General rugby thread
Discussion
Joey Ramone said:
It was Eddie Jone's choice that Farrell be moved on. He felt there was a conflict of interests if father were to coach son
As it happens, the wrong decision. But not necessarily the fault of the RFU. For once.
and the correct decision IMO - ok at this point fazlet is a nailed on starter, but what happens if/when his form goes to pot and he's still picked?As it happens, the wrong decision. But not necessarily the fault of the RFU. For once.
irocfan said:
Joey Ramone said:
It was Eddie Jone's choice that Farrell be moved on. He felt there was a conflict of interests if father were to coach son
As it happens, the wrong decision. But not necessarily the fault of the RFU. For once.
and the correct decision IMO - ok at this point fazlet is a nailed on starter, but what happens if/when his form goes to pot and he's still picked?As it happens, the wrong decision. But not necessarily the fault of the RFU. For once.
After all, at various points in the last couple of years, Gloucester, Bath, Saints and Wasps have all had DORs managing their sons without too many apparent problems, so why should England be all that different?
irocfan said:
and the correct decision IMO - ok at this point fazlet is a nailed on starter, but what happens if/when his form goes to pot and he's still picked?
Everyone would be up in arms.There was enough of that before Eddie Jones came in, we'd be hearing it again now with Owen's recent tackles anyway I reckon. He's clearly doing an exceptional job for Ireland, it's not so clear to me he was doing such a good job for England, for whatever reason.
The problem is, from my perspective, not so much the decision for him leave England which was Jones' choice and made for good reasons.
It's that the RFU said (I think- maybe my aged memory is failing) that Jones' appointment gave them the option to strengthen the pipeline of talent to have an English coach in the future. Farrell (A) was in that pipeline. The RFU, not Jones, could have taken steps to secure him another role somewhere in the English system. Or as the coach of a Tier 2 side to gain more experience. They could have done more generally to secure the pipeline. But not only has Edwards, who would have been a great addition, agreed to go back to league but now Farrell is not only unavailable, he's coaching the competition!
The RFU are not doing, have not been doing, everything they can to prepare for when Jones leaves. Richards? Tainted goods probably (and sadly) for the RFU old boys. Baxter? Maybe, although he'd probably ask himself why he would want it. Gustard? Probably too early. And let's not even get into Steve Diamond. Oh, and Borthwick. Who am I missing?
So, unless it's a choice of one in the form of Baxter, then the next time the coach changes we'll be playing the same music. Great talent development, chaps.
I envy the Irish. They have a great incumbent and they've moved swiftly to secure a great replacement who now has a proper chance to come up to speed as the main guy. (And I'd make a small wager that NZ know already who's coming in for Hansen). If only the RFU were that forward-looking.
It's that the RFU said (I think- maybe my aged memory is failing) that Jones' appointment gave them the option to strengthen the pipeline of talent to have an English coach in the future. Farrell (A) was in that pipeline. The RFU, not Jones, could have taken steps to secure him another role somewhere in the English system. Or as the coach of a Tier 2 side to gain more experience. They could have done more generally to secure the pipeline. But not only has Edwards, who would have been a great addition, agreed to go back to league but now Farrell is not only unavailable, he's coaching the competition!
The RFU are not doing, have not been doing, everything they can to prepare for when Jones leaves. Richards? Tainted goods probably (and sadly) for the RFU old boys. Baxter? Maybe, although he'd probably ask himself why he would want it. Gustard? Probably too early. And let's not even get into Steve Diamond. Oh, and Borthwick. Who am I missing?
So, unless it's a choice of one in the form of Baxter, then the next time the coach changes we'll be playing the same music. Great talent development, chaps.
I envy the Irish. They have a great incumbent and they've moved swiftly to secure a great replacement who now has a proper chance to come up to speed as the main guy. (And I'd make a small wager that NZ know already who's coming in for Hansen). If only the RFU were that forward-looking.
Bad news from an Irish perspective that we are losing Schmidt, hopefully he will go out on an almighty high (might be a bit too much of an ask though). It's not really a surprise but there is always that little bit of hope.
Good news is that there will be some continuity with Farrell who seems to be highly regarded amongst those in the know.
Good news is that there will be some continuity with Farrell who seems to be highly regarded amongst those in the know.
Had a great day out on Saturday. Always good to beat the Aussies 
But they were pretty poor and England should have been well clear at half time - lots of mistakes, especially in close in passing I thought.
Decent autumn for the side though and something to build on over the next 12mths.
Ireland are looking very good - peaking too soon?
All Blacks don't look like the All Blacks at all.
Could be a very good world cup - maybe a second time for a Northern Hemisphere side to take it?
But they were pretty poor and England should have been well clear at half time - lots of mistakes, especially in close in passing I thought.Decent autumn for the side though and something to build on over the next 12mths.
Ireland are looking very good - peaking too soon?
All Blacks don't look like the All Blacks at all.
Could be a very good world cup - maybe a second time for a Northern Hemisphere side to take it?
Sam Burgess says individual egos and selfish players cost England at World Cup...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46355184
I do find that a little hard to swallow given that he shouldn't really have been playing in the 1st place (?)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46355184
I do find that a little hard to swallow given that he shouldn't really have been playing in the 1st place (?)
irocfan said:
and then just to cap off the weekend - Fiji did for the French
Times are looking quite desperate for the French if the world rankings are anything to go by. Less than a year to go until the RWC, and they're 4 points adrift of any other tier 1 nation! (Unless Argentina are now considered a tier 1 nation?)
hope he's okSo Exeter's unbeaten run comes to an end...
Not only did it come to an end, they were within two minutes of going home without a single point!
Let's have a little quiz...
1. Who is the only team to have beaten Exeter this season?
2. Who is the only team to have prevented Saracens from scoring a try bonus point this season?
3. Who is the only team to have gone to Gloucester and won in any competition so far this season?
And for a bonus point... What sort of freak gets up and leaves a game like that early?!?!?!?
If only we could play like this every week, we'd be unstoppable!
Not only did it come to an end, they were within two minutes of going home without a single point!
Let's have a little quiz...
1. Who is the only team to have beaten Exeter this season?
2. Who is the only team to have prevented Saracens from scoring a try bonus point this season?
3. Who is the only team to have gone to Gloucester and won in any competition so far this season?
And for a bonus point... What sort of freak gets up and leaves a game like that early?!?!?!?
If only we could play like this every week, we'd be unstoppable!
I've just been reading a Guardian article suggesting that even Leicester aren't safe from the threat of relegation this season.
Looking at the table and comparing it against previous tables, it certainly makes for a weird comparison!
Over the previous six seasons (as far back as the RFU site goes, and I couldn't be bothered to look elsewhere), the minimum points gap between the bottom two teams has been 6 points, and the average - excluding the statistical aberration of London Welsh finishing 33 points adrift - has been 9.2 points.
Also over those previous seasons, the biggest gap between second & third has been 7 points, and the average has been 6.2.
I know we're only 1/3 of the way through the season, but we've got four teams still within a bonus point win of Newcastle in the relegation spot, and Wasps in third are a point closer to Newcastle than they are to Sarries in second!
Any thoughts on why it has suddenly got so bloody close behind the first two?
Looking at the table and comparing it against previous tables, it certainly makes for a weird comparison!
Over the previous six seasons (as far back as the RFU site goes, and I couldn't be bothered to look elsewhere), the minimum points gap between the bottom two teams has been 6 points, and the average - excluding the statistical aberration of London Welsh finishing 33 points adrift - has been 9.2 points.
Also over those previous seasons, the biggest gap between second & third has been 7 points, and the average has been 6.2.
I know we're only 1/3 of the way through the season, but we've got four teams still within a bonus point win of Newcastle in the relegation spot, and Wasps in third are a point closer to Newcastle than they are to Sarries in second!
Any thoughts on why it has suddenly got so bloody close behind the first two?
Kermit power said:
I've just been reading a Guardian article suggesting that even Leicester aren't safe from the threat of relegation this season.
Given the current score at Bristol, I can believe that headline :OKermit power said:
I've just been reading a Guardian article suggesting that even Leicester aren't safe from the threat of relegation this season.
Looking at the table and comparing it against previous tables, it certainly makes for a weird comparison!
Over the previous six seasons (as far back as the RFU site goes, and I couldn't be bothered to look elsewhere), the minimum points gap between the bottom two teams has been 6 points, and the average - excluding the statistical aberration of London Welsh finishing 33 points adrift - has been 9.2 points.
Also over those previous seasons, the biggest gap between second & third has been 7 points, and the average has been 6.2.
I know we're only 1/3 of the way through the season, but we've got four teams still within a bonus point win of Newcastle in the relegation spot, and Wasps in third are a point closer to Newcastle than they are to Sarries in second!
Any thoughts on why it has suddenly got so bloody close behind the first two?
Below the top two, anybody could beat anybody. It'll be close. You need to be winning your home games and pick up bonus points as much as you can. Quins haven't won many matches, but have already collected eight bonus points. Makes a difference.Looking at the table and comparing it against previous tables, it certainly makes for a weird comparison!
Over the previous six seasons (as far back as the RFU site goes, and I couldn't be bothered to look elsewhere), the minimum points gap between the bottom two teams has been 6 points, and the average - excluding the statistical aberration of London Welsh finishing 33 points adrift - has been 9.2 points.
Also over those previous seasons, the biggest gap between second & third has been 7 points, and the average has been 6.2.
I know we're only 1/3 of the way through the season, but we've got four teams still within a bonus point win of Newcastle in the relegation spot, and Wasps in third are a point closer to Newcastle than they are to Sarries in second!
Any thoughts on why it has suddenly got so bloody close behind the first two?
Tigers could well be drawn into the relegation battle, absolutely no form.
df76 said:
Below the top two, anybody could beat anybody. It'll be close. You need to be winning your home games and pick up bonus points as much as you can. Quins haven't won many matches, but have already collected eight bonus points. Makes a difference.
Tigers could well be drawn into the relegation battle, absolutely no form.
Especially as currently being thrashed 41-10 by Bristol.Tigers could well be drawn into the relegation battle, absolutely no form.
Edit - now they have been thrashed 41-10 by Bristol.
Edited by JonChalk on Saturday 1st December 14:57
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