The Scrum - General Rugby Talk!

Sean Lamont is class. The guy probably still gives All Black Coach Graham Henry sleepless nights after the way he cut through the superb New Zealand line like a hot knife through butter.

I would say, with proper preparation and with the right squad, a Frank Hadden led Lions squad could make mincemeat of the All Blacks.

Northampton and Sale sounds alright, I'm game.

*sings*If I were a carpenter, and you were a douche-bag...*un-sings*

One thing I always wanted to know about the North American nations. What kind of Rugby do they play? Do they like a more English style, forward orientated game with a heavy pack or are they into a wide, expansive and fast running Celtic/Southern Hemisphere kinda game?

They play the slow, hungover, Irish/ Welsh style. Seriously, at the international level, it's like i mentioned above, they're good at 7s, so it looks more like a far reach from the All Blacks style.

At the club level, it's a little slower, particularly slow off the rucks. the hitting is pretty fierce though, and our soil here is like cement, so the game attracts a different breed.

I thought so. England always seem to clean up against teams like Canada because they're slow off of the rucks and thus its easier to create gaps...but that said teams like England do tend to get caught if a big heavy flanker goes on a charge with the ball and that has happened to England when they face Canada.

I think I've seen it in the recent Churchill Cup games. The Saxons are quite light and nimble compared to the first team so they have to work a little harder.

If ever you're in Montreal I have a recording of Canada V Wales in the '03 World Cup. It'd be interesting to watch that game back to back with a game this summer, cause I know Canada has been working on their speed, I just haven't seen it yet.

I definitely wouldn't mind to go to Canada at the same time as the Churchill Cup.

I'd be interested to see how a Steve Hansen Wales handled Canada. Especially considering how young the Wales side were then.

Watched the Edinburgh Cardiff Blues game and Canadian wing Mike Pyke was excellent. Pity that he couldn't do more to stop Cardiff from winning.

Big moment in Welsh rugby on Wednesday when the Ospreys (a provincial side in the Magners Celtic League) beat Australia 24-16.

Wales vs Australia preview (Saturday)

England vs New Zealand preview (Sunday)

Here's another bit for the England-NZ game

If Dan Carter's playing, and gosh what a fly half he is, England are in BIG trouble.

No respite for England as Carter starts for All Blacks
MARTYN HERMAN

DAN Carter will start New Zealand's clash with England at Twickenham tomorrow after fly-half Nick Evans failed a fitness test yesterday.

Evans was included in the All Blacks' starting line-up by head coach Graham Henry, but a hamstring injury sustained during training on Wednesday reduced his chances of making the match to just 50-50. Carter was placed on standby by Henry and will now start against the world champions, with Leon MacDonald filling the vacancy on the substitutes' bench.

The exclusion of Carter, who is rated the best fly-half in the game by some margin, led to suggestions that the All Blacks viewed their forthcoming Tests against France as the main attraction of their European tour. However, his presence at Twickenham makes New Zealand's team look close to their strongest possible line-up and reduces England's chances of recording a much-needed victory.

According to director of rugby Rob Andrew, England might need to lose all four November internationals if that improves their chances of retaining the World Cup next year. Fourth place in last year's Six Nations and five consecutive defeats have lowered England's stock in the game from the high of World Cup victory in 2003.

England head coach Andy Robinson, whose selection has been hampered by injuries, has urged his players to adopt a more attacking game, but Andrew is less than optimistic about England's prospects.

"We are not necessarily where we would like to be one year out from the World Cup," he said. "It's not even a year, it's ten months, and we've got to find that formula. If we get to find that formula out of four defeats then in the long run that will actually be progress.

"It's not making excuses, it's just where we are. Other teams are in a very different position. I mean, look at New Zealand, they probably wish the World Cup was now.

"We should not get too carried away by Sunday at this point in time. But it is a massive, massive one-off game which couldn't possibly be any bigger.

"Let's not forget England are world champions and are playing a team who feel they are the pretenders to that title. New Zealand are under enormous pressure."

Andrew, who landed the most powerful job in English rugby in September, revealed he has taken a back seat during the build up to Sunday's encounter.

"I have done very little in terms of direct contact with the team," he said.

"A lot of my input was in the selection process and making sure everything surrounding the preparation of this week has been as well oiled as it can be so that Andy and the guys get on with it.

"As I've said from the start Andy is the head coach and we have a great coaching team. This week has been about letting them focus on getting the work done. We're happy with the way the week has gone."

England captain Martin Corry, said: "Performance is important and we want a good one, but the most important thing for us is a win. We know it will take a special effort to win on Sunday, but do we think we can create that? Yes we do."

After facing the All Blacks, England tackle Argentina before a double-header against South Africa.

Wales (v Australia at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, today, 2.30pm, live on BBC 1): K Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); G Thomas (Toulouse), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets, capt), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Evans (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys). Subs: R Thomas (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Ospreys), G Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), AW Jones (Ospreys), M Phillips (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets).

Australia: C Latham (Queensland Reds); C Rathbone (ACT Brumbies), L Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs), S Larkham (ACT Brumbies), C Shepherd (Western Force); M Rogers (NSW Waratahs), M Giteau (Western Force); A Baxter (NSW Waratahs), T McIsaac (Western Force), R Blake (Queensland Reds), N Sharpe (Western Force), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), R Elsom (NSW Waratahs), P Waugh (NSW Waratahs, captain), W Palu (NSW Waratahs). Subs: B Cannon (Western Force), B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), M Chisholm (ACT Brumbies), S Hoiles (ACT Brumbies), J Valentine (Queensland Reds), M Gerrard (ACT Brumbies), A Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies).

This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=1634452006

OH and I just want to say...

NZ under pressure??? Against England?? Yeah right.

Maybe if it was Australia or South Africa, but not England.

I'd go further than that and just say South Africa. Australia are a mess right now and Wales are going to seriously challenge them for a win today.

I agree with that assessment with England and New Zealand. We can worry them at the scrum and the line out and we can make them tired after 80 minutes. Big deal. If we can't score the tries or get the penalties to score points then it doesn't matter.

New Zealand are way up there in the stratosphere on form right now. Dan Carter is undeniably the best fly half out there at the momment with poise, awareness and kicking second to none. However I think the only games where he has been *really* put under pressure has been against South Africa. And when he'S been *really* under the kosh, he dosen't respond that well.

It would be very interesting to see when the All Blacks take on a very motivated and brutal France in a few weeks time. Les Bleus will provide a better match up than England ever will right now.

Oh I agree!!

It's amazing watching Carter play. I was hoping they would have him in the Scotland match when they were at Murrayfield last year, but he was resting. I would LOVE to see him play, like at an actual game!

I am getting a bit worried about the Scotland squad. I think Hadden is picking the wrong players and resting the wrong players. There's rumblings that Chris Paterson won't be playing in the Autumn series, in order to be good for the 6 Nations but...I mean come on, putting Mike Blair in??? He's CRAP. It's incredibly frustrating because even GLASGOW, who Blair play for, think he's substandard and don't know why he's on the Scotland squad. There's so many other decent players. Don't even get me started on Dan Parks, unreliable boot and doesn't know how to pass.

*laughs* I'd prefer Chris Cussiter but I am biased because I'm an RGU student in Aberdeen (where he was born me'thinks).

Dan Parks is the biggest waste of space I have seen ever. The guy just hoofs the ball with no control or direction. Hw was only brought in by that idiot Matt Williams. At one point I swear he was rubbing off on Patterson because gradually his kicking and awareness became worse and worse too until you essentially had two shite fly halfs hoofing the ball every time they received it.

There are rumors that the English clubs want to keep Chris White, Sean Lamont, etc for at least one match during the autmn. Then again, the clubs have got the RFU and the Welsh by the balls, why not the SRU too?

P.S I am glad that me, Dimo and Oli are slowly and singlehandedly making this the most popular Sports thread on CKA

Rugby rocks, that's all there is to it! lol

You know what I'm shocked at too, is that that Hamilton guy is renouncing the England squad and coming to play for Scotland. Now, I have issues with this because, at least in football, if you play on the U21 squad national, you can't just change your mind and decide to play for another country, you have to stick with that one. They should do that with Scotland because, even if Hamilton is a good rugby player, he's still coming in through the back door while there's guys who've been playing on the various squads in Scotland and having to work hard to hope to make the national team.

That's just what I'm saying.

Chris Cusiter was born in Aberdeen yeah, he's two years younger than me. Shocking. He looks like he's in his 30s lol

RUGBY LEAGUE - Australia lose at home against the British Lions for the first time since 1992.

This is in the Tri Nations Series, which also involves New Zealand.

The Great Britain and Ireland Rugby League teams stuns the Aussies

British and Irish Lions defeat Aussies

British Lions

Australia 12 - 23 Great Britain and Ireland

Great Britain coach Brian Noble hailed a battling performance by the Lions as they beat Australia 23-12 in their Tri-Nations clash in Sydney.

A jubilant Noble told Sky Sports: "I knew we could shake this competition up and we have done.

"I'm proud of the boys. We showed we could defend our line and I'm really pleased for every one of them.

"We did not take a step back. We stood our ground which is what I expected us to do - it was important we did that.

"I think we have a good rugby team. We talked about building pressure and we got our just rewards. They might start taking us seriously now.''

Leon Pryce put the win in perspective, insisting this was only the start following last week's defeat by New Zealand.

"There is a long way to go but a GB team going to Australia and winning is unusual. It's a great feeling.

"Our forwards were awesome tonight. Sean Long led from the front with a brilliant half-back's performance.

"A lot of things had been said in the press. It was a little bit tough, but it was all in good fun and luckily we got a good win and can enjoy the night.''

The Lions recovered from 6-0 down in the first half to take a massive step towards the final with a 23-12 triumph.

Long was the hero, shrugging off an early assault from Willie Mason to set up two of Britain's four tries.

THE TEAMS

Great Britain: Paul Wellens, Brian Carney, Keith Senior, Kirk Yeaman, Gareth Raynor, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Stuart Fielden, Terry Newton, Jamie Peacock (captain), Gareth Ellis, Gareth Hock, Sean O'Loughlin.
Interchange: James Roby, Adrian Morley, Lee Gilmour, Jon Wilkin.

Australia: Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Mark Gasnier, Jamie Lyon, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer (captain), Ben Hornby, Mark O'Meley, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke O'Donnell.
Interchange: Cameron Smith, Anthony Tupou, Brent Kite, Antonio Kaufusi.

AUSTRALIA KANGAROOS 12 - 23 GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND LIONS

Australia's Karmichael Hunt looks to launch an attack as the match gets underway at a grey and wet Aussie Stadium
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The opening moments in Sydney are dominated by some ill-tempered exchanges involving Australia's Willie Mason
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After flooring Stuart Fielden in just the fourth minute, Mason's late tackle leaves Sean Long with a nasty cut above the eye
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The encounter continues at a frantic pace as Great Britain's Sean O'Loughlin takes a hit from the Australian defence
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The tourists fall behind to Greg Inglis's try but Paul Wellens responds for Great Britain after being released by Long
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Great Britain take the lead straight after the interval as Jamie Peacock muscles his way over through the Aussie defence
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Darren Lockyer levels the match for the hosts before Lee Gilmour's superb try edges Great Britain back in front
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Great Britain resist late Australian pressure and break away to release Gareth Raynor, who scores in the corner
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Long caps a fine personal performance with a 78th-minute drop-goal as the Lions seal a 23-12 win over Australia
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Great Britain are left to celebrate a famous victory on Australian soil as they take a huge stride towards the final
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Mason's face says it all as the Kangaroos slide to defeat to Great Britain for the first time at home since 1992 (Ha ha ha ha!)

news.aol.co.uk
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This sport makes American Football, with its tonnes of body armour and helmets, look like a cissy girls' game.