Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:36 pm  

This geezer http://www.salesharks.com/SharksSquadDe ... %20Gaskell Suffice to say there weren't many other 6'7" young Richard Ashcroft from The Verve lookalikes wandering around Manchester Airport that day. He's got ridiculously skinny arms and legs for a Union forward though.

This geezer http://www.salesharks.com/SharksSquadDe ... %20Gaskell Suffice to say there weren't many other 6'7" young Richard Ashcroft from The Verve lookalikes wandering around Manchester Airport that day. He's got ridiculously skinny arms and legs for a Union forward though.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:32 pm  

It was a joke
I immediately thought of the time I met Jeremy Guscott at a do in Manchester and pretended I had know idea who he was. I only did it cos he'd always struck me as a pompous get. His reaction confirmed my suspicions.

Talking if gangly union players, there was a forward who turned out for Orrell when I was a lad. He must have been around 6'5 and reminded of spaghetti.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:01 pm  

If this is the best team in NH union I would hate to see what a league team would do to them. I think Gateshead could rack up 50 on them.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:20 pm  

France are an embarrassment to International Rugby. I can't think of a team I've ever seen before that lack such basic skills and awareness. I see Philippe Saint-Andre never changes. Sale played the dullest one dimensional Rugby you could ever see under him. Now he's guiding France to the same thing.

I'm gonna await a load of rubbish on here about the England game but that was a very clinical display. The second half we really turned it up and were right to take the penalties and put the game beyond them.

On a Rugby League note I went to Salford's new ground last night. Better than I expected. Your typical new build but more character than the horrible soulless places like the Halliwell Jones Stadium. That main stand looks cracking and the exterior looks amazing. It seems once Sale finally move in that the corporates who we are no doubt moving for will have a ball in there. Just a shame that the access is so appalling. Takes me 15 minutes from Baguley to The Trafford Centre in a car. On public transport it took me 40 minutes into Piccadilly and then 1 hour and 10 minutes from Shudehill to the ground. If they don't sort that side out then our attendance figures will be embarrassing when we move in.

I know, I could have put this on the Salford forum but thought I'd put it here.

I'm still not convinced Wales are a good side. They're just made to look good. It's a sign of how bad some of the sides have been. Really glad with how England have finished the tournament though.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:37 pm  

Didn't see any of the games this weekend but the trumpeting of Wales has been a bit embarrassing when you consider just how good the three SH sides are.
The main thing I've taken from this six nations is that I'm going off international union in a way I could never have imagined.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:11 pm  

Italy-Scotland was one of the worst games of rugby I've ever seen.

I do think too much emphasis is made on the 6 nations in general. The overall quality of all the teams have been poor and winning the 6 nations seems to be held on the same level as the world cup at times.

As for England, Lancaster deserves the job and he deserves the chance to carry on the good work he's started. If England can develop another attacking centre to partner Tuilangi then they could become one of the top sides in the world again.

On another note I think Robshaw has been poor and will be lucky to stay in the team never mind captain.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:41 am  

I think that the amount of knocks on and generally appalling ball handling seen in the England/Ireland game was akin to the Pennine league 5th division. If these people are highly paid trained professionals the lower levels of union must be really grim. Owen Farrell is very disappointing. He can kick penalties in fine fashion but that is the sum total of his skills. He cannot make a break, he cannot set his centres moving, his first thought is to boot the ball aimlessly down field. He is the second coming of Johnny Wilkinson and he is the most over praised , over rated stand off I ve ever seen. The SH teams have nothing to fear from this lot up here.

The England pack completely dominated the Irish, no doubt about it, but the amount of time spent in the set scrums or with the scrum half poncing about at the base of a ruck for no discernable reason and the number of aimless one yard plunges by the said forwards is monotonously dull. When I see three games on the bounce like this with negligible open rugby I soon come to realise the vast difference in entertainament on show in RL. Like chalk and cheese.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:33 am  

Seeing as this England team has been thrown together last minute with a set of interim coaches (whilst the Welsh side have been together a while now) came within a blade of grass of sharing the spoils, are the Welsh actually that good?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:51 pm  

Brian Moore comparing Scotland's basic skills to an under-10s side on Radio 5 this afternoon. Bit harsh on under-10 sides throughout the country.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:12 pm  

Is this the best Welsh side ever? asked the front page of Saturday's Guardian. That's as far as I got.