General Rugby Discussion

thomond2006

A good read: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/11751825/Rugby-World-Cup-2015-Scotland-show-folly-of-current-international-eligibility-rules.html

Wang King

I may not agree with everything he says, but I do like the guys honesty, what say you all?

awec

Don't see how it would happen. Not enough money in it.

Wang King

awec wrote: »

Don't see how it would happen. Not enough money in it.

Personally I think they should incorporate it as part of a tour.
2 tests, and the midweek team get a hell of a workout

thomond2006

The Lions is too much of a cash cow.

I definitely think more summer tours should be organised from the NH sides. World Rugby could subsidise, they are making more than enough cash from the World Cup to pay for it!

Wang King

Taking it as a stand-alone tour, nobody is ever going to turn down a Lions tour to NZ.
But, if it was a choice between Aus and a tour with tests against Samoa and Fiji with a midweek test against Tonga.... I know where the better quality games would be

irishbucsfan

Wang King wrote: »

Taking it as a stand-alone tour, nobody is ever going to turn down a Lions tour to NZ.
But, if it was a choice between Aus and a tour with tests against Samoa and Fiji with a midweek test against Tonga.... I know where the better quality games would be

Eh... Australia surely?

Wang King

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Eh... Australia surely?

For excitement? Def not, the last tour was shïte in a lit bag, won't be remembered for what happened on the field, but for who did and didn't get chosen for the last test

pickarooney

thomond2006 wrote: »

A good read: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/11751825/Rugby-World-Cup-2015-Scotland-show-folly-of-current-international-eligibility-rules.html

Cherry-picking cast-offs. How does that image work?

awec

Potential stupid question, but would there even be enough teams in a pacific island tour to fill a Lions schedule?

CatFromHue

awec wrote: »

Potential stupid question, but would there even be enough teams in a pacific island tour to fill a Lions schedule?

No and you'd probably only end up with 1 competitive game from Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga.

It sounds like a great idea but makes no sense.

He should be arguing for PI teams to get some share of the Nov Int games.

total former

awec wrote: »

Potential stupid question, but would there even be enough teams in a pacific island tour to fill a Lions schedule?

Not even close. It would be a great idea to play a one off game in Aus/NZ, e.g. the week before the first test, but anything else is pie in the sky.

WinnyThePoo

razorblunt wrote: »

Todd Clever has been sent home from the USA's Pacific Cup squad due to "multiple conduct violations".

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/13293826/ex-usa-eagles-captain-todd-clever-released-squad-multiple-conduct-violations

An Irish guy Aj MacGinty started for the USA at number 10 in the Samoa match interestingly enough.

pickarooney

There's historically a combined PI side but I haven't heard of them playing recently. The Lions could play a match or two against them.

irishbucsfan

Wang King wrote: »

For excitement? Def not, the last tour was shïte in a lit bag, won't be remembered for what happened on the field, but for who did and didn't get chosen for the last test

No, Irish people will remember it for the last reason. Everyone else will remember the rugby, especially that game swinging on Kurtley Beale's slip and the Genia try.

Midweek game vs a PI side instead of a S15 would be very good.

Lions also played the BaaBaas in HK before the start of the last tour, again another good opportunity to play v a PI side.

b.gud

Looks like Jamie Hagan will be heading down under after his spell in Leinster during the WC http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/70458998/melbourne-rebels-sign-irish-international-prop-jamie-hagan-on-twoyear-contract

The Lost Sheep

pickarooney wrote: »

There's historically a combined PI side but I haven't heard of them playing recently. The Lions could play a match or two against them.

That side only existed for 4/5 years and no hope will it come back. It hasn't played since 2008 and islands are better off without that side.

aimee1

Mourad says he will sue the ARU for millions because of quade cooper. Story on sky sports news

thomond2006

aimee1 wrote: »

Mourad says he will sue the ARU for millions because of quade cooper. Story on sky sports news

I'm with him on that one. Cooper signed his contract with Toulon, he needs to pay up.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16611/9918897/toulon-will-demand-compensation-from-quade-cooper

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm with him on that one. Cooper signed his contract with Toulon, he needs to pay up.

Yeah, as much as I dislike Toulon and Mourad I'd agree too. Cooper signed a contract and is now trying to pull out last minute. Toulon deserve compensation because they'll struggle to sign someone of the same calibre so late in the day.

That said I don't feel sorry for them one iota.

pickarooney

I thought Cooper had to pay it out of his own pocket?

thomond2006

molloyjh wrote: »

Yeah, as much as I dislike Toulon and Mourad I'd agree too. Cooper signed a contract and is now trying to pull out last minute. Toulon deserve compensation because they'll struggle to sign someone of the same calibre so late in the day.

That said I don't feel sorry for them one iota.

I think Toulon will do just fine without Cooper. They still have Giteau, JOC and Michalak available. Their scrum-half Escande can cover 10 as well. Mourad may just make some money for 'nothing' out of this! My understanding is that there was a break clause with a fixed compensation amount but now the contract has been ratified by the league it could cause salary cap issues etc.

pickarooney wrote: »

I thought Cooper had to pay it out of his own pocket?

I'm not sure how it will work. I thought the ARU were broke but suddenly they are able to afford to keep the likes of Folau, Cooper and maybe Genia if rumours are true. Toulon won't care who pays anyway.

Sangre

pickarooney wrote: »

I thought Cooper had to pay it out of his own pocket?

Without seeing any of documents, for the breach of contract you'd have to assume Cooper would be liable. However, if Toulon wanted to be very aggressive they might go after ARU for 'inducing breach of contract' which would be separate claim. All depends on governing laws of contracts and where its litigated though. Would be very expensive for all involved.

Wang King

Quins Jordan Turner Hall has been forced to retire due to continual injury issues, only 27yo.

The_Captain

pickarooney wrote: »

There's historically a combined PI side but I haven't heard of them playing recently. The Lions could play a match or two against them.

They're playing South Africa this Saturday

Textbook

Yeah_Right

The_Captain wrote: »

They're playing South Africa this Saturday

Textbook

Cheeky bollocks.

Mourad is some lad

The Barrage is scheduled to take place during an International Window in June 2016. Weeks after Pro12 and Premiership have finished.

I hope that our international players will choose to stay in France,” Boudjellal told Midi Olympique. “It seems obvious to me that the clubs, who pay the wages, should have their stars for the most important dates of the season.

Those players who won’t be here for the end of the season, we would ask them to look for another club,” warned Boudjellal of that possibility.

Podge_irl

I'm curious as to exactly how much trouble he can actually get in with a world rugby? Cause that's clear and unambiguous undue pressure on players to slip internationals right there. He should face some kind of punishment for that.

Wang King

Personally, I think he's spot on. If the club are splashing out massive amounts in wages, then yes, the club fixtures come first, if the players don't like it, bugger off somewhere else.
Can't see anything wrong with what he's saying

irishbucsfan

Wang King wrote: »

Personally, I think he's spot on. If the club are splashing out massive amounts in wages, then yes, the club fixtures come first, if the players don't like it, bugger off somewhere else.
Can't see anything wrong with what he's saying

Except the regulations of the very sport say that the players HAVE to be made available for the international window. Now whether or not the players make some gentleman's agreement to ignore that regulation, I don't know, however in general the clubs should abide entirely by the regulations of the sport.

nc6000

What about a Lions tour to France? Outside of the current three tours it's about the only option.

France may get their act together under Noves with maybe Ibanez to follow him into the job in a few years.

Warm-up games against the likes of Clermont, Toulon, Toulouse, Stade Francais, Bordeaux or Racing could be interesting and the three tests could be played in say Paris, Lyon and Marseille or Toulouse.

This would be much much easier for Lions fans to get to and no time difference of note to worry about.

Will I start a petition?

AbusesToilets

Anyone watching the Pacific Nations Cup? Good game on at the moment between the USA and Japan, Eagles just scored to go up 23-18. AJ McGinty putting in a good shift at 10.

sydneybound

Samoa 30 - Fiji 30

Was supposed to be game of the season.

thomond2006

Zac Guildford is rumoured to sign for Waratahs for 2016. Hopefully it works out for him and he has sorted himself out while at home in NZ. He only turns 27 next February so he's still got many years left.

CatFromHue

I dunno why I'm doing this to myself but I'm watching the 3rd test against NZ on the 05 Lions tour and all I can say is Murphy :mad::mad:

duckysauce

Tonga and USA were dire there in the PNC

duckysauce

fiji doing the japs

Absoluvely

duckysauce wrote: »

fiji doing the japs

Not so fast!

Fiji 24 - 9 Japan [HT]

Fiji 24 - 17 Japan [52"] (4 mins left on Fiji sinbin)

duckysauce

Absoluvely wrote: »

Not so fast!

Fiji 24 - 9 Japan [HT]

Fiji 24 - 17 Japan [52"] (4 mins left on Fiji sinbin)

garces doing them

Absoluvely

duckysauce wrote: »

garces doing them

Fiji managing to give away lots of possessions without any help from Garcès.

Fiji 27 - 22 Japan [69"]

Do they play all the games in the same stadium on the same day? Or am I imagining something?

duckysauce

Absoluvely wrote: »

Fiji managing to give away lots of possessions without any help from Garcès.

Fiji 27 - 22 Japan [69"]

2 yellows for **** all

duckysauce

3 yellows :pac:

Hagz

is this on tv?

duckysauce

Hagz wrote: »

is this on tv?

it's over

last match is

http://www.worldrugby.org/pnc/video

sydthebeat

http://www.the42.ie/steve-hansen-collapse-mauls-2224154-Jul2015/

dont think its been mentioned here before, but hansen is calling for collapsing line out mauls to be made legal after the RWC.

what do the big rugby brains here think about this? are mauls "bloody boring and an unfair contest"?

Podge_irl

This was trialed a few years ago and scrapped again.

I don't think they're unfair as long as the laws are properly applied. Attacking teams get a wee bit too much leeway about where the join the maul from at times.

I definitely don't think they're boring.

molloyjh

sydthebeat wrote: »

http://www.the42.ie/steve-hansen-collapse-mauls-2224154-Jul2015/

dont think its been mentioned here before, but hansen is calling for collapsing line out mauls to be made legal after the RWC.

what do the big rugby brains here think about this? are mauls "bloody boring and an unfair contest"?

He's full of crap tbh. He's talking about a fair contest, but it is a fair contest. Just because it's an area of the game someone was better than them at doesn't mean it should be changed. It's just total crap. The line-out maul is a skill in itself and a part of the game. He's just pissed off that the Argies used it against NZ successfully.