Autumn International Squad

[Which Tyler]

It'll be interesting to see what data they provide - presumably whether a ball has crossed a line or not (not particularly interesting), more accurate measures of distance on kicks (not particularly relevant), whether the ball has been passed backwards, flat, or forwards (not relevant at all unless it can take into account the passer's momentum, which will be tough if their hands are moving whilst running), and then useless things like how hard a ball has been kicked.

I suspect it'll be cool but uninformative.

[Mellsblue]

I believe the primary objective at the moment is to increase viewer participation and interest. Given the game is desperate for more money, more eyeballs opening their wallets is pretty important at the moment.

[p/d]

The only thing I got from that was Sage customers having access to tickets.

[Mellsblue]

Very wise indeed.

[Banquo]

Watson after settling down did some excellent work in defence (barely got a pass), shut down two very dangerous attacks with excellent interventions, so no, not anonymous; the couple of times he got the ball, his footwork looked sharp. May looks a yard slower to me. TBH I probably wouldn't have gone with either- they haven't played much.

Whereas May demonstrated some superb defence in shutting down a 2-on-1 with a textbook read and was busy, intelligent, and involved (including stepping in at 9 when Meehan went down for a few phases). It's two bald men fighting over a comb, but I'd say May's got as least a good a claim to form as Watson, with the advantage of having the better pedigree at international level (plus a history of greater injury resilience).

To my mind, May's worth having in the squad on a development basis with the hope that he'll come back to his best - Cokanasiga's in there on just as flimsy a hope of him coming good and, apart from anything else, there's a great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from May.

Puja

May has great speed and has scored some wonderful tries. But he is not one of rugby's deep thinkers and his play is more intuitive than anything else. It is only in the past few seasons that he's shed his earlier reputation as a bit of a headless chicken. What do you see as the great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from him?

They could learn how important it is to work on weaknesses, which he has manifestly done.

[Banquo]

The only thing I got from that was Sage customers having access to tickets.

I think they'll be stuffed.

[16th man]

The only thing I got from that was Sage customers having access to tickets.

I think they'll be stuffed.

I think we need to give it thyme to see how it devolops. At least a few more seasons. It is after all a newly minted deal.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh god. How do you downvote a thread again?

[Which Tyler]

Oh god. How do you downvote a thread again?

no-onions knows

[Banquo]

The only thing I got from that was Sage customers having access to tickets.

I think they'll be stuffed.

I think we need to give it thyme to see how it devolops. At least a few more seasons. It is after all a newly minted deal.

You know your onions.

[Banquo]

Oh god. How do you downvote a thread again?

Give it thyme.

[16th man]

Oh god. How do you downvote a thread again?

Give it thyme.

Already done that one. You can't be cumin in here stealing others work.

[Mikey Brown]

What do you mean already done that one? Is that not the point of all this? Doing the same jokes over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over 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and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over?

[Banquo]

lol, pun trigger alert.

[Puja]

Whereas May demonstrated some superb defence in shutting down a 2-on-1 with a textbook read and was busy, intelligent, and involved (including stepping in at 9 when Meehan went down for a few phases). It's two bald men fighting over a comb, but I'd say May's got as least a good a claim to form as Watson, with the advantage of having the better pedigree at international level (plus a history of greater injury resilience).

To my mind, May's worth having in the squad on a development basis with the hope that he'll come back to his best - Cokanasiga's in there on just as flimsy a hope of him coming good and, apart from anything else, there's a great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from May.

Puja

May has great speed and has scored some wonderful tries. But he is not one of rugby's deep thinkers and his play is more intuitive than anything else. It is only in the past few seasons that he's shed his earlier reputation as a bit of a headless chicken. What do you see as the great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from him?

They could learn how important it is to work on weaknesses, which he has manifestly done.

Basically as above. May might not be one of rugby's deep thinkers, but he is a completely different player from the idiot who first came on the scene and relied on his pace to get him by (often getting into more problems than it got him out of). He could very easily have just stayed as the fast winger, but instead he worked and built on a high ball game, a defensive game, a linking game, and developed both his positioning and game understanding.

I don't think he's going to go on and become a coach or anything, but if young players can't find anything to learn from him, then they're beyond help.

Puja

[Banquo]

Oh god. How do you downvote a thread again?

Give it thyme.

Already done that one. You can't be cumin in here stealing others work.

Fair point. Oregano go back to the drawing board.

[Mellsblue]

May is also part of the senior leadership group, iirc.

[p/d]

Isn’t he also the resident squad musician, styled around the great Herb Hancock

[Scrumhead]

May has great speed and has scored some wonderful tries. But he is not one of rugby's deep thinkers and his play is more intuitive than anything else. It is only in the past few seasons that he's shed his earlier reputation as a bit of a headless chicken. What do you see as the great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from him?

They could learn how important it is to work on weaknesses, which he has manifestly done.

Basically as above. May might not be one of rugby's deep thinkers, but he is a completely different player from the idiot who first came on the scene and relied on his pace to get him by (often getting into more problems than it got him out of). He could very easily have just stayed as the fast winger, but instead he worked and built on a high ball game, a defensive game, a linking game, and developed both his positioning and game understanding.

I don't think he's going to go on and become a coach or anything, but if young players can't find anything to learn from him, then they're beyond help.

Puja

Exactly. Even if all they learn is the attitude and application around working on their skills, that’s good enough for me.

May is also known as someone who is massively dedicated in terms of physical preparation etc. The younger guys could 100% pick up some good tips there.

Finally, it’s less useful, but he can tell them what to do in the event they are possessed by a chicken.

[Mellsblue]

Isn’t he also the resident squad musician, styled around the great Herb Hancock

Jonny Dash?

[Banquo]

Isn’t he also the resident squad musician, styled around the great Herb Hancock

Jonny Dash?

Jonny Hates Jazz

[Puja]

They could learn how important it is to work on weaknesses, which he has manifestly done.

Basically as above. May might not be one of rugby's deep thinkers, but he is a completely different player from the idiot who first came on the scene and relied on his pace to get him by (often getting into more problems than it got him out of). He could very easily have just stayed as the fast winger, but instead he worked and built on a high ball game, a defensive game, a linking game, and developed both his positioning and game understanding.

I don't think he's going to go on and become a coach or anything, but if young players can't find anything to learn from him, then they're beyond help.

Puja

Exactly. Even if all they learn is the attitude and application around working on their skills, that’s good enough for me.

May is also known as someone who is massively dedicated in terms of physical preparation etc. The younger guys could 100% pick up some good tips there.

Finally, it’s less useful, but he can tell them what to do in the event they are possessed by a chicken.

Also scrum coaching, cause I never need anything more than the slightest excuse to post this video again:



Puja

[Spiffy]

Whereas May demonstrated some superb defence in shutting down a 2-on-1 with a textbook read and was busy, intelligent, and involved (including stepping in at 9 when Meehan went down for a few phases). It's two bald men fighting over a comb, but I'd say May's got as least a good a claim to form as Watson, with the advantage of having the better pedigree at international level (plus a history of greater injury resilience).

To my mind, May's worth having in the squad on a development basis with the hope that he'll come back to his best - Cokanasiga's in there on just as flimsy a hope of him coming good and, apart from anything else, there's a great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from May.

Puja

May has great speed and has scored some wonderful tries. But he is not one of rugby's deep thinkers and his play is more intuitive than anything else. It is only in the past few seasons that he's shed his earlier reputation as a bit of a headless chicken. What do you see as the great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from him?

They could learn how important it is to work on weaknesses, which he has manifestly done.

Well fair enough, but you'd have to assume that any half decent coach, at the club- or international level, would already be preaching this to any promising young player, as one of the most bleedin obvious tenets of the game. And, moreover, identifying the specific weaknesses that need work and particularly how to address them. If not, there is something manifestly amiss with the coaching setup.
BTW - I really like May as a player, but just don't see him as a rugby guru imparting wads of arcane knowledge.
(On reading the gist of the thread, I seem to have lost this one )

[Banquo]

May has great speed and has scored some wonderful tries. But he is not one of rugby's deep thinkers and his play is more intuitive than anything else. It is only in the past few seasons that he's shed his earlier reputation as a bit of a headless chicken. What do you see as the great deal that Arundell and Murley could learn from him?

They could learn how important it is to work on weaknesses, which he has manifestly done.

Well fair enough, but you'd have to assume that any half decent coach, at the club- or international level, would already be preaching this to any promising young player, as one of the most bleedin obvious tenets of the game. And, moreover, identifying the specific weaknesses that need work and particularly how to address them. If not, there is something manifestly amiss with the coaching setup.
BTW - I really like May as a player, but just don't see him as a rugby guru imparting wads of arcane knowledge.
(On reading the gist of the thread, I seem to have lost this one )

I think its something like the Jason Robinson effect to a lesser degree. Role modelling hard work does help with younger players, esp as a senior pro. So not about the technicalities, but about reinforcing coaches messaging about hard work and the importance of keeping on learning.

[Mr Mwenda]

It was bullshit that May never went on a lions tour as well.