Warburton Stepping Down as Welsh Captain

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38583200


When did it become a players decision? Surely the coach decides both who plays and who captains?

Anyway, I hope the lad can refind both his best form and his enthusiasm for the game.

I watched him playing for the Blues against Glasgow on saturday night. He did not have a good game and was pretty anonymous in fact. That seems to have been the case for most of this season. maybe the injuries are catching up with him.

He probably realises that he should not make the Welsh (or the Lions) team at the moment and is doing the coach a favour.

Or maybe he's freeing up AWJ to captain Wales in the 6N to further justify his subsequent Lions captaincy.

AWJ will retire and Sam will be back as captain in the Autumn.

Gat's and Howley are behind this.

rodders wrote:Or maybe he's freeing up AWJ to captain Wales in the 6N to further justify his subsequent Lions captaincy.

AWJ will retire and Sam will be back as captain in the Autumn.

Gat's and Howley are behind this.

Is Warbs related to DJT? Perhaps Putin is behind this?

Would AWJ start for the Lions if selected? (What am I thinking of course he'll be selected by Gats!)

LondonTiger wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38583200


When did it become a players decision? Surely the coach decides both who plays and who captains?

Anyway, I hope the lad can refind both his best form and his enthusiasm for the game.

??

Em, I'd say a player has the right to say I'd prefer not be Captain anymore. But also I'd say a Captain might sometimes get forewarning that a change of Captaincy was being considered and that he might have a few weeks grace period to fall on his own sword for the 'optics'. So...maybe it was a coach decision anyway; they've certainly be some whisperings of such an influence on the decision.

From everything I've seen from Warburton throughout his career, he is one of the most selfless players, always putting the team first.

It was one of the main reasons that he was chosen as captain in the first place, and in my opinion makes a huge call to offer up the captaincy as I feel he knows that with his form not quite as he wants it to be, it doesn't create an issue in terms of selection.

rodders wrote:Or maybe he's freeing up AWJ to captain Wales in the 6N to further justify his subsequent Lions captaincy.

AWJ will retire and Sam will be back as captain in the Autumn.

Gat's and Howley are behind this.

Thats how I see it too.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

rodders wrote:Or maybe he's freeing up AWJ to captain Wales in the 6N to further justify his subsequent Lions captaincy.

AWJ will retire and Sam will be back as captain in the Autumn.

Gat's and Howley are behind this.

Thats how I see it too.

Howley probably did talk to him but to tell him hes not guarenteed his spot in the Welsh team. Tipuric has eclipsed him as the best 7 in Wales and you cant lead your team from the bench.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

rodders wrote:Or maybe he's freeing up AWJ to captain Wales in the 6N to further justify his subsequent Lions captaincy.

AWJ will retire and Sam will be back as captain in the Autumn.

Gat's and Howley are behind this.

Thats how I see it too.

Me Too.

True Raven wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

rodders wrote:Or maybe he's freeing up AWJ to captain Wales in the 6N to further justify his subsequent Lions captaincy.

AWJ will retire and Sam will be back as captain in the Autumn.

Gat's and Howley are behind this.

Thats how I see it too.

Howley probably did talk to him but to tell him hes not guaranteed his spot in the Welsh team.  

Howley:  Em..... it's like this.  You're not guaranteed your spot on the Welsh team.
Warburton:  That's okay.  I'll train to try changing your mind and if I make the bench then I'll take that for now until my form improves.
Howley:  But .... like..... you're not guaranteed Sam.  There is no guarantee.  Get it?
Warburton:  Yeah.  But like I said, that's the challenge for me to train and try to play good enough to make you change your mind.
Howley:  But like..................; why the f**k are you making this hard for me?  You aren't guaranteed.  Got it?  That means...  Well, what do you think that means?
Sam:  It means I might be ready for the Lions instead if I get rested in the 6N?
Howley:  NO!  No, it doesn't mean that!  Why did that fecker Gats ever make you Captai..............................!
Sam:  What did you say?
Howley:  Never mind.  Never mind what I said.  It was a Freudian slip.  It should never have come up.  We need you to come to your own decision on this one Sam, when given the right info to work with.
Sam:  Oh right.  It's like that, is it? I think I know now.  Yeah.  I got the message. The horse's head schidt?  Right. This Scottish guy Freud is going to get the Lions captaincy, right?  Another f**king 'Scottish' blow-in that I've never heard of walks into Lions Captaincy?  Right.  Not too pleased about that, you be honest.  But I'm a team player.  From now on Wales will have my full attention.  With my Captaincy, we'll win another f**kin' Grand Slam.

Well something is not right, according to Sam Warburton is not considering relinquishing the role:-

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/10725095/wales-wont-comment-on-reports-sam-warburton-to-relinquish-captaincy

Dear God, more misinformation 'Fake News' efforts by the CIA infiltrated Ruskies?

What has Warburton ACTUALLY said?  Is that - should that - not be easily gleaned from the people who are making claims he said something or from the man himself by simply ringing him and asking him to clarify the conflicting accounts?

I'm sick of these bullschidt efforts where 'allegedly' people/journalists find it so difficult to just clarify a bloody simple story Before writing their 'maybe he did, maybe he didn't' shock'n'awe pieces.

LordDowlais wrote:Well something is not right, according to Sam Warburton is not considering relinquishing the role:-

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/10725095/wales-wont-comment-on-reports-sam-warburton-to-relinquish-captaincy

You can't be doubting your national newspaper? The one you use for links all the time?

RiscaGame wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Well something is not right, according to Sam Warburton is not considering relinquishing the role:-

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/10725095/wales-wont-comment-on-reports-sam-warburton-to-relinquish-captaincy

You can't be doubting your national newspaper? The one you use for links all the time?

It's a genuine question. Andy Howell was apparently the one who broke the story too.

Official now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/38591611

It does seem a bit of a ploy by Gatland and Howley to create the conditions that would allow AWJ to assume the Lions captaincy.

If that is true I think it still even a bit of an insult to AWJ.  I've said weeks back that I'd like to see AWJ get it as he has the nature and the presence and... he deserves the honour for his attitude to the game and his career.

He didn't/doesn't need to be Welsh Captain to be in contention, that concept is only important to the fluff of propaganda and childish Millennial-child publicity .  Real rugby followers know who he is and what kind of player he is.  He doesn't need the constructed 'narrative' (if it's constructed) to help his candidacy.

SecretFly wrote:It does seem a bit of a ploy by Gatland and Howley to create the conditions that would allow AWJ to assume the Lions captaincy.

If that is true I think it still even a bit of an insult to AWJ.  I've said weeks back that I'd like to see AWJ get it as he has the nature and the presence and... he deserves the honour for his attitude to the game and his career.

He didn't/doesn't need to be Welsh Captain to be in contention, that concept is only important to the fluff of propaganda and childish Millennial-child publicity   .  Real rugby followers know who he is and what kind of player he is.  He doesn't need the constructed 'narrative' (if it's constructed) to help his candidacy.

You are probably right but I think a captain must be able to guarantee their place as a player. I am not saying AWJ would not get in the team. He may well but he is by no means guaranteed a place or even the favourite at this stage. On the other hand I cannot think of any player who is and who has any captaincy experience.

SecretFly wrote:It does seem a bit of a ploy by Gatland and Howley to create the conditions that would allow AWJ to assume the Lions captaincy.

If that is true I think it still even a bit of an insult to AWJ.  I've said weeks back that I'd like to see AWJ get it as he has the nature and the presence and... he deserves the honour for his attitude to the game and his career.

He didn't/doesn't need to be Welsh Captain to be in contention, that concept is only important to the fluff of propaganda and childish Millennial-child publicity   .  Real rugby followers know who he is and what kind of player he is.  He doesn't need the constructed 'narrative' (if it's constructed) to help his candidacy.

I think you're reading too far between the lines! No offence

I think it's far simpler. Your captain needs to be on the pitch. Warburton has been playing a bit.... gash, shall we say. And for a relatively long time now. Tipuric has been outstanding so should get the 7 shirt on merit. If your captain cant get in the side then he has to be replaced, surely?

Just my opinion though I think people are looking for devilish undertakings whenever the word 'Gatland' is uttered. Gatland has his favourites, no doubt, which is why it's taken this long to change captain as Warbs is one of his.

On the Lions thing. I'm not so sure. He's struggled to give AWJ the captains armband for Wales in the past, plumping for players such as Gethin Jenkins instead. Not sure AWJ is really that favoured by Gatland.

Oh I'm usually quite good at reading the smoke signals, Griff. I don't think it was Warburton's own choice. Therefore, given Howley is deeply involved in both camps (Wales and Lions), I'd say there is something of a choreographed nature to it.

I, of course, CAN be wrong too though. But that's my nose sniffing instincts at the moment.

You're rarely wrong 'Fly! The most correct man on t'internet

I personally do think it was Warbs choice, in a roundabout way. He's been interviewed a few times after games lately and has sounded really jaded. Like he's fallen out of love with the game. He's spoken before about wanting to be picked on merit and earning his test spot first and foremost (but don't ask me to find a link to that though!). I reckon Howley's done the gentlemanly thing and told him that his place as a starter (and therefore as captain) is not likely, so that at least he could announce he was standing down to save face a little. But I just don't think this is all related to the Lions.

Griff wrote:You're rarely wrong 'Fly!  The most correct man on t'internet

I'm a megalomaniac me...me and my pal Trump!

SecretFly wrote:It does seem a bit of a ploy by Gatland and Howley to create the conditions that would allow AWJ to assume the Lions captaincy.

Of course it is a ploy. It's the biggest scam since Arlene foster set up RHI.

AWJ is Gat's man but he needs to build a stronger case to justify his captaincy over the other candidates.

Gats doesn't want an Irish or English captain but has the problem that they are both playing much better and more consistently than Wales and also that both their current captains would be strong cases for a test spot at hooker.

To ignore both of them in favor of the Welsh vice captain is going to look pretty bias, particularly after selecting Warbs ahead of O'Connell and Robshaw last time.

Can't see how AWJ is Gat's man. He's been overlooked plenty in the past by Gats.

Ah don't worry Griff, this is just more tin hatted conspiracy theories by the Irish.

You know, like the stuff they used to accuse us of when we spoke about the Pro12.

Alternatively it could be a double bluff and Warbs could be freeing himself up to captain the Lions.

Either way it has Gat's scheming all over this....

He's a divil is Gats..... It's gonna be a grand old entertaining gig again with him in charge.

SecretFly wrote:He's a divil is Gats.....  It's gonna be a grand old entertaining gig again with him in charge.

Entertaining off the field, maybe.