Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Yeah his mum is Scottish, which tbf I'm more forgiving about than the grandparent rule.
Northern Hemisphere Rugby
- Thread starter Dctarget
- Start date
John S
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Ta - I saw that in a different thread, forgot to come and update my reply.
I used to really love Scotland especially around 2018-2020.
Now with all their outsourcing of players it just makes them really easy to dislike.
It's a good program and it obviously works for them but I just don't view them with that same underdog status and like-ability that they once had.
Now with all their outsourcing of players it just makes them really easy to dislike.
It's a good program and it obviously works for them but I just don't view them with that same underdog status and like-ability that they once had.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
Meh, if the headline was him going to play for Fiji (eligible because of his dad instead of his Scottish mum), would anyone even raise it?
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
You've hit the nail on the head of the issue. Scotland is not Fiji. They are a Tier 1 country with 50x the budget, that sells out Murrayfield regularly and get a big slice of the 6N pie. The flow of players is meant to go from strong nation to weaker nation that needs help. These players are going the wrong way up the World Rugby ranks.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
I must have missed that in the World Rugby regulations
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
England team v Ireland this weekend. Based off the team sheets I'd say England in for a spanking but they often play above their level for the Irish.
Bizarre backrow with three 7s starting. Clearly not as concerned about the lineout as Australia is. Admittedly they've had trouble with pilfering of late but this seems.. shortsighted. Especially with Cunningham-South and Willis on the bench. I would've run CCS into the ground for the first half/50 and then brought on my 2nd takeaway Curry.
Very green bench too. They still haven't worked out their centre pairings either since Farrell departed. Don't think Slade is the go. Happy to have Perese & Kata dominating and taking up valuable spots at one of their top clubs. Good work Agent Cheika.
England (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)
22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)
23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
Bizarre backrow with three 7s starting. Clearly not as concerned about the lineout as Australia is. Admittedly they've had trouble with pilfering of late but this seems.. shortsighted. Especially with Cunningham-South and Willis on the bench. I would've run CCS into the ground for the first half/50 and then brought on my 2nd takeaway Curry.
Very green bench too. They still haven't worked out their centre pairings either since Farrell departed. Don't think Slade is the go. Happy to have Perese & Kata dominating and taking up valuable spots at one of their top clubs. Good work Agent Cheika.
England (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)
22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)
23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
Steve_Grey
Billy Sheehan (19)
Playing three #7s will be very interesting to watch - Earl really is #8, but I appreciate he plays #7 for his Club mostly.
Mick The Munch
Bill McLean (32)
Italophile
Alfred Walker (16)
Penaud hurts himself in training, misses opener v Wales. Fickou, Flament, Ollivon, Jelonch also missing. Shouldn't matter in the slightest.
A mutterer
Chilla Wilson (44)
Kemeny, Perese, and Kata all had great games last weekend.
Steve_Grey
Billy Sheehan (19)
Looks like England U20s ground out a tough win over Ireland U20s - the 20 min Red Card in use; lucky for England.
The NH U20 Teams really benefit from the U20s 6N, and appear (to me) to take U20s far more seriously than we do as a genuine pathway.
The NH U20 Teams really benefit from the U20s 6N, and appear (to me) to take U20s far more seriously than we do as a genuine pathway.
Steve_Grey
Billy Sheehan (19)
Wallabies bound?
John S
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Please no
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
That would be truly dire. Anyone know the story behind his departure? Has his contract expired or is it something more sinister? Seems to have had some success at the Tigers this year.
Tazzmania
Bob Loudon (25)
Just a one year contract.
From the article: "... always aware of this being a one-year deal.."
Steve_Grey
Billy Sheehan (19)
Tigers wanted him to stay. Cheika's decision - so the article states.
Italophile
Alfred Walker (16)
They do. Historically England have been very strong with Ireland not a long way behind. Yet the England U20 strength hasn't really fed into the England senior team.
Steve_Grey
Billy Sheehan (19)
Agreed - but watch out for Pollard; one for the near future.