General rugby thread

[iwantagta]

df76 said:

Big match for Bath today at Irish. It's the sort of fixture that they need to start winning (pressure mounting from fans), but Irish looking good so far this year.

We are in a relegation battle.
This feels like an 8 pointer.

[Dermot O'Logical]

In other news, Greig Laidlaw has retired from international rugby.

Referees will need to make their own decisions now.

[JonChalk]

Exeter did Bath and Irish a favour yesterday.

If Bath conjure a win today, both they and Irish will be 8+ points clear of Leicester still.

Wasps, though.........

Assuming Sarries continue to win (& they will!), imagine a world where Wasps and Leicester are scrambling to avoid relegation.....

[The Mad Monk]

iwantagta said:

This feels like an 8 pointer.

What is an 8 pointer?

[JonChalk]

Dermot O'Logical said:

In other news, Greig Laidlaw has retired from international rugby.

Referees will need to make their own decisions now.

Dan Biggar will continue ensure that referees have all the "correct" decisions pointed out to them, loudly and repeatedly.

[the tribester]

The Mad Monk said:

iwantagta said:

This feels like an 8 pointer.

What is an 8 pointer?

If you're playing another team at the bottom, if you win you get 4 points, and that stops them getting the 4 points. Makes it feel like an 8 point win.

[The Mad Monk]

the tribester said:

The Mad Monk said:

iwantagta said:

This feels like an 8 pointer.

What is an 8 pointer?

If you're playing another team at the bottom, if you win you get 4 points, and that stops them getting the 4 points. Makes it feel like an 8 point win.

Blimey!

Do you do the accounts for anybody?

[the tribester]

The Mad Monk said:

Blimey!

Do you do the accounts for anybody?

Yes, Sarries, why?

[SunsetZed]

iwantagta said:

df76 said:

Big match for Bath today at Irish. It's the sort of fixture that they need to start winning (pressure mounting from fans), but Irish looking good so far this year.

We are in a relegation battle.
This feels like an 8 pointer.

It did indeed, although it went even better than that with a 5 point win. Watch out for the Chudley try on the highlights as that was a wonderful team try.

Irish definitely suffered without several first choice backs and I doubt having to play both 9's (one of them at Full back) for most of the match was part of the plan either but Bath were much better up front than I expected, particularly in the scrum where I thought we'd struggle.

[Audis5b9]

the tribester said:

The Mad Monk said:

Blimey!

Do you do the accounts for anybody?

Yes, Sarries, why?

[iwantagta]

Great second half Bristol Vs Wasps.

New year predictions:

Prem champions: Chiefs
Relegation: Irish
European Champs: Leinster

[XCP]

Bristol were pants. We were lucky that the wasps 10 kicked like a donkey for most of the match or it would have been a lot worse. Disappointing when you get 23000 turn up.

[DocJock]

I was surprised at how poor Bristol were.

Fekitoa is some signing.

[C70R]

DocJock said:

I was surprised at how poor Bristol were.

Fekitoa is some signing.

Bristol really looked off the pace, and lacked cohesion compared to their previous Premiership performances. They can play much better than that.

Fekitoa has been VERY poor for Wasps to date. This was the first time he's put in a performance (and it wasn't faultless) that justified the massive wedge he's being paid.

[DocJock]

C70R said:

Fekitoa has been VERY poor for Wasps to date. This was the first time he's put in a performance (and it wasn't faultless) that justified the massive wedge he's being paid.

That's disappointing to hear. This was the first Wasps match I've watched this season.

[C70R]

DocJock said:

C70R said:

Fekitoa has been VERY poor for Wasps to date. This was the first time he's put in a performance (and it wasn't faultless) that justified the massive wedge he's being paid.

That's disappointing to hear. This was the first Wasps match I've watched this season.

Much like Sopoaga, he's really struggled to make an impression at Wasps.

This lack of impact from signings, combined with a generally reduced wage bill, is probably why Wasps are languishing where they are.

[Cyder]

iwantagta said:

Great second half Bristol Vs Wasps.

New year predictions:

Prem champions: Chiefs
Relegation: Irish
European Champs: Leinster

Sounds reasonable to me (Chiefs fan).

Rumours abound of ringfencing in 2020, particularly if one of the darling big clubs end up falling through the trap door.
I very much hope the ambitious Championship clubs and some of those who have benefited from promotion (looking at you Mr Rowe) fight this tooth and nail for the good of the game further down the pyramid.

The obvious case study is how regional rugby ruined the Welsh premiership.

[irocfan]

and Nigel Wray has resigned as chairman - not sure if it'll have much/any impact on Sarries but it is interesting

[JonChalk]

Sarries need to let some players go, or do the equivalent by lowering pay and effectively driving highly paid players elsewhere

New (old) chief exec Edward Griffiths makes it pretty clear that the two prime options are staff reductions and/or pay cuts. No other costcutting measures apparently suggested in article / quotes.

Discussed on BT Sport's GP Tonight on Sunday, and on the BBC today:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51013178

[DocJock]

I'm guessing pay cuts will be the option.

The other Premiership sides all have their marquee signings done, and going abroad would lose them their England places (and match fees)