European Club Rugby
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<p>Funny isn't it Simon? Not long ago we were looking pretty bereft of options at 13 (to an extent) and 12 (definitely) and now our options seem an embarrassment of riches. I quite like the sound of Tuilagi at 12 with a pacey 13 but I'd also like to see how Slade goes at 12 - sort of like the second playmaker option that has been Farrell but with better distribution and more of a running threat.</p>
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<p>Some way away from a choice of Barrit and Burgess.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SimonAdd" data-cid="574516" data-time="1461481518">
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<p>Having a pacy outside-break merchant at 13 in Betham is similar to what he'll have with England in Joseph/Daly, so hopefully it'll end with Manu taking the England 12 shirt.</p>
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<p>Speaking of Betham - I saw someone saying words to the effect of English club scene being better than Super Rugby because he was finally allowed to shine at his preferred position.</p>
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<p>Completely ignoring the fact he'd never played there at pro level, while at the Waratahs he had a bloke by the name of Ashley-Cooper stuck in the 13 shirt ahead of him :think:</p> -
<p>Yeah, that would be at odds to what Betham said himself. Lazy journalism if it was a journo that said it.</p>
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Hmmmm. Leicester's Aaron Mauger inspired back play had more handling errors than there are Jones' in a Welsh rugby team. Out of Europe without really firing a shot.
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<p>Racing held the upper hand all the way through. The score did not reflect how much control Racing had. Carter had a very good defensive shift as well as controlling the game well. Leicester were uncommonly shite.</p>
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<p>Aaand Marler has been cited. No surprise in that decision. It will be interesting to see what defence is presented and also how the judiciary hand down any sanction.</p>
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<div>Martin Castrogiovanni, the Italy prop, has been suspended by Racing 92 after he was photographed partying with Paris Saint-Germain players in Las Vegas.</div>
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<div>The 34-year-old had told Racing, the French Top 14 side, that he could not play in Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final with Leicester because he had to attend to a family matter in Argentina.</div>
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<div>But while Racing were at Nottingham’s City Ground beating Leicester Tigers 19-16 to reach their first ever European Champions Cup final on Sunday, Castrogiovanni was in Las Vegas with PSG players celebrating their 2-1 French League Cup victory over Lille on Saturday.</div> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="infidel" data-cid="575225" data-time="1461747908">
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<div>Martin Castrogiovanni, the Italy prop, has been suspended by Racing 92 after he was photographed partying with Paris Saint-Germain players in Las Vegas.</div>
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<div>The 34-year-old had told Racing, the French Top 14 side, that he could not play in Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final with Leicester because he had to attend to a family matter in Argentina.</div>
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<div>But while Racing were at Nottingham’s City Ground beating Leicester Tigers 19-16 to reach their first ever European Champions Cup final on Sunday, Castrogiovanni was in Las Vegas with PSG players celebrating their 2-1 French League Cup victory over Lille on Saturday.</div>
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<p>What is that all about did he not want to play against his old team? Very Strange Racing have suspended him pending legal action. So he is GOOOOOOOOOOOOONE. Also they signed Nakarawa today from Glasgow.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="571413" data-time="1460308181">
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<p>Racing (Carter, Masoe, Rokocoko) scrape through against Toulon (Nonu, Taylor) in the champions cup qf.</p>
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<p>I'm a bit late but...</p>
<p>I was in Paris that weekend and tried to buy some tickets but Racing's home ground only has a capacity of 14K. It was always going to sell out for an all-French QF. I ended up watching the game on TV in my hotel room. If I had been at the game it would have been for the occasion not the quality of rugby on display.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="575357" data-time="1461813616">
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<p>I'm a bit late but...</p>
<p>I was in Paris that weekend and tried to buy some tickets but Racing's home ground only has a capacity of 14K. It was always going to sell out for an all-French QF. I ended up watching the game on TV in my hotel room. If I had been at the game it would have been for the occasion not the quality of rugby on display.</p>
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<p>To be honest their stadium has great atmosphere but is in the middle of nowhere. With nothing around it. </p>
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<p>They are having a new one built at the moment not sure when its finished.</p> -
<p>An update from the PRO 12 after a bit of an absence by me. Regular season ended yesterday with playoffs to come in the next 3 weeks.<br>
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Connacht, coached by Pat Lam for last three years, have finally come good, finishing top on level points with Leinster, but just pipped at the post to first place by with Leinster having one more win than them. Connacht have a home semi-final against Glasgow. Leinster host Ulster in the other. <br>
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At tonight's PRO 12 awards, Lam and his team fairly swept the boards in the PRO12 Dream Team awards. A good few of the winners are non-internationals. And, unsurprisingly, a good few from south of the equator.<br>
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15 Isa Nacewa (Leinster) capt.<br>
14 Matt Healy (Connacht)<br>
13 Bundee Aki (Connacht)<br>
12 Ben Te'o (Leinster<br>
11 Craig Gilroy (Ulster); <br>
10 Sam Davies (Ospreys), <br>
9 Kieran Marmion (Connacht); <br>
1 Dennis Buckley (Connacht), <br>
2 Tom McCartney (Connacht), <br>
3 Finlay Bealham (Connacht);<br>
4 Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow),<br>
5 Ultan Dillane (Connacht)<br>
6 CJ Stander (Munster),<br>
7 Josh van der Flier (Leinster),<br>
8 Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh)<br><br>
Player's Player of the Season Award: Bundee Aki (Connacht)<br>
Coach of the Season: Pat Lam (Connacht)<br>
Young Player of the Season: Sam Davies (Ospreys)<br>
Try of the Season: Tommy Seymour (Glasgow)</p> -
<p>Yeah, 4 Kiwis there (Nacewa, Aki, Teo, McCartney). Actually, I'm a but surprised by Nacewa, didn't think his form has been anything special. Should be a decent set of play-offs: can Leinster get revenge at home after Ulster's paddling a couple of weeks back, can Connacht do a repeat over Glasgow. I'm predicting a Leinster vs Glasgow final.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="578273" data-time="1462767588">
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<p>Yeah, 4 Kiwis there (Nacewa, Aki, Teo, McCartney). Actually, I'm a but surprised by Nacewa, didn't think his form has been anything special. Should be a decent set of play-offs: can Leinster get revenge at home after Ulster's paddling a couple of weeks back, can Connacht do a repeat over Glasgow. I'm predicting a Leinster vs Glasgow final.</p>
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<p>Five Kiwis, if you count Lam, BT.</p>
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<p>Was surprised at Nacewa too. But which other full backs have played enough to merit inclusion - Hogg didn't play enough league games to meet criteria? </p> -
<p><span style="font-size:14px;">Pretty sus<span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">picious play from Ben Botica in the <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);">Challenge Cup final.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:15.6px;">Quins were chasing a try to tie the game against Montpellier when Ben Botica inexplicably kicked the ball away, allowing Jessie Mogg to boot the ball off the field.</span></p>
<p style="font-size:15.6px;font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">O’Shea consoled the New Zealand native on the pitch afterwards, <strong>who is also, coincidentally, leaving the club. He joins Montpellier.</strong></p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.the42.ie/ben-botica-kicks-away-2769592-May2016/'>http://www.the42.ie/ben-botica-kicks-away-2769592-May2016/</a></p> -
<p>Dan Carter's , Joe Roks and Chris Masoe's Racing 92 taking on Saracens in the European Champions Cup Final if anybody else is watching.</p>
<p>Currently 3-6 Saracens after 26 mins. Yawn.</p>
<p>Game is several levels below Super Rugby, in all aspects - pace, handling, skills, vision and creativity. So slow. arrgh.</p> -
<p>The fly hack at the ruck by the defending team is killing the game.</p>
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<p>Get rid.</p> -
<p>Weather not helping but NH rugby is always so narrow. They salivate over scrums, and penalties are always shots at goal, hardly ever for the corner. Multiples of 3 so far.</p>
