General rugby thread

[Dermot O'Logical]

XCP said:

Not very exciting after all the hype. French teams win both cups. Quelle surprise!
I wonder what the Toulouse salary bill is per annum.

Very good point.

[DeejRC]

I watched 70mins of the game. TLS were pretty lousy for 60mins. LaR were much the better team, though they have a criminally slow scrum half.
In the end the extra man gradually told and the appallingly under used Kolbe, whenever he got the ball (twice) - he was electric.

[Majorslow]

It's a shame the ref gets talked about much in a match but L Pearce got the red card right. But later in the game got it very wrong when another player took a blow to the head , and the guilty one got away with it. If he had gone off as well it would have evened the game out.

Shame French rugby is so dominated by "foreigners" as much as ours is. makes it difficult for them to develop their next generation, and they look to be WC winners in the making.

Would love to see a rule bought out no more than 2 foreign players on the field at any one time per team. (This would make it tough for wales/Scotland)

TJ Stander made a mockery of the "international" game by retiring and "going home" Lets get rugby back to being local.

But, well done to the "French" teams winning the two Euro cups

[C70R]

Majorslow said:

It's a shame the ref gets talked about much in a match but L Pearce got the red card right. But later in the game got it very wrong when another player took a blow to the head , and the guilty one got away with it. If he had gone off as well it would have evened the game out.

Shame French rugby is so dominated by "foreigners" as much as ours is. makes it difficult for them to develop their next generation, and they look to be WC winners in the making.

Would love to see a rule bought out no more than 2 foreign players on the field at any one time per team. (This would make it tough for wales/Scotland)

TJ Stander made a mockery of the "international" game by retiring and "going home" Lets get rugby back to being local.

But, well done to the "French" teams winning the two Euro cups

Very Brexit/Gammon vibes coming across there.

Also, I'm not sure you speak for this "next generation" of talent. Marcus Smith, for example, is glowing in his praise for what he learned working under "foreigner" Nick Evans.

Edited by C70R on Sunday 23 May 15:59

[Kermit power]

C70R said:

Majorslow said:

It's a shame the ref gets talked about much in a match but L Pearce got the red card right. But later in the game got it very wrong when another player took a blow to the head , and the guilty one got away with it. If he had gone off as well it would have evened the game out.

Shame French rugby is so dominated by "foreigners" as much as ours is. makes it difficult for them to develop their next generation, and they look to be WC winners in the making.

Would love to see a rule bought out no more than 2 foreign players on the field at any one time per team. (This would make it tough for wales/Scotland)

TJ Stander made a mockery of the "international" game by retiring and "going home" Lets get rugby back to being local.

But, well done to the "French" teams winning the two Euro cups

Very Brexit/Gammon vibes coming across there.

Also, I'm not sure you speak for this "next generation" of talent. Marcus Smith, for example, is glowing in his praise for what he learned working under "foreigner" Nick Evans.

Possibly, although it was a little ironic watching Pearce trying his little heart out with his schoolboy French from time to time when - assuming I calculated correctly - only 13 our of the starting 30 actually speak French as their mother tongue!

[C70R]

Kermit power said:

C70R said:

Majorslow said:

It's a shame the ref gets talked about much in a match but L Pearce got the red card right. But later in the game got it very wrong when another player took a blow to the head , and the guilty one got away with it. If he had gone off as well it would have evened the game out.

Shame French rugby is so dominated by "foreigners" as much as ours is. makes it difficult for them to develop their next generation, and they look to be WC winners in the making.

Would love to see a rule bought out no more than 2 foreign players on the field at any one time per team. (This would make it tough for wales/Scotland)

TJ Stander made a mockery of the "international" game by retiring and "going home" Lets get rugby back to being local.

But, well done to the "French" teams winning the two Euro cups

Very Brexit/Gammon vibes coming across there.

Also, I'm not sure you speak for this "next generation" of talent. Marcus Smith, for example, is glowing in his praise for what he learned working under "foreigner" Nick Evans.

Possibly, although it was a little ironic watching Pearce trying his little heart out with his schoolboy French from time to time when - assuming I calculated correctly - only 13 our of the starting 30 actually speak French as their mother tongue!

I guess the remaining 17 get refereed by non-English-speaking officials every other weekend, so it sort of makes sense. But odd when you look at it like that, I agree.

[irocfan]

C70R said:

Very Brexit/Gammon vibes coming across there.

Please leave brexit related crap out of this thread.

[s2kjock]

Discovered last night when firing up Premier Sports to watch whatever Pro14 games that were on that they now have rights to Top14 rugby - apparently for next couple of years. Pleasant surprise to get another option for weekend viewing, albeit French Heineken Cup games have not been inspiring.

One day I'll pony up for BT Sport to get some better stuff

[Evanivitch]

All the best Jake Ball. Great servant of the Welsh game, and has made huge personal sacrifices, but leaving for all the right reasons.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09jnr4m

[DodgyGeezer]

s2kjock said:

Discovered last night when firing up Premier Sports to watch whatever Pro14 games that were on that they now have rights to Top14 rugby - apparently for next couple of years. Pleasant surprise to get another option for weekend viewing, albeit French Heineken Cup games have not been inspiring.

One day I'll pony up for BT Sport to get some better stuff

we've got BT Halo+ and BT mobile... apparently this gives (gave?) us free BT sport, only on the mobile (though do that and cast from phone to TV and you're golden....)

[spikeyhead]

Evanivitch said:

All the best Jake Ball. Great servant of the Welsh game, and has made huge personal sacrifices, but leaving for all the right reasons.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09jnr4m

Isn't AWJ due to retire soon?

Who's lined up to replace them?

[Kermit power]

Meanwhile, over in the Premiership, the semi-finalists are all decided!

I can't see anyone catching Bristol for 1st, even after the Sale game, and assuming Exeter win tomorrow, I think that'll be enough for second.

Sale vs Quins is going to be critical in deciding the semi fixtures, but there's only Saints (already secured Champions' Cup, can't make semis) and Warriors (can't escape 12th) with nothing at all left in play!

[Evanivitch]

spikeyhead said:

Evanivitch said:

All the best Jake Ball. Great servant of the Welsh game, and has made huge personal sacrifices, but leaving for all the right reasons.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09jnr4m

Isn't AWJ due to retire soon?

Who's lined up to replace them?

AWJ will never retire!

Cory "always scores against England" Hill and lanky Adam Beard seem to be favourites. There's little proven strength in depth.

[XCP]

Any Saffas with Welsh grannies?

[Dermot O'Logical]

Exeter. Good grief! That's a whole hour's highlights show right there in one match.

I'm anxious to find out what Flats has to say about it!

[DeejRC]

A lovely match. Simmonds rule the world again.
Just a bit annoying that Exeter didn’t really start playing till they were booted out of Europe.
ToF must be the form winger in the league surely?

[C70R]

Well, the Quins-Bath game was entirely predictable and very entertaining.

Both teams, along with Wasps to some extent, have shown the same qualities this season. A willingness to attack with the ball and create wonderful tries, alongside a soft underbelly and the ability to concede at will.

Quins' rise to the playoffs has been founded on the "we'll score more than you" mentality. Only the clubs in 9th, 10th and 12th have conceded more tries this season! (Bath in 9th have conceded the most, of course)

By contrast, only Exeter have scored more. Quite an incredible season really. But you suspect that style of play will see them come unstuck against teams who are physical, structured, and know how to close games out (like the top 3).

I can't see much past a Bristol-Exeter final based on the semis, which has potential to be an absolute cracker. That said, Sale put their hand up this with a very decent performance against Brizzle. I just can't see them getting past the Exeter semi.

[CardinalFang]

C70R said:

Well, the Quins-Bath game was entirely predictable and very entertaining.

Quins' rise to the playoffs has been founded on the "we'll score more than you" mentality. Only the clubs in 9th, 10th and 12th have conceded more tries this season! (Bath in 9th have conceded the most, of course)

I can't see much past a Bristol-Exeter final based on the semis, which has potential to be an absolute cracker. That said, Sale put their hand up this with a very decent performance against Brizzle. I just can't see them getting past the Exeter semi.

Agreed. The last few weeks have been nail bitingly terrific compared to the start of the season, but as every commentator has mentioned, you can't beat teams like Exeter & Bristol if you ship 30 points.

It would be hilarious if they did though!

CF

[DeejRC]

Bristol are more than capable of shopping a few point though don't forget! They have been the standard bearers for the ball in hand attacking rugby for most of the season.

[Smollet]

C70R said:

Well, the Quins-Bath game was entirely predictable and very entertaining.

Both teams, along with Wasps to some extent, have shown the same qualities this season. A willingness to attack with the ball and create wonderful tries, alongside a soft underbelly and the ability to concede at will.

Quins' rise to the playoffs has been founded on the "we'll score more than you" mentality. Only the clubs in 9th, 10th and 12th have conceded more tries this season! (Bath in 9th have conceded the most, of course)

By contrast, only Exeter have scored more. Quite an incredible season really. But you suspect that style of play will see them come unstuck against teams who are physical, structured, and know how to close games out (like the top 3).

I can't see much past a Bristol-Exeter final based on the semis, which has potential to be an absolute cracker. That said, Sale put their hand up this with a very decent performance against Brizzle. I just can't see them getting past the Exeter semi.

Good post. As long as Quins continue to score more points than their opponents their game plan is faultless however their defence is their only weakness and Bristol know this