Guys

I'd love the legacy of this world cup to be that every contributor to this thread joined their local club(except those who are already members of course). The lower the level the better, and anybody who managed to help out at that club would be a real hero. Trust me, you'd get far more put than you ever put in.

Never mind all the hoopla, that would be one hell of a legacy.

Talking of which, you've prompted me into another rant. When England played Wales, it was at 8 in the evening for the TV audience. If it had been at 5 o clockish, every rugby club in both countries would have been rammed with members buying beer instead of going home early after the club match that day. What better way to make a direct injection of finds into grass roots rugby?

But no, Mammon decreed that the TV audience is paramount.

comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 4 minutes ago
Wade played in a club 7s tournament fairly recently and was unbelievable. Try every time he touched the ball pretty much.
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There you go, a class player like Wade it's relegated to the short form of the game. Sevens has a place, and FFS we Scots invented it, but it is to rugby what pyjama, wham bam, hit & giggle 20/20 is to test cricket

He isn't relegated to 7s, but he played in a tournament and destroyed it. I imagine it was him putting his hand up for the Olympic side for Rio

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Rediculous gamble. not a joe Schmidt type move at all. i'll wager he's closer to 80 or 90% and we are attempting to pull a fast one on Argentina. Also, Madigan for his heroics last weekend is not a starter. bring him in in an emergency and he can do what he did. start him and he's a bit anonymous.

Hell i don't know to be honest. But we are trying for a first ever QF spot. And it would be hard to disagree that this team has earned it. Frankly they deserve it.

Actually i downloaded the recent namibia v argentina game and watched it. Namibia got into them a fair bit. I think the Argentinian players are weak in the top 4 inches. They get frustrated and lash out then force things and concede points. If we keep our cool and pressure them they are vulnerable.

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comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 9 hours, 2 minutes ago
He isn't relegated to 7s, but he played in a tournament and destroyed it. I imagine it was him putting his hand up for the Olympic side for Rio
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They're you go. This is like test cricket and 20/20. Players for one can't hack it in the other, and it is a different game altogether.

Christian Wade it's exactly the kind of dancing feet we could do with seeing more of at the world cup, not having to look for peripheral opportunities in sevens because of apartheight.

comment by The Guvnor IV -Iron sharpens iron--- 49-0 (U12889)
posted 9 hours, 29 minutes ago
Argetina for me are slightly overrated. I am confident ireland will get past them.
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And I've got some terrible news for Ding. I've picked Ireland. Given my record, that means they'll be singin & dancing doon Buenos Aeries way on Sunday night I tell you.

He can definitely "hack" the xv man game. Had been top try scorer or thereabouts in the prem since he burst onto the scene. Wingers need to good in defence and under the high ball. If they're not then they will be a target.

Demus

I agree with you, but it is more than disappointing that the wee guys are overlooked. Your own man Eastmond is in the same category. Love watching him, but Burgess got the international nod. That's all I'm saying.

I'm simply asking if the last 20 years, since Lomu became the first mahoosive back at international level, has been all that good for the game. Some of the outstanding rugby (e.g. Bennett and Gibson) I watched in my youth wouldn't get a look in these days, and I for one am very sad about that.

I'm also sad (probably most sad) at the fact that the elite game is drifting further and further away from its grass roots and that nobody at the top has recognised that, never mind do something about it.

You know I'm a massive Eastmond fan, has everything needed for IC. Brilliant distributor, a wingers footwork, timing, and his defence is actually very good. The only problem is that he will get knocked over the gainline on occasion but he rarely misses tackles. Him and Slade I both put light years ahead of Burgess and especially Barritt, although I think Slade would develop better at FH. Him, Ford and Eastmond though are all world class while being smaller than the average.

Yes mate, but guys like Eastmond are overlooked in the modern game.

In a world where Man v Food rules the telly, a massive fore quarter of beef weighs more than a succulent fillet, and that's all that matters, just of big lumps like Burgess.

comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
You know I'm a massive Eastmond fan, has everything needed for IC. Brilliant distributor, a wingers footwork, timing, and his defence is actually very good. The only problem is that he will get knocked over the gainline on occasion but he rarely misses tackles. Him and Slade I both put light years ahead of Burgess and especially Barritt, although I think Slade would develop better at FH. Him, Ford and Eastmond though are all world class while being smaller than the average.
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So the solution is to get a coach who will give these guys regular game time on the summer tours. You can try the odd guy out in the 6 nations but you need to be playing your best side during that competition. So build a squad and take punts on fringe player during the tours.

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What if those players are our best team Ding? I'm in the "go out and beat them" philosophy, not Lancaster's "don't get beat" camp. I would have mass changes to the side for the 6N.

comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 12 minutes ago
What if those players are our best team Ding? I'm in the "go out and beat them" philosophy, not Lancaster's "don't get beat" camp. I would have mass changes to the side for the 6N.


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Ye, fair point i guess. But your performance in the RWC was as much about poor selection as it was about selecting inexperienced players. I believe if you try out the fringe players on the tours, which is what they are for, then bring in the guys who are doing well you trickle feed the squad over the next 4 years and end up with some of the guys you have now, and a host of new guys but all bringing the experience of fighting for their place at international level.

That would be my thinking, tho i can't find fault in your either.

comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 17 minutes ago
What if those players are our best team Ding? I'm in the "go out and beat them" philosophy, not Lancaster's "don't get beat" camp. I would have mass changes to the side for the 6N.


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Also, i can't remember the stats but their was a few crazy stats regarding the amount of new caps given by Lancaster over his time. But not a lot of consistency. so ye, i see your point about changing the whole thing up but where does it stop. Lancaster changed it up a lot and ended up with a squad of inexperienced lads not ready for the weight of a RWC on their shoulders.

News from ireland.
Sexton and Earls are going to train 2moro and providing it goes well, will start.

What's the outsiders looking in view on this lads? would you start Sexton?
Also, PoC is undergoing surgery in london and is set to rejoin the squad Friday or Saturday. As squad captain, it's a massive boost for us. He just has an aura. Just like when he stayed on with the lions after being injured. People just like having him around.

How long has sexton been out for? Is he just training today?

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I'd risk him, are they going to go further than the SF anyway?

Hard tojudge without knowing what sort of condition he is in.

Hey!!!
So an Englishman walks in to a bar, it's strange but normally there's and Irishman, Welshman and a Scotsmen in there too....