All 12 Gallagher Premiership team selections for this weekend's 2019/20 restart

‘Took the Springboks…’: Why Scotland are favourites for Australia clash

Hellhound 16 minutes ago

Scotland should win this one, considering they are the settled team compared to Australia. However, that is no guarantee that they will win. The Aussies tails is up, and they are throwing everything at the opposition.

When the Aussie fans cracked up and got angry when Joe Schmidt was appointed, I said to them to be patient, that he will get them on the right track. They said that he is not Australian and he won nothing. Second best. I should mind my own business because I don't know the Aussie ways, which is true as I'm SA.

However, now that he is bringing in results, they are all changing their minds. Joe is all in when he coaches a team. There is no team he supports more than the team he coaches. His quality is shining through properly now.

It's going to be a very tight game, much tighter than people realise. Both teams is playing exciting rugby right now. They both want to win. I'd even go as far as marking this game as the top game of the weekend.

3 Go to comments

MG 19 minutes ago

How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

I was at that game and it wasn’t pleasant. Wales, the team, as well as the gracious Welsh fans, will always have my respect.

How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

MG 23 minutes ago

This comment is totally rational and not insane.

How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

MG 28 minutes ago

Which teams leave their best scrummages on the bench???

David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Hellhound 30 minutes ago

With so much experimentation and constant changes, cohesiveness goes out the door. Then it becomes less of a team game and more individual performances. I doubt the Boks will put 50 on the Welsh. However, they will win comfortably despite that. It's all that matters. Winning by 1 or 50 points, it still only provides a W. Rassie knows this.

He puts out teams knowing they can provide that W. It's all that matters. When people talk about it, they won't remember specific results, only that SA had a clean sweep. Won 11/13 matches and that they were the dominant team, continuing winning from the WC to TRC through the Autumn Nations series. Lost only 2 games by 1 point.

That is what will be remembered. That they have proven that it's not a fluke being double WC Champs. The result of this game is straightforward. I feel for the Welsh players, because they are being fed to the wolves by the WRU. It will only become better once those fools are sacked.

2 Go to comments

MG 31 minutes ago

How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

BPA is leagues better in the scrum. He’s easily the best in the country - the impact he makes to the scrum is noticeable.

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

Ed the Duck 36 minutes ago

Anyone that knows anything about rugby sees Rassie as a shrewd and smart operator. Someone who isn’t only unafraid of change but who initiates it and embraces it for positive gain. A wily coyote of a coach who has blazed a path littered with success. Sure there’s been a few bumps along the way but his record is there for all to see, unmatched. And he’s done it his way to boot…!

🏆🏆

Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Ed the Duck 46 minutes ago

Could be the case Bull but it sounds maybe a bit extreme, especially since the England players, if anything, have been too malleable post the EJ treatment. If it does prove to be the case, I can tell you the players will get slaughtered given recent results…

Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

GL 47 minutes ago

Think the are 5th but same point

Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Ed the Duck 50 minutes ago

Yes, it will all come out in the wash for sure. Fwiw my money’s on Munster and while the timings look odd the way things have worked out, that wouldn’t have been the case if England had done the predictable thing and cut him loose immediately. The pull back there is probably strong as well given his playing career was cut short.

On the Joe El defence, the shooter variation has been made to look more like a schoolboy error and it’s always going to be vulnerable to special plays. If you look at the Boks example, a two man miss pass, if they had gone on the outside, puts the England full back in trouble trying to cover a 3 v 2 overlap and they’re fully cooked if the missed Bok inside runners are moving fast in support. And the all blacks cut back was sublime with the pass inside to Jordan eliminating the need that arendse had to step the first defender on the short side. Cracking analysis Nick and it seems to show that Joe’s plan is almost doomed from the off…?

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Flankly 59 minutes ago

left four wins on the table

This is a nonsense phrase that has become popular when rugby fans describe their own teams.

Regardless of the game, or which team you favor, both teams are likely to have "left points behind" or "gifted" their opponents some scores.

The truth is that in these four games NZ were not good enough to impose themselves and deliver the wins. Teams can improve, and I hope NZ does so, but let's not avoid the fact that they tried and failed.

Its not "left wins behind", but "this year we weren't good enough".

25 Go to comments

DM 1 hour ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

Hyperbole aside I must be honest I didn’t know there was such a negative perception of him

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

fl 1 hour ago

obviously that's hyperbole, but he hasn't generally come across as very likeable.

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

fl 1 hour ago

Leicester finished third the next season, with Wigglesworth as head coach.

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

DM 1 hour ago

Jeepers does the rest of the world really see Rassie as this evil “Dathvader leading stormtroopers”? I mean really?

Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

Nickers 1 hour ago

Wouldn't surprise me. His nomination is fairly left field but seems like he is just the representative from a great team who doesn't have an obvious superstar.

10 Go to comments

Flankly 1 hour ago

David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

The Springboks could easily put another 50 points on them and batter them.

True, but the Boks could also spend the first 60 minutes not clicking at all. The selected pack and halfbacks are really inexperienced by Bok standards, and may need to be bailed out by the bench. The centers and outside backs are world class but they may not get the platform they need to click.

2 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Yes we never heard a prop explanation either for him or Aled Walters did we? All a bit strange for two such major players to depart at the same time without warning.

Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

NB 1 hour ago

Walters would have a say in that, but the 6/2 or 7/1 bench is more important Bull.

I don't think you can run that D all game with a 5/3 bench, game in game out. At least, not as successfully.

I don't think your claims about a lack of buy-in from England players is right though. What evidence do you have for that? As you can see, I could only find positive comments.

The EP is also the highest ball-in-play league in the world right now, so I don't buy the lazy and unfit line on England players. The problem is the system not the players.