General rugby thread

[irocfan]

JonChalk said:

Especially as currently being thrashed 41-10 by Bristol.

Edit - now they have been thrashed 41-10 by Bristol.

Edited by JonChalk on Saturday 1st December 14:57

not sure if Cockers will be laughing or crying at that

[tight5]

Listening to Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons on the radio.
Falcons win, but i don't know how, sounded terrible.

[Cyder]

Kermit power said:

So Exeter's unbeaten run comes to an end...

Not only did it come to an end, they were within two minutes of going home without a single point!

Let's have a little quiz...

1. Who is the only team to have beaten Exeter this season?

2. Who is the only team to have prevented Saracens from scoring a try bonus point this season?

3. Who is the only team to have gone to Gloucester and won in any competition so far this season?

And for a bonus point... What sort of freak gets up and leaves a game like that early?!?!?!?

If only we could play like this every week, we'd be unstoppable!

Great game of rugby even saying that as an Exeter supporter and the miracle almost looked like it was on in the 75th minute. But a fully deserved win by Quin’s.

I would point out though that Exeter were missing the first 4 Props of choice following the internationals (their choice to leave them out mind seeing as Sinckler played) along with Henry Slade and Jack Nowell from the backs and I think the team looks clearly weaker without them present.

Even so I would say, having watched Exe 2 weekends on the trot now that they’re not the mauling force of the last few seasons and seem to make more basic mistakes than in recent seasons.

At this stage I’d suggest it’s likely to be another Exeter v Saracens final, but I wouldn’t bet against the Watford/Barnet Rovers winning it again based on current form.

[The Mad Monk]

Cyder said:

I would point out though that Exeter were missing the first 4 Props of choice following the internationals (their choice to leave them out mind seeing as Sinckler played) along with Henry Slade and Jack Nowell from the backs

To which the standard response is:-

"Did we ask you to send your second team?"

[Cyder]

Hey it’s no excuse, hence my ‘their choice’ comment. More of a counter position to Balance Kermit’s excitement.

[Kermit power]

Cyder said:

Great game of rugby even saying that as an Exeter supporter and the miracle almost looked like it was on in the 75th minute. But a fully deserved win by Quin’s.

I would point out though that Exeter were missing the first 4 Props of choice following the internationals (their choice to leave them out mind seeing as Sinckler played) along with Henry Slade and Jack Nowell from the backs and I think the team looks clearly weaker without them present.

Even so I would say, having watched Exe 2 weekends on the trot now that they’re not the mauling force of the last few seasons and seem to make more basic mistakes than in recent seasons.

At this stage I’d suggest it’s likely to be another Exeter v Saracens final, but I wouldn’t bet against the Watford/Barnet Rovers winning it again based on current form.

Possibly missing props of choice, but it wasn't as though the result was down to Exeter getting mullered in the scrum.

Quins can also point to Roshaw, Visser and Horwill amongst others who would normally be starting picks were it not for injury. Every club gets injuries!

I do feel for Rob Baxter slightly on the selection front, though. He has to rest his England internationals for at least one of the three games following the autumn series, and presumably will want them at their best against Sarries next weekend, which might explain why he chose to leave them all out against Quins, but ultimately it was still his choice.

[tight5]

Varsity Match Thursday 6 December.
Women’s match KO 11.30am, Men’s match KO 3.00pm.
Women’s match on BBC Red Button from 11.30am, Men’s match on BBC 2 from 2.45pm.

Edited by tight5 on Thursday 6th December 14:29

[Kermit power]

tight5 said:

Varsity Match Thursday 7 December.
Women’s match KO 11.30am, Men’s match KO 3.00pm.
Women’s match on BBC Red Button from 11.30am, Men’s match on BBC 2 from 2.45pm.

It seems a bit of an odd thing for the BBC to be televising? I can understand the boat race being televised, as it is pretty unique, but the Varsity Match is just a game of rugby between a couple of relatively mediocre university teams that just happens to be played at Twickenham. What's the point?

[irocfan]

Kermit power said:

It seems a bit of an odd thing for the BBC to be televising? I can understand the boat race being televised, as it is pretty unique, but the Varsity Match is just a game of rugby between a couple of relatively mediocre university teams that just happens to be played at Twickenham. What's the point?

tradition

[prand]

irocfan said:

tradition

I thought its because this is pretty much all BBC sport has left to show now everything else is on Sky/BT/Eurosport/ITV

[Kermit power]

prand said:

irocfan said:

tradition

I thought its because this is pretty much all BBC sport has left to show now everything else is on Sky/BT/Eurosport/ITV

I suspect this may well be the case!

[Kermit power]

Meanwhile, in other sad rugby news, it looks like Neath RFC could be no more after this afternoon.

[DocJock]

That's a shame.

It's not that long since they were up there with Bath and Leicester as the best side in the UK.

[Cyder]

The Welsh regional rugby impact on Welsh Premiership finances and attendances is precisely the case study that should be used as to why ring-fencing the English Premiership should never be allowed to happen.

Very sad to see these traditional clubs going to the wall.

[Dermot O'Logical]

Kermit power said:

tight5 said:

Varsity Match Thursday 7 December.
Women’s match KO 11.30am, Men’s match KO 3.00pm.
Women’s match on BBC Red Button from 11.30am, Men’s match on BBC 2 from 2.45pm.

It seems a bit of an odd thing for the BBC to be televising? I can understand the boat race being televised, as it is pretty unique, but the Varsity Match is just a game of rugby between a couple of relatively mediocre university teams that just happens to be played at Twickenham. What's the point?

And reffed by the great Nigel Owens - "You don't have to call me "Sir", I'm from Wales"...

[RDM]

Not often I root for Cardiff but “come on Blues”!
Going to be tough to hold the lead in second half but
Here’s hoping.

[Kermit power]

Racing vs Leicester was quite a game!!!

[steveT350C]

I missed the Varsity match, but my dad watched it - he says it was a cracking game. Oxford’s full back was, apparently, unbelievable. Name was Ransom if I recall.

One for the future?

[prand]

steveT350C said:

I missed the Varsity match, but my dad watched it - he says it was a cracking game. Oxford’s full back was, apparently, unbelievable. Name was Ransom if I recall.

One for the future?

Possibly not, he's 26 now, and is close to retiring from the game after playing for Sarries and London Irish. He's a good player couldn't make first choice 15 or winger at either clubs so decided to leave Irish and do an MBA at Oxford to secure his future outside of the game.

[Kermit power]

prand said:

steveT350C said:

I missed the Varsity match, but my dad watched it - he says it was a cracking game. Oxford’s full back was, apparently, unbelievable. Name was Ransom if I recall.

One for the future?

Possibly not, he's 26 now, and is close to retiring from the game after playing for Sarries and London Irish. He's a good player couldn't make first choice 15 or winger at either clubs so decided to leave Irish and do an MBA at Oxford to secure his future outside of the game.

Which says a lot about the Varsity match. The really stand out player for either team is one who has already discovered he can't make the level of professional rugby. What does that say about the playing quality of the other 29 who started the match?

I suspect you'd see a much better quality of rugby if they televised the British Universities Super Rugby final. If Alex Dombrandt, who Quins have just poached from Cardiff Met is anything to go by, they're producing some bloody good players!