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Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

A good scrum is a huge weapon for me, I'm a massive fan of a solid set piece. I expect Aus to have problems if they don the set piece doesn't matter attitude.

I suspect they're working quite hard on it in training, they done quite well against a decent Samoa outfit but will stuggle against the better sides.

Scrum is pretty big for me not as important as the lineout now though.

Also how can you tell if you'v broke/dislocated a finger?

They do work hard of course and they don't give up on it.

But you need to be able to live without a dominant scrum. it is something that England couldn't do. They get beat in the scrum and I would wager they'd lose the game.

Australia don't discard the scrum but they need to consider options to make it as insignificant as possible as they don't posses the players capable of rendering all other scrums obsolete.

Australia along with NZ are the only team who could win a game whilst being annihilated at the scrum.

You're prob not far off there Steve, might throw Ireland in that group too but on the fringes.

I don't think Ireland could be the southern hemisphere sides with a backwards scrum.

Easily capable of beating any of the other nations though

It can and does work with limited success, but I agree it is not ideal and does limit your options somewhat.

Reds used it to get quick ball from the scrum, as opposed to great go forward ball.

Probably wouldn't work long term as teams will wise up if it your only option at the scrum.

Best option of course is to have the skills to not be scrumming down every 2 mins.

there will always be knock ons though, thats just the nature of the game. even the best players do it.

Driver mate if its dislocated you will know it. Should be absolute agony. Had a few in my time. Broken fingers are harder to tell. Depending on how badly broken. If its alight break might only feel like bruising but the bruising wont go away if you keep using that hand

Ireland have beaten the Boks a few times with a beaten scrum...

Steven_Sharks wrote:I don't see how the quick hook affects the set moves. if its executed properly the ball is in the 9's hands quickly and your off. Catch the opposition backrow on the backfoot if nothing else.

For example say you want to wheel the scrum to keep the flanker further away when running a move it has a massive impact. Also you are relying on a perfect hook and pick up by 9 and the quick scrum really raises the potential for errors in this.

No team has ever won a WC with a poor scrum

Ryan Cross to Falcons Driver....be a fantastic signing, he's a class act

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/rugby-news/newcastle-falcons/2011/07/19/newcastle-confident-on-landing-ryan-cross-72703-29079801/

That would be a good signing. Don't be surprised if Sale try to jump in on it. This is a quote from Steve Diamond.

"We've probably two or three to make. We're out there and in fierce negotiations at the moment...... If the right player comes along, whom I think will fit into our pattern, our mentality, we'll be out there going for them."

His haircut will fit in with Goldings!!!

Not a bad player and may well suit the AP. a real try scorer.

interesting about Mcallister

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_7046009,00.html

Bit like Steven Ireland lying about how his gran had died and could not play.

At least give us one decent signing Steve! He'll do our backline wonders, we were dire in midfield last season. A backrower and we'll be at the dizzy heights of fighting for Mid table!

Can understand him wanting to get away asap and play for Toulouse. You hear about Donald Matt?

Yes

He may not be going to the Blues after all. In the local papers it says Bath have appealed about the VISA and that this often happens and then they get the visa on appeal.

apparently really common with footballers and that loads of them over here have not played the required number of internationals and then get visa on appeal.

to be fair he will be on 150-200 k a year its not as if he is coming over here for benefits

Taking a job from a Brit though Matt! (Vesty/Barkley)

Both of those are centres anyway

Donald would do really well over here. He is gernerally excellent in SUper 15, ITM etc and has had some good international games but is maybe a little inconsistent at international level.

He really gets a backline going and is also a big unit at nearly 16 st

I'd generally agree with that about Donald but he's had a pretty poor season by his standards. Think it shows with Henry going with Slade who's played about 80mins of rugby all season rather than Donald who's played most games.

Really interested to see how Slade goes, he's the nearest player(in style) I've seen to Carter for a while. Has a great percentages game and pace to play winger/FB, could be the AB backup 10 for a while and 1st choice when Carter goes on his travels again.

I reckon Cruden will be the longterm successor

I think the Auckland 10 Anscombe will be the long term replacement for Carter. Looked excellent in U20s world cup and i am sure he will start a lot of ITM and Super rugby games soon

Don't rate Cruden tbh. Think he is a bit flakey. Change of franchise might help him

agree with that matt

I really think he'll miss the boat Johnny with Slade taking the jersey now and Ainsworth(?!?) coming through next year. I'm not sure Crudens style suits the AB's, similar with Brett etc

Dont know mate I think he has the game to do well for the All Blacks. Very very exciting runner but great for getting the backs going as well. Didnt look to flaky this year at all with the 80% kicking record and showed some great bits of skil considering the Hurricanes where such a shambles. Will be at Chiefs next year with SBW outside of him more then likely so we shall see how he gets on there. Did great at the weekend playing behind a beaten pack to pick up the win for Manawatu

Funny how people think a 19/20yo kid will develop to be a definate International over players already performing at the top level.

Cruden had a very good season and has ironed out a fair bit of his flaws, if Slade has a stinker he has an outside shot still.

I really like Slade though, he looked a natural when he came on last year and could be a the player Henry has been looking for.

Just remember Matt two years ago Cruden was world junior player and tore apart everyone at the junior world cup... Hes now done it at senior level over the last year... Was told to sort his tacking and kicking out last year by Heny and Co so he went away and did it. Was most definately the form All Black 10 of the Super 15. Played better then alot more established 10s over the tournament with a side that was up the Poopie creak with internal fighting

Cruden looked streets ahead of what Anscombe did when he played U20 imo.

Anscombe is second only to Julian Savea in the players I've seen play for the Junior All blacks since I've watched the competition.

Cruden like Ford this year looked a class above everyone else at the age when they were playing the tournament. Savea the same last year. Wouldnt say Anscombe was as impressive as that this year at all.

I thought you'd prefer Cruden Steve, he's very Cooper like....as in he can't tackle or kick (Only kidding......Cruden is a pretty strong kicker)

I really wasn't overly impressed with Anscombe, I know he won player of the tournement etc but he was nothing flash at that level. I though Ford looked better if I'm totally honest.

Id agree there mate. Ford was a step above everyone this year while I thought the young Whitelock was more impressive for the All Blacks then Anscombe.

Dont you dare be putting Cruden in the Cooper tackling bracket!!
Hes fairly decent defensivly! No need to be hiding him in the line

I know mate, he looked shakey his first year but seems to have really worked on it. Only Cips tackles likes Cooper!!!

Whitelock looked a real class act

Read on some site somewhere Cips missed on average 5 straight up 1 on 1 tackles a game over the super 15. Was the tournaments worst tackler...

Cruden is decent but I've never been massively impressed with him. Similar with Slade, Donald, Brett. Evans on 2009/2010 form would be back up to Carter IMO. If had to decide now, would go Cruden.

Evans was unlucky to come along the same time at Carter. He was a world class flyhalf in his own right. Still a top player now but like Heyman has been away from the top table for a while so not quite world class anymore but a very very good player.

You lot need to watch more of the Reds

When defending full back quade hasn't missed a tackle

Fact

When defending fly half how many tackles does he miss?
My bad he's not allowed to defend flyhalf...

best attacking talent in he world,

Can do what he wants

Dont remember people saying that about Cipriani...
Best attacking talent in England, can do what he wants... Would be music to Chris's ears if we all started saying that

Didn't know we were talking about James O'Connor Steve

JOC's allround game is up there with Coopers in his respective position but in attack he lacks Quade's magic.

This video explains what can be done with a backwards scrum.

Funny how no one picks on Kurtley Beale's defence

I think Cooper has a better pass (Possibly the best in the game) but JOC's running lines and abilty in the broken field are on another level. He also has a better defence and kicking from the tee in my opinion. I'd say JOC was an all round better player but agree, both very good attackers.

Beale has a good defence..?1?!

This video explains what can be done with a backwards scrum.

Funny how no one picks on Kurtley Beale's defence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkcDynkTrI

This was the Video I was supposed to post

I don't think JOC's broken field running is on Cooper's level. Cooper is lethal when attacking from 15.

I don't think JOC's strength is his broken field running although he is very good at it. His best attribute is how he holds defenders

And I would never say JOC is the better rugby player but I understand why you think so

Guess we're both going to be biased, I think JOC is streets ahead of Cooper myself. See Cooper beat his man now and agin, JOC generally beats 4 or 5.....