Northern Hemishpere Rugby 2013
- Thread starter Bardon
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the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
I think it is all down to the player welfare programme. Given players receive payment to play for the Barbarians I think the IRFU decided they would have one hard and fast rule about current internationals. John Hayes played for the Barbarians the week after his last Munster game iirc and Geordan Murphy something similar but essentially the Barbarians does not include Irish players.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
There have been a few posts about the feasibility of a third Scottish Team. So while It's not exactly pertinent to the discussion, I had some spare time, and constructed what 3 Scottish 23s would look like. There's a bit of a Glasgow bias, but some of that's to do with the overwhelming amount of internationals Edinburgh have. So, to be eligible for these teams you must a) play/be registered for Glasgow Warriors or Edinburgh Rugby, b) be Scottish eligible (so someone like Mike Cusack, despite being uncapped can be selected, given he's completed his residency, but Josh Strauss could not), and c) Not be a part of EDP. Teams were selected first by the 15s, then by 23s, with current teams being kept together as much as possible (The exceptions being Alex Dunbar and Greg Hunter) So:
Glasgow
1. Ryan Grant
2. Pat MacArthur
3. Mike Cusack
4. Tim Swinson
5. Al Kellock
6. Rob Harley
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Ryan Wilson
9. Chris Cusiter
10. Duncan Weir
11. Sean Lamont
12. Byron McGuigan
13. Mark Bennett
14. Sean Maitland
15. Stuart Hogg
16. Finlay Gillies
17. Jon Welsh
18. Ed Kalman
19. ????
20. ????
21. Ali Price
22. Scott Wight
23. Gregor Hunter
Edinburgh
1. Al Dickinson
2. Ross Ford
3. Geoff Cross
4. Ollie Atkins
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Roddie Grant
7. Ross Rennie
8. Dave Denton
9. Grieg Laidlaw
10. Grieg Tonks
11. Tim Visser
12. Matt Scott
13. Alex Dunbar
14. Dougie Fife
15. Jack Cuthbert
16. James Hilterbrand
17. ?????
18. Lewis Naven
19. ?????
20. Hamish Watson
21. Grayson Hart
22. Tom Brown
23. Nick De Luca
Theoretical 3rd Side
1. Gordon Reid
2. Dougie Hall
3. Moray Low
4. Tom Ryder
5. Jonny Gray
6. James Eddie
7. Tyrone Holmes
8. ????
9. Henry Pyrgos
10. Ruaridh Jackson
11. Lee Jones
12. Peter Horne
13. Richie Vernon
14. Tommy Seymour
15. Peter Murchie
16. Fraser Brown
17. ?????
18. ?????
19. ?????
20. ?????
21. Sean Kennedy
22. Nicki Walker
23. Harry Leonard
The Breakdown is 35 Glasgow Players, 25 Edinburgh Players, and 9 for which there is no player. In the Starting 15s, there's 29 Warriors, 15 Gunners and an absent no. 8.
Whether this supports or detracts from the entrance of a 3rd scottish side I don't know. You'd expect say, Ireland, to be able to construct 6 sides from its 4 teams, but Sexton is the only player of note playing outside Ireland. There are a large number of Scots playing in English or French top or 2nd division. What I noticed is:
In the starting side, all the teams have good backlines, lock pairings and Front rows. Back Row is the biggest issue, with only 3 recognized 6/8s in Wilson, Harley and Denton.
We're short 2 looseheads, a tighthead, 3 Locks and 3 backrowers including a specialist 8. The position there's the most depth for is arguably hooker, with another 3 I couldn't squeeze in.
The players outside Scotland do complement this quite well however. Euan Murray gets the TH, R. Gray & Hamilton claim 2 lock spots, and we have a shitload of back rowers, plus a couple of backs.
This doesn't really have any point to it, just something I did for my own curiosity. GunnerdownUnder may be able to edit and or contribute towards the Edinburgh boys to which my knowledge is rather more limited.
Glasgow
1. Ryan Grant
2. Pat MacArthur
3. Mike Cusack
4. Tim Swinson
5. Al Kellock
6. Rob Harley
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Ryan Wilson
9. Chris Cusiter
10. Duncan Weir
11. Sean Lamont
12. Byron McGuigan
13. Mark Bennett
14. Sean Maitland
15. Stuart Hogg
16. Finlay Gillies
17. Jon Welsh
18. Ed Kalman
19. ????
20. ????
21. Ali Price
22. Scott Wight
23. Gregor Hunter
Edinburgh
1. Al Dickinson
2. Ross Ford
3. Geoff Cross
4. Ollie Atkins
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Roddie Grant
7. Ross Rennie
8. Dave Denton
9. Grieg Laidlaw
10. Grieg Tonks
11. Tim Visser
12. Matt Scott
13. Alex Dunbar
14. Dougie Fife
15. Jack Cuthbert
16. James Hilterbrand
17. ?????
18. Lewis Naven
19. ?????
20. Hamish Watson
21. Grayson Hart
22. Tom Brown
23. Nick De Luca
Theoretical 3rd Side
1. Gordon Reid
2. Dougie Hall
3. Moray Low
4. Tom Ryder
5. Jonny Gray
6. James Eddie
7. Tyrone Holmes
8. ????
9. Henry Pyrgos
10. Ruaridh Jackson
11. Lee Jones
12. Peter Horne
13. Richie Vernon
14. Tommy Seymour
15. Peter Murchie
16. Fraser Brown
17. ?????
18. ?????
19. ?????
20. ?????
21. Sean Kennedy
22. Nicki Walker
23. Harry Leonard
The Breakdown is 35 Glasgow Players, 25 Edinburgh Players, and 9 for which there is no player. In the Starting 15s, there's 29 Warriors, 15 Gunners and an absent no. 8.
Whether this supports or detracts from the entrance of a 3rd scottish side I don't know. You'd expect say, Ireland, to be able to construct 6 sides from its 4 teams, but Sexton is the only player of note playing outside Ireland. There are a large number of Scots playing in English or French top or 2nd division. What I noticed is:
In the starting side, all the teams have good backlines, lock pairings and Front rows. Back Row is the biggest issue, with only 3 recognized 6/8s in Wilson, Harley and Denton.
We're short 2 looseheads, a tighthead, 3 Locks and 3 backrowers including a specialist 8. The position there's the most depth for is arguably hooker, with another 3 I couldn't squeeze in.
The players outside Scotland do complement this quite well however. Euan Murray gets the TH, R. Gray & Hamilton claim 2 lock spots, and we have a shitload of back rowers, plus a couple of backs.
This doesn't really have any point to it, just something I did for my own curiosity. GunnerdownUnder may be able to edit and or contribute towards the Edinburgh boys to which my knowledge is rather more limited.
GunnerDownUnder
Jim Clark (26)
An all Scottish Edinburgh side next season would look like this:
1. Dickinson
2. Ford
3. McQuillan
4. Atkins
5. Gilchrist
6. B.Toolis
7. Grant
8. Denton
9. Hart
10. Tonks
11. Visser
12. Scott
13. De Luca
14. Fife
15. Cuthbert
16. Hilterbrand
17. Cringle
18. Allan
19. A. Toolis
20. Watson
21. Hidalgo-Clyne
22. Tait
23. Brown
We have also signed Dell, Berghan and McLennan for next year from SA and NZ along with some other young players like Hoyland, Irvine-Hess and Dean that will get game time.
1. Dickinson
2. Ford
3. McQuillan
4. Atkins
5. Gilchrist
6. B.Toolis
7. Grant
8. Denton
9. Hart
10. Tonks
11. Visser
12. Scott
13. De Luca
14. Fife
15. Cuthbert
16. Hilterbrand
17. Cringle
18. Allan
19. A. Toolis
20. Watson
21. Hidalgo-Clyne
22. Tait
23. Brown
We have also signed Dell, Berghan and McLennan for next year from SA and NZ along with some other young players like Hoyland, Irvine-Hess and Dean that will get game time.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Lots of self satisfied guff out of the usual PRL suspects. Listening to the c'nt in chief, Edward Griffiths (CEO of Saracens), is not to be recommended. According to him PRL have got everything they ever wanted and NH rugby is on a luxury cruise to the land of milk and honey.
I am not so sure it is as clear as that because Sky, Murdoch, still have half the rights which would tend to indicate the unions have managed to keep hold of a fair bit of control. The changes, coupled with the continuing exodus of players from the scab welsh regions will mean three Irish teams will be sure of Top level European rugby for the duration of this six year deal and Connacht will not be a million miles away either. The concern has to be the future of Italian, Scottish and Welsh rugby but also what affect wage inflation is going to have on rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.
The thing that is especially concerning for the rugby world is that the weeny dicked owners are getting increasingly belligerent in terms of controls of salary and foreign player numbers. Agitator in chief is the wanker Boulldelaja who has Toulon as a penis extension and would rather Hoover up SH stars than produce any of his own via nurturing the grass roots of the game.
Irish rugby has attempted to stand up to the bully boys, although the new agreement will hardly leave a pin prick on provincial ambitions, to try and defend the status quo. Whether we have achieved that I am not sure but the Welsh regions did not help and should face castigation throughout the rugby world for willingly gimping themselves to their English masters.
I am not so sure it is as clear as that because Sky, Murdoch, still have half the rights which would tend to indicate the unions have managed to keep hold of a fair bit of control. The changes, coupled with the continuing exodus of players from the scab welsh regions will mean three Irish teams will be sure of Top level European rugby for the duration of this six year deal and Connacht will not be a million miles away either. The concern has to be the future of Italian, Scottish and Welsh rugby but also what affect wage inflation is going to have on rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.
The thing that is especially concerning for the rugby world is that the weeny dicked owners are getting increasingly belligerent in terms of controls of salary and foreign player numbers. Agitator in chief is the wanker Boulldelaja who has Toulon as a penis extension and would rather Hoover up SH stars than produce any of his own via nurturing the grass roots of the game.
Irish rugby has attempted to stand up to the bully boys, although the new agreement will hardly leave a pin prick on provincial ambitions, to try and defend the status quo. Whether we have achieved that I am not sure but the Welsh regions did not help and should face castigation throughout the rugby world for willingly gimping themselves to their English masters.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Can't believe Munster are 9/4 for tonight's game. No Healy for Leinster although Rolland reffing is causing some disquiet. Will be fascinating to see how it goes, 50000 + tickets sold as well and no discounts like Saracens. Have had a bit of the 9/4, crazy price.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Well the bookies got it right although there are a lot if questions being asked of Alain Rolland's refereeing in the South of Ireland. I thought he was poor enough for both sides myself and has lost the plot a bit as he nears the end of his career. The Munster back line was atrocious again, can't wait to see the back of Mannix, and will need to up the game for Toulouse next weekend. Doubts over Peter O'Mahony as well. Still think we will see three Irish teams make it through to the semi finals and another Leinster V Munster clash at Landsdowne Road, hopefully with Nig or whisper it Poite reffing so Munster's scrum dominance can be rewarded.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Ever since he correctly sent of St Sam his standards have been dropping. The Welsh must have a few voodoo dolls with his face on it or something.
Would love to see 3 Irish teams in the quarters but I think we'll only see two, so long as Globo Gym can put their passports away for the season I'll be reasonably content. Hopefully POM makes it back he will be crucial on Saturday.
Would love to see 3 Irish teams in the quarters but I think we'll only see two, so long as Globo Gym can put their passports away for the season I'll be reasonably content. Hopefully POM makes it back he will be crucial on Saturday.
MarkJ
Bob Loudon (25)
For Irish fans' sake I hope this is just an April Fool's joke:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/ireland/10735714/Irish-to-bring-in-former-Australia-hooker-David-Nucifora-as-their-high-performance-director.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/ireland/10735714/Irish-to-bring-in-former-Australia-hooker-David-Nucifora-as-their-high-performance-director.html
The Australian broke this story last year. Here 'tis: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...s-david-nucifora/story-e6frg7o6-1226762889643#
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Hoping for all three Irish teams to win this weekend to set up the mother and father of rugby weekends in Dublin for the semi finals. Leinster have the toughest ask, no doubt, but I just fancy them to upset the Toulon mercenaries.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Big weekend of rugby, I'm forecasting wins for Ulster, Munster, Clermont and Toulon.
If Schmidt was in charge of Leinster I'd be backing them but really not convinced by MOC yet, I think he just doesn't seem to be sure of how he wants the team to play.If Leinster are to win Madigan needs to play ten, they won't win with Gopperth kicking ball down Toulons throat. Only problem is Madigan isn't in the kind of form he showed last year.
If Schmidt was in charge of Leinster I'd be backing them but really not convinced by MOC yet, I think he just doesn't seem to be sure of how he wants the team to play.If Leinster are to win Madigan needs to play ten, they won't win with Gopperth kicking ball down Toulons throat. Only problem is Madigan isn't in the kind of form he showed last year.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
I really did hope that Nuci thing was an April Fool's. Ireland have got a lot right since professionalism but I'm not sure due diligence was carried out on this one.
All they had to do was search for him on here and it should have been enough to make them think twice.
Some Irish fans are rejoicing at the appointment and applauding the IRFU. But those are the ones who know nothing about him and think that if the guy talks with an accent from a SANZAR country it must be a good appointment.
Still some guys can turn around their performance once they move to new surroundings. Look at Gaffney, absolutely terrible with Ireland, but has been excellent with the Tahs. Then again he was excellent at Leinster and just about every other post prior to that too. Has Nuci ever been good?
All they had to do was search for him on here and it should have been enough to make them think twice.
Some Irish fans are rejoicing at the appointment and applauding the IRFU. But those are the ones who know nothing about him and think that if the guy talks with an accent from a SANZAR country it must be a good appointment.
Still some guys can turn around their performance once they move to new surroundings. Look at Gaffney, absolutely terrible with Ireland, but has been excellent with the Tahs. Then again he was excellent at Leinster and just about every other post prior to that too. Has Nuci ever been good?
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
For this weekend's HEC games I'm expecting the 3 and 1 rule to apply. I just hope that Leinster can be the 1. Looking at how strong the line up is for the Quarter Finals you could make a case for any of the away teams winning.
It's the strongest QF line-up in a very long time. There's no game I look at and say one of the teams has next to no chance. Home advantage will be extremely important as it usually is in the QFs and it might be what gets 1 or 2 teams over the line in tight games.
It's the last year of the HEC and I hope it goes out with a bang.
It's the strongest QF line-up in a very long time. There's no game I look at and say one of the teams has next to no chance. Home advantage will be extremely important as it usually is in the QFs and it might be what gets 1 or 2 teams over the line in tight games.
It's the last year of the HEC and I hope it goes out with a bang.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Oh I knew about the u20s stuff from reading the threads about both the u20s and how useless Nuci was. I was just wondering if at some point he did something to warrant being handed the reigns for a very important part of player development in Aus.
Hopefully if he doesn't perform he's shown the door. Having read the posts on here it seems that he's quite the political operator and the nightmare scenario is that a few years down the line he and Schmidt have a falling out and Nuci manages to convince the IRFU that Schmidt has to go.
Hopefully the IRFU have the sense to set Nuci measurable target for improving things in Irish rugby. He seems to be the type that can produce figures and statements to prove that shit is actually gold that just needs a little more time.
Hopefully if he doesn't perform he's shown the door. Having read the posts on here it seems that he's quite the political operator and the nightmare scenario is that a few years down the line he and Schmidt have a falling out and Nuci manages to convince the IRFU that Schmidt has to go.
Hopefully the IRFU have the sense to set Nuci measurable target for improving things in Irish rugby. He seems to be the type that can produce figures and statements to prove that shit is actually gold that just needs a little more time.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Gopperth picked to start against Boudellai's penis extension, sorry that should be Toulon. Still think Leinster have the winning of this but, amazingly I think it will be in the set piece and the last ten when the superior fitness of Leinster kicks in. Ulster have The Genia Carrier and Henderson on the bench, think they might hand the c'nts a new one, certainly hope so. Cronin, Archer and Ryan are massive losses for Munster but I still think we will win, great to have seen lads playing for the A team down in Plymouth before Christmas stepping up to play the most successful team in the history of European rugby. Gwan Munster!!!!!!
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Glasgow got a Bonus point win against Treviso last night. Gives them 56 points for the year. Takes them into 4th with a game in hand against Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Ospreys (68, 63, 60 and 54 points respectively).
The next games for the top 5 are:
Munster v Glasgow
Ospreys v Leinster
Ulster v Connacht
Glasgow v Ulster
Leinster v Treviso
Connacht v Munster
Dragons v Ospreys
Glasgow v Edinburgh
Treviso v Glasgow
Ulster v Leinster
Edinburgh v Munster
Zebre v Ospreys
Glasgow v Zebre
Leinster v Edinburgh
Munster v Ulster
Ospreys v Connacht
5 games directly between the top 5. Edinburgh and Connacht play members of the top 5 3 times, while Zebre and Treviso play them twice.
Both Edinburgh and Connacht will be desperate to grab that 6th spot in the table and secure European competition, and with only 4 points separating them on the table, the two italian sides will be desperate to get above each other for the same reasons.
Looks to be an exciting finish to the year!
The next games for the top 5 are:
Munster v Glasgow
Ospreys v Leinster
Ulster v Connacht
Glasgow v Ulster
Leinster v Treviso
Connacht v Munster
Dragons v Ospreys
Glasgow v Edinburgh
Treviso v Glasgow
Ulster v Leinster
Edinburgh v Munster
Zebre v Ospreys
Glasgow v Zebre
Leinster v Edinburgh
Munster v Ulster
Ospreys v Connacht
5 games directly between the top 5. Edinburgh and Connacht play members of the top 5 3 times, while Zebre and Treviso play them twice.
Both Edinburgh and Connacht will be desperate to grab that 6th spot in the table and secure European competition, and with only 4 points separating them on the table, the two italian sides will be desperate to get above each other for the same reasons.
Looks to be an exciting finish to the year!
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