The Rugby Union thread!!

**InsertNameHere** · March 25, 2014, 03:01 AM

Mike Brown was just sublime in this year's tournament. Always seems to beat the first man or two, never fails to make yards. Shankbot, I though you guys were very unlucky not to have beaten France. However, when you play in Paris it's almost inevitable that France will have some ridicolous phases of play and it's so difficult to keep out. IMO England and Ireland were the 2 best teams. Mike Brown, the best player by a distance. I think England can get a test win against the ABs in the summer, and I want them to win the series. Would you consider it a success if you won only 1 of the 3 tests?

@emotion_name I can imagine how frustrating this year's championship was for the Welsh fans. Schmidt just tactically destroyed Gatty in Dublin, and boy did we love that one

. I agree with you about Priestland, he can blow extremely hot and cold, I just hope for his sake he can recover his best form, but I think Biggar is the best 10 for Wales at the moment. Wales are a great team with some world - class players, but I think they need to win at least ONE of their games vs SA. Too many losses against the southern teams imo, and with Aus in your group for the WC, I think you need to quiet the doubters. You definitley have a good enough team for it.

On the current sorry state of the next European tournament, I just hope there's one to play in next year... I can't even tell you how excited I am for the HC QFs, so many juicy games...

**emotion_name** · March 25, 2014, 10:00 AM

England are a increasing force sadly, i said it as much after Lancasters first season on this very thread.

I dont see us winning a test on our summer tour either - i think Gats is going to target the Autumn Internationals to really get the ball rolling when we play all 3 SH big boys, the momentum from that carried into the 6N and then the RWC.

While relieved some sort of ending is in sight, i have to say i was more inclined for the proposed Anglo-Welsh Cup that was being mooted, as were lots of my friends. That would be a sure fire way of increasing the fans turnout at games!

Ryan Jones to Bristol eh? Sean Holley must be grinning like the cat who got the cream, snapping up someone of his quality - world class across the back row and in the boiler house of the second row and played as Wales captain more times than anyone. Rumours are he is on £200000 a season, pittance to a football player but big bucks in the egg chasing game and very deserved imo.

Where are Scotland touring this summer, and will Vern Cotter be in charge? Quite fancy a tartan revolution in NH rugby i do, the Scots been quiet for nearly 20 years now!

**InsertNameHere** · March 25, 2014, 03:35 PM

I fancy England to win the world cup to be honest. They can surely only grow from now on.

That makes sense, he could use the summer tour to blood some new players with test expierience. The autumn internationals are really the start to a crucial international period. I took a double take when I read that Jones went to Bristol, he is a seriously good player. Best at 6 or 8 imo.

Just hope the European game is sorted fast. Which region do you support? Was there a big attendance at Ospreys vs Blues? I thought there was already an Anglo - Welsh cup with Exeter winning this year?

Scotland play the 3 major American teams (USA, Canada and Argentina), then play one test vs South Africa. Same here, it nearly hurts to see Scottish rugby in such a state... I hope Vern Cotter can get it together. I couldn't make sense of Johnson's strategy whatsoever.

**emotion_name** · March 25, 2014, 06:27 PM

Well, being Cardiff born and bred im a Blues man. At least, im supposed to be a Blues man but meh, this whole regional thing doesnt float well still, 10 years plus since their inception.

Ospreys v Blues was around 8800 I think, which is a good crowd but one rarely seen for regional games. The average for the Welsh and Scottish regions is about 6000, the Irish regions average attendance is about 11000 and the Aviva Premiership teams is slightly higher again. Granted, the fan pool isnt as large in some of the Welsh regions, but its a sore point still with the WRU that the fan fervour seen at national games cant be replicated at regional level.

The best attendance for Welsh Regions in a Pro12 game was, i think, around 35000 which was at the Judgement Day event in the Millenium stadium. By contrast, when Aviva Premiership games are played at Wembley - damn near sell out and when Irish regions play in Aviva stadium - damn near sell out.

As for the existing Anglo Welsh Cup, the LV, its basically used as a way of bringing on youngsters and probably features bottom on the list of "competitions that fans give a damn about", playing behind european rugby and domestic rugby and its slot in the calendar is suicide (most fixtures during 6N time). Now, if there was no european cup, and the Welsh and English teams played there big boys in a serious Cup alongside domestic league, that would be juicy.

Scott Johnson, the Great Pretender. Australia figured him out and thats why he ended up over here, where he was touted as being the reason behind our 2005 Grand Slam and when given full control we imploded (just like Scots have under his reign), the Ospreys weren't to keen on him in the end and the fans never really took to him. Yet, he still finds work. I think as an attacking coach he'd be fine, but head coach is to much for him.

**Shankbot de Bodemloze** · March 26, 2014, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by InsertNameHere

Mike Brown was just sublime in this year's tournament. Always seems to beat the first man or two, never fails to make yards. Shankbot, I though you guys were very unlucky not to have beaten France. However, when you play in Paris it's almost inevitable that France will have some ridicolous phases of play and it's so difficult to keep out. IMO England and Ireland were the 2 best teams. Mike Brown, the best player by a distance. I think England can get a test win against the ABs in the summer, and I want them to win the series. Would you consider it a success if you won only 1 of the 3 tests?

Yeah the French always manage to pull something out of the hat to upset everyone else's game plan.

Hmm, I'm not sure I would considered 1 as a success, we need the confidence of at least 2/3 to ready ourselves for 2015. I mean that is the same for all of the teams, very important tests indeed.

All I think whoever comes out top in the next 6Ns will be in with a good chance to go far.