Leicester Tigers

Storm in a teacup? Yes.

Are Wales justified asking for the roof to be closed? Of course.

Are Scotland justified to keep it open? Obviously.

Non-story.

That's not a bad idea actually; convene a group of newly retired players from all positions to sit down with the referees and analyse performance and match footage.

1. I would like to see the nearside Touch judge come 15 metres in field at scrum time to try and spot offences, allowing the referee to on the other side, giving an official looking at both sides simultaneously. 2. I would like the GP to assign a different referee each week to each club. Can't be th...

Chobbsy wrote:we would have a good as chance as anyone

I wasn't so much thinking if we could afford him, rather if we wanted to afford him.

Lot of moolah I would imagine. And as good a player as he is, do we really want to be investing a lot of money in someone who is well past 30? On the other hand, if Ben Woods is going to be the number one openside (assuming of ocurse that Mr Moody is indeed off), Smith would be a pretty good mentor ...

BJ. wrote:I'd be very surprised if there was any crying in the valleys if our star prop was injured.

Oh don't worry, I'm not crying about it.

It's not nice to celebrate a player injury but I must admit I gave a little arm pump at reading that. He's the best prop in the tournament by a country mile, and his absence will hurt Wales. I only hope that the English props don't lose their focus now though, because they will still be up against a...

The absence and the distance involved would probably make his star all the more shinier for the media.

Well at least he won't have to learn a new club name...

Always been a fan of his play, but was really impressed with how he conducted himself here, and how hard he worked.

Am I the only one who thinks he may just have a point? On the other hand, I think Johnno's reposte was a sensible and truthful one - the squad does lack experienced leaders. You know, I read the comments from The Lol and didn't really see anyhting in them. I didn't see it even as a snipe at MJ part...

England thread...

Pretty good balance in my opinion. To ask Cole to step up against the best front row in the tournament when he is still so young and inexperienced would possibly be a step too far. better to bring him from the bench. As much as it pains me to say so, Payne and Wilson are probably the right combinati...

jgriffin wrote:methinks we're back in the 'must beat the Welsh' mindset.

Don't disagree, but I just wonder where the young player development is actually going to come from, and when?

Sir Clive found to his error that picking proven players out of form over the red hot streaks was a bad idea, and likewise with Mr Johnson. Youngs ok (maybe), as he is still on a steep learning curve and there are other number 9's in form, but there aren't many wingers in the GP worthy of a call up ...

There was always a touch of the everyman about him too, like how for several years he wouldn't say Martin Johnson, rather choosing to insert a T and call him Johnston. To this day when almost anything good happens I will use the line "they'll be dancing in the streets of *insert town name here*...