RugbyRebels

Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 4:38 pm I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:59 am Bonjour to my friends in red! I hope your players manage to resolve their claims in the next day or so because they must be looking forward to taking on a disjointed England team (even though your team is not exactly on top form!) before trips to Rome and the Stade de France!

Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 4:38 pm I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:02 pm

Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 4:38 pm I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Not trying to be a dick but beggars can’t be choosers. I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to have him run at Malins.

Numbers wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 3:27 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:02 pm

Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 4:38 pm I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Not trying to be a dick but beggars can’t be choosers. I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to have him run at Malins.

Or Caden Murley judging by the Glos game.

normanski wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:56 am Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 9:34 am

normanski wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:56 am Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Perhaps, with all the uncertainty over the strike, Gatland wanted to remove selection uncertainty ASAP.

normanski wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:56 am Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Numbers wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:34 am

normanski wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:56 am Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:57 am

Numbers wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:34 am

normanski wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:56 am Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

hell of a fall out if not fulfilled. Travelling fans etc etc.

Numbers wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:43 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:57 am

Numbers wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:34 am

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

hell of a fall out if not fulfilled. Travelling fans etc etc.

Well they've cancelled the team announcement with a press conference now arranged for 12:30, I can only see this going one way tbh.

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:22 pm have to say the player asks don't look that tricky to resolve on the surface, anyway.

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:22 pm have to say the player asks don't look that tricky to resolve on the surface, anyway.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:35 pm Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:35 pm Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:35 pm Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 2:55 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:35 pm Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

And this board's obsession with reinstating Jonah Holmes could be fulfilled.

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 2:58 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 2:55 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:35 pm Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

And this board's obsession with reinstating Jonah Holmes could be fulfilled.

From jonah to messiah!

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 3:02 pm Can't help thinking if the 60 cap rule was completely removed there'd be a mass exodus from Wales, something like half the players out of contract would go, dooming the regions.

Numbers wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 3:36 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 3:02 pm Can't help thinking if the 60 cap rule was completely removed there'd be a mass exodus from Wales, something like half the players out of contract would go, dooming the regions.

That could actually work better, with the amount of spending money the regions have been given they would be able to keep bigger squads, let the more senior players fill their pockets elsewhere, this would harden the youngsters up more quickly with greater exposure to a high level of rugby, development that the likes of Leinster have been doing for some time.