Wasps vs Exeter

[Banquo]

The 1014 articles and the like have really hammered home how complex international rugby planning us. I can see then why players tend not to be rushed on the back of a patch of club form. Time in the squad is a priority for Jones, so Wigglesworth and Haskell are retained in part because they've been around the squad a while. To be honest, i think wigglesworth showed how hard it was for him to get up to speed.

Not sure why Jones hasn't cast the net wider earlier, though. As several have pointed out it seems likely that some if the old players won't make it. Weren't several nines training with the squad even as not full members? Maybe one of them will come through this summer?

Still, weird to think that a coach effectively picks a world cup squad so far in advance. Are the other nations also doing that?

Wigglesworth hasn't been round the squad though until before the Wales game. Unless I've missed something.

[Mr Mwenda]

I thought he'd been training periodically with them. Maybe i dreamed it.

[Banquo]

I thought he'd been training periodically with them. Maybe i dreamed it.

If so, it was unofficially. He didn't even go to Argentina.

[Digby]

I thought he'd been training periodically with them. Maybe i dreamed it.

If so, it was unofficially. He didn't even go to Argentina.

Better than Maunder who went all that way to sit on the bench

[Timbo]

Yeah, terrible experience for him.

[Digby]

Yeah, terrible experience for him.

And yet I'd be delighted if I'd ever sat on the bench for England and snuck on for 2-3 minutes

[Banquo]

Yeah, terrible experience for him.

And yet I'd be delighted if I'd ever sat on the bench for England and snuck on for 2-3 minutes

I suspect that was Timbos point.

[Digby]

Yeah, terrible experience for him.

And yet I'd be delighted if I'd ever sat on the bench for England and snuck on for 2-3 minutes

I suspect that was Timbos point.

Could go either way

[Digby]

I've not heard of AJ being cited for his high hit so I'm assuming he's got away with it, or gotten away with it for Banquo? Mind this little cracker from the Tongan lad on the French player was only given as a yellow from the weekend and Tangimana hasn't been cited either -

[Raggs]

No citing for AJ but gaby is in front of the beak tonight for the finaltackle in the match. Looks like potential head to head contact.

[Banquo]

, or gotten away with it for Banquo?

lost me there digger

[Digby]

, or gotten away with it for Banquo?

lost me there digger

I had in mind you didn't like the use of 'gotten'

[Banquo]

, or gotten away with it for Banquo?

lost me there digger

I had in mind you didn't like the use of 'gotten'

Not so much that I've objected to it, I don't think. But now you mention it.....

[Digby]

lost me there digger

I had in mind you didn't like the use of 'gotten'

Not so much that I've objected to it, I don't think. But now you mention it.....

You didn't exactly object, turns out you said '(gotten??)' which I didn't take to reflect glowingly on my use of 'gotten'. Perhaps I've gotten the wrong end of the stick.

Still my error wouldn't be as bad the Romanian winger's, nor the again consistently inconsistent citing process

[Puja]

I've not heard of AJ being cited for his high hit so I'm assuming he's got away with it, or gotten away with it for Banquo? Mind this little cracker from the Tongan lad on the French player was only given as a yellow from the weekend and Tangimana hasn't been cited either

Very nice.

Anyone else keeping up with the RWC qualifying on here? Spain's victory over Romania puts them in pole position to be the automatic qualifier from Europe (guaranteed unless Romania can beat Georgia, or Spain fail to get bonus points against Russia and Belgium), which will be their first appearance since 1999. They were watched by a crowd of 15k at the weekend as well, which is good. The upshot is that with Samoa, Canada, and Romania all screwing up in their regional qualifiers, we're going to end up with one of them not qualifying for the RWC for the very first time.

Yes, yes, I know, but my other alternative is to un-ignore Rowan and talk to him about it, so I thought I'd seize this opportunity to sidetrack the conversation.

Puja

[Banquo]

I had in mind you didn't like the use of 'gotten'

Not so much that I've objected to it, I don't think. But now you mention it.....

You didn't exactly object, turns out you said '(gotten??)' which I didn't take to reflect glowingly on my use of 'gotten'. Perhaps I've gotten the wrong end of the stick.

Still my error wouldn't be as bad the Romanian winger's, nor the again consistently inconsistent citing process

Months ago, could be acclimatised to such vernacular now....

[Digby]

I've not heard of AJ being cited for his high hit so I'm assuming he's got away with it, or gotten away with it for Banquo? Mind this little cracker from the Tongan lad on the French player was only given as a yellow from the weekend and Tangimana hasn't been cited either

Very nice.

Anyone else keeping up with the RWC qualifying on here? Spain's victory over Romania puts them in pole position to be the automatic qualifier from Europe (guaranteed unless Romania can beat Georgia, or Spain fail to get bonus points against Russia and Belgium), which will be their first appearance since 1999. They were watched by a crowd of 15k at the weekend as well, which is good. The upshot is that with Samoa, Canada, and Romania all screwing up in their regional qualifiers, we're going to end up with one of them not qualifying for the RWC for the very first time.

Yes, yes, I know, but my other alternative is to un-ignore Rowan and talk to him about it, so I thought I'd seize this opportunity to sidetrack the conversation.

Puja

No need to remove Rowan from an ignore list. He'll only be busy copying and pasting nonsense, or quoting himself and agreeing with his own rather odd comments.

Romania really dropped the ball (amongst other things) in losing to Spain, just a horror show across the board. They'll still back themselves to beat Samoa, and if that doesn't come off their pack is much better than anything Canada have put out for a while, though the Canadian backs might be good enough to win a match against Romania with 25% possession.

[Digby]

And as for further crucial point to develop conversation on Wasps Vs Exeter the 2019 RWC opening game will now most likely be Japan Vs Spain.

Japan might fancy their chances to open with a win, Spain should fancy their chances to get their biggest ever TV audience

[Puja]

I've not heard of AJ being cited for his high hit so I'm assuming he's got away with it, or gotten away with it for Banquo? Mind this little cracker from the Tongan lad on the French player was only given as a yellow from the weekend and Tangimana hasn't been cited either

Very nice.

Anyone else keeping up with the RWC qualifying on here? Spain's victory over Romania puts them in pole position to be the automatic qualifier from Europe (guaranteed unless Romania can beat Georgia, or Spain fail to get bonus points against Russia and Belgium), which will be their first appearance since 1999. They were watched by a crowd of 15k at the weekend as well, which is good. The upshot is that with Samoa, Canada, and Romania all screwing up in their regional qualifiers, we're going to end up with one of them not qualifying for the RWC for the very first time.

Yes, yes, I know, but my other alternative is to un-ignore Rowan and talk to him about it, so I thought I'd seize this opportunity to sidetrack the conversation.

Puja

No need to remove Rowan from an ignore list. He'll only be busy copying and pasting nonsense, or quoting himself and agreeing with his own rather odd comments.

Romania really dropped the ball (amongst other things) in losing to Spain, just a horror show across the board. They'll still back themselves to beat Samoa, and if that doesn't come off their pack is much better than anything Canada have put out for a while, though the Canadian backs might be good enough to win a match against Romania with 25% possession.

It's the loss to Germany last year that's really cost them. Even with back-to-back defeats to the Spanish, they're still only 1 point behind Spain on the two-year table and will probably remain there. Nice to know that the Germans have made an impact on the RWC qualifying, even if their civil war has killed their own chances of progressing.

The major potential shock is if Samoa don't make it. As you said, Romania and Canada are both capable of turning over Samoa and it'd be a huge shock to the game.

Puja

[Digby]

I noted to someone the other day it was nice to see even qualifying is now this tough (ignoring that should have been an easy win for Rom) but as he himself is Romanian he wasn't thrilled with my observation. As of today it's Canada I'd back to miss out, their administration is going to pieces and their pack really hasn't shown up well for a while, a shame in many ways as they were one of the best teams to watch at RWC 2015, almost as much fun as watching Burgess run in pointless circles

[Raggs]

Assuming it's the same someone, i decided not to make any observations. Felt too cruel after the hospitality i received last year.

[Digby]

Assuming it's the same someone, i decided not to make any observations. Felt too cruel after the hospitality i received last year.

Things could be worse, his missus barred him from going to Madrid so at least he's still got his money. Though it sounds like the Romanian fans had a great time out there other than the match, so maybe not even that silver lining

[Puja]

I noted to someone the other day it was nice to see even qualifying is now this tough (ignoring that should have been an easy win for Rom) but as he himself is Romanian he wasn't thrilled with my observation. As of today it's Canada I'd back to miss out, their administration is going to pieces and their pack really hasn't shown up well for a while, a shame in many ways as they were one of the best teams to watch at RWC 2015, almost as much fun as watching Burgess run in pointless circles

I'd agree with your pick of Canada not qualifying - they do look to be the weakest of the teams and are in more danger of getting turned over by the African team than they are of beating Romania or Samoa. Hopefully once they get involved in the American MLR and have two pro teams operating, they'll start to get a bit better again.

Puja

[Raggs]

Assuming it's the same someone, i decided not to make any observations. Felt too cruel after the hospitality i received last year.

Things could be worse, his missus barred him from going to Madrid so at least he's still got his money. Though it sounds like the Romanian fans had a great time out there other than the match, so maybe not even that silver lining

We were discussing the Georgia game next year, he fancies doing a winery tour before it. I'd guess he may be able to get her to come along to that! I can't remember the name of the owner of the restaurant and bar where we watched the games, but I'd guess anywhere he is ends up being a good time quite easily, strange but very nice guy.

Gaby gets 4 weeks, apparently the tackle was high and the shoulder hit the head. Have to say that looks like complete bollocks to me when watching it. Shoulder never seems to go off Hill's shoulder.

[Digby]

Nice touch to see Wade going out with the mascots pre match