NH International Rugby
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@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
England win a kickable penalty. For me Itoje was off his feet yet again. Another chance for Farrell to win it.
Not only that, the reason for him not being able to get the ball was because a French player legally sealed it off and he was trying to pull the ball through a person. Bit of a farce ending, but well done Itoje for selling it.
Man Billy V has the weirdest fresh/kiwi/Welsh/pom accent you'll ever hear.
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Earlier this week, the English press wrote that this game should be a farce as the French XV was too weak and too inexperienced of offer some resistance to the formidable England side. It was not a farce, just a boring fest. France have some serious talents now. Imagine what a complete French team would do to England.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in NH International Rugby:
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid ÂŁ100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny Mayâs heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Walesâs excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their oppositionâs half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. Mayâs miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturdayâs draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: âJeez, not another one.â The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
i, for one, would like to welcome the UK press to my club. Modern rugby is often utter shit.
Ban The Box Kick.
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@Machpants said in NH International Rugby:
@Bones said in NH International Rugby:
Imagine what an in form Argentina would do to England.
Imagine what an in form French 2nd XV would do the the 1st XV!?
Meh! I wouldnât pick any of the French players in a combined TRC team.
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@pukunui said in NH International Rugby:
@Machpants said in NH International Rugby:
@Bones said in NH International Rugby:
Imagine what an in form Argentina would do to England.
Imagine what an in form French 2nd XV would do the the 1st XV!?
Meh! I wouldnât pick any of the French players in a combined TRC team.
Hmmm. N'Tamack and Dupont were the best players of the tournament, Marchant is the best hooker, Vakatawa the most dangerous runner and Aldritt is a machine.
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A disappointing end to a somewhat lacklustre tournament. Good on the French lads for bringing some real intensity and fronting up big time. They would have been deserving winners. England. What to say about England? The game plan was pretty much the same as against Ireland but where was the intensity? Curry and Billy V apart which forwards put a dent in the French line? We still kicked shitloads of ball away but we did it badly and the chase was usually poor as well. So no pressure built. The thing that really shat the bed though was our decision making and execution at those critical moments. Both were MIA. We got over the line, just, but that should not hide a shithouse performance.
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@Catogrande so this is the only test that Beckenham had a jersey on a seat...
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@Bones That's cool. Too many there for me to recognise any individually.
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@pakman said in NH International Rugby:
On reflection, one area France were outstanding was kick reception. Neuterred a weapon England has become very overreliant on.
Poor kicking and an even poorer chase hands them that initiative. Having said that Dulin the fullback did take the high ball very well.
