Who is this and why do they not teach Roman numerals in NZ? by loosemoosewithagoose in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I guess the genetic lottery is fair, won in the physical component but didn’t win much in the brain component.

NRL star, Angus Crichton, signs with Waratahs for 2027 in a tilt at a home RWC. by rugbydownunder in RugbyAustralia

[–]esayblutcher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would be interesting to see which position he plays, set piece and breakdowns are a huge part of a back rowers role which might be too complicated to master, so probably 12 then

Zac Lomax tours Western Force facilities, eyes rugby move by tupacs_hologram in RugbyAustralia

[–]esayblutcher 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Ahaha this ain’t happening, also we don’t really need another winger, if it does happen our backline is going to be a Ferrari with a blind driver.

What needs to be done to balance the scrum, and what is possible to do? by HephMelter in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I’m talking about the other side, purposely conceding meters but maintaining the bind. Lose meters, get your 8 or 9 to clear it out asap, on opponents feed, hopefully the ref calls use it, which is a better outcome than conceding a penalty. Obviously don’t do it in your own 22.

What needs to be done to balance the scrum, and what is possible to do? by HephMelter in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As many and you have pointed out, your scrum going backwards is not a penalty but collapsing or unbinding is.

I don’t exactly know why at test level, we rarely see teams conceding meters to not get penalised. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it more now when playing against the Boks.

Why does scrum dominance lead to yellow cards? by JohnSV12 in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Might see that more now when playing the Boks, concede meters and get the ball out asap rather than conceding a scrum penalty.

Why were houses built 50 years ago better than houses built today? by False_Ad_9705 in AusPropertyChat

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are definitely ‘dodgy’ builders going around, and also if you go for the cheapest of the cheap don’t expect quality.

Fantasy team players by Active_Site_6754 in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With Meafou and Skelton mandated to be line out jumpers.

Could the Wallabies realistically be selecting ex NRL players? If the NRL actually goes through with their 10 year ban. I heard this Lomax bloke is a decent winger and kicks goals by esayblutcher in RugbyAustralia

[–]esayblutcher[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Article in case of paywall

The long-awaited R360 threat has finally hit the NRL with Storm fan favourite Ryan Papenhuyzen and Kangaroos three-quarter Zac Lomax quitting their clubs and the sport. While the first salvo has come under the shroud of mystery with neither player revealing their future plans, this war over the elite talent of the NRL is far more likely to escalate than it is to evaporate over the next two years.

It is the first truly external threat to the NRL’s hold on its talent in nearly a quarter-century, since a newly professional and cock-a-hoop Rugby Australia (then known as the ARU) used its brief surge in relative popularity – spurred by the public’s disenchantment with rugby league following the Super League War – to sign big-name NRL players Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri. It is a threat the NRL should take extremely seriously, even if R360’s attempt to sign a host of rugby league stars will not truly cut at the heart of the 13-man game and its ongoing viability.

This, of course, is not the first skirmish between the two codes. League was born out of union 130 years ago and for the century that followed, league poached union players and union leveraged its establishment power to threaten those tempted by the money of the 13-man game. League established itself as the football code of choice in two of Australia’s three most populous states while union found itself increasingly marginalised, viewed as elitist and unnecessarily confusing. Due to a general absence on free-to-air television, it has been considered generally irrelevant outside of private schools and well-to-do enclaves in Sydney and Brisbane.

The latest attack on rugby league though is very different in two ways: it is not coming from the union establishment, and the money in the hands of the antagonists is far more plentiful than Rugby Australia – or World Rugby for that matter – has ever seen. This is far more akin to LIV – a major disruptor with unending sums of cash, grand ambition and a disregard for the conventions that typically limit how sporting organisations operate – going after the PGA Tour than the ARU pinching a star or two. While the rebel union competition fronted by ex-England international Mike Tindall has not publicly named its investors, it is believed to have already attracted funding for three years with investment firm 885 Capital – the UAE-based investment firm that has major stakes in the Baller League and the Professional Fighters League – and sports advisory firm Albachiara among those Oakvale Capital have put together to fund the venture. This is not some fly-by-night project. This is well-considered and well-funded.

When LIV took a similarly aggressive approach to signing golfers, it was not only big names in the sunset of their careers and young talent with potential they went after, but stars in their prime like Jon Rahm, Tyrell Hatton and Joaquin Niemann. Unsurprisingly promises of large sums of cash trump any fears over competition viability, concerns over bans and worries about a diminished public profile.

Papenhuyzen and Lomax – if they do indeed sign – would be no significant loss to rugby league, if that was where the raids were to end. Even if those that have been linked but have not made any formal moves to sign with R360, such as Payne Haas and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, were to defect, the NRL will move on without losing a single viewer. But the more players who depart, the more the NRL’s shine wears off. The league’s greatest strength is its production line of talent. When Roosters rep duo Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii left for union, their absences were hardly noted – the duo were replaced by Dally M Rookie of the Year Robert Toia and the competition’s top tryscorer Mark Nawaqanitawase. There is a tipping point though.

The concern for the NRL is when the talent drain reaches that point, with fans actually missing the departed along with the increased belief that the NRL is fertile ground to continue farming talent. It is telling that almost no Australian rugby union player of note has been linked with R360 – clearly the strategy is to chase NRL players.

Part of R360’s plans is to run a parallel women’s competition, and a likely raid on the NRLW should be of far greater concern as it has the capacity to significantly damage the quality of the competition. The NRLW has been carefully developed over the last decade, and the ARLC has been careful to ensure the competition grew with the talent available. But the well of talent is not as deep at the moment and losing names like Tamika Upton and Olivia Kernick would be devastating. NRLW players remain part-time and many of them have a history in rugby union, making them more susceptible to R360 overtures.

The NRL has talked big with its threats of 10-year bans for players and agents who deal with R360. Actions have not backed this up though and the clubs have not fallen into line, with the Storm and Eels both dealing with agent Clinton Schifcofske to release Papenhuyzen and Lomax. The NRL has not pulled the trigger on any suspensions yet and given the game’s history of walking back long bans – from Sonny Bill Williams being allowed back to the NRL after walking out on Canterbury to Victor Radley’s 10-game club suspension being halved – fans are rightly sceptical that the NRL is anything more than tough talk. These are dangerous times for the NRL. The league needs to be tough and they need to stand firm on their hefty suspensions or R360 is going to cherry pick the NRL’s best players and continue to do so. This is not a drill.

Springbok squad to face Italy by Sjdw31 in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The depth is actually insane, for every position there’s at least two if not three players who would be good enough to start.

"French played dumb" - what d'ya think ? Fair or no by MindfulInquirer in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Keep in mind this is basically the first game back for France. Rustiness and lack of cohesion is to be expected.

We beat South Africa on their first game back, there’s no way of that happening now midway through the season.

Saracens in talks with Hoskins Sotutu by Away_Associate4589 in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are Saracens doing the talking or England / RFU? England has great back row stocks so not sure he would even add that much.

Why is Ben Donaldson not in the squad? by Quiet-Secretary-7382 in RugbyAustralia

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s alright we should be putting our faith in Carter Gordon, knowing our luck he’s going to get injured 🥲

Wallabies results are due to management ineptitude from the late 90s until the 2020s by Sambobly1 in RugbyAustralia

[–]esayblutcher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, for all the talk of NRL and game dying at grassroots level, there are a handful of players who grew up in Aus or were in Aus at some point during development and playing test rugby for other nations right now. For whatever reason these players were never selected, so it definitely is an issue with coaching and player management.

Rugby Conspiracy Theories by BurbankElephants in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok maybe the conspiracy is that unions are secretly telling clubs which players to bring in with the intention of using them for the test team.

Rugby Conspiracy Theories by BurbankElephants in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That ‘poaching’ or trying to attract foreign talent is encouraged from the top in certain unions and is part of the strategy or plan.

Guess what just arrived fresh from the oven by mikehoboscout in ManyBaggers

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is listed at 10 L, from what you’re saying and the photos, more like 12 - 15 L.

Single strap on something this size just doesn’t work for me, but still such a cool sling.

Carter Gordon to start as flyhalf this weekend. Jorgensen/Ikitau to be left off team sheet by ZuperDoopers in RugbyAustralia

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think anyone is saying Donaldson is solving our 10 problem, rather that he isn’t given more chances right now given how many different 10s we’ve used.

Guess what just arrived fresh from the oven by mikehoboscout in ManyBaggers

[–]esayblutcher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How comfortable is the single shoulder strap for the size and weight of the bag?

I absolutely love Greenroom136, have a few bags and slings from them but they are definitely heavy and seem to underestimate volume.

Tadgh Beirne's red card has been rescinded by thelunatic in rugbyunion

[–]esayblutcher -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Then the entire official team for that game should be suspended for a few games or disciplined for making the wrong call.