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Yeah, Leinster didn't have their normal intensity against the Dragons, but tbf to the Dregs they played well. At least they did in the second half.
Ben Te'o binned for a no-arm shoulder charge. He was wearing his normal huge amount of strapping on his left arm. You'd think that if he needed that amount of protection he'd protect it from impacts but he still likes to lead with that forearm and, early in the game, managed to inadvertently clatter a couple of Dragons players in the head with it. They stayed down for a few minutes. Although he didn't hit them deliberately I am still deeply suspicious of why he wears this strapping. It looks just like a plaster cast - if he needs that much protection should he be on the pitch? If he uses it offensively, he certainly shouldn't be on the pitch with it.
Leading with the elbow like he does should be cracked down on and if he was wortied sbout an injury to it, as you say he wouldnt lead with it.
Oh and going back to the irish and their money spending. Hansen was quoted as saying that he expects to lose half his team post world cup to big spending clubs in France, England, Japan and Ireland... cant believe he didnt mention the Dragons!!
Size 21 feet!
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Hansen's running scared ahead of the WC. Wouldn't be the only kiwi coach to try and play mind games in the media.
But, with the Piautau sighning, just comes down to how clubs structure their squads, in this case Ulster.
And this is the original point I was making with wrecker - agreeing on Glaws as a good rugby investment - Humphreys left ulster in a very strong position by bringing through quality local youth, training and coaching their development to a high standard, and supplementing that squad with a small number of top class imported players. It's a good model, and one he's trying to replicate at Glaws - adding relative value to them as a rugby club to invest in.
Next season, Ulster will have him at 15 and Piennaar at 9, with Bowe, Trimble/Gilroy, Payne/Olding, Cave/Marshal, and Jackson between them. Two world class imported talents and the rest an Irish backs line up - mostly Ulstermen from their own youth development.
Maybe other's will hold different opinions, but I'd be much prefer that sort of structure to one containing this multitude of imported "talent"
Arhip, Ardron, Bernado, Cuvibati, Dirkson, Hassler, Matevasi, Natoga and Steenkamp
in other news, France’s Midi Olympique has published a finance report for 2013/14 season.
Toulon made a profit of 690,00 euros.
Just goes to show that investing wisely can pay off nicely, as long as there's on field success and bums on seats.
And on Toulon, anyone catch this tackle:
The key is that good teachers don't necessarily make the best leaders/managers.
I'm sure he's terrified!!
According to Wiki theres about 8 imports in the Ulster squad and apart from Pienar they are all journeyman pro's from the souther hemisphere.
@loum - ouch ! Hoping to see Halfpenny at Twickenham on May 2nd
Andy Robinsons son Olly looks like one to watch. 17 tries in 13 games. Bristols top scorer and a real grafter. And he's got a great big face just like his dad!
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As I type,Billy V will be knotting a tie around his huge neck and trying to decide what biscuits suggest respectful without looking too desperate.
He should be fine with a couple of Rich Teas to be honest
http://sport.bt.com/did-vunipola-deserve-citing-for-challenge-on-tait-91363975427283
Colin Slade signs for newly promoted Pau. He'll be joining Conrad Smith there after the RWC.
Possibly starting to get a bit worrying for the ABs. Slade is only 4th choice FH but with Carter also off to France it does weaken their future options. He's only 27 and has plenty of rugby in him but is foregoing the possible chances of a Lions tour and Olympic 7s (The ABs want one of their FHs in the squad) in exchange for €660,000 per season.
Not great for the Crusaders as they've also lost their third All Black Fly-Half with Tom Taylor signing for Bayonne.
That's the first time I've seen the Billy V one - I think the world has gone mad!
Thats funny. Big gay irishmen!!! 😉 what will the pope say!
Vinny, no attempt to use his arms in any kind of clear out. Strikes me as a classic forward spots a softie back and tries to dish out some punishment. Definite ban IMHO.
@wrecker - Robinson's son is the spitting image of his dad.
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It's uncanny!
I would be trying to establish the whereabouts of Saint Johnny 9 months before he was born tbh.
Thats funny. Big gay irishmen!!! what will the pope say!
What parish would you like ?
I see those nasty english are refusing to release their english players for the wales pre world cup training camps...obviously running scared.
obviously running scared.
The PRL? Nothing to do with scared, they don't care about the RWC. It's an inconvenience for them. They just want some money from the WRU for player release. I know what you're thinking; it's not like the prem owners to angle for money. No, it's not like them to do that at all......
I know its nothing to do with the england team but was bored oc bitching about the irish, so would you please stop being so reasonable...
on a serious note its the likes of samoa, scotland ( 😉 ) and fiji etc who will get the shit deal!
. Super Gavin Henson
9h9 hours ago
Super Gavin Henson ?@UnrealGavHenson
Just the 20 (twenty) points for Big Gav tonight against Jersey.Then again, those Americans have never been great at rugby.
I couldn't be there but my mate said he played very well.
Jersey have been a real dark horse this year. Apart form Bristol, they are the only team to have beaten worcs this year (so far; they play pirates today who are quite capable of doing wuss over).
They are playing worcs at six ways in a few weeks aren't they? I might go along as I am spending a lot of time in kiddie at the moment as my dads ill
Next saturday mate for the last league game (I'll be there). Then likely again in a few weeks for a leg of the play off final. Hope your dad's OK.
How come the clermont-Saracens match looks like a clermont home game,doesn't rugby do an even split of tickets in semis like football? or have Saracens just not got many fans.
Saga end don't have a massive fan base. Out now too
That was dire. Still, a Scottish team in a European final. More than anyone from England has managed SO FAR!
Well, with Glaws v Exeter tonight...........
Thats funny that putting saffacens into my mums ipad with its annoying predictive text thing comes out as Saga!!
All french final then. Arse.
All french final then. Arse.
Blame Ian Madigan. 😆
Bit of a sad story from down under. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/rugby-union-player-nicholas-tooth-dies-after-suffering-head-injury-20150420-1mopj0.html
Wonder if it was due to second impact syndrome.
Grim stuff. Nothing much else to say. Hope any lessons that cant be are.
How did aston get away with this. A clear pen try surely.
http://www.epcrugby.com/matchdaytv?play=media&id=20756
Compare with this correct and heart breaking decision.
Awful story.
a_a not idea how Ashton got away with that! I do agree that the Williams decision was correct too. These were some blatantly bad examples but it isn't toooooo different to the modern style of tackling unfortunately of getting your head on the wrong side a la 1/2p and using the body more the arms/ shoulder. There is a fine line in the timing and hand position which seems to leave the tackler either injured or throwing themselves into a no arm tackle more often than not.
Ashton is very lucky he just hits him with the shoulder, should of been sent off for just being Ashton 😆
Pains me to admit it but the Williams one deserved the penalty try 🙁
On 1/2p being a bad tackler, I think he got hurt in the Italy game as it was a last ditch effort. He didn't have the time to get it right.
All french final then. Arse.
Obviously the optimal would be seeing Toulon beat Saracens again but the right sides are in the final. This will be my third European final and its been Eng v Eng, Eng v France and now France v France.
Ashton should have been carded and penalty try.
Cruden missing out on RWC.
Very sad down in Oz
@aa you can turn off the predictive text
Brown looks to be out for the season. After all the comments re North it appears to be England who did not look aftervtheir players.
AA you little scamp stop trying to wind them up 😆 it is worrying though.
Last night I dreamt Gareth Edwards died 🙁 god knows why, I wish the legend a long and fulfilling life 😀
Husband says "The comments were not about North, they were about you noodle brain."
What is your husband talking about? I didnt notice all those column inches about me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32427471
Shame, a devastating player capable of turning a game. Still, he's 34 so he got a fair crack of the whip.
Yes agree Wrecker, a class player.
Shame about Byrne he was right up with the best 15's inbthe world for a while. If 1/2p was 1/2 as good at hitting the line at pace and picking angles of running he'd be the best in the world.
Ulster v Leinster cracking game so far
Going to see Gloucester tomorrow 😀
MotM for Burgess tonight, topped off with a try from the back of a driving maul! Looked far more comfortable as a 6 and Bath used him as a dummy runner very effectively, taking 2 defenders out the game every time.
BlindMelon - Member
Ulster v Leinster cracking game so far
If you're an Ulster fan. It was one sided, with Leinster being unable to catch a pass, develop an attack or indeed do anything to threaten Ulster. Not the greatest match for the neutral.
I guess it was a good match if you posted in the first 15 minutes or so.
Yes Jon I posted at the start before the heavens opened. Still the best performance all year from Ulster.
Going to see Gloucester tomorrow
Whats the story with that ineligible player? Good job Welsh have been so poor or they could have been in serious trouble.
BlindMelon - MemberYes Jon I posted at the start before the heavens opened. Still the best performance all year from Ulster.
😆 It really did have the potential to be an entertaining match, didn't it. And then.......rain, Ulster dominance and Leinster knock-ons.
I couldn't decide who I wanted to win - a win for either team affects the Ospreys.
Had an offer of a corporate box at Glaws this weekend. Gutted, as the Wife hd already booked a girls weekend away.
Ospreys dire so far. Not even sure if captain Sam is even playing for the Blues!
Oh he is playing. Just kicked Bigger in the head
wrecker will be pleased. 🙂
Oh he is darcy. Good game of rugby and a good win for bris, who rested 10 first choice players for the game.
That's wuss beaten home and away and a top place finish for us!
Nicky Robinson had one of his good days today 😀
I was chatting to a young female wuss supporter, and Mr Henson walked past. She nearly had a breakdown!
It's a good job I'm not that good looking, I'd be in a lot of trouble.........
Weird game at Gloucester, how they won that I will never know but they did. Twelve trees was shocking but scored two tries.
Weird weird weird
was chatting to a young female wuss supporter, and Mr Henson walked past. She nearly had a breakdown!
That was me!!!! 😉
Actually I was thinking of going but didnt and not just because St. Gav wasnt playing.
In the North stand at Sixways with junior and having some good banter with some brizzle lads behind us. They pointed along the row when asked where the 1stXV team were. Tried to explain to Jr who the pretty one was 😉
Not a bad game given it was a reserves match. Bring on the play off finals I say. And Bristol can spend another year practicing in the championship...
But Mr stoner, it was only a reserves match from the bristol side. I was informed that it was pretty much Worcestershire first XV! Henso, maule etc would haven orin that game to pieces!
Counts for nothing though. Winning the league is nice but will count for nada. The play offs are the only thing that matters. I look forward to another visit in the finals. Give me a shout if you're going a_a and I'll buy you a few beers.
Clermont fans are here in numbers and have to fancy them on form by Toulon know how to get the job done. Hoping for an excellent game. Plenty of Leinster, Munster, Saracens and Leicester shirts too.
Stadium looks half full. Should have played last nights final there instead lol
Yes I'd say 2/3rds full at most, almost all top tier empty except East upper. Sold my mates unused tickets for 60% of face.
Anyone else notice they fired off Clermont colours for the presentation ceremony - oops
Toulon just too good, Clermont gave it a good go but their early pressure yielded too little, Mitchell's try was quite special but a defensive coaches nightmare. Abendenon was nearly a hero getting his side back to within a point
Who goes to a cup final involving two French teams and sings Swing Low? 🙄
Roberts to Quims confirmed.
Who goes to a cup final involving two French teams and sings Swing Low?
Agreed ridiculous and sung whilst a Welshman was taking a kick at goal ! Personally I was hoping to sing the Marseilles, seemed a unique opportunity to do so at Twickenham. I had to restrict myself to the lyrically challenging "Allez allez, allez allez, allez allez les Toulonaise"
@aa BBC reporting the move must be approved by Racing as he's under contract till June 2016, might not be a formality ?
Adam Jones "brother" retires. Was a real Wales and Ospreys great. Good luck to him.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RSFKxaD5o7U
The end of the hair bear era 😆
I was at the Gloucester v Edinburgh game on Friday night - couldn't argue with the result as the better team won. Seemed a pretty good crowd at that game.
Roberts to Quims confirmed.
Seems a like a bit of a weird move but I guess the money is good.
In other news, it seems there is a slim chance De Villiers may may the WC. Sounds like his body is gaffa taped together more than Martyn Williams or BOD is! 😯 😆
The 34-year-old said surgeons literally ran out of spare body parts to fix the ligaments in his knees after previous problems."I've had six knee ops and what they usually do if you've got an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) rupture is either take your hamstring or quad tendon and use that as a graft to put into the ligament. In my case, my hamstring tendon was used already, so was my quad tendon," De Villiers explained.
"The other side's hamstring tendon was also used as well. The PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) was also off, so they took artificial ligaments and put that in the ACL and PCL.
"I tore my ACL, PCL, MCL (medial collateral ligament), had a Patella dislocation and a hamstring (tear)... but the rest was fine."
Ouch!
I see Moriarty junior takes after his dad!
anagallis_arvensis - MemberOuch!
I see Moriarty junior takes after his dad!
Ha, he does doesn't he! Same build, looks and aggression, it seems. I held the door open for his dad to walk into Starbucks a few months ago. (Next to the Liberty Stadium). I'd swear he just gave me the same glare as he used to when on the pitch. He was a good player after coming back from league.
Just calll Colin Jones if you have trouble with a Moriarty 😆
On way to AJ Bell for the last him game of the season & Mark Cueto's last home game before retiring.
14 seasons at one club, we'll not see that again I reckon.
Great win last night for the Ospreys. Cracking try by Webb too.
Anyone watch the Quins - Bath game last night? Ugo Monye is still in sparkling form even though he's retiring. Another one club player.
anagallis_arvensis - MemberGreat win last night for the Ospreys. Cracking try by Webb too.
George Clancy was on his normal sparkling form as well. 🙄 😆