Planet Rugby Forum

openclashXX

Playing devil's advocate here for a moment Does anybody genuinely believe that the current European football setup allows for clubs to operate as sustainable, long-term businesses rather than just multi-million dollar black holes propped up by wealthy owners with endless cash? Moreover, given their ...

openclashXX

mr flaps wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:25 pm I think he’ll come good at international level. As will Jonny Hill.

Jonny Hill has nothing to offer at international level. Big lump but not athletic, not a big tackler, isn't a lineout caller, only good for conceding a penalty or two when the pressure is on. We have much better options

openclashXX

The one major advantage of sending the Welsh Dad's Army to try and do the job in South Africa is there's a lesser chance of the rucks being in the wrong place

openclashXX

Ali's Choice wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:42 am
openclashXX wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:32 am
Ali's Choice wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:41 am I think the days of the enforcer lock are long gone. If they ever existed.
Etzebeth is the heir to Bakkies and the Boks just won a RWC with him at lock
In what way is Etzebeth the "heir" to Botha? Is it because they both play lock? Both white?

yes, exactly

openclashXX

Ali's Choice wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:41 am I think the days of the enforcer lock are long gone. If they ever existed.

Etzebeth is the heir to Bakkies and the Boks just won a RWC with him at lock

openclashXX

Report in Wales Online suggesting that Andy Farrell (defence), Steve Borthwick (forwards) and Graham Rowntree (scrum) are all expected to decline touring with the Lions, only Townsend (attack) will say yes from Gatland's top four choices for assistant coaches. Farrell stay with Ireland, Borthwick to...

openclashXX

YOYO wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 10:15 pm
DOB wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 6:01 pm “Father of 15”!!! Holy shit!

At least he’s now at peace.
Getting out of his child support responsibilities.

Definitely a more believable motive for faking his own death than Tupac

openclashXX

Elections are scheduled for 2022

Bolsonaro can be voted out in ~18 months or so. He is currently behind in the polls

Does anybody seriously think there would be a coup between now and then ffs

openclashXX

Slade did win in 2013, but he was in the losing effort the year before I believe. However I wouldn't call any of the 2016 lot any of them "Eddie Jones England's core players" up to now besides Itoje. Most have a cap or two as opposed to being core players. Yes I might have mixed up a date or two bu...

openclashXX

England won it 3 of their prior 4 years. Strangely much of the 2014 and the 2016 squad has not really broken in. Funny enough, a lot of the current England core who have been successful in the Eddie Jones era came from those years of the teams which failed to win the U20 world cup around 2010-2012....

openclashXX

the Triple Clown is one that I hope sticks around... Ireland the only country yet to win the Triple Clown

openclashXX

As a neutral I would say France is a better team than Wales who coasted to the championship on a river of cards. France looked almost unplayable in patches of 5-10 minutes at a time, but lacked consistency especially mentally. likely SH sides will fear France more I think people are so glad to see ...

openclashXX

happened to watch this game - hard to believe Sitaleki Timani is the same guy who got capped for Australia for three seasons, he was absolute toilet for the Force. not even a useful lump, but getting stripped in contact and going backwards

openclashXX

France have certainly the worst set of forwards in this 6N. Their pack has been outmuscled and outplayed by virtually all home nations packs. you Frenchies certainly changed your tune since February 6th when I said this following France's win over Italy: The French pack is remarkably unimpressive -...

openclashXX

not as good as Wayne's Wales

even England beat them ffs

openclashXX

let's be real - winning away isn't such a big deal when there aren't any crowds

half of those penalties would've gone another way if there were 80,000 France supporters in the stands

openclashXX

Woodward admitted on telly that he hadn't seen Ollie Lawrence play at all for Worcester - if he hasn't once seen a starting England centre play for his English club then in what way is he qualified to judge which leagues are the strongest globally

openclashXX

If we assume that there will be another 2018-style clearout of players following this 6N, then who are this season's Care/Brown/Robshaw/Haskell etc Initial thoughts are that Mark Wilson is done. Turning 32 this year and had a pretty anonymous 6Ns, obvious candidate to move on given other options at...

openclashXX

If we assume that there will be another 2018-style clearout of players following this 6N, then who are this season's Care/Brown/Robshaw/Haskell etc Initial thoughts are that Mark Wilson is done. Turning 32 this year and had a pretty anonymous 6Ns, obvious candidate to move on given other options at ...

openclashXX

Has England's scrum ever been at a lower point historically than right now? Getting pummeled by SA in the RWC final could be written off as a bad day at the office, but it genuinely feels like every time England pack down for a scrum these days they go in as underdogs, even to retain the ball on the...

openclashXX

Crash_12 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 20, 2021 7:06 pm Worst 13 England have ever fielded?

I raise you Joel Tomkins

But certainly awful today

openclashXX

the only thing worse than watching this England team right now is having to listen to Dewi Morris and the excitable Nordie bloke on commentary

openclashXX

penalty count: Ireland 5- 8 England

openclashXX

I thought the point of Ollie Lawrence was to add some power to the England midfield so far he has been consistently ragdolled in attack and brushed aside in defence I've not one to say this about players usually, but for his job he's undersized and under-powered at Test level to be a crash ball mer...

openclashXX

I thought the point of Ollie Lawrence was to add some power to the England midfield

so far he has been consistently ragdolled in attack and brushed aside in defence

openclashXX

What's the criteria for this list? Best roster of individuals from 1-15? Best quality of opposition faced? Best style of playing? Most historically significant? Best final match? :? Stupid list regardless - Wales occupying 3 of the bottom 5 vs England occupying 3 of the top 5, despite the Welsh ones...

openclashXX

Israel and the United Arab Emirates’ first meeting on a sporting field will be a rugby union match, it has been revealed. The two teams trained this week in the UAE and will contest a friendly game tomorrow at Rugby Park in Dubai Sports City, a historic day for rugby and the sporting world. The two...

openclashXX

Daly at 13 - Cullen-esque move or has he a lot of experience there? Sticks out like a sore thumb to me, but I may be uninformed His preferred position, played there most of the time when with Wasps and signed for Sarries as a 13 too. Ford-Farrell-Daly is also the 10-12-13 combo that started the U20...

openclashXX

MrDominator wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:07 am The Mail reckons George Martin is in line for a start in place of Wilson

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... eland.html

Thoughts on his quad definition?

openclashXX

scrum-half is by far the weakest position in quality and depth. it's likely that we might end up with Ben Youngs as the on-form and most experienced option

openclashXX

It's going to be a hiding for the Welsh. The weeks of flukey wins with red cards and referee clangers are about to catch up with them

Final score: France 35-12 Wales

openclashXX

Beirne is a tidy player but would get bullied playing 6 vs SA Back row in general needs a few more beefy ball carriers Have just posted that, is Lawes fit? Gatland rated him enough to bring him in the last tour and he's only got better since then. If the listed group is similar to what he brings, I...

openclashXX

Beirne is a tidy player but would get bullied playing 6 vs SA

Back row in general needs a few more beefy ball carriers

openclashXX

lemonhead wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 12:03 pm Up on World Rugby website

for anyone else:

https://www.world.rugby/super-rugby/force-v-rebels

openclashXX

my friend is once again asking for a link

openclashXX

Charlie Ewels has been due a good game for England for about five years now

openclashXX

Could become the fourth South African to be capped for Scotland in a single season :shock: PIERRE Schoeman still has four months to wait before he will be eligible to play for Scotland, but has admitted that the success of three compatriots has made him all the more eager to become involved with th...

openclashXX

Could become the fourth South African to be capped for Scotland in a single season :shock: PIERRE Schoeman still has four months to wait before he will be eligible to play for Scotland, but has admitted that the success of three compatriots has made him all the more eager to become involved with the...

openclashXX

he's not the first to do it, but surely the most high-profile nationality switcher thus far Former All Blacks star Charles Piutau is in line to play for Tonga this year, according to a report from RNZ. Piutau’s long-held dream of playing for the Island nation, which he first revealed four years ago,...

openclashXX

poor Italy, suffering through four years of O'Shea and Catt

Search found 15325 matches