Heineken European Cup 2012
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Chilla Wilson (44)
Thanks jauzy, keep them coming.
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
On 2nd thoughts T78 don't worry about the cap for me but I'll take one of those yellow and green jobs
On a more serious note - I had to stay away from this thread because I didn't get around to finish watching all my recordings until last night and didn't want to see a spoiler.
WTF has happened to last year's finalists Northampton? They played well enough in parts losing to ROG's heroics in Round 1 but against Scarlets in Round 2 they looked like they were playing away after a bad road trip - but they were playing at home. Scarlets were impressive in the 1st half and the Wobs had better expect a few bombs from Priestland next week as he sent a few to the Saints.
Castres were very good as many French teams are a home. Munster weren't at the races in the 1st quarter but came back in the 2nd half. I don't know what Dougie Howlett is drinking over there but I hope the Wobs down a few pints; he's playing like a spring chicken. And how good is 6. O'Mahony playing? He looked good when I saw him playing last year but he looks like a test player now.
Castres were bloody tough at the end and, with the match drawn, ROG slotted a droppie after 80 minutes. That's the second HEC match in a row he has won the game like that. I've seen the lad miss a few in his day but at the minute he's looking like he could open a safe with his right foot.
Treviso v. Ospreys was a cracking drawn game. Treviso have won HEC games before against more fancied visitors and there were no flukes in this result, just good hard rugby with a bit of brilliance too. If anything the Sprays were lucky to draw with a penalty kick in the last minute. I see that Brendan Williams is still running around though he's 49 years old.
Another great round IMO; can't wait until it starts up again.
PS: T78 posted some UTube videos of O'Gara's FG to win in R1. Here is a radio description of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NazVO3WnK0Q&feature=related
On a more serious note - I had to stay away from this thread because I didn't get around to finish watching all my recordings until last night and didn't want to see a spoiler.
WTF has happened to last year's finalists Northampton? They played well enough in parts losing to ROG's heroics in Round 1 but against Scarlets in Round 2 they looked like they were playing away after a bad road trip - but they were playing at home. Scarlets were impressive in the 1st half and the Wobs had better expect a few bombs from Priestland next week as he sent a few to the Saints.
Castres were very good as many French teams are a home. Munster weren't at the races in the 1st quarter but came back in the 2nd half. I don't know what Dougie Howlett is drinking over there but I hope the Wobs down a few pints; he's playing like a spring chicken. And how good is 6. O'Mahony playing? He looked good when I saw him playing last year but he looks like a test player now.
Castres were bloody tough at the end and, with the match drawn, ROG slotted a droppie after 80 minutes. That's the second HEC match in a row he has won the game like that. I've seen the lad miss a few in his day but at the minute he's looking like he could open a safe with his right foot.
Treviso v. Ospreys was a cracking drawn game. Treviso have won HEC games before against more fancied visitors and there were no flukes in this result, just good hard rugby with a bit of brilliance too. If anything the Sprays were lucky to draw with a penalty kick in the last minute. I see that Brendan Williams is still running around though he's 49 years old.
Another great round IMO; can't wait until it starts up again.
PS: T78 posted some UTube videos of O'Gara's FG to win in R1. Here is a radio description of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NazVO3WnK0Q&feature=related
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
I don't know if one player has made such a difference. The whole team has been average, literally, when I have seen them this year, even taking into account the RWC period when they had 8 players missing. I forget some of the games I have seen them play this year but they were poor against Worcester and Quins. Their best game this year I can recall is probably their Round 1 HEC loss at Thomond Park. At lest they showed up to play.
But Leicester have been even worse. They had 12 players missing for the RWC and they've had injuries too, but even so they have been a shadow of themselves. Was their win last weekend against Ulster their first home win of the season? If so, it's an incredible stat.
As for the Exiles: as you indicated: it looks like they are out of the HEC. Cardiff played OK but you have to beat teams like that. I used to follow them but there's so many changes in personnel I don't know some of the players now.
I'd like to know what the Quins players are drinking and order some for the Waratahs. They're unbeaten this season aren't they? Who would have thunk up that as the situation at the end of November?
But Leicester have been even worse. They had 12 players missing for the RWC and they've had injuries too, but even so they have been a shadow of themselves. Was their win last weekend against Ulster their first home win of the season? If so, it's an incredible stat.
As for the Exiles: as you indicated: it looks like they are out of the HEC. Cardiff played OK but you have to beat teams like that. I used to follow them but there's so many changes in personnel I don't know some of the players now.
I'd like to know what the Quins players are drinking and order some for the Waratahs. They're unbeaten this season aren't they? Who would have thunk up that as the situation at the end of November?
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Thought Leinster were superb in that first half. Best Heaslip has played for ages and Luke Fitzgerald best player on the field for me. Toner is playing very well and pleased to see Cronin starting, on merit IMHO. SOB looks like he has got a bit smaller to me. Playing more of the classic 7 role maybe? Munster are getting better with each game and POC is the best second row in the world right now, he is simply awesome.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Can't believe WRFU agreed to this game, the regions must be livid that they get the players back for three weeks and off they trot for a high impact friendly, incredible but will make things easier for any teams playing welsh opposition in HEC round 3 and fortunately Munster ae playing scarlets!?!
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Part of Saints problem is that the refs have got on top of their illegal scrummaging and are ensuring they stay square which has taken away some of their potency. Ashton is turning into a complete prima Donna, witness his not running back against scarlets which gifted them a try and saw Ashton jeered by the saints fans. Plus they are after blaming all their troubles on the refs which has created an unhealthy excuse/ blame culture. Don't buy the missing player thing, Leinster had more missing than anyone in the whole tournament and they are going fine even without BOD. English rugby is rotten to the core and the back biting and self interest of all parties extends from top to bottom. Apart from Saracens who are basically Saffer and Quins which are run by Conor O'Shea the English teams are underperforming massively and all the bull shit coming out of the RFU is a large part of the reason for it IMHO, my heart bleeds.
Meh. A hugely destructive carrier of the ball, and at 6'5 and 18-19 stone its not surprising, but he missed what was a fairly simple tackle on Cronin to conceed the draw to Leinster.
I'm a fan of him, but the hype is getting silly really. Almost Chabal like.
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
Eh? Sorry, but that's balls. Munster are missing Earls, Wallace, Flannery, Sherry and Jones from their match-day 23 alone.
Dai bando
Charlie Fox (21)
Lee, As you say ospreys were lucky to get the draw, Cardiff Blues did fine in the first 20min against london Irish, but when they had a player sent off (LI) cardiff seemed to take their foot off the pedal a little, Irish came back and cardiff must have been relieved when the final whistle went.
I know the format of the HC can be a little infuriating but, its what we have, it starts geting serious now Munster Llanelli, mouth watering, like you cant wait.
As an aside most of the sky rugby pundits didn't give Llanelli scarlets a dogs chance against Northhampton. ;-)
I know the format of the HC can be a little infuriating but, its what we have, it starts geting serious now Munster Llanelli, mouth watering, like you cant wait.
As an aside most of the sky rugby pundits didn't give Llanelli scarlets a dogs chance against Northhampton. ;-)
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
It was bloody awful rugby wasn't it? I noticed it before Harrison and Barnes mentioned it and it was not a good look. I would have booed him too.
For those who didn't see the game: about 25 metres out from the Scarlets goal line, and Saints with the overlap, Ashton dropped a long pass that hit him right on the hands. He threw his head back in seeming petulance and stopped instead of reacting. Meantime Scarlets flyhalf Priestland picked up the pill then kicked it down the park. His winger North got to it first and kicked it through from the deck for Preistland to score.
Ashton couldn't have turned around and beaten North up the field, but it was a perfect example of bad rugby being played by England internationals in recent times.
Yeah - it's a bit like that with Gorgodzilla isn't it, but I'd still pick him in any team I follow any day of the week, including the Wallabies.
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
Dai bando
Charlie Fox (21)
I had been imbibing for most of the day when I posted that, Munster are a team that knows how to steal a game, ROG drop goals were sublime, of course the pack need to put him in a position to kick, so well done the pack, Die, turk scum, a little strong that paddy, By the way I don't support reginal rugby I'm a senghenydd boy, there's a long story there somewhere ,but I'm sure some one of your demeanour would not be interested.
You speak German as well, Thomo? Very impressive.
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
Sorry, mun, thought ewe were a Gwlader, and was simply observing the rituals. Die, Turk Scum is one of the all-time great threads by to that particular valley and the correct response to all things Llanelli, to the extent that "It's good, but it's no Die, Turk Scum" is a bye-word, and all because of the immortal reaction of Speedy, the one-eyed baby-munching Felinfoel-addled loon to end them all. To quote it in all its glory:
Speedy said:
We think Speedy melts if he goes east of the Loughor. I'm meeting up with him and the other Uber-Turks at PyS. Quite looking forward to it.
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