I hate to say it, but Itoje looks a shadow of the player he was 3 or 4 years ago. If I was Gatland picking a Lions side, I think I'd pick the entire Irish first 15 if fit !
I didn't blame the ref that much at the time, but the TMO having looked at various angles and in real time and slowed down replays, should've come to the conclusion it was a yellow card offence at best. He made the wrong call imo
If this is based on the 6 nations just played then he’s a mile off 3 quick examples 1. Furlong hardly played at all in the tournament and was average at best last week by his lofty standards. A deffo lions pick but not based on this tournament. 2. Itoje had his wurst tournament for years. Was world class but looks nothing like the player he was. Confidence shot. 3. Ringrose’s omission is simply laughable.
Hard to disagree with your points. Like you and Hammersmith, I think that Itoje has gone backwards - on his day he is brilliant, but currently those days are few and far between. Personally, I’d pick both Irish centres. As for Furlong, for me, if he’s fit, he plays.
Ringrose for sure. Henshaw is superb but was injured for most of the tournament. Aki is solid but not spectacular. Tuipulotu Looks the real deal and is worthy of his place. Conan was listed at 6 but was a 20 minute impact sub this tournament due to the form of Dorris. This just looks like very lazy journalism to me. BTW, Itoje is a world class player just not at the top of his game. He’ll be back.
Regarding Itoje, he looks like he's lost his mojo. He looked like a real leader 5 years ago and a future captain, if I'd have been taking over the reigns I think I would've made him captain prior to the start of the 6 Nations. Pretty sure we'd have seen a different player !
Do you reckon thats what the QPR boys are up to and it's why they're so **** on a Saturday, hungover to ****?
Wasps sent to the bottom of the rugby Union pile. Technically I should be a Wasps follower, they were my local club growing up plus their QPR connection. But I always preferred Harlequins (just for the shirt) and Wasps have been very arrogant since moving to Coventry, I don’t think there is much local sympathy for them.
6 June 2023 please log in to view this image The Club can confirm that London Irish has received correspondence from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to confirm suspension for the 2023/24 season. The suspension will result in the Club being unable to compete in the Gallagher Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup, and Heineken Champions Cup throughout the 2023/24 campaign. The Club continues to remain in active discussions with the RFU as to any circumstances that may result in the suspension being lifted.
Six Nations and Rugby Championship organisers announce plans for global tournament 1 July 2023, 10:43 BST Courtney Lawes IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Matches in the proposed new competition would replace the regular internationals currently played in July and November, such as England's 2-1 series win in Australia in July 2022 A biennial competition featuring all 10 teams from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship is set to start in 2026. It will be played in the existing July and November Test windows in alternate years, outside of British and Irish Lions tours and the World Cup. Two more unions will be invited to join, with plans to introduce promotion and relegation from 2030 via a second-tier competition run by World Rugby. Organisers say the move will "drive growth and long-term sustainability". ADVERTISEMENT The tournament will feature England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina - collectively known as Sanzaar. Six Nations and Sanzaar organisers said there would be a "transparent selection process" to choose two more teams from the southern hemisphere to ensure there are six from each. Although no format has been confirmed, reports suggest teams from the north would travel south for three Tests in July and then host three games in November. The Six Nations would remain in its current February-March position on the calendar and the Rugby Championship would still be played in August-September. "The creation of the new competition has been a collective process from the sport, including World Rugby, unions, key leagues, competitions, and crucially, the International Rugby Players (IRP)," said the Six Nations and Sanzaar. "Establishing the two competitions will pave the way for promotion and relegation matches, contributing towards a valuable pathway for teams, and will support ambitions to sustain and grow the global game. "The impact this will have on the game will be to drive its growth and long-term sustainability. "This runs alongside the work being done to add greater clarity and balance to the club and international calendar; a process Six Nations Rugby and Sanzaar remain committed to help deliver." Rugby leaders met in London this week, when it was announced that a decision would be made on the sport's future global calendar by the World Rugby Council in October. Representatives from World Rugby, the British and Irish Lions, the Six Nations, and the Rugby Championship, along with stakeholders from IRP, the unions and professional leagues all attended. The IRP tweeted its views on the talks, saying: "Any global season must have opportunities for emerging nations and must put player welfare first and foremost." The players' body has also called on World Rugby to standardise player rest periods and introduce a maximum match quota for all players worldwide.
