Rugby World Cup 2023
- Thread starter Braveheart81
- Start date
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Looks like Dombrandt is their Harry Wilson. Weird that he's started every single one of Borthwick's games and doesn't even make the squad (nor Mercer).
Also criminal they can't fit in Pearson who was out & out the best prem player this year.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
I know Glastonbury was only a few weeks ago, but whoever designed this hideous, festival lineup-esque, hard to read, technicolour yawn of a squad announcement graphic should be sacked immediately
Rob42
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I agree, and I was thinking the same about the NZ announcement, which looks like someone grabbed a picture of a PowerPoint slide at a boring conference. The actual names take up less than half the image. OK Marketing, we know we're paying you too much, but try making things simpler and clearer.
The Red Baron
Chilla Wilson (44)
It feels like Dan Cole has been around forever, so I checked - he made his debut for England in 2010. Surely he's due for a trip to the glue factory?
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
They are trying to make it look interesting as their coach might just be the most boring man on earth
Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
No Ben Volavola at 1st 5. He started vs Japan the other day too.
Fiji looked like they might have just finally got it sorted in that Japan game. The tumblers all clicked. Cut out the mental errors and got the set piece right to complement their usual Jailbreak Hellfire Terror On Stilts skills from broken play.
John S
Peter Fenwicke (45)
No Joe Launchbury - so I guess he'll be player of the series then.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Zander Fagerson charged with offence starting 4 weeks. Losing 1 week for on field sanction and immediate plea of guilt at first opportunity. Losing another for a coaching technique session.
Very lucky boy. Interesting proposition for this upcoming week re: what to do with Nel and how much exposure do Murphy and Sebastian need. My expectation is that Nel will be wrapped in cotton wool, Seb will get the start and Murph off the bench (reverse of the Italy game) and Townsend will select his 3rd stringer on that basis: Nel will then get the start against Georgia to work out whether Zander needs to be rushed back into the 3 v the Saffas, or if WP is still capable of putting up 50-55 mins at international level and he can build from the bench after only 48 minutes of Rugby played since mid-May.
Very lucky boy. Interesting proposition for this upcoming week re: what to do with Nel and how much exposure do Murphy and Sebastian need. My expectation is that Nel will be wrapped in cotton wool, Seb will get the start and Murph off the bench (reverse of the Italy game) and Townsend will select his 3rd stringer on that basis: Nel will then get the start against Georgia to work out whether Zander needs to be rushed back into the 3 v the Saffas, or if WP is still capable of putting up 50-55 mins at international level and he can build from the bench after only 48 minutes of Rugby played since mid-May.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
lucky indeed considering his history.
Him shaving off that initial week is that because he was binned for a significant amount of time in the game? If he was RC'ed in the 75th or not RC'ed at all does he get an extra week?
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
I probably misspoke and applied my own biases there: moreso that incidents noted and punished on field tend to be looked upon slightly more leniently than any only picked up post match.
But ironically, his previous suspension seems to have benefited him here. By the release:
Reading between the lines, that suggests an argument of "yes, it was a dangerous act worthy of a red card and a suspension is deserved. But compare the two incidents: the first is reckless, aggressive and extremely dangerous, this one, while still dangerous and sloppily executed, shows a substantial change in technique and intention by the player. If the purpose of these regulations is prevention of injury, not punishment, please acknowledge that positive progress made and provide further opportunity to improve."
Now, all that is bullshit designed to give as much wiggle room to judiciaries to ensure as few players are missing from the RWC as possible, fully would have expected him to miss the full four in any other situation, but it's not half bad bullshit.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
fun with only 2 hookers and 4 scrumhalves. Does Rassie know something we don't? Is Williams going to 'pull' an ACL and Pollard comes in as a sub?
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
When does Eddie name his 33?
6:30pm AEST Thursday.
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