Ethics? Are you not confusing that for his culture bollocks?

And yet Billy feels loved and understood in a way he wasn't under Lancaster. Sounds to me like prize Maro had a fall from grace after phoning in a few performances.

I always felt Lancaster over did that aspect, but I do believe a team identity is essential for sporting success. This is something coaches have stated in as a mark of success in every team sport.

Maybe. But also there is this, Itoje was also exhausted from the Lions tour and wasn't rested. Look at what wonders that did for Ireland. Instead of his coach understanding there is so much a human can take without the need for a recharge, Jones instead has a go at him.

The mark of a good coach is someone who is sympathetic to players individual needs and treats each player individually to their needs. Some players need a tough approach, if the time is reasonable and justified, some players need some TLC. Eddie Jones job is to get the best out of the players, not vent at them just because it feels good for him to do so after a loss. A good coach needs to make these man management judgements by knowing their players. That's how you get the best out of them.

Eddie wasn't the one who threw Maro straight back into the premiership after the lions tour, whilst his fellow lion Daly was still putting his feet up.

I agree Saracens were just as guilty. The flaw in the RFU-Club relationship

I was rather pointing out that perhaps Maro's love isn't that well placed .

Anyway, Wasps announce 5 signings from the championship, pretty happy with them, plenty of potential.

I sure his comments are more about his treatment from coaches, not his playing time.

Billy Searle from Bristol to Wasps. I wonder if that means Cipriani is going the other way

Didn't Itoje actually make fun of the fatigue argument himself? I'd wager it's been his new found celebrity status that has taken the edge off his performances. He's achieved a hell of a lot in the last couple of seasons.

Raggs what's the talk at Wasps regarding Cips transfer? From the chatter from various players it seems that he was reluctant to leave - so was it the money or just Dai wanting to go in a different direction?

Lawrence & Loader are playing. Smith is not.

Also not named for the South Africa game

Marcus Street (Started 2017 Semi final)
Dino Lamb-Cona (Started 2017 World Cup Final)
Ben Curry (Pulled out last year for the Seniors)
Sam Moore (Apparently could've won a cap for Wales in the autumn)
Will Butler (Started 2017 World Cup Final)
Gabriel Ibitoye (Started 2017 World Cup Final, nominated for junior player of the year)
Ali Crossdale (At 2017 JWC, injured after first match)

Does anyone know why these are not involved?

Long term fatigue won't be like being tired all the time, what it will be is simply doing the same things at a slower less responsive rate then when rested and thus the poorer performances.

Butler picked up a bad looking injury in the last Worcester game of the season. Think Crossdale and B Curry are in camp with the U20s as they came up on Rory Brand's Instagram feed this week. Assume they'll announce the JWC squad shortly. Would have expected all the others above to be involved if fit, so not sure.

No idea. Not really been connected at all recently. Read a lot of stuff from what you've heard to him being disruptive.

I did hear when he was signed that it was the boards call, so Dai may not have been willing to fight too hard. It's also been reported that he was off early (October or earlier i believe).

My guess is he told dai he wants to know his England chances, if in he'll stay on for a year (world cup). Dai can't afford to wait that long and take that risk so tells him they're looking elsewhere, we get lima and he looks elsewhere. Basically purely professionally handled business on both sides with little drama.

I heard he's owed wages and the first team has been having to do their training at a local playground.

Well yeah, everyone knows that, along with the fact that even though launch and Daly signed new contracts this season they're actually off.

I wouldn’t have thought soapywanger will be a cheap replacement?

Anyway- who will sign cips then if he’s staying in the prem?

Sale, glaws and Bristol i reckon.

While I was chairing the inaugural meeting of the Anti Wasps Society today, I did make the point that Sopoaga is probably cheaper than Cips, and getting Haskell off the books without a big money replacement seems to suggest the galactico era is on hiatus at wasps

I wouldn't be so sure of that ... from Wasps' twitter:



Wasps have removed/lost 10 players or thereabouts haven't they?

Any speculation as to who it'd be? Wouldn't be a formal announcement about Sapoaga / Shields, would it? Not sure what else they'd need, unless it's tight five? The marquees and the Champ 5 fill in inside backs and back row. Back three and halfbacks are sorted.

that's kind of proving the point...

To be honest, we didn’t really have any weak links there, in any position - and had lots of arguably the best players in the world at that time. Wilko, Robinson , Greenwood , Cohen , johnson, holy trinity - all immense. Had kind of forgotten quite how much JSD did in relatively few caps, or how much gas Cohen had. Sadly I don’t think any of our current team would have got into that side, maybe Farrell over Catt , launchbury over Kay - but not many others.

Was this discussed? https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/ ... n-14632240

Under 20's on Freesports Sky channel 422

0-7 to SA already

U20s got thumped by SA 12-26. SA just played smarter rugby. Ollie Lawrence had a bit of a shocker with everything he touched going wrong.

I think the article claimed they will leave at the end of their current contracts.

Apols for the interruption gentlemen;

Is the Wasps Earnings kerfuffle, something that could have consequences in the AP; or is it purely a Stock Exchange issue ?

Seems pretty serious. I'm thinking that a 50 point deduction is the only credible sanction here

It does make me raise an eyebrow over their salary cap fubar - clearly they're a bit loose with their financial dealings. Once is careless, twice...

Coincidence?

Is there any; 'Financial Fair Play', type rules in play; where if your earnings are 1 mill, you get A added to you salary pool; & so if they only earned 500k; they should only have a/2 next year ?

Convincing.

It was a good hit out for the U20's and an intercept TRY at the end of the game does not a thumping make. The SA team are on tour and have played a few games together. I'd hope and expect England to be better for the experience.

And you're the enemy action

Up until that intercept, I thought we might nick it. Played quite well in the 2nd half. We were also missing a fair few of our better players - so not too disappointing, all things considered. SA looked pretty handy though, made good use of their maul and showed some good hands, at time, while playing at pace.

You really don't have to do that with his name

So The Times is reporting that Quins are targeting Paul Gustard to take over from JK - and are prepared to buy anyone out of their contract. Hmm. So the list of targets is something like Gustard, Edwards, and uh Ben Ryan.

As a Quins fan I'd be pretty happy with that, but as an England fan I'd be pretty peeved.

Also, where's the cash coming from?

A couple of weeks ago I was reading articles about how you'd struggle to pay Kingston off?

Financial fair play


In the premiership

(pause)