The Rugby Thread

[PET]

This is still speculation as Cipriani himself says he will not know until Evening or Morning - but no smoke without fire I guess.

[dtaai-maai]

Given that England have 2 established fly halves in Farrell and Ford, I'd one more surprised to see one of them left out than Cipriani. Farrell will be there for his kicking and his tackling, Ford for his flair - one poor performance against France was a nuisance for Lancaster, but won't be enough to rule him out.
Talking of tackling, I think that is why Burgess will be picked. I think selections for the World Cup will be based on pragmatism rather than entertainment. Don't expect to see a re-run of the last 6 Nations.

[pharvey]

^ Fair comment re: Flyhalf, but Cirpriani is a decent Fullback (as he proved coming off the bench against France) and also no mug at Inside Center. Very useful in the squad as a utility back.

I agree that Burgess will be named in the squad - which to me could be a mistake. Whilst he's undoubtedly a talented player, his experience in Rugby Union is limited and he could well be exposed at International level. I believe the mindset for his selection is literally for him to drop into the boots of Manu Tuilagi....... Anyway, come lunchtime (UK) all will be revealed.

[pharvey]

How the game is played in India....... apparently: -

Can't seem to post as a Youtube video for some reason, so you'll have to copy and paste....

[pharvey]

Well, much as speculated/forecast by the pundits - though I'm still at a loss as to why Cipriani is not in...... 3 Scrum-halves?

Sam Burgess has been included in England's 31-man squad for the World Cup, which starts next month.

"Rugby league convert Burgess only made his union debut for Bath in November and won his first England cap against France in August.
The 26-year-old's inclusion means there is no place for fellow centre Luther Burrell, a regular during the past two Six Nations campaigns.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster has also left out fly-half Danny Cipriani.
Cipriani's omission comes despite the 27-year-old Sale player putting in an impressive performance off the bench in the 25-20 defeat by France in Paris on Saturday, later tweeting he was "very disappointed" and had done "everything I could for the white shirt"."

England 2015 Rugby World Cup squad

Hookers: Jamie George (Saracens), Rob Webber (Bath), Tom Youngs (Leicester).
Props: Kieran Brookes (Northampton), Dan Cole (Leicester), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath).
Second rows: George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Geoff Parling (Exeter).
Back rows: James Haskell (Wasps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton).
Scrum-halves: Danny Care (Harlequins), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester).
Fly-halves: Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath).
Centres: Brad Barritt (Saracens), Sam Burgess (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter).
Back three: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Anthony Watson (Bath).

Anaways, enough about Beelzibub's Squad - God's Own are playing the Little People tomorrow!!

[PeteC]

I have to let my thoughts out concerning the upcoming WC. Of course, they are just thoughts! My southern hemisphere guys will be among the last 6, except for Argentina. The other 3 will be Ireland, France and as to not destroy Pharvey's weekend....either Wales or England. My feeling is that the All Blacks will once again take it.

[pharvey]

and as to not destroy Pharvey's weekend....either Wales or England.

Cheers Pete - I'll buy you a pint!!

I think Ireland stand a good chance, but ultimately it'll be a "Blackness vs Crims" final, with NZ retaining their title. Beelzibub's XV won't get through to the final stages.. hehehehe

[EDIT] Christ, I was in head thinking mode.... OF COURSE GOD'S OWN WILL TAKE IT!!

[PeteC]

I really need to check schedules this weekend. I don't know if Setanta will cover the WC as they haven't been advertising anything? If not, I'm screwed unless FOX or Thai channels pick it up

[PET]

WE shall see -- Wales - forget them and all this rubbish about God's Own !

[PeteC]

Strangely enough Setanta just showed detailed highlights of the 2003 Cup that England won. I hadn't realized that it was the first WC won by a Northern Hemisphere team.

[pharvey]

WE shall see -- Wales - forget them and all this rubbish about God's Own !

Never forget you're Welsh!!

Strangely enough Setanta just showed detailed highlights of the 2003 Cup that England won. I hadn't realized that it was the first WC won by a Northern Hemisphere team.

It's the ONLY time a Northern Hemisphere side has taken the title..... and it had to be Beelzibub's XV..

On to today, and the glorious game! God's Own take on the Little People in Dublin, whilst The Sweaties host The Pasta Munchers at Murrayfield.

Vastly different team from The Land of My Fathers, but ultimately The Paddies will be favorites - I just hope we can make a better showing in the Front 5 to at least give the back-line some ball!! Will be interesting to see how George North plays - first game since March after suffering 4 concussions in 5 months!!

Pete, with regards to the RWC, there are ways and means of Live Streaming, so I'm sure you won't be screwed...



[EDIT] A lot of the games are kicking off at 8 pm or so UK time, so not exactly convenient Thai time!!

[pharvey]

Didn't see the Sweaties mullering of The Spag Bolists (48-7), but what a good day for GOD's OWN ( PET).....

A very deserved victory over the Paddies, but (despite being rather biased) the 16-10 scoreline didn't do the Welsh Wonders justice. A vastly different team, and a huge improvement in performance.... how the hell Tiperic can now be left out of the RWC side... well - anyone's guess. What a performance, Man of The Match by a clear mile.

I now have a little more confidence in making it out of the qualifying round..... although, we were never going to miss out against the Lillywhites really!!

[pharvey]

Absolutely ludicrous....

South Africa could be barred from Rugby World Cup by court action

South Africa, one of the favourites for the World Cup, will be prevented from taking part in the tournament if a court action this week succeeds. The Agency for New Agenda (ANA) party is taking the South African Rugby Union to court in Pretoria seeking an order that would force players and officials to surrender their passports, preventing them from flying to London on the grounds that the government’s policy on transformation has not been met with the Springboks’ squad, which was announced last Friday, being mainly white.

Edward Mahlomola Mokhoanatse, the ANA president, said: “The action is a public duty to defend our constitution and to consign to the rubbish bin of history all vestiges and remnants of racial bigotry, racial exclusion and discrimination. Mokhoanatse added he would be asking the North Gauteng high court to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into “the lack of transformation in South Africa rugby”.

“Although much has been done to transform the country, the national team’s rugby selection criteria are racially exclusionary and biased in favour of whites. Fikile Mbalula [the sports minister] has failed to transform rugby and any argument SARU presents to justify is failure to do so should be treated with disdain. It has betrayed the trust of millions of South Africans, continues to resist change and should attract the severest sanctions possible.”

The action, which calls for the authorities responsible for the ports of exit to bar the Springboks from leaving the country, will be heard by Judge Ntendeya Mavundla. A spokesperson for the department of sport and recreation, Esethu Hasane, said the summons would be defended, adding: “It is imperative for all South Africans to support the national team.”

Full Report: - http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/a ... ugby-union

[PeteC]

There's an old saying, and a movie to match I think, stating "white men can't jump..." referring to basketball. Perhaps what we have here is sour grapes, and the instigator want's an "equal opportunity" program even if the men can't match the skill of those selected for the team. Pete

[arcadianagain]

In the full spirit of equal opportunities perhaps they should insist on a percentage of women being included in the squad