2015 Rugby World Cup **Potential spoilers**

[GrumpyGregry]

What's the point of having a review panel about it? England played p!sh, predictable rugby, haven't developed young players over the last few years and have a ludicrous selection policy which excludes some of their most creative players. You don't need 5 guys having a chat to work it out.

Hmmm. England can't develop youth players when they disappear into the obscurity of AP reserve sides, kept out of the !st XV by foreign imports, rather than being fast-tracked.

And there's the rub. (English) Players who do well in the AP don't seem to shine in Test matches. They join Club England with a question mark hanging over them and as soon as they play quality opposition it smacks 'em firmly on the bonce. Difficult to escape the conclusion that those who own the AP clubs don't really give a toss about England whereas in the SH everything is pretty much subservient to the national representative side.

A simple test... how many of ours, and I accept they ain't yours, would be first pick for any of them? Worse still, how many of ours would be first pick in a Super 15 side like Crusaders?

And what would Argentina do if they couldn't pick players who play their rugby overseas I wonder?

 

[martint235]

A simple test... how many of ours, and I accept they ain't yours, would be first pick for any of them? Worse still, how many of ours would be first pick in a Super 15 side like Crusaders?

And what would Argentina do if they couldn't pick players who play their rugby overseas I wonder?

Just to add a little bit to that, people are seemingly shocked by the "lesser" teams, your Romanias, Japans, even to an extent Italy and Argentina but what you need to look at is where the players ply their trade: Stade Francais aren't quite the force they used to be but I don't think you get to play in their pack by being rubbish (Davit Kubriahvili, Georgia) or in Clermont's centres (Albert Vulivuli, Fiji). The Japanese number 10 is actually going to replace Dan Carter at the Crusaders so somehow I don't think the RWC is a one hit wonder for him.

We do have good players who play for exceptional teams, guess who? Yup your Armitage bloke and Nick Abendanon to name two. It's madness not to pick those two.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Just to add a little bit to that, people are seemingly shocked by the "lesser" teams, your Romanias, Japans, even to an extent Italy and Argentina but what you need to look at is where the players ply their trade: Stade Francais aren't quite the force they used to be but I don't think you get to play in their pack by being rubbish (Davit Kubriahvili, Georgia) or in Clermont's centres (Albert Vulivuli, Fiji). The Japanese number 10 is actually going to replace Dan Carter at the Crusaders so somehow I don't think the RWC is a one hit wonder for him.

We do have good players who play for exceptional teams, guess who? Yup your Armitage bloke and Nick Abendanon to name two. It's madness not to pick those two.

Delon is a disciplinary bomb waiting to go off, and Steffon has less than half-a-dozen caps so I'm not yet quite convinced he is the Messiah.

 

[martint235]

I think Delon is a wasted talent who will probably never play for the national side again. For Steffon to win European Player of the Year against the kind of competition he has suggests there is quite something about him. Similarly without Nick Abendanon. I quite like Mike Brown but the added competition would push him further.

 

[Aperitif]

Delon Armitage is a nasty piece of work. I have a friend 'dealing with' certain parts of the disciplinary process - appeals etc - and he was always taken aback by Delon Armitage's attitude. England ring-fenced their Country with the 'play in England' rule...and the upshot is a weak team. Steve Hansen's comments in today's Guardian are worth considering. Never rated Abandanon...or Easter, Barritt, Robshaw, Parling, Cole. They are just donkeys grazing, watching the racehorses run their course...
I probably have already disliked Joubert passim, but yesterday's performance was mild for him - usually whistle-happy know all at scrum time. This time he screwed up. The knock-on was unfortunate (check the fully extended arm...not the big waft at the ball - as Hogg did in the previous game against Samoa). Like the Wales game - totally full of courage and teamwork. Ireland got well and truly thrashed - for them, and it was lovely to see the Argentine XV so proud. New Zealand? Hmmm...FRance were soulless, leaderless and disappointing. Let's see what happens when the heavy roller comes out to play on Saturday. A great sporting event - we are lucky to be able to watch such a physical challenge, and next weekend organises itself!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Might these be Scottish-type people, by any chance?

And now World Rugby have decided that Joubert got it wrong.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34576756

 

[Aperitif]

And now World Rugby have decided that Joubert got it wrong.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34576756

There's a surprise.
Scotland played well - they/you deserved to triumph. They did. Let's hope for a fierce Six Nations instead.

 

[martint235]

We all know in hindsight that it was the wrong decision. However we have had the benefit of several slow motion replays from multiple angles. The referee had to make a call in real time. If you have an issue with the fact he couldn't use the TMO I suggest you blame World Rugby or the RWC

 

[Aperitif]

We all know in hindsight that it was the wrong decision. However we have had the benefit of several slow motion replays from multiple angles. The referee had to make a call in real time. If you have an issue with the fact he couldn't use the TMO I suggest you blame World Rugby or the RWC

I think the real bone of contention is that the TMO was 'in the ear' of Joubert for other decisions during the game, and when he needed to speak up...there was.
A silence. It would have helped Joubert, the game..but not the Australian XV

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

In the same way you lot are sitting around picking over who is to blame for you being shite, I can sit around making comment as I see things. Or do you want me to not make a comment and interfere with your important words about your team?

 

[nickyboy]

Hmmm. England can't develop youth players when they disappear into the obscurity of AP reserve sides, kept out of the !st XV by foreign imports, rather than being fast-tracked.

And there's the rub. (English) Players who do well in the AP don't seem to shine in Test matches. They join Club England with a question mark hanging over them and as soon as they play quality opposition it smacks 'em firmly on the bonce. Difficult to escape the conclusion that those who own the AP clubs don't really give a toss about England whereas in the SH everything is pretty much subservient to the national representative side.

A simple test... how many of ours, and I accept they ain't yours, would be first pick for any of them? Worse still, how many of ours would be first pick in a Super 15 side like Crusaders?

And what would Argentina do if they couldn't pick players who play their rugby overseas I wonder?

I think the relative strength of English club rugby compared to the national side is a key component as you say. Can't see that changing given the way the game's finances are structured.

Of course the other key element is that England selects from a pretty narrow gene pool of talent. You only need to look at the county age group squads to see that practically all those selected come from private schools or selective state grammar schools. There must be loads of talent in the comprehensives that just never gets noticed

When you look at NZ schools rugby it's quite a different situation. I looked at the past 15 years' champions and only one was a fee paying school. Perhaps as a result very little talent gets missed there

A story to illustrate this. I went to a secondary modern that played rugby but to no great standard. A boy in my class was a good player for our age group teams but was never picked for any representative sides. He moved to the local grammar school in the 6th form. Within a year he was playing for England U18

 

[GrumpyGregry]

And now World Rugby have decided that Joubert got it wrong.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34576756

They've also announced a play-off competition to decide 5th place










the Six Nations

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A story to illustrate this. I went to a secondary modern that played rugby but to no great standard. A boy in my class was a good player for our age group teams but was never picked for any representative sides. He moved to the local grammar school in the 6th form. Within a year he was playing for England U18

The talent pool in England is huge compared to the other rugby playing nations. It wasn't that long ago that more people played rugby in England on a weekend than in the whole SH combined.

 

[Aperitif]

"Maybe he was keen to get to the bathroom."
The public await a comment or two...before the 6 uriNations

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I think Delon is a wasted talent who will probably never play for the national side again. For Steffon to win European Player of the Year against the kind of competition he has suggests there is quite something about him. Similarly without Nick Abendanon. I quite like Mike Brown but the added competition would push him further.

I fear Mike Brown will one day do something rash and stupid on the rugby field that will equal, if not exceed, his abundant talent. The red mist descends all too easily on that one and he runs 40 yards to get involved in fights that are none of his business. One day he'll either hurt someone badly or get his lights punched out. Or both.