Foxholer
Blackballed
Well done Ireland worthy Grand Slam
+1!
Englnd have got a lot of soul searching to do - not just from the players!
Six Nations 2018
- Thread starter Doon frae Troon
- Start date
+1!
Englnd have got a lot of soul searching to do - not just from the players!
Old Skier
Tour Winner
There was no way Ireland were going to lose that one even if England's manager was only joking.
Colin L
Tour Winner
There will be many a sore head in Ireland tomorrow! What better day to win the Grand Slam than St Patrick's Day?
Well done Ireland, worthy winners.
Although Scotland scraped through today, they still won and that’s all that matters.
Would of taken 3rd position at start of tournament in my opinion.
Although Scotland scraped through today, they still won and that’s all that matters.
Would of taken 3rd position at start of tournament in my opinion.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
Class but fact we can fill any position with a player as good . Alot of young guys getting perfect experience .
Jones saying some eng players played their last game .. hartley . Brown ?
That young boy that played on wing for england u20 is a special talent . Fair quick
Well done Ireland. Richly deserved and hope the heads aren't too bad tomorrow. Third defeat in the six nations and only Italy behind England. This doesn't look like an England side capable of competing in the world cup and if this is suppose to be part of the build up it's not going well so far.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I’m not sure anyone, other than maybe NZ, could fill any position with a player as good as Furlong. He could well be the best prop in the world.
Ibitoie (sp?) does look potentially very special, as does Earl, England’s openside.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Population of the top three in the table approx.... 14.5m
Population of the bottom three approx. 170m.
'Mon the wee guys
Population of the bottom three approx. 170m.
'Mon the wee guys
Old Skier
Tour Winner
To true, population of the top two much lower than the 3rd place country.
Beezerk
Money List Winner
True, but a lot of England doesn't give a hoot about rugby, not now anyway
It seems to be a mainly South/South Western thing from what I've seen, you go over the border to Scotland and Wales and the first thing you notice is rugby posts everywhere. So essentially the rugby playing population of England is probably smaller than the top three
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
True, but a lot of England doesn't give a hoot about rugby, not now anyway
It seems to be a mainly South/South Western thing from what I've seen, you go over the border to Scotland and Wales and the first thing you notice is rugby posts everywhere. So essentially the rugby playing population of England is probably smaller than the top three
I read somewhere that England had nearly 1.8m registered rugby players and Scotland had about 60k.
Seemed like a very high figure for England.
Rugby posts seem to outnumber football posts in Scotland nowadays.
Old Skier
Tour Winner
Not even 1m in England but the figures don't tend to matter when you look here
https://www.ruck.co.uk/top-20-country-registered-rugby-players-world/
GB72
Money List Winner
This being the same England side that reached number 2 in the world, won the last 2 6 nations, beat australia on their home turf, beat argentina in argentina with a b team won all 3 autumn internationals and provided 16 players to the lions team. That is a poor team.
Not taking anything away from the other teams. Ireland were very good and consistent, Scotland played a blinder against us and Wales were solid.
Fatigue may have been a massive factor for England. Key players have been flat out for a few years now and historically england never have a good 6 nations after a lions tour. Injuries may have actually helped Wales who had to rest or replace their fatigued lions players.
Yes we have some catching up to do but it seems churlish tto i write off a team that only a few months ago people were calling to play new zealand as a best in the world decider.
DCB
Well-known member
I find it really funny that fatigue is rolled out as an excuse for being beaten in any sporting context. These are professional sportsmen, if they can't last a season and all that brings then there is something wrong.
Surely if a player is that tired from playing rugby, in this instance, then his team should be rotating him with others in the pool . Fatigue is bound to be affecting their team performance on a game by game basis as a result.
Surely if a player is that tired from playing rugby, in this instance, then his team should be rotating him with others in the pool . Fatigue is bound to be affecting their team performance on a game by game basis as a result.
GB72
Money List Winner
It is a factor. Look at Farrell. He has played over 1000 minutes of rugby since the lions tour whereas Sexton has played about 400. Playing un the Premiership with no central contract protection is much more rigorous than the Anglo/Welsh. It is not an excuse, just s fact. England rarely perform in the year after a lions tour and the french normally shine.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
Irelands 6 nations was ni the balance a few times if truth b told
Sextons drop goal against france
Stockdales intercept try against wales turned a 3 to 1match losing overlap into a winning score
Wales no try against eng
Scotland messed up 2 glorious try scoring chances ..
Not too much between most of teams on their day
Irl have strongest 25 tho i think
Sextons drop goal against france
Stockdales intercept try against wales turned a 3 to 1match losing overlap into a winning score
Wales no try against eng
Scotland messed up 2 glorious try scoring chances ..
Not too much between most of teams on their day
Irl have strongest 25 tho i think
GB72
Money List Winner
Fair assessment.
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
What is wrong is the level of collisions these guys are going through over and over again without sufficient rest in between games and for some without a proper off season. The physical requirements on a rugby players body has increased out of sight ever since the game became professional and only continues to do so. Careers are getting shorter and shorter and will continue to do so unless the powers that be see sense and put quality before quantity and put some proper safeguards in place for the longevity of these guys.
Take a look for eg at the schedule some of the Saracens players have had for the last couple of years is eye watering, premier rugby, play offs, european cup, autumn internationals, six nations, lions tour etc. Those that havent had any injury breaks can only be running on empty
Massive difference between an impact sport player being fatigued and a non impact sport player imho
DCB
Well-known member
So, the professional teams need to have bigger pools to avoid the injuries that come along in the modern game. If injury, fatigue and shortened playing career are all prevalent in today's game, then ther is a fundamental flaw in the way the game is administered and played. Something needs to change.
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
there is without doubt a fundamental flaw in the way it is currently administered, huge financial increases in a short period of time has led to much more short termism, and ultimately the quality of the product and the fitness of the players are what suffer and will continue to do so
Have a look at how many non international games an england fast bowler plays compared to an england forward for example. At some stage the country v club battle has got to be further discussed and the top players appearances restricted much more than they currently are
as for professional clubs having larger pools of players, thats all well and good but the majority already have much increased playing pools and are running at losses or struggling to keep the heads above water
