General Rugby Discussion

bilston · 18-03-2015 9:24pm

I see Mike Fitzgerald has signed for Leicester from the Chiefs. There was some chat that he is IQ, I wonder if any of the provinces were interested.

Teferi · 19-03-2015 11:19pm

Steve Walsh retired with immediate effect.

molloyjh · 19-03-2015 11:23pm

Teferi wrote: »

Steve Walsh retired with immediate effect.

Jesus you were all over that one Teferi, that article was just 1 minute old when you posted.

thomond2006 · 19-03-2015 11:26pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Jesus you were all over that one Teferi, that article was just 1 minute old when you posted.

It looks like ssaye2 has a competitor in posting fast links...

Teferi · 19-03-2015 11:27pm

I am really good at the internet.

durkadurka · 19-03-2015 11:28pm

Women in tears everywhere

19-03-2015 11:31pm

We will miss him. (right?)

Teferi · 19-03-2015 11:48pm

19543261 wrote: »

We will miss him. (right?)

Yeah. There aren't a huge amount of top level refs at the moment so we always see the same faces and in his early 40's he probably the bones of a decade left at the top level. Right before the World Cup too.

mfceiling · 19-03-2015 11:49pm

durkadurka wrote: »

Women in tears everywhere

And men...

That hair.

.ak · 20-03-2015 12:06am

All joking aside I'm amazed he's in his 40s :eek:

Wang King · 20-03-2015 12:09am

There's more to this story, pulled out of reffing a game, and a week later he retires?
Seems strange to say the least

bilston · 20-03-2015 12:45am

Wang King wrote: »

There's more to this story, pulled out of reffing a game, and a week later he retires?
Seems strange to say the least

Don't think there is anything sinister, just that he appears to have other interests to pursue now. Being an international ref means a lot of travelling, especially in the SH in the Super 15 so presumably he can't commit to reffing and whatever his new business interest is.

Pity as he was arguably in the top 3 refs with Owens and Joubert.

aimee1 · 20-03-2015 12:59am

bilston wrote: »

Don't think there is anything sinister, just that he appears to have other interests to pursue now. Being an international ref means a lot of travelling, especially in the SH in the Super 15 so presumably he can't commit to reffing and whatever his new business interest is.

Pity as he was arguably in the top 3 refs with Owens and Joubert.

and he was a lot more sympathic to the game then some fussy refs like barnes. And unlike barnes, he was thankfully able to notice when france passed the ball forward in the build up to a try

dregin · 20-03-2015 1:39am

Fair play to him. Fought through a lot of personal issues to become one of the best refs in the world.

Best of luck, ya sexy bastard!

Swiwi. · 20-03-2015 6:28am

Teferi wrote: »

Yeah. There aren't a huge amount of top level refs at the moment so we always see the same faces and in his early 40's he probably the bones of a decade left at the top level. Right before the World Cup too.

Weird. Just before the RWC. Because of business interests? He steadily improved over the years did Steve. Mostly since he became Aussie, which is even weirder. Ah well good luck to him in setting up his chain of men's hair salons.

kooga · 20-03-2015 9:39am

He who controls himself, controls the game

.ak · 20-03-2015 10:26am

Nail on the head. http://balls.ie/rugby/253641-joe-schmidt-george-hook/

I really will be delighted when Hook finishes up. That sort of 'analysis' should be kept for sensationalism in rag papers. No other country would hire a entertainment only 'pundit' for their national broadcast coverage. Rte have a track record of it though, they seem to think coverage requires a pantomime act. Amateurs.

DGRulz · 20-03-2015 12:15pm

Even if we have to put up with Daire O' Brien after it I can't wait for both McGurk and Hook to be gone.

b.gud · 20-03-2015 1:24pm

DGRulz wrote: »

Even if we have to put up with Daire O' Brien after it I can't wait for both McGurk and Hook to be gone.

Am i the only one that doesn't mind McGurk, he usually does brilliant videos that really get me pumped up for the 6 nations. Not saying that I like him or anything but I don't really hate him and I think I would much prefer him to O'Brien.

I will not miss that fool Hook though.

errlloyd · 20-03-2015 1:26pm

b.gud wrote: »

Am i the only one that doesn't mind McGurk, he usually does brilliant videos that really get me pumped up for the 6 nations. Not saying that I like him or anything but I don't really hate him and I think I would much prefer him to O'Brien.

I will not miss that fool Hook though.

I prefer McGurk to O Brien as well. I also don't think that chairperson job is all that important.

ssaye2 · 20-03-2015 1:28pm

https://mobile.twitter.com/JCooney09/status/578250100071366656

"An interesting Wednesday using Neurofeedback Training to help my brain work more efficiently"

http://www.actualise.ie/about/actualise

Buer · 20-03-2015 2:37pm

I see the morphing of John Cooney into Isaac Boss is coming along well.

.ak · 20-03-2015 2:45pm

Buer wrote: »

I see the morphing of John Cooney into Isaac Boss is coming along well.

Haha I actually had to click on the link to see if it was Cooney or Boss.

Buer · 20-03-2015 2:51pm

It's bloody weird. Cooney looks like he hasn't slept in days. That is not the face of a 24 year old.

.ak · 20-03-2015 3:01pm

Maybe that's what the experiment is...

20-03-2015 3:02pm

It's the lighting. Selfie amateur.

sydthebeat · 20-03-2015 3:28pm

19543261 wrote: »

It's the lighting. Selfie amateur.

whats a selfie?

Wang King · 20-03-2015 6:39pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

whats a selfie?

When you do my name and hit yourself in the face....

sydthebeat · 20-03-2015 7:03pm

Wang King wrote: »

When you do my name and hit yourself in the face....

So you put your hip out "doing a selfie"

Wang King · 20-03-2015 8:10pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

So you put your hip out "doing a selfie"

Married 15 years.... I'm only getting selfies these days!

molloyjh · 24-03-2015 10:28pm

Rumours of Jamie Roberts heading to Quins next season on the Twitter machine.....

CatFromHue · 24-03-2015 10:53pm

only 5 starts for racing in the top 14, that's the same as Sexton who's been injured for 3 months!

Teferi · 24-03-2015 10:54pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Rumours of Jamie Roberts heading to Quins next season on the Twitter machine.....

Aren't Wales enforcing the play-your-rugby-in-Wales rule after the WC? Is that Roberts swan song so?

molloyjh · 25-03-2015 12:01am

Teferi wrote: »

Aren't Wales enforcing the play-your-rugby-in-Wales rule after the WC? Is that Roberts swan song so?

You'd think so. If the rumours are true. He's a bit young for it though. Could well just be a contract negotiation ploy.

aimee1 · 25-03-2015 1:09am

molloyjh wrote: »

You'd think so. If the rumours are true. He's a bit young for it though. Could well just be a contract negotiation ploy.

warburton make a big noise about the wru contracts the other day. Roberts was previously linked with a wru deal so this could be to bump up the salary alright.

English Lurker · 25-03-2015 9:12am

I know some people swearing blind that it's a done deal. Will be interesting to see if they're right.

.ak · 25-03-2015 10:15am

Don't think he's a good fit there... Quality player but has never shown anything decent at club level.

Buer · 25-03-2015 11:58am

There's always the aspect of Dr. Roberts potentially wanting to keep his medical career ticking over which may influence his decision as to where he ends up.

He has big mileage on the clock for only 28 years old (approx 215 pro games) and has had a number of injuries too. I wouldn't be shocked for him to be the sort of guy that would walk away from international rugby at a relatively young age. Maybe not in the next year but around the age of 30 or 31, sure.

OldRio · 25-03-2015 1:04pm

I wasn't sure where to put this but by chance I was listening to the wireless last night and came upon this.

BBC Radio 5 live 'Matt Dawson Rugby show' Guests included Brian Moore and John Beattie.
They reviewed the Six Nations, with an interview with Rob Kearney and also looked forward to the World Cup.
Dawson comes across as a total ........ and things start to get a little tasty in a few of the exchanges between himself and Beattie. Nothing to heavy but enjoyable all the same.

Tis not geoblocked.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/5lspecials
Go down the page and on the right of the page select the show from yesterday.

Bridge93 · 25-03-2015 3:46pm

Mart Dawson on TV comes across as a bubbly fun type but he's actually a biased prat most the time. I enjoy him on Question of Sport but can't stand him on BT.

OldRio · 25-03-2015 4:26pm

John Beattie was making the point that the structure of English Rugby does not help the national team. 1 English win in the last number of years of the six nations. A good point and worth discussing I thought. RFU v Clubs, player contracts and welfare etc.

No no no no. Matt Dawson's response was churlish. I paraphrase 'All those winners would swap a World Cup win over a six nations win'
Yes Matt of course they would, but address the point that Beattie made.

Interesting radio/podcast.

razorblunt · 25-03-2015 4:40pm

Pro12 lose another player, Jon Welsh the Scottish prop is leaving Glasgow for Newcastle.

Podge_irl · 25-03-2015 4:41pm

what on earth is going on at Glasgow? Why is such a newly successful club starting to lose a lot of players?

thomond2006 · 25-03-2015 4:46pm

razorblunt wrote: »

Pro12 lose another player, Jon Welsh the Scottish prop is leaving Glasgow for Newcastle.

Podge_irl wrote: »

what on earth is going on at Glasgow? Why is such a newly successful club starting to lose a lot of players?

I wouldn't read much into Jon Welsh leaving, he has barely played for them this season: http://www.pro12rugby.com/teams/glasgow/squad.php?player=78139&includeref=dynamic#zYjPr97QVZHwwD1r.97

.ak · 25-03-2015 4:47pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

what on earth is going on at Glasgow? Why is such a newly successful club starting to lose a lot of players?

Movement happens. I'm surprised about some of the moves but sure Leinster were winning trophies like they were going out of fashion and we lost some brilliant players....

Buer · 25-03-2015 4:52pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

what on earth is going on at Glasgow? Why is such a newly successful club starting to lose a lot of players?

Scottish rugby is broke. They can't give the players the money that can get a few hours down the road.

Podge_irl · 25-03-2015 4:58pm

Buer wrote: »

Scottish rugby is broke. They can't give the players the money that can get a few hours down the road.

Bloody shame if Glasgow regress after the progress they have made.

molloyjh · 25-03-2015 5:21pm

OldRio wrote: »

John Beattie was making the point that the structure of English Rugby does not help the national team. 1 English win in the last number of years of the six nations. A good point and worth discussing I thought. RFU v Clubs, player contracts and welfare etc.

No no no no. Matt Dawson's response was churlish. I paraphrase 'All those winners would swap a World Cup win over a six nations win'
Yes Matt of course they would, but address the point that Beattie made.

Interesting radio/podcast.

Someone needs to explain to Dawson that there have been 2 RWCs since England won it and that it was nearly 12 years ago now. It has absolutely zero relevance in any debate about international rugby today. And everything we've seen so far would suggest that England are not going to win the RWC 2015.

I wouldn't write them off completely but they would have to be outsiders at this stage surely? They been comprehensively beaten quite a few times over the last few years. We did it in the 6 Nations this year, New Zealand did it in the summer and Wales in the 2013 6 Nations absolutely murdered them. They've a poor record against SH sides under Lancaster with 0/5 against SA, 1/6 against NZ and 2/3 against Oz. That's 3 wins from 14 against SH sides.

The could turn things around but as they stand I don't think they are a tournament winning side.

its_phil · 25-03-2015 5:31pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Someone needs to explain to Dawson that there have been 2 RWCs since England won it and that it was nearly 12 years ago now. It has absolutely zero relevance in any debate about international rugby today. And everything we've seen so far would suggest that England are not going to win the RWC 2015.

I wouldn't write them off completely but they would have to be outsiders at this stage surely? They been comprehensively beaten quite a few times over the last few years. We did it in the 6 Nations this year, New Zealand did it in the summer and Wales in the 2013 6 Nations absolutely murdered them. They've a poor record against SH sides under Lancaster with 0/5 against SA, 1/6 against NZ and 2/3 against Oz. That's 3 wins from 14 against SH sides.

The could turn things around but as they stand I don't think they are a tournament winning side.

I wouldn't judge England on their away form. They are very strong at home and all their games are going to be there. I can't not see them winning their group with home advantage and then they will have one of Scotland/Samoa/Japan waiting for them in the quarter finals. Semi-final in Twickenham against one of Ireland/France/Argentina, you would have to say they'd be favourites for a place in the finals.

errlloyd · 25-03-2015 5:38pm

Buer wrote: »

Scottish rugby is broke. They can't give the players the money that can get a few hours down the road.

Surely the amount of pints they sold during England v France has generated some unexpected windfall.

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