European Club Rugby
-
@Catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@Stargazer To me that all makes sense apart from the avowed intent of growing the game (in Italy). This is unlikely to help that. Is that a good or a bad thing though given the more meritorious qualification. Dunno is my answer
It's a tricky one. The Irish and Scottish unions supported their inclusion in the revamped Champions Cup, and Italian teams have had a chance to improve further over the last 2-3 seasons since the format changed. But they haven't. And sooner or later the team actually in seventh spot was going to start to feel aggrieved about not qualifying. So, overall, I think it's the best move. The fact that they're making the Challenge Cup winner an auto-qualifier instead of a play-off between lower ranked teams is a good compensatory move to beefing up the lower-profile competition and ensure that teams put out their best side.
So on balance, I think it's a good move.
Edit: From an Irish Times article on the subject:
“I absolutely agree with it and feel it is something that should have been in place a long time ago,” said Conor O’Shea, the man charged with transforming the Italian national side into something resembling a competitive force come the 2019 World Cup in Japan (granted, they were drawn in a horrid group alongside the All Blacks and Springboks).
“It’s a very positive move for the Pro12 league and Europe,” O’Shea continued. “We are very supportive of it.”
A practical man to his fingertips, O’Shea is willing to stake his coaching career and reputation as an organisational savant (see the turning of post-Bloodgate Harlequins into Premiership champions within three years) on the Azzurri believing they are sipping from a half-full glass.
And he’s right. This ups the ante for everyone. The Challenge Cup just got very interesting and while the Italians will almost certainly be choked into submission along that route, a top seven finish in the Pro12 was something Treviso achieved, with 10 victories, as recently as 2013 (when Connacht finished eighth).
-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39957336
Jimmy Gopperth won player of the year, try of the year & golden boot in the premiership. Before the hail of "he was shit 10 years ago" starts, he was fricking superb this year for Wasps. Really outstanding.
-
-
@Kiwidom said in NH club rugby:
@gollum Gopperth felt the wrath of the Auckland herald this week which was a bit unfair. Alot of players kick on in their late 20s,early 30s
Outside of guys held back through lack of opportunity and game time I'm struggling to think of any - especially playmakers and backs. All our best five eighths have been a class above before they are barely 21.
That noted Aucklander Martin Devlin? All he said was Gopperth wouldn't start for a Super Franchise except possibly the Blues, and he couldn't do that in 2009. If you want to trade Beauden Barrett for him be my guest.
His career arc is an interesting one because in 2005 he really was on the same level as Donald and McAlister and a step behind Evans in the pecking order and got a possibles vs probables selection. Pretty much had to stay fit and not play horribly and he would have had at least 20+ caps as an AB after Evans and McAlister left.
Stephen Brett is going to pick up Top 14 player of the year next I guess?
-
-
Not too much I'd disagree except the following which is overatating it quite a lot.
"In fact, I'd like a dollar for every Lions player who would make the cut in a NZ Super Rugby franchise. I'd be lucky to get enough to buy my lunch."
Unless it's a $40 lunch ...
-
Classy by Devlin.
Why doesn't he just shit in his cereal bowl while he's at it.
We only have 5 pro teams. Therefore there are shitloads of good pro rugby player who wouldn't make an NZ super rugby team.
Last time I looked the premiership had 12 teams.
Last time Jimmy played here, he WAS good enough to play as one of the only 5 starting 10s. Albeit the Canes 10 spot back then was like the Blues one today.
-
-
-
@cgrant said in NH club rugby:
@jegga said in NH club rugby:
@cgrant is it up on YouTube?
You can find it here :
Cheers , who threw that last pass for the try in the corner? I read somewhere he'd been playing at centre too.
-
@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@Pot-Hale said in NH club rugby:
Exeter would be a brilliant breakthrough and I'm looking forward to see if they can make the Prem final and win this year.
As requested.
Cracking final.
-
@MiketheSnow Yeah a great game and a fairy tale ending for Exeter. There will be beer flowing down this way tonight
-
-
@Frye said in NH club rugby:
Munster are getting pumped by Scarlets in the Pro12 final.
29-3 after 30 minutes.
Highly enjoyable.
-
The Top 14 Final next weekend will be played between Toulon and Clermont. Again!
While Toulon only narrowly beat La Rochelle 18-15 last night, Clermont dominated the second semi-final against Racing 92, despite playing the second half with only 14 men due to a red card to Flip van der Merwe for a high tackle. They defeated Racing 37 to 31.
Chris Masoe scored two tries for Racing during this game and converted the last try of what was his last game as a professional rugby player! Tameifuna scored the other try for Racing. Fritz Lee scored one of the Clermont tries, with Camille Lopez dotting down 2 and Damian Penaud one.
-
So Exeter and Scarlets are two refreshing winners of their leagues that knocks over the hegemony of the bigger clubs that have dominated for a while.
Very pleased for Scarlets and can only hope this gives a boost to regional rugby in Wales next season and get more punters through the gates.
Don't know the injury count yet to see if it's affected any Lions tourists but a good end to the NH season.
Roll on September.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=montpellier+racing+2017
