[url=http://aapracing.com.au/sports/news/rugby-union/RUNS-article72396-page1-encNzI0MTk6NzI0MTg6NzIzOTc6NzIzOTY6NzIzOTE6NzIzNDQ6NzIzMzI6NzIzMjg6NzIzMDg6Quade Cooper [ifinally[/i found out![/url

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8138450/RFU-losses-dampened-by-Englands-sensational-victory-over-Australia-at-Twickenham-as-fans-revel-in-success.htmlThe RFU’s annual report will reveal a final loss for the year ending June 30 this year of £1.1 million, £400,000 below its budgeted loss.[/url

Similar to the problems England had when Charile Hodgson was being touted as Wilkinson's successor.

He went as first choice on a southern hemisphere tour and looked like a turnstile.

Am I alone in thinking Hodgson has managed to carve out a career in top level union whilst being quite limited and vastly overrated?

I thought they were pre-requisites in yawnion.

You're not the only one but I would strongly disagree. At club level he has been the most solid 10 in the Premiership for me. At International level he has messed up a couple of times and it's been noted more. The Twickenham boo boys never really want anybody but for Johnny and so they probably love it when he does so.

He's not on great form at the moment for us but no doubt will still get picked when he's off England duty. We've been playing some excellent, attractive running Rugby the past month or so without him. He is still our best fly half but there has been a lot less tactical kicking without him

Just personal opinions


A friend of my dad's, who's a union ref is a fan, but I've never [igot it[/i with him.
Do you think you'll manage to keep hold of him?

You have to love the collective orgasm over 'the greatest try in the history of Twickenham' - you wonder why they haven't thrown the ball around before! It does mean that Ashton's 'wonder try' (thought Wayne McDonald's solo try in the Saints/Leeds game was better) will be repeated with that other union favourite of that Edwards one in the NZ/Barbarians game.

I saw it for the first time yesterday and thought is that it.

The only surrprising in bit is that the ball was passed twice with out being kicked.

Then the footrace is all over as the aussies are fat and slow.

here is something the RFU wont be shouting from the rooftops about www.docklands24.co.uk/news/forme ... s_1_728763

here is something the RFU wont be shouting from the rooftops about www.docklands24.co.uk/news/forme ... s_1_728763

Canada 60-22 Spain. Spain's French coach selected 17 French players in his squad and has said he will be looking at Argentinians who are eligible to represent 'Los Leones'.

[url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4370612/Name-change-bumped-into-touch-by-league-fans"The IRB don't want teams training on a field called Rugby League Park."[/url

What do they want to change it to?

Mungoball Park

Grass shaggers field

Wasn't as good as Craig Murdock's tries there for Wigan. =#FF0000NO YOU TUBE LINKS

Great rugby and two of the best tries I've ever seen at Twickenham.
What's Murdock up to these days?

Making a killing on the A Team reprise after dinner circuit.

Quality!

A view from NZ:
[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10690084Top 10 things rugby owes to league[/url

Great read and a few gems,

[iUnion is yet to officially bring in an interchange system, with teams relying instead on the blood bin and fake injuries to props to rotate players.

One of the main reasons for the great rugby schism of 1895 was the desire of northern English clubs to play for something more tangible than the joy of putting their heads between rows of other men's buttocks.

That's right, France was once a predominantly league territory that was downright stolen by the 15-man game.
For the most part the French wanted no truck with British amateur ideals, instead embracing the professional code wholeheartedly.
Then came the Nazis. Not the RFU. The real Nazis. After the defeat of France in 1940, the French Rugby Union worked with the German-collaborating Vichy regime to re-establish the dominance of their sport.
Union's amateur ethos appealed to the Nazis' view of sport purity. League was banned and all assets of the Rugby League and its clubs were handed over to the union.They were never returned.

As one prominent convert said privately on the day he switched: "You get twice the pay and train half as much. It's great."[/i

Anyone fancy sending that to MR Jones at the Sunday Times.

USAP RU vs Racing Metro April 16th, Camp Nou.
The same day Barcelona play Real Madrid in the Bernabeu and plans are to connect the two somehow.
According to this morning's newspaper the aim is for over 40,000 people to attend.

They know that no bugger would show up for it without a little twist of the big soccer match.

Seems like the Australia game was a one off. South African forwards were tremendous but deary me, England were awful. England soundly outplayed and gave away far too many penalties against a South Africa side which has had a very ordinary 2010.

Domestically Sale lose again but luckily for them both Newcastle and Leeds are in the same division.

I'm not sure really. It's just rumours at the moment and not even in club rumours. It's something the media have started. The 2 teams he's been linked with don't really suit his style of play for me. Northampton have got Myler and Geraghty too. Saracens are a bit of a flamboyant and glamorous and I would hope he doesn't go there. I would have thought he'd be with us for good now. But if he leaves then that's fine. He's the leading points scorer of all time in the Premiership and as I said - I think he's a fantastic player. It's his testimonial season and so if any time is right then it's probably now

South Africa totally bullied us up front. I think it was more a case of them being so strong that England couldn't even play. A respectable scoreline.

Sale - people on our forum are taking positives from getting a losing bonus point away. But Exeter are the new boys in their first season of top flight rugby and I'm not happy about conceding 3 tries to them. They've made an excellent start but we need to be beating teams like that.

I had Exeter by 6 in my predictions league


As I said, I think both You and Newcastle and indeed Exeter will be safe this year simply because Leeds are there. Any news on the game at the Reebok?