NH club rugby
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@machpants said in NH club rugby:
It we'll be the only South African club in the NH capable of winning a game
Probably!! I had to check but Saraceren's had 50% SA ownership anyway from 2009-2018 via Remegro who sold out prior to the salary cap scandal, Wray had to buy them out.Saracens lost depth when they went down, have re-assembled some of it via one-season loan arrangements.
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Harlequins look top 3 at Super Rugby Aoteroa level, that's a big compliment from me.
Just watched Harlequins vs Bristol and ... I highly (highly) recommend it, especially the second half. PM me if you want a "sauce" to download the full-game.
Brief thoughts and observations -
Harlequins
- Harlequins are playing rugby the way it's meant to be played. Really good stuff to watch.
- Marcus Smith is the real deal at 22. F**k me I don't want to hype him, but I mean the real real deal. Composed, has all the skills, brave but will need to bulk up for the top level because he's gonna be targetted like hell. I've only seen one or two better young tens and you can guess who at least one is, right?
- Even more impressive is Smith has Danny Care at nine who (on this game) looked like a second-rate TJP. And I don't mean that in a good way
- Surprised and really impressed by Louis Lynagh. Plays like a SH winger, well-rounded and lots of skill ... seems to kick well, pass well, make the right decisions at the right time. Think Cory Jane or Andrew Kellaway with time. No fricken idea how he'd go for England given the gameplay style but reckon he'd be a real asset for the Wallabies, totally wasted with Italy.
- Alex Dombrant showed really lovely skills at eight. Again I can see him easily in a SRA side(+?) but NH has an emphasis on bulk so ... Eddie so... god knows if he'll even bench for England.
Bristol
- As a team seemed pretty out of shape and knackered after 50. Conditioning?
- Piatua seems to have lost all acceleration. Looked okayish, in an average NH kind of way.
- Luatua and Afoa not playing.
- Props seem totally surprised and at sea when they get the ball and pass it like a hot potato to ... "someone, anyone!"
- Harlequins could read their passing from deep all day long, drift their line well and ... just dismantled them the last 50-60.
- I don't know the contract's performance/exit clauses but signing Pat Lam on a new 7-year deal looks dumb. To be fair signing ANY COACH/DoR on a deal that long seems dumb to me.
Other ...
- Saw Wayne Barnes clearly communicate in-game on 50-22s or whatever they are called.
- Cracking ref (these days ) who let the game flow.
- Terrible commentary, I left the sound on only because it had a good "big game" atmosphere
Didn't think it justifies a seperate thread for a TSF audience, but I highly recommend it.
As I say, PM me if you would like a full game link and I'll happily oblige ... -
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
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@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
Blight on the game at the moment. Too many players and members of coaching team wired up and getting involved. The refs have enough to do without monitoring them as well.
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?) they are allowed to run on and slow down the game at every opportunity. Not so bad on TV when there is a chance for a quick replay of something but at the game live it totally wrecks the flow and atmosphere. -
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
Blight on the game at the moment. Too many players and members of coaching team wired up and getting involved. The refs have enough to do without monitoring them as well.
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?) they are allowed to run on and slow down the game at every opportunity. Not so bad on TV when there is a chance for a quick replay of something but at the game live it totally wrecks the flow and atmosphere.Agree or we'll end up like NFL.
Neutral waterboys (hardly a skilled task?) and all medical staff must be "offline" ie comms via the refereering team?
Maybe one for Joe Schmidt ...
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It was a poor look for sure. Exeter on the attack close to the goal line, multiple penalties occurring, then at the latest one a Wasps player throws the ball away. Slade goes to get it and the waterboy kicks it away. Cue a big scuffle.
Itās a shame really as Wasps and Exeter have had some great matches over the last few years and the mutual respect has been clear to see. But this on top of the ācultural appropriationā questions posed by the Wasps heirachy look to have soured things somewhat.
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@crucial said in NH club rugby:
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?)
I don't get people being worried about live coaching - what's the issue there? Why does it matter? Not like at proper club level the coaches aren't sitting on the sideline talking to players.
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
ācultural appropriationā
Care to enlighten?
Exeter chiefs using American Indian Chief as their symbol, also supporters wearing faux Indian headdress. Not like Celtic Exeter had its own chiefs it could use!
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?)
I don't get people being worried about live coaching - what's the issue there? Why does it matter? Not like at proper club level the coaches aren't sitting on the sideline talking to players.
I'm not sure it is easily managed, but my worry is the more we see it, the fewer minutes the ball will actually be in play, or the longer the game will take.
I'd say leave it to the refs to keep the game running, but that's not been the greatest solution thus far.
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@machpants said in NH club rugby:
@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
ācultural appropriationā
Care to enlighten?
Exeter chiefs using American Indian Chief as their symbol, also supporters wearing faux Indian headdress. Not like Celtic Exeter had its own chiefs it could use!
I'm pretty sure Wasps haven't signed up any actual Wasps.
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@machpants said in NH club rugby:
@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
ācultural appropriationā
Care to enlighten?
Exeter chiefs using American Indian Chief as their symbol, also supporters wearing faux Indian headdress. Not like Celtic Exeter had its own chiefs it could use!
I'm pretty sure Wasps haven't signed up any actual Wasps.
White Anglo Saxon protestants? There will be a few š
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
ācultural appropriationā
Care to enlighten?
As @Machpants said. For probably around 100 years Exeter's first team were referred to as the Chiefs with the Braves being the second team. A few years back they re-branded themselves as the Exeter Chiefs, about the same time as the Leicester Tigers (always been known as Tigers due to their striped jerseys), Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons etc. The supporters have taken on this branding and many wear native american headdresses a la the 1950s US western film style. Then there is the moronic chant referred to as the Tomahawk Chop.
Wasps had decided, at board level, to question the suitability of all this in the run up to the game. The issue had been raised "by one of our supporter groups" and therefore "shouldn't be ignored". If the issue is that important why wait until the week before the game to bring it up? Why not air this at the AGM of Premiership Rugby?
Disregarding for a moment the aspect of possible cultural appropriation, it smacks of having a go at disruption before the game. Political shit-stirring.
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And the two waterboys in question (actually coaches) have been charged. By the RFU rather than the judiciary I think.
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What has happened at Wasps since they have taken John Mitchell onto their coaching staff? In the first round of the Guiness European Rugby Champs last weekend they got absolutely pumped at home by Munster who were missing heaps of first choice players and had not played a game in about six weeks. Admittedly the Brad Shields red carding was something only Monsieur Poite thought was a good idea and it was a big factor but seriously they looked almost clueless in their attacking plans.
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Seven Saffas in the starting lineup for Sale in their match kicking off against Wasps this morning, and another in the reserves.
Either there aren't enough Poms to go round up Manchester way or maybe the Saffa players represent better value for money.
We think we have it tough over here on ticket prices well to get a main stand adult ticket for this match will set you back 42 quid -
Itās becoming very expensive in the UK to watch rugby live now. On my way to the Exeter v Bristol game now with my Ā£39 standing ticket in my pocket. Looking forward to paying Ā£6 for a pint and more for pasties. My mate has just taken out a debenture for a seat in the new stand. Ā£5k loan for 10 years. No interest paid snd a miserly 5% discount on the match tickets
Sale Sharks - Wasps 26:18
