Planet Rugby Forum

Jeff the Bear

I found this quote from their most recent article most illuminating with regards to highlighting how we've learnt absolutely f**king nothing: If Welsh rugby reduces to two professional teams, which is the likeliest outcome, there would be one based in the east and one in the west. That's not to say ...

Jeff the Bear

Hi all, this will be the first and last you'll hear of it (well, it's in the Lions thread too, sue me), don't wanna be the annoying guy flogging stuff on here, however some of you might be aware I've recently started writing about rugby on Substack. It's gotten a decent response so far and I'm plan...

Jeff the Bear

First time since the 1800's there wont be a Welsh test lion a great marker for how far Welsh rugby has fallen in 5 years. Imagine being Abi Tierney what have you achieved in 2 years ? To be fair, I don't think you can pin our current historically shit depth on Downturn Abi. The fact that we don't h...

Jeff the Bear

Confucius Say: Man who walk through airport turnstile sideways going to Bangkok.

Jeff the Bear

More surprised than starting the 2 worst performing flankers on tour? If only there was a very common idiom that covers this - like "form is temporary, class is permanent" for example? Never a chance of Morgan getting in there after what they did to BOD :lol: :lol: https://media.tenor.com/DKB4fw7EA...

Jeff the Bear

Mr. Very Popular wrote: ↑Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:42 am
terryfinch wrote: ↑Wed Jul 16, 2025 6:38 am Telegraph saying:

Farrell and Pollock not in 23.
Beirne and Curry starting flankers.
Chessum on bench.
Marcus Smith on bench.
Very surprised if Pollock isn't involved

More surprised than starting the 2 worst performing flankers on tour?

Jeff the Bear

Because, presumably, money talks: A British & Irish Lions tour of France could move a step closer next week when executives hold talks over “a new business model” in Melbourne before the second Test of the series against Australia. Abdel Benazzi, the vice-president of the French federation (FFR), he...

Jeff the Bear

I actually like it. It's brutal for us who are mad fans, but it shows that for some pros it's just a job, and that's like most of us isn't it? Just a way to put food on the table and pay a mortgage. I think I remember reading (and Yanks correct me if I'm wrong), but the European lad who is top MVP ...

Jeff the Bear

I actually like it. It's brutal for us who are mad fans, but it shows that for some pros it's just a job, and that's like most of us isn't it? Just a way to put food on the table and pay a mortgage. I think I remember reading (and Yanks correct me if I'm wrong), but the European lad who is top MVP i...

Jeff the Bear

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 15, 2025 9:28 am
Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Tue Jul 15, 2025 9:26 am
Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 15, 2025 8:35 am

There is no relegation this year.

But this was the first time the perennially poor Scotland U20 have beaten them since 2018. Which is nice.
Why is there no relegation?
They're expanding it to 16 teams next year

Jeff the Bear

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 15, 2025 8:35 am
Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Tue Jul 15, 2025 1:30 am Am I right in saying that if Ireland lose to Spain, they will get relegated?
There is no relegation this year.

But this was the first time the perennially poor Scotland U20 have beaten them since 2018. Which is nice.

Why is there no relegation?

Jeff the Bear

Am I right in saying that if Ireland lose to Spain, they will get relegated?

Jeff the Bear

How can Andy Farrell waffle on about the sacred Lions jersey at the same time as calling up some journeyman from Leinster? He should have called up a Welsh international for balance or something. Not this useless tub of lard. At this point, it’s likely to be a coin-toss between the 1st choice Welsh...

Jeff the Bear

Wales beat Japan

Jeff the Bear

Poor ratings from WOL, as usual. Classic stuff from steff the Turk. I’d argue RMW was MoM on the basis that we would’ve lost if he didn’t come on and he’s rated lower than Hardy… Hardy's is one of the worst passing performances I've ever seen from a supposed international scrum half. Just abysmal.

Jeff the Bear

Derwyn wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:49 pm God this tour has been awful. I’m glad Welsh rugby has nothing to do with it!

Apart from the filthy AUNZ playing trying to cripple poor Jac there. Noticed at the time of the ruck and thought it looked dodgy.

Jeff the Bear

Is be happy enough with that.

Jeff the Bear

Like all pundits he has some weird takes...but no worse than most I'd say.

Jeff the Bear

Stephen Jones is the absolute definition of stealing a living.

Jeff the Bear

Squidge's problem is that, like all youtubers, he has to produce content no matter what...which means a fair amount of the time he ends up inventing tactical and technical narratives that have little or no basis in fact or evidence. He can and does do some good stuff, but there's also loads of opini...

Jeff the Bear

P in VG wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 3:43 pm Sherratt is a poor selector.

I simply refuse to believe that Alex Mann and Josh Macleod are the best flanker we can manage. We used to shit out quality flanker to the degree that it took years for real quality options to force their way in (Tipuric, then Nvidea, and Cubby etc.).

Jeff the Bear

This is much worse than the 90s - like proper worse I'd say it's about the same. Our small size as a country means it's almost guaranteed that we will have extended fallow periods. The real issue for me is not the current lot, there's no hope there, but the next generation...we currently have one o...

Jeff the Bear

That was a Jon Davies special.

Jeff the Bear

Looks like WOL are recycling the "you can have two teams in an Anglo-Welsh league" RFU offer rumours. Obviously we know that the governing body who have been unable to hire a national coach for four months won't act quickly (if ever) on this. My take is that it's shite, but it might be the best off...

Jeff the Bear

Thank Christ for that. That was a clumsy, but genuine attempt for a clean out.

Jeff the Bear

I believe that's roughly the cost, plus booking fee. Not really my thing tbf- i think Blur songs have aged better. You can keep Blur AND Oasis. Give me Supergrass and Pulp, live or otherwise. Saw Pulp last summer, still got it. New album out last month too is decent-ish. I'm on the fence about Oasi...

Jeff the Bear

Also, as is sometimes the case, this has been our best U20 crop in a while, and there's a chance that we may end up bottom of the group (Spain look like a live threat). The France game was almost a carbon copy of the Argie game, where our skill and endeavour was nowhere near enough to overcome the s...

Jeff the Bear

bessantj wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 8:19 pm I had a very vivid dream last night that Wales lost the first test 31-18.

Are you sure that it wasn't a memory?

Jeff the Bear

Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taulupe Faletau. Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwri...

Jeff the Bear

I've seen a couple of 'standby' lists that had Blair Murray as being the fullback standby, but I don't know if those lists were guesses or from people in the know.

Shame for Daly if he does go home, as you could argue he's been the best player of the tour so far.

Jeff the Bear

Morgan needed a big game and delivered :thumbup: fair play to him. Joint top tackler on the park, top forward carrying metres on the park (44m from 7carries), 3 turnovers and 1 try. He was also a gnats chuff from a few more turnovers as well. Farrell will be keen on VDF, but Morgan couldn't have do...

Jeff the Bear

Morgan has been an absolute work horse tonight.

Jeff the Bear

I only managed to go to 3 drinking establishments during my (work) trip to Brisbane last week, but doe anyone who is there on tour my ratings are thus (in order of worst to best) : Felons - Great view, bang average beer. Range Brewing - Very good beer, but a bit out of the way. Netherworld - Great b...

Jeff the Bear

I was in Brisbane all last week, and some lad did it to open a conference. Thought it was pretty awesome really. Told the story of the tribe of the area, the boundaries of their land, why each area is a 'country' etc. Really good.

Jeff the Bear

That's a shame. Bowen is like shit off a shovel.

Jeff the Bear

Ref was right there. Argies have Wales on toast in the scrum, but they've walked it around a few times for penalties.

Jeff the Bear

AnkleTap wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 8:41 pm
message #2527204 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 8:19 pm Wish I'd watched the Wales game.
Looks as though they're doing well against the argie lads
24 all now.

Classic game of Argentinian power against Welsh elan. Some good rugby on both sides.

Jeff the Bear

I personally have always thought that both Mealamu and Umaga just intended to lift a leg of O'Driscoll and tip him out of the tackle area. You used to see that all the time (these days it's too dangerous as you could get a card like Ben Smith in the RWC final). Except cause they both did it, BOD en...

Jeff the Bear

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:00 am Lions accusing Aus of breaking contract by not releasing more internationals to the SR

Notwithstanding that Oz don't seem to be playing ball on this one, I couldn't agree more. It's absolute bollocks that the SH teams protect their players from the tour games.

Jeff the Bear

Here is what I made of the team Genge - generally excellent, both in loose and tight LCD - didn't lack for effort, but looks a bit short of class. Goes to ground too easily. Takes some blame for lineout Bealham - does what he does most weeks, a ton of work with little fuss or showiness. Itoje - som...

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