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Oh and 2000!
You wee shite...
Even with home advantage Sarries will be very very tough. Munster in the semis would be fun. Good luck today hope you get the BP.
So the semi-draws are out:
Ulster/Saracens v Clermont/Leicester
Toulon/Leinster v Munster/Toulouse
Mouthwatering ties every one of them. (with apologies to any Scottish or Welsh club fans...but I suppose you're all used to it at this stage of the competition). The pick for me is Leinster away at Toulon.
I think Munster have enough to get past Toulouse to the Semis - given that it's in Limerick, but I fear that will be where it ends for the southern province. Ulster look to have a good path through to the final if they get past Sarries.
HC QF and SF stage - always throws up some epic club rugby. Can't wait.
I've never been a fan of the cheap larger cup... doesnt interest me at all. 😉
What;is their a tournament that goes later than Jan?
Here's a pic to add to your post duckie 😀
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Ulster Munster final then?
Some cracking looking ties but I think home wins on all 4.
Ulster v Leinster/Toulon for me I think.
Ryan Jones out of six nations. Arse. Hibbard a doubt too.
You'll be gutted to hear Keef is a doubt too a_a. 😆
At least Zebo and Gilroy have been added. Is Earls Deffo out?
Is Earls Deffo out?
Only a [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25803803 ]doubt[/url] at this stage BM. I suppose the green machine aren't exactly poverty stricken in the wings, what with TB likely returning too. Zebo is apparently looking very sharp again, which is good to hear. It's in the centres and back row where what I predict to be a mediocre campaign will happen.
Zebo looked good against Edinburgh when he came on but then Edinburgh would have made anyone look good.
I think history has 3 out of 4 home teams winning the QFs. For me it will be Toulouse or Leinster to get the away win this year, i think Toulouse could actaully go all the way they were very impressive against Saracens.
Zebo is apparently looking very sharp again, which is good to hear.
Indeed it is. Great to see someone with the inventiveness and guile that smaller players bring to the game. Yes, there's a place for the massive bruisers on the wing (North/Cuthbert etc), but I still have a great liking for the little wizards, a la Shane or Zebo.
For me it will be Toulouse or Leinster
Agreed. They're the most likely away wins for me too.
I'm only predicting a home win for Munster based on prejudice and the fact that they have such a good home record in the HC historically...apart from the odd hiccup. 🙂
Dusautoir to miss the 6N, out for 4 months
I saw that...good news for anyone playing them, but will be sorry not to see him playing. He's a bit awesome.
EDIT: I think what I'm trying to say is that I won't miss him against the green machine, but I'd like to see him play against everyone else. 🙂
Indeed it is. Great to see someone with the inventiveness and guile that smaller players bring to the game. Yes, there's a place for the massive bruisers on the wing (North/Cuthbert etc), but I still have a great liking for the little wizards, a la Shane or Zebo.
The sad thing is that Zebo is supposedly (according to Munster team profile) 1.88 meters tall (over 6'2") and weighs 94 kg, he only looks small because the rest of the players are monsters. Agree about the wizard bit some of his play on Sunday was magical.
PSA: There are RBS France v England tickets for sale on stadefrancais website, top price though at €135. Seems the sales for Racing v Toulouse haven't been going well as tickets for this weekend are available at €7.50, match being played at the Stade.
12 weeks for Evans
Remind me, how long did Horwill get for his stamp?
Oh. Erm.
From the recently discovered [url= http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/01/16/heaslip-warned-against-move-to-sunny-climate-with-great-food-and-beautiful-women-by-irish-supporters/ ]Waterford Whispers News[/url] on Jamie Heaslip considering a move to France:
Following today’s announcement that Sean O’Brien is set to stay within the Leinster set up Irish fans have urged Jamie Heaslip to reject the repellent possibility of plying his trade in the sunny climes of southern France.Heaslip, capped 60 times by Ireland, is reportedly weighing up a move to French rugby giants Toulon. Avid followers of Irish rugby have noted despite France having better weather, superior food, beautiful women and a history rich in culture there is no need for the No. 8 to consider a move abroad.
Ted Healy, head of the Leinster Supporters Group, has been very vocal on the rumours that many of Ireland’s most talented rugby players have been contemplating a move abroad.
“If you discount the 1,435 advantages to moving to France to play your rugby, what reason would you have to move?” offered an impassioned Healy.
😆
Looks like he ignored the 1435 advantages!
I wonder if the attraction of playing in only the hiney and Irelands 6n campaign (which on last years evidence was over after week 2) which coupled with Ireland's policy of giving anybody who [s]plays past their sell by date[/s] finishes their career at home a large sack of money had anything to do with it. On a serious note, he will play fewer games, therfore being able to play longer and earn more money.
Is anyone else doing the [url= http://fantasygames.telegraph.co.uk/sixnations/select-team/ ]Telegraphy fantasy league[/url]?
Why are Sarries playing Natal Sharks today?
Am i watching a re-run?
They are scheduled to play Falcons tomorrow i believe.
AW signs for Ospreys!
Warburton fit for Wales but not Blues non-shock.
****ing **** Sam.
That's just the first. Bye bye Welsh club rugby
WRU divide and conquer 🙁 Hovis what have you done?
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Will he play for the blues again?
Must do! You surely can't achieve the form needed to be an international without playing more than just internationals.
Go Wolfhounds, I'm sure Freddie Burns is a decent player I have just never seen it.
Will the blues pick him. I have a feeling they might tell him to do one.
Ireland A beat Saxons
I am Scottish and am not embarrassed by that at all, he did it to most teams he played and for me he is the most exciting player i have ever seen and an unbelievable athlete. Sad he has had so many health issues. A proper rugby superstar.
Heh,not the first image that springs to mind when you think of Lomu trampling NH players. So AA: breadman signs a central contract,what were his options? Toulon had said they didn't want him,was anybody else in for him? He has a reputation for being a bit easily broken. Finally,how does this strengthen the WRU position,have too many not already left for central contracts to be viable?
I think the wru playing games and sam is their lap dog. Blues are notable by their absence of commenr. WRU say they "intend" to have him.play for Blues. Odd that AW didnt sign one or 1/2p, wonder what Adam will do.
From what I know Adam is a homebod, I think he will sign with the Ospreys not the WRU, well that's what I want to happen
Fair enough,you would think that getting the lions skip would be worth a wee press release. If there is no love for him in Cardiff,we will take him; no questions asked.
Its not him as such its who he has sided with but then being Wales captain he was in a tough position. I thik AW signing for the ospreys was a two fingered salute to the blazers. Th rumour is that the wru were telling team wales players not to sign club contracts but wait for central contracts to increase the pressure on the clubs during the autumn games. Halfpenny going to Toulon is a big **** you to the wru too.
I also wonder if Sam would pass the medical for anyone else.
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Ireland's 34-man squad to play Scotland and Wales: Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*, Sean Cronin (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster)*, Jordi Murphy (Leinster)*, Paul O'Connell (Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster).
Backs: Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Felix Jones (Munster), Rob Keaney (Leinster), David Kearney (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Andrew Trimble (Ulster).
Disappointed that Zebo has been excluded other than that no big surprises. 18 from Leinster though?
Surprised he's not been included. I wonder if he's not quite 100% yet? No Gilroy either.
Surprised he's not been included. I wonder if he's not quite 100% yet?
That's the only possible explanation. If fit, he deserves to be there.
Unless something has happened in training, he has had as much game time, if not more, than McFadden recently. None of the wingers in the squad are exactly the quickest or most creative.
Gilroy has been in pretty poor form for Ulster recently so I can see why Trimble would be included over him.
You have Luke Fitzgerald who, last HC match, Stuart Barnes said was up there among the top NH wingers with the likes of George North…so he must be good 😀
What sort of starting 15 you guys expecting?
Gethin out for first game but I reckon we knew that anyway.
Warbs may or may not have a warm.up game. I wonder if the blues would pick him?
Jake Ball added to Wales squad. Would like to see him get a bench spot
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Agreed a_a JB looks like he's turning into a cracking player. Imagine he's has the type of attitude to seize his opportunity too.
For those Scots amongst us. And anyone else who wants to watch a wee bit of old style rugby.
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25712975 ]Scottish grand slam 1984[/url]
I was there the French game. As a 10 year old boy I failed to see the winning try because I was sat in the stands with my dad and all these blokes jumped up an I was too short to see. Brilliant game though.
I was at all the home games that year,in the old schoolboy seats down at the front 🙂 After that l gravitated to the standing areas behind the post as you could drink without the rocksteady stasi being able to stop you. ( l was a couple of years older then)
What sort of starting 15 you guys expecting?
Leinster and a couple from Munster and Ulster
Healy
Best
Ross
POC
McCarthy
POM
Henry
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
McFadden
Darcy
BOD
Fitzgerald
Kearney
McGrath
Cronin
Moore
Toner
Henderson
Reddan
Madigan
Kearney
I think Mcgrath will start instead of Ross and Toner instead of McCarthy to combat Scots lineout, otherwise probably spot on, harsh on some of the Ulster backs
McGrath is a LH, Moore is Th but I think he will see a lot of game time. They will ship Ross off around the 45 min mark. Good point about Toner and the line out, I'd say you are right there.
Hovis on the bench, otherwise a strong looking side
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25912546
WALES (v Italy): Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), George North (Northampton Saints); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro);
Paul James (Bath), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (NG Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Andrew Coombs (NG Dragons), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
I would prefer Biggar over Priestland and would like to see Samson Lee on the bench with Jake Ball. Other than that it was all good.
Samson Lee = LEGEND!
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Not 'shopped!
Having seen the advertisement for the 1984 Scotland grand slam programme I've got a lot of old match day programmes going back to the 84 France game at Murrayfield - is there a market for these thing?
Priestland ??????? FFS 😥
I'd have had Biggar in front of Priestland. Otherwise a strong Taffy team.
They might miss Gethin against better opposition.
BlindMelon - Member
McGrath is a LH, Moore is Th but I think he will see a lot of game time. They will ship Ross off around the 45 min mark. Good point about Toner and the line out, I'd say you are right there.
Sorry I meant Martin Moore, great to see so many young Irish props given where we were 2 years ago
Samson Lee.... happiest when... "playin wid ma balls" 😀
Just watched the Saxons/ Wolfhounds highlights- Burns had a few shocking moments. I don't know how he managed to pass the ball in to the linesman's face rather than go over in the corner.
Also, what is the feeling in Ireland about Boss? Whenever I've seen him play in the Rabo he seemed to control games pretty well and often be the difference between two sides. Is the general feeling that he is talented but lacks the extra something to make his mark at full internationals?
[url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/brian-odriscoll-i-just-want-to-be-in-a-team-that-can-beat-warren-gatlands-team-29957588.html ]Brian, the only thing left to do, really, is to build a bridge. So that you can GET OVER IT! [/url]
😉
Jesus BOD change the record!
Paul James is a very good replacement for Gethin
Not that anyone's actual words that come out of the mouth would ever mean anything...but y'know, just in case...
The former Ireland captain’s focus is on Sunday’s opening Six Nations match against Scotland and, while he repeated his sense of disappointment over being dropped for the Lions’ third Test in Australia, he moved to play down the controversy that is set to reign next week.[b]No matter what, the media and public will revisit the issue[/b] of the New Zealander’s decision next week, but the protagonists are doing their best to dampen the hype.
“That’s why I’m here this week,” he smiled when asked about whether he can avoid the issue next week after the Wales coach did his part at the Six Nations launch last week by preaching calm.
[b]“I don’t really pay that much attention. What happened happened, I don’t have any ill will towards Warren. It was raw at the time, but time heals wounds and I don’t have any animosity towards him.[/b]
[b]“I just want to be involved in a team that can beat his team, but that’s next week. I can’t get into different team’s mentality, but they’ve Italy this week and I’m sure they’re focused on that.”[/b]
I think it's some others who need to change their records.
He needs some lessons from AW on how to do interviews!
I note the england selectors have made the massive error of dropping the world class wing play redefinning wonder winger Chris Ashton. I expect him to foce his way back in for the Wales game so he can man mark George North out of the game.
Scotland team to face Ireland:
Forwards: Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) Kelly Brown (Saracens, capt) David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby)
Backs: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) Duncan Taylor (Saracens) Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby)
Replacements: Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby)Richie Gray (Castres) Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)Max Evans (Castres).
Pretty happy with the selection i assume Scott/Hogg to cover 10. Would have liked to see Beattie starting instead of Denton and Scott to start if he had had more game time following injury
BOD could have used much less emotive language ie "the important thing is the Lions won a test series, which I'm grateful and pleased to have played a part" etc etc.
Any how, I see England have dropped Ash the Splash and brought in some Gloucester pace.
BOD could have used much less emotive language ie "the important thing is the Lions won a test series, which I'm grateful and pleased to have played a part" etc etc.
What was emotive about what he said? Do you think maybe he gets cheesed off with always being asked about it?
Well, compare what he could have said with what he actually said,"what is done is done" "raw at the time" "time heals wounds" "I just want to be involved in a team which beats his". Hardly a straight bat in interview speak.
Tbf Scamper, you're just putting words into quotes out of context.
It seemed entirely reasonable to me, when I read the whole story and the questions he asked. Seems people just want him to say what they want to hear. About the most emotive thing he said was "I just want to be involved in a team which beats his" which when read out of context does seem a bit strong, but when read alongside the questions everyone keeps asking and in between what he said before and after, it's just fine. He was left out of the last Lions test of his career...what should he say?
DD, as you can imagine, I was largely fishing for a reaction by posting that! 🙂 The piece that stuck most for me was this, however;
(My emphasis)I just want to be involved in a team which beats[b] his[/b]
Not, note, a team which beats Wales, but making it a personal thing. OK, maybe I'm reading waaay too much in to that, and I probably am, but I'd just love to see him avoid it completely.
He should have said what spin doctor scamper suggested above. 😀