Official Rugby Thread

[BoyBrumby]

Ashton's first England squad

From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6224313.stm

England squad:
Backs: I Balshaw (Gloucester), M Catt (London Irish), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester), A Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Newcastle), S Geraghty (London Irish), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), S Perry (Bristol), J Robinson (Sale Sharks), P Richards (Gloucester), P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons).

Forwards: A Brown (Gloucester), G Chuter (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), P Freshwater (Perpignan), D Grewcock (Bath), M Lund (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), T Palmer (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), D Ward-Smith (Bristol), J White (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps).

Several talking points: Vickery as the new captain, recalls for Catt (35) & Robinson (32), first call up for Farrell & no places for Anthony Allen, Dallaglio or Andy Goode. I'm slightly surprised to see Flood retain his place as he's clearly not ready yet, moreover with Goode & Barkley out of the senior squad he's probably in line for our 10 shirt unless Jonny makes a miracle recovery. Scary.

Also nice to see us continue our habit of selecting <coughs> dual-qualified players, with the former Ireland under-16 player Shane Geraghty & the NZ-"born" Dan Ward-Smith making their first appearances in a senior squad.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Latham injures cruciate ligament

From the Beeb's site.

Looks likely to miss the whole Super 14 season & could be doubtful for the World Cup. He'd be a huge miss for Oz; one of the few non-ABs who'd make a World XV.

 

[steds]

I'm slightly surprised to see Flood retain his place as he's clearly not ready yet, moreover with Goode & Barkley out of the senior squad he's probably in line for our 10 shirt unless Jonny makes a miracle recovery. Scary.

Just keeping it warm for Cipriani...

 

[BoyBrumby]

Just keeping it warm for Cipriani...

Wouldn't be at all surprised. He'll be our long-term ten I'd guess. Wasps playing him at full-back of late tho.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Fair play to Leicester Tigers. Had to go to Ireland to beat Munster (reigning European champs) to qualify & they jolly well did it! Best result for an English team for a long, long time.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Wallaby comeback for Matt Burke?

From today's Guardian.

Australia, meanwhile, are considering asking the Newcastle full-back Matthew Burke to come out of international retirement because of a crisis in the position with Chris Latham doubtful for the World Cup after knee reconstruction surgery. Another candidate is 33-year-old Andrew Walker, who has just joined Queensland Reds three years after being banned for taking illegal substances, having tested positive for cocaine.

Oz could do an awful lot worse for themselves. Always been a fan of his. I doubt Newcastle would be keen tho.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Carney for Munster?

& Ireland too, possibly. We could see him in the WC yet. From the Beeb's site.

 

[steds]

Northampton sign Ashton.
****! The kid is going to be awesome, whatever code he plays in. Several cuts above union's recent thefts off us (Pryce the lesser and Walker). Gutted that he won't be staying in league.

Edit: Just saw the money, though. Paying well over the odds for a teenager.

 

[Tim]

a good English rugby player....no...this must be a mistake!

 

[speirz]

Timana Tahu has signed a 4 year contract with the Tahs

 

[BoyBrumby]

Timana Tahu has signed a 4 year contract with the Tahs

Wow. Pretty big news. Not sure it's the best signing the ARU has ever made tho, in all honesty.

Tahu must've been offered a shedload of wedge.

 

[steds]

Timana Tahu has signed a 4 year contract with the Tahs

Interesting. How old's he now?

 

[speirz]

Wow. Pretty big news. Not sure it's the best signing the ARU has ever made tho, in all honesty.

Tahu must've been offered a shedload of wedge.

I don't think he'd need that much to go really, after Hagan moved to Parramatta he was likely to leave the club anyway, and with not many clubs with room to offer decent cash, union was always going to be a chance.

Interesting. How old's he now?

26, 27 later this year, so he's got a few years left.

 

[speirz]

http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=6205.html

 

[steds]

a good English rugby player....no...this must be a mistake!

The 21st century section of the history of the World Cup tells a different story.

 

[Smudge]

The 21st century section of the history of the World Cup tells a different story.

If you were a real Scottish fan, you wouldn't rate ANY of the Englishmen.

Make your mind up.

 

[speirz]

Be interesting to see where Tahu plays, he'd be a good outside centre IMO but he'll probably start on the wing.

 

[chaminda_00]

Be interesting to see where Tahu plays, he'd be a good outside centre IMO but he'll probably start on the wing.

There is bit for traffic jam in the centres, he'll play on the wing and Hewat will play at full back.

 

[age_master]

Yeah i would say he will start on the wing

 

[Craig]

Wouldn't the ARU be better off spending all that money on development, they obviously have the cash, and obviously the depth can't be too good when they go about and try and buy a team with a promised Wallaby jersey.

I haven't seen him play much, but how good is Queensland flyhalf Quade Cooper? Because I read that he is considered a prospect for Australia in the upcoming Tests and possibily the World Cup. Not bad considering he has only had a handfull of Super 14 games

I suppose they see he is New Zealand born, so he must be the next Dan Carter.