Northern Hemishpere Rugby 2013
- Thread starter Bardon
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JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
I'd guess that the deal is very similar to the previous ones perhaps with central contracts thrown in. The sooner this ridiculous bluff by the RRW/PRL is called the better so we can get on with stabilizing the Rabo and confirming the Heineken Cup
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Latest development in the stand off between the PRL/RFU/RRW and other 5 Unions up north
IRB says emphatic no to British and Irish Cup
Game’s global governing body will not support any cross-border event not approved by respective Unions
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irb-says-emphatic-no-to-british-and-irish-cup-1.1648694
The mess continues but at least there appears to be the framework in place for some sort of European competition next season. Thornley has had contacts high up in the IRFU for a long time and is usually spot on with his analysis so I'd be inclined to believe him on this on.
Thankfully the Heineken Cup resumes this weekend after a break for a few weeks. From an Irish perspective all of the big 3 needs wins, a bonus point win for Ulster would put them in the box seat for a home quarter final whilst wins for Leinster and Munster would leave qualification destiny in their own hands with the added bonus of games at home.
Toulouse and Globo Gym meet in France for which is essentially a shoot out for top spot in their group and a home quarter final. Toulouse won over in London so have the head to head advantage in the event of a draw. There is also a top spot shoot out down the road in Toulon. The winner of the Toulon andHe who can do no wrong St Sam's Cardiff will be in the box seat. Hard to look beyond a 5 pointer for the reigning champs. A win in London against Quins will enable Clermont to qualify from their group, Quins will need to take something from this game if they are to realistically target a best runners up spot.
From a Pro 12 perspective there were some good local derbies over Christmas. Leinster will be the happiest with two wins, whilst I wouldn't imagine Ulster and Munster will be too upset with a win apiece given their injuries profiles. Glasgow and Edinburgh's second meeting got postponed and the Welsh all seemed to take points off each other. There is an update league table below for those interested:
TeamPWDLFABPPts
Munster 12 10 0 2 269 188 3 43
Leinster 12 8 1 3 263 199 6 40
Ospreys 12 8 1 3 293 216 5 39
Ulster 12 8 0 4 244 170 5 37
Glasgow 10 8 0 2 169 142 1 33
Dragons 12 5 0 7 209 210 4 24
Scarlets 12 4 1 7 199 226 5 23
Edinburgh 11 5 0 6 202 255 2 22
Cardiff 12 4 1 7 240 274 2 22
Treviso 11 3 1 7 198 217 5 19
Zebre 12 2 1 9 196 282 4 14
Connacht 12 2 0 10 169 272 4 1
IRB says emphatic no to British and Irish Cup
Game’s global governing body will not support any cross-border event not approved by respective Unions
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irb-says-emphatic-no-to-british-and-irish-cup-1.1648694
The mess continues but at least there appears to be the framework in place for some sort of European competition next season. Thornley has had contacts high up in the IRFU for a long time and is usually spot on with his analysis so I'd be inclined to believe him on this on.
Thankfully the Heineken Cup resumes this weekend after a break for a few weeks. From an Irish perspective all of the big 3 needs wins, a bonus point win for Ulster would put them in the box seat for a home quarter final whilst wins for Leinster and Munster would leave qualification destiny in their own hands with the added bonus of games at home.
Toulouse and Globo Gym meet in France for which is essentially a shoot out for top spot in their group and a home quarter final. Toulouse won over in London so have the head to head advantage in the event of a draw. There is also a top spot shoot out down the road in Toulon. The winner of the Toulon and
From a Pro 12 perspective there were some good local derbies over Christmas. Leinster will be the happiest with two wins, whilst I wouldn't imagine Ulster and Munster will be too upset with a win apiece given their injuries profiles. Glasgow and Edinburgh's second meeting got postponed and the Welsh all seemed to take points off each other. There is an update league table below for those interested:
TeamPWDLFABPPts
Munster 12 10 0 2 269 188 3 43
Leinster 12 8 1 3 263 199 6 40
Ospreys 12 8 1 3 293 216 5 39
Ulster 12 8 0 4 244 170 5 37
Glasgow 10 8 0 2 169 142 1 33
Dragons 12 5 0 7 209 210 4 24
Scarlets 12 4 1 7 199 226 5 23
Edinburgh 11 5 0 6 202 255 2 22
Cardiff 12 4 1 7 240 274 2 22
Treviso 11 3 1 7 198 217 5 19
Zebre 12 2 1 9 196 282 4 14
Connacht 12 2 0 10 169 272 4 1
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
I'm not sure how that will go down, I'd say that Roger Lewis has the backing of the majority of the clubs. After all he has delivered a debt free Millennium Stadium, 3 Grand Slams, 1 6 Nations Championship and a WC Semi Final. The clubs couldn't give a flying whatever about the regions especially when the national team are doing well.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Just watched a recording of the Munster Gloucester game, good 20-7 win for Munster. POC and the rest of the Munster pack had a big game in the loose, couldn't believe some of the brainless Gloucester attacking, their young backs where walking into choke tackles in the last 15 minutes. I counted 4 times when they seemed to needlessly take contact and got turned over.
There is going to be a winner takes all shoot out in Leicester next weekend. Both they and Ulster are through but whoever wins (or in Ulsters cause a draw or score 4 tries and pick up a losing BP) gets a home QF.
There is going to be a winner takes all shoot out in Leicester next weekend. Both they and Ulster are through but whoever wins (or in Ulsters cause a draw or score 4 tries and pick up a losing BP) gets a home QF.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Munster's was a good win but it could have been a different story if the rest of the Gloucester's backs were in the same form as Charlie Sharples.
It was good to see Simon Zebo get a few minutes at the end upon his return from injury. With returning players Munster will be a more dangerous team in the QFs.
I watched Quins v Clermont yesterday. It was a very entertaining game overall. Clermont bombed a couple of tries before Quins went over. There was a piece of magic from Care where he chased a lobbed kick which was going over the touchline and managed to gather and pass out the back door all in one movement just before his foot hit the line. The pass was taken by Hopper and he had a clear run to the line.
Care came off later with an injury and had is left leg in a bucket of ice. Reports today say it'll be a close run thing for him to be fit for the 6Ns.
Clermont came back in the 2nd half with tries from Nalanga & Sivivatu. Sivivatu is still dangerous but he looks to be carrying a few extra pounds and that's pretty representative of Clermont this year too. They're still a dangerous team but they need to be leaner and more ruthless in the knock-out stages if they're going to make the tipsters right and win this years competition.
Final score was Quins 13 Clermont 16.
I didn't see Toulon v Cardiff but it sounds like a strange game. 3 penalty tries for Toulon and a further try from winger Smith gave them a bonus point win 43-20. Cardiff were close at half time trailing 15-13.
The result means there probably won't be a Welsh team in the knock-out stages this year. There's still a chance for them to sneak in with to the final best runners up spot but that would involve a scenario where the loser of today's Toulouse v Sarries game also lost next week against Connacht or Zebre.
I'm looking forward to the Castres v Leinster game. Hopefully we can win and secure our QF place then back that up next week and compete for a home QF.
It was good to see Simon Zebo get a few minutes at the end upon his return from injury. With returning players Munster will be a more dangerous team in the QFs.
I watched Quins v Clermont yesterday. It was a very entertaining game overall. Clermont bombed a couple of tries before Quins went over. There was a piece of magic from Care where he chased a lobbed kick which was going over the touchline and managed to gather and pass out the back door all in one movement just before his foot hit the line. The pass was taken by Hopper and he had a clear run to the line.
Care came off later with an injury and had is left leg in a bucket of ice. Reports today say it'll be a close run thing for him to be fit for the 6Ns.
Clermont came back in the 2nd half with tries from Nalanga & Sivivatu. Sivivatu is still dangerous but he looks to be carrying a few extra pounds and that's pretty representative of Clermont this year too. They're still a dangerous team but they need to be leaner and more ruthless in the knock-out stages if they're going to make the tipsters right and win this years competition.
Final score was Quins 13 Clermont 16.
I didn't see Toulon v Cardiff but it sounds like a strange game. 3 penalty tries for Toulon and a further try from winger Smith gave them a bonus point win 43-20. Cardiff were close at half time trailing 15-13.
The result means there probably won't be a Welsh team in the knock-out stages this year. There's still a chance for them to sneak in with to the final best runners up spot but that would involve a scenario where the loser of today's Toulouse v Sarries game also lost next week against Connacht or Zebre.
I'm looking forward to the Castres v Leinster game. Hopefully we can win and secure our QF place then back that up next week and compete for a home QF.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Woo! Scottish teams!
That is all.
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That is all.
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the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Great news for Irish rugby. Puts some of the pro PRL journalists back in their box as well. Unbelievable craic in Gloucester last weekend for the Heineken cup game, full house with five or six thousand Munster fans out singing the Gloucester fans. Lords knows how much money we put into the local economy. I doubt the landlords of the English rugby towns and cities will be pleased if the PRL's obstinacy/ stupidity sees them ruled out of European competition next year, fools.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Munster are easily the best supported rugby team in the world. They've built their club up over many years and it's embedded in the community with a very strong link between the province, players, ex-players and fans. If you're looking to build a franchise or team from the ground up then Munster Rugby would be an excellent blue print to follow.
I've worked with many Munster fans and they plan their holidays around when the big HEC games are on for Munster. Over the years many English and French teams have moved their QF and SF games against Munster to bigger stadiums only to find themselves outnumbered and quite often beaten as the Munster fans create a home atmosphere for their team.
So many of their fans live and breathe Munster and they expect every player who pulls on the famous red shirt to give their all for the shirt and in return the fans spend every spare cent they have to follow the team.
In a nutshell Munster Rugby put themselves at the heart of the community rather than the modern way of building a club ala Saracens where the brand is paramount above everything including the fans.
Also although there's a huge rivalry between the provinces it's a friendly one, at least off the field and Munster fans are a great bunch to go for a drink with win or lose.
At Leinster we don't travel in anywhere near the numbers that Munster do but the province is learning from Munster and the support have grown hugely in recent years.
I've worked with many Munster fans and they plan their holidays around when the big HEC games are on for Munster. Over the years many English and French teams have moved their QF and SF games against Munster to bigger stadiums only to find themselves outnumbered and quite often beaten as the Munster fans create a home atmosphere for their team.
So many of their fans live and breathe Munster and they expect every player who pulls on the famous red shirt to give their all for the shirt and in return the fans spend every spare cent they have to follow the team.
In a nutshell Munster Rugby put themselves at the heart of the community rather than the modern way of building a club ala Saracens where the brand is paramount above everything including the fans.
Also although there's a huge rivalry between the provinces it's a friendly one, at least off the field and Munster fans are a great bunch to go for a drink with win or lose.
At Leinster we don't travel in anywhere near the numbers that Munster do but the province is learning from Munster and the support have grown hugely in recent years.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Supporting Munster is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Does laughing at people this deluded count?
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/17/saracens-nigel-wray-heineken-cup-tv-rugby
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
He clearly believes that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
I think its that the local people feel like they own part of the team. All 4 Irish teams are predominantly made up of guys from that province. The fans will see these guys out on the street, maybe have a beer with them in the pub on the off season and every week, in Leinster anyways, some of the team go to junior clubs and coach the youngsters. Unlike here guys seem to be a bit more patient to wait their turn for an opportunity, someone like Donnacha Ryan was benching for years and turned down lots of good offers because he wanted to only play for his home team. Obviously that loyalty has positives and negatives but it seems to be an trait unique to Irish professional rugby.
I'm sure there are guys with egos in all the teams but I've met a good few of the guys from Munster, Leinster and Ulster out and about and they'll always stop for a chat and seem genuinely interested in connecting with the fans. There always seems to be a sense of being able to relate to the players as well.
Also the success helps attract new fans which begins the above cycle again.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
A lot of interesting developments in the WRU v Welsh Regions row.
The Welsh Regions have come out and admitted that they plan to apply to play in the English Aviva Premiership if there is no pan European competition next season.
The WRU have said that they have had no discussions about setting up their own teams to replace the regions if they defect to the English Premiership.
Sam Warburton is one of a number of players said to be discussing central contracts with the WRU.
The regions and the WRU have been in fresh talks and things are looking a little more positive but there is still a lot of back and forth through the media that can't be good for Welsh Rugby.
Today the WRU chief Roger Lewis has responded to the regions admission that they may apply for entry to the Aviva by saying that the WRU have assurances from the RFU that they'll block the move.
The Welsh Regions have come out and admitted that they plan to apply to play in the English Aviva Premiership if there is no pan European competition next season.
The WRU have said that they have had no discussions about setting up their own teams to replace the regions if they defect to the English Premiership.
Sam Warburton is one of a number of players said to be discussing central contracts with the WRU.
The regions and the WRU have been in fresh talks and things are looking a little more positive but there is still a lot of back and forth through the media that can't be good for Welsh Rugby.
Today the WRU chief Roger Lewis has responded to the regions admission that they may apply for entry to the Aviva by saying that the WRU have assurances from the RFU that they'll block the move.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
The second division clubs in England are very unimpressed with the Regions joining the English league. Really can't see it happening. Reports in the Times today that BT are going to back down allowing Sky to carry on showing the tournament and it being run by the six nations commitee. As long as c'nts like Wray, McCafferty etc are not in charge that suits me. Think PRL are starting to realise the game is up and they have lost.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
The PRL still don't realise that this is what the tournament is being run by already, but without their representation on the board. All that will happen is the 20 or so people employed by the ERC will move from D2 to D4 and get a new email account
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