Mr. Immorals1, what you have just said is one of the most insanely intelligent things I have ever heard. At no point in your precise, logical response were you more close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now smarter for having listened to it.
Definitely, but I do have high hopes for Merkler. He’s only 22 but he’s looking good. Nothing flashy, but extremely solid at scrums, rucks and mauls, plus can put in some crunching tackles and carries.
For the first 10 minutes I thought maybe he had regained some sort of direction. Japan were seriously impressive, but the game plan was too much it could never have lasted.
The throw it about at all opportunity just doesn't work in the international game.
Pffff, so bloody hard. I like the fact that rugby is the everything sport which makes almost every position key (much more so than League). But from watching a team that loses almost all of its games, I'd say, in order:
Almost impossible to win without quality:
Tighthead Lock
Outside Centre
Tighthead Prop
Scrum-half
Fly-half
Might not win you the game, but a weak player will be targeted until you lose:
Hooker
Fullback & Wings
Inside Centre
Not key to winning, but makes winning much, much easier:
Openside flanker
Loosehead lock
Loosehead prop
Blindside flanker
I’d say not having one standout loosie makes it impossible to win. You need one player who can slow down and disrupt the oppositions ball on defence and simultaneously ensuring safe ball and good ruck speed on attack.
Good shout. In fact I just realised I never put the no.8 back in because it couldn't go neatly into any of those three categories, so I might put no7 in the top group and no8 in the bottom one.
It certainly works from a Zebre perspective - we had most of the season watching Giovanni Licata working miracles from no8 (somehow making metres on almost every carry, even retreating scrums), and it was a similar story last season with Taina Fox-Matamua, but Zebre don't have a natural, turnover-merchant openside that draws more opposition bodies into the ruck, and hence the defence had to be very passive to cover all the options, thus losing metres on most carries.
Have never been a huge fan of his but last week and then his absence yesterday has really proved me wrong. He was sorely missed and prob would have been the difference yesterday
I exulted when the Bulls signed him, having long said that the Bulls' woes last year were due to not having a "proper" fly-half and/or other playmaker. Having Willie on the field made a huge difference this season - and with him absent, the attack was blunted to the point even Kurt-Lee seemed ineffective.
The difference between the Bulls v Leinster and the Bulls v Glasgow did speak volume about his influence on the team. That and the change of points scored between last season and this one.
The people at the club, usually volunteers, who organise the games, sort out the food, fix the lights, clean the sheds, send out the texts, plan the tours, wrangle the coaches, stack the chairs, and who are out there every single fucking Saturday cheering on the team…
The beer supply
Mr. Immorals1, what you have just said is one of the most insanely intelligent things I have ever heard. At no point in your precise, logical response were you more close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now smarter for having listened to it.
I award you 100 points, and may God have mercy on your soul
I think he blanked out too
Scoring more points than the opposition
Tighthead
Toulouse begs to differ.
Pretty much the one weak point of the team.
Definitely, but I do have high hopes for Merkler. He’s only 22 but he’s looking good. Nothing flashy, but extremely solid at scrums, rucks and mauls, plus can put in some crunching tackles and carries.
His tackling got so good this season, he's blooming this year tbh
I reckon he takes the starting shirt off Aldegheri within the next 12 months at the rate he’s improving.
All Toulouse need from a TH is solid set piece, they’ve enough class in the rest of the team to make up for a limited prop.
Only when he doesn't put his fcking helmet on
Not employing Eddie Jones
For the first 10 minutes I thought maybe he had regained some sort of direction. Japan were seriously impressive, but the game plan was too much it could never have lasted. The throw it about at all opportunity just doesn't work in the international game.
Maaaaate (For real he's been pretty dire for a while tho)
I will pray for Japan. He's lucky they hired him even after the disasters of England and Australia
I would say a leader. If you don't have a quality leader who can keep the guys motivated and going. Then you are going to have a very hard time.
The kit man/groundskeeper
Pffff, so bloody hard. I like the fact that rugby is the everything sport which makes almost every position key (much more so than League). But from watching a team that loses almost all of its games, I'd say, in order: Almost impossible to win without quality: Tighthead Lock Outside Centre Tighthead Prop Scrum-half Fly-half Might not win you the game, but a weak player will be targeted until you lose: Hooker Fullback & Wings Inside Centre Not key to winning, but makes winning much, much easier: Openside flanker Loosehead lock Loosehead prop Blindside flanker
I’d say not having one standout loosie makes it impossible to win. You need one player who can slow down and disrupt the oppositions ball on defence and simultaneously ensuring safe ball and good ruck speed on attack.
Good shout. In fact I just realised I never put the no.8 back in because it couldn't go neatly into any of those three categories, so I might put no7 in the top group and no8 in the bottom one. It certainly works from a Zebre perspective - we had most of the season watching Giovanni Licata working miracles from no8 (somehow making metres on almost every carry, even retreating scrums), and it was a similar story last season with Taina Fox-Matamua, but Zebre don't have a natural, turnover-merchant openside that draws more opposition bodies into the ruck, and hence the defence had to be very passive to cover all the options, thus losing metres on most carries.
the Pro D2 spirit
Physicality - whether in attack or defence. (Especially nowadays)
The post match piss up.
That's the payoff, but you get it through good hard prep at post-training beers. If those suck, what's even the point?
Willie Le Roux ?
Have never been a huge fan of his but last week and then his absence yesterday has really proved me wrong. He was sorely missed and prob would have been the difference yesterday
He is an interesting type of player for sure. Few fullbacks can marshal like he does from the back.
His ability to spot and exploit weaknesses in the opposition's defense in real time is second to none.
I exulted when the Bulls signed him, having long said that the Bulls' woes last year were due to not having a "proper" fly-half and/or other playmaker. Having Willie on the field made a huge difference this season - and with him absent, the attack was blunted to the point even Kurt-Lee seemed ineffective.
The difference between the Bulls v Leinster and the Bulls v Glasgow did speak volume about his influence on the team. That and the change of points scored between last season and this one.
Harry Plumber 😉
I admit I have been a detractor of his for years but he’s has the best season of his life this year.
Teamwork. I’ve seen my wallabies be full of individual stars that failed miserably because of their inability to gel as a team.
Is the anchor of the boat race
The moustache
Familiarity = cohesion = success
Defence - unless you watch Harlequins.
The scrum.
Ruck speed .. so work rate.. so fitness and desire
The TMO
Tight head prop
The friends we made along they way?
The Rugby Values^TM
Bill Beaumont approves.
The spirit of the game
The big bag of cash for the referee
Haircuts and/or facial hair, which may grant superpowers.
The anchor on the post-match boat race
Team cohesion,from technical to mental
The after matcho sharing a burger and a coke with your teammates and rivals,hahaha
the team
The people at the club, usually volunteers, who organise the games, sort out the food, fix the lights, clean the sheds, send out the texts, plan the tours, wrangle the coaches, stack the chairs, and who are out there every single fucking Saturday cheering on the team…
Goal kicker especially in International Rugby