General Chat

That's good news for Scotland fans

BEN YOUNGS WITHDRAWS FROM LIONS SQUAD

Ben Youngs has had to withdraw from the Lions Squad, having had some heartbreaking news. His Sister-In-Law TIFFANY, wife of his brother TOM (an England and Leicester Hooker(2)) is terminally ill.

BBC SPORT Rugby Union:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39832093

LEICESTER MERCURY:
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/rugby-world-unites-behind-leicester-tigers-brothers-ben-and-tom-youngs-after-awful-cancer-news/story-30318695-detail/story.html



GREIG LAIDLAW CALLED UP FOR LIONS DUTY!

Scotland's Captain,Greig Laidlaw, has been called into the Lions Squad for their forthcoming New Zealand Tour in June.

Scrum-Half Greig, who is also the first choice Kicker for Scotland, will be replacing Ben Youngs in the Squad. He will battle it out with Wales' Rhys Webb and Ireland's Conor Murray for the Starting Scrum-Half position.



BBC SPORT Rugby Union-
2017 British & Irish Lions: Greig Laidlaw Will Fight For Place In Starting Line-Up
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39847079



The Telegraph, Sport Rugby Union
Mixed emotions for Greig Laidlaw after Scot is handed British and Irish Lions call-up

.....“Listen first and foremost I think everyone's thoughts are with Tom, with Ben and the whole of the Youngs family, certainly from within the camp here today as well,” Laidlaw said.......

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/05/08/mixed-emotions-greig-laidlaw-scot-handed-british-irish-lions/




Jem and the Gang would like to say how sorry we are to hear such sad news.
Our hearts go out to Tiffany, Tom and all the Youngs Family <3

Hi QG :-)

Yes! Wales have benefited from some great coaches from New Zealand.

Llanelli based Club, The Scarlets, Head Coach is WAYNE PIVAC, of Croatian background, was involved with Auckland Rugby for 15 years.
http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/teams/wayne-pivac.php

The Scarlets are doing very well at present.

Steve Hansen is the ABs coach
He coached Wales in 2002-4

Gosh, Robert, I'd not heard this! :-0

Warren Gatland is a KIWI ;-) :-D :-D :-D
(and not at all Wales' Head Coach ;-))

It was very harsh that only 2 Scots made the Lions Squad with the way Scotland have been playing in recent years. I am surprised.
What about the Gray Brothers e.g., or Finn Russell (although he can be a bit of a loose cannon at times, but he's all heart)
Scotland's Captain and Scrum-Half / Kicker- Greig Laidlaw lost out through injury of course.


'Disgraceful' - How Social Media Reacted to Warren Gatland's Controversial Lions Squad" ... The Telegraph: Sport Rugby Union

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/04/19/disgraceful-social-media-reacted-warren-gatlands-controversial/


***For you to understand where Robert is coming from on this issue, here's the breakdown

ENGLAND : 16 Players
Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Jonathan Joseph, Jack Nowell, Ben Te'o, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs,Dan Cole, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola.


WALES: 12 Players
Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Rhys Webb, Liam Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton CAPTAIN (Wales)



IRELAND: 11 Players
Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Jared Payne, Jonathan Sexton, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Jack McGrath, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, CJ Stander


SCOTLAND: 2 Players
Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour.


So, this does seem slightly unfair.
I would need to examine statistics, I suppose, for some idea on the matter (I don't claim to be an expert on these matters, as opposed to general thinking ;-) ;-) ;-))
I must say, however, that I do believe that players should earn their places by MERIT, not simply numbers filling.
But I'm sure, even allowing for that, it does seem slightly bad! :-0

Who is this man Gatland??? He has now sacked the Lion's Scottish Doctor.

I am going to tell Nicola Sturgeon!!!

Good Evening Everyone :-) :-) :-) <3

Hiya Kandj :-D <3
So lovely to see you, and will look forward to "hearing" your beautiful singing! :-)
Just hoping that we will still have Sky Sports then :-D
We are not too bad here Kandj, but up to our eyes in trying to sort the house out- decorating, clutter etc.:-D
How are you and hubby?


Ok, Robert, I quite understand, and don't blame you. :-)


So....
.... who's making the pompoms? ;-) :-D :-D :-D

No, Jem it is goodbye from me.

Hello Radio Jem........ sorry we don't have Sky, but I could still pop in and share
in the banter and good humour on your lovely rugby thread. Hope all is good at yours?

Hi Everyone :-D :-D :-D <3

Hi Robert :-D
Stubborn or not, you will have a big welcome on Radio Jem should you change your mind :-)

Hi QG :-)
Absolutely no problem with that! :-D
During the Six Nations, We were a mix of mostly English Peeps, some with Welsh Ancestors, and some with some Irish in the mix too! A few of us Welsh, and quite a few Scots, and a fan of Les Bleus too!
Yet we all played happily together, having a laugh, while supporting whichever team we wanted to! :-D :-D :-D

That's the lovely thing about the Rugby Threads. We are all good sports who use Rugby to bring us together and not to divide.

I actually love the All Blacks :-D

Yes, as you rightly say, may the best team win :-) :-) :-)

Hi Jem.

You do realise I will be outnumbered on here because I will be wanting the ABs to win. Reason being the whole Country goes into mourning if they lose haha.

May the best team win whoever it is :-) :-) :-) :-)

No, I will NOT change my mind. I'm stubborn.

Good Morning Everyone :-) :-) :-) <3
It's dull and drizzly, here at the Radio Jem HQ ;-) :-D


Hi QG :-)
Lovely to see you on "Radio Jem ;-)" :-D
That is a shame, QG! It will probably be on the radio, but I know that's not quite the same thing :-(
I hope you will have a great time, back home in England :-)

Thanks Mascot Fly <3
It's very early mind you .... 8.35 in the MORNING :-0 :-0 :-0
I know you are up and about quite early, though! :-)

I don't blame you Robert :-)
I would have been GUTTED had Wales been in the same position.
But you do have Stuart Hogg (an awesome full back) and Tommy Seymour, a terrific winger. So, I am hoping you will change your mind :-D :-D :-D

I have Sky, but I will NOT be watching - I am still a disgusted Scotsman!!!

Jem a bit of a mixture :-D :-D

Quinsgran i don't have Sky but will be joining in with the rest on here :-D

Hi Jem.

I will be in England from June 13th and my brother doesn't have Sky so I'm going to miss all the action.

Yes, Robert, I hadn't realised that there were only 2 Scots until I counted them a short while ago. Considering how well Scotland have been doing of late, I have to say I'm surprised.

Stuart Hogg, was going to be picked for the squad without question in my mind. He is, if not the best, at least one of the best Full Backs in my opinion.
Of course, Grieg Laidlaw is injured.

A very poor selection.

From a disgusted Scotsman!!!!

You do a grand job Jems!!! mwahhhh :-D <3

Hiya Mers :-D :-D :-D <3 <3

Soz and all that.... but I'm not changing me lovely oval ball for a round one, even for you!
;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D