European Club Rugby
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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.
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Young â âPiutau the complete packageâ
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young has revealed his desire to bring Ulster utility back Charles Piutua back to the Ricoh Arena.Piutau, referred to as the âcomplete packageâ by the Waspsâ boss, has won 16 caps for the All Blacks and will be looking to add to that tally at the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. âHeâs got another year in Ulster, and the next World Cup was certainly his goal for after that when he left here,â Young told the Coventry Telegraph. âI think wanting to go back to New Zealand for that is still his focus at the moment, but things can change and we would love to have him back here. -
@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
@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.
I'd rate Leinster a good chance. I think Lowe is a good signing. I agree about Fardy - not supposed to be played at 6, but he is more of a part-time lock. Otherwise this year's finalists will be in the mix again.
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@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
@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)?
...Exeter would be a brilliant breakthrough and I'm looking forward to see if they can make the Prem final and win this year...
It would be something of a fairytale if Exeter were to win the Premiership but I think Sarries, even at Sandy Park, will be too much for them. Exeter have played some good rugby this season and have built some impressive scores through continued pressure. Keep the ball, keep the ball. However Sarries are so comfortable without the ball and their defence has been mostly amazing. I feel that they will soak up the Exeter pressure without too many dramas and then strike. I'd love to be proven wrong but we will see come Saturday.
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@Stargazer said in NH club rugby:
Former Blues player Joe Edwards moving from Bordeaux-BÚgles (Top 14) to Provence Rugby (Fédérale 1 Elite) ahead of the 2017-2018 season.
I find myself struggling to put a face to a name there Stargazer...
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@Billy-Tell He was a number 8/blindside, had big wraps but always seemed to be injured. Was. Nz u20s in 2013 alongside Ardie Savea
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Hayden Triggs to retire from rugby
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@Stargazer said in NH club rugby:
Former Blues player Joe Edwards moving from Bordeaux-BÚgles (Top 14) to Provence Rugby (Fédérale 1 Elite) ahead of the 2017-2018 season.
3rd division club?
That's quite a plummet.
