Reply to: Rugby Football

[Ramrod]

More weight, more muscle, bigger hits. So how are they strengthening their cartilages, ligaments, bones, internal organs and skulls to take these big hits?

This isn't quite right. England may not have the best players in the world in any position, but they have greater strength in depth than most countries, perhaps more than any.

Over the past few years they are usually playing 'reserve' props, centres and locks. They have four stand-offs scrapping for a place, at least two established scrum-halves, two hookers, about six wings and three full-backs. Any of which would form a competitive team.

I was almost going along with you until this point. There are certainly plenty of players competing for their place on the team in a number of positions - I couldn't name more than a handful who would get near to the All Blacks squad.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be screaming my heart out for England over the coming weeks, I just can't see them lifting a trophy this year.

[stek]

Is Super League back on then?

[Doggy Styles]

Rugby players today are fitter than ever before, they train for the rigours of the modern game and condition themselves for the big hits they inevitably take.

More weight, more muscle, bigger hits. So how are they strengthening their cartilages, ligaments, bones, internal organs and skulls to take these big hits?

Agreed, England always seem to have half a team unavailable, but I feel this hits us hard as we rely on a handful of key players and do not have the strength in depth that the likes of Wales or NZ have.

This isn't quite right. England may not have the best players in the world in any position, but they have greater strength in depth than most countries, perhaps more than any.

Over the past few years they are usually playing 'reserve' props, centres and locks. They have four stand-offs scrapping for a place, at least two established scrum-halves, two hookers, about six wings and three full-backs. Any of which would form a competitive team.

[DodgyAgent]

Oh, and get ready for England to lose another half a dozen players too....

Uini Atonio to make Six Nations debut for France | Stuff.co.nz

They need to reduce team sizes from 15 to 14 to reduce the size of players.

[Ramrod]

Oh, and get ready for England to lose another half a dozen players too....

Uini Atonio to make Six Nations debut for France | Stuff.co.nz

[FatLazyContractor]

If you can take that ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uh_aWqm2I0

[GlenW]

How many footballers/cricketers spend their post playing days with knackered knees and fragile backs?

[Ramrod]

Where do you get your information from?

England always seem to have half a team injured including many first choices.

And many players at the top end of rugby suffer for the rest of their lives with wear and tear injuries.

How many footballers/cricketers spend their post playing days with knackered knees and fragile backs?

Rugby players today are fitter than ever before, they train for the rigours of the modern game and condition themselves for the big hits they inevitably take.
Agreed, England always seem to have half a team unavailable, but I feel this hits us hard as we rely on a handful of key players and do not have the strength in depth that the likes of Wales or NZ have.

I'll gladly admit that I have no cold hard stats to back up my claims but I follow many sports very closely (rugby being my favourite, and the only one I still play myself). While I'm glad to see some of the thuggery taken out of rugby, I wouldn't like to see the game itself gentrified any more than it already has been.

[Doggy Styles]

If this is the criteria we are using, then cricket and F1 go before rugby.

There are actually fewer serious injuries in rugby now then ever, despite players being bigger and faster than ever.

Can't wait for the 6 nations this year, even though I don't fancy England's chances much.

Where do you get your information from?

England always seem to have half a team injured including many first choices.

And many players at the top end of rugby suffer for the rest of their lives with wear and tear injuries.

[Doggy Styles]

The 6 Nations is about to start and all we hear about are England's injury problems. Then you look at all the other countries involved and they have the same problems.

Wales don't have the same problems.

[cailin maith]

And will you be actually changing your team at all this year or just leaving it with nice looking blokes with bog thighs (again).

Prob just stick with the nice looking fellas

[norrahe]

Excellent work

And will you be actually changing your team at all this year or just leaving it with nice looking blokes with bog thighs (again).

[Tensai]

Results for the ballot for Twickenham tickets is out this weekend, fingers crossed.

The only thing I dislike about watching internationals there is the 80-odd thousand people are usually pretty quiet. I hear more noise from fans when I go to see Brentford at Griffin Park, and they only fit in about 12,00 on a good day.

[DodgyAgent]

Excellent work

Where is your dopey husband? is he still stalking the Mcanns ?

[cailin maith]

I think someone's gone and set up a CUK six nations league.

Oh, here it is;

http://forums.contractoruk.com/light...ns-league.html

Excellent work