RugbyRebels

Spiffy wrote:

Rich wrote:

Digby wrote:You want a cleansing of those not as morally virtuous as yourself? Would this make you the Pol Pot of rugby perhaps?

Also it's a daft point. If tomorrow all test games were banned it's not going to stop Tigers, Chiefs, Bath, Glaws... fans going along to watch their side. The test game is important, but it's hardly the be all and end all

Who says I'm as morally virtuous as you ?

If I owned say London Wasps, it wouldn't be in my interests to support the national team.


The test game isn't just important - it's the ONLY thing that is.

The best model right now is Ireland.
Ireland has club rugby but it's their 4 provincial teams that provide Ireland with top quality players.
It's also very well supported.

Ireland's provincial teams are stronger than England's club teams and always will be.

The model works well for the Ireland national team, but supporters of Irish Provincial teams are frequently pissed off that centrally-contracted players are not released to play important games for the province.

I bet they're not so pissed off when the Ireland team (with relatively fresh players) beat the All Blacks or win the Grand Slam.

pandion wrote:The biggest thing to take from Ireland and New Zealand is they select on form and aren't afraid to change the side.

...so the biggest thing to learn from Ireland and New Zealand is not how to produce players as good as theirs ?


Or are you saying that somewhere in English rugby there are 213 players who would have beaten Ireland last week ?

Banquo wrote: He's mostly said the game changed around him and he didn't spot it, thereby admitting he stuffed up. But I havent seen anything about fatigue.

Rich wrote:

pandion wrote:The biggest thing to take from Ireland and New Zealand is they select on form and aren't afraid to change the side.

...so the biggest thing to learn from Ireland and New Zealand is not how to produce players as good as theirs ?


Or are you saying that somewhere in English rugby there are 213 players who would have beaten Ireland last week ?

We do produce players as good as theirs. Ireland beat nz for the first time recently so let's not get caught up in the idea they're somehow better.

Yes I'm sure 213 players would beat Ireland unfortunately we can only play 15 at one time. NZ through losing players and players losing form change their team/squad. That's usually changing a winning team. I'm not suggesting a revolving door but imo Eddie's got caught up like Burt in loyalty to players and reading too much into soft wins.

Credit Charlie Morgan

Which, I’m guessing you wanted to show the below but it’s not showing on my phone and it might not on others. So.....

Mellsblue wrote:Which, I’m guessing you wanted to show the below but it’s not showing on my phone and it might not on others. So.....

Indeed, and it is working on mine, but hey, better twice than not at all.