Stuart Barnes is already making excuses for Etzebeth in The Times. We need bullies apparently. So Curry’s late charge and this gouge are somehow a necessary part of the brutality of the game. One of the dumbest articles I’ve ever read.

Agree entirely - on all counts. Glasgow/Edinburgh/Scotland, & Mann. As for the likelihood of a bad photoshop. Unfortunately, even if manipulated it will gather pace regardless. Audience is too hungry and too willing.

Just as well he wore his head wrap!

Needless to say, SART have gone full idiot & seemingly photoshopped an imagine to make it look like Mann initially gouged Etzebeth. I’ve gone back through the match. I found nothing. Seems to be a childlike manipulation of the two of them at the bottom of a ruck. Just utterly moronic stuff.

Get in the bin. I’ve already endured months of that pish. Seriously, get in the bin.

Lest we forget this is the same ‘Angelic Etzebeth’ who after getting bumped by a young Georgian in club game, waited for that player to be stuck in a ruck before hammering him with a dirty shot directly to the head. Way, way past time this guy what was coming to him & was perm banned from the game.

That’s the Eng Front Row. Genge’s value in loose aside, it’s little other than press driven hype. They’re solid club players. But they’re not elite test options. Not even across the basics of their position, (i.e. scrummaging & lineout throwing). They aren’t top 3/4 in those positions in the 6N.

TH Prop: The pre-Lions hype around Stuart tells you everything you need to know about the impact of PR on selection. He has never been at the level the Eng rugby press claim he is. Nicky Smith is a good club prop, and he regularly ruins Stuart. As do others. All hype, little substance.

…wouldn’t start him ahead of others in the 6N - including Ashman on the form of this Autumn! Whether Ashman maintains a that level, or LCD might become a step up, remains to be seen. Theo Dan well off the pace in that Eng setup…

Hooker seems to be LCD. While I feel he’s improved almost every facet of his game the past 4/5 years. I also still firmly believe his ceiling is markedly below other Hookers throughout the international game. That unflattering comparison is all the more stark with George on the bench. Not top three.

Technically, because it was an act in breach of the laws of the sport, it is a police matter.

I mean…what in the actual fuck is this?!? bsky.app/profile/chur...

…his scrummaging is still too weak for top level. He out scrummaged Porter on Lions tour. But still struggled to match Schoey’s efforts vs likes of Tupou. Late game punch off the bench is impressive. But as a starter…? Poorer than other 6N LH’s & lack of decent TH opposition spared blushes in ‘25.