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

[paul_e]

4 week ban for Hartley for moving his head towards someone, the TV official and the ref both watched it at the time and saw nothing to even justify a sin-bin, which was the correct decision, if you give a ban for that type of offence then I could review any game in the league and come up with 3-4 bans every week. To me this is a punishment to Hartley for being Hartley rather than for what he did.

I'm not saying it wasn't a bit silly but it's something so common and minor that you just can't single out an occurrence and apply a ban like this, I'm half convinced some of the higher ups in English rugby want Lancaster to pick Youngs ahead of him and because it's not going to happen on talent they're finding other means, just like the ridiculous over-reaction by Wayne Barnes cost him a Lions place.

[PaulWinch again]

Thing is it may be harsh, but Hartley knows he needs to hold himself to higher standards due to his previous record. I don't really have much sympathy for him. Hopefully missing the first game won't be too crucial.

[PaulWinch again]

Hartley being dropped for World Cup now.

[paul_e]

Was away for the weekend, I agree he needs to hold himself to a higher standard but for me if the ref and tmo look at something and decide it's not even a sin-bin to go back and give a 4 match ban is just plain wrong, and wouldn't have happened to anyone else.

The bigger consequence is that Youngs will now start for England and whilst he's good in the loose his throwing and hooking isn't good enough for international competition, so for me this harms our chances in a world cup where we've already got enough things against us.  if I thought he'd be willing to risk Cowan-Dickie starting I'd be a lot less concerned.

Gutted for Gloucester losing in overtime, made the problems for themselves by throwing risky passes when they were on top though.  Not happy that Sarries won the final, they embody the type of rugby I can't stand to watch and it just backs up Lancaster's decision to build the England team around them which is the wrong approach for the players we have to pick from.

[PaulWinch again]

That'll be Cipriani out of the World Cup now. I am staggered by the stupidity of some of these players leading up to a home World Cup.

[paul_e]

Let's wait and see what comes out of this one, it does sound like he's been very silly but there's nothing like enough info about it yet.  It is monumentally stupid though to play so brilliantly on sunday afternoon and get yourself a safe spot in the world cup squad and then get arrested a little more than 12 hours after the game.  Cipriani has never been the sharpest tool in the box though.

[cheltenhamlion]

Unrelated to the latest goings on but have a meeting with Adam Balding next week about doing some work for him.

[JD]

RIP Jerry Collins very sad.

[paul_e]

RIP Jerry Collins very sad.

Terrible news

[PaulWinch again]

Terrible news, RIP.

[Rotterdam]

Sad news indeed..
My mate knew him when he played a couple of games at Barnstaple. If I remember correctly at that time he represented the BaaBaa's and asked Barnstaple RFC if he could wear their socks...I think in the programme it said the club next to his name.
He also did some coaching there.

[Rotterdam]

http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Barnstaple-RFC-release-Jerry-Collins-statement/story-26642560-detail/story.html

[paul_e]

England U20 into the final yet again, Jennings, Chisholm and Ewels were outstanding, the latter 2 are definitely going to make the main squad within a year or 2, Jennings might struggle because of the sheer depth we have at 10.

[Dante Lavelli]

I watched the 2nd half of the U20 final and it was very even with NZ just edging it.  England played quite well, with a back-row player getting numerous mentions for turning over NZ ball.  He did it at least twice in the period I was watching.  They were suggesting that he could replace Tom Wood in the future so presumably a Saints player.

Howard Packman, another Saint, made some good breaks too.

[paul_e]

I watched the 2nd half of the U20 final and it was very even with NZ just edging it.  England played quite well, with a back-row player getting numerous mentions for turning over NZ ball.  He did it at least twice in the period I was watching.  They were suggesting that he could replace Tom Wood in the future so presumably a Saints player.

Howard Packman, another Saint, made some good breaks too.

Lewis Ludlum, he's been training with Wood and Dowson for a few years and has picked up a lot from them, he'll be an excellent player, him and Charlie Ewels were the stars in this U20 squad, Packman will be a good player as well but he didn't get enough ball with space in front of him to show how good he can be.