The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

You can get that weekly Rugby Pass email directly Pharvey at the below.

https://www.rugbypass.com/mailinglist

[PeteC]

Good match and the Hurricanes finally beat the Crusaders in Christchurch. Hurricanes lead most of the match.

Interesting note is that the players are really starting to game the system concerning these new regulations. Intentional leg locking a man in to prevent a roll-away, and it's working. It's happened in previous weeks as well.

[pharvey]

Interesting note is that the players are really starting to game the system concerning these new regulations. Intentional leg locking a man in to prevent a roll-away, and it's working. It's happened in previous weeks as well.

If these laws do become "the norm", the SH teams will certainly be way ahead of the NH teams in the "uses and abuses" of them. Let's be fair, the "Blackness" are experts of the "Dark Arts".....

[dtaai-maai]

Let's be fair, the "Blackness" are experts of the "Dark Arts".....

Don't worry, the next England fly half is called Harry Potter...

[pharvey]

Let's be fair, the "Blackness" are experts of the "Dark Arts".....

Don't worry, the next England fly half is called Harry Potter...

Don't think it's legal to bring a Wand onto the pitch though DM - perhaps the English players do need that "Penis Extension" though.

[dtaai-maai]

I prefer to think of mine as a broomstick!

[pharvey]

I prefer to think of mine as a broomstick!

So size does matter!!

[PeteC]

Here's the complete opening game, Japan vs Russia from the 2019 RWC. It's on Facebook, but it appears that the link is embedding properly on here, for now.

[PeteC]

......and Wales vs Fiji

[PeteC]

If something goes wrong with the above or below embedding, you can find the game videos at the below. I'll post up more matches as they become available.

https://www.facebook.com/rugbyworldcup/

[PeteC]

[pharvey]

Something to look forward to!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53552277

Autumn Tests To Be Replaced By Eight-Team Tournament

"This year's Autumn Tests are set to be replaced by an eight-team tournament in which the Six Nations sides will be joined by Japan and Fiji.

It will begin on 14 November - two weeks after the final round of the 2020 Six Nations is completed.

Wales' game with Scotland, Ireland's trip to France, and England's match in Italy have been scheduled for 31 October after being postponed in March.

The other outstanding tie - Ireland v Italy - will be played the week before.

Scotland's meeting with Wales appears more likely to be held at Twickenham than in Cardiff.

No decision has been taken yet on whether fans will be allowed into the Six Nations matches, but the RFU is hopeful supporters will be able to attend games in the new tournament.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said last month the union is planning for up to 40,000 fans to be able to attend the Twickenham Tests, pending government approval.

England will face Wales, Ireland and Fiji in one group, with the latter two fixtures at Twickenham and the venue of the first game still to be decided.

In the other pool, Scotland will host Japan and France at Murrayfield and face Italy in Rome.

The tournament will be staged on four consecutive weekends until 5 December, with each team facing their equivalent in the other pool on the final weekend, with the venue to be decided.

Official confirmation of the schedule and the venues is expected in August.

It means Gregor Townsend's side's Autumn internationals against Argentina and New Zealand have been cancelled, while the one against Japan could be moved."

[PeteC]

Screen Shot 2020-07-29 at 12.08.47 PM.png (88.64 KiB) Viewed 281 times

https://mailchi.mp/sanzarrugby/2017-sup ... nd-3266927

[PeteC]

Well Pharvey, the Chiefs lose again. If Gatland wasn't who he is, I would think he would be a one season manager. I'm beginning to think this team doesn't like to play for him, there seems to be little to no motivation.

I've watched three pre-game shows now which are done down on the field, the camera spends a lot of the 30-40 minute show focused on the players warm-up. Three games now Gatland has been down there and there is no interaction at all between him and the players, or the players back at him. Everyone just looks grim.

It has to be remembered that the Chiefs were a winning and successful team last year and it's not beyond the imagination that there is some bitterness. They seemed to have had a good relationship with the previous coach. The players are the same but they have tanked for the most part.

Anyway, that's just my gut feeling, we'll see what happens down the road.

[PeteC]