropped?
Lawrence - picked
Daly - dropped?
Malins - dropped?
Arundell - dropped?
Steward - picked
Watson - retired?

 

[Molehill]

Trying to identify what happened to various members of England's 2023 WC squad compared to current squad. I've got as far as follows:
Marler - picked
Rodd - picked
Sinckler - dropped?
Stuart -picked
Genge - injured?
Cole - picked
George -picked
Dan -picked
Walker - not needed?
Itoje - picked
Chessum - injured?
Ribbans - France
Martin - picked
Earl - picked
TCurry- picked
Lawes - Sadly retired
JWillis - dropped?
Ludlam - dropped?
BVunipola - retired?
VanPoortvliet - dropped?
Care - retired?
Youngs - retired?
Farrell - retired?
Ford - dropped?
Smith - picked
Manu - retired?
Marchant - dropped?
Lawrence - picked
Daly - dropped?
Malins - dropped?
Arundell - dropped?
Steward - picked
Watson - retired?

Willis, Marchant and Arundell are all in the France gang so not eligible. Ford is injured, Van Portvliet is returning from injury so I don't think was risked for the Tour.

 

[Heboric]

Always snigger when something like this happens, I know they will probably have to prepare things in advance but still

Munster-Bulls promo spurred us on, says Glasgow boss

Franco Smith says his Glasgow side got extra motivation from a graphic that appeared on the big screen at Thomond Park promoting a Munster v Bulls URC final ahead of their semi-final win.

www.rte.ie

I am sure England did something similar by making themselves grandslam champions before they actually managed to do it, printed a t-shirt to celebrate (this case they actually didnt win the grandslam )

 

[social]

Another day, another Wallaby off to France

 

[ripper868]

Another day, another Wallaby off to France

who now? I legit can't find any articles.

 

[social]

who now? I legit can't find any articles.

Rodda

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's a self-imposed wound though, tbf.

RA just needs to get real and select the best Australian-qualified players regardless of where they play their club rugby.

Saffers do and it hasn't done the Boks any harm, has it? Fair to guess union's a far bigger deal in the Republic than Oz too.

 

[ripper868]

Rodda

Ah, another good but not great player, but definitely a hit to the depth.

 

[social]

It's a self-imposed wound though, tbf.

RA just needs to get real and select the best Australian-qualified players regardless of where they play their club rugby.

Saffers do and it hasn't done the Boks any harm, has it? Fair to guess union's a far bigger deal in the Republic than Oz too.

Agreed

RA is skint so can’t compete financially

Relying solely upon Australian based players is doomed for failure

 

[social]

Ah, another good but not great player, but definitely a hit to the depth.

Hit to depth in a position where we have none as there’s something like 4-5 locks with international experience playing overseas now

Lucky we paid a league back millions

 

[Molehill]

It's a self-imposed wound though, tbf.

RA just needs to get real and select the best Australian-qualified players regardless of where they play their club rugby.

Saffers do and it hasn't done the Boks any harm, has it? Fair to guess union's a far bigger deal in the Republic than Oz too.

Saffers don't lose rugby players to as many other sports though. They can afford to send their best players to France/England/Ireland etc and still have loads left for a strong domestic competition (which helps bring through the future stars). It seems neither Australia or England can allow for this to happen.

 

[social]

Saffers don't lose rugby players to as many other sports though. They can afford to send their best players to France/England/Ireland etc and still have loads left for a strong domestic competition (which helps bring through the future stars). It seems neither Australia or England can allow for this to happen.

RA is bust so doesn’t have much choice

Rumour has it that they have allowed one of our promising young backs to play 7s at the Olympics as a good result guarantees government funding for the program

 

[Molehill]

RA is bust so doesn’t have much choice

Rumour has it that they have allowed one of our promising young backs to play 7s at the Olympics as a good result guarantees government funding for the program

In contrast, the RFU isn't remotely bust, but the clubs can't afford/aren't allowed to pay big salaries. I also think it's daft that English players in France can't play for their country.

 

[ripper868]

Imagine if football imposed a rule that you had to play in your own country to represent them

 

[James]

Well that was pretty one sided, well done the Blues. Immense given the conditions.
Will be so interesting who the starting first five for the ABs will be. No clear frontrunner, and McKenzie certainly hurt his chances tonight.

 

[ashley bach]

That's an emphatic way to win a final from the Auckland Blues.

 

[_Ed_]

Might be my Blues bias, but how inspirational a leader is Tuipulotu? Could do much worse as far as potential AB captains go, IMO.

 

[James]

Might be my Blues bias, but how inspirational a leader is Tuipulotu? Could do much worse as far as potential AB captains go, IMO.

Definitely, agree. I think Scott Barrett seems to have the captaincy locked up though doesn't he? I'd be surprised if Razor went elsewhere.