European Club Rugby
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@taniwharugby said in NH club rugby:
@Pot-Hale wasn't a dig, but I know you are always on defence...more I saw a reel of a supposed big star coming out of NZ and it didn't look like he was anything special.
Me always on defence, splutter, splutter?
I did get your point. I was attempting humour in response. Obviously it didn't travel well....
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@Pot-Hale its a long distance for it to travel, so I can see why it lost its steam!
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Damn, that gif was shocking. At first I was just watching the try being scored and thought there's some good interplay going on there. Then I saw Charlie. WTF. It doesn't matter what excuse anyone offers up that was utter punk bullshit. Cipriani got shit for his defence with the Rebels, but when he got beaten in a tackle he'd get up and try and have another go. Piutau just didn't give a shit.
@Pot-Hale Piutau wouldn't make an NPC team either putting that effort in.
@Rapido Hansen was 100% correct in his decision - we won the bloody competition.
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@Nepia And yet no one from Ulster appears to be putting the boot into Pienaar's effort to run back in support...
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@antipodean said in NH club rugby:
@Nepia And yet no one from Ulster appears to be putting the boot into Pienaar's effort to run back in support...
I was just watching Piutau so have no idea what you're talking about.
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@Nepia said in NH club rugby:
@antipodean said in NH club rugby:
@Nepia And yet no one from Ulster appears to be putting the boot into Pienaar's effort to run back in support...
I was just watching Piutau so have no idea what you're talking about.
If only you could watch the gif again...
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@antipodean said in NH club rugby:
@Nepia said in NH club rugby:
@antipodean said in NH club rugby:
@Nepia And yet no one from Ulster appears to be putting the boot into Pienaar's effort to run back in support...
I was just watching Piutau so have no idea what you're talking about.
If only you could watch the gif again...
At least Pienaar made an effort to cover the winger in the first place.
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@pukunui said in NH club rugby:
@antipodean said in NH club rugby:
@Nepia said in NH club rugby:
@antipodean said in NH club rugby:
@Nepia And yet no one from Ulster appears to be putting the boot into Pienaar's effort to run back in support...
I was just watching Piutau so have no idea what you're talking about.
If only you could watch the gif again...
At least Pienaar made an effort to cover the winger in the first place.
So it's all PIutau's fault? Was he supposed to cover everyone?
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The 'chase' afterward showed no effort but it looked to me like he was indicating for someone behind him to take the inside as he was moving out (at that stage he couldn't see any other defender on the wing).
Body language not very encouraging though. He must get bored swimming in the money pit he had installed in the basement at home. -
@antipodean I don't think another player putting in a shitty effort minimises Piutau's pathetic effort. That was plain embarrassing.
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Stade Francais has claimed their first ever European trophy, the European Challenge Cup, after beating Gloucester 25-17.
Official match report: http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/35845.php
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Saracens beat Clermont to win Heineken Cup again. 28-17.
Owen Farrell made European Player of the Year.
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@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
Saracens beat Clermont to win Heineken Cup again. 28-17.
Owen Farrell made European Player of the Year.
5 years in a row of disappointing results in the European Final, for anyone who isn't a Toulon or Saracens fan. Toulon/Saracens for 5 years in a row...ughh
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@wowrp1 said in NH club rugby:
@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
Saracens beat Clermont to win Heineken Cup again. 28-17.
Owen Farrell made European Player of the Year.
5 years in a row of disappointing results in the European Final, for anyone who isn't a Toulon or Saracens fan. Toulon/Saracens for 5 years in a row...ughh
And yet some of those games have been really good. Saturday's game could have gone either way up until the last few minutes. There was huge commitment from both sides and some bloody good rugby played. Certainly enough for this (almost) neutral.
Anyway, this is the nature of sporting competitions such as this, the stronger teams do better, until they are no longer the stronger team. You see this in many other comps - the Super Rugby one is an example. There have been times when one team is on top for several seasons and then gone...
Don't see the problem.
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Who do you think might challenge Saracens next year, Cato?
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@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
Who do you think might challenge Saracens next year, Cato?
Yeah, Sarries are looking a bit scary at the moment. However, in England I see Wasps as improving significantly, I wouldn't rule out Leinster either next year. It remains to be seen in Glasgow can maintain their good form and then take the next step up. Perm from several French sides with Clermont at the top.
As things stand I would see Sarries as mild favourites but would not be particularly surprised to see any one of about five other clubs take the trophy. As ever though in this competition, much depends on the group stages about how things progress.
Who do you fancy (other than Sarries)?
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@Pot-Hale Clermont, again.
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@Catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
Who do you think might challenge Saracens next year, Cato?
Yeah, Sarries are looking a bit scary at the moment. However, in England I see Wasps as improving significantly, I wouldn't rule out Leinster either next year. It remains to be seen in Glasgow can maintain their good form and then take the next step up. Perm from several French sides with Clermont at the top.
As things stand I would see Sarries as mild favourites but would not be particularly surprised to see any one of about five other clubs take the trophy. As ever though in this competition, much depends on the group stages about how things progress.
Who do you fancy (other than Sarries)?
Wasps look like shoulda been contenders, but their tendency to bring in a flash import (Piutau, Beale) isn't doing them any favours. I think Dai Young has admitted as much.
Exeter would be a brilliant breakthrough and I'm looking forward to see if they can make the Prem final and win this year.
Munster and Leinster will be there or thereabouts. They both need to fix a couple of things. Leinster will miss the largely unreported but remarkably consistent Hayden Triggs. The advent of Scott Fardy as a replacement does not fill me with hope since he's spent a lot of time at 6. Unless there's some Nucifora-inspired provincial shuffling going to happen at season end. James Ryan who might do a breakout on the June tour might be a pleasant surprise. Byrne and O'Loughlin will be the better for getting a season under their belts and I think the Leinster backline is going to sing sweetly with Lowe coming in to add to the mix.
Munster will likely lose Saili - his time-card is stamped for exit after 2 years. Donncha Ryan is going to Toulon. Taute may return to SA - who knows?
Don't think they have enough in their front five to do the job against the top teams. And their backline is so-so even with the promising Sweetnam, Rory Scannell and ever-improving Conway.
Clermont just didn't have any real answers to get on top despite their thrilling comebacks (Abendanon's try was a thing of beauty in its making).
Toulon? Nah. La Rochelle? Pfft.
So, maybe, just maybe...... Leinster.
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@Pot-Hale I thought Piutau and Beale both acquitted themselves well at Wasps?
I don't know what it is about Leinster, they rave about Elsom and Triggs...
Although Fardy has played a lot at blindside, he's taller than Brad Thorn and is a tough, niggly bastard. He has good skills and was one of the best Wallabies in 2015. Provided he's not there on holiday, he should go well. I say should, because Leinster is where journeymen apparently look like stars.
