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

[lovejoy]

As long as it's not too wet the pitch should be ok. Most rugby pitches are in pretty good knick to be honest.

[paul_e]

As long as it's not too wet the pitch should be ok. Most rugby pitches are in pretty good knick to be honest.

This.  If the groundsman is worth his salt, and there isn't an unseasonable amount of rain it will be impossible to tell within a week.  With modern drainage the days of rugby teams tearing pitches to bits is pretty much gone at the highest level, look at somewhere like Leicester Tigers or Northampton saints, their pitches look as good as any football pitch.

[Newportfred]

Tigers pitch was like a gluepot last season, more like a throwback to Derby County's pitch in the 70's

[PaulWinch again]

Interesting that Australia won the Championship, which makes me a bit nervous for the World Cup. Also Argentina won in South Africa.

[paul_e]

Interesting that Australia won the Championship, which makes me a bit nervous for the World Cup. Also Argentina won in South Africa.

Not sure about that, Australia are a good side, just like we are, what this shows is that NZ and SA and as far ahead of the rest of us as they looked like being.

[Jon Crofts]

Anyone going to Twickenham Saturday?  Quite looking forward to a few beers on a Saturday evening in the sunshine.

[UK Redsox]

Anyone going to Twickenham Saturday?  Quite looking forward to a few beers on a Saturday evening in the sunshine.

It just a pre-season friendly

[UK Redsox]

Do we need a separate RWC thread or will this one do ?

[Jon Crofts]

Anyone going to Twickenham Saturday?  Quite looking forward to a few beers on a Saturday evening in the sunshine.

It just a pre-season friendly

Thanks.  There's me thinking the 6 Nations had started early.  Friendly you say?  Against France?  No.  Thought not.

[paul_e]

I really want Burgess to make it and become the bulldozing centre that he seems perfectly built to be but I really don't understand how his club form since switching codes justifies him starting in one of a limited number of world cup warm up games when we already have question marks over other centres who deserve the chance far more.  I really hope he proves me wrong and runs over/through the french backline repeatedly but I struggle to see it as right for him to be given this chance.

Of the rest of the team I'm really happy with the rest of the borderline selections except for Alex fucking Goode who has had enough chances and has shown that he nothing like quick enough to play back 3 internationally, that particular blind spot of Lancasters is starting to really piss me off.

[UK Redsox]

Some big names dropped from the Welsh squad today; Hibbard, Phillips and Hook

[paul_e]

Some big names dropped from the Welsh squad today; Hibbard, Phillips and Hook

None of those are a massive shock if you've been watching them over the last few years.

Hibbard is noteworthy but he was an outside bet given it was as 3rd choice and they have the young guy at Cardiff (I think) that they're trying to bring into the squad so it's not entirely unexpected.

Phillips just isn't good enough (now for most people, or ever in my opinion) to get into the 23 and Hook doesn't have a good enough kicking game to fit the way they play which is why he's been behind Biggar and Priestland for a while anyway.

[PaulWinch again]

I really want Burgess to make it and become the bulldozing centre that he seems perfectly built to be but I really don't understand how his club form since switching codes justifies him starting in one of a limited number of world cup warm up games when we already have question marks over other centres who deserve the chance far more.  I really hope he proves me wrong and runs over/through the french backline repeatedly but I struggle to see it as right for him to be given this chance.

Of the rest of the team I'm really happy with the rest of the borderline selections except for Alex fucking Goode who has had enough chances and has shown that he nothing like quick enough to play back 3 internationally, that particular blind spot of Lancasters is starting to really piss me off.

I hope Burgess somehow does something remarkable. On Goode it is infuriating, I hope Cipriani takes his spot.

[paul_e]

Watson, Slade, May and Clark have all put down markers for the WC squad here. Burgess has been brilliant in defence but he still hasn't worked out how to attack at 12. Goode showed very early on why I don't think he's good enough for international rugby and May bailed him out with some brilliant defence.

[UK Redsox]

Well worked try for May