NH International Rugby

Machpants

@catogrande looks like a big bag of pre prepared excuses were filled out. Los Puma are laughing their tits off at how lame they are

Crucial

@machpants said in NH International Rugby:

@catogrande looks like a big bag of pre prepared excuses were filled out. Los Puma are laughing their tits off at how lame they are

There was this Covid thing that none of the other teams had to deal with.
The players were tired after back to back seasons that only the English players had to play.
Because our psychology wasn't enhanced the referees penalised us. We will also work with the refs so that they understand our lack of enhancement.

Just realised that must be the edited press release as it has removed the sentence about not being able to convince Razor to take the job.

sparky

Eddie escapes the sack but will answer to a team of "experts".

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/20/eddie-jones-retains-full-support-of-rfu-after-review-of-england-coach

Good luck to Eddie if Rob Andrew is one of those experts.

Catogrande

@mikethesnow said in NH International Rugby:

@catogrande said in NH International Rugby:

Eddie’s bacon has been saved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56819737

Hurrah

Quite.

5 Years in the job. 3 6N titles. 1 GS and 1 RWC final.

Eddie polarises views alright and this 6N has been awful, but then so was 2017 and he did alright after that.

Pivac was presiding over an awful Welsh performance in last years 6N and the Autumn Nations Cup but what a 6N he's had this year. Gatland, for all his success, 6 N championships, GS etc has presided over feast and famine in the 6N and has 2 x 4th places at RWC. Eddie looks good in comparison.

OK I've now had a think about what I'm saying (so obviously not enough alcohol) and realise that I am now Welsh bashing, which was not my intention. More really that while this season has been a long time coming and for us armchair fans all too bleeding obvious, Eddie has a lot of credit in the bank. His record stands pretty good. Given the options available to the RFU, I reckon this was the best outcome. Keep Eddie on but recognise the areas that you, Eddie you little dwarf, have been a little one eyed.

The reasons stated through the press release though are bollocks.

Catogrande

@sparky said in NH International Rugby:

Eddie escapes the sack but will answer to a team of "experts".

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/20/eddie-jones-retains-full-support-of-rfu-after-review-of-england-coach

Good luck to Eddie if Rob Andrew is one of those experts.

Andrew is the anchor on a clipper ship in the race home.

antipodean

@sparky said in NH International Rugby:

Eddie escapes the sack but will answer to a team of "experts".

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/20/eddie-jones-retains-full-support-of-rfu-after-review-of-england-coach

Good luck to Eddie if Rob Andrew is one of those experts.

I can't see how Eddie would answer to people less successful than him as coach. The simple questions before the review board are:

Do they think Eddie is on an upwards curve or downwards, and if the latter
Who can they replace him with that would likely do a better job?

Machpants

@catogrande said in NH International Rugby:

The reasons stated through the press release though are bollocks.

Yeah, I think they really have to stick until the RWC. But the excuse matrix was pathetic

Rapido

I see the NH unions are cancelling their July tours left, right and centre.

I'm sure they'll conveniently replace these with home internationals where even if they have no or limited crowds they will get to keep TV and sponsorship money to themselves.

These tours were all to T2 nations (because it is a Lions year). The once every 4 year opportunity that T2s get a decent chance to play and host T1 test nations. So that's a real shame.

Maybe there's a fair case. But the speed with which Ireland managed to cancel their tour of Fiji after a first small outbreak in 12 months was astounding enough to rise my eyebrows. Well played IRFU, I get the feeling they've been desperately waiting for that chance.

Cross global air routes may be a risk and bubbles may be tiring, and those are bigger risks and reasons IMO than the chances of Fiji getting their small outbreak under control within probably 3 weeks, a month and a half before the tours are due.

My cynism will be dissipate if these itineraries are replaced with matches in Madrid, Tiblisi, Bucharest, Moscow, removing the cross continent travel risks. Or a revenue sharing tournament hosted in a T1 nation.

But, basically, we're all selfiish fluffybunnies I guess. I wouldn't hold much hope for my own union to act better.

Rapido

Ireland have cancelled their summer tour of Fiji due to concerns relating to a recent coronavirus outbreak on the island.

Fiji has undertaken lockdown measures to limit the spread of the rise in cases and the increased level of risk has led to the IRFU to postpone the country's series there.
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12506/12291637/coronavirus-ireland-cancel-fiji-tour-over-concerns-relating-to-new-outbreak-in-region

Just putting this Ireland v Fiji comparison to expose the bullshit early justification of the 'official reason' for cancellation.

Fiji have gone into a lockdown because they find their situation, which is 18.5 times better than Ireland's current situation, to be the best way to get themselves back to their normal level of infinity times better than Ireland's situation (and Ireland have handled it very well for their geography)

Rapido

Despite being a bit pissed off as per above posts. I think cancelling the tour is fair enough - from a "it's just too darn hard and time consuming to travel accross globe in pandemic". But not because Fiji has a new small outbreak.

As can be seen from an article 3 weeks ago, the IRFU really didn't want to go, based mostly on the inconvenience that it would require quarantine for squad on arrival in Fiji (or Australia, where they tried to move it to) and when get back to Ireland. That is fair enough, should be looking to keep it more local while globe is so disrupted. IRFU pre-emptively cancelling so early, is I'm sure. so they have enough time to re-schedule something more convenient for them. But my scepticism about it being in a T2 host is still there.

The IRFU have abandoned plans to re-route some of their proposed summer tour to Australia and are instead exploring the feasibility of pressing ahead with three Tests in the Pacific Islands, whether exclusively in Fiji or with one of them in Tonga.

Fiji Rugby, and World Rugby, are very keen for a three-Test series to go ahead on July 4th, 11th and 18th, and Fiji is Covid free. However, such a tour looks logistically very problematic given the routes required to travel there for a squad of up to 50 or 60, including backroom staff, and the risks therein in avoiding coronavirus.

Furthermore, no less than Australia, any Irish squad would have to undergo a period in quarantine on arrival. And if travelling back through Dubai, for example, it is currently a requirement by law to undergo 14 days of quarantine on returning to Ireland as well.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/irfu-looking-at-logistics-of-summer-tour-to-pacific-islands-1.4531323

Rapido

With Italy pulling out of touring here, (and Italy have a proposed November test v NZ to host, so there are most likely financial repercussions for pulling out), it makes the context of me being very critical of IRFU above seem a bit mean.