Planet Rugby Forum

Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

Chuckles1188 wrote:

openclashXX wrote:I fucking love Mark Wilson, he's the 6 we need but don't deserve

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic. ... n#p3051277

Chuckles1188 Posted: 10 Jan 2015 10:36 wrote:Wilson at Falcons looks like he could feature at RWC 2019

GREAT CALL!

I happily reiterate my dislike of Ben "Look At Me" Ryan.

And I'm not known for my sagelike rugby wisdom so I'm not embarrassed to bang my own drum about something I got right, at a time when it was a genuine outside call

eldanielfire wrote:Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

He's a twat who is up his own arse

Chuckles1188 wrote:I happily reiterate my dislike of Ben "Look At Me" Ryan.

And I'm not known for my sagelike rugby wisdom so I'm not embarrassed to bang my own drum about something I got right, at a time when it was a genuine outside call

That's why I think it deserves praise, it was a genuine outside call, made years ago that was 100% spot on (pending injuries).

Hells Bells wrote:

expected I suppose but I was hoping Genge would start.

beastofbrum wrote:

Hells Bells wrote:

expected I suppose but I was hoping Genge would start.

To be fair I can see Genge being a bigger impact sub than Moon. Moon will do the fundamentals more securely and allow the rest of the pack to carry hard and Genge will be the last sort of player you want when tiring.

eldanielfire wrote:

beastofbrum wrote:

Hells Bells wrote:

expected I suppose but I was hoping Genge would start.

To be fair I can see Genge being a bigger impact sub than Moon. Moon will do the fundamentals more securely and allow the rest of the pack to carry hard and Genge will be the last sort of player you want when tiring.

Yep, I'm happy with that selection.

eldanielfire wrote:

beastofbrum wrote:

Hells Bells wrote:

expected I suppose but I was hoping Genge would start.

To be fair I can see Genge being a bigger impact sub than Moon. Moon will do the fundamentals more securely and allow the rest of the pack to carry hard and Genge will be the last sort of player you want when tiring.

....and bring on Joe and Lunchbox at the same time.

Jack Willis could be playing this weekend. So good to have him back.

Raggs wrote:Jack Willis could be playing this weekend. So good to have him back.

Awesome news Raggs.

Can only hope he one day returns to the player he was last year.

eldanielfire wrote:

beastofbrum wrote:

Hells Bells wrote:

expected I suppose but I was hoping Genge would start.

To be fair I can see Genge being a bigger impact sub than Moon. Moon will do the fundamentals more securely and allow the rest of the pack to carry hard and Genge will be the last sort of player you want when tiring.

It's the approach they took with Marler and Mako.

Like the squad save for Sheilds on the bench. Is Hughes injured?

I suppose wilson to 8 if billy has to go off?

I’ll miss Hughes wading into contact bolt upright

Good squad, in form- lots to be positive about. Backrow battle will be immense.

The Man Without Fear wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:

beastofbrum wrote:

Hells Bells wrote:

expected I suppose but I was hoping Genge would start.

To be fair I can see Genge being a bigger impact sub than Moon. Moon will do the fundamentals more securely and allow the rest of the pack to carry hard and Genge will be the last sort of player you want when tiring.

It's the approach they took with Marler and Mako.

Eddie says moon is more of a defensive prop and genge the more attacking that would suit coming on later in the gane

SaintK wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

He's a twat who is up his own arse

This. +100

Comes across nothing more than a spiteful prick. I don't think he's wrong about the inner workings, but the amount of gobbledy goop he comes out with every international period is ridiculous.

I’m not keen on Ryan.

Hughes off and Shield in. He does like Shields doesn't he. I was completely wrong in that I thought Hughes was an automatic replacement for BV when fit, as he's as close we can get.

Will finish Wilson 8, Shields 6 then.

Wendigo7 wrote:

SaintK wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

He's a twat who is up his own arse

This. +100

Comes across nothing more than a spiteful prick. I don't think he's wrong about the inner workings, but the amount of gobbledy goop he comes out with every international period is ridiculous.

Pretty harsh from both of you. Eldan has had his moments but he’s become a lot more balanced over that last year.

pjm1 wrote:

Wendigo7 wrote:

SaintK wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

He's a twat who is up his own arse

This. +100

Comes across nothing more than a spiteful prick. I don't think he's wrong about the inner workings, but the amount of gobbledy goop he comes out with every international period is ridiculous.

Pretty harsh from both of you. Eldan has had his moments but he’s become a lot more balanced over that last year.

pjm1 wrote:

Wendigo7 wrote:

SaintK wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

He's a twat who is up his own arse

This. +100

Comes across nothing more than a spiteful prick. I don't think he's wrong about the inner workings, but the amount of gobbledy goop he comes out with every international period is ridiculous.

Pretty harsh from both of you. Eldan has had his moments but he’s become a lot more balanced over that last year.

Chuckles1188 wrote:

openclashXX wrote:I fucking love Mark Wilson, he's the 6 we need but don't deserve

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic. ... n#p3051277

Chuckles1188 wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:

Chuckles1188 wrote:Wilson at Falcons looks like he could feature at RWC 2019

The prop? It's a long time to go yet. He would have to be getting regular games for England well before then.

Must have got my wires crossed, I was apparently thinking of someone else. Forget I said anything

SaintK wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:Hey everybody, Ben Ryan has done yet another comment piece that praises England's opponents and absolutely says little positive for England. Who saw that coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... es-england

He's a twat who is up his own arse

said on here before... I have a rugby connection to him and a (slightly tenuous) not-rugby personal connection too - he's a twat

Edit: apparently he's a "consultant" to the all-successful FFR too. So there's that.

bacon2 wrote:Like the squad save for Sheilds on the bench. Is Hughes injured?

I suppose wilson to 8 if billy has to go off?

Eddie said Hughes was dropped because “workmate is going to be important”. To many pies? Late for training?

Grouchmonkey wrote:

bacon2 wrote:Like the squad save for Sheilds on the bench. Is Hughes injured?

I suppose wilson to 8 if billy has to go off?

Eddie said Hughes was dropped because “workmate is going to be important”. To many pies? Late for training?

Did he actually say workmaaate? I really hope so.

DragsterDriver wrote:I’m not keen on Ryan.

Agree the Graun's rugby journos are pretty poor, but then which paper's are any good? On the flip side the readers comments to their rugby articles tend to be pretty good.

Anyhow, looking at the line-ups can any tactics be divined? What's Gatland hoping to do?

Raison D'etre wrote:

DragsterDriver wrote:I’m not keen on Ryan.

Agree the Graun's rugby journos are pretty poor, but then which paper's are any good? On the flip side the readers comments to their rugby articles tend to be pretty good.

Spot on, I love how chilled the guardian's comment section on sport in general is.

Go to the daily mail and it's all kinds of disgusting.

Raison D'etre wrote:

DragsterDriver wrote:I’m not keen on Ryan.

Agree the Graun's rugby journos are pretty poor, but then which paper's are any good? On the flip side the readers comments to their rugby articles tend to be pretty good.

The Telegraph have a few good ones. Charlie Morgan is the name that springs to mind.

I don't see a problem in Ryan's piece for the Guardian.

Wendigo7 wrote:

Raison D'etre wrote:

DragsterDriver wrote:I’m not keen on Ryan.

Agree the Graun's rugby journos are pretty poor, but then which paper's are any good? On the flip side the readers comments to their rugby articles tend to be pretty good.

Spot on, I love how chilled the guardian's comment section on sport in general is.

Go to the daily mail and it's all kinds of disgusting.

I thought it was only IRG trolls that posted on Mail comments pages but didn't realise they'd infected the rugby ones too. Back to the Graun I forgot about Nick Evans who writes some intelligent stuff but he's an occasional contributor rather than a regular. Haven't read the Telegraph bloke because I can't get past the De-Piffle wall

Gospel wrote:I don't see a problem in Ryan's piece for the Guardian.

In isolation, no. But as I said, absolutely little credit goes England's way and it's all about the opponent. Again. It's only an issue if you've followed his sage opinion pieces for the past few years and how he utterly either dumps on England or refuses to give them any credit.

Raison D'etre wrote:

DragsterDriver wrote:I’m not keen on Ryan.

Agree the Graun's rugby journos are pretty poor, but then which paper's are any good? On the flip side the readers comments to their rugby articles tend to be pretty good.

I wouldn't call them poor. But they certainly have little understanding of the game or any feel for it. I don't think they ever played and so their understanding is basic armchair fans. They do decent work in what they report, obviously enjoy the game and when not directly covering matches though do research and report on the happenings as best they can without The Telegraphs or the Mails insider connections.

eldanielfire wrote:

Gospel wrote:I don't see a problem in Ryan's piece for the Guardian.

In isolation, no. But as I said, absolutely little credit goes England's way and it's all about the opponent. Again. It's only an issue if you've followed his sage opinion pieces for the past few years and how he utterly either dumps on England or refuses to give them any credit.

Ryan came across brilliantly in his chat with Haskell on House of Rugby. I think there's probably room for articles in the rugby press that take the gloss off England. I don't doubt Ryan is still bitter about the way things soured for him with the RFU. But I don't think he's quite in the O'Kaplan trench.

Raison D'etre wrote:Anyhow, looking at the line-ups can any tactics be divined? What's Gatland hoping to do?

Picks Cory Hill (who usually comes off bench) - suggests he wants the lineout sorted as a priority, and more mobility in the row

Picks Anscombe - Looking to attack wide and use some skill to break through

Picks G Davies despite his shaky box kick - again, wants speed and skill. GD is also a really good defender.

Picks Moriarty at 6 and Navidi 8 - I don't know what this means. Navidi is faster, so again, perhaps he wants skillfull players in space

I reckon they'll look to attack us wide and try and beat our press that way.

Hawk97 wrote:

Raison D'etre wrote:Anyhow, looking at the line-ups can any tactics be divined? What's Gatland hoping to do?

Picks Cory Hill (who usually comes off bench) - suggests he wants the lineout sorted as a priority, and more mobility in the row

Picks Anscombe - Looking to attack wide and use some skill to break through

Picks G Davies despite his shaky box kick - again, wants speed and skill. GD is also a really good defender.

Picks Moriarty at 6 and Navidi 8 - I don't know what this means. Navidi is faster, so again, perhaps he wants skillfull players in space

I reckon they'll look to attack us wide and try and beat our press that way.

I read this injection of speed/mobility up front as intending to stop our power moves at source or force us to realign deeper.

If so then we can kick over the top more or play wider

Always supposing we get ball....

Gospel wrote:I don't see a problem in Ryan's piece for the Guardian.

Neither do I - not sure why it seems to have annoyed people.

Taken as a one off it's probably not too bad (haven't been arsed to read it myself), but he has a lot of history for basically everything he writes to be a pop at the RFU/England team/English rugby. Not all of it's invalid, but such a constant barrage of negativity grates and he seems to have a fairly high opinion of himself as some sort of guru after delivering the Olympic gold for Fiji. While that was an achievement, it's not like Fiji were a bad side before he got his hands on them, he just professionalised them to a degree they weren't used to in a way I'm sure many other coaches could have managed. Plus, it's 7s. It's not as competitive as 15s and fewer people care. Consequently, his smugness and presumption of being correct feels a bit misplace.