morepork wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 5:13 pm
A tenner says Farrell gets at least a yellow.
I really hope your wingers are able to touch the ball at least a few times.
If he gets a red and there is no injury to the poor Chilean who cops the headshot, I will be so happy.
Do other countries have core players that attract the same degree of rancour that we direct at Farrell? And, do we reflect the general view among English fans?
On that latter point, last night at a post- racketball match meal, I listened to an opposition player with a good rugby background. He expressed the view that he was embarrassed at how lucky we were to end up with a bonus point win over Japan.
I find it rather amusing that other countries' fans still make suggestions of arrogance. In contrast to that perception, we seem to be largely self-denigrating these days. Last night, on one issue, there was consensus. Never before had we so much wanted Wales to win a game of rugby.
I feel like it’s as much a reaction the historic arrogance and assumption that we should be beating basically everyone because we’re rich and have lots of players.
The hyperbolic disgust at occasionally losing to lesser countries feeds in that I think, even though it is criticism of the team it kind of implies that we should always be one of the top teams regardless of anybody else’s talent or progress.
morepork wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 5:13 pm
A tenner says Farrell gets at least a yellow.
I really hope your wingers are able to touch the ball at least a few times.
If he gets a red and there is no injury to the poor Chilean who cops the headshot, I will be so happy.
Do other countries have core players that attract the same degree of rancour that we direct at Farrell? And, do we reflect the general view among English fans?
On that latter point, last night at a post- racketball match meal, I listened to an opposition player with a good rugby background. He expressed the view that he was embarrassed at how lucky we were to end up with a bonus point win over Japan.
I find it rather amusing that other countries' fans still make suggestions of arrogance. In contrast to that perception, we seem to be largely self-denigrating these days. Last night, on one issue, there was consensus. Never before had we so much wanted Wales to win a game of rugby.
I don't think anyone is accusing England of inherent arrogance. Rather, there appears to be a team culture that celebrates the angry wooden soldier in a way that is a throwback to flat track bully times. The ABs in the past had wankers like Richard Loe that were revered for the wrong reasons. Sean Fitzpatrick was a dirty bastard, and going back further Colin Meads ripping Ken Catchpole's leg out of its socket was not something to be proud of. The game has moved on from intimidation as a substitute for skill and England are hanging onto an unskilled relic of that time. It's not you, it's him. He is also the captain. Sam Cane is out of his depth as an international leader and skilled loosie, but he doesn't base his leadership on angry maiming of opposition players. At least not intentionally.
I grew with Richard Loe as a local hero, but I know what you mean.
However, the only current All Black that comes across as any sort of physical threat to worry about is Ardie Savea. And that’s more a fear he’ll make you look stupid with his dummy rather than steamroll you. We haven’t got that Brad Thorn/Bakkies Botha type figure - hard as fuck and not going backwards for any cunt.
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Dominating the SHMB
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morepork wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 5:13 pm
A tenner says Farrell gets at least a yellow.
I really hope your wingers are able to touch the ball at least a few times.
If he gets a red and there is no injury to the poor Chilean who cops the headshot, I will be so happy.
Do other countries have core players that attract the same degree of rancour that we direct at Farrell? And, do we reflect the general view among English fans?
On that latter point, last night at a post- racketball match meal, I listened to an opposition player with a good rugby background. He expressed the view that he was embarrassed at how lucky we were to end up with a bonus point win over Japan.
I find it rather amusing that other countries' fans still make suggestions of arrogance. In contrast to that perception, we seem to be largely self-denigrating these days. Last night, on one issue, there was consensus. Never before had we so much wanted Wales to win a game of rugby.
From a Wales perspective, we don't have anyone who keeps getting selected in the face of reason like Farrell. (I have or have had minor bugbears of my own eg Cuthbert and to some extent, Biggar, but that's just me). Having said that, Gatland picked Farrell for the Lions so let me just say I'm glad Farrell isn't Welsh.
Yeah, the arrogance thing is more about the media coverage of English rugby (although it was worse in the Inverdale years) and the average, ignorant 'fan' who only pays attention to rugby when England are playing. Not the RR crowd (who are aware that Owen Farrell is not Jonny Wilkinson and England are not one drop goal away from a world cup).
