The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

What I didn't mention in #3 above for Argentina is fitness. It's been apparent (to me) in the second half of all of their matches, home and away. Pete

NZ are well known for winning games in the third quarter - this is certainly the period where fitness tells. Wales have become far better in this respect under Gatlland and co. and their training practices.

Will leave the below to Pharvey as usual. Just a reminder that it is coming up on Superbru.

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Thanks Pete - will organise.

[dtaai-maai]

Bath 20 - 22 Toulouse

Oh dear oh dear oh dear...

If ever a game was thrown away by one player it was to day and Freddy Burns was the culprit.

3 kicks missed, 1 very late sitter in front of the posts and 2 normally gettable, then with 2-3 mins to go Burns is over the try line and instead of getting the ball down, he starts playing to the crowd and holding it in one hand. Toulouse player comes up behind him and knocks it out of his hand...

He was quite rightly devastated, and subbed. I'm trying to feel sorry for him, but I can't - it was unforgivable and totally unprofessional.

[PeteC]

Pharvey is going to be devastated by that news. Maybe he's in a remote enough place where he won't get it right away. Pete


https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45801312

[pharvey]

Pharvey is going to be devastated by that news. Maybe he's in a remote enough place where he won't get it right away. Pete


https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45801312

Actually leaving for Mauritania today, so unfortunately saw it live - what a Muppet! Obviously fingers will be pointed at FB for the loss, but there really was some poor play by Bath on the day. Said it before, but do feel Todd Blackadder is lucky to still have a job, yet alone a contract extension.

[pharvey]

November Internationals 2018

HHF Prediction League now set-up. For those who have played previously you should receive an invite by Email. If not and for any others interested, the following details can be used to join: -

Pool Name: HHF November Rugby 2018
Pool Code: needails
Link: https://www.superbru.com/novemberintern ... p=11947650

[lindosfan1]

Joined thank you.

[pharvey]

The November Internationals kick off on November 3rd, ending on December 1st with the BaaBaas taking on the Pumas at Twickenham (note kick-off times GMT): -

Week1.JPG (41.41 KiB) Viewed 822 times

Week2.JPG (54.43 KiB) Viewed 822 times

Week3.JPG (54.3 KiB) Viewed 822 times

Week4.JPG (55.58 KiB) Viewed 822 times

Week5.JPG (18.52 KiB) Viewed 822 times

Further info. here: - https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2018/

[PeteC]

If I'm reading that correctly none of the Rugby Championship teams play each other in this competition. England and Ireland are unknown commodities this year so far, although news reports seem to indicate England are not at the level they once were. To me New Zealand does not have a very tough schedule. I'd like to see them against Wales and South Africa, but not to be. Pete

[dtaai-maai]

If I'm reading that correctly none of the Rugby Championship teams play each other in this competition. England and Ireland are unknown commodities this year so far, although news reports seem to indicate England are not at the level they once were. To me New Zealand does not have a very tough schedule. I'd like to see them against Wales and South Africa, but not to be. Pete

That's because it's not a competition, although you couldn't call these games 'friendlies'. They're seen as a chance for the 4 British and Irish unions to test themselves against the traditionally stronger southern hemisphere sides (+ Argentina these days), particularly with the World Cup coming up soon.

England have some serious injury problems, especially at prop and no. 8. You have to feel sorry for Billy Vunipola, who seems to get a serious injury whenever an important series of games is about to start. And now his brother is out too!

As for New Zealand, do they ever have a tough schedule...?

[pharvey]

As for New Zealand, do they ever have a tough schedule...?

Plus they're taking a squad of something like 52 players ......

[pharvey]

Bath are probably right to bitch about the match officials, but hey, this is not the first time and will be the last where there's dubious decisions made..... And when talking "negligence", a look a little closer to home would be wise. What's done is done Mr Craig - deal with it.

Bath Want Replay Against Toulouse

Bath have called on European Champions Cup organisers to have their game against Toulouse replayed due to “negligence” by the match officials.
The Premiership outfit suffered a 22-20 defeat to the Top 14 side in last Pool 1 opener.
Bath were on course to win the match but for ashowboating blunder from Freddie Burns where he failed to ground the ball correctly under the posts.
However, Bath’s owner Bruce Craig’s complaint is focused on two other incidents. The first one involves the referee, Andrew Brace, blowing the final whistle with a few seconds left in the match after Bath won a lineout deep inside Toulouse territory.
Bath insist there was still enough time for the lineout to take place and for them to attempt a winning score.
Their other complaint is that Toulouse duo Jerome Kaino (back-row) and Lucas Pointud (front-row) were both cited after the fixture and suspended by a disciplinary tribunal for foul play.
Bath feel that if the pair been punished properly on the field they would have both received red cards, with the French sife finishing the match with 13 players.
“I think the game should be replayed,” Craig told The Times.
“We will do what we can to get equity.”
Bath have written to the tournament organisers, European Professional Club Rugby [EPCR], and requested a rematch.
“This is the European Cup, there are massive sporting and financial implications,” said Craig.
“Bath have been majorly disadvantaged.
“This isn’t sour grapes, because maybe we wouldn’t have won the game, but that is not the issue.”
Kaino’s hit on Jamie Roberts led to the Bath centre leaving the field. The All Black was yellow carded but he was handed a five-week suspension after a disciplinary hearing earlier this week.
Pointud struck Nathan Catt with a shoulder but remained on the field but received four-week suspension later on.
“There is a player welfare issue here,” said Craig.
“In terms of his gross negligence, the referee is endangering the player.”

Taken from: - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bath-c ... -toulouse/

[PeteC]

Thomas "The Tank" retires.

Thomas Waldrom: Former England, Leicester and Exeter forward retires at 35

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45938061

[pharvey]

Thomas "The Tank" retires.

Thomas Waldrom: Former England, Leicester and Exeter forward retires at 35

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45938061

Hell of a player - would have loved to have seen him in the Premiership again this season, but not to be. Hope he stays in the "Rugby World"....

[pharvey]

Will be interesting to see how this move goes. I don't believe players who have made the move from rugby union (or league) in the past have made much headway.

Christian Wade: Wasps Release NFL-Bound Winger from Contract

Wasps have released winger Christian Wade from his contract to allow him to pursue a career in American football.

Wade, 27, is third in the all-time Premiership try-scorers list with 82 tries, but won only one England cap.

His decision to quit rugby union was reported on Friday, with former England back Ugo Monye saying he had been let down by the sport.

"It's disappointing to lose a player of Wadey's quality at this stage of the season," said Wasps boss Dai Young.

"The club held numerous discussions with him to try to convince him to keep pushing forward with Wasps, but in the end it was clear this is the path he wished to go down."

The terms of Wade's departure from Wasps have not been disclosed.

Although his move to the NFL is yet to be confirmed, he is expected to attempt to follow the league's International Player Pathway Programme.

"I would like to thank Wasps chairman Derek Richardson and Dai for their support, consideration and understanding in what is the most difficult decision of my life," said Wade.

[PeteC]

Jarryd Hayne from the NRL went to the San Francisco 49'ers and did quite well. I was sad to see him leave and return to the NRL, and don't know why it happened. He was used as a punt and kickoff returner and a receiver. He did well in both positions right out of the gate. Pete