Rugby Union

[ultimatewarlord]

Watched England trounce Spain which was inevitable and unenjoyable. I hate rugby walkovers. Watching Ireland s Australia which is a real contest so far.
England wisely left out Emily Scarrett who will be the difference maker as the harder games arrive.

[teaktop]

That was a tough match ,very attritional .Ireland were very nervous(playing at home being the hosts got to them),alot of basic errors in that game,and if they keep playing that bashing the ball up style there wont be a fit player standing after a couple of games.

[rupertramjet]

I got involved in women's Rugby, before it was fashionable, the attitude of the RFU was appalling. I coached at County level and asked the county union for a set of shirts, the response was 'the RFU have told us to acknowledge you exist for political reasons, but they have not told us to support you in any way'. So I did not get the kit, I then asked for a second hand set, the answer was still no! We had to raise money for travel, or pay it ourselves, we got sponsorship from small companies and a set of shirts from a nightclub, we could not afford shorts and socks, so the players wore club kit, which was bizarre! But as a county coach, I was not alone. When I first took over the girls had to pay to play, to train and for the after match meals, we got the clubs that had women's teams to step up and provide free training and facilities for county training and matches, and they did.

The RFU refused the England players permission to wear the Red Rose and they also gave nothing to the women's game, the emblem was a red rose facing upwards, it was not until 2010, that the RFUW was considered a constituent body of the RFU and not until 2014 that the two combined! By the way the Women won the 2013 World Cup, mere coincidence?

I had some fantastically talented players, at least four that could have gone further, and two that may well have been capped for England, one was for Wales, she was a servicewoman and got support from the services for her Rugby, but the costs of attending Divisional training sessions was prohibitive, and even then I had a back row that in my view, had they been men, would have commanded a place in a fourth tier mens side.

I remain proud that we got the game moving, proud that the girls still had a smile on their faces despite what it cost them and proud of BBC Radio Cornwall and Westcountry television for giving us airtime, I am sad that they all have silly little names, like the Red Roses, the Silver Ferns, still not fully accepted to my mind, but I am most proud that I started the Inter Service women's championship, the first ever game was the Royal Navy v Cornwall at Devonport Services, the Navy players were all awarded their caps by the Navy in the same way as the men.

The steps have been immense, and a lot of people have made huge sacrifices, I have been told that my admission to the IRB International coaching panel would have been some years earlier, had I not been fanatical about the women's game. But to see the game on National Television and getting the press it deserves, you know what? It was well worth it!

[haroldeye]

Apparently the RFU are withdrawing funding from the Ladies 15 side to concentrate on the 7's.

Dinosaurs.

[teaktop]

Originally Posted by haroldeye

Apparently the RFU are withdrawing funding from the Ladies 15 side to concentrate on the 7's.

Dinosaurs.

Harold Is this because of the Olympics?
p.s. Rupes you were a pioneer and full credit to you huge respect

[haroldeye]

Don't know. I heard a report on the BBC which was (quite rightly) slamming this short sighted ans stupid decision.

[rupertramjet]

Tragic news from New Zealand.

The great Colin Meads has passed,
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/na...le-with-cancer

I never played against him or saw him play live just on TV when Rugby was in Black and White! He was a giant of the game and a hero in the minds of my generation of players.

May he rest in peace.

[teaktop]

European Champions Cup Rugby will anyone beat Sarries this year,Ospreys came close.

[footstep]

November tests for France.

Guy Novès unveiled the list of internationals who will take part in the November tests, against New Zealand (11 November), South Africa (18) and Japan (25). The Toulouse opener Anthony Belleau will discover the team of France. Mathieu Bastareaud, in great shape since the beginning of the season, is confirmed in the group and should have some playing time. However, some frames have been dismissed, like Yoann Maestri and Uini Atonio.

This list is a wish to open since it is not limited only to the Elite list. Guy Novès (under the strong pressure of Bernard Laporte?) Seems to be looking to the future with the arrival of Anthony Belleau. The Toulonnais flourished since the beginning of the season and it seemed difficult not to convene. Ditto for his captain Mathieu Bastareaud, who has further expanded his palette under the leadership of Fabien Galthié. Note the presence of five Toulonnais and seven Clermontois in this list.

On the other hand, the tricolor staff did not hesitate to separate from certain executives. It had been many months since the performances of the second line of Toulouse Yoann Maestri were no longer up to his status as vice-captain. The penalty ended up falling. Ditto for Uini Atonio. The pillar Rochelais has too often been in default in closed scrum and did not know how to bring enough impact when it came into play.
The list of 32 Blues:

Hookers: Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Clement Maynadier (UBB), Christopher Tolofua (Saracens).

Pillars: Raphaël Chaume (Clermont), Antoine Guillamon (Montpellier), Daniel Kotze (Castres), Jefferson Poirot (UBB), Rabah Slimani (Clermont).

Second row: Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français), Felix Lambey (LOU), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont).

Third rows: Judicael Cancoriet (Clermont), Kévin Gourdon (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Castres), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Montpellier), Marco Tauleigne (UBB).

Melee Demi: Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (UBB).

Opening half: Anthony Belleau (Toulon), François Trinh-Duc (Toulon).

Three quarters center: Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Geoffrey Doumayrou (La Rochelle), Rémi Lamerat (Clermont), Damian Penaud (Clermont).

Ailiers / arrière: Nans Ducuing (UBB), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Gabriel Lacroix (La Rochelle), Scott Spedding (Clermont), Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92).
Maestri in the second list

In addition, to play the second game against the All Blacks, scheduled for Tuesday, November 14 in Lyon, Guy Novès called 14 additional players, who will play to preserve the rest of the group planned for the three tests "official". There are also Yoann Maestri, or Jules Plisson.
The 14 for the second game against the All Blacks:

Forwards: Camille Chat (Racing 92), Malik Hamadache (Pau), Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont), Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92), Sekou Macalou (French Stadium), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Lucas Pointud (Toulouse), Dany Priso (La Rochelle).

Back: Hugo Bonneval (Toulon), Henry Chavancy (Racing 92), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Yann Lesgourgues (UBB), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Jules Plisson (Stade Français).

[risen]

Thoroughly enjoying Barbarians v All Blacks live from Twickenham on Sky Sports. Would enjoy it more if I had a beer to go with it but we are off to an early fireworks display and I will be driving.

17-5 to the Baa-Baas on 34 minutes