NH club rugby
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@majorrage said in NH club rugby:
Game was rubbish. It wasn't anywhere near as intense as journalists will try and make you believe. It was a classic example of two teams playing well within themselves to try and avoid making a mistake.
The semi finals were both much much better. Taking the show piece to non rugby country for game growth is a good idea, but then having both teams play a sport which was about as entertaining as watching paint dry worked against it.
The whole mic'ing up of referees needs a rethink too when Barnes is in charge. He doesn't shut up, ever. At one point he shouted at the teams "fair contest from both 7's, fair contest from both 7's". Why does that need to be done?? If it's a fair contest just bloody say nothing.
Thank you majorrage. Well done majorrage. Or if you play for racing merci majorrage. Bien joué majorrage.
Thought Barnes was decent. But as always on first names terms with the players...
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@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
That won't wash if you have aspirations to take Steve Walsh's title of Celebrity Ref.
Think Owens has already taken that hasn't he?
@billy-tell said in NH club rugby:
Thought Barnes was decent. But as always on first names terms with the players...
No problems with his decision making. Just the constant sound of his bloody voice. Maybe he was trying to add interest to what was a bloody dull game.
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@billy-tell said in NH club rugby:
@majorrage said in NH club rugby:
Game was rubbish. It wasn't anywhere near as intense as journalists will try and make you believe. It was a classic example of two teams playing well within themselves to try and avoid making a mistake.
The semi finals were both much much better. Taking the show piece to non rugby country for game growth is a good idea, but then having both teams play a sport which was about as entertaining as watching paint dry worked against it.
The whole mic'ing up of referees needs a rethink too when Barnes is in charge. He doesn't shut up, ever. At one point he shouted at the teams "fair contest from both 7's, fair contest from both 7's". Why does that need to be done?? If it's a fair contest just bloody say nothing.
Thank you majorrage. Well done majorrage. Or if you play for racing merci majorrage. Bien joué majorrage.
Thought Barnes was decent. But as always on first names terms with the players...
One day I'd love to hear....'If I call you Sir, you could at least call me Mr Franks, not Owen'
Or after a call of 'leave it Sam' a reply of 'sure Wayne'. -
@majorrage said in NH club rugby:
Would the likes of Davies, Hernandez, Rutherford (no idea who this guy is) been as highly lauded if playing for the Crusaders and All Blacks?
A reasonable 10 for Scotland in the early 80s. Good enough to be backup to Ollie Campbell on the 83 Lions tour.
Edit: I see I'm late to this argument ...
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@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@billy-tell said in NH club rugby:
@majorrage said in NH club rugby:
Game was rubbish. It wasn't anywhere near as intense as journalists will try and make you believe. It was a classic example of two teams playing well within themselves to try and avoid making a mistake.
The semi finals were both much much better. Taking the show piece to non rugby country for game growth is a good idea, but then having both teams play a sport which was about as entertaining as watching paint dry worked against it.
The whole mic'ing up of referees needs a rethink too when Barnes is in charge. He doesn't shut up, ever. At one point he shouted at the teams "fair contest from both 7's, fair contest from both 7's". Why does that need to be done?? If it's a fair contest just bloody say nothing.
Thank you majorrage. Well done majorrage. Or if you play for racing merci majorrage. Bien joué majorrage.
Thought Barnes was decent. But as always on first names terms with the players...
One day I'd love to hear....'If I call you Sir, you could at least call me Mr Franks, not Owen'
Or after a call of 'leave it Sam' a reply of 'sure Wayne'.That's 'Black 3'. Only the captain gets addressed by name.
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@booboo said in NH club rugby:
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@billy-tell said in NH club rugby:
@majorrage said in NH club rugby:
Game was rubbish. It wasn't anywhere near as intense as journalists will try and make you believe. It was a classic example of two teams playing well within themselves to try and avoid making a mistake.
The semi finals were both much much better. Taking the show piece to non rugby country for game growth is a good idea, but then having both teams play a sport which was about as entertaining as watching paint dry worked against it.
The whole mic'ing up of referees needs a rethink too when Barnes is in charge. He doesn't shut up, ever. At one point he shouted at the teams "fair contest from both 7's, fair contest from both 7's". Why does that need to be done?? If it's a fair contest just bloody say nothing.
Thank you majorrage. Well done majorrage. Or if you play for racing merci majorrage. Bien joué majorrage.
Thought Barnes was decent. But as always on first names terms with the players...
One day I'd love to hear....'If I call you Sir, you could at least call me Mr Franks, not Owen'
Or after a call of 'leave it Sam' a reply of 'sure Wayne'.That's 'Black 3'. Only the captain gets addressed by name.
Not according to Wayne.
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@stargazer I'm fine with it. He's approaching from the side and if you don't stamp down on players pushing refs out of the way, exactly where do you draw the line?
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@antipodean agree with you, but still, 4 weeks is harsh for that.
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@taniwharugby Yeah, two weeks seems better. He should've apologised.
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Pro 14 final. Leinster leading Scarlets 21-11. Tries to Jonny McNichol and James Lowe.
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Ah here. This NZ-centric commentating is loolah.
Full-time. Leinster win 40-32 against Scarlets.
Tries for Toner, Lowe, and McNicholl in the first half, made it 21-11 then Cronin, and Larmour made it 33-11, McNicoll with a fine try on 65, before a break by Carbery, to McGrath to Conan put the last nail in the coffin. Consolations from McNicholl and Kruger in the last 2-3 minutes put a better look on what was a demolition by the Blues.
Isa Nacewa had to go after 15 minutes in his last game.
The best foreign player in the last 15 years in my book. Hope he enjoys his retirement and goes well. Solid guy.
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Jared Payne has had to retire following ongoing concussion issues (suffered on Lions tour) and will take up a role on the coaching staff for Ulster
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That’s been on the cards for quite some time. He’s going to travel with the tour squad for coaching experience. Schmidt & Co like him for his defensive nous.
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I wondered whether Jason Eaton would come back and start coaching in NZ after retiring, but he's staying in France.
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Pretty damming assessment by Carter, but pretty much what you see in England and France for a lot of the teams. And England's inability to think on their feet is being continually bemoaned by Eddie
Dan Carter: ‘Seeing a psychologist allowed me to confront my demons’
The World Cup winner discusses what makes a great player, rugby’s mental burdens and switching sports for Soccer Aid
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Luke McAlister has hung up his boots ...
It’s a good time to let you all know that I have called it a day on my rugby career. It’s been one hell of a ride, 17 years travelling the globe doing what I love. I’m so grateful for the friendships that I’ve made as well as the endless memories. Theres been so many highs and lows along with a shit load of injuries. There’s been so much work put in over the years, that you guys don’t see as well as balancing my family life. Massive thanks to my family for your support over the years. I’ve had some tough times over my career and you guys have always been there by my side no matter what. My beautiful kids you’re the reason I breathe I love you two more than anything in this world. Thanks Amanda and Brooke for making trips over with them both, FaceTiming and including me in what’s going on when i can’t be around. Mum and dad, I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you both so thank you for everything 😘. My friends you know who you are, your unconditional love and support means everything to me. And lastly the fans you guys, thanks for your support over the years. I have and will always have time for you guys I would be nothing without you all and your support thanks so much. I’m proud of my career and what I’ve done in this beautiful sport now it’s time for the next chapter which is to move back to the best city in the world Toulouse ( a little biased 😉 ). I will travel the world as a tourist and spend quality time with my beautiful family and friends as well as looking into my family business interests. Plus enjoying some social rugby 10s/7s tournaments around the world 🏉. Now you can follow my NEXT CHAPTER.🤙🏽 Thanks again and god bless. P.s special mention to my 🐶🐶🐶🐶Skippy my og, Minnie mins, Poppy and Boston. 😊 -
Felipe Contemponi, a big fan favorite in the early noughties with Leinster, is returning as attack coach for the club from next season. Here’s a decent profile piece on him in the Times.
*Felipe Contepomi will bring fresh voice to Leinster upon his return
Just as one Leinster legend departs, another rejoins the fold. It turns out that the going of Isa Nacewa and the return of Felipe Contepomi are not entirely unrelated.
Leinster have known for at least 12 months that they’d have a new backs coach for the 2018/19 season. Girvan Dempsey, the previous incumbent, was offered only a one-year contract extension last season, which reflected a desire for change. The hope/expectation was that the role would be filled by outgoing club skipper Nacewa but his departure for New Zealand left a space to be filled.
Does this make Contepomi a second-choice appointment? Leinster would prefer to see him more as a fresh voice — a distinctive voice, too, once capable of cursing volubly in Spanish, especially at referees who failed to see things the same way as him.
Leinster supporters were surely delighted when news of Contepomi’s return broke, especially those able to recall the time he tormented Munster at the RDS, on New Year’s Eve, 2005. Leinster won easily that day and their Argentinian fly-half scored 25 points. After dotting down for one of his two tries, he ran towards a patch of red in the stand at the Anglesea Road end, cupping his hand behind his ear, taunting the away supporters.
“That wasn’t the only time he got up our noses that season,” remarked the late Anthony Foley. “He’s making a good living in Ireland. He should have minded his manners.”
This was a problem for some Munster folks back then. Ireland’s biggest rivals on the international stage in the noughties were Argentina, and here was one of the Pumas being accommodated in Ireland — not just as a pro rugby player but as a student in the Royal College of Surgeons.
But Contepomi gave more than he took from Irish rugby. Leinster were improved enormously by his presence. He boosted crowds, inspired youngsters like Johnny Sexton to become better, even if Sexton’s motivation was to take his place. He enhanced the sport here and can do so again, albeit in a different role.
Coaching wasn’t a role that we saw as being natural for him. There was something old-school, something Corinthian about him: the top-class athlete academically brilliant enough to maintain top grades while at the same time taking his team to the business end of the Heineken Cup. Those who played alongside him could see a potential coach in him, however. While David Knox was backs coach under Michael Cheika, the Argentinian was quick to understand the mechanics of every attacking play, and well-able to show the best running lines to Gordon D’Arcy or Brian O’Driscoll.
His understanding and experience of the world game is vast, and broader than Nacewa might have offered. Contepomi played in the English Premiership (for Bristol), the Top 14 (for Toulon and Stade Francais) and coached in Super Rugby, with the Jaguares. He also played at four World Cups, played in Pumas teams that won by playing territory as well as teams who played with width and pace.
Contepomi understands different attacking styles and also understands different positions, having featured as a centre as well as a fly-half. His official role — as coach in charge of set-piece attack, general attacking shape and kick strategy — does no justice to the value he offers the club in general, especially as a coach of individuals like the Byrne brothers, Ross and Harry, Ciaran Frawley, but also like Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and others. He knows a bit about place-kicking, too.
These youngsters are all old enough to remember him as one of the players who dragged Leinster out of the dark days of serial under-achievement, who played for his adopted province as though it meant more than a pay cheque.
Even on one of Contepomi’s bad days, Sexton managed to see something admirable in him. This was May 2006 at Lansdowne Road, the Heineken Cup semi-final when Munster won 30-6. “Denis Leamy succeeded in getting under his skin that day and he had a nightmare with his place-kicks,” Sexton wrote subsequently. “But I’ll always remember my dad — a massive Munster fan — making the point that Felipe had never given up.
“It was [Ronan] O’Gara’s day and Munster ended up miles ahead on the scoreboard. But Felipe never stopped trying things. He was in private battles all over the field till the end. And then afterwards, he came out and faced the cameras. He never hid, on or off the pitch. I respected that about him.”
He returns in a new role, a little less obvious, perhaps a little more soft-spoken, a lot thinner on top. However it’s hard to imagine Leinster won’t benefit from his presence once more.*
