The rugby

[rualexander]

You can get a free month long trial with TNT sports, worth doing, just remember to cancel.

How do you get a free one month trial of TNT Sports?
From what I could see TNT is on Discovery+ Premium tier and there's no one month free trials of that.
Or you can get it via some other service like Sky or EE or VirginMedia?

 

[AndyRM]

How do you get a free one month trial of TNT Sports?
From what I could see TNT is on Discovery+ Premium tier and there's no one month free trials of that.
Or you can get it via some other service like Sky or EE or VirginMedia?

You have to do it through Amazon Prime these days.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/o...1Pz-SZAdAmOQotfBjPJ-TdcHzVERYa-saAomiEALw_wcB

 

[AndyRM]

They are not really very good under Borthwick?

That's an understatement!

 

[geocycle]

That's an understatement!

Very poor losing 42 points at home to Australia. No disgrace being within a couple of points of the all blacks three times also France and beating Ireland. Will probably get battered by the Boks. Dombrandt and Slade are not the best players available in their position. Front row is average but not seen real competition anywhere else. With Ireland wobbling I could see Farrell coming to replace Borthwick after the Lions.

 

[AndyRM]

Very poor losing 42 points at home to Australia. No disgrace being within a couple of points of the all blacks three times also France and beating Ireland. Will probably get battered by the Boks. Dombrandt and Slade are not the best players available in their position. Front row is average but not seen real competition anywhere else. With Ireland wobbling I could see Farrell coming to replace Borthwick after the Lions.

Possibly. Depends if he'd want to go back though? He was pretty poorly treated last time I thought.

 

[Beebo]

England have lost too many close games to good opponents. They could have beaten NZ twice in the last 3 games, but lost all 3 by tiny margins.
The Oz result yesterday was poor, but they were winning after 82 minutes!
Wales on the other hand are an absolute shower, having just lost to Fiji.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Wales on the other hand are an absolute shower, having just lost to Fiji.

Hard to argue with that.

 

[AndyRM]

Problem Wales and England have had is relying too much on coaches trading off past glories I think.

We're in danger of doing that with Townsend who I think will be away after the next 6 Nations.

 

[geocycle]

I also think we are in an age where the differences between the top sides is pretty small and coaches can make a difference. SA apart, most of the rest are closely matched in terms of skill and strength levels so plans and decision making is decisive. Wales are unfortunately a notch below.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I don't think England are a million miles from where they should be. The front row is not great, but you need the personnel.

Knee jerk shouting for a change of coach in the hope of someone with magical sows ear- silk purse transformation powers is just wishful thinking.

That said, I'm not looking forward to the game vs SA, partly because it won't be on telly, and partly because England will probably get properly stuffed.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Problem Wales and England have had is relying too much on coaches trading off past glories I think.

We're in danger of doing that with Townsend who I think will be away after the next 6 Nations.

Two different problems with England and Wales.

England have a good club rugby structure that provides a lot of good players.

Wales regional rugby is dying on its ar*e and not many good players available or coming through.

Borthwick is doing a poor job with the talent available, while Gatland is struggling with the lack of talent and the system and, if it wasn't for the money, regretting taking on his second stint.

 

[BrumJim]

Just been in a meeting regarding the outcome of an inspection at Pontypool Station, which was attended by Graham Price.

Sadly, not that one.

Turns out I am the only one in the project that was in any way excited by this.

 

[AndyRM]

Two different problems with England and Wales.

England have a good club rugby structure that provides a lot of good players.

Wales regional rugby is dying on its ar*e and not many good players available or coming through.

Borthwick is doing a poor job with the talent available, while Gatland is struggling with the lack of talent and the system and, if it wasn't for the money, regretting taking on his second stint.

Agree with almost all of that, but club rugby in England is shocking financially. Wasps, Worcester and London Irish all going bust in the space of a couple years isn't a good look.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Borthwick is doing a poor job with the talent available,

I'm not convinced he's doing a poor job.

He's not waved a magic wand and created a world beating XV it's true, so he's not doing a brilliant job. But he's doing about as well as can be expected. Maybe a bit less well, but not terribly. He's doing a meh job with a group of meh players plus a few good uns plus a few duffers.

 

[Chromatic]

Some good matches and results in the rugby today.