RugbyRebels

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:51 pm Always check your sources, especially if you’re going to make such a condescending post.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 6:41 am Interesting interview with Steward in the times today. This bit was great to read:

‘One of his main goals now, in the season leading up to the World Cup, is to bring his attacking game up to a similar level.

“It’s been a massive focus for me, I’ve really wanted to improve on my attack,” Steward says. “At full back, you get the ball on the edge in situations where you can do some damage. I do lots of extras, we’ve got guys [at Leicester] who have tons of experience, so it’s just about asking them questions, picking coaches’ brains and working hard.

“You’ve got to give yourself a real focus and I’ve tried to do that with my attack recently.”

The Tigers brains trust he is tapping into includes Richard Wigglesworth, who doubles up as scrum half and attack coach, and experienced team-mates such as Jimmy Gopperth, the much-travelled playmaker from New Zealand who was signed from Wasps in the summer. In particular, Gopperth, 39, is helping Steward with his alignment in attack, so that he is well placed to exploit the gaps in wider channels that can materialise when advancing defences become too narrow, offering attackers space around the edge of the defensive wall.

“Jimmy has been brilliant at helping me,” Steward said. “A big focus for me is trying to stay square on those edges.

“I can tend to drift a bit and go a bit too lateral sometimes. He’s been helping me with that, keeping right on top of me in training.”’

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Oct 12, 2022 2:27 pm Randall out for 4 months: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63227778. Poor sod - that'll surely take him out of any late charge into the 6N squad and thus end his hopes of being in the RWC squad.

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Oct 12, 2022 2:27 pm Randall out for 4 months: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63227778. Poor sod - that'll surely take him out of any late charge into the 6N squad and thus end his hopes of being in the RWC squad.

In disciplinary roulette, MakoV gets 3 weeks (with the option to reduce down to 2 by doing the course) for a flying shoulder to the head, but Umaga gets 3 weeks (which is noted as being delayed until after he is fit to play again, which seems a bit unfair) for keeping his eye on a cross-field kick and fundamentally cocking up his positioning. Also, if Umaga's ban comes after he's fit to play again, what happens if Wasps aren't playing?! Bizarre.

Puja

Timbo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 12, 2022 5:48 pm Isn’t that Umaga’s……3rd?…red in the last 12 months or so?

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Oct 12, 2022 9:27 pm He got an England cap?

Timbo wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 6:48 pm Sinckler had his best game in ages. That’s a big plus.

On the negative, might have lost 2 of our tight heads for the World Cup in Stuart and Schickerling….

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:53 pm

Timbo wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 6:48 pm Sinckler had his best game in ages. That’s a big plus.

On the negative, might have lost 2 of our tight heads for the World Cup in Stuart and Schickerling….

I'm still pretty sure that Schickerling's not actually eligible, so it might not be the worst thing in the world.

Puja

Timbo wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 11:09 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:53 pm

Timbo wrote: ↑Sat Oct 15, 2022 6:48 pm Sinckler had his best game in ages. That’s a big plus.

On the negative, might have lost 2 of our tight heads for the World Cup in Stuart and Schickerling….

I'm still pretty sure that Schickerling's not actually eligible, so it might not be the worst thing in the world.

Puja

Oh yeah, that’s what I meant. Lost him cos it sounds like he’s not eligible. Have to wait and see on that.

On Stuart, assuming he has done his cruciate, it’s probably just about within a time frame where he could make it back. Everything would have to go smoothly in his rehab. He’d have very little game time though & would have to be out through his paces in England’s pre tournament camp.