Forum Rugby Club - 2009-2010 Season

But above Irish by virtue of having more (low scoring) wins. And in the cradle of magnanimity that is Rugby Football, thanks, Pests for beating Sarries!

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
But above Irish by virtue of having more (low scoring) wins.

'sthat a fact?!! Even better!

By the way, James, got the Powerpak, thanks although forgot to mention it!

Regards

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
And in the cradle of magnanimity that is Rugby Football, thanks, Pests for beating Sarries!

You had to strip away the gloss!!!!

Leeds away next then for wasps, could be interesting, they being run by an old Tiger

quote:

Originally posted by deadlifter:
they being run by an old Tiger

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Mark,
I have held and played with a baby one of those.
It was a lifes dream come true.
Stu

Brilliant Stu. Full size one would be a bit risky though!

I thought England were better today.......still rubbish, but better!

I concur, it is hard to see them achieving anything except possibly just surviving and i do feel something HAS TO CHANGE. Maybe it`s time for Borthwick to go but Wilkinson is a different kettle of fish he missed a few today and i started to think, "mate you have given sterling service but" and then he goes and drops a goal leaving you to think if he was out what could of happened, but Flood does need more game time.
Anyway it was a double kick in the bollocks today with the Tigers obviously depleted against the Saints taking a right drubbing with us giving away penalties but we are still top and still in the play off`s

P.S. I`M STILL PISSED OFF THOUGH

I think we need a better, more dynamic back row and more creative midfield who can break the gain line.

Easter is lumbering and Haskell a non-entity. Borthwick is uninspirational as captain and a mediocre second row. Armitage is not the player he was last season and the front row are second rate.

We are rubbish at the breakdown and the ball is painfully slow, but even when it does come back quickly we don't know what to do with it.

I'd just play the Saxons instead!

Les Bleus are running away with this. I think that England should try to find an excuse not to play them.

Interesting, but dispiriting, that so many of the players who shone for the Lions in Sarth Efrikker last year are underperforming in the Six Nations this year.

quote:

the front row are second rate.

By that you mean Tim Payne

"Les Bleus are running away with this. I think that England should try to find an excuse not to play them." quote

We are France`s nemisis in this game so do not count on them winning the grand slam

quote:

Originally posted by deadlifter:

quote:

the front row are second rate.

By that you mean Tim Payne

Well. yeah, but I'm not keen on Dylan Hartley either, although Cole had a decent game.

Glad I didn't laugh at Tigers' result!

So am I.

Back to England...

Cole is a fantastic new propect, making a good show of things in the front row and always seemed to be getting stuck into the loose in an imaginative way. Not convinced about Payne or Hartley. In addition to the comments about Haskell and Easter, I don't think Shaw has been up to much so far.

At least Borthwick has caught a few - though I'm getting sick of the pundits saying 'he makes a difference where you can't easily see it', as captain his making of difference needs to be more visible.

And even Moody, though he has tried to be everywhere, has still seemed to be off the pace (though with the specific of the first Try, I don't think he stood a chance again Bowe in a foot race).

The pack - and indeed the whole team - is just looking terribly tired.

Didn't like the way Care lost his cool, lack of self-control is just what the opposition want, and why they do the niggle in the first place.

Wilkinson just looks, well, past it. Good servant of the club etc, but now needs to be in the Old Boys' XV. Average kicking - the fact that he managed a drop goal may have rekindled 7-year old memories, but we can't live on memories. Any half-decent Flyhalf should have got it. Give Flood a chance.

Cueto and Tait tried something at least, but otherwise the backs seemed largely ineffectual, totally lacking penetration, and Flutey was all but invisible.

Not sure where we go from here.

Why all the criticism of Wilkinson when he is often getting slow ball or being shovelled rubbish from Care? He made several half-breaks which is more than can be said for most of the back line!

Because he should be the leader of that section of the team and giving the orders to Danny Care and dictating the play

Fly Half

The heartbeat of the side and arguably the most influential player on the pitch. Almost every attack will go through the fly half, who also has the responsibility of deciding when to pass the ball out to the centres and when to kick for position.

The fly half must orchestrate the team's back line, deciding what rehearsed moves to put into action and reacting to gaps in defence. He or she is also the main target for the defending team's open-side flanker and so must be strong in the tackle.

The fly half has to be able to relieve territorial pressure by kicking down the field into touch, and is often the team's designated place kicker for conversions, penalties and drop goal attempts.

In defence he or she will marshal the backs to ensure each opposition player is covered, and a strong-tackling fly half can snuff out opposition attacks before they start.

Key Abilities
Tactical awareness, accurate passing, a good rugby brain, kicking accuracy, vision, leadership, resilience.

Tigers tour de force in the first half and then a try in the second for the bonus point and the game

Only trouble though is the possibility that the pests get in through the back door

TIGERS TIGERS

After last week's under strength and under par poor performance at Franklin's Gardens, today's bonus point 35-19 win over 4th place L.Irish is a bit more like it with more first pick players on the park.

Yes we know we're going to lose some, Tuqiri after a short spell (and just as he's starting to settle in!) and of course Moody at the end of the season after many years' loyal service. Sorry to see him go, but in the twilight of his career he's got to do what's best for him and his family.

With that news on Thursday, how lifting it is that good old George Chuter should score his first try in 95 games for the Tigers, to seal the bonus point win.

All goes to show that a club is more than one player.

I cannot for the life off me see why Moody would leave the Tigers, i have looked for an explanation but cannot find one on the Tigers website and to Bath of all teams because they are down and out for the foreseeable future

Bath Rugby have announced the signing of England International and British and Irish Lion Lewis Moody on a three-year deal.

As one of the most abrasive, dynamic and destructive flankers in the country, the 31-year-old will join the West Country team in the summer having completed many years as a Leicester Tiger.

"I am really looking forward to an exciting new challenge at this stage of my career," said Lewis.

"Bath Rugby's values perfectly suit my own, it is a great City and Club, with a real family feel and a close knit and impressive squad.

"I have always known that if I was ever going to leave Leicester, the only club I would consider in the UK would be Bath. They play an exciting brand of rugby and having spent time with both Steve Meehan and Nick Blofeld I am sure that there are exciting years ahead."

A tireless flanker of the highest order, Lewis has arguably been one of the stand out players this SixNations and during his England career has notched up an impressive 59 international caps.

Well known for his professionalism and his apparent lack of pain and self-conservation, he will dive in where others fear to tread and it is this style that Bath's Head Coach Steve Meehan believes will be such an asset to the team.

"Lewis is a proven winner and he brings vast experience, a fierce determination and great attitude with him," said Meehan.

Just found this though it still does not explain why the move

quote:

Originally posted by deadlifter:
Only trouble though is the possibility that the pests get in through the back door

Tee hee hee!

quote:

Originally posted by deadlifter:
I cannot for the life off me see why Moody would leave the Tigers....

Tee hee hee!

Joint fourth now are you,me thinks the irish will beat you on the fourth of April and the Saints will later this month

There's lots of conspiracy theory about Lewis being 'got rid of' by Leicester, but to be fair it's looking more like he priced himself out of the (Tigers) market.

As an aging player who has been pretty injured in recent years, there was quite a lot of open talk about him possibly going to France. But <quelle surprise> that didn't materialise, nor did the leverage (engineered or not) result in a big new contract at Leicester.

Unfortunately, we are in the professional era these days, where there is no space for sentimentality, it costs too much and especially with the Club wages cap. And in this era, an injury prone player - even a legend - in the twilight of his playing days cannot name his price.

When players had to do 'day jobs' and the rugby was their recreation, there was more space for everyone being nice, clubs and players.