Off Topic The Rugby Thread

Should be fun !

 

Not a big rugby watcher (did enjoy playing once upon a time) but this is fun. Slow day at work today.

 

We look so far off World Cup contenders and under the new regime still haven't sorted out the disciplinary problems that have plagued us for so long. We just look light years away from France, Ireland and the All Blacks. Depressing

 

England have gone backwards and won't figure anywhere in the WC.

 

Turns out that the people who run rugby don’t actually want to make it a safer game after all.

 

Sebastian and Cornelius want to see the big hits.

 

World Rugby has appealed the verdict

 

Good. Farrell has history with high tackles (I think he’s careless rather than malicious) and needs to learn.

 

He’s been left out of the squad for the ‘friendly’ against Ireland

 

As good an explanation as any I’ve read on this tackle:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport...2oMloHBgP9O0sNmGfMB56NQe7eqU-k0e7oTS2cFVnTZ-g

 

WTF was Vinapoula doing there.
Absolutely no effort at all to tackle properly.

 

Bad day for England and Wales ….

 

Our discipline is worse than ever, it's beyond a joke now. Borthwick hasn't addressed it all , and we look truly awful. Morale is seriously low, and I can't see us beating any half decent side at the moment. I can't remember going into a World Cup with my expectations as low as this !

 

England have gone so far backwards, considering the amount of talent they have available, it's embarrassing.

 

In his pre match interviews, Borthwick has not impressed me at all.

 

Terrible appointment.
I realise Jones had lost his way and was pretty odious, but be careful what you wish for eh?

 

Borthwick's beyond his pay grade. No doubt we'll have to put up with him until the top rugby echelons admit their mistake

 

The problems within English rugby far precede SB. EJ is a dinosaur and ran that squad to the ground. Morale is obviously on the floor.
SB has the pedigree as a player and club coach. I think he’ll improve this squad over time. It’s no bad thing that expectations are so low as it will remove massive media pressure.
There’s nothing in sport like momentum. England have the easier side of the draw. A semi final looks well within reach and then anything can happen. This English team need their fans support at the moment no matter how poor performances are; sound familiar?

 

I think that this a is fair assessment and as you say England (and Wales) are in the easier side of the draw and either could have a real chance of making the semi-finals:



… assuming that we (Wales) can beat Fiji, and that’s not a given …..

Scotland, Ireland and South Africa are all in the same group ….