SWING LOWWW - The Rugby World Cup Thread

[Woodsey]

Chaps, will you put your pitchforks and torches away, please?

On his way back from a pretty emotional game, maybe a beverage or two to wash it down...

It's a daft choice of language, but I'd be amazed if Woodsey has meant anything by it. If anyone's allowed to take offense at the implication, it's me, and I don't.

Let's not have another hounding like with leethefish, please. It's not helpful and it's as unsavoury and unwelcome a set of behaviours as any silly post. We're better than that, I hope.

May we get back to the rugby, please?

Just, poof as in girlie shite is what I meant, couldn't really give a fuck if the usual nit pickers stick their oar in about the odd word they don't like, they can go do one.

Anyway, back to the rugby as you say...

[tikay]

I suppose this is a bit aftertimey, but the way the England Team have embraced commercialism troubled me, adverts galore featuring the players (some of them very good adverts, too), & even Prince Whatsit attending training sessions.

That's not the single-minded focus that wins World Cups, imo.

Sir Alf Ramsey - who never had a team of world beaters, but he did have a team of focussed players - would never have allowed all that palaver.

[TightEnd]

another great pic

Click to see full-size image.

some of these are a bit after-timey, but the decision not to pick players playing overseas (when the english game operates with a salary cap and the french game doesn't) was a biggie. Australia got this right for Giteau etc

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11910126/10-things-Stuart-Lancaster-got-wrong-as-England-crashed-out-of-Rugby-World-Cup-2015.html

[TightEnd]

this was one of the moments of the world cup for me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=21&v=_K0ts859I4w

[rinswun]

another great pic

Click to see full-size image.

some of these are a bit after-timey, but the decision not to pick players playing overseas (when the english game operates with a salary cap and the french game doesn't) was a biggie. Australia got this right for Giteau etc

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11910126/10-things-Stuart-Lancaster-got-wrong-as-England-crashed-out-of-Rugby-World-Cup-2015.html

Might be a bit aftertimey but hard to disagree. A worrying lack of leadership both on and off the field imo. There have been a lot of tired platitudes over the last four years and no inkling of any progress. He spoke yesterday like a man who knew he wasn't going to be in charge in the Six Nations and I can't see how he can be allowed to continue.

Feel for Robshaw but he also has to go. A couple of Quins supporting friends of mine have been contesting that he's not even the best 7 at Quins for the past couple of years. Incredible that he was put in this position really.

[Teacake]

Chaps, will you put your pitchforks and torches away, please?

On his way back from a pretty emotional game, maybe a beverage or two to wash it down...

It's a daft choice of language, but I'd be amazed if Woodsey has meant anything by it. If anyone's allowed to take offense at the implication, it's me, and I don't.

Let's not have another hounding like with leethefish, please. It's not helpful and it's as unsavoury and unwelcome a set of behaviours as any silly post. We're better than that, I hope.

May we get back to the rugby, please?

Just, poof as in girlie shite is what I meant, couldn't really give a fuck if the usual nit pickers stick their oar in about the odd word they don't like, they can go do one.

Anyway, back to the rugby as you say...

And it's the Aussies that lack class....

[RED-DOG]

Chaps, will you put your pitchforks and torches away, please?

On his way back from a pretty emotional game, maybe a beverage or two to wash it down...

It's a daft choice of language, but I'd be amazed if Woodsey has meant anything by it. If anyone's allowed to take offense at the implication, it's me, and I don't.

Let's not have another hounding like with leethefish, please. It's not helpful and it's as unsavoury and unwelcome a set of behaviours as any silly post. We're better than that, I hope.

May we get back to the rugby, please?

Just, poof as in girlie shite is what I meant, couldn't really give a fuck if the usual nit pickers stick their oar in about the odd word they don't like, they can go do one.

Anyway, back to the rugby as you say...

And it's the Aussies that lack class....

'Nit pickers' instead of the usual 'PC wankers' eh? He must be mellowing.

[Doobs]

Chaps, will you put your pitchforks and torches away, please?

On his way back from a pretty emotional game, maybe a beverage or two to wash it down...

It's a daft choice of language, but I'd be amazed if Woodsey has meant anything by it. If anyone's allowed to take offense at the implication, it's me, and I don't.

Let's not have another hounding like with leethefish, please. It's not helpful and it's as unsavoury and unwelcome a set of behaviours as any silly post. We're better than that, I hope.

May we get back to the rugby, please?

Just, poof as in girlie shite is what I meant, couldn't really give a fuck if the usual nit pickers stick their oar in about the odd word they don't like, they can go do one.

Anyway, back to the rugby as you say...

And it's the Aussies that lack class....

'Nit pickers' instead of the usual 'PC wankers' eh? He must be mellowing.

Pissed off about this, I needed PC Wankers for a line in Woodsey bingo. 

[TightEnd]

brilliant stuff

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-3259799/England-Rugby-World-Cup-2015-post-mortem-Late-collapse-vs-Wales-midfield-uncertainty-questions-need-answering-Sir-Clive-Woodward.html

[vegaslover]

Back on topic - Lancaster and Robshaw. Do they stay in their roles? Yes/No and why?

Both have got to go, both out of depth at this level imo.
I'm pretty sure every rugby fan knows there are plenty of options better than Robshaw, who just doesn't have the performance level against the top teams.

Needs a complete review of selection policy too. Absolute farce that players that play abroad and expand their rugby playing experience are barred from selection.

Lancaster very similar to Moores (England cricket), is all about the data. He fills the players heads with 6 or 7 game plans depending on what the score is and how much time is left of the clock. A lot of the fuck ups seen regularly are due to the players not really knowing what system they are meant to be playing at particular points in the game.

Their best performance recently, against France, they didn't get given any plans except go out and play like you do for your clubs. Of course was the most exciting display by far.

[AlunB]

I feel sorry for Robshaw. He should never have been in that position. He's standing there saying he let his country down. How could he not? He should never have been there as a 7 and England captain in the first place.

For all that's been talked about the World Cup and Lancaster I'm amazed how little has been said about the decision to drop Ford. I think because Farrell did a good job at being Farrell (the only job he can do) it sort of got ignored. But THE difference between a decent and a potentially great England back line was Ford in the last 12 months. Why on earth they dropped him I have literally no idea. I just don't get it.

[TightEnd]

I feel sorry for Robshaw. He should never have been in that position. He's standing there saying he let his country down. How could he not? He should never have been there as a 7 and England captain in the first place.

For all that's been talked about the World Cup and Lancaster I'm amazed how little has been said about the decision to drop Ford. I think because Farrell did a good job at being Farrell (the only job he can do) it sort of got ignored. But THE difference between a decent and a potentially great England back line was Ford in the last 12 months. Why on earth they dropped him I have literally no idea. I just don't get it.

Ford got the backline going all six nations but had a stinker in the warm up game in Paris

for whatever reason, lancaster seems to have lost his nerve at that point

the irony now is that having had one playmaker in the team for the wales defeat (would have been two if jospeh wasn't injured), we've picked four for the game against uruguay when we are out

for all the talk of stategic reviews etc the simple fact is he picked an inexperienced squad, minus some players based in france too and then picked odd teams in the tournament. even Brugess thinks he is a six, mike ford certainly does.

[TightEnd]

Leicester mid game today

nice

[tikay]

Ian Ritchie, the RFU Chief Exec, has announced a searching review of England's performance in the World Cup.

In announcing this, he made it cleat that the coaching staff, who all have 6 year contracts, & the decision not to select players based in France, will not be part of the review.

[TightEnd]

a fatal error

Click to see full-size image.