Asked to play 12. Not given the ball for an hour. Subbed off. Sent packing from the 23. Ollie Lawrence’s treatment verges on the cruel. Let’s hope he withstands all this & demands a recall with his brilliant performances.
Breathtaking arrogance. Entirely reasonable / necessary line of questioning. Zero accountability from MS here. Only interested in cheerleading ‘questions’ - of which there are far too many.
There are large numbers of good people at Saracens who had zero impact on financial decisions. They’ve been badly let down by those further up the food chain who flew too close to the sun. Scandalous mismanagement. The break-up of the squad will follow.
Glacial speed of WR reaction to Erasmus nonsense is a stain on the game. How does rugby attend to vital recruitment & much-needed upskilling of refs when one of their own has been publicly eviscerated? Who’d be a ref now?
Admirable, emotional, heartfelt stuff from
@KyleSinckler
@btsportrugby
crediting all the support he’s had this week. Searing honesty, so powerful 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Horrified to learn of the vile abuse aimed at my mate Ugo by an individual at Sandy Pk today. Find this spineless racist at all costs, and expose him. Sickening.
Every single year we media types try so hard not to trash the French 6N challenge with our lazy stereotyping about their unpredictability, & their Jekyll & Hyde characteristics. And every single year they lend fuel to the fire.
The very worst of news. What a titan, what a man, what an example to us all. God bless you Doddie, you legend. An ‘inspiration’ doesn’t come close to doing you justice. Deepest condolences to all the Weir family and everyone who loved him. Which is everyone.
This notion that Eng’s mental fragility somehow has its roots in 2015 RWC is a total cop-out. 3.5yrs later, new faces everywhere. Only 4 players from RWC match v Aus (& 4 v Wal) in XV on Sat. Beggars belief that previous regime are blamed 4 current failings.
The heart bleeds for Jack Willis, already denied some of the best months of his young career with a knee injury. You know it’s bad when the replay needs ‘managing’. Agree with
@ugomonye
re breakdown ‘clear out’ policing.
Miserable & desperate as it is for all concerned at Wasps & Worcester, this has to be a watershed moment for Premiership Rugby. Re-set the dial. Change the structure of governance. Transparency over club finances. Spend what you can afford. Collaborate.
In amongst all the crap going on in the world, there’s this incredible legend doing entirely selfless, extremely painful but enormously meaningful things for his mate. ‘Inspirational’ hardly does him justice. So much admiration
#sirkev
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
He's done it!! 🎉 👏
What a moment, what a man! Kevin Sinfield finishes his MAMMOTH 101 mile run in 24 hours live on
#BBCBreakfast
🏃♂️
And his best mate Rob Burrow saw him over the line
Numbers to blow your mind.
@owenslot
If you don’t trust players, you surely can’t build any foundations. Twickenham y’day was a mausoleum. Not acceptable when you see the buckets of English talent & quality of rugby on show every single week
@premrugby
Now the deed is done re Worcester administration, let’s get the club’s books open to reveal the cold, hard facts about how it’s been run. The rebuild must start here. But also some truth telling.
Ben Spencer is flying out to Japan for the RWC Final. Willi Heinz injury has dictated immediate action.
Some tale this. Winning try anyone?!
@btsportrugby
The wild inconsistencies of the EJ regime continue unabated. Cipriani left out of England training squad after Jones says he’ll judge him on performances on the pitch. Te’o, Ashton picked with no rugby behind them.
Rubbing my eyes at that extraordinary match, so many swings & momentum shifts! 16 yrs since both European titles were held by English clubs. The West Country once again the beating heart of northern hemisphere rugby 🏆
Mike Brown handed the trophy after an epic
@premrugby
final. Quins champs, a comeback this season of which Lazarus would be proud. Just thrilling. Nothing less than rugby fans deserved, too. Hope you enjoyed coverage
@btsportrugby
& thanks for being with us!
Jerome Kaino now gets a 5 week ban for his challenge on Jamie Roberts. And yet top Euro officials have briefed that it should’ve been ‘play on’. Seriously, no one has any idea what’s going on here. The inconsistency is maddening.
“I obviously didn’t coach the players well enough” says EJ. We’ve heard this before. A default setting. Where was the on-field leadership, the ability to problem-solve? Why were good players so far off the pace? The Saracens boys rusty, sure. But still....
V worrying news that Dan Robson has developed blood clots on his leg & may not play again this season; a cruel blow to his chances of RWC involvement. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery
@btsportrugby
A passionate, patient, systematic dismantling of the 4x
@ChampionsCup
champions by
@ExeterChiefs
whose staggering 25year rise from the 4th tier of English rugby continues. A shining beacon of feelgood light amongst the Covid gloom 🙌🏻
@btsportrugby
How many times? V worrying trend of Tuilagi hamstring pings on England duty. Coincidence, mismanagement or miscommunication with clubs who know them best? It’s a rough, tough world but there are far too many players sent back broken from Eng training camps.
Arigato gozaimasu Japan. It’s been a wild ride, and there’s no team I’ve enjoyed watching more at this RWC. Let there be many more opportunities for your thrilling, energetic, attack-minded team. And let your rugby philosophy infuse the rugby world! 🇯🇵👏🏻🙏🏻
Goodbye & thanks for now to Warren Gatland whose Southern Hemisphere savvy has yielded untold riches in the north. A staggering 3xGS & 2xSF at RWCs w Wales, 2 Lions series unbeaten as head coach, 3xPship & 1xHCup w Wasps. His record is staggering. 👏🏻
You will all no doubt have worked this out long ago, but for simple, non-mathematical souls like me, I need it written down. You’re very welcome 🤓🧮
#JPNvSCO
(um, with thanks to guru Ade Hill)
Try as I might, I can’t fathom England selection. Just one example of many: Guy Porter, a good player for Tigers. But undone in Australia, & the idea that he’s a better option now than Lawrence, Slade (or Lozowski for that matter)? Not imho.
Bruising day for rugby administrators at DCMS Select Committee re Worcs/Wasps folding. Opening Q to Bill Sweeney: “How did you allow a liar & asset-stripper to destroy a community club?”… followed by “You were completely asleep on the job, Mr Sweeney”
Brilliant to see Dr James Robson putting it in at yet another RWC for Scotland. The man is a legend. And might just have saved my life in Bloemfontein on the Lions tour of 2009
#bothends
V sad day when we’ll no longer have warriors like Brad Barritt & Chris Robshaw gracing
@premrugby
Men who’ve poured heart & soul into their clubs, not to mention their battered bodies. Same for Wiggy obvs, but I’ve a feeling he’s not done yet...
@btsportrugby
Some performance tonight from the best No8 in England. Sam Simmonds explosive, dynamic, tough, relentless, and RAPID. Hattrick to open the new campaign. That’ll do.
Jack Willis with another ludicrously high quality performance for Wasps, the bloke is off the dial at the moment.... meanwhile goodbye to the Stoop & every good wish to a selfless, tireless club legend. Given everything he has to Quins 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@btsportrugby
So pleased for Josh Beaumont after 14months of rehab, to seal Sale’s 1st win under Deacon. Skivington quietly steaming over final mins of mayhem. Questioning late scrum pen, Du Preez shoulder to head of Harris & needless water boy intervention
@btsportrugby
Not sure how England salvaged a draw from that 65’ wreckage. Some dramatic rescue job. But you’ve got to go all out at the death with scores level at home haven’t you?!
Can’t get enough of Luke Pearce driving the pace of these set pieces etc.... great work. Game needs to operate at a decent lick, it’s not supposed to allow for a rest for the weary. Down time is dead time.
After the acceptance of Saracens’ guilt, the next question must be to establish what they are doing to ensure they are complying with PRL regulations this season. For reasons of trust, surely that must be something visible & transparent.
@btsportrugby
How?! How has that happened?! One of the most staggering games of rugby you’ll ever see. 104 mins of mayhem. From 28-0 down, pulverised by Bristol’s brilliance, Quins have pulled off The Great Escape. Unreal character. Hope you enjoyed that
@btsportrugby
💥
Gareth Anscombe - been to hell and back with injuries in the last couple of years. Seized the day. Heartwarming effort in a Welsh obliteration of Wallaby rugby.
So many questions. Who was complicit? When and how do Saracens have to reduce their wage bill... immediately? Do Exeter get handed 2 more Premiership titles for seasons 17/18 & 18/19? Etc etc....
@btsportrugby
No real chance to mention this tonight but 18yo Jack Lloyd (bro of Ioan) bunked off school this week to train with Bristol, on account of their dearth of 10s. Mixing it with Piutau, O’Conor et al on field at Ashton Gate pre-match. Some prospect.
Hate matches being all about the ref but the cursory manner in which John Lacey dismissed that TMO review does him & the sport zero credit. And the TMO should grow a pair.
Well that was fun! Bristol exceptional for half an hour, again… And then… Harlequins with their tails up are such a joy. An uplifting night
@btsportrugby
hope you enjoyed it as much as we did🔥
What a pleasure to be allowed to do our jobs
@btsportrugby
today. Yes, it’s weird without fans. It’s eerie at times. It’s imperfect. But remember where we were? Rugby is back with us, and we have to be thankful for small mercies 🙏🏻
Any apology that features the words ‘sorry, but…’ is categorically not an apology. This is a horrific, shameless statement, (v sadly) entirely in keeping with the manner in which their business has been conducted.
Can’t help but feel sadness at Farrell’s T14 move, patently a tremendous loss 4 Saracens & Prem- but what a golden late career opportunity: earned his right to explore French fields a thousand times over. Generational talent, hope it’s a joyous move to Paris.
Amazing to witness the Irish Slam, such an impressive team. Brilliantly coached, brilliantly led and fully deserving of their triumph. Some squeaky Irish bums in that first half. And sadly some very questionable refereeing throughout.
Worcester suspension from all competitions confirmed 😞 The price of mismanagement, the price of a hideous economy with the truth, the price of failing to look after your most precious assets - the players, coaches & all associated staff of
@WorcsWarriors
What a shocker for World Rugby, the Vice Chairman Bernard Laporte given a 2yr suspended jail sentence for corruption, fresh off the RWC organising committee CEO Claude Atcher sacked & fined for corruption charges. Grubby.
A princely 28 minutes of rugby for Worcester this season & Ben Te’o gets the nod for England at 12 v SA. Riddle me that. And Brad Shields who’s done next to nothing for Wasps, is at 6. Masterstroke or whopping blunder?
Hearing of some v interesting developments regarding Prem Rugby’s interest in Saracens’ current playing squad & cap compliance. Get the feeling this has a long way to run.
@btsportrugby
Names on shirts. After 27 years of professionalism… Please, let no one tell us a scheme that should have been implemented at least 2 decades ago is somehow an indicator of the sport’s great capacity for innovation & growth.
The capacity for rugby’s various factions to scrap like rats in a sack never diminishes, even in a pandemic. Truly one of the most depressing elements of this sport we love so much😞
Some belting England wins in 2016, especially Down Under, but surely England’s best effort under EJ. Quality job, against the highest class of opposition.
94 points.12 tries. 1 red card. 1 breathtaking
@premrugby
afternoon at the Stoop. As so often, Marcus Smith white hot (so too Dan Robson - surely Eng’s 9&10 soon). A cruel blow to Mike Brown despite the complete validity of the red. And breath!
@btsportrugby
Breathtaking, jaw-dropping film from Peter Jackson
@BBCTwo
Colourisation of life in the WW1 trenches - should be compulsory viewing
#TheyShallNotGrowOld
Gotta love the Rec in full cry, under the lights. Monster win for Bath who had to absorb so much Tigers power tonight. 3/3 now and crucially, believing. Bravo Will Butt. And once more, those Worcester boys… 👏🏻
Brief word on desperate PR campaign run by independent flunkies appointed in immediate aftermath of punishment ruling. Raging club statements protesting innocence, insisting nothing would change. Pack of lies. Insulting to everyone, incl Sarries’ staff.
Extraordinary heart shown by everyone connected to
@WorcsWarriors
at Sixways. Players emptied themselves. Coaches, unpaid staff & volunteers couldn’t have done more. Only honesty, clarity & swift decision-making can save the club
@btsportrugby
"My only advice is that life will not wait for you."
Jaco Kriel sat down with
@alastaireykyn
to discuss his arrival in Gloucester after an immensely difficult period in his life.
His attitude and outlook is nothing short of inspirational 👏
Bridgend Ravens are devastated to announce the passing of JPR Williams.
One of Bridgend's most decorated players and an icon of World rugby, JPR served the club most recently as Club President.
Our thoughts are with JPR's family and friends at this sad time 💙
🔵⚪
Many empty words. “Responsibility” as a deflection tactic. Promises of magical RWC glory requiring Eng fans to believe in unicorns. Excellent players not playing well. Too many (off-record) testimonies of unhappy experiences in camp. A sorry saga.
Chiefs, what can you say.... Monumental effort from a fantastic bunch of men, without their nearest and dearest here to see them. Genuinely, a fairytale complete. On top of Europe 🤩 🏆 👏🏻
Hard to think of anyone who’s put their body in harm’s way on a more regular, committed, and effective basis than the selfless
@bradbarritt
Absolute warrior!! Sorry to see his extraordinary
@premrugby
shift drawing to a close.
Bristol v Bordeaux
@ERChallengeCup
SF coming your way
@btsportrugby
7pm in the company of a terrifying, intimidating former Lions captain who tears raw flesh from the bone with his teeth... & then puts it in his macho rainbow unicorn lunch bag 👌🏻🌈🦄
A stark, firm message from EPCR chairman Simon Halliday
@btsportrugby
“...without crowds, the game of rugby is finished. Across Europe, across leagues, we are going to have to ask governments to look at this again....”
What a pleasure to see an international played at lightning pace. England busy rediscovering their bite, their mojo. France, thrillingly, tearing into everything as if their lives depend on it. Screamer of a contest.
God knows we all love to watch the brilliance of Marcus Smith, and he will make his own impact - but this is a now very balanced England team, and Ollie Lawrence has blown the doors off this season. Huge to see a return for him & Jack Willis.
RFU all over the place. But now retrospectively promising to consult the thousands of bewildered/angry people faced with implementing these changes. The manner of this enactment & delivery of their messaging has been nothing short of woeful.
Brutal confirmation of Wasps entry into administration. Thoughts with all those families directly & indirectly affected by this desperately sad news. Seismic development that simply must be a catalyst for the financial/structural overhaul of
@premrugby
Remarkable what can be done inside 2wks i/c of
@premrugby
with a collaborative, open-minded, proactive approach. Congrats
@MassieSimon
on FTA deal w/ ITV. More eyeballs on the best league in the world, vital 4 growth & no-brainer complement to
@btsportrugby
If you want to look after people’s heads, that is red all day. Tough yes, due to comparative heights of the players. But the ruling is key to preserving player safety. Players have to learn.
This is a sad development. Embodied rugby’s warrior spirit, v few squeeze every drop from themselves as Mark Wilson has done, for both club & country. Fantastic bloke. And he’s nails.
@btsportrugby
Today is a sad day for us, as we announce that Newcastle Falcons captain Mark Wilson has retired from rugby with immediate effect.
Thank you Mark for an absolutely immense contribution during your 237 appearances, and we know you won’t be a stranger.
Confirmation of Stuart Lancaster’s departure from Leinster at the end of this season, to join Racing92. A glittering, trophy-laden spell in Dublin & a stellar rehabilitation of an outstanding coach after the darkness of RWC2015. Deserves every success.
Chiefs reign over England & Europe but we must remember how far Wasps have come .... down amongst the dead men of
@premrugby
towards the start of the year, Dai Young’s departure, recent Covid disruption etc - and they were an ace away from the trophy 👏🏻