General Rugby Discussion

sydneybound

errlloyd wrote: »

Marwan Koukash, the owner of that Salford rugby league team who recently came out saying there was only one type of rugby (he meant league). He tweeted "I've had enough" while his team got walloped conceding 50 points. It's only the second game of the seasons, so it brought a smile to my face.

I have no problem with billionaire owners, but they should keep to themselves.

This chap is very interesting.... Gives out every week about rugby union! He has spent a shed load of his money on the club but is getting nothing back in return.

The problem is the Manchester public are not getting behind the club. Last nights game was their first home match of the season with the RFL marketing the new Super League format of 12 clubs heavily over the off season and despite all this only achieved a crowd of 4,750 against the current Super League Champions who are only 25 miles away from them. Many of the crowd where actually St. Helen's fans rather than Salford. They got beaten round the park 62-5.

It all makes for very bad business and with no money coming through the gate and the TV deal already done with Sky for the next 5 years (which he wasn't happy about, the RFL didn't even ask BT to tender for their rights) there doesn't appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel for the Dr! He'll be a broke man by the end of his Rugby League experience if he doesn't get out now!

thomond2006

Castrogiovanni being linked with Treviso. He's been a flop at Toulon but at least Treviso would gain a big name player.

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

Castrogiovanni being linked with Treviso. He's been a flop at Toulon but at least Treviso would gain a big name player.

Big flops are a trademark of his

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Big flops are a trademark of his

razorblunt

The amount of Welsh around Edinburgh already is huge.

All farmers within a 15 mile radius, anxiously watch over their sheep.

connemara man

Are the project player laws changing? I missed the opening of the rte commentary today and a friend of mine said George Hook (not the greatest source of information I know) that they were changing next year.

errlloyd

No idea, but when I googled World Rugby to find out, I read that the Pro12 is getting Hawk Eye as a trial for the world cup.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/14/uk-rugby-union-worldcup-idUKKBN0LI0I320150214

mister gullible

Is it all getting a bit boring and turning into rugby league, crash out 6 or 7 phases and 'build a platform' run it til tackled but don't chance too many switches loops or dummies, then 6 more phases and 'build a platform'?
Or am I missing something.

sydthebeat

mister gullible wrote: »

Or am I missing something.

BOD

And his lesser ilk

sydneybound

Just to note that Wasps got a crowd of over 16,000 today at home. Crazy to compare that figure to crowds from last year.

davegrohl48

mister gullible wrote: »

Is it all getting a bit boring and turning into rugby league, crash out 6 or 7 phases and 'build a platform' run it til tackled but don't chance too many switches loops or dummies, then 6 more phases and 'build a platform'?
Or am I missing something.

No it pretty much seems like that.
The Jason Robinson/Shane Williams types players have all but dissappeared from the game.
Only rule changes can reverse the trend towards bigger players.

The_Captain

davegrohl48 wrote: »

No it pretty much seems like that.
The Jason Robinson/Shane Williams types players have all but dissappeared from the game.
Only rule changes can reverse the trend towards bigger players.

I think it's more a case that defences have become better and more organised, technique has improved and players are more disciplined, staying position, playing space instead of playing the man etc.

Yeah, the days of a blindside trampling a 5'9 outside centre are gone, but you don't see brainless props charging out of position dead set on dump tackling someone or wingers trying to tackle by standing completely upright, turning their head away and falling towards the attacker

davegrohl48

The_Captain wrote: »

I think it's more a case that defences have become better and more organised, technique has improved and players are more disciplined, staying position, playing space instead of playing the man etc.

Yeah, the days of a blindside trampling a 5'9 outside centre are gone, but you don't see brainless props charging out of position dead set on dump tackling someone or wingers trying to tackle by standing completely upright, turning their head away and falling towards the attacker

You are correct, both trends have occurred at the same time. Defences are extremely well organised and the players are much bigger.

sydneybound

Andy Goode signs for London Irish!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31487860

Just going to cover I presume but he's still doing the business for Wasps.

DGRulz

Not sure it deserves its own thread but a disaster has occurred this morning. George has decided not to retire after all.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/hook-cancels-retirement-plans-662176.html

sydthebeat

DGRulz wrote: »

Not sure it deserves its own thread but a disaster has occurred this morning. George has decided not to retire after all.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/hook-cancels-retirement-plans-662176.html

no...

he was on Ivan Yates this morning and clarified it.

hes finishing TV work after the 6 nations

hes finishing his journo work in october

and hes finishing his radio work the following october.

hes says hes "not retiring" because he doesnt want to, he still wants to do work whether thats 'building houses in haiti' or whatever.... thats what he means.

DGRulz

Huh. Grand so. Thanks for clarifying.

Wang King

Leave poor George alone ye ageist bullies

errlloyd

Cipriani extends his Sale contract. Have to say, there was a chance of him doing a Henson for a while, but I think he's in a great place now. At the moment he's still clearly behind Ford but I hope Farrell doesn't just walk back into the team.

sydthebeat

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/31518885


Michele Campagnaro: Italy centre to join Exeter Chiefs

****e

Whatever about us losing players to England & France, Italy really can't.

Clearlier

sydthebeat wrote: »

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/31518885


Michele Campagnaro: Italy centre to join Exeter Chiefs

That's a great signing for Exeter but it's disappointing to see Treviso and the Pro 12 losing a really good player.

sydthebeat

Clearlier wrote: »

That's a great signing for Exeter but it's disappointing to see Treviso and the Pro 12 losing a really good player.

the vacuum of players going from the premiership to the pro 12 is startling to be honest. just goes to show theres no attraction, financial or otherwise.

molloyjh

Deleted User wrote: »

****e

Whatever about us losing players to England & France, Italy really can't.

I wonder how many players Treviso have lost to the AP now between this season and last?

CatFromHue

molloyjh wrote: »

I wonder how many players Treviso have lost to the AP now between this season and last?

According to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2014%E2%80%9315_Pro12_transfers#Benetton_Treviso

Treviso lost 7 to the AP and 1 to the Pro12.
Zebre lost none

From here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2015%E2%80%9316_Pro12_transfers#Benetton_Treviso

Treviso are losing 1 to the AP and 1 to the Pro12
Zebre are losing 1 to the Pro12

molloyjh

CatFromHue wrote: »

According to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2014%E2%80%9315_Pro12_transfers#Benetton_Treviso

Treviso lost 7 to the AP and 1 to the Pro12.
Zebre lost none

From here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2015%E2%80%9316_Pro12_transfers#Benetton_Treviso

Treviso are losing 1 to the AP and 1 to the Pro12
Zebre are losing 1 to the Pro12

One side losing 7 players to a single (non-domestic) league is pretty damn huge no? I know why it happened, but it's still a bit mad. Good bit of business from Exeter though.

Its good the Italian national side though

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Its good the Italian national side though

Why?

irishbucsfan

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Why?

The standard of squad mates and coaching.

Not sure it's better in the long term though.

thomond2006

No easy games in the Premiership so it's a good move for Campagnaro. It's a bad sign for the Italian teams though, they are losing their star names. You have to wonder where they go from here if they continue to struggle to develop and retain players while making little impact in their competitions.

ionadnapokot

I wonder does GT go to bed with his shades on his head?
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/england-a-worthy-rival-but-ireland-can-prevail-says-les-kiss-313356.html
man in the mirror (oh yeah)

The_Captain

ionadnapokot wrote: »

I wonder does GT go to bed with his shades on his head?
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/england-a-worthy-rival-but-ireland-can-prevail-says-les-kiss-313356.html
man in the mirror (oh yeah)

Gerry doesn't sleep, he stays up all night drinking whiskey and thinking up comparisons to Victorian era military engagements

Teferi

I think there is some sort of thread for discussing Irish exiles but for the life of me I can't find it.

Anyway, just remembering Danny Barnes there. I think he is in the second year of a two year contract with the Falcons and I believe his appearances have been fairly limited. No word of a contract extension in February and quickly heading into March. Anyone been following him over there? Where could he go from here?

A pity he never kicked on, he had a decent game or two a few years ago and I thought his ceiling was higher.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Why?

Arguably for the same reason that Hanrahan moving helps the Irish national side.

It opens up space for another Italian to get exposed to pro12 level. Campagnaro gets exposed to a possibly higher level of training and coaching; gets more gametime against better opposition.

ionadnapokot

The_Captain wrote: »

Gerry doesn't sleep, he stays up all night drinking whiskey and thinking up comparisons to Victorian era military engagements

That is "assuredly" the case. its a wonder he is never "hors de combat" after all night whiskey swigin :cool:

Buer

Good to see Conor Gilsenan getting another start for LI tomorrow against a strong Leicester pack. He didn't come out of the blocks flying but has grown steadily over there and will be making his 9th start of the season tomorrow. Not bad for a 22 year old away from home.

There's definitely a place for him in Irish rugby. With Chris Henry turning 31 this year, I think it might be in Ulster but hopefully someone does look at him at the end of next season when his contract is up.

Buer

Good to see Conor Gilsenan getting another start for LI tomorrow against a strong Leicester pack. He didn't come out of the blocks flying but has grown steadily over there and will be making his 9th start of the season tomorrow. Not bad for a 22 year old away from home.

There's definitely a place for him in Irish rugby. With Chris Henry turning 31 this year, I think it might be in Ulster but hopefully someone does look at him at the end of next season when his contract is up.

thomond2006

Any chance of Griffin or Sheridan becoming available in the summer?

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Any chance of Griffin or Sheridan becoming available in the summer?

Sheridan is available this summer. I haven't heard of a new contract being signed yet. There were rumours of Munster approaching him. He hasn't been as prevalent this season as he was last but he now has got a run of games under his belt and seems to be finding form.

Griffin joined on a 2 year deal so has another season to run and has done well since injuries blighted his start to the season. He's out again currently but appears to be rated there.

RobbieRuns

Buer wrote: »

Sheridan is available this summer. I haven't heard of a new contract being signed yet. There were rumours of Munster approaching him. He hasn't been as prevalent this season as he was last but he now has got a run of games under his belt and seems to be finding form.

Griffin joined on a 2 year deal so has another season to run and has done well since injuries blighted his start to the season. He's out again currently but appears to be rated there.

Griffin has been injured a lot but is on the bench tomorrow v Tigers.

thomond2006

LI have signed Dominic Waldouck so perhaps Sheridan is on the way out.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

LI have signed Dominic Waldouck so perhaps Sheridan is on the way out.

Doesn't bode well for him as Griffin and Mulchrone have both had significant game time this season. It'll be an interesting one. He's a good player. Not top level but I'd see him as more useful than Hurley at 12 with better hands and quicker.

English Lurker

Most of the LI fans I've spoken to haven't been impressed by Sheridan's hands in the last year or so. Haven't watched enough to know the truth of that myself mind.

total former

I've always thought Sheridan was very over-rated by posters here tbh.

.ak

total former wrote: »

I've always thought Sheridan was very over-rated by posters here tbh.

Maybe when he was at leinster. He was poor IMO but I've seen him since and he's impressed me.

Buer

He's obviously no world beater but he's a very solid player. He's versatile enough to play 11-14 and a powerful carrier and tackler. Would be worth the 12 jersey in Munster if they looked at him relative to their other options.

case885

Buer wrote: »

He's obviously no world beater but he's a very solid player. He's versatile enough to play 11-14 and a powerful carrier and tackler. Would be worth the 12 jersey in Munster if they looked at him relative to their other options.

By all accounts Saili has signed but is waiting for a visa, that would solve our problem at 12.

Buer

case885 wrote: »

By all accounts Saili has signed but is waiting for a visa, that would solve our problem at 12.

Has that not gone very quiet? Media reports were the guts of two weeks ago suggesting it was to be announced in the next day or two.

When queried about media rumours on Henshaw this week Ian Costello said: "“Last week, they were reporting we were ready to sign Francis Saili and Agustin Creevy."

I'd have thought that suggests the media jumped the gun on that one?

case885

Buer wrote: »

Has that not gone very quiet? Media reports were the guts of two weeks ago suggesting it was to be announced in the next day or two.

When queried about media rumours on Henshaw this week Ian Costello said: "“Last week, they were reporting we were ready to sign Francis Saili and Agustin Creevy."

I'd have thought that suggests the media jumped the gun on that one?

From what i've seen hes agreed a salary and contract length but is waiting on a visa and medical.
These things drag out so i wouldnt be too worried about it.
Bit like when Horne was rumoured to join us, then a few weeks later he resigned with ARU but admitted Munster had offered him a deal.
Its a big decision for saili too if he does join so i guess he would need time to think about whats best move for him.

Freddie Burns starting really well vs London Irish on BT now.

Court penalised twice in the first scrums too.