International Rugby

[Jon Crofts]

What an amazing advert for rugby that test match was?  Best of all the officials, Nigel Owens proving that it is possible to let a game flow without the need for TMOs and other such nonsense every time there's a try or decision to be made, same goes to his supporting officials, bloody superb they all were.

[paul_e]

What an amazing advert for rugby that test match was?  Best of all the officials, Nigel Owens proving that it is possible to let a game flow without the need for TMOs and other such nonsense every time there's a try or decision to be made, same goes to his supporting officials, bloody superb they all were.

He showed why he's such a good ref by admitting to a mistake at one point.  I'd love to see that in football rather than hiding behind the FA.

[nigel]

What an amazing advert for rugby that test match was?  Best of all the officials, Nigel Owens proving that it is possible to let a game flow without the need for TMOs and other such nonsense every time there's a try or decision to be made, same goes to his supporting officials, bloody superb they all were.

He showed why he's such a good ref by admitting to a mistake at one point.  I'd love to see that in football rather than hiding behind the FA.

Yes, when that happened my mate and I looked across at each other and just nodded our approval. No words were needed.
That's why he's the best ref in world rugby.

Going back to Solomona.  I mentioned him way back in this thread, and you got it spot on with your reply regarding defence. 
 

[paul_e]

What an amazing advert for rugby that test match was?  Best of all the officials, Nigel Owens proving that it is possible to let a game flow without the need for TMOs and other such nonsense every time there's a try or decision to be made, same goes to his supporting officials, bloody superb they all were.

He showed why he's such a good ref by admitting to a mistake at one point.  I'd love to see that in football rather than hiding behind the FA.

Yes, when that happened my mate and I looked across at each other and just nodded our approval. No words were needed.
That's why he's the best ref in world rugby.

Going back to Solomona.  I mentioned him way back in this thread, and you got it spot on with your reply regarding defence. 
 

I think anyone who'd watched him play for more than a few minutes could see the same weaknesses.  They're not insurmountable but he needs to really commit to working with his defensive coaches if he wants to be a regular, otherwise I suspect he'll be the guy we call on if we need something special in the last 10-15minutes.

[nigel]

What an amazing advert for rugby that test match was?  Best of all the officials, Nigel Owens proving that it is possible to let a game flow without the need for TMOs and other such nonsense every time there's a try or decision to be made, same goes to his supporting officials, bloody superb they all were.

He showed why he's such a good ref by admitting to a mistake at one point.  I'd love to see that in football rather than hiding behind the FA.

Yes, when that happened my mate and I looked across at each other and just nodded our approval. No words were needed.
That's why he's the best ref in world rugby.

Going back to Solomona.  I mentioned him way back in this thread, and you got it spot on with your reply regarding defence. 
 

I think anyone who'd watched him play for more than a few minutes could see the same weaknesses.  They're not insurmountable but he needs to really commit to working with his defensive coaches if he wants to be a regular, otherwise I suspect he'll be the guy we call on if we need something special in the last 10-15minutes.

If he turns out half as good as the last League winger to cross code, Jason Robinson, we'll have a real player.

[paul_e]

If he turns out half as good as the last League winger to cross code, Jason Robinson, we'll have a real player.

He's already as good with ball in hand and as a finisher, if he can bring the rest of his game up he'll be special.  He has the same low gait and subsequent low centre of gravity which means he can slip through gaps that aren't really there.  His try was a great example of it, he had no rights to beat the first couple of tacklers but he just never gave them a target to tackle.

[UK Redsox]

Jason Robinson was very much an exception. Most converts from the Northern Game have been average at best, even those fast-tracked into the England set up

[paul_e]

Not complaining here but how the fuck Stander is there as an 8 and Hughes was left out i'll never know.

The Warburton try is a funny one, the British commentators were commending AWJ, I suspect the NZ view will be that it was quite obviously illegal and should have been disallowed.

I think JJ has played well but has bene the only back with anything going for him.  Nowell looks like he's struggling to get into the game, just can't get any decent ball.  Good try for Seymour but he'd not been in the game before that.

The biggest problem is that Webb is shit other than as a carrier and Laidlaw is shit other than as a kicker so we just aren't getting quick ball which means the backs can't hit the ball at pace and everything is really static.  We've been caught behind the gainline far too often.

[tomd2103]

Not complaining here but how the fuck Stander is there as an 8 and Hughes was left out i'll never know.

The Warburton try is a funny one, the British commentators were commending AWJ, I suspect the NZ view will be that it was quite obviously illegal and should have been disallowed.

I think JJ has played well but has bene the only back with anything going for him.  Nowell looks like he's struggling to get into the game, just can't get any decent ball.  Good try for Seymour but he'd not been in the game before that.

The biggest problem is that Webb is shit other than as a carrier and Laidlaw is shit other than as a kicker so we just aren't getting quick ball which means the backs can't hit the ball at pace and everything is really static.  We've been caught behind the gainline far too often.

Been one of my bugbears watching Wales for some time Paul.  He takes an age to get the ball out and often looks for his own opportunities first rather than getting quick ball.  As for Joseph, I think Te'o probably has the 13 shirt at the moment (if Farrell and Sexton are going to play 10 + 12), but Joseph is definitely in the mix as he offers pace that the other options don't.  That said, Gatland rates physicality and defence first and foremost, so Te'o and Jon Davies might be considered ahead of him. 

[paul_e]

In one of the least shocking posts I'll ever write England U20s in to the final for the 5th year in a row.  Only saw the 2nd half but the scrum and line out broke down completely but in open play they were brilliant, Mercer(9), Randall(SH) and Ibitoye(Wing) were absolutely superb and 3-4 others were very good (Earle at 7 in particular).

[PaulWinch again]

If Farrell's injury is serious it could be a fatal blow for the tour.

[JD]

The All Blacks have just beaten Samoa 78-0 in their warm up game for The Lions next week.

I fear for The Lions.

[UK Redsox]

Hopefully ESPN or FoxSports will at least have highlights of the first two tests because I'm in Boston for those two Saturdays

[paul_e]

The All Blacks have just beaten Samoa 78-0 in their warm up game for The Lions next week.

I fear for The Lions.

I didn't need to see a score like that to be worried, if the lions don't utterly dominate the set piece I think the quality of NZ at the breakdown and in getting quick ball to their backs will be far too much.

[UK Redsox]

Gatland planning to bring five more players into the squad

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40301161