Northern Hemisphere Rugby Season 15/16
- Thread starter KevinO
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Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Love your work Lee.
But England/Wales, Ireland/Italy, Ireland, Italy, England/Wales, England.
Was there just nothing worth saying about Scotland v France except it was a good game for the neutral as you said yourself in the match reports?
But England/Wales, Ireland/Italy, Ireland, Italy, England/Wales, England.
Was there just nothing worth saying about Scotland v France except it was a good game for the neutral as you said yourself in the match reports?
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Didn't think of rationing my comments but if I had a bit more sleep I may have thought about it.
There is a blog on the final day here:
Give it a click.
.
Didn't think of rationing my comments but if I had a bit more sleep I may have thought about it.
There is a blog on the final day here:
Give it a click.
.
boyo
Mark Ella (57)
beIn Sports will be included on the Foxtel sports package from the 15th of May with 3 HD channels.
They broadcast Guinness Pro 12, the Aviva Premiership, European Champions and Challenge Cups, and live 6 Nations rugby.
http://getbein.beinsports.com/au/faqs/
They broadcast Guinness Pro 12, the Aviva Premiership, European Champions and Challenge Cups, and live 6 Nations rugby.
http://getbein.beinsports.com/au/faqs/
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Due to the Euro diveball Championship taking precedence the Top 14 GF has been shifted from Stade de France to FC Barcelona's home ground. They're expecting 98K & to set a new attendance record for a Club match.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
It's supposedly sold out already.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
That will be great. One of the two reasons I don't bein Sports now is I can't stand SD now after watching HD and it was always in SD.
The other reason is their programming is so inaccurate - you record something but too often it's not on.
.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
What's everyones predictions for the PRO12 with 2 rounds remaining?
I've got:
1. Leinster 77
2. Glasgow 75
3. Connacht 74
4. Scarlets 67
5. Ulster 66
6. Edinburgh 58 (Superior PD)
7. Munster 58
8. Cardiff 57
9. Ospreys 49
10. Dragons 30
11. Zebre 20
12. Treviso 16
From :
Treviso def by Connacht (b)
Glasgow (b) def Zebre
Munster def Edinburgh (b)
Cardiff def Ospreys
Ulster (b) def by Leinster
Dragons def by Scarlets (b)
and
Connacht (b) def by Glasgow
Edinburgh def Cardiff (b)
Leinster (b) def Treviso
Munster (b) def by Scarlets
Ospreys def by Ulster
Zebre (b) def by Dragons
I've got:
1. Leinster 77
2. Glasgow 75
3. Connacht 74
4. Scarlets 67
5. Ulster 66
6. Edinburgh 58 (Superior PD)
7. Munster 58
8. Cardiff 57
9. Ospreys 49
10. Dragons 30
11. Zebre 20
12. Treviso 16
From :
Treviso def by Connacht (b)
Glasgow (b) def Zebre
Munster def Edinburgh (b)
Cardiff def Ospreys
Ulster (b) def by Leinster
Dragons def by Scarlets (b)
and
Connacht (b) def by Glasgow
Edinburgh def Cardiff (b)
Leinster (b) def Treviso
Munster (b) def by Scarlets
Ospreys def by Ulster
Zebre (b) def by Dragons
Gee, fancy Connacht up there top of the table! The whipping boy of Pro12 rugby, got a guernsey more out of pity as well as a fourth team to develop players for the other three Irish sides. There was little (or no) tradition of rugby in that part of Ireland and they haven't got a great stadium. Well done, Connacht.
Lindo's ancestors hail from that part of Ireland.
Lindo's ancestors hail from that part of Ireland.
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Congratulations Connacht, what a season.
So glad the small boys of Irish Rugby took down those pricks from Leinster in the final. A side with the least capped internationals in Ireland managed to beat the big boys on the big stage and take home the silver wear. No one would have picked that it could be done at the start of the season.
Who knew Pat Lam could work miracles, he was useless at the blues.
So glad the small boys of Irish Rugby took down those pricks from Leinster in the final. A side with the least capped internationals in Ireland managed to beat the big boys on the big stage and take home the silver wear. No one would have picked that it could be done at the start of the season.
Who knew Pat Lam could work miracles, he was useless at the blues.
zer0
John Thornett (49)
His Auckland team was also quite handy. IIRC the 2007 team was the last team to complete a perfect NPC season, and the first to do it since the days of Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Jones et al.
At the Blues he had continued improvement over the seasons culminating in a 2011 semi-final loss to the eventual champions (the Reds). Then came the poor 2012 season, and the witch hunt was on. Unfortunately that last season is all most people remember of him.
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Highlights of the final, nearly one of the best front row trys by the Connacht Hooker.
Connacht took 50 players on the flight to Edinburgh, the club was only taking 46 guys over and leaving 4 behind so the players did a collection and bought the 4 young guys who had trained with them all season with them. That kind of thing is great to hear, that a whole squad of 50 players is that close that they left no one behind.
Connacht took 50 players on the flight to Edinburgh, the club was only taking 46 guys over and leaving 4 behind so the players did a collection and bought the 4 young guys who had trained with them all season with them. That kind of thing is great to hear, that a whole squad of 50 players is that close that they left no one behind.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
OK, rant. Nowhere else to put it, needs to get out somewhere that isn't a scottish forum.
SRU have ended a formal relationship with the London Scottish. This pisses me off. It’s unworkable, both sides are screwed over etc. etc.
We need the ability to develop and bring on more players. It’s so bloody annoying only having 2 squads. They need to be excessively sized to support the national squad, they don’t give enough players a development opportunity etc. etc.
If proper planning had gone in, we could easily have a 3rd side next season. A big big number of players that were contracted for Glasgow or Edinburgh this season are moving to the Championship or are without contracts for next season. A few more in the Premiership and France are in the same boat.
A few smart decisions and things could be very different. Jackson was forced out of Wasps with Cipriani’s signings, instead of signing for Quins, why not have him sign for a new side. Blair Cowan hasn’t exercised his get out of jail free card yet. Kevin Bryce and Glenn Bryce could be playing for the new side instead of swapping Glasgow for Edinburgh, maybe Matt Scott could have been retained too. Break Huw Jones Stormers contract, who’s gonna play for us in Japan, bring Murray Douglas and Steven Findlay home from the ammos here in Aus. Get Sarries to release Kelly, make him inaugural captain. Andrew Davidson signed a deal with Newcastle straight out of the Glasgow academy. Add a half dozen internationals. Get Lineen to coach, with Roddy Grant and an experienced assistant.
1. Grant Shiells (Edinburgh)
2. Kevin Bryce (Glasgow/Edinburgh)
3. Mike Cusack (Glasgow)
4. Adam Sinclair (Perpignan)
5. Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Academy/Newcastle)
6. Kelly Brown © (Saracens)
7. Blair Cowan (London Irish)
8. Tommy Spinks (Jersey)
9. Jamie Stevenson (Wasps/Scottish)
10. Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps/Harlequins)
11. Dougie Fife (Edinburgh/Sevens)
12. Alex Grove (Worcestor/London Scottish)
13. Huw Jones (Stormers)
14. Jamie Farndale (Sevens)
15. Glenn Bryce (Glasgow/Edinburgh)
16. Fergus Scott (Glasgow)
17. Steven Findlay (Glasgow/Eastern Suburbs - Shute Shield)
18. Javan Sebastian (Glasgow)
19. Murray Douglas (Harlequins – Dewar Shield)
20. Tyrone Holmes (Glasgow)
21.
22. Jade te Rure (Edinburgh)
23. Nick McClennan (Edinburgh/Sevens)
1. Phil Cringle (Scottish)
2. Russell Anderson (Jersey)
3. George Hunter (Glasgow)
4. Josh Thomas-Brown (Scottish/Welsh)
5.
6. Will Bordill (Glasgow)
7.
8. Jason Hill (Glasgow/Bedford)
9.
10. Gregor Hunter (Glasgow)
11. Chris Kinloch (Ealing)
12. Byron McGuigan (Gloucester)
13. Robbie Ferguson (Scottish)
14. Jack Cuthbert (Edinburgh/Jersey)
15. Steve McColl (Gloucester/Yorkshire Carnegie)
Plug some gaps with Academy Players (e.g. Matt Smith and Callum Hunter-Hill fill lock and openside spots in the 2nd XV) or a transfer or 2 from Glasgow and Edinburgh (e.g. promote George Horne to Glasgow main squad, Ali Price to new side), add some foreigners to get some more genuine quality to the squad rather than potential and depth a la old Connacht signings and you’ve hopefully got a squad that should be competitive with the Italians and the Dragons.
Of course, that requires a bit of foresight and bravery. Thought we'd gotten that we gave up our 2nd guaranteed spot in the Champions Cup for the money that we've used to build the Academies, but obviously not.
Rant over.
SRU have ended a formal relationship with the London Scottish. This pisses me off. It’s unworkable, both sides are screwed over etc. etc.
We need the ability to develop and bring on more players. It’s so bloody annoying only having 2 squads. They need to be excessively sized to support the national squad, they don’t give enough players a development opportunity etc. etc.
If proper planning had gone in, we could easily have a 3rd side next season. A big big number of players that were contracted for Glasgow or Edinburgh this season are moving to the Championship or are without contracts for next season. A few more in the Premiership and France are in the same boat.
A few smart decisions and things could be very different. Jackson was forced out of Wasps with Cipriani’s signings, instead of signing for Quins, why not have him sign for a new side. Blair Cowan hasn’t exercised his get out of jail free card yet. Kevin Bryce and Glenn Bryce could be playing for the new side instead of swapping Glasgow for Edinburgh, maybe Matt Scott could have been retained too. Break Huw Jones Stormers contract, who’s gonna play for us in Japan, bring Murray Douglas and Steven Findlay home from the ammos here in Aus. Get Sarries to release Kelly, make him inaugural captain. Andrew Davidson signed a deal with Newcastle straight out of the Glasgow academy. Add a half dozen internationals. Get Lineen to coach, with Roddy Grant and an experienced assistant.
1. Grant Shiells (Edinburgh)
2. Kevin Bryce (Glasgow/Edinburgh)
3. Mike Cusack (Glasgow)
4. Adam Sinclair (Perpignan)
5. Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Academy/Newcastle)
6. Kelly Brown © (Saracens)
7. Blair Cowan (London Irish)
8. Tommy Spinks (Jersey)
9. Jamie Stevenson (Wasps/Scottish)
10. Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps/Harlequins)
11. Dougie Fife (Edinburgh/Sevens)
12. Alex Grove (Worcestor/London Scottish)
13. Huw Jones (Stormers)
14. Jamie Farndale (Sevens)
15. Glenn Bryce (Glasgow/Edinburgh)
16. Fergus Scott (Glasgow)
17. Steven Findlay (Glasgow/Eastern Suburbs - Shute Shield)
18. Javan Sebastian (Glasgow)
19. Murray Douglas (Harlequins – Dewar Shield)
20. Tyrone Holmes (Glasgow)
21.
22. Jade te Rure (Edinburgh)
23. Nick McClennan (Edinburgh/Sevens)
1. Phil Cringle (Scottish)
2. Russell Anderson (Jersey)
3. George Hunter (Glasgow)
4. Josh Thomas-Brown (Scottish/Welsh)
5.
6. Will Bordill (Glasgow)
7.
8. Jason Hill (Glasgow/Bedford)
9.
10. Gregor Hunter (Glasgow)
11. Chris Kinloch (Ealing)
12. Byron McGuigan (Gloucester)
13. Robbie Ferguson (Scottish)
14. Jack Cuthbert (Edinburgh/Jersey)
15. Steve McColl (Gloucester/Yorkshire Carnegie)
Plug some gaps with Academy Players (e.g. Matt Smith and Callum Hunter-Hill fill lock and openside spots in the 2nd XV) or a transfer or 2 from Glasgow and Edinburgh (e.g. promote George Horne to Glasgow main squad, Ali Price to new side), add some foreigners to get some more genuine quality to the squad rather than potential and depth a la old Connacht signings and you’ve hopefully got a squad that should be competitive with the Italians and the Dragons.
Of course, that requires a bit of foresight and bravery. Thought we'd gotten that we gave up our 2nd guaranteed spot in the Champions Cup for the money that we've used to build the Academies, but obviously not.
Rant over.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
It's too late.
I think it needs to be after the next RWC cycle. I think that we'll now need the 4 years of the academies being up and running, and with the expanded squads that Glasgow and Edinburgh will need every cycle (having lost 21 and 14 players to RWC duty respectively), that's the next logical launching point, where 15-25 club and academy players can be given 2-4 year deals for the 3rd side, but split between Glasgow and Edinburgh for the duration of that season, both to cover during that period, and have them be in a fully professional environment for that year in preparation for the next.
Just somewhat disappointing all round. Clearly it was earmarked for a large number of players (Dan Elkington, George Horne, Callum Hunter-Hill and Matt Smith in particular) to go down to the Scottish and play a number of games at the Senior, professional level. Now all those players will go without, and the Scottish will have to scramble to recruit about a dozen players, so much later than everyone else, and will likely now be scrambling to avoid relegation with Ealing, Rotterham and Richmond, rather than pushing for Playoffs alongside the other Not-Nots, Doncaster and whatever Leeds are calling themselves nowadays like they were hoping to do.
I think it needs to be after the next RWC cycle. I think that we'll now need the 4 years of the academies being up and running, and with the expanded squads that Glasgow and Edinburgh will need every cycle (having lost 21 and 14 players to RWC duty respectively), that's the next logical launching point, where 15-25 club and academy players can be given 2-4 year deals for the 3rd side, but split between Glasgow and Edinburgh for the duration of that season, both to cover during that period, and have them be in a fully professional environment for that year in preparation for the next.
Just somewhat disappointing all round. Clearly it was earmarked for a large number of players (Dan Elkington, George Horne, Callum Hunter-Hill and Matt Smith in particular) to go down to the Scottish and play a number of games at the Senior, professional level. Now all those players will go without, and the Scottish will have to scramble to recruit about a dozen players, so much later than everyone else, and will likely now be scrambling to avoid relegation with Ealing, Rotterham and Richmond, rather than pushing for Playoffs alongside the other Not-Nots, Doncaster and whatever Leeds are calling themselves nowadays like they were hoping to do.
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