Forum Rugby Club

Guinness Prem Table
Guinness Prem Table - April 12 2008
Pos Team P Pts
1 Gloucester 19 61
2 Bath 18 55
3 Sale Sharks 18 54
4 NEC Harlequins 18 54
5 Leicester Tigers 18 53
6 London Wasps 17 51
7 Saracens 19 47
8 London Irish 18 42

A bonus point win in our next game takes us into second place!

What was that about 'you gotta be innit to winnit?', James?!!!

OK - now we have the EDF cup out the way we can concentrate on the premiership!

YES I was there on Saturday watch some team that looked like L'ster, they certainly did not play like the team I know and love - to be fair the Ospreys did not let us play and well done to them - 1-1 now - let's see about next year!!

We have some bloody hard games on the run in - any one of 6 for 4 places and we have Quinns on 10th May - could be nasty!!

Let's hope it's sorted by then

16/04/2008 15:48
LONDON (Reuters) - Former captain Martin Johnson will become England team manager, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday.

The RFU also said Brian Ashton will step down as head coach and has been offered the role of head coach of the national academy. Johnson begins his duties on July 1.

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
16/04/2008 15:48
LONDON (Reuters) - Former captain Martin Johnson will become England team manager, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday.

Phew that was a bit squeaky towards the end. Wasps were 40-12 up against Sarries at one point and ran out eventual 40-29 winners. I'm sure that Shaun Edwards will have something to say about the defending towards the end. Still, six tries scored, bonus point secured, third place achieved with a game in hand - job's a good 'un!

Mark

There's starting to be a familiar look about this season's premiership!

Yeah it's amazing how much better WASPS are when they've got all their players back from Internationals...

You both know what I think

Looks like that's not the only tiger around here that's not biting!

It's going to be a close one - your game in hand is prob going to be the decider 1st 3 looks like Glos, Bath & Wasps (much as I hate to admit it) - we have Quinns on 10th May - I will be going to see us reach play off's then win!

To finish first, first you have to finish!!

Bollox!

Hi Guys, you thought I had gone away!

Wow did not expect to woop the Wasps away, but what a pleasure, gave LD a great send off...HaHa

Hope they have enough in the tank for the last game BATH at KINGSHOLM... bring it on!

Flyfisher

quote:

Originally posted by flyfisher:
Hope they have enough in the tank for the last game BATH at KINGSHOLM... bring it on!

That's going to be a tough one, FF. Bath looked awesome in the first half against Saracens on Saturday.

Wasps were due a loss we had put together such a run it was always going to come sooner or later.

Anyway, how are you, FF?

Mark

Hi Mark

I am well thanks, could be a bit busier, but everything is now starting to get sorted.

Hope that GLAWS get the trip to Twickers and win this time.

The GP has been an interesting league this year and the last fortnight will be no exception.

Take care all of you (Tigers supporters included).

FF

Good to hear from you FF. In a spirit of total fairness, I do hope that Gloucester clinch the GP trophy this year. For me they have been the stand-out consistently good side all season, and really deserve it.

James

OK, done with Newcastle, put the Raspberries game behind us, into 3rd with Leeds(!) the last agme. Closer and closer. It's a marathon, not a sprint etc.

A win should put us second if Glaws take care of Bath.

Very satisfactory!

A very big weekend ahead, we stand a very small chance of getting 4th - Tigers should of put this season away sometime ago - Glous deserve home and so do Bath - those pesky wasps are coming on strong again

Will be at Welford Rd for the last game - let's hope we can at least play European rugby next year!

quote:

Originally posted by antony d:
Will be at Welford Rd for the last game - let's hope we can at least play European rugby next year!

After three finals and two pots last season, methinks it will be bye bye Loffredo if we don't at least play European rugby next year!

Well my money's on another famous Wasps victory come 31st May. A crushing defeat of Gloucester - revenge for the two GP defeats.

Mark

P.S. If I'd come up trumps with all my previous sporting bets then I wouldn't still be working! Something about letting the heart rule the head..............

EXPERIMENTAL LAW VARIATIONS

It's too late now to take part in the RFU survey for grass roots opinion, but what are your views on the controversial ELVs?

I'm not expert enough to understand all the subtlties.

Will the ELVs - as some commentators have suggested - ruin the game? What do you think?

Here they are...

Assistant Referees
Assistant Referees can assist referees in any manner required when appointed by a match organiser.


Posts and flags around the field
Posts and flags around the field (ARC variation)

a. Corner posts will be positioned at the outside junction of the goal line and
the touch line.

i. If a player is in possession of the ball and touches a corner post he
will not be in touch unless he touches the touchline or the ground
beyond the touchline.

ii. If the ball is not being carried by a player and it touches the corner
post the ball will not be deemed to be touch in goal.


Inside the 22 metre line
When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22 metre line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22, the following can occur.

a. If the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where
the ball was kicked.

b. If a tackle, ruck or maul is subsequently formed and the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is where the ball crossed the touch line.

Lineout
On a quick throw in, the ball can be thrown straight or backwards towards the
defenders goal line, but not forward towards the opposition goal line.

Pre-gripping, lifting and using another team mate to lever is allowed.

Tackle and Ruck
Players entering the breakdown area must do so through the gate. RIGIDLY
APPLIED

Immediately the tackle occurs there are offside lines.

The halfback should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.

If the ball is unplayable at a tackle or ruck, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a Free Kick.

Maul
If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a Free Kick.

Scrum
The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the team's scrum half, is 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.

Sanctions
For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10-Foul Play, the sanction is a Free Kick.

I think the intention is to make the game more free-flowing and exciting which is good and, as with all these sorts of law changes, one can only wait and see the effect in practice.

There is a danger that much of the character of Union will disappear, however. Those players who operate on the edge of the laws may have a harder time although there is now every opportunity for the defending team to 'illegally' try to stop a ruck or maul. It also looks as though the scrum will become more difficult to contest as I understand it. What I wouldn't want to see is a sterilistion of the game like happened in the transition to League. The attraction of Union over League for me is that there are more dimensions and a greater dynamic to the game, rather than just a flat out pace all the way through which can in itself become a littel tedious. However, I do accept that Union in its current guise can very frequently result in dull, technical stalemates; more so than in League.

As always it's about balance. Let's wait and see, although I suspect this may not benefit England!

Oh yessss!!!