Rugby WC 2019

Rugby Oz calls a review of the WC result

a failed CA HP manager ....a rower ....and a bloke who wasnt John Eales ....to report that the coaching was shit and the players were shitter and the CEO and Board were shittest

Pat Howard. LOL.

skully wrote:Pat Howard. LOL.

Aye Skully. lol to the max.

Pat Hunt is a Coward?

beamer wrote:Pat Hunt is a Coward?

Huh? I like Noel Coward.

I wonder if Saracens-gate overshadowed the World Cup final build-up for England, if the players knew about it? It could cause long term issues for this England team, with some players taking the field alongside others who they will now feel potentially cheated them out of domestic titles.

beamer wrote:Pat Hunt is a Coward?

Indeed.

beamer wrote:I wonder if Saracens-gate overshadowed the World Cup final build-up for England, if the players knew about it? It could cause long term issues for this England team, with some players taking the field alongside others who they will now feel potentially cheated them out of domestic titles.

Any word on why they won't release details regarding the offences.  So horribly bad that the mooted punishment would appear light?

Can we put Premiership Rugby in charge of UK politics?

Might do a more professional job than e,g, The Electoral Commission.

Bradman wrote:

beamer wrote:I wonder if Saracens-gate overshadowed the World Cup final build-up for England, if the players knew about it? It could cause long term issues for this England team, with some players taking the field alongside others who they will now feel potentially cheated them out of domestic titles.

Any word on why they won't release details regarding the offences.  So horribly bad that the mooted punishment would appear light?

Yup - long-standing confidentiality clause in the agreement between PRL and the 13 clubs.

Whole issue is going to be a running sore for months, if not years.

Suggestions that Saracens players could skip the Six Nations to focus on helping their cheating club avoid relegation.

Anyone who does so should be banned from playing for England (and the Lions) for life, IMO. They should all serve their time in the second tier if necessary.

Saracens have been officially relegated for next season on top of their docked 35 points & $6.9M fine this season.

Alright. Is that from the PRL or the RFU? I know how nasty the RFU can get.

Bradman wrote:Alright.   Is that from the PRL or the RFU?   I know how nasty the RFU can get.

Premiership Rugby

Ta

This is surely going to have a massive impact on the England team going forwards. It will seemingly be difficult for them all to find new clubs, given salary cap issues at other clubs. Maybe the RFU will have to waive the ban on England players playing their club rugby in France?

The players could stick around in the Championship, but playing against semi-pro teams won’t exactly prepare them well for the top level. And there must be a chance that the club actually disbands or returns to the amateur ranks, particularly as this may present an opportunity for the much discussed ringfencing of the Premiership (which would have been unlikely had, say, Leicester been relegated organically).

The resentment between members of the England squad may be the biggest issue though, and could be the thing that ends the Jones era, and makes it largely a “Welsh and Irish Lions” squad next year.

Anyway, I think Eddie Jones should make the brave call and say he’s not going to pick any Saracens players for this year’s Six Nations. The post-World Cup edition is always a lottery in any case, may as well use it to try out some new talent.

Food for thought. The pricks deserved this and hopfully world rugby will take note. Some of these restrictions on selection are just petty.

Keeping the cheating aside, this Saracens side have some balls. Lose Vunipola and play with 14 for a half after everything in the past day and still edge past Racing.

Would like to see Dombrandt at 8 in the 6N.

beamer wrote:This is surely going to have a massive impact on the England team going forwards.  (...)

The resentment between members of the England squad may be the biggest issue though, and could be the thing that ends the Jones era, and makes it largely a “Welsh and Irish Lions” squad next year.

That last is the worst-case scenario. But, although emotions run high, resentments, counter-resentments, retaliatory resentments and bad will make the air heavy, I somehow doubt it will be quite that apocalyptic regarding the immediate England set-up.

Let's be specific. Some rugby players - some people generally - have small, permanently seething and short-circuiting minds, and - to be blunter - are a bit thick. But the Dallaglio extremes are comparatively rare, I think.

Let's take Jack Nowell. Interviews I've seen with him over the previous weeks suggest heindeed feels strongly about cheating by financial means. But I honestly can't see him turning away from, say, Farrell and saying "Fk you mate, I'm not talking to you, you're the one responsible for this." What I've seen and heard of Nowell (for example) suggests he feels his team were cheated by the Saracens administration, their board, the money men. Jack is the type who who grins and thinks: We know what we know, we won't forget, but let's get on with it. My hunch would be that he sees the Saracens players - as players - more compromised than corrupt. And would want the best for the national side.

Now it's possible I've misread his positive desire to play and win. (Yes, I know he's injured again, but I'm using him as an example of a relatively intelligent player, one without a porkpie brain, who yearns to achieve all he can, and wants the best for any team he plays for and is part of.)

So ... we'll see. But I doubt the Saracens corruption will kill the England team.

There is the - I think bigger - question where the most expensive players will be accommodated, club-wise, at the end of this season. When Sarries become - at least for a season - small(ish) fry. I suppose richer French clubs will be making enquiries.

And no one can compete with the French clubs if they decide to open the cheque books .
Wasps maybe, Leicester perhaps. Might lead to s rethink on selection policy.

While we might not get a major confrontation, I think it will just be there in the background affecting team spirit.

Allowing England players to move to France seems to be the only logical solution in terms of the redistribution of the Saracens squad.

Vicar of Dibley quits before she was sacked

Another hit to the bottom line.  Sports administration may well be the most insecure but lucrative career path.