[Closed] 2013/14 Rugby Thread

Enjoyed the Leicester match, indeed shame about the boos and I think Dorian West (Saints coach) grabbed the ref after the final whistle. Could (should) be a lengthy ban!

Was a thrilling game, as a Sale fan i had mixed feelings about it but Tigers deserved the win, plus its interesting to see Saints falter.

We are focusing on next week DD! I didn't see the game but poor result nonetheless.

@DD

I was going to drop you a note ref the Bath game but couldnt get away. Had to watch it on BT instead.

Satisfied with the result 😀 Did you make it??

Did you make it??

No worries. I was in London for the weekend anyway. I've only ever gone there supporting the away team (be that Brizzle or Munster). Great result for Sale though - I was pleased for them as well as yourself and md. 🙂

What do we make of the whole biting allegations? Obviously a moot point as it's not been cited, but Hartley is still seemingly toeing the wrong side of the discipline line!

An accusation like that will make the next england camp interesting 😆

Well, it's only an allegation, but it IS Hartley, and that makes me worry about it. OK, so there's some tension between Youngs, Hartley, and perhaps Barnes as well, but to raise an accusation of biting is a pretty serious thing to do, and I don't believe any player would do so lightly.

Excellent player but a bit too petulant. I was near the assault he made on Dan Braid last week. He seems unable to keep it in check.

Meanwhile, at the HK 7s, a Japanese player goes for a swan dive scoring celebration;

https://vine.co/v/MemDEBjIaBF

And, that swift American gets his first moment of glory in the 15 a side game....

Oops!

Ayr against Hawick by the looks of things,that would have been a nasty pint after the game!

In fairness to Youngs, he said 'someone' had bitten him, not Hartly specifically. Couldn't see anything when it was reviewed on BT sport, and assume it was nothing.

Interestingly, Youngs lineout was 100%, unlike Hartley's. What is wrong for England I couldn't say, but something must be messing with the calls when Youngs comes on.

Excellent game and kicking from Owen Williams again, he will definitely see the season out as Tigers 1st choice 10

Hope he gets to take some part on the summer tour to SA

I expect he will if Patchel isnt fit and Priestland and Biggar pick up a limp!

WHAT Edinburgh won away 😯

Some questionable ref'ing in their favour but delighted to take the win

I sat down last night and re-watched the second half of the France - Ireland game. With all my pacing around when it was actually on, I'd forgotten just how brutal an encounter it was. A wonderful half of bruising 6N rugby. The reaction of the French team at the end was very sporting, given that they'd just had that try disallowed and not been given a penalty at the scrum. Great game. 😀

So your predictions for the Heine quarters then:

Munster v Toulouse - neither are in great form but I think home advantage will see Munster home by 3 pts
Clermont v Tigers - tigers pack will struggle, Clermont by 10
Ulster v Sarries - When this was drawn I thought Ulster would win however our form since the tigers pool game has been poor. Meanwhile Sarries have been in good form. I have to go with my heart, Ulster by 5. SUFTUM
Toulon v Leinster - I think this could be the most exciting game of the 4. High scoring and Toulon by 5

Just signed up to BT so going to be able to watch the QF's 🙂

Leicester have a tough draw, home advantage to tell for Clermont. Toulon haven't been in great form since January but have a strong home record so the Leinster match should be a cracker.

I thought the rugby season was over!!!

Don't you have the rabo still to play for? Is it in any way linked to European cup next year?

That's a real question by the way, I've got no idea really, but rugby in England is hitting up nicely!

Not sure I always seem to nod off half way through the Rabble Bank games.

Ulster, Leinster and Munster have the most money so contest the top spots with Glasgow next.... dull as **** doesn't even cover it.
I believe its 3 from Ireland, two from Wales and 1 from Scotland and 1 from Italy qualify.

So Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Ospreys, Scarlets, Glasgow and the Italian team that isn't Zebre whatever they are called this week

I hate watching Munster, dull lifeless anti rugby. Not helped by the skyspurts ****fest.

home advantage will see Munster home by 3 pts

😀

Great display of dull, lifeless, anti-rugby to score six tries and put 47 points past Toulouse (even POC scored). No way are they in the top four sides in Europe, but they've managed to get themselves into the semis again. 🙂

Of course, Toulouse not really turning up sort of helped.

Awesome DD well played sir. Some of the dullest 6 try rugby I've ever seen 😉

I'm enjoying it for the moment BM, but Toulouse really were a bit dire. They were a bit munstered at the breakdown. Zebo just ran through three of them for the second last but there were lovely hands all over the place for the last one. I giggled as I saw POC picking up to go over. 🙂

Really looking forward to the Leinster game - would be nice to continue the Paris party for another weekend over the French. I think Ulster have a tough proposition with Sarries. Would be great to get three into the semis. Somehow I think it'll be only two at the most by the end of play tomorrow. Good luck. (cough)#suftum(cough cough) (lower case only!! 😀 )

I gave up watching after the Telly Tubbies try, great result but its not easy on the eye. I wish refs would one day ping a player for joining mauls in front of the carrier. When there is no legal way to stop a well coached maul the game becomes very dull.
Cant see much past home wins in all games to be honest.

Hmmm, I notice ASM CA have banners reading "Yellow Army" on the stands. Anglais on purpose do we think? 🙂

Well played Clermont. 🙂

This could be red

He'll be lucky with a yellow...

Payne seemed to be looking at the ball...but as the commentators are saying, you need to be aware of what you're doing. Poor challenge really.

"Rouge" or "Jaune" are the words you need to listening for BM.

Yeah I don't think it was deliberate but if it's red I couldn't complain

Well played Leicester but Clermont too strong

Tigers forwards looked knackered midway through second half, Clermont have the depth of squad to bring on other quality players, Tigers don't.

Another great game from Owen Williams and Blaine Scully

Maybe time for scrapping of salary cap if top English teams are to succeed in Europe

I hope Goode is not too badly injured.

Ref is taking a very long time over this...

Oh sheeet! Hope Goode is ok, but that could be game over for Ulster. 😐

Aw **** can it get worse

can it get worse

It can BM. Matt Dawson has just blocked me on twitter. 😀

What did u say

What did u say

He tweeted in an outrage, that he'd seen "nothing worse", to which I replied "Nothing worse"? For heaven's sake, let's not exaggerate. He didn't like that for some reason.

Balls

Ashton as well. 👿

Whats happend?

Whats happend?

Jarred Payne took Goode out in the air under dropping ball. Payne wasn't looking at Goode, but arrived late and took Goode out pretty badly...red carded after four minutes. Not sure there was a massive amount of intent, but dangerous challenge all the same and I don't think anyone is complaining at red card.

Shame red cards ruin games.

Still a cracking game though (lots of needle too). Only a point in it and Ulster have played with 14 for the last half hour. Your mate Ashton scored Sarries' try. 😐

Dancer! It's a strage strage game but very compelling.

9-5 at half time. Ulster would be mullering them with 15 on the pitch. 🙂 Keep the faith BM.

Be very funny if they win whilst a man down!

I really cannot call this now at all. Sarries have been pretty crap so I'm sure they will get better second half.

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Pienaar off.

There's the kind of on-screen stat I could watch all day...

"Owen Farrell...0 from 3" 🙂

Poor from Jackson. Why is Pienaar off?

Mon the Fez!!

His shoulder is bust. He prob shouldn't have started.

Our Fez is bigger than urs!

His shoulder is bust.

Yeah, sorry, just picked that up. Pleeeeeeeaaaasssseeee let us have a Fez hit on Farrell.

[s]Jeez, penalty for that?[/s]

Never mind, Farrell's missed again. 🙂

Balls. 🙁

Balls!! Well played Sarries

Unlucky BM...with 15, you'd have been a few scores ahead.

So Sarries v Clermont semi in London.
Munster will go to Dublin to be beaten by Leinster or France to be beaten by Toulon.

Saracens v Clermont at Twickenham will be good !

I'm gutted at the result but hugely proud of the Ulster team and the performance they put in. To be down to 14 men after 5 mins then lose Rory and Ruan and to only miss out by two points to the top team in England is pretty good.

Never a red card there, but what a superb performance from Ulster. They'd have stuffed Saracens if they had stayed at 15.

Oh, and Farrell is still a nasty little shit.

Never a red card there

Matt Dawson said he'd never seen anything worse!

Guess who was seren y gem for Bath v Brive? 😆

Wilkinson skyspurts ****fest in full flow. Face it sky and woodward his record aint a patch on BODs

Steffan Armitage and Bastarau have the same dietician!

JW has lead his side to two world cup finals winning the first one and dragging an indifferent team to the second. BOD doesn't come close in terms of a head to head comparison.

No fairy tail for BOD here, Leinster are finished. JW off injured, Giteau and Armitage taking the kicks

Logic and wallet say Saracens at Twickenham for the semi to watch, heart says an away trip to the sun in Marseilles for Toulon. I had an excuse last year for travelling South to celebrate my 50th, might need some creative thinking this year.

BOD doesn't come close in terms of a head to head comparison.

😀

Munster the only green machine side to make it through to the semis. And that's as far as they'll go I reckon.

JW has lead his side to two world cup finals winning the first one and dragging an indifferent team to the second. BOD doesn't come close in terms of a head to head comparison.

The London Times seems to suggest otherwise.

Bod was at times the best centre in the world and went on four lions tours. Wilkinsons international career was much shorter and he was never the best ten in the world. He wasnt even the best ten in that world cup final. Wilkinson was good BOD is exceptional. Best centre of the pro era. Even better than that orange bloke who was mom today for Barf.

@aa as you know it's my opinion JW was the best 10 in the world, so we'll have to disagree on that. He was far more influential on the teams he played in and still is than other candidates. His international career was shorter by his choice, having won the WC and been in another final he decided to head in a different direction after the injury problems he suffered. All things we've debated before. BOD was a fabulous player and I've enjoyed watching him play enormously, his record and commitment to Ireland and Lions is outstanding.

Edit: on 2nd thoughts, there really isn't any point.

There isn't any point because Sir Johnny won a world cup medal and odriscoll didn't, end of discussion. Only thing odriscoll is known for in England is for getting dumped on his head by two Kiwis. Sir Johnny achieved what odriscoll could only dream of, lift the Webb Ellis trophy as a winner. Carry on 😀

😆 it's STW's very own pet racist, bloodynora with his razor-sharp rugby insight, just like his last comment on the thread:

Another Triple Crown for the knights in white.... The score flattered Wales who were absolutely woeful. Ireland will bottle it in Paris like they always do.

😆

Keep coming back nora...comedy gold every time.

@aa as you know it's my opinion JW was the best 10 in the world, so we'll have to disagree on that. He was far more influential on the teams he played in and still is than other candidates. His international career was shorter by his choice, having won the WC and been in another final he decided to head in a different direction after the injury problems he suffered. All things we've debated before. BOD was a fabulous player and I've enjoyed watching him play enormously, his record and commitment to Ireland and Lions is outstanding.

this is somewhat revisionist. Wilkinson was awol for most of the world cup win only coming good in the semi and final. Which shows his class but he certainky didnt carry the team. He was then replaced by Flood and Ciprani after being poor. He was very good and seemed a good bloke with it but he wasnt in BOD's league as a world class player. If you think he was the equal of Carter you are nuts.

Dawson has a world cup medal does that make him a better scrum half that Howley????

Wilkinson was a brilliant kicker, good player and idiot defender.

JW for England was world class between 00 and 2003 ending with a word cup medal, but was no more than average on his return from various injuries there after. Does he make the top 5 greatest number 10's? Doubt it.

O'Gara has scored more 6N points (and wives) than St. Jonny. 😆

Aw darcy you had to bite with the racist tag as usual 'yawn'..... just because someone disagrees with you theres no need to throw the toys out and accuse them of racism.... a massive overeaction as usual....
so ireland only won a championship and not a grand slam no need to get all precious.... surprised youve not run crying to the mods like you normally do 😆

I'll admit that JW wasn't an unbelievable 10 in the Carter, Latham type mold, however I don't know a single team who wouldn't have had him in the pitch, he just needed a good inside centre alongside him.
Not sure about the idiot defender tag above, I wouldn't like to be hit by him!
I'm surprised he's carried on as long as he has, the injuries he picked up post 3003 would hav e endedostnpeoples careers, fair play for carrying on.