Moderator: Puja
Same, on both accountsDigby wrote:I'd not blame Solomona in the event he proves good enough and plays for England. The issue isn't with him.
Still not actually seen the lad play so no idea if he's going to challenge, or even have a hope to
But he's specifically said (when the rewards were lower), that he didn't feel English and didn't want to play for a nation when his heart wasn't there. He specifically rejected any notion of wanting to be considered English, for which I've got great respect for him.TheNomad wrote:Same, on both accountsDigby wrote:I'd not blame Solomona in the event he proves good enough and plays for England. The issue isn't with him.
Still not actually seen the lad play so no idea if he's going to challenge, or even have a hope to
If he ultimately proves good enough, chooses to play for England, and plays well - then no issues
So you regard there to be nothing special about playing for your country? It's just a job and the players are just there earning a wage?Oakboy wrote:Puja, patriotism v money is not much of a debate for a professional sportsman who plays as a livelihood, IMO. Is moving from one country to another such a huge step up from moving from one club to another or one sport to another, come to that? Provided that rules are adhered to and a player can be relied on to give 100% where's the problem - regardless of any previous press quotes?
It's a simple argument of amateur or professional, for me - more or less where I stand on the Lions. I loved the amateur game and all its traditions but it's a whole new ball park if the game goes professional. Money rules - it's too late to change now.
Oh, yes. If there were no Lions tradition and somebody dreamed up the concept there is no chance of it happening regardless of any commercial gain.Mellsblue wrote:Money rules but you dislike the Lions?
The very essence of international sport is at risk with mercenaries playing for the country that pays them the most. Some would argue it's already gone.
But, players are emotional and passionate even when playing for a non-birth country. Similarly, players get emotional and passionate when top club competitions are won. I think international rugby is the pinnacle of professional achievement and the RWC is the pinnacle of that pinnacle. It must be marvellous for them to earn their living doing something they love but the two aspects (money and patriotism) are inextricably linked no matter what motivational factor is bolted on. Reputation and marketing profile count as well as wages, of course.Puja wrote:So you regard there to be nothing special about playing for your country? It's just a job and the players are just there earning a wage?Oakboy wrote:Puja, patriotism v money is not much of a debate for a professional sportsman who plays as a livelihood, IMO. Is moving from one country to another such a huge step up from moving from one club to another or one sport to another, come to that? Provided that rules are adhered to and a player can be relied on to give 100% where's the problem - regardless of any previous press quotes?
It's a simple argument of amateur or professional, for me - more or less where I stand on the Lions. I loved the amateur game and all its traditions but it's a whole new ball park if the game goes professional. Money rules - it's too late to change now.
Money may rule, but playing for their country still moves players to tears with passion. It's more than just a job.
Puja
Woah,....let me take a couple of moments to work through that sentence.Oakboy wrote:Oh, yes. If there were no Lions tradition and somebody dreamed up the concept there is no chance of it happening regardless of any commercial gain.Mellsblue wrote:Money rules but you dislike the Lions?
The very essence of international sport is at risk with mercenaries playing for the country that pays them the most. Some would argue it's already gone.
While I won't deny that all of those are things that he does need to work on, I shudder to think about the size of the list of issues that Yarde must have.Which Tyler wrote:Rocco tells us what more he has to do: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/bath-rug ... story.html
Um. He is, isn't he?Puja wrote:Agreed with you EP on Williams, although Genge I can understand - he's not ready to be backup 1 to Marler in the 6N, so he's behind Mullan, and it doesn't hurt for Eddie to look at another young loosehead, rather than putting all of his eggs in one basket.
Roko not making the 33 training in Brighton suggests that Yarde is more likely to see gametime in the 6N than he is, which is just baffling based on form, both recent and across the last year.
Puja