2019 Rugby World Cup
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@Salacious-Crumb it's a bit like O for Awesome
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Joe Tekori
Scummy bastard French clubs strike again
More bribery/blackmail of PI players to "retire" before a RWC
I hope Los Pumas and England beat the crap out of France
Bunch of crooks and pirates
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On a lighter note: Video of England RWC Training Camps - Part of a Series:
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
From Planet Rugby.
Samoa have been hit by a setback ahead of the Rugby World Cup after experienced second-row Joe Tekori announced his international retirement.The 35-year-old revealed the news on Instagram on Tuesday, with the tournament less than two months away from kicking off in Japan.
Tekori plays for Top 14 giants Toulouse and will now focus solely on matters with the French champions, which is a big blow for Samoa.
Samoan locks
Current:
Kane Laupepe (Hurricanes)
Chris Vui (Bristol)
Filo Paulo (Unattached )
Senio Toleafoa (Nevers)Recent call ups:
Faatiga Lemalu (Unattached - was Yorkshire Carnegie)
Brandon Nansen (Dragons)
Masalosalo Tutaia (Perpignan)Is Tekori retiring a big blow? Genuine question. He's getting on a bit now (35 years old). I suppose his value for missing both the 6 weeks or so of pre-RWC camp, plus the tournament itself is quite high to his club.
I'd rather it was him than a Chris Vui or Kane Laupepe etc.
Would he make the actual squad? Definitely behind Laupepe and Vui as first choice I would have thought.
All depth is good depth, though.
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@Bovidae said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Brian Alainu'uese has never played for Samoa yet. Currently at Toulon.
Recency bias and name bias and youth bias.
But I would have thought these 7 locks would currently be the best 7 Samoan-eligble to narrow down to the final squad and are currently in their prime (therefore, ahead of Tekori).
Kane Laupepe
Chris Vui
Filo Paulo
Brian Alainu'uese
Brandon Nansen
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Michael FatialofaPlus there is Ben Nee-Nee, although my hunch is I would rate him lower than Tekori.
I don't know much or anything about Tutaia, Lemalu, Toleafoa.
But Tekori has actually played for Samoa and put in 3 and a half RWC cycles worth of effort, unlike Alainu'uese who never has despite having left a central contracting environment. Step up Brian, Michael or Gerard , allow Joe to cash in during his twilight years and how about you step up to the plate you pikers.
Don't know what availabilty status of Nansen currently is.
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@Rapido Maybe Tekori was given the word that he wasn't going to be picked and allowed to retire gracefully after years of service. Lemalu was excellent as an integral part of Auckland's champion tight five last season, starting most games after they lost Scrafton for the season.
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2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
I thought they had dagg in the squad as the other first five. Or was he solely a fullback then.
Yes I'm reading 100 comments ago. I have some important stuff to procrastinate on.
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@Magpie_in_aus Piri was the 'other' 10 option in the 2011 squad. Didn't he play at 10 in the pool game v Canada?
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@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Magpie_in_aus Piri was the 'other' 10 option in the 2011 squad. Didn't he play at 10 in the pool game v Canada?
Yes, he played the last 30 mins. Slade went to the wing. Weepu became the first-choice goal-kicker too.
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@Nevorian said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bovidae Slade was best at left right out
c'mon Brisbane 2014
That was more Kaino coming on and bossing than Slade. Although after Cruden's horror show, he looked good.
Cruden turned out to be amazingballs though, can see why the coaches liked him.
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@nzzp said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Nevorian said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bovidae Slade was best at left right out
c'mon Brisbane 2014
That was more Kaino coming on and bossing than Slade. Although after Cruden's horror show, he looked good.
Cruden turned out to be amazingballs though, can see why the coaches liked him.
I think you are getting confused with Sydney 2010 when Kaino and Slade came off the bench and Cruden started.
Cruden did not play in the Brisbane 2014 game.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@nzzp said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Nevorian said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bovidae Slade was best at left right out
c'mon Brisbane 2014
That was more Kaino coming on and bossing than Slade. Although after Cruden's horror show, he looked good.
Cruden turned out to be amazingballs though, can see why the coaches liked him.
I think you are getting confused with Sydney 2010 when Kaino and Slade came off the bench and Cruden started.
Cruden did not play in the Brisbane 2014 game.
almost certainly.
Crikey, I feel old now
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@Nevorian said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bovidae Slade was best at left right out
c'mon Brisbane 2014
I think it was Sydney, if it’s the same game,I was there
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Another injury in Eddie's Overly Enthusiastic Training Circus
Brad Shields' injury opens door for uncapped Alex Dombrandt to get England call
Alex Dombrandt featured in Eddie Jones' initial training squads before losing his place, but the uncapped back row has now earned a reprieve following an injury to Brad Shields.
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@kiwiinmelb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Nevorian said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@canefan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bovidae Slade was best at left right out
c'mon Brisbane 2014
I think it was Sydney, if it’s the same game,I was there
Brisbane - Fekitoa try and Slade conversion to win after full time
