Trav Le Bleu Posted 13 March 2011 Posted 13 March 2011 I would just like to say congratulations to Italy! Bellisomo!
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 13 March 2011 Posted 13 March 2011 Rebels lost by 2 points......i'm officially obessed with rugby of the union variety
The Doctor Posted 13 March 2011 Author Posted 13 March 2011 Rebels lost by 2 points......i'm officially obessed with rugby of the union variety good, Union >>>>>>>> league
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 13 March 2011 Posted 13 March 2011 good, Union >>>>>>>> league I still love league but both are still a distant 2nd to AFL
The Doctor Posted 13 March 2011 Author Posted 13 March 2011 I still love league but both are still a distant 2nd to AFL get the **** out of my thread.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 13 March 2011 Posted 13 March 2011 Large AL go to the oz bar in Edinburgh near the freaky cemetery best aussie bar in the uk and watch an AFL game then you wouldn't be a hater.
Finnegan Posted 28 March 2011 Posted 28 March 2011 Definitely wouldn't bet against Shaun Edwards being England's defence coach for the next Six Nations. They keep reiterating the phrase "will see out his contract," as opposed to signing a new one, which seems somewhat ominous to me. Given that we're stagnating and England are on the ascendancy (and, you know, he is English) I can see him swapping camps as soon as. Will be a big loss.
Finnegan Posted 28 March 2011 Posted 28 March 2011 Maybe. My one reservation with Edwards is I'm concerned he may be a big, contributing factor in the complete collapse of Wales' backs play over the last few years. We're a complete anomaly. No fan of rugby, even an English one, will deny that we've a wealth of creativity, flair and excitement in our backs (even Guscott's a massive fan of some of our current players) but they play with so much predictability and a rigid lack of ingenuity or momentum. I refuse to believe that Edwards has no part in that. Defence coach he may be but he's a former backs coach and a powerful personality in our camp. Plus, Howley was a big part of the Welsh attacking wizardry - I just can't see a clamp down on open playing coming from him.
MPH Posted 28 March 2011 Posted 28 March 2011 Maybe. My one reservation with Edwards is I'm concerned he may be a big, contributing factor in the complete collapse of Wales' backs play over the last few years. We're a complete anomaly. No fan of rugby, even an English one, will deny that we've a wealth of creativity, flair and excitement in our backs (even Guscott's a massive fan of some of our current players) but they play with so much predictability and a rigid lack of ingenuity or momentum. I refuse to believe that Edwards has no part in that. Defence coach he may be but he's a former backs coach and a powerful personality in our camp. Plus, Howley was a big part of the Welsh attacking wizardry - I just can't see a clamp down on open playing coming from him. Being a forward of old i would say that the Welsh .backs are not getting the support from the forwards they need to do their shabang. they might not be that creative... but they dont have the support either. Look at the tigers... not the best backs in the world at all but the space they are given by some great forward play and opportunities they get from more opposition players being pulled in to support the rucks and mauls and scum breakdowns after being put under pressure from the tigers' forwards is invaluable. The decade of the dragon as its more commonly known was the most exciting time in Welsh Rugby and i loved watching them. JPR Williams and the like just mesmerised me... players like that are so rare in ANY country these days and so alot of emphasis has to be put down to how the backs and forwards work together. This here is the Problem i see for Wales. Even when a center or wing breaks through a tackle that often comes because players have been stretched from some excellent forward play. All the time? no... sometimes its just outrageous skill and pace or just poor tackling. Forwards need backs to play well and backs need forwards for a team to be successful is all im wrather long windedly saying.
Finnegan Posted 29 March 2011 Posted 29 March 2011 I don't agree. In fact, I'd say our pack was probably weaker when we won the Gran Slam in 2005 than it is now. If anything there's an over emphasis on the set piece and our forwards and less emphasis on the back line. Warburton and Lydiate have come forward as excellent youngsters at the break down and our Lions front row are top draw. We won a lot of ball, very good ball, in the Six Nations and didn't really struggle for possession. Unfortunately we either pointlessly kicked that possession away or, worse, had a habit of running side to side across the pitch like a junior school team. Pass right, pass right, pass right, touchline. Pass left, pass left, pass left, touchline. Repeat. Nobody was straightening up to draw a man and off-load, nobody was on the shoulder offering good running lines. Jamie Roberts made about two or three decent line breaks in the entire tournament and Lee Byrne perhaps only once or twice. Add to this the fact we've become possibly the best major side in the world at butchering overlaps and try scoring opportunities (albeit with the Irish close behind!) This one's slightly less mysterious, though, as I imagine a certain degree of desperation and ill confidence is beginning to bed in. All in all very, very poor. As I say - we were just predictable with ball in hand.
Edmund Posted 2 April 2011 Posted 2 April 2011 Decision time.. Cricket world cup final or Tigers Vs Quins. Bastard Sky
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 3 April 2011 Posted 3 April 2011 Cipriani Brilliance 1min 40secs in I think England have to pick Cipriani in their World Cup squad, not only is he virtually carrying a brand new inexperienced side but he his experience of playing in the southern hemisphere could be vital. Same as Gareth Delve for Wales playing brilliantly and Southern Hemisphere rugby
MPH Posted 3 April 2011 Posted 3 April 2011 Cipriani Brilliance 1min 40secs in I think England have to pick Cipriani in their World Cup squad, not only is he virtually carrying a brand new inexperienced side but he his experience of playing in the southern hemisphere could be vital. Same as Gareth Delve for Wales playing brilliantly and Southern Hemisphere rugby Problem is that Johnson doesnt like a loose cannon... look how bent out of shape he gets when someone scores a try in less than conventional fashion....
Finnegan Posted 3 April 2011 Posted 3 April 2011 England would be retarded to break up the Flood - Youngs partnership now and Foden is better than Cipriani at FB. Cipriani won't start in the WC.
FoxyPV Posted 9 April 2011 Posted 9 April 2011 Just watched the Munster / Brive match -'Kinnell - What a Match!!!! It was like watching 7s rugby with 15 men on the pitch.
Finnegan Posted 9 April 2011 Posted 9 April 2011 Just watched the Munster / Brive match -'Kinnell - What a Match!!!! It was like watching 7s rugby with 15 men on the pitch. Meanwhile, in the proper cup, Leinster Leicseter should be a cracker tonight.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 9 April 2011 Posted 9 April 2011 I concur finners would love to be in Dublin I reckon it would be a cracking atmosphere and as the Irish would say "a good craic"
Peter File Posted 10 April 2011 Posted 10 April 2011 I thought the ref was poor. We didn't get any of the 50/50s and Leinster seemed to get away with a lot of indiscretions. Although in saying that, we didn't really turn up and don't really think we deserved to win. Worst game by Flood I've seen. Lacked experience in the second row and we should have started with Castro!
The Doctor Posted 10 April 2011 Author Posted 10 April 2011 I thought the ref was poor. We didn't get any of the 50/50s and Leinster seemed to get away with a lot of indiscretions. Although in saying that, we didn't really turn up and don't really think we deserved to win. Worst game by Flood I've seen. Lacked experience in the second row and we should have started with Castro! Flood was poor but ben youngs... He absolutely crumbled under the pressure, being back at landsdowne road, the site of his england capitulation last month probably didn't help.
Finnegan Posted 10 April 2011 Posted 10 April 2011 Flood was poor but ben youngs... He absolutely crumbled under the pressure, being back at landsdowne road, the site of his england capitulation last month probably didn't help. He's just a kid, to be fair.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 14 April 2011 Posted 14 April 2011 Beale signs for the mighty Rebels for next season and James O'connor to meet later this week.
MPH Posted 22 April 2011 Posted 22 April 2011 sad. was a good player... Had a few more years in him... Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin's career is over after he failed to recover from a knee injury.The 2005 and 2008 Wales Grand Slam winner underwent surgery in January, having suffered previous knee problems. But the 2005 British and Irish Lion in New Zealand has been forced to admit defeat in his battle for fitness. Shanklin, 31, had hoped to return, but concedes: "I had an operation in January to see if we could fix the problem and it hasn't worked." Shanklin played throughout the 2010 autumn series for Wales, but his season came to a sudden halt in early January after pulling up in a Magners League match against Aironi. Scans revealed the severity of the injury, forcing Shanklin, whose career has been blighted by knee problems, to go under the surgeon's knife once again. Shanklin, who missed the 2009 Lions tour to world champions South Africa because of a shoulder injury, scored 20 tries in his 70 Wales caps since his international debut in Japan in 2001. He joined the Blues from English side Saracens in 2003 and claimed 28 touchdowns in 114 appearances for the Welsh region. Shanklin added: "My knee isn't too bad, it's ok to walk and cycle and to do everyday things, but with regards to playing rugby: accelerating, changing direction, weight lifting, it's not too good. Continue reading the main story It isn't a shock, and I've come to terms that I'll never play again Tom Shanklin "I had an operation in January to see if we could fix the problem and it hasn't worked. "It's bone on bone on my knee which has restricted me from doing a lot of things and I'm going to have to retire from the game. "The advice from Rhys Williams the surgeon was to retire. Rhys knows the inside of my knee pretty well having done three or four operations on it. "It was down to me to decide if I can continue or not, but I can't go on, as it's too sore and it's a pretty black and white situation. "I can't fully function with it and I need to start taking account of my body and start listening to it. "I'd like to thank not only Rhys for all his work, but all the Blues medical team who have been excellent in all they have done to keep me on the field for this long. "I've had a history with a bad knee, but since 2005 it hasn't really troubled me. I've managed to carry on and continue until I injured it again January. I was aware at the time that it could end my career. "A lot of the decision on whether I would retire was down to how my knee would recover and how I felt. "I've now had time to take it on board, so it isn't a shock, and I've come to terms that I'll never play again. "This summer I will be definitely spending more time at home with the family and enjoying my weekends. "I'll still be watching the Blues and Wales but I'll be able to relax and maybe have a beer or two and watch some games with my mates. "After that I'll be looking to get a job in the real world, which is a little bit daunting, but happens to all rugby players after they finish."
Finnegan Posted 22 April 2011 Posted 22 April 2011 In the sense that he wasn't that old, sure. But in the context of his recent form and fitness then not really, it's been coming for years and it's probably for the best that he not push it any further. Truth be told, he hasn't been great since 2005. In fact, I'm pretty sure it might have been the Lions Tour that started it all off. That said, it'll always be worth remembering his contributions to the Grand Slam that year. The Henson-Shanks link up basically won it for us, they were phenomenal. We've not had that sort of presence in the midfield since. All of Jiffy's constant (and justified) ranting about us having no go-forward and our crab like passing across the pitch is exactly what Henson and Shanks remedy when they're on form. Jamie Roberts has the physicality but no way near the brain or the eye for a break.
Finnegan Posted 23 April 2011 Posted 23 April 2011 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/13177312.stm unlucky Roo.
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