Manu Tuilagi to miss world cup

[simonokeeffe]

Ashton recalled to England wider squad

No room at the inn for Armitage

[LeRouxIsPHat]

He gets a lot of abuse but that's long overdue for Ashton, he's a quality player. Plus he's just more of an eejit than nasty, seems like a nice enough guy IMO!

[simonokeeffe]

He gets a lot of abuse but that's long overdue for Ashton, he's a quality player. Plus he's just more of an eejit than nasty, seems like a nice enough guy IMO!

stupid but harmless

Strettles recall always reminds me of one of my favourite moments ever when during THE Ireland England game in Croker Shaggy chipped him and Strettle went to illegally block him with a big smug grin on his face and Shaggy just ran the f over him and kept going

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Ha I remember that! Didn't expect him to be back in it but he really deserves it too. His defence used to be a bit ropey and he lost his spark for a while a few years back but he's been brilliant for the last couple of years. Makes his tackles, works really hard, and is one of the best finishers in the game, great feet and really skillful.

[leinster4life13]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... -live.html
Cant believe they left out Waldrom, most meters, offloads and trys and they take a crocked Morgan, and a very hot/cold Vunipola. Waldrom is just an out and out rugby player. England are going to be horribly one dimensional in the backrow, two dodgy 8's, no openside and very samey flankers, Burgess will force his way in there at 6, you cant/wont win a WC with mediocre 6.5's as your flanker selection. Any of the myriad of 7 options Australia can put out will rape England on the deck.
Corbiseiro is also lucky to be there, he got dicked in the scrum last week, a shadow of the player he was.

[Vamos los azules]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... -live.html
Cant believe they left out Waldrom, most meters, offloads and trys and they take a crocked Morgan, and a very hot/cold Vunipola. Waldrom is just an out and out rugby player. England are going to be horribly one dimensional in the backrow, two dodgy 8's, no openside and very samey flankers, Burgess will force his way in there at 6, you cant/wont win a WC with mediocre 6.5's as your flanker selection. Any of the myriad of 7 options Australia can put out will rape England on the deck.
Corbiseiro is also lucky to be there, he got dicked in the scrum last week, a shadow of the player he was.

Waldrom is too old for Lancaster. He operates on the same scales as goreyguy.

England beat Australia recently enough with Robshaw at 7 and with both Cole and Launchbury missing, both of whom are very good at getting in over the ball. I actually don't see Robshaw's 6.5 tendencies as such a major problem in a pack with both Cole and Launchbury the way those two play.

[leinster4life13]

If I was Chekia I'd put out a backrow of Hooper Smith Pockock and have Gill on the bench, the back of your lineout would be vulnerable, but the ground game and pace over the ball would disrupt Englands plan A and B which is to build slowly through ball retention, and the ability of all three to play a high paced offloading game would seriously gas whatever lumpen orcs England can muster in the front row, sapping any scrum advantage, run them off the park with ball in hand.

[simonokeeffe]

Vunipola has been in good from all season from what Ive seen but England arent set up to chase leads
Lawes has to play, Care has to be on bench at least but theyve still a big problem at 12 and a few bench spots

Tricky fixture list for England, Fiji Wales Australia, whereas Australia have Fiji Uruguay England

Plus Aussies have Moore, Pocock, Cummins, Giteau back

I have a feeling though which hemisphere the ref is from will decide that match

[simonokeeffe]

Dylan Hartley cited for headbutt from last Saturday, video (below) pretty damning although its at the minor end of headbutts

Entry for headbutts is 4 weeks, which would rule him out of all the warmups. He gets more than 4 weeks he misses RWC games and wont go in initial squad. When he was banned last December for elbowing he got 2 weeks (minimum) and 1 week added on for his record

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CF8N_WrW0AAbLvy.mp4

[LENSTA]

“As role models and ambassadors for the game, the highest standards of behaviour are expected from every England player both on and off the field,
"I know, as an England player, the need to conduct myself as a good role model..."
Ugh, fine for England to not pick him if his conviction breaches the criteria for picking squads, but the language they use, got sick a little in my mouth, "role models, ambassadors".... Stuff like this is why I love League(or used to until they started with this same sanctimonious bullshit). Yes he breached the rules, acted like an idiot, dont pick him, end of story, stop with this charade of athletes being, somehow, moral guardians/role models of perfect behaviour, its disgusting.

You are going to have some f%~ked up children

Edit: That reads a little harsh, but I think you're a fairly scurrilous character. I enjoy your contributions but surely there is a place for morals in every walk of life. I doubt they'll follow through on it btw, but applaud the sentiment. Keeps the rest in line (besides, they'll probably call in delon Armitage to replace him)

on the contrary. my kids will be raised correctly as i will not rely on a chap who kicks a ball about to set good examples, teach right and wrong, ethics, virtues of learning and hard work etc. It is disgusting imo to put the burden of raising your kids and setting examples onto a pro athlete who you dont know from adam. Its the zenith of tabloid celeb culture, put these c**ts on a pedestal, worship them, buy sh!t they market, its crass and anti intellectual.

I often think a lot of fans have a comic book hero interpretation of players. Their physical prowess and bravery on the pitch are signs of steadfast moral fibre and outstanding character. This belief is based on not knowing any players or knowing them on a casual basis. Such people have not been included on any "inner sanctum" stories or been present when events that characterise such stories occur.

I can assure you, players have the same appetites as all men, and conduct themselves in similar fashion to any group of men when they congregate or socialise. They are of this society and encompass both its good and bad qualities. Hold them up to your kids as role models carefully.

"Why can’t you women love us, faults and all? Why do you place us on monstrous pedestals? We have all feet of clay..."
Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband

"Please don't put your life in the hands , of a Rock n Roll band, who'll throw it all away…"
Noel Gallagher, Don't Look Back in Anger

[simonokeeffe]

.

[Vamos los azules]

Manu's got company on the naughty step:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32970302

[domhnallj]

Manu's got company on the naughty step:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32970302

hands up who is actually surprised about this - the guy has drink related issues that he obviously hasn't dealt with. Be interesting to see how Lancaster deals with this given his comments following the Babas game on Sunday.

[simonokeeffe]

Manu's got company on the naughty step:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32970302

hands up who is actually surprised about this - the guy has drink related issues that he obviously hasn't dealt with. Be interesting to see how Lancaster deals with this given his comments following the Babas game on Sunday.

England have said theyre waiting to see if Cipriani is charged in August before making a decision, queue 2 unnecessary months of speculation, media intrusion etc when they could just ask the guy and deal with it now, why risk playing him in friendlies when hes just going to be dumped, theyll probably go with Ford and Farrell and maybe a semi utility like 12x3

[leinster4life13]

http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/06/09/la ... must-stop/

[simonokeeffe]

reports in France Manu is looking to get out of England, at least for a while and move to Toulouse