GRcade

I couldent find any rugby threads, i doubt many of you are interested im sure it will bomb but ill try.
Autumn Internationals are coming and all Home Nations & Ireland are playing.
Here are the fixtures:

Saturday, 08 November 2008

England v Pacific Islanders, 14:30
Ireland v Canada, 17:15
Scotland v New Zealand, 17:15
Wales v South Africa, 14:30

Friday, 14 November 2008

Wales v Canada, 19:30

Saturday, 15 November 2008

England v Australia, 14:30
Ireland v New Zealand, 17:15
Scotland v South Africa, 14:30

Saturday, 22 November 2008

England v South Africa, 14:30
Ireland v Argentina, 14:45
Scotland v Canada
Wales v New Zealand, 17:15

Saturday, 29 November 2008

England v New Zealand, 14:30
Wales v Australia

I cant see many wins for for any against Oz, NZ and South Africa.
Fingers crossed for Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland

I watched a bit of rugby while in South Africa. Saw England, Wales and New Zealand play the national team which was good. All Blacks got booed the whole time they were doing their pre-match intimidation thing. Don't suppose you know of any games being played in Pretoria by the home nations?

Brian Moore needs to shut up and die.

Scotland have a good chance against the All Blacks.

I love rugby, but probably not for the same reasons as you guys.

Scotticus Erroticus wrote:Brian Moore needs to shut up and die.

Scotland have a good chance against the All Blacks.

I am really looking forward to seeing how Wales will do against South Africa, NZ and Australia.
Cardiff always has a great atmosphere when a big game takes place.

Will be interesting to see who plays, and in which positions.

Scotticus Erroticus wrote:Brian Moore needs to shut up and die.

Scotland have a good chance against the All Blacks.

You have GOT to be kidding. Even with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter out, we'll still get humped.

El Diablo Rojo 52 wrote:I watched a bit of rugby while in South Africa. Saw England, Wales and New Zealand play the national team which was good. All Blacks got booed the whole time they were doing their pre-match intimidation thing. Don't suppose you know of any games being played in Pretoria by the home nations?

Not this year the southern Hemisphere normally come to northern in Autumun (our autumn) and Home Nation goes to southern hemisphere in the summer. Well thats how it normally works.
Next summer the British and Irish Lions are going to play south Africa for a few tests id imagine they ll play in Pretoria.

EDIT:
Sat 27 Jun South Africa v British & Irish Lions Loftus Versfeld - I think thats Pretoria. Would love to see a Lions match..

akijones wrote:

El Diablo Rojo 52 wrote:I watched a bit of rugby while in South Africa. Saw England, Wales and New Zealand play the national team which was good. All Blacks got booed the whole time they were doing their pre-match intimidation thing. Don't suppose you know of any games being played in Pretoria by the home nations?

Not this year the southern Hemisphere normally come to northern in Autumun (our autumn) and Home Nation goes to southern hemisphere in the summer. Well thats how it normally works.
Next summer the British and Irish Lions are going to play south Africa for a few tests id imagine they ll play in Pretoria.

EDIT:
Sat 27 Jun South Africa v British & Irish Lions Loftus Versfeld - I think thats Pretoria. Would love to see a Lions match.

That'd be worth watching. Just hope I'm back then and not looking for a house to live in.

Teams for Weekend

England

15. D Armitage (London Irish); 14. Sackey (Wasps), 13. Noon (Newcastle), 12. Flutey (Wasps), 11. Monye (Harlequins);
10. Cipriani (Wasps), 9. Care (Harlequins); 1. Sheridan (Sale), 2. Mears (Bath), 3. Stevens (Bath), 4. Borthwick (Saracens, captain), 5. Kennedy (London Irish), 6. Croft (Leicester), 7. Rees (Wasps), 8. Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: 16. Hartley (Northampton), 17. Vickery (Wasps), 18. Palmer (Wasps), 19. Haskell (Wasps), 20. Lipman (Bath), 21. Ellis (Leicester), 22. Flood (Leicester)

Pacific Islanders

TBA

Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports. Highlights on BBC Three (Saturday, 1905 GMT) and BBC Two (Sunday, 1230 GMT).
Aki's Prediction
Should be a easy win for England even with 4 new caps in the squad (Armitage, Flutey, Kennedy & Care). First 40 mins will be physical and a struggle but in the last 20 England should run riot. Player Watch: Flutey; New Zealander with his first cap for England but should make the English back line more creative.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland

15. Paterson (Edinburgh); 14. Evans (Glasgow Warriors), 13. Cairns (Edinburgh), 12. De Luca (Edinburgh), 11. S Lamont (Northampton); 10. Godman (Edinburgh), 9. Blair (Edinburgh, capt); 1. Jacobsen (Edinburgh), 2. Ford (Edinburgh), 3. E Murray (Northampton), 4. Hines (Perpignan), 5. Hamilton (Edinburgh), 6. White (Sale), 8. Taylor (Stade Francais), 7. Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Dickinson (Gloucester), Mustchin (Edinburgh), Gray (Northampton), Lawson (Gloucester) or McMillan (Glasgow Warriors), Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Southwell (Edinburgh).

New Zealand

15. Isaia Toeava; 14. Anthony Tuitavake, 13. Richard Kahui, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Joe Rokocoko; 10. Stephen Donald, 9. Piri Weepu; 1. Jamie Mackintosh, 2. Keven Mealamu (capt), 3. John Afoa, 4. Anthony Boric, 5. Ali Williams, 6. Kieran Read, 7. Adam Thomson, 8. Liam Messam.
Replacements: Corey Flynn, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Dan Carter, Cory Jane.

Venue: Murrayfield Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Two (Saturday, 1700 GMT). Live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland and 5 live sports extra.
Aki's Prediction
Close first half with only a few points in it with New Zealand letting rip in the second half running tries in from every were .
Player Watch: Nick De Luca and Cairns for Scotland should give Scotland a new attacking game and Toeava for NZ will try and stake a permanent claim for the fullback spot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wales

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys);14. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), 13. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), 12. Gavin Henson (Ospreys), 11. Shane Williams (Ospreys); 10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets), 9. Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); 1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), 2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets), 3. Adam Jones (Ospreys), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 5. Ian Evans (Ospreys), 6. Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), 7. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), 8. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), James Hook (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).

South Africa

15. Conrad Jantjes;14. JP Pietersen, 13. Adrian Jacobs; 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Ruan Pienaar,9. Fourie du Preez; 1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. John Smit (capt), 4. Bakkies Botha,5. Victor Matfield, 6. Schalk Burger, 7. Juan Smith, 8. Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Brian Mujati, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie.

Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One, Radio Wales, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra & online.
Aki's Prediction
Both teams are experimenting with certain positions but the Springboks shouldl be to strong for Wales, although this is the best chance they have had in years to beat South Africa.
Player Watch: Andy Powell given his first cap for an excellent start to the season & Shane Williams for his dazzling footwork, South Africa; Du preez and Pienaar starting a new half back partnership should be interesting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ireland

15. Earls; Bowe, 13. O'Driscoll, capt, 12. Fitzgerald, 11. Kearney; 10. O'Gara, 9. Reddan; 1. Horan, 2. Flannery, 3. Buckley, 4. O'Callaghan, 5. O'Connell, 6. Ferris, 7. Jennings, 8. Heaslip.
Replacements (from): R Best, Hayes, Caldwell, Quinlan, D Wallace, P Wallace, Stringer, Horgan.

Canada

15. Pritchard; 14. Hearn, 13. Keys, 12. Smith, 11. Mensah-Coker; 10. Monro, 9. Fairhurst; 1. Tkachuk, 2. Riordan, 3. Thiel; 4. Burak,5. Jackson; 6. Stephen, 7. Kleeberger, 8. Carpenter.
Replacements: Pletch, Walsh, Hotson, Sinclair, Williams, Evans, Mackenzie.
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC2 NI, Radio Ulster
Aki's Prediction
Ireland will smash Canada and should win comfortably by 20+ points.
Player Watch: Fitzgerald is a great prospect for Irish rugby and should get himself a try.

Glad to see Earls get a chance after his good showings for Munster. Looking forward to the Autumn Interantionals, even if I wont be going to any of them and my brother will be going, and for free. Im gonna go hit him now.

FishFingers wrote:I love rugby, but probably not for the same reasons as you guys.

Are you gay?

Up against the world Champions! Oh noooo.....well if Wales can beat South Africa i'll be darn chuft. Think they'll be ok against the Canadians though.

Big fan of rugby here. My national team is Cornwall.

Bit of a mix here in that many support England and many support Wales (Celtic) at the test level.

I tend to go for England as our boys play in that structure but also like Wales.

My team are National Two Redruth (top of the league unbeaten right now but we've had a start that i think might flatter us a tad).

Not a major fan, but the old man is. Going along with him to watch Scotland, no doubt, get royally thumped by Australia. Should be good fun

something fishy wrote:Big fan of rugby here. My national team is Cornwall.

Bit of a mix here in that many support England and many support Wales (Celtic) at the test level.

I tend to go for England as our boys play in that structure but also like Wales.

My team are National Two Redruth (top of the league unbeaten right now but we've had a start that i think might flatter us a tad).

Are you a fan of the Cornish Pirates? I believe a lot of Welsh players play in Cornwall and vice versa. I can see them getting to GP in a few years if they carry on improving, or they could join the Celtic (Magners) League.

akijones wrote:

something fishy wrote:Big fan of rugby here. My national team is Cornwall.

Bit of a mix here in that many support England and many support Wales (Celtic) at the test level.

I tend to go for England as our boys play in that structure but also like Wales.

My team are National Two Redruth (top of the league unbeaten right now but we've had a start that i think might flatter us a tad).

Are you a fan of the Cornish Pirates? I believe a lot of Welsh players play in Cornwall and vice versa. I can see them getting to GP in a few years if they carry on improving, or they could join the Celtic (Magners) League.

Not really. To me they're still Penzance and Newlyn. I've watched one or two of their matches and they do play at a high standard (with some great Welsh players as you say) but I still struggle to accept the way they bought their way from Western Counties west and nearly wrecked my club in the process when the game went pro (we lost so many players downthe road and nearly slid down the leagues.. took years to recover).

With their backer pulling out next year I'm wondering what they'll do to maintain that standard. We could end up there with them next year (probably not with only one promotion spot) and if we're both equally poor it'd be interesting.

I would love a prop unified Cornish side to join the Magners league.. that would be awesome.

something fishy wrote:

akijones wrote:

something fishy wrote:Big fan of rugby here. My national team is Cornwall.

Bit of a mix here in that many support England and many support Wales (Celtic) at the test level.

I tend to go for England as our boys play in that structure but also like Wales.

My team are National Two Redruth (top of the league unbeaten right now but we've had a start that i think might flatter us a tad).

Are you a fan of the Cornish Pirates? I believe a lot of Welsh players play in Cornwall and vice versa. I can see them getting to GP in a few years if they carry on improving, or they could join the Celtic (Magners) League.

Not really. To me they're still Penzance and Newlyn. I've watched one or two of their matches and they do play at a high standard (with some great Welsh players as you say) but I still struggle to accept the way they bought their way from Western Counties west and nearly wrecked my club in the process when the game went pro (we lost so many players downthe road and nearly slid down the leagues.. took years to recover).

With their backer pulling out next year I'm wondering what they'll do to maintain that standard. We could end up there with them next year (probably not with only one promotion spot) and if we're both equally poor it'd be interesting.

I would love a prop unified Cornish side to join the Magners league.. that would be awesome.

I know how you feel, i was a Swansea RFC supporter untill they merged with their rivals Neath to create the Ospreys, i support the ospreys but they have destroyed a lot of historical clubs; Bridgend, Pontypridd etc which is a real shame.
The magners league could really do with a Cornish side being added; if it happened they could get regular Heineken Cup Rugby.
I hope you ll be supporting Wales against the saffers Fishy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7711759.stm

Great article and I completely agree with him.

Not on the Scotland losing thing of course.