Rugby Union Thread

[lovejoy]

Glos draw Bordeaux in the Amlin. Now THAT will be an away trip, just not on a Thursday please.

[JD]

I feel sorry for Ireland. Smashed today in Euro 2012 by Spain they are going to take an even bigger beating in the Rugby tomorrow here in Christchurch.
It's going to be a pretty emotional game for the AB's being the first time they've played here since the quakes and over half of the squad being Canterbury locals. 

[PaulWinch again]

Disastarous try to concede to start.

[PaulWinch again]

Fucking hell we are getting smashed here.

[PaulWinch again]

Christ this is horrendous.

[PaulWinch again]

Good try by us.

[PaulWinch again]

In retrospect their first try should never have stood.

[PaulWinch again]

Youngs is having a great game.

[PaulWinch again]

Great second half with lots of courage. I'll also note we improved massively after Botha came off, he is not a good player.

[richard moore]

Great courage and spirit shown by England. Having slagged of Youngs something rotten in the past, he was very good today as were some of the players coming off the bench. I agree Botha had a bad game. I also thought Foden was a bit off the pace and I do wonder sometimes about Tualangi in the midfield as he only has one way of playing and it isn't always very successful against the bigger backs you face in the southern hemisphere. I was all for turning off first half and doing some gardening, pleased I didn't

[PaulWinch again]

I didn't think it at half time, but it bodes very well for the future. Lots of young players being blooded in very tough conditions. Botha and Johnson aren't international level for me, and the former definitely needs to go. When we get the likes of Lawes, Wood, Croft back we'll be in really good shape. Ashton is starting to find his form again which is great.

[cdbearsfan]

Seems like Scotland are the only European side that can beat Southern Hemisphere teams. ;-)

[cheltenhamlion]

Encouraging second half and you have to consider what we are missing through injury as well.

Bordeaux in the Amlin for Glaws? Hmm, I see some wine tasting for my birthday in October!

[paul_e]

In retrospect their first try should never have stood.

Thought the 2nd was iffy as well, supposed to be in control of the ball when it's touched down, I've watched it a few times and can't work out how anyone could suggest he's in control of that after it's been stripped and is under his armpit.  That it went to the TV and was still given really shocked me.

First half I noticed again that, for some unfathomable reason, going off your feet in the ruck doesn't apply to south africans, the amount of times we couldn't counter-ruck because 2-3 SA players had dived over the top and completely cut it off was scary.  So long as they're allowed to do that the chance of winning the ball back is hugely diminished and makes it really tough to compete with them.  It's even worse when you have a penalty given against you when you do the same in return.

[PaulWinch again]

Well I think Alain Rolland is arguably the worst referee in the high profile rugby. He's fucking diabolical. South Africa also get away with so much stuff, because they're seen as acceptably 'aggressive and hard'. They essentially have a licence to teach.