Heineken Cup 2010/11
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
Lee Grant will probably "rip your bloody arms off" if you post the results prematurely.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
No way - anybody complaining of a spoiler of an HC game in an HC thread would have rocks in his head. He shouldn't be reading it. What I objected to was somebody who told the result of the Round 5 Munster match in a separate thread in the title.
Now the pool games are over the matchups for the finals are here:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3822_6696832,00.html
I reckon the Heineken Cup is the best non-test rugby tournament in the world. I'm not saying that the general standard is the best because some of the best players in Europe don't play in it. Their team might not have qualified for the tournament.
But the drama of pool games can't be matched by Super rugby. In the S14 there was excitement towards the end of the season but it happens every week in the HC and the struggle for bonus points can be stupendous.
Some don't like the idea of the 6 rounds of the pool games being split up into 3 lots of 2 (including once, home and away against the same team on consecutive weekends) but I think it breaks up the rugby season nicely.
Geez the last game of last weekend was a classic. Last year's winner, Toulouse, were away to Wasps who had been humbled in Glasgow the week before. All ST needed was a draw to get a home Q/Final and it was 16-16 with a minute to go but Wasps scored a try in the last play of the game.
Instead ST have to travel to Biarritz, who are playing a bit of good rugby lately and spinning the ball out.
They have moved Balshaw to the wing which means that DHP is playing every week at fullback. He had the best game I ever saw him play against Bath last weekend and you wouldn't recognise him from the same nervous player we saw at the Force last year. He's doing nothing flash, except for the odd QC (Quade Cooper) offload, but is playing with so much surety he is looking like Leon Macdonald at that level.
Now the pool games are over the matchups for the finals are here:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3822_6696832,00.html
I reckon the Heineken Cup is the best non-test rugby tournament in the world. I'm not saying that the general standard is the best because some of the best players in Europe don't play in it. Their team might not have qualified for the tournament.
But the drama of pool games can't be matched by Super rugby. In the S14 there was excitement towards the end of the season but it happens every week in the HC and the struggle for bonus points can be stupendous.
Some don't like the idea of the 6 rounds of the pool games being split up into 3 lots of 2 (including once, home and away against the same team on consecutive weekends) but I think it breaks up the rugby season nicely.
Geez the last game of last weekend was a classic. Last year's winner, Toulouse, were away to Wasps who had been humbled in Glasgow the week before. All ST needed was a draw to get a home Q/Final and it was 16-16 with a minute to go but Wasps scored a try in the last play of the game.
Instead ST have to travel to Biarritz, who are playing a bit of good rugby lately and spinning the ball out.
They have moved Balshaw to the wing which means that DHP is playing every week at fullback. He had the best game I ever saw him play against Bath last weekend and you wouldn't recognise him from the same nervous player we saw at the Force last year. He's doing nothing flash, except for the odd QC (Quade Cooper) offload, but is playing with so much surety he is looking like Leon Macdonald at that level.
M
macg101
Guest
I'm in trouble again!:'(
On a positive note I have now relocated the HC thread
On a positive note I have now relocated the HC thread
Larno
Ward Prentice (10)
There was also a certain dour dull match-up in a dour dull Belfast stadium that brought joy to the hearts of a lot of dour dull Ulster fans for the first time in twelve years. I wouldn't have backed Humphreys Junior to kick a 51 meter penalty this time last year but the man's form is shit-hot at the moment.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
I thought they had a chance against Biarritz in R5 when the visitors had scored only 6 points at oranges with a strong wind behind them. Then Junior kicked his 3 penalty kicks. Actually the first one was longer than the third one but the pressure was on for no.3.
I didn't think the game was that dull because of the importance of the game. Ferris and Wanneburg played well but I thought that D'Arcy is hitting his straps now. He is still a bit untidy with his work as a custodian but he is combining a lot better with his team mates in open play on attack.
I didn't think the game was that dull because of the importance of the game. Ferris and Wanneburg played well but I thought that D'Arcy is hitting his straps now. He is still a bit untidy with his work as a custodian but he is combining a lot better with his team mates in open play on attack.
Larno
Ward Prentice (10)
Adam is proving to be a very shrewd acquisition.
If I'm honest I wouldn't back us to get any further in the tournament this season. It isn't beyond the realms of possibilty that we could go to stadium:mk (what a shite name!) and do a number or Northampton but you wouldn't put money on it. After that the opposition (Perpignan or Toulon) would simply be far too much for us to handle.
As for the other QF match-ups, The scraps between the French teams are pretty even either way and I'm sure they'll both be ferocious games, a lot of southern pride at stake in both. The game between the Mexicans and Leicester will be tight, the Tigers are going to be out for blood after the 2009 final.
If I'm honest I wouldn't back us to get any further in the tournament this season. It isn't beyond the realms of possibilty that we could go to stadium:mk (what a shite name!) and do a number or Northampton but you wouldn't put money on it. After that the opposition (Perpignan or Toulon) would simply be far too much for us to handle.
As for the other QF match-ups, The scraps between the French teams are pretty even either way and I'm sure they'll both be ferocious games, a lot of southern pride at stake in both. The game between the Mexicans and Leicester will be tight, the Tigers are going to be out for blood after the 2009 final.
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