Team for Samoa?

[Digby]

Do you ever dream about this stuff Jngf. Apologies if that is too personal a question. I’m just curious.

I might dream about playing prop in a mixed pack with two female locks - well you did ask...

Wouldn't it be better to be at 8 in that scenario?

Puja

You're simply assuming which sex he/she would be more attracted to, poor form indeed

[Mikey Brown]

Ban the homophobe.

[Puja]

I might dream about playing prop in a mixed pack with two female locks - well you did ask...

Wouldn't it be better to be at 8 in that scenario?

Puja

You're simply assuming which sex he/she would be more attracted to, poor form indeed

True. Although I have to say, from a bi hooker's perspective (I'll take "Phrases Never Before Said On A Rugby Board" for 10!), I've never found a scrum particularly sexy, no matter how attractive the other participants. You're not particularly arranged for appreciating the other people. Maybe a maul would be better?

Plus, I naturally assumed jngf could play 8. After all, everyone else apparently does!

Puja

[Digby]

Wouldn't it be better to be at 8 in that scenario?

Puja

You're simply assuming which sex he/she would be more attracted to, poor form indeed

True. Although I have to say, from a bi hooker's perspective (I'll take "Phrases Never Before Said On A Rugby Board" for 10!), I've never found a scrum particularly sexy, no matter how attractive the other participants. You're not particularly arranged for appreciating the other people. Maybe a maul would be better?

Plus, I naturally assumed jngf could play 8. After all, everyone else apparently does!

Puja

Ah, the Kevin Spacey defence

[Puja]

You're simply assuming which sex he/she would be more attracted to, poor form indeed

True. Although I have to say, from a bi hooker's perspective (I'll take "Phrases Never Before Said On A Rugby Board" for 10!), I've never found a scrum particularly sexy, no matter how attractive the other participants. You're not particularly arranged for appreciating the other people. Maybe a maul would be better?

Plus, I naturally assumed jngf could play 8. After all, everyone else apparently does!

Puja

Ah, the Kevin Spacey defence

I'm halfway towards taking umbrage at that. I get where the joke's coming from, but I would prefer not to be compared to a paedophile please.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Oh come on Puja. That’s not what that meant.

[ad_tigger]

Think I'm with puja on this one.

[Digby]

(a) I don't think Puja said anything problematic in the first instance, and it's merely a deliberate misunderstanding to make a puerile joke
(b) I'd contest there was a comparison made to Spacey, only to the defence of saying ah but I'm gay/bi/straight
(c) I didn't until this morning know Spacey had been reported as having sex with a minor, I only knew about an alleged seduction of a minor and would have classified him more as a predator than paedo
(d) Wasn't there something about this being like a rugby club and you could say stuff which might offend but that's just how it is?

[Scrumhead]

[bitts]

Quick, someone talk about the back row...

[Puja]

(a) I don't think Puja said anything problematic in the first instance, and it's merely a deliberate misunderstanding to make a puerile joke
(b) I'd contest there was a comparison made to Spacey, only to the defence of saying ah but I'm gay/bi/straight
(c) I didn't until this morning know Spacey had been reported as having sex with a minor, I only knew about an alleged seduction of a minor and would have classified him more as a predator than paedo
(d) Wasn't there something about this being like a rugby club and you could say stuff which might offend but that's just how it is?

Fair enough - I know the intention wasn't to deliberately imply anything, but it's generally a bit of a touchy subject. Making a crack about a gay guy using the Spacey defence can easily be taken as referencing a link between homosexuality and paedophilia which everyone had hoped had gone the fuck away by now. Gay rights groups have worked for decades to get rid of the irrational prejudice that gay == danger to kids and then that prick decides to respond to an accusation that he's groomed 14 year olds with, "Oh by the way I'm gay". Gee thanks Kevin, we'd enjoyed that brief period without Section 28.

On part d), yes this is like a rugby club and you can say stuff that might offend, but it doesn't mean that no-one's going to be offended or that everyone's immune to reproach. However, I acknowledge that you didn't mean it the way it was taken and no offence was intended and it is a subject that I'm sensitive to, so let's leave it there.

So, George Ford - great leader of English Rugby or great leader of World Rugby? Discuss.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Ewels did play at 8 for Bath a bit last season....AND Eddie did say in a recent interview they were looking at him as a possible back row option. It all becomes clearer now. A BR of locks is on the cards, 5.5 X 3.

I’d prefer we didn’t even joke about that ...

Although it does make me think of that interview with Ben Kay a few months back where he said that the increased importance of the lineout would probably see the rise of more locks moving to the back row. It’s not something I want to see but I can see where he’s coming from and with our stockpile of quality locks, Eddie might be inclined to agree with him.

[Oakboy]

Ewels did play at 8 for Bath a bit last season....AND Eddie did say in a recent interview they were looking at him as a possible back row option. It all becomes clearer now. A BR of locks is on the cards, 5.5 X 3.

I’d prefer we didn’t even joke about that ...

Although it does make me think of that interview with Ben Kay a few months back where he said that the increased importance of the lineout would probably see the rise of more locks moving to the back row. It’s not something I want to see but I can see where he’s coming from and with our stockpile of quality locks, Eddie might be inclined to agree with him.

As a principle we all want players picked in their right positions. Where that goes awry is if there is either a large gap in standard or if we can't get a balance any other way. In the first instance, for example, if there was no choice for 6 but Wood or Itoje would anyone pick Wood? The second point is more contentious but if there had to be a line-out option from the back-row, especially if Billy was at 8 instead of Hughes, I'd much rather shift Robshaw to 7 and pick a lock at 6 than rely on Robshaw in the line-out. The only genuine back-row line-out option is Armand who appears out of favour, oddly. I'd have him ahead of some of the youngsters as a squad member just because he is a logical bench option.

[jngf]

In the first instance, for example, if there was no choice for 6 but Wood or Itoje would anyone pick Wood?

Stuart Lancaster might well do

[Mellsblue]

In the first instance, for example, if there was no choice for 6 but Wood or Itoje would anyone pick Wood?

Stuart Lancaster might well do

Might?!?!?!?

[Which Tyler]

Have I arrived an hour early? Isn't coverage supposed to start 10 minutes ago?
http://cdn2.crichd.info/sky-sports-main ... -streaming

[Mellsblue]

Have I arrived an hour early? Isn't coverage supposed to start 10 minutes ago?
http://cdn2.crichd.info/sky-sports-main ... -streaming

The coverage on the Main Event channel doesn’t start until 2.55. Build-up and the match itself are on Sky Sports Action from 2.30.

[Which Tyler]

Thank you.
Given a choice between whatever football they're talking about there, Big Bang Theory downstairs, Baldy and the Drunk talking up Farrell & Hartley... it's a tough choice, but I've already taken the dog for a walk.

[Mellsblue]

Thank you.
Given a choice between whatever football they're talking about there, Big Bang Theory downstairs, Baldy and the Drunk talking up Farrell & Hartley... it's a tough choice, but I've already taken the dog for a walk.

Greenwood is currently spouting hyperbolic bollocks.

[Which Tyler]

I've... switched back to people I don't know talking... a match in a sport I don't care about.

I heard Clive talking about Eddie, and just couldn't bear to stay there - the 2 minute delay between audio and visual didn't particularly hinder TBH

[Mellsblue]

Brown ffs

[Mr Mwenda]

Weak defence...

[jngf]

Itoje keeps getting knocked back in contact, not so great at 6 than at lock...unsurprisingly.

Simmonds on the other hand has so much more dynamic power as a ball carrier despite being a much smaller player than Itoje.

[Mellsblue]

Good see the ice man showing his test match animal credentials by slotting that kick after missing the previous one.

[bitts]

Itoje keeps getting knocked back in contact, not so great at 6 than at lock...unsurprisingly.

Simmonds on the other hand has so much more dynamic power as a ball carrier despite being a much smaller player than Itoje.

One day people will realise that size doesn't equal strength and strength doesn't equal power.