The Roar
The Roar

Nicholas Bishop

Expert

Joined January 2016

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Nick Bishop has worked as a rugby analyst and advisor to Graham Henry (1999-2003), Mike Ruddock (2004-2005) and most recently Stuart Lancaster (2011-2015). He also worked on the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and produced his first rugby book with Graham Henry at the end of the tour. Three more rugby books have followed, all of which of have either been nominated for or won national sports book awards. Nick’s latest is a biography of Phil Larder, the first top Rugby League coach to successfully transfer over to Union, entitled “The Iron Curtain”. He is currently writing articles for The Roar and The Rugby Site, and working as a strategy consultant to Stuart Lancaster and the Leinster coaching staff for their European and Pro 14 playoff matches. Leinster achieved the double of European Champions Cup and Pro 14 league winners in 2018. They repeated their Pro 14 win in 2019 and finished runners-up to Saracens in Europe.

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This is TWAS-twaddle and you probably know it. 😂

Meafou is far more advanced than Amatosero and last season kept Richie Arnold out of the Toulouse starting lineup.

If he was avalable for France for the WC, they would start him instead of Willemse.

Exclusive: 'I won't wear another jersey' - 'Mini Will Skelton' reveals why he's returning to Australian rugby

Good stuff JD!

New blood, plenty of mongrel, unreturned texts: What we learnt from All Blacks squad announcement

Not bad for Saints OM, mostly 13/wing utility – but they shipped 86 tries second worst in the league on D (especially wide D) so he won’t help there. Best to tailor expectations to reality not fantasy.

Exclusive: Rebels sign ex-All Blacks gun as Hodge replacement, Brumbies hang onto Wallaby

Mick, maybe you could have saved Eddie from his England exit by pointing out he didn’t need all the research and analysis guys, just a well-travelled journo alongside him, with an eye that can take everything in at one glance! Then he might still have a job in West London 😂

Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations

Lots in flux atm H. We’ll see.

Yes, it comes to something when England can’t even reduce the game to a boring slug-fest, doesn’t it? 😁

Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations

Great point H, and a more interesting one than any made in the article itself!

Since the EP abandoned relegation try scoring has gone through the roof. Teams are much more content to develop their styles of play throughout the season, and not ‘contract’ around defence and kicking if they are under threat to drop.

So there is much more ball movement and the refs tend to clamp hard on defensive spoiling around the ruck. It will prob benefit English rugby in the long term but there are teething problems, for sure.

Northern View: Whole world 'laughing their tits off' at bang average battlers, Dupont the greatest No.9 in generations

In fact I’m not too sure if they have that much depth there. For example no yet convinced Flament is such a great replacement for Woki (who was himself converted from 6). Both Willemse and Meafou ofc qualify by residency!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Canes midfield has looked pretty solid so far. Good size in the centres and on the wing.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

As opposed to figurative LOL 😁

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Not much time left over for any CC’s right now Ken!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Don’t recall Simmons ever having a gut G!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Poss but you’d be stretching the envelope.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Looked it up and it was Hosea + Michael Wood starting, Frost on bench duty.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yep Smith and Blythe are triers for sure, but the other three have an edge in quality when it comes to international football.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Thx.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

You should hear the prayers in Wales atm!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

We can talk for a long time on that one. 😔

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Top post Mo.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

I must say I tend to think of Gleeson/Bobby V as an either/or situation.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

For a bloke carrying 120 kilos or more he’s fast off the deck!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

This is getting like one of those old Carry On movies. Stop it you two/three.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

That would be ‘frack’ Ken. 👍

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Get to tackle, Flop. Simple 😁

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Geoff prob would – but he’s his own man and would not stand any nonsense from EJ!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yep ultimately they will be wanting to flip the Crusaders, so I guess they will be working towards that. RTS did look better in possession of the ball, one good plus for them.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

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