Rugby Union (was 2014-15, now an ongoing thread)

[paul_e]

Good half from Bath, a 5 point win here gives them the slimmest imaginable hope of squeezing through so I suspect they'll throw everything at getting the last 2 tries as quickly as they can.

Poor 2nd half really.  Scored a genuine wonder try (if you haven't seen it I recommend finding the highlights, truly exceptional play from Ford and Thomas given the conditions) and then made 5 changes all at once and completely lost their way after being totally dominant at the scrum and line out, Mike Ford must regret that decision.

[Dante Lavelli]

Good half from Bath, a 5 point win here gives them the slimmest imaginable hope of squeezing through so I suspect they'll throw everything at getting the last 2 tries as quickly as they can.

I saw the try.  It was incredible considering the conditions.  Ford's dummy and then the offload were awesome.  I'd love to see some of that in an England shirt.


Poor 2nd half really.  Scored a genuine wonder try (if you haven't seen it I recommend finding the highlights, truly exceptional play from Ford and Thomas given the conditions) and then made 5 changes all at once and completely lost their way after being totally dominant at the scrum and line out, Mike Ford must regret that decision.

[UK Redsox]

Until Burgess learns how to tackle properly, I wouldn't have him in the Bath squad, let alone in the England squad

[paul_e]

Until Burgess learns how to tackle properly, I wouldn't have him in the Bath squad, let alone in the England squad

His tackling was always my concern, the high shoulder hits he did in league were fine but in union he's going to get himself in trouble, On top of that he doesn#t seem to know what to do with himself just yet, there's clearly lots of talent there but it's a steep learning curve for him to learn how to use that in this game in the 6-7 months he's got if he stands a chance of the world cup, seems too tight for me.  On a related note Burrell was superb for Northampton as was Stephenson who looks a great talent.

[paul_e]

Better from Burgess this week, still struggling to get into the right positions in attack but he's been superb in defence.

Watson is such a class act, brilliant hands, great acceleration, low centre of gravity, he's really got it all to be a truly top drawer back (anything from inside centre out).  Watching the 'matador' act he pulls when the big hitters line him up is awesome, and incredibly effective.

[lovejoy]

Big big game today, hopefully Glos are up for it and we can send them down the A38 with their tails between their legs.
On paper they look stronger.

[paul_e]

Brilliant day for rugby fans today, saints vs tigers followed by glaws vs bath 2 of the best games of the season back to back, should be good.

On other rugby matters, gutted that Launchbury is still out and if Cipriani keeps playing like he did last night he will have to be selected for the 6N, he was superb.

[aev]

Luther Burrell has to start for England......he was superb today.

[paul_e]

Luther Burrell has to start for England......he was superb today.

He's easily the best centre in the country and yes he was superb today, as were most of the side. It's a fantastic result for saints, any side that wins having played over an hour with 14 men have been very good.

Alex Waller was also very good. He had a tough first half in the scrum but 2nd half he stepped up brilliantly. Finally I'm becoming more and more convinced that Lawes is the best player in the world right now,  immense again today.

[aev]

It was a great game, and for my money Hartley got what he deserved.

The thing about Burrell is that he runs such straight lines.....it must be fun playing outside him.

[paul_e]

It was a great game, and for my money Hartley got what he deserved.

The thing about Burrell is that he runs such straight lines.....it must be fun playing outside him.

I didn't see the sending off so can't comment on it, sounds like Hartley letting his aggression overcome him again.  It's frustrating but that's what makes him a great hooker, I just wish he didn't do against Leicester so often though.

Burrell I sort of agree, he's good because he picks his line and then runs it full out, usually his line is one that either encounters a weak shoulder or commits 2-3 defenders but then the important bit is that he doesn't often let the ball get slowed down so the team benefit from the momentum, there's no other centre in England who can do that so well and so consistently.  Right now he'd be the first back on the list for me.

[PaulWinch again]

Burrell should definitely be starting for England.

[paul_e]

Watson has just put in a belting performance against Exeter, made the best part of 100m and made a couple of Exeter players look like complete mugs. Coming together for England now so long as Lancaster has the conviction to let the backs play some rugby.

[Dante Lavelli]

Watson has just put in a belting performance against Exeter, made the best part of 100m and made a couple of Exeter players look like complete mugs. Coming together for England now so long as Lancaster has the conviction to let the backs play some rugby.

This world cup or next?

I must admit I look at our squad depth and talent and think that it might be Lancaster's tactics holding the players back.  Ironic as when he came in his man management and strong convictions seemed to be a massive strength however, at the moment, it might even be our weakness.  If he would just release the handbrake a bit...

[paul_e]

Tough question, allow the backs some more freedom and pick the right 'set' and we can certainly make the 2015 world cup a 3 horse race. 2019 should be ours, the young talent coming through now will be established players by then and it should make us special. Robson, Daly,  Devoto and Stephenson will all be in or around the squad within a year after the world cup and will bring us genuine depth at 9, 12 and 13 to go with the depth we have elsewhere.

The key thing is we don't have many (or more likely any) in the squad who will be retiring after 2015, which will help with the continuity.