STW 2014/15 Rugby Thread

Well there’s a turn up. Pretty poor game tbh, but fair dues to Saracens for upsetting the odds.

Oh ya boy sir!

Oh, I’ve just heard it’s ASM they’re playing…in St. Etienne…best of luck with that then. 😀

The English teams will struggle for a while unless the format of the AP changes. If you distilled the top premiership players into 3/4 teams then it would be interesting.

dd,
Leinster beat them in an “away” Semi in Bordeax in 2012.
15 – 19
It’s not the same as playing them in the Michelin

If you distilled the top premiership players into 3/4 teams then it would be interesting.

Dreadful idea. Even if the AP teams aren’t the best in europe (and they aren’t), it doesn’t detract from what is a fantastic domestic league. The top teams are french by a long chalk, and they are so loaded with foreign players it’s a bit of a joke.

Would still fancy Clermont for the final though.

One to go, would prefer Wasps next,
but if it’s got to be Toulon then Clermont then that’s a Cup worth winning.

Wrecker I agree. The AP is a great league in its own right. Sadly the current setup of other leagues makes it very hard for the AP to compete.

Sadly the current setup of other leagues makes it very hard for the AP to compete.

That’s bollox.

1 Irish
1 French
1 English

in the semis. with chance of 1 more English or French.
That’s competing.

AP is a good league though, agree with that. It just works well as it is at the mo’ and makes for a good season

Sadly the current setup of other leagues makes it very hard for the AP to compete.

We can’t complain really, it is what it is. The euro cup is still a good spectacle, and the AP got 4 teams into the quarters (more than any other league). The simple fact is that the AP teams are not good enough to compete with the french, and I reckon no nations domestic clubs are.

loum,
I’m not sure current Sarries are up to a 2012 Leinster standard.

Sadly the current setup of other leagues makes it very hard for the AP to compete.

Could you shed some light on what you mean by this?

dd
That’s true
But not sure the current Leinster are up to the 2012 standards. 😥
Still, with that pack they’ve an outside chance.
And if they somehow lose Goperth before the match…

But not sure the current Leinster are up to the 2012 standards.

Yeah, nowhere near IMO. That side would have destroyed Bath yesterday. Don’t know much about Gopperth tbh.

Toulon currently giving Wasps a tough first half.

He’s got the game management and kicking from hand of George Ford.
But without the passing, running, tries or assists.
And he get’s worse under pressure.

And O’Connor loves him for some reason and won’t play Madigan at 10 anymore.

Yesterday, it was Gopperth, Madigan, Ben “O”Te’o, Fitzgerald at 10,12,13,11

Don’t think you’d find a Leinster fan who wouldn’t prefer another wing on the end with them 3 all stepping in one place and no Gopperth.
That backline playing outside the current pack, basically 2012 with more experience but minus Brad Thorn, and the’re back to looking like a decent Leinster.
Obviouslly it’s not Sexton, D’Arcy, BOD, Nacewa – but it’s closer to how it should be.

Still, a semi’s no disaster for a “transition” year, and when Johnny comes back and Henshaw makes the move… 😉

AA – I’m referring to :

a) Pro12 distils the best domestic players into 4(Ir/Wa) or 2(Sc) teams.
b) lack of a realistic salary cap in top14 pulls the best global players.

Plays against the AP teams. Maybe the balance is just about right with the home nations, but I don’t think the financial clout of the French league is healthy. Makes for some good watching when clerking play like yesterday though!

loum, think we’re both fans of Fitz…thought he was prob the best back yesterday…not that any of them were outstanding. Hoping he sees more starts come the WC.

😐

Took the dog out for the second half of Toulon v Wasps. Sounds like I’ve missed the better half.

Well, looks like Glaws could be up for sale…………..

Pro12 distils the best domestic players into 4(Ir/Wa) or 2(Sc) teams.

The player base of the pro12 is less than that of England I reckon. The aviva also has a much greater financial clout than the pro12 teams. True the French budgets are much bigger but the deck is hardly stacked against the english teams. Oh and the welsh have hardly distilled the best players into the regions when:

Hook
North
Davies
Roberts
1/2p
Morgan
Peel
Ryan Jones
?
?
Evans
Dvies
The Fridge/Francis
Hibbard
Rhys Gill

are playing abroad and St. Gav

Edinburgh appear to be making easy work of London Irish.

Good to see the not nots fans buying into the magic of Europe!

Edinburgh appear to be making easy work of London Irish.

Well that’s changed…

AA – I agree the exodus of home talent isn’t helping Wales at all, either domestically or internationally. That list you put up is directly linked to the performance of the Welsh domestic teams in the ECC.

I think Ireland benefit in both terms from the arrangement. The Leinster pack is basically Ireland’s, so lots of continuity. They also seem much better at keeping the talent at home. I don’t know if they just have more financial clout, or if there is another reason?

I’d like to see all of the home nations teams find a way to challenge the might of the French league.

I don’t know if they just have more financial clout, or if there is another reason?

Yes, fans go to the games and the Irish union have more money to spend due to less debt. I believe the tax situation is very favourable for the players too.

If you have played on Ireland for a certain period of time, is it not tax free? Good that their economy is so healthy they can give sportsmen and women a break like that…oh,wait! Iirc, were it football, they would break Fifa law.

Disagree the exodus from Wales isnt so bad, the regions cant afford expensive foreign players so there are a lot of young players from Wales getting games. That improves them, improves coaching improves the prospects of players in the feeder clubs.

Samson Lee is a great example of a youngster home grown and blooded early at the Scarlets

True, but it takes control of the big players out of the WRUs hands if they are playing overseas.

It means the regions are not competitive, thats bad for everyone including young players.

Is it a biggie? The Welsh teams are competitive in the pro12. The competition in the European cup is essentially the IRU and unrestrained spending. I understand that some Welsh might want the WRU owning the clubs, but rampant football-type spending won’t do rugby any favours.

Lucky Edinburgh – great defence but they should have lost.

What was the Yellow for the Edinburgh player for, & if foul play, why not a penalty reversal?

Also, on the last decision, the ref says”try Y/N – if not, then penalty” He then blows for the end of the match – ???

I would rather “uncompetitive” regions than the galaticos of the Ospreys, throwing millions at southern hemi mercenaries wont do the game in Wales any good.

True, PF, but if the WRU had the same policy as England, would the big players stay at home?

but rampant football-type spending won’t do rugby any favours.

At some point watching Toulon buy (or perhaps bore) their way to yet another Euro championship will lose it’s appeal. 🙂

I would rather “uncompetitive” regions than the galaticos of the Ospreys, throwing millions at southern hemi mercenaries wont do the game in Wales any good.

And look where it got them!

At some point watching Toulon buy (or perhaps bore) their way to yet another Euro championship will lose it’s appeal.

Absolutely. It’s just turning into a premier league style arms race in france. Did you see the Clermont line up? 😯
Most had full international caps I think. They took off Fofana, and replaced him with Rougerie!
It’s just not sustainable IMHO.

It is if someone’s willing to pay!

Yes it is, the owners are the Fremch eq of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rupert Murdoch. Even allowing for the huge wages, they have prob lost more down their sofa.