Domestic and European Rugby Union

[paul_e]

The selection of Pollock at this stage would be a major surprise, Paul?

I'm not sure it'd be a surprise as such, he's probably the best u20 in Europe right now and is clearly going to be an England regular for years.

However back row is the hardest part of the squad to work out. Doris, Earl, Curry and Ritchie are definites and Conan is probably going as well which leaves Morgan, Darge and Pollock as the options for the last spot.

All 3 can be justified inclusions but I suspect Morgan goes as a political pick of token Welshman.

The other option is to take 2 of them and use someone like Chessum as a 5/6.

[paul_e]

Brilliant from Saints, Pollock was exceptional again and Furbank had a fantastic hour, hopefully that wasn't much of a knock that forced him off.

Gutted for Henry, how he got tackled is exactly how I broke my collarbone last year, at his age I'm sure it'll just be a dislocation but still really fucking hurts to get slammed onto one arm like that.

[Weedy]

Sad news about Sebastian "Sea Bass" Chabal:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-14598477/Rugby-icon-doctor-memory-loss-Sebastien-Chabal.html

"Ex-France forward Chabal shared how he has been suffering from memory problems since calling time on his career in 2014, speaking on the YouTube show 'Legend'.

'I don't remember a single second of a rugby match I've played. And I don't remember a single one of the 62 Marseillaises (France's national anthem) I've experienced,' he said."

[Dante Lavelli]

Are the saints ridiculously dirty (v Leinster) or is the ref giving them no margin for error?

[taylorsworkrate]

Get in! Brilliant effort to basically beat the Irish national team away from home by Northampton

[paul_e]

Are the saints ridiculously dirty (v Leinster) or is the ref giving them no margin for error?

The latter in the main.

It was an excellent performance from Saints though, Pollock, Mitchell, Smith and Freeman were all 10/10.

[lovejoy]

So today is the annual trip to watch an away defeat for Gloucester against Quins. 25 years and one win and one draw. Why do I bother?
(Beers on the green in the sunshine).
On the Quins bench is a player who my son played club rugby with. I feel old.

[UK Redsox]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c70nqxjjzryo

The Championship will be rebranded Champ Rugby from next season in an overhaul of English rugby union's second tier.

That is, to put it mildly, a shit name

[paul_e]

Agreed, I think the changes are good though, I just hope the next step is find a path to extend the premiership back up to 12 over the next few years.

[cdbearsfan]

The changes sound good except for the bollocks about the bottom team having a chance of staying up. Promotion and relegation is one of the most exciting things about the most popular sport in the world. Learn from that, you cowardly maniacs.

[paul_e]

The changes sound good except for the bollocks about the bottom team having a chance of staying up. Promotion and relegation is one of the most exciting things about the most popular sport in the world. Learn from that, you cowardly maniacs.

I agree, that's why I think extending to 12 over the next few years is important, and then get rid of that bit. I suspect the reason for it is because Newcastle are on the brink of going the same way as warriors, wasps and irish and relegation would probably push them over the edge so this is them baking in a bit of protection but as admirable as it is that they're trying to protect the clubs after a rough few years relegation has to become a real threat again at some point. The celtic league (or whatever they're calling it now) is perfect proof of the problem, that league is shit compared to England and France because all the teams are franchised in and aren't that bothered about where they finish.

[nigel]

Fully deserved, a really top referee.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c5y88l317kpo

[taylorsworkrate]

Fuck sake. Great start for Northampton with the try, but then 2 horrendous injuries in the first 4 minutes

[paul_e]

Fuck sake. Great start for Northampton with the try, but then 2 horrendous injuries in the first 4 minutes

2nd one was avoidable, not sure how it was a yellow card.

Also not sure how they decided the high shot was only a yellow.

In general the ref has been appalling, Bordeaux have been getting away with loads of offsides at the breakdown, and there was of the clearest cases of crossing I've ever seen that got waved away.

Freeman yellow was silly though, but probably saved a try.

[nigel]

Saints can’t get a break in the second half