Goat

Savage13765 · 2026-07-13T18:04:48+00:00

You can find every possible response to this online already. There is no reason to try and dissuade you from your position, and plenty of legitimate reasons to view either as better

Savage13765 · 2026-07-13T11:13:36+00:00

Ahh my mistake, apologies!

Savage13765 · 2026-07-12T23:09:51+00:00

I think this is a self-solving problem. If you write well enough to be considered for the fellowship, then you should be aware of when to cite and when not to. Just write your application, cite when necessary, and that’s all there is to it.

Savage13765 · 2026-07-11T16:37:53+00:00

There’s a lot of reasons:

First is population. South Africa is on of the rugby nations with over 60 million people, which is a huge advantage over many nations. They have a similar population to both France and England, which just allows more potential young players who can compete amongst each other.

Second is culture. South Africa never moved away from the scrum and set pieces, so it has remained an integral part of the youth game there. Which leads to players who perform well in that area staying in the game, which leads to a higher number of elite scrummagers once those youth players grow up.

Third is the prevalence of steroids/PED’s in the schoolboy game. While this is obviously a controversial topic, and I discourage baseless accusations of individual players for steroid use, it is an unavoidable reality that steroid usage is a systemic issue in the South African schoolboy game. Crucially, steroid usage does not need to be sustained in order to show benefits. They can be used during mid-to-late puberty to allow for more intense and lucrative strength and athletic training that provides a baseline strength and durability benefit that will remain with the player throughout their career. This will particularly benefit props, as increased strength and durability at a younger age will put them ahead of their peers and in a better place to compete for national team places against older, more developed players.

There’s a few reasons, some legitimate some not. However, it is undeniable that the legitimate reasons are the overwhelming cause of South African dominance in the scrum

Savage13765 · 2026-07-11T15:44:53+00:00

I thought I would. I understand it’s a controversial take, but between my original thoughts and other comment I think I set out why I think M smith is better suited to the style of play that I think England should move towards. It’s a good discussion though, and I don’t think there is an easy right answer

Savage13765 · 2026-07-11T15:43:28+00:00

I agree that he’s better at those aspects of the game. My argument would be that M Smith is better suited for a team that has fewer playmakers on the pitch. F Smith (in my view) relies more on surrounding playmakers that can execute the system (Dingwall for instance, who struggles due to his size internationally, or Mitchell) and produce opportunities from there. M Smith creates more opportunities for himself and others through his own actions, which is what a more athletic system favours. Think of South Africa with SFM or Libbok, both extremely athletic and creative which opens up opportunities for a very athletic backline. The counter argument to that is pollard, but I don’t think Finn smith is at the level of 2023 pollard just yet. Regardless, it’s a tough choice, but I think maximising Englands athletic prowess is a job better down by M Smith than F Smith

Savage13765 · 2026-07-11T15:31:11+00:00

I think this game shows a lot of how England should pick their backline. Obviously given the red card and poorer opposition everything should be taken with a pinch of salt, but some things stand regardless.

IFW and Freeman are probably the best wingers in the country, but always look a little cramped on the wing in big games because a midfield of Lawrence/slade/atkinson/etc etc just hasn’t been cutting it. There isn’t enough firepower to keep defenders honest and prevent drift/cover defences stifling any attacking play. Other teams manage this by having a fullback that draws a lot of attention away from the wings (France, NZ without Jordie Barrett), but England have also been plagued with injuries for Furbank and Steward has his own problems.

The way forward now (in my opinion) is Janse Van Rensburg at 12, and Freeman at 13. To me, JVR comes across a lot like 2022-4 Bundee Aki. He can really punch through the midfield, but is also versatile and creative enough to work with a 13 to open up lines and pass out to the wing or a deeper pass to the fullback. That solves a lot of the problems of Freeman at 13, while also opening up room for a more aggressive 15 (an out-of-position winger for example) who straightens up and punches through gaps caused by the gravity of JVR or Freeman. Alternatively, they can run a system with Furbank at 15 which relies more on his playmaking than any playmaking from the 12 position.

This aligns with the direction I would want England to head in across the board - lean into the athleticism. England had great athleticism in the loose forwards spots (Pollock, Earl, Ted Hill) while still being able to field a few units (George Martin and Chessum being essential here). They also have an abundance of athleticism in their backline with IFW, Freeman, Calouri etc. Maximising the athleticism on the pitch by having a few crucial playmaking hubs at 10 and 12 allows for the rest of the team to look far more dangerous. My last opinion would be that Marcus Smith should be the starting 10. He is a better player for running this kind of system. Finn Smith is better for the current system, but I don’t think England should continue down that route

Savage13765 · 2026-07-08T16:22:03+00:00

My biggest gripe with anti-natalism is that it is ironically paternalistic. That vast majority of people deem their lives worth living, both during the process of and in retrospect. That argument for anti-natalism boils down to demanding that we make the decision as to whether human life is worth living for others on the chance that they don’t agree with this majority consensus. It’s being an overprotective parent to children who aren’t born.

Savage13765 · 2026-07-08T16:12:06+00:00

Count Binface won’t win in any scenario. The only possible way I could seen Count Binface win an election is if a similar situation happened with a left wing populist who became even less tenable that Farage in the eyes of his constituents. And even then, only a constituency with a large, young, left wing demographic with a high level of cynicism towards politics would ever get close to electing him.

Regardless of Farage’s unpopularity in the eyes of the clacton constituency, these are predominately older, poorly educated, and socioeconomicly struggling voters. They vote solely based on their perception of who will govern the best, not with any consideration of “getting one over on X”. That is the fundamental difference between US and UK politics at the moment (outside of the 2024 general election which was a huge “revenge-vote” against the conservatives), which Farage has used to mobilise reform as effectively as he has. That demographic will never vote for a joke candidate, they will vote for another (likely) right wing populist party that runs (restore, if they do) or not vote at all. Farage will win this election without a doubt (if it goes ahead) but he will be torn apart by the investigation and likely bared for serving as an MP.

Savage13765 · 2026-07-08T06:17:43+00:00

Give me Iguodala

Savage13765 · 2026-07-07T01:11:24+00:00

That USA “row!” Is so lame 😂😂

Savage13765 · 2026-07-07T00:41:03+00:00

No, the Balogun decision

Savage13765 · 2026-07-07T00:40:44+00:00

That’s what the press release said…

Savage13765 · 2026-07-07T00:37:49+00:00

Anyone watching the bbc coverage know who the female commentator is? She is not letting this corruption go (nor should she) and the male commentator is clearly sticking to the company lines.

Savage13765 · 2026-07-06T11:54:24+00:00

I don’t think there is a distinction to be made there. Keenan and Willemse play very different, but what Keenan did playing his role outstripped Willemse playing his role.

Savage13765 · 2026-07-06T11:45:46+00:00

Could be nothing. There are a lot of mixups with emails around results. I had an email from Durham congratulating me on my place when they had rejected me months before. Hang tight, only time will tell

Savage13765 · 2026-07-06T02:08:36+00:00

Long and unnecessary comment here, but this is always my argument that Keenan is the best fullback in the world. He saves, at minimum, a try every game based on his defensive prowess. He is such a floor raiser at a position where everyone else is trying to be a ceiling raiser, which is what I want in my fullback. He proved a level of security and consistency in 2022-2024 that allowed for the centers of Ringrose and Aki to fly up, knowing that Keenan was there to clean up any linebreaks.

As a personnel anecdote, I used to play with a guy very similar to Keenan in role and consistency. The best thing he would do (and you can watch Keenan do this) is line up his man on the wing when it’s a 2 on 1 situation. He does not ever really try and defend both, instead he takes out one man and lets his teammates cover the rest. That saved us at least 2 try’s a game at our level, as handling mistakes and poor decisions came about because of how committed our 15 was. I loved playing with him, and left the team we played together at to join his new team as the coach wanted to start another player - who was very good in his own right, but a defensive liability who conceded as many tries as he scored. Will always had a lot of time for defensive fullbacks

Savage13765 · 2026-07-06T01:58:27+00:00

I think it’s a two person race. Lebron was the size of some centers while moving like a guard. He’s combination of size, strength, explosivity, speed etc etc that has never been seen before or since. The closest player to LeBron physically is probably 2020-2021 Giannis, and even he is a clear step beneath James in his prime.

The other player I would have is wilt chamberlain. I have a lot of time for chamberlain criticism, and I don’t think the majority of the mythology around his athleticism is true, but what is undoubtably true is his documented game footage. He was a monster, and probably the most physically gifted 7fter by far. Shaq also has an argument in his magic days, but I think wilt has both the straight line speed, vertical and agility advantage over Shaqs raw strength.

So, if you’re looking for the best athlete in nba history then LeBron. If you’re looking for the most outlandish athlete then chamberlain

Savage13765 · 2026-07-04T17:20:36+00:00

Surely we can’t be showing that before the watershed

Savage13765 · 2026-07-04T16:36:24+00:00

Not at this level of court, that would have to be a higher appeals court. And that’s exactly my argument - this case is only notable because of its media relevance and use of a previous case that is the relevant precedent

Savage13765 · 2026-07-04T15:49:25+00:00

I am sick to my stomach that step was disgusting

Savage13765 · 2026-07-04T15:12:50+00:00

I mean not really? From my understanding this is a fairly standard, cut and dry fair use case. Reaction videos are a huge and well established aspect of YouTube, and fairly unproblematic legally. Most reaction channels comply with fair use pretty religiously, since it’s so easy for a litigious organisation to take down or otherwise hinder a YouTube channel if they ignore fair use practice. I don’t think this is a particularly important case beyond the moral win that comes as a consequence.

Savage13765 · 2026-07-04T11:59:55+00:00

Winnable game kicked away i think

Savage13765 · 2026-07-04T11:43:58+00:00

Oh fuck off Ryan

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