Rugby Union 2013-14

[lovejoy]

Feel sorry for Ryan, he's a good coach. They're going down.

[peter w]

Do any of you ever get down to Moseley? They've just had approval for a new stand, hopefully the start of the road back.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/rugby/work-set-begin-moseleys-long-6532786

Yeah, this is probably my level of interest in rugby. I'll always watch England games even when it's in the World Sevens in Las Vegas which I'm currently watching. I'll also look out for Moseley's scores as well and like to try and keep an eye on what they're doing. Wouldn't mind goingto Twickenham, even though forthetwo years or so thatI lived on the road where the ground is situated (Nelson Rd?) I didn't. And even if Moseley became thetop team in England I'd be delighted and declare myself a Moseley follower, but I wouldn't go and watch a game.

I find watching club rugby boring. I do like watching the game, but only internationals, and I do know the rules. But I do like reading about it on this thread. I'd say a lot of my knowledge about England players comes from this thread.

[lovejoy]

Is it the standard of club rugby which makes you say it's boring or the fact that you don't follow a top team compared to, say, your interest in England?

[peter w]

Bit of both I guess. But mainly because football absorbs my life so much there's not much room for other sports. But I have, and do, go to cricket games. Warwickshire mean more to me than England in a Villa way but Im not bothered about seeing either play live although I definitely will again.

I suppose it's because I'm not from a rugby family or have played the game. I'd liked to have gone to HQ but I could never go to another sporting event while Villa are playing. In fact I don't like doing anything when Villa are playing.

[lovejoy]

If you don't follow a team and therefore don't have the emotional attachment to the sport, I can understand why you find it boring. I have the same feeling with American football. That said it isn't the sport itself which is boring but your relationship with it that makes this so.

Regarding the standard, I think if you watch Heineken cup games (Leicester vs Ulster for example) the intensity of that game would better say the Scotland Italy 6N game I suspect.

The sport itself is is far from boring.

[Dave Cooper please]

No, I can honestly say that I find rugby incredibly boring to watch. I'm with whoever once dubbed it "Kick and clap". I've tried to get into it, but it doesn't hold my attention for more than about five minutes before I flick the channels. I've been to games as well, love the social side, nice to be able to have a pint on the terraces, but the game is boring.

I played it to a decent level as well when I was in the Army, I was a decent hooker and also played prop and second row when needed. Made the Army minor units final and got selected for a BAOR select XV (only played one game but a big honour), loved playing, hated watching.

[paul_e]

I never used to be able to watch club rugby other than at the ground but when i had to stop playing at 28 (stupid knee) I found myself a lot more drawn to it.  Now I can happily watch glaws, saints, bath and quins (and i like watching toulouse, toulon and clermont as well).  I can't watch rabodirect games, I don't mind the Scottish and Italian sides but I hate watching Irish and Welsh rugby, not sure why, Leinster play fantastic rugby for example, but I can only watch them in a 'willing them to lose' way.

[paul_e]

I'm very happy to see Youngs left at home, Dickson and Care are the 2 best in the country so I'm glad he's had the guts to go with them.

Forwards: David Attwood (Bath Rugby), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Backs: Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby).

There's a few spares in there but I suspect on the day it'll be:

Mako V, Hartley, Cole
Launchbury, Lawes
Wood, Billy V, Robshaw

Dickson, Farrell

Twelvetrees, Barritt

Nowell, Brown, Watson

Subs: Thomas, Marler, Youngs, Attwood, Morgan, Care, Ford, Burrell

I'd personally leave Barritt out and move Burrell in with May on the bench though but I'd be amazed if he doesn't figure.  I really hope Goode is left out, he's not quick enough to play as a wide back and isn't good enough to be selected as a 10.

[PaulWinch again]

Burrell, Nowell and May starting pretty interesting back line. I'm a bit worried about a lack of creativity on the bench.

[paul_e]

So...

England: Mike Brown; Jack Nowell, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode.

The pack picks itself with Marler/Mako the only decision and that one is so close that he couldn't really get it wrong.  Backs, I'm mostly happy with his selections, I'm surprised he's gone with Burrell and Twelvetrees as I didn't think he'd pair them, but that's a positive, they both deserved to start.

However... the backs on the bench just don't inspire me at all.  Dickson isn't an impact sub, he should start with Care to come on and snipe around the fringes when people are tiring.  Barritt and Goode likewise provide no impact, Ford and Watson there instead and we'd have game changers to bring on (like we have with Mako, Youngs and Morgan up front).  He's still being a bit negative but Nowell and May on the wings is a big step in the right direction.

[PaulWinch again]

So...

England: Mike Brown; Jack Nowell, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode.

The pack picks itself with Marler/Mako the only decision and that one is so close that he couldn't really get it wrong.  Backs, I'm mostly happy with his selections, I'm surprised he's gone with Burrell and Twelvetrees as I didn't think he'd pair them, but that's a positive, they both deserved to start.

However... the backs on the bench just don't inspire me at all.  Dickson isn't an impact sub, he should start with Care to come on and snipe around the fringes when people are tiring.  Barritt and Goode likewise provide no impact, Ford and Watson there instead and we'd have game changers to bring on (like we have with Mako, Youngs and Morgan up front).  He's still being a bit negative but Nowell and May on the wings is a big step in the right direction.

I agree the general direction is positive, but the bench lacks the ability to change the game.

[lovejoy]

Its not a very experiences back line, is Paris in the 6N opener the place to do this?

[PaulWinch again]

I'm actually pretty happy with that, players should be picked because they've earned it not because they have lots of caps. Lancaster is starting to show a bolder side to his character and team selection and I'm pleased about it.

[paul_e]

Its not a very experiences back line, is Paris in the 6N opener the place to do this?

We're running out of time to give the likes of May, Nowell and Burrell the run their club form deserves so I think he's left himself with no choice because of his very conservative approach in 2013, the only time he made genuinely positive selections was when the lions forced his hand.

[Dave Summers]

Its not a very experiences back line, is Paris in the 6N opener the place to do this?

We're running out of time to give the likes of May, Nowell and Burrell the run their club form deserves so I think he's left himself with no choice because of his very conservative approach in 2013, the only time he made genuinely positive selections was when the lions forced his hand.

I see Lancaster as being a rugby version of Doug Ellis.  He will go so far, but just when you are willing him to go that one step further he lets you down.  Delighted with the team, but the backs on the bench??? What on earth is he thinking?  What happens if Nowell and Farrell go down injured in the first 10 mins.  We are left with Brown on the wing again, didn't work last year and won't work ever and Twelvetress as fly half, not good enough in the position for Glaws let alone England.

What the bloody hell the point of Ford and Watson going to Paris to look at the sights is, is beyond me.  I am backing the team to win, but christ if we are down with 20 to go there is absolutely nothing to inspire in terms of backs on the bench.  Get Watson and Ford into the 23 as quick as possible