Ode to William Webb Ellis (The Rugby Union Thread)

[Ello Sailor]

Where's LetMeSleep? The only other person who posts in this thread is Rangi, who just regurgitates anti-rug sentiment. Disliking rugby is not a personality, Rangi!

[dimejinky99]

New Zealand slips to #4 in the world rankings -- our worst ever -- after losing a test series 2-1 to Ireland. Our first series loss at home since 1994!

Hold me.

My wife told me that I was unpatriotic for saying Ireland would take out the series. It got worse when I told her that I didn't really care one way or the other who won

That last game was probably our best performance ever. Beating the all blacks is a rare occurrence for us (and everyone) but that was world class. And they were so gracious in defeat too.

Thing is Ireland always peaks Mid season and right before a World Cup. We’re ranked number one in the world now. But watch next year in the RWC and we’ll probably struggle to make the quarters. Happens every time.
The people in the know say it won’t happen this time and this team and management are special.

Let’s see next year.

[Ello Sailor]

I love that Ireland are ranked number 1. Hell, I didn't even mind France being there.

As long as it's not England, I'm good.

[dimejinky99]

Anyone but the sassanach

[Evvo]

Really sad news about Ryan Jones being diagnosed with early onset dementia at just 41. As a Welshman who has mostly known Gatland as the national coach, Ryan was a huge part of that era. I've met him a few times and he's a lovely man so it really is heartbreaking.

The game appears to be completely unsustainable in the current form. HIA protocols don't seem to be fit for purpose (how Sexton played in the second test v NZ with his record makes a mockery of the new stand-down periods) and there will only be more names added to the list in next 5-10 years. 20st mass monsters running into each other for 80 minutes is making for a poor spectacle that is causing untold harm to these young men. Something has to give.

[LetMeSleep]

Full credit to Ireland, they're a hell of a team.

Can't help but think this sport's a living relic, it's like seeing people smoking or hearing you're old relative make sexist or racist comments. But I'll enjoy it while I can (although seeing that last Aust vs England game was a chore...boring foul riddled shit).

[Ello Sailor]

The nightmare continues! We just lost to Argentina again. The Pumas played brilliantly though. They showed a lot of heart to double our tackles made without ever looking like running out of steam. Also, Boffelli has a fucking radar boot. Incredible goal kicker.

[Ello Sailor]

Lots of great rugby happening at the moment. New Zealand Women beat France to make the World Cup final against England next week. Ireland's men just pulled off a narrow win over South Africa in Dublin, which was a great game. Next up is Australia vs. France. Should be a hoot.

[Ello Sailor]

Absolute scenes in a recent Major League Rugby fixture, where Houston's coach bitchslaps one of the New York coaches. Equal parts hilarious and unnecessary.

That's gotta drive viewership numbers up.

[Rangi Guy]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/t ... ucks-at-it

[dimejinky99]

The easiest try you’ll ever see. Keith earls on his 100th cap. Ireland tore England apart last weekend.
Can’t wait for the World Cup.

[Ello Sailor]

What a ball from Bundee Aki. Amazing.

Yeah, looking forward to the RWC. I think Ireland are going to carve up. All of the Irish I've spoken to refuse to let go of the "quarter-final curse" doomsaying, but I think this time around will be different.

[dimejinky99]

What a ball from Bundee Aki. Amazing.

Yeah, looking forward to the RWC. I think Ireland are going to carve up. All of the Irish I've spoken to refuse to let go of the "quarter-final curse" doomsaying, but I think this time around will be different.

I’m one of them.
Something will come up. Or it’s just a mental block.
But if they keep playing like they have been, nothing should be too much of a problem. (Nothing meaning France and New Zealand. Hardly nothings)

But we’re playing unpredictably. The whole team. Haven’t seen this since Brian O Driscoll. And he was a talisman and an absolute joy to watch. He’d carve up any team in front of him.
Our whole team is doing that now.
Let’s see if it’s sticks.

[Ello Sailor]

My only concern is a Sexton injury or similar. Even though there's loads of talent at 10 in Ireland, all of the eggs appear to have been placed in his basket. He's still class, but he's getting on in years. Father time and all that.

[dimejinky99]

My only concern is a Sexton injury or similar. Even though there's loads of talent at 10 in Ireland, all of the eggs appear to have been placed in his basket. He's still class, but he's getting on in years. Father time and all that.

That’s just media bullshit tbh.

You could pick a kid from anywhere could do his job.

Our problem is we invest and place too much faith in him and him alone.

He’s just one. There’s a whole team.

That’s why we’re gonna stumble before the end. Long before it tbh.

I hope I’m wrong.

[Ello Sailor]

That’s just media bullshit tbh.

You could pick a kid from anywhere could do his job.

The issue is time spent within the squad. Be that training or game time, a 10 needs to be dialled in to everything. There are incredible 10s lying in wait, but Sexton gets all of the time. Set pieces these days come down to a razor's edge in terms of familiarity and execution. Knowing where your runners are, or where they're going to be. Trusting the seniors in your pack to know what's on without even having to bark it.

They need a wider training squad at this key position. I hope Sexton goes full terminator and I am a fool to have worried, but there it is.

[Ello Sailor]

We just suffered a record defeat at the hands of the Springboks. I'm not even kidding. It was a massacre.

[Ello Sailor]

Dime, I could hug you. England just fell to FIJI at Twickenham. Waaaaathefucuuuuck

[Higgs]

Here's a question - will Australia actually win a test during the 2023 calendar year??

[Ello Sailor]

You'll spank Georgia and Portugal. Hopefully Wales too. Fiji are looking pretty scary though.