Rugby - The Game They Play In Heaven II

[kittenOFchaos]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/australia/10400368/Australian-back-James-OConnor-poised-for-London-Irish-move-after-Australian-Rugby-Union-terminate-contract.html

Poor O'Connor may have to play for London Irish. Has he really been THAT bad?

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It's predictable that he'd head to the NH. It's the easy way out for him. The challenge for him would have been to go to the Farce - the only Oz team that would take him, and with very strict conditions - and grow up. Prove to the people and players who know him - and who have suffered him for years - that he grasps the notion that life is more than about self. He's a prize 5-star self-absorbed twayt. And a supreme manipulator. Unfortunately he was indulged in Oz for too many years, Robbie Deans probably the worst offender. His behaviour problems date back to his teenage days. He will alienate just as many people in English rugby. A number of senior Wallabies wanted to take him behind the sheds and thump sense into him. Hopefully someone at Irish will.

Sorry I have spent most of the week recovering from the Wallabies playing some decent rugby last weekend.

Several steps in the right direction. Interesting to contrast Quade Cooper and O'Connor. Cooper has demonstrated that it's possible to grow up and show some maturity. And work very hard on a giant weakness in his game - defence. He now no longer hides from tackles. He goes looking to tackle. His technique is still lacking but the courage isn't. A remarkable turnaround.

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Bloody injury-riddled, England squad-deprived Leicester. Cost me dearly. And stupid Glasgow.

[Havak]

A painful international period coming up for us I think - after all that was a pretty poor Wasps side and it coasted past us. The Half backs had the worse communication I can recall seeing in the first XV, pray god that improves as they have to keep playing together by necessity. And the emergency Kiwi signing in the centres - well at the moment one can see why no NPC teams wanted him.

The reality is that we are struggling to field 23 fit players. It is bonus time for the clubs due to play us now.

Even worse for me Saints looked imperious against Sarries inflicting a record points total on them since they became the endemically cap cheating Bok outfit (allegedly).

Burrell as an anytime scorer at 4/1 though.

Oh by the way Skivington is Club captain at Exiles - he won't let O'Beiber take the proverbial easily.

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Keep things in perspective. That was a D-grade Sarries lineup. Saints were always going to mow them down. Heck, you know something's untoward when Myler looks good.

[Havak]

Ah - you make a good point.

It's a very conservative matchday squad from Lancaster - the retention of Tomkins and release of Burrell and Eastmond is interesting as I would have put the latter two way ahead of him if we were planing to play attacking rugby. So it looks like it may be the same old same old of sitting there and letting the Wallabies come at them (maybe he figures one of these years it will tire the Aussies out?)

Corbs is a big absence too but I am a little excited by the prospect of the Launchbury and Lawes combination.

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Launchbury is a talent with a future. Lawes is a dribbling idiot whose priority is hurting people in tackles. His game hasn't developed since he arrived on the scene. Thick as concrete, I suspect. Parling is a huge loss. I know little of Tomkins, Burrell or Eastmond so I can't comment. I fancy the Wallabies' chances against the England lineup though. Particularly minus Corbisiero. His knee seems to be verging on chronic. Pity.

Wallabies will need to hold onto the ball, though, not cough it up as they have done. Kuridrani at 13, in particular. He's a young monster with speed and a very nice step. His hands have let him down too often. A big improvement in that regard against the ABs, though.

[Havak]

Lawes is a very dangerous tackler, there is no denying that. He has been having an excellent season however because he has stepped up his work rate and rounded his game out. Specifically he has been carrying more and has made himself a presence in the offensive moves rather than simply looking to tackle the next player (a rut he fell into last year)

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Is he still carrying the ball into contact upright?

[Havak]

And thereby being turned over fairly regularly? Slightly less so it would seem, though I was focused more on the Saints backline against Sarries.

The England-OZ fixture is nicely primed given how well the Wallabies did against NZ last time out.

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Now Rob Simmons is out of the Wallaby second row. Unlike Parling's loss to England, losing Simmons is a positive.

[Havak]

There is an awful lot riding on the tight fives in this fixture I think.

The BBC have helpfully listed the nineteen players unavailable to Tigers through injury and call ups. Might well be worth your betting a small amount on a Quins win this weekend.

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I've tipped Quins. Don't let me down.

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Good old Quins. Leicester are the new Quins, it seems.

Laughable officiating yesterday. Clancy and his TMO, between them, invented a new law. Obstruction, but not sufficient obstruction. Gouger Hartley knew where Moore was, stopped in his tracks and blocked him. And a blind assistant ref. Still, it's hard to know which team was more rubbish. Genia seemed to have turned the corner against the ABs but back to his awful worst. England's doggedness - and laughable officiating - got them over the line.

[kittenOFchaos]

Good old Quins. Leicester are the new Quins, it seems.

Laughable officiating yesterday. Clancy and his TMO, between them, invented a new law. Obstruction, but not sufficient obstruction. Gouger Hartley knew where Moore was, stopped in his tracks and blocked him. And a blind assistant ref. Still, it's hard to know which team was more rubbish. Genia seemed to have turned the corner against the ABs but back to his awful worst. England's doggedness - and laughable officiating - got them over the line.

I went with family to England Vs Ireland (Rugby League World Cup) in Huddersfield (the awesome John Smith's Stadium) which was very fast paced and entertaining. Later I watched England Vs Australia and in conclusion it was pretty dreadful. Australia didn't appear to care and even then England barely managed to win, though the victory was entirely deserved.

Mike Brown played a blinder...perhaps replace Ashton with Ben Foden as it is a waste not having him in the first 15. It is also scary to consider what Billy Vunipola will be like when he finishes growing.