Northern Hemisphere Rugby

[The Ghost of Raelene]

And they have the stadiums. At least in Sydney the best Club facilities are at Clubs that probably wouldn’t be able to play in anything above SS. West Harbour at the new Concord is great but the Premiers Randwick play at a cricket ground hole for all the tradition it has.

 

[Members Section]

Its been a good comp this yr & fixturing has been pretty smart. The forced resting of internationals (which I agree with) is turning into a bit of a farce though, Bath rolled out a pretty average side v the Tigers at a sold out Welford Rd y day. Maybe like International are protected the Christmas/New yrs week should have been protected as well for clubs.

 

[Brumby Runner]

MS was it poor administration of the resting policy, poor timing or just the bastardry of one EJ (Eddie Jones) that completely stuffed up the Brumbies and possibly the Wallabies chances last year?

Two losses by the Brumbies coincided with the resting of players who in the event played little or no part in the RC games or RWC last year. One win, say against the Force, could have had the Brumbies finish in 2nd place in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) 23 and a real chance the make or win the final.

On the face of it, the resting policy last year had a negative, or at best, no influence on the RWC campaign. Until it can be shown differently, I have no interest at all in its continuance. In my view, it was an utter failure last year.

 

[Members Section]

MS was it poor administration of the resting policy, poor timing or just the bastardry of one EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) that completely stuffed up the Brumbies and possibly the Wallabies chances last year?

Two losses by the Brumbies coincided with the resting of players who in the event played little or no part in the RC games or RWC last year. One win, say against the Force, could have had the Brumbies finish in 2nd place in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) (Super Rugby Pacific) 23 and a real chance the make or win the final.

On the face of it, the resting policy last year had a negative, or at best, no influence on the RWC campaign. Until it can be shown differently, I have no interest at all in its continuance. In my view, it was an utter failure last year.

Certain players have to rest as apart on the agreement with the 6N. In Bath's case Finn Russel was back & played the 1st week after rwc & all 6 of his mandatory "rests" will be away games. They also rested Ollie Lawrence & the most inform winger in the prem this season. I just think the holiday period is a massive 2 weeks for games & they should protect them.

Bath on top as a stand alone game away to the side that has the biggest week in week out crowds deserved more than what it got

 

[Highlander35]

Per Super Rugby: 14 games across only 15 weeks is a lot, before you even consider playoffs potentially taking that up to 17 in 18. I'm no expert in load management, but I can't possibly imagine a case where ensuring those likely to be involved in the 12-15 additional games to come an additional week or two off is a bad thing. There's a reason you have squads, and not just a 23 and a few extras you pick up at the pub in case of injury.

Re: MS's point, I 100% agree that this 4 week block (Europe Round 1&2 and the Christmas/New Year Domestic games) should be as close to open availability as possible for selection: this is "Domestic" Rugby's showcase opportunity and getting as many faces on the games stars playing outside the national arena should be the goal. There's another week of games prior to the Champions Cup rounds 3 & 4, and then another week prior to the 6 Nations where PONIs can be rested.

 

[Brumby Runner]

MS and H35, I can see the issue in the English and European competitions over the holiday period, but it looks a lot different to the loads on players here to me.

I'm sure every team here is alert to and implement some resting protocols during the Super Rugby season, but last year the mandated rest periods applied very unevenly across the five teams. I think the Brumbies had around ten players who were required to be rested for two games by RA when it transpired that only four or five were then required for Wallaby duty in the RC and RWC. RA simply made the calls on players needing mandated rests early and got it wrong. What's to say they won't get it just as wrong again this year or any year they bring in the rest policy?

It ought to be enough to leave it to the individual Super Rugby team management and coaching to manage player workloads. They are the people who know what niggles are being carried and what sort of workloads individual players are undertaking.

 

[Members Section]

MS and H35, I can see the issue in the English and European competitions over the holiday period, but it looks a lot different to the loads on players here to me.

I'm sure every team here is alert to and implement some resting protocols during the Super Rugby season, but last year the mandated rest periods applied very unevenly across the five teams. I think the Brumbies had around ten players who were required to be rested for two games by RA when it transpired that only four or five were then required for Wallaby duty in the RC and RWC. RA simply made the calls on players needing mandated rests early and got it wrong. What's to say they won't get it just as wrong again this year or any year they bring in the rest policy?

It ought to be enough to leave it to the individual Super Rugby team management and coaching to manage player workloads. They are the people who know what niggles are being carried and what sort of workloads individual players are undertaking.

take it to the RA thread. All I was pointing out is the prem (northern hemisphere) missed out on an opportunity

 

[Members Section]

Just watched the top 14 final re match, 3 take aways.

If we actually played forward dominant set piece rugby instead of just trying to copy everything nz do we would have the best player in the world. Skelton completely owned the game.

Latu in true wobs 2 style couldn’t hit the side of a barn.

the reserve THP wearing 23 is a complete head f**k when packing scrums

 

[Italophile]

LaR have the strongest, most skilful forwards in the comp, arguably anywhere. And Alldritt was on the bench FFS. Skelton thrives as he did at Sarries - in a forwards-dominated set up - after he lost 10kgs. Wobs don't have anywhere near the forwards quality.

 

[Dctarget]

I payed a lot of attention to Samu & Hodge in their Top 14 games on the weekend, it’s kinda sweet but they’re absolutely lost out there at the moment. Clearly language and lack of time is affecting them, they’ll get better but both largely ineffective. Simmons and Newsome much more useful.

despite this, Samu picked up a very fortuitous misplaced kick off to score the game winning try in the 80th.

 

[Members Section]

Owen Farrell could be set for shock switch to Racing 92 from Saracens

Racing 92 have denied reports that Owen Farrell would be leaving Saracens for the French Top 14 club

www.theguardian.com

Where there is smoke there is fire & they are still bleeding on the fact they missed out on B Barrett

 

[Dan54]

Interesting to see 6N are trialling the idea of players' names n back of jerseys. I personally think a good marketing move. I think they have talked about ti in NZ and figure will be way to get players more money as they will get a cut of each jersey's sale.

 

[MarkJ]

I'm guessing the next step would then be each player having a permanent number, rather than a number that reflects their position on the field

 

[John S]

I'm guessing the next step would then be each player having a permanent number, rather than a number that reflects their position on the field

Please no! Although, I guess with the way the Wallabies have played in the past it makes sense

 

[Members Section]

Will Skeleton at his unstoppable best again last night, scored a try & motm in their massive win over the tigers

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Jack Maddocks Pau beat the Cheetahs in front of over 5k (a sell out) at the Dutch National Rugby Stadium in Amsterdam.

 

[Dctarget]

Will Skeleton at his unstoppable best again last night, scored a try & motm in their massive win over the tigers

He's amazingly durable. We should hire O'Gara as a specialised Skelton Consultant just to work out how to get the best of him.

 

[Dctarget]

Fuck me Hacjivah Dayimani is an absolute weapon. Would love to see him in Bokke colours.

 

[Members Section]

Fuck me Hacjivah Dayimani is an absolute weapon. Would love to see him in Bokke colours.

He's not even 1st choice 8 at the Stormers

 

[Dan54]

Geez just got around to watching Toulon vs Munster from weekend, what a bloody cracker of a game. Looked in first 40 to probably be Toulon's game, but Munster were real deserved winners. Bloody good defense system it seemed to me.
Do enjoy the Investic cup.