RugbyRebels

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 8:27 am Your surprised that selecting Spencer at 9, and a kick-ball game plan didn't land us near the top for quick ball from rucks?

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 10:42 am

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 8:27 am Your surprised that selecting Spencer at 9, and a kick-ball game plan didn't land us near the top for quick ball from rucks?

I believe the stats were not for a single game so I remain surprised overall.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:06 am Yes. Hooker and 9 are the most pressing needs.

LCD is injury prone and while George is still good, he will most likely struggle to make 2027. I’m not convinced Dan is good enough.

If George isn’t going to make it to the RWC, we need at least two more hookers ready to go.

The most realistic candidates are Langdon, Blamire, Oghre, Jibulu and Tuipolotu.

I was surprised and disappointed Langdon didn’t make more of his opportunities in the summer and surprised again that Oghre was overlooked for the senior squad and A squad despite his good form. I eon’t think Blamire can be considered a serious contender unless his move to Tigers sees a a huge uplift in his set piece game.

For those reasons, I’d skip that group and focus on Jibulu and Tuipolotu. It might be a stretch to say they’re better than Dan now, but not much IMO. They definitely have the potential to be better in 2yrs time.

9 is a funny one … Spencer is OK, JvP is OK but both are a big downgrade from Mitchell. Bracken, MacParland and Friday all have a lot of potential, but are very young and inexperienced. 2yrs might be enough, but it’ll rely on them getting consistent game time which will be challenging. Bracken and Friday probably have a slight advantage over MacParland because the players in front of them at club level aren’t as good.

Lock is less of a concern for me. Some of that depends on Martin’s fitness, but we have the likes of Sodeke, Kpoku (if he moves) and Burrow coming through and Bamber looking like an interesting (and massive) prospect.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:07 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 10:42 am

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 8:27 am Your surprised that selecting Spencer at 9, and a kick-ball game plan didn't land us near the top for quick ball from rucks?

I believe the stats were not for a single game so I remain surprised overall.

Fair enough - I wouldn't have known that

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:49 am

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:06 am Yes. Hooker and 9 are the most pressing needs.

LCD is injury prone and while George is still good, he will most likely struggle to make 2027. I’m not convinced Dan is good enough.

If George isn’t going to make it to the RWC, we need at least two more hookers ready to go.

The most realistic candidates are Langdon, Blamire, Oghre, Jibulu and Tuipolotu.

I was surprised and disappointed Langdon didn’t make more of his opportunities in the summer and surprised again that Oghre was overlooked for the senior squad and A squad despite his good form. I eon’t think Blamire can be considered a serious contender unless his move to Tigers sees a a huge uplift in his set piece game.

For those reasons, I’d skip that group and focus on Jibulu and Tuipolotu. It might be a stretch to say they’re better than Dan now, but not much IMO. They definitely have the potential to be better in 2yrs time.

9 is a funny one … Spencer is OK, JvP is OK but both are a big downgrade from Mitchell. Bracken, MacParland and Friday all have a lot of potential, but are very young and inexperienced. 2yrs might be enough, but it’ll rely on them getting consistent game time which will be challenging. Bracken and Friday probably have a slight advantage over MacParland because the players in front of them at club level aren’t as good.

Lock is less of a concern for me. Some of that depends on Martin’s fitness, but we have the likes of Sodeke, Kpoku (if he moves) and Burrow coming through and Bamber looking like an interesting (and massive) prospect.

Agree with the above. Unsure if Langdon, Oghre or even Dan have the raw power to be impactful internationals. I'd be looking at Jibulu for the Six Nations squad (with Tuipolotu being closey monitored). I mentioned on another thread but I also liked the look of Wright at u20 level - he hasn't broken through at Prem level yet, but is still pretty young.

p/d wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:53 pm Just get Bracken in. The apple ain’t falling too far from the tree.

No problem with Dan or Langdon stepping up

I think lock is a problem area. Where are the big nasty ones?

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 10:23 am Curry's was just a fair tackle, arguably a bit late.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:30 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 10:23 am Curry's was just a fair tackle, arguably a bit late.

Sadly, Juan Cruz Mallia's anterior cruciate ligament injury means he'll be unavailable for Toulouse for the rest of the season.
Tom Curry may not be off the hook yet. I've not heard if the Argentinian Rugby Union are taking the matter further.

Danno wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:42 pm It's too late to cite him now and it was only a pen on the day (and quite borderline at that). We don't have to bend the rules just because Contempini is a little bitch

francoisfou wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:30 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 10:23 am Curry's was just a fair tackle, arguably a bit late.

Sadly, Juan Cruz Mallia's anterior cruciate ligament injury means he'll be unavailable for Toulouse for the rest of the season.
Tom Curry may not be off the hook yet. I've not heard if the Argentinian Rugby Union are taking the matter further.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 7:24 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:42 pm It's too late to cite him now and it was only a pen on the day (and quite borderline at that). We don't have to bend the rules just because Contempini is a little bitch

100%. I look forward to the CCTV and investigation showing us that Contepomi mouthed off, Curry gave him a little shove and then he whinged about like a soft arse, thoroughly embarrassing a country that prides itself on being tough.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:10 pm

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 7:24 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:42 pm It's too late to cite him now and it was only a pen on the day (and quite borderline at that). We don't have to bend the rules just because Contempini is a little bitch

100%. I look forward to the CCTV and investigation showing us that Contepomi mouthed off, Curry gave him a little shove and then he whinged about like a soft arse, thoroughly embarrassing a country that prides itself on being tough.

Sounds like you witnessed the incident first hand?

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 8:30 pm

francoisfou wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:30 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 10:23 am Curry's was just a fair tackle, arguably a bit late.

Sadly, Juan Cruz Mallia's anterior cruciate ligament injury means he'll be unavailable for Toulouse for the rest of the season.
Tom Curry may not be off the hook yet. I've not heard if the Argentinian Rugby Union are taking the matter further.

My sympathies to Mallia as that sounds like a horrible injury. Hope he has a swift and successful recovery.

However, there's no hook for TCurry to be on, as it was an incredibly harsh penalty in the first place, considering he had less than half a second to entirely reverse his momentum to avoid contact and there was nothing illegal about the tackle itself, so a citing committee won't even consider it.

Awful freak accident on a rugby pitch, nothing more.

Puja

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:14 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:10 pm

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 7:24 pm

100%. I look forward to the CCTV and investigation showing us that Contepomi mouthed off, Curry gave him a little shove and then he whinged about like a soft arse, thoroughly embarrassing a country that prides itself on being tough.

Sounds like you witnessed the incident first hand?

Yeah. I’m Richard Hill.

Danno wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:42 pm It's too late to cite him now and it was only a pen on the day (and quite borderline at that). We don't have to bend the rules just because Contempini is a little bitch

jimKRFC wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 12:30 am

Danno wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:42 pm It's too late to cite him now and it was only a pen on the day (and quite borderline at that). We don't have to bend the rules just because Contempini is a little bitch

Having meet Felipe in person several times a "little bitch" is the last thing I would categorize him as. He is pretty tough character and never moaned about things despite being in a pretty rubbish, Bristol, side that we're frequently physically done over. He's also actually a really good guy and he (& Pichot) turned up in the pasty vans serving food after leaving Bristol (as they went bust).

Danno wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 2:50 am

jimKRFC wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 12:30 am

Danno wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:42 pm It's too late to cite him now and it was only a pen on the day (and quite borderline at that). We don't have to bend the rules just because Contempini is a little bitch

Having meet Felipe in person several times a "little bitch" is the last thing I would categorize him as. He is pretty tough character and never moaned about things despite being in a pretty rubbish, Bristol, side that we're frequently physically done over. He's also actually a really good guy and he (& Pichot) turned up in the pasty vans serving food after leaving Bristol (as they went bust).

Fair enough. He's not exactly covered himself in glory this week though.