Rugby Union 21/22/23 Discussion | RWC time!

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Gibson-Park being in the squad in the first place is depressing. Playing 79 minutes is just absurd.

Coombes got what, 9 minutes?

We've seen what Stockdale and Larmour can and can't do plenty. Why not have Balacloune in there today?

I like Daly for Munster, but he's never going to be more than a journeyman at international level.
 
diarm said:
Gibson-Park being in the squad in the first place is depressing. Playing 79 minutes is just absurd.

Coombes got what, 9 minutes?

We've seen what Stockdale and Larmour can and can't do plenty. Why not have Balacloune in there today?

I like Daly for Munster, but he's never going to be more than a journeyman at international level.
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Allround depressing exercise in futility.
 
Well done to Aussie Eddie for giving Marcus Smith a chance to shine even if it is against the USA.
 
I had a look at the Boks' match against Georgia today. If Pollard goes down, they're fecked and screwed all in one. Elton Pogba (Jantjies) got about 20 minutes, admittedly in a game that basically wrapped up, and didn't impress. Morne Steyn is also an option for the Boks. He is experienced, can play a territory game but it's not 2009 anymore.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, South Africa's set piece was strong. Their defence, which didn't concede a try was solid enough but Georgia will feel they didn't test the Boks' d enough.

When the Boks went to structure on attack, you'd see Pieter Steph Du Toit standing wide, one in from Aphelele Fassi who was on the left wing and Siya Kolisi did the same thing on the right hand side, standing one in from Rosko Specman. It's not ground breaking stuff - you often see Dane Coles standing in wide channels when the All Blacks are on attack - it was just something noticeable during the match.
 
Were the Boks isolating at all? Doesn't seem like they were keeping to their bubbles.

Seems a little unprofessional to allow the tour to go ahead, have the Lions and Georgia squads travel and then have so many of them come down with it.

This tour could be over before it's really got going.
 
diarm said:
Were the Boks isolating at all? Doesn't seem like they were keeping to their bubbles.

Seems a little unprofessional to allow the tour to go ahead, have the Lions and Georgia squads travel and then have so many of them come down with it.

This tour could be over before it's really got going.
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The series should have been moved the minute playing with crowds in South Africa was off the table, even if that meant doing away with tradition and having the Lions play at home.
 
Xaviesta said:
The series should have been moved the minute playing with crowds in South Africa was off the table, even if that meant doing away with tradition and having the Lions play at home.
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Or postponed for a year. Anything would've been better than what they've done.

Apparently the Bok squad were "in a bubble during the week, but then going home to their families for the weekends". Ffs.
 
diarm said:
Or postponed for a year. Anything would've been better than what they've done.

Apparently the Bok squad were "in a bubble during the week, but then going home to their families for the weekends". Ffs.
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.

I do agree with you about the bubble but straight after this series, the Boks are coming to Australiasia for a Rugby Championship and their families probably won't be with them on for that sojourn. We get that family is important - so is making sure this series takes place with both sides as strong as possible,
 
This calamitous piece of play contributed to Australia beating France in Brisbane

 
More problems on the Lions tour, they’ve had to make a few changes for tonight’s game and have just one back (Finn Russell) on the bench. Expect to see Faletau and Hamish Watson coming on in the backs. They are doing well though, currently 14-0 up.
 
After last week's training run, the All Blacks were given a fair run for their money for about an hour before going on to beat Fiji 57-23 in Dunedin. Yes, the score suggests that the match was a blowout but the score 31-23 to New Zealand with 20 minutes remaining. Going down to 14 men seemed to jolt the All Blacks into action as they outscored Fiji 26-0 in the last 20.

 
Real shame for Russell but what an opportunity for Smith, one of the most exciting young players in the game right now. No doubt this will increase the pressure on Eddie Jones to start him regularly next season.

 
Zoo said:
Real shame for Russell but what an opportunity for Smith, one of the most exciting young players in the game right now. No doubt this will increase the pressure on Eddie Jones to start him regularly next season.

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I love it! Has a bit of X-factor like Russell and is obviously in unbelievable form. Back to right now and for the first time on the tour, the lions are facing a bit of adversity. Looks a great prospect this game
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
The job of the pre Test teams is always to rough up the Lions... not that S African teams need a reason to be physical?

Not the hardest of elbows but amazed players think they'll get away with this type of thing with TMOs.

Liam'll be fine. No sense, no feeling.

Looking forward to the Tests.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/12353191/dirty-and-needless-sharks-hendrikse-sent-off
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I actually think the club sides have been quite tame this tour in comparison to recent years….remember that Aussie bloke battering Ronan O’gara. The Sharks scrum half today, it was cheap and dirty but bloody hell, I reckon Liam williams has had (and dished out) a hell of a lot worst :lol: :lol:
 
Looks like we might finally get a competitive, hard fought tour match this week when a very strong South Africa 'A' team takes on the Lions.
 
Quade Cooper denied Australian passport.
This quote is amazing:
The Department of Home Affairs deemed that Cooper had not provided evidence that he is a “persons engaging in activities of benefit to Australia”, nor is he a “persons engaged in particular kinds of work requiring regular travel outside of Australia”.
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South Africa ‘A’: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Sbu Nkosi, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff Replacements (from): 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jesse Kriel, 23 Damian Willemse, 24 Kwagga Smith, 25 Elton Jantjies

British & Irish Lions: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray (c), 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Sam Simmonds, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Elliot Daly
 
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Decent game that. Couple of tight decisions against the Lions in the latter stages but think Lions will see that as a missed opportunity…. that said, S Africa’s defence at times was amazing and the physicality of that will probably do the Lions good.

Faf de Klerk is one of the toughest ‘little men’ I’ve seen. Lunatic, brilliant :)

Few handbags and can see in Tests proper, could be a few scraps.

Curry still reminds me of that character in The Goonies. And his new haircut doesn’t help.
 
Cheslin Kolbe though. The Messi of rugby as they say.
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
Decent game that. Couple of tight decisions against the Lions in the latter stages but think Lions will see that as a missed opportunity…. that said, S Africa’s defence at times was amazing and the physicality of that will probably do the Lions good.

Faf de Klerk is one of the toughest ‘little men’ I’ve seen. Lunatic, brilliant :)

Few handbags and can see in Tests proper, could be a few scraps.

Curry still reminds me of that character in The Goonies. And his new haircut doesn’t help.
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Missed the first 50 mins….what happened to Biggar, did he not start?
 
T00lsh3d said:
Missed the first 50 mins….what happened to Biggar, did he not start?
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Pulled out with a minor ankle injury apparently. More likely Gatland didn’t want to show his hand after seeing how strong the South Africa A team was.
 
T00lsh3d said:
Missed the first 50 mins….what happened to Biggar, did he not start?
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No, played some third stringer... Farill? Farrer? :)
Zoo said:
Pulled out with a minor ankle injury apparently. More likely Gatland didn’t want to show his hand after seeing how strong the South Africa A team was.
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Read they had well over 500 test caps between them! That's some "A team"?
 
Close game, some very tight decisions. Have to give the 'A' Team some credit - just when the Lions were on top, they turned the screw a bit and held on for the win.
 
Zoo said:
Pulled out with a minor ankle injury apparently. More likely Gatland didn’t want to show his hand after seeing how strong the South Africa A team was.
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Yeah makes a lot of sense
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
No, played some third stringer... Farill? Farrer? :)
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:lol: In all fairness I’d start Biggar (Englishman here), though I think the half-backs are such a poor area. The fact that you could ask 10 random fans who they’d prefer and probably get 5 different pairings shows no-ones really in outstanding form for either of them
 
Zoo said:
Cheslin Kolbe though. The Messi of rugby as they say.
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Was it him that did that step near the end and left a roaring Itoje on his arse?

Itoje, Curry, Wyn Jones did well. Beard slight surprise as to how well he did but
AWJ may come in depending on how training sessions go. Could also add in Hamish Watson, Biggar, Josh Adams, couple of others.

Guess the team for the next game will give a good indicator of the Test XV.

With a few upgrades, I think Lions have a great shot.
 
T00lsh3d said:
Yeah makes a lot of sense

:lol: In all fairness I’d start Biggar (Englishman here), though I think the half-backs are such a poor area. The fact that you could ask 10 random fans who they’d prefer and probably get 5 different pairings shows no-ones really in outstanding form for either of them
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Farrell didn't help his case today.

What's up with Hogg? Is he coming back into the squad soon?

The thing is we know from experience that the XV in Gatlands mind now, may well not be the XV that start and very unlikely to be the XV in 2nd and 3rd Tests. Form, tactics, injuries... probably see 20+ start even before subs (squad players will be important - fresh legs without losing quality).

Kelleher also called up. Don't know much about him.

Guess a Test XV?
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
Farrell didn't help his case today.

What's up with Hogg? Is he coming back into the squad soon?

The thing is we know from experience that the XV in Gatlands mind now, may well not be the XV that start and very unlikely to be the XV in 2nd and 3rd Tests. Form, tactics, injuries... probably see 20+ start even before subs (squad players will be important - fresh legs without losing quality).

Kelleher also called up. Don't know much about him.

Guess a Test XV?
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feck….

williams
Watson
Adams
henshaw
Aki
biggar
Murray
Falatau
Beirne
Curry
Henderson (assume awj not fit yet)
Itoje
Furlong
George
feck knows

This is what I expect, not necessarily what I’d go with. I could have it all wrong though. You?
 
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