[MissLightyear]

(Original post by pinkpenguin)
Am well into my sevens season at the moment, we're playing at as high a level as you can get.

The training = pretty much Coach Carter "TO THE BASELINE". The amount of sprints/shuttles I've run is insane.

You do need a high level of fitness, but a well coached/managed sevens side shouldn't be exposed because they're tired. Defensively if you're well organised you don't have to do too much sprinting around, and its normally rolling subs so coaches can make use of their bench really effectively.

Ah, ive never been in a well coached sevens side, the team I played for in National 7s on saturday tried to play it like normal rugby, obviosly wasnt effective and probably left us more tired than we needed to be.

I suppose when youve got a good coach that knows which tactics to use its a lot easier, still a great game to watch!

[pinkpenguin]

(Original post by MissLightyear)
Ah, ive never been in a well coached sevens side, the team I played for in National 7s on saturday tried to play it like normal rugby, obviosly wasnt effective and probably left us more tired than we needed to be.

I suppose when youve got a good coach that knows which tactics to use its a lot easier, still a great game to watch!

You'd be suprised how much contact is involved in the modern sevens game now. A lot of pulling out/Fiji style rugby isn't as effective anymore. Generally teams will send a bit runner or two up before stretching a side. It's interesting.

It is obviously no where near as well structured as XVs though!

The amount of sunburns I collected over the years from the National 7s was insane. Good times Although it does just turn into 'give it to your fastest player' very very quickly! I was in a team that won it in 2007 (god, I'm old..).

Who won the U18s competition this year?

[MissLightyear]

(Original post by pinkpenguin)
You'd be suprised how much contact is involved in the modern sevens game now. A lot of pulling out/Fiji style rugby isn't as effective anymore. Generally teams will send a bit runner or two up before stretching a side. It's interesting.

It is obviously no where near as well structured as XVs though!

The amount of sunburns I collected over the years from the National 7s was insane. Good times Although it does just turn into 'give it to your fastest player' very very quickly! I was in a team that won it in 2007 (god, I'm old..).

Who won the U18s competition this year?

Im hoping to get more involved in 7s next season, hopefully should see more structured game, the seniors are at manchester 7s on saturday, was supposed to be playing but Im in work -_-

Yeah I had an impressive sunburn despite the sun not coming out at all! 2007 seems like so long ago! I hadnt even been introduced to rugby then (sorry to make you feel older )

London Irish won it this year, beat Lichfield in the final.

[pinkpenguin]

(Original post by MissLightyear)
Im hoping to get more involved in 7s next season, hopefully should see more structured game, the seniors are at manchester 7s on saturday, was supposed to be playing but Im in work -_-

Yeah I had an impressive sunburn despite the sun not coming out at all! 2007 seems like so long ago! I hadnt even been introduced to rugby then (sorry to make you feel older )

London Irish won it this year, beat Lichfield in the final.

Wayyyy back when I was 16. I think the agegroups were still U14 and U17 then.. Haha that was ages ago. Bad times.

Lichfield got to the final?! Ugh, my Worcester sides wouldn't have allowed that to happen

[MissLightyear]

(Original post by pinkpenguin)
Wayyyy back when I was 16. I think the agegroups were still U14 and U17 then.. Haha that was ages ago. Bad times.

Lichfield got to the final?! Ugh, my Worcester sides wouldn't have allowed that to happen

I never even knew the age groups used to be U14s and U17s

Pretty sure Lichfield beat Worcester in the semis too. If its any consolation they annihilated the team I played for.

[pinkpenguin]

(Original post by MissLightyear)
I never even knew the age groups used to be U14s and U17s

Pretty sure Lichfield beat Worcester in the semis too. If its any consolation they annihilated the team I played for.

Yup! It was high drama to change it again. It was originally just U16s and U19s. My first ever girls game after moving up from the boys U12s was an U16 match. It was terrifying.
2004 it changed to U14 and U17, then about 2007 to U15 and U18. Meant that the team I was in in 2006-7 remained together for another year. We DOMINATED for about 2 seasons. Was massive fun!

[TheBugler]

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazo...bal+law+trials

Looks like a repeat of the ELVs...
Why do they insist on meddling with aspects which of the game which are fine (I agree some teams leave the ball at the back of the ruck for too long but they're only slowing their own ball down and the 5 seconds seems a bit draconian), but not focusing on aspects like the constant collapsing of the scrum or giving the defenders too much advantage at the breakdown...

[Hylean]

COME ON ULSTER! Whilst I believe we can win, Leinster are the better team by far, so it will be a hard fought match. Cannot wait for Saturday.

[jhuntley93]

leinster just handed out a drubbing 40-14 in the heiniken final

[pinkpenguin]

What a game of rugby that was. Some fabulous offloads/hands. Like watching Super 14 at times.
BOD Had a great game despite his 'blood' injury.
Wtf were Ireland doing in the 6N
3 weeks until we get whitewashed by NZ again, despite that performance.

[jhuntley93]

sexton on his day is the best stand off in the northern hemisphere so is almost a cert for lions next year

[Hylean]

(Original post by jhuntley93)
sexton on his day is the best stand off in the northern hemisphere so is almost a cert for lions next year

He really isn't. He's not even the best in the UK and he so rarely has good days in international rugby.

However, well done to Leinster. They ripped us to pieces. Was a great game to watch, truly amazing side.

[Idris Dragon]

(Original post by Hylean)
He really isn't. He's not even the best in the UK and he so rarely has good days in international rugby.

The Lions 10 spot is up for debate. There are a couple of candidates, but it is no way certain. It could very well swing on if Halfpenny makes the team. If you have Kearney at 15, then you are going to need a more consistent kicker than a Priestland or Sexton at 10 (unless you put 0.5p on the wing) c.f. Jenkins in the 1997 tour...

I wonder if the fact that Ireland's pack has been on the back foot so much recently is related to this. He looked awesome when Ireland had the front foot against England in 2011 but very very ordinary in the 6N this year when Ireland were consistently coming off second best up front...

[Hylean]

(Original post by Idris Dragon)
The Lions 10 spot is up for debate. There are a couple of candidates, but it is no way certain. It could very well swing on if Halfpenny makes the team. If you have Kearney at 15, then you are going to need a more consistent kicker than a Priestland or Sexton at 10 (unless you put 0.5p on the wing) c.f. Jenkins in the 1997 tour...

I wonder if the fact that Ireland's pack has been on the back foot so much recently is related to this. He looked awesome when Ireland had the front foot against England in 2011 but very very ordinary in the 6N this year when Ireland were consistently coming off second best up front...

Could well be, but he wasn't that amazing in the world cup when we were dominating either, to be honest. He's a far better defender than O'Gara, though, and he really does get stuck in when tackling. He's good, I just think there are better options. If Kearney doesn't make 15 I'll be exceptionally surprised. That man has been all kinds of amazing recently and the legs he's got on him. ****ing scary some of the catches he's made from where he was standing when the kick was taken.

[jhuntley93]

out of the potential lions 10's here is my opinion

laidlaw inexperienced but solid, however not a very big boot but very accurate
weir in with a shout if robbo would pick him more for scotland had an outstanding sesaon for glasgow
flood not played enough for england but probably will go
farrell all we have seen so far with england is his excellent kicking game
priestland is overrated just has an outstading set of backs outside him to make him look good
sexton on his day is outstanding but looses confidence if things arn't going right

[pinkpenguin]

Y'all are forgetting ROG

The key isn't the FH, imo. It's the Scrum Half. We have nobody that is anywhere near good enough. Mike Phillips consistently takes the ball in/slows it down/goes the wrong way. The others are dire.

Please can someone find a scrum half that just picks the ball up and passes it quickly. No faffing around, get it away from the Aussie backrow.

If we can find one (perhaps Lee Dickson??/a Scot?) then I'd pick Sexton. On the front foot, he's a fantastic ball handler and bound to find some space. Sexton playing well does seem to coincide with O'Leary/Reddan/Stringer not being retarded.

If he was younger, I'd definitely pick Stringer..

[jhuntley93]

Mike blair for scrummy, scotland always played so much better when him and laidlaw were 9 +10 this is my back line

9 blair
10 sexton
12 roberts
13 tualangi
14 north
11 visser/bowe/halfpenny
15 hogg/karney/

[Idris Dragon]

(Original post by pinkpenguin)
Y'all are forgetting ROG

The key isn't the FH, imo. It's the Scrum Half. We have nobody that is anywhere near good enough. Mike Phillips consistently takes the ball in/slows it down/goes the wrong way. The others are dire.

Please can someone find a scrum half that just picks the ball up and passes it quickly. No faffing around, get it away from the Aussie backrow.

If we can find one (perhaps Lee Dickson??/a Scot?) then I'd pick Sexton. On the front foot, he's a fantastic ball handler and bound to find some space. Sexton playing well does seem to coincide with O'Leary/Reddan/Stringer not being retarded.

If he was younger, I'd definitely pick Stringer..

Stringer's pass was and still is godawful. If you want a get it and get it gone scrum half the young Lloyd Williams is your man.

[Idris Dragon]

(Original post by jhuntley93)
out of the potential lions 10's here is my opinion

laidlaw inexperienced but solid, however not a very big boot but very accurate
weir in with a shout if robbo would pick him more for scotland had an outstanding sesaon for glasgow
flood not played enough for england but probably will go
farrell all we have seen so far with england is his excellent kicking game
priestland is overrated just has an outstading set of backs outside him to make him look good
sexton on his day is outstanding but looses confidence if things arn't going right

Laidlaw - No

Weir - No

Flood - Dirt-tracker at best, might not even go.

Farrell - got a real shot at the test jersey. England and Sarries need to give him 12 months at 10 and ride the growing pains... Got real bottle

Priestland - Better than you give credit for. Is a gobby ten who gets his backs into position, gives his centres a lot to work off. Inconsistent kicker from the tee. Can cope with a pack that goes backwards. Will be in contention but expect to see him as a dirt-tracker.

Sexton - See Priestland except I haven't seen him excel when his pack have been on the back foot. Probably not a concern vs Aus as I can see the Lions absolutely dominating in the tight five.


In Gatland we Trust...

[jhuntley93]

(Original post by Idris Dragon)
Laidlaw - No

Weir - No

Flood - Dirt-tracker at best, might not even go.

Farrell - got a real shot at the test jersey. England and Sarries need to give him 12 months at 10 and ride the growing pains... Got real bottle

Priestland - Better than you give credit for. Is a gobby ten who gets his backs into position, gives his centres a lot to work off. Inconsistent kicker from the tee. Can cope with a pack that goes backwards. Will be in contention but expect to see him as a dirt-tracker.

Sexton - See Priestland except I haven't seen him excel when his pack have been on the back foot. Probably not a concern vs Aus as I can see the Lions absolutely dominating in the tight five.


In Gatland we Trust...

noticing that you're welsh! does that anything to do with you favouring priestland. anyway we are going to need a 90%+ goal kicker on the pitch against the aus to kick all the pens we will win from the scrum and mauls!

I put weir and laidlaw in as they were options but not serious, however if weir reproduces his glasgow form for scotland assuming he gets given a chance why not? However Weir did end up in the league's dream team and was second top points scorer, laidlaw was 4th (both above priestland and sexton) surly that will count for something