General rugby thread
Discussion
Mr Magooagain said:
Good game today with good replacements coming on to keep up the pressure.
I will admit that squad depth is the key to Leinster being able to perform. To be down quite a number of key players like Sexton and Henshaw, but still able to spring the likes of Baird and Frawley from the bench is indeed a luxuryThe Leinster conveyor belt of talented local players coming through the system is incredible over the past number of years, yet still we’ve now the likes of Prendergast and Osborne knocking on the door for inclusion. It’s that sort of competition for places that is driving us forwards
The brother in law is from Exeter, and as much as I wish them well I really want us to have another crack at La Rochelle. ROG is doing some job with them though
Edited by Leins on Saturday 29th April 18:47
ClaphamGT3 said:
OMITN said:
Excellent results over France today across both codes - especially for both Women’s sides…!
Was at Twickenham with the family for the 6 nations. A cracking game with France coming back strongly to keep everyone on the edge of their seats to the death
Bet it was brilliant to watch field side.
Leins said:
epom said:
Serious performance from Leinster, almost should get a home draw for the final they’ve been so impressive.
That’ll get the conversation going again epom!If we can keep getting to finals we might eventually win another one against the really big spending sides of European rugby
If Leinster win their URC QF, and assuming that gives them a home SF at the Aviva as well, then they will go in to the HC final having played their last 6 home fixtures in a row at what is supposed to be a neutral venue.
I've nothing against Leinster, but it's a complete farce that EPCR have allowed such a huge advantage to be given to one team.
Someone looked at all the Six Nations games and determined that in that competition, home advantage was worth an average of 9.3 points, so maybe to make the final a fair contest, Exeter or La Rochelle should be granted a 10 point head start?
Edited by Kermit power on Sunday 30th April 07:18
DodgyGeezer said:
JonChalk said:
Sergio Parisse is still playing?
Had to Google it, but he's 39 which is going some for 20+ years playing No.8 at the highest levels. Fair play!
i thought that this was his last season?Had to Google it, but he's 39 which is going some for 20+ years playing No.8 at the highest levels. Fair play!
JonChalk said:
DodgyGeezer said:
JonChalk said:
Sergio Parisse is still playing?
Had to Google it, but he's 39 which is going some for 20+ years playing No.8 at the highest levels. Fair play!
i thought that this was his last season?Had to Google it, but he's 39 which is going some for 20+ years playing No.8 at the highest levels. Fair play!
So there have been 14 knockout Heineken Cup ties and in all of them the home team has prevailed. The format is an absolute joke. If Leinster does go on to win yet another home tie, it will be a massive farce and sadly diminish their achievement. Nothing against Leinster, but this system has to be changed for next season. It just needs a fair cup draw for each round, just like pretty much every other sport.
LotusOmega375D said:
So there have been 14 knockout Heineken Cup ties and in all of them the home team has prevailed. The format is an absolute joke. If Leinster does go on to win yet another home tie, it will be a massive farce and sadly diminish their achievement. Nothing against Leinster, but this system has to be changed for next season. It just needs a fair cup draw for each round, just like pretty much every other sport.
Just making sure that the neutral venue for the final actually is a neutral venue would be a start!Well we (Leinster) have had to go to Edinburgh, Cardiff, Twickenham and Bilboa and win before, and only one of those is truly a neutral venue, as there was nothing stopping Cardiff/Edinburgh/Wasps getting to those finals. We’ve lost to an English team in England and a French team in France
Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Leins said:
Well we (Leinster) have had to go to Edinburgh, Cardiff, Twickenham and Bilboa and win before, and only one of those is truly a neutral venue, as there was nothing stopping Cardiff/Edinburgh/Wasps getting to those finals. We’ve lost to an English team in England and a French team in France
Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Has to be played somewhere. Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Added pressure on Leinster throughout to get there.
With all the corporate s
t you can't not know the final location until the final two are decided. Two best teams (by a margin) into the final.
Fancy Leinster but don't think it will be easy.
Leins said:
Well we (Leinster) have had to go to Edinburgh, Cardiff, Twickenham and Bilboa and win before, and only one of those is truly a neutral venue, as there was nothing stopping Cardiff/Edinburgh/Wasps getting to those finals. We’ve lost to an English team in England and a French team in France
Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Sorry but that is utter rubbish.Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Assuming Leinster win their URC quarter final, they will go in to the Heineken final having played every single one of their previous SIX home games at the Aviva.
That's not "home" advantage just to the extent of your fans being able to book en masse or having a more familiar drive to the ground. That's full on tactical advantage on the day because it is your home ground and you know every inch of the turf, how the wind behaves and more.
No other club in the tournament comes close to that level of home advantage and never has done.
If the final was being played at Croke Park, I'd have no problems at all with Leinster having that level of home advantage, since as you say, it has to be played somewhere, but Leinster play more home games at the Aviva than Ireland do!
If the game goes ahead at the Aviva, La Rochelle should be given a 10 point head start, as that's in line with the value of home advantage in the Six. Nations.
Leins said:
Well we (Leinster) have had to go to Edinburgh, Cardiff, Twickenham and Bilboa and win before, and only one of those is truly a neutral venue, as there was nothing stopping Cardiff/Edinburgh/Wasps getting to those finals. We’ve lost to an English team in England and a French team in France
Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
Donnybrook. Are you taking the pee ? Do you not know how many Leinster players call Donnybrook home ? Nice to be a bit closer to home for this one, even though ideally I’d love it to be played in Donnybrook
epom said:
Donnybrook. Are you taking the pee ? Do you not know how many Leinster players call Donnybrook home ?
True, and actually there might be unfair advantage at the bar in Bective afterwards for the players. Down with this sort of thing!In all seriousness, if La Rochelle triumph there are two huge positives. Firstly it’s another French team who now really take European rugby very seriously and up there with the Bouclier, to arguably add to those who already do like Toulouse, Clermont and (to a degree) Toulon and Racing. This all adds to the competition IMO, which can only be a good thing
Secondly, it would cement how ROG is truly a great coach. He deserves it given how he’s progressed his post-playing career
iwantagta said:
Has to be played somewhere.
Added pressure on Leinster throughout to get there.
With all the corporate st you can't not know the final location until the final two are decided.
Two best teams (by a margin) into the final.
Fancy Leinster but don't think it will be easy.
I think La Rochelle will be a step up again from anyone else we’ve met this year. Leinster have improved from last year, and will need to be at their best to dethrone them. Injuries still a bit of a concern, but hopefully it’ll be a cracking match with no red cardsAdded pressure on Leinster throughout to get there.
With all the corporate s
t you can't not know the final location until the final two are decided. Two best teams (by a margin) into the final.
Fancy Leinster but don't think it will be easy.
Kermit power said:
Sorry but that is utter rubbish.
Assuming Leinster win their URC quarter final, they will go in to the Heineken final having played every single one of their previous SIX home games at the Aviva.
That's not "home" advantage just to the extent of your fans being able to book en masse or having a more familiar drive to the ground. That's full on tactical advantage on the day because it is your home ground and you know every inch of the turf, how the wind behaves and more.
No other club in the tournament comes close to that level of home advantage and never has done.
If the final was being played at Croke Park, I'd have no problems at all with Leinster having that level of home advantage, since as you say, it has to be played somewhere, but Leinster play more home games at the Aviva than Ireland do!
If the game goes ahead at the Aviva, La Rochelle should be given a 10 point head start, as that's in line with the value of home advantage in the Six. Nations.
Ah Kermit, it really seems like Leinster can do nothing now that isn’t called as an unfair advantage - salary, international players, home advantage. It‘s getting a bit ridiculous now, and I don’t just mean you in particular. It’s a huge final that still has to be won no matter where it’s played. Maybe we should be forced to divide the team up at this stage to keep other counties happy. It’s almost as if some people think we win every competition every yearAssuming Leinster win their URC quarter final, they will go in to the Heineken final having played every single one of their previous SIX home games at the Aviva.
That's not "home" advantage just to the extent of your fans being able to book en masse or having a more familiar drive to the ground. That's full on tactical advantage on the day because it is your home ground and you know every inch of the turf, how the wind behaves and more.
No other club in the tournament comes close to that level of home advantage and never has done.
If the final was being played at Croke Park, I'd have no problems at all with Leinster having that level of home advantage, since as you say, it has to be played somewhere, but Leinster play more home games at the Aviva than Ireland do!
If the game goes ahead at the Aviva, La Rochelle should be given a 10 point head start, as that's in line with the value of home advantage in the Six. Nations.
Leins said:
Ah Kermit, it really seems like Leinster can do nothing now that isn’t called as an unfair advantage - salary, international players, home advantage. It‘s getting a bit ridiculous now, and I don’t just mean you in particular. It’s a huge final that still has to be won no matter where it’s played. Maybe we should be forced to divide the team up at this stage to keep other counties happy. It’s almost as if some people think we win every competition every year
It comes down to two points.1. The Champions' Cup final is played at a neutral venue.
2. This year, one of the finalists will have played their previous six home games at the final venue.
That is simply not fair on La Rochelle.
Either Leinster shouldn't play home matches at the Aviva, or the Aviva should not be a venue for the final.
Kermit power said:
It comes down to two points.
1. The Champions' Cup final is played at a neutral venue.
2. This year, one of the finalists will have played their previous six home games at the final venue.
That is simply not fair on La Rochelle.
Either Leinster shouldn't play home matches at the Aviva, or the Aviva should not be a venue for the final.
You're beginning to sound so shrill that eventually your complaints will only be audible to dogs.1. The Champions' Cup final is played at a neutral venue.
2. This year, one of the finalists will have played their previous six home games at the final venue.
That is simply not fair on La Rochelle.
Either Leinster shouldn't play home matches at the Aviva, or the Aviva should not be a venue for the final.
The final location cannot be decided on a whim part-way through a tournament, and it's almost impossible to find a truly neutral location at the outset.
Not allowing Leinster to make money by playing to bigger crowds at the Aviva is silly and unworkable. Telling the IRFU they aren't allowed to make money by having a home final is silly and unworkable.
The idea that one side should get a "head start" is the sort of thing I'd expect from a primary school child.
C70R said:
You're beginning to sound so shrill that eventually your complaints will only be audible to dogs.
The final location cannot be decided on a whim part-way through a tournament, and it's almost impossible to find a truly neutral location at the outset.
Not allowing Leinster to make money by playing to bigger crowds at the Aviva is silly and unworkable. Telling the IRFU they aren't allowed to make money by having a home final is silly and unworkable.
The idea that one side should get a "head start" is the sort of thing I'd expect from a primary school child.
I suspect you're arguing just for the sake of arguing, as there's no possible logical position for arguing it.The final location cannot be decided on a whim part-way through a tournament, and it's almost impossible to find a truly neutral location at the outset.
Not allowing Leinster to make money by playing to bigger crowds at the Aviva is silly and unworkable. Telling the IRFU they aren't allowed to make money by having a home final is silly and unworkable.
The idea that one side should get a "head start" is the sort of thing I'd expect from a primary school child.
This notion of stadiums not being "truly neutral venues" because they happen to be in the same country as one of the teams involved is simply laughable compared to a team that has played its last six home games in a row at the same stadium.
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