Rugby A Game For Gentlemen

My head says you are right, but I have to believe that we can meet Ireland head-on and scrape a victory.

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Tbh, I think Wales might just pinch it, but as I said, I have to hope :wink:

They deserve to win it if they beat Ireland (stating the bleeding obvious) That said, I dislike their style of play (or lack of style) Effective? yes. Winning rugby? yes. Great to watch? Nope, not at all.

Winning is what counts. England did not win the 2003 World Cup by playing pretty rugby.

edit: Jason Robinson excepted.

I don’t doubt that, but I would rather watch a more attractive style of rugby than the ultra defensive version that Wales are providing.

Lol, are you still feeling the pain?

I happily supported England in both 2003 & 2007 finals. I have after all lived here for most of my life.

Having played a lot of rugby in my younger days, both in the forwards and the backs, winning pretty is not important to me.

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I only played at school (under duress) as a scrum half. I was shit and so were my school team.

I bow to your superior career in the game :grin:

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You are right. I would of course prefer a majestic Welsh win full of running rugby, wonderful tries and fierce tackling.

Would settle for a 3-0 mud-fest win though.

Hahaha, yes.

Roof open, pissing down overnight & windy tomorrow. Anybody’s game.

Good luck.

"Dan Robson has developed blood clots and he is unlikely to play again this season, dealing a serious blow to his hopes of gaining selection for the World Cup in Japan in the autumn.

The Wasps scrum half was due to be on the bench against Scotland today but he left England’s training base on Tuesday after alerting the medical staff to a pain in his leg.

Robson, 27, who has two England caps, developed the clots spontaneously, rather than as a result of a contact injury. He was taken for immediate medical treatment because the condition can be life-threatening. Blood clots can form in veins or arteries.

Specialists are investigating the cause of the problem, with Robson due to undergo tests this weekend. It is understood that he faces months out of action. An extended period on the sidelines risks damaging his chances of winning a place in England’s 31-man squad for the World Cup.

England’s first pre-tournament training camp, for players not involved in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs, begins at the end of June. There are then three warm-up games in August before Eddie Jones, the head coach, has to finalise his squad.

Jones is likely to take only two scrum halves to the World Cup, with Ben Youngs certain to play a part. Robson was already facing stiff competition from experienced rivals Richard Wigglesworth and Danny Care. With both of them injured, Ben Spencer will get a chance to impress after the Saracens scrum half received a call-up to replace Robson on the bench for today’s game.

The RFU initially described Robson’s unavailability as “illness” as they waited for his condition to be assessed. “He’s got some investigations and consultations going on,” Steve Borthwick, the England forwards coach, said on Wednesday. “We’re trying to investigate exactly what it is.”

Quite apart from the serious nature of the condition, the timing for Robson is cruel given how long he has had to wait for his England chance despite his consistently outstanding form for Wasps. Jones selected Robson for the first time last summer but used Spencer as back-up for Youngs in South Africa.

Robson was due to be involved in the autumn but he missed England’s four-game series after requiring surgery to repair ankle ligament damage.

When Robson did eventually win England selection at the start of the Six Nations, he was kept on the bench for the victory over Ireland before making his debut in the final ten minutes of the win against France. Jones did not use him in the defeat by Wales but Robson made a 19-minute appearance against Italy last week, scoring a try in England’s 57-14 win.

An RFU spokesman said: “Dan Robson suffered blood clots which arose spontaneously earlier this week and is being evaluated and treated by specialists at the moment. At this stage it is too early to give a return-to-play date.”

There is an article in the Times stating that he has developed a DVT [deep vein thrombosis]. He will need to go on anticoagulants [blood thinning agents] for at least 3 months so no more rugby this season. If the investigations show him to be at long term risk, then he may need to take them permanently which is incompatible with a contact sport.
Terrible for him at this time, just as he was showing what he can do in an England shirt, and not good for Wasps.

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That’s pretty shit news for anyone let alone a sportsman who’s on the cusp like that

Lol, French scrum just got hammered :rofl:

Then France run in a try from nowhere

Easy, wasn’t it.

Once missed tackle, draw the defence and a well timed pass.
easy but well done

How unlucky was that!

Parisse is such an amazing player, I don’t think there is a side in the world in which he wouldn’t have made a hundred caps!

Looks like Italy will once again clutch defeat grin the jaws of victory. They are often good, but make poor decisions throughout the match.

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And there goes their bonus point

What ever happened to Wales being slow starters?

We are prepared to accept defeat to Wales in my household. The impact of the alternative is unpalatable.

:man_facepalming: