European Club Rugby

Derm McCrum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="580288" data-time="1463443052">
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I'm sure Quade Cooper had something to do with the theft in the first place.
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The Sunday World wouldn't have a clue who Quade Cooper is. Honestly.

Billy Tell

Ulster did what they do, and came to the party as a bridesmaid. Sexton kicked out of hand very well. Ulster forwards were spent by the 2nd 40.
 
Connacht did a pretty decent job to get ahead of Glasgow. Yet another MOTM from Aki.
 
Hope Connacht win, but the smart money is on Leinster you would think.

Billy Tell

Pat Lam has silverware. Superb first 40 blew Leinster away. Basically a replay of Argentina vs Ireland 1/4 final RWC.
 
Happy for Pat after the Blues fiasco.

Derm McCrum

Brilliant victory for Connacht. Cracking final. Well pleased for Muldoon, O'Halloran, Aki, Healy, Henshaw, and Denis Buckley. 
Pat Lam take a bow.

profitius

I think Connacht were 500/1 shots at the start of the season. Incredible win for Connacht (who have never finish above 7th). Big NZ influence in Connacht, led by Pat lam.

hydro11

Great win by Connacht.

African Monkey

Well done to Connacht and to Pat Lam. A good guy of the game and his first bit of silverware in 9 years.

NZRUGBYQUIZZES

Fantastic news for Connacht. There are a bunch of guys who've battled away forever there (John Muldoon etc) who've never won anything. How sweet this win must be.

Catogrande

Saracens take the double of European Cup and domestic Premiership. About right too, they've been the strongest side throughout the year and have added a decent attacking edge to their more expected dour defensive side. They are now becoming a very good all round side. Unlucky for Exeter Chiefs who lost the Premiership final by 8 points, the fairytale did not have the happy ending.

Stargazer

In the French Top 14, Clermont tops the table and goes straight to the semi-finals, despite their loss to Toulouse yesterday. All thanks to Toulon losing to Montpellier without a bonus point.
Now 2nd placed Montpellier has the best chance to get the second direct semi-final spot, although Toulon and Racing92 can still overtake them. This is not pure theory, because Montpellier plays the last round-robin game (away) against 4th placed Racing92, while 3rd placed Toulon takes on 7th placed Bordeaux at home. 
 
Going by the current rankings, Toulon, Racing92, Toulouse, and either Castres or Bordeaux will go to the play-offs to play for the two remaining semi-final spots.
 
All in all, Toulon v Bordeaux and Racing92 v Montpellier will be the most important of the final round-robin games.
 
Oyonnax and Agen can't escape relegation to the Pro D2. (Agen was only promoted to the Top 14 last season).
 
Lyon, which was relegated from the Top 14 to Pro D2 at the end of the 2014-15 season, has already earned automatic promotion back to the Top 14.
 
The second team to be promoted to the Top 14 will be the winner of Aurillac v Bayonne (also relegated from the Top 14 last season).

Catogrande

Madness. the T14 means 26 regular games plus any European involvement then play offs for the play offs (effectively), then the finals. That could be 29 games plus European stuff, plus any internationals. No wonder most of their players look shattered.

Derm McCrum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="584098" data-time="1464604264">
Madness. the T14 means 26 regular games plus any European involvement then play offs for the play offs (effectively), then the finals. That could be 29 games plus European stuff, plus any internationals. No wonder most of their players look shattered.</blockquote>
 
And most of them don't fancy test matches afterwards. The club game has permanently eclipsed test rugby in France. The current schedules have to change.

Stargazer

It was an interesting weekend for French rugby. Too bad we can't watch these games in NZ (except via dodgy streams). Coliseum/Lightbox have the online rights, but didn't stream one single game of the 2015/2016 season.
 
As expected, Clermont finished on top of the table and goes straight to the semi-finals. They beat La Rochelle 57-8 at home.
 
Toulon snatched the second direct semi-final spot from Montpellier by beating Bordeaux 44-3, while Montpellier lost to Racing 92 (25-40).
 
Castres earned the last play-off spot by downing last year's Top 14 champions Stade Francais Paris 35-14; SF finishing on a miserable 12th spot.
 
Summary of the games and try/points scorers here: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.planetrugby.com/news/top-14-wrap-clermont-toulon-into-semi-finals/'>http://www.planetrugby.com/news/top-14-wrap-clermont-toulon-into-semi-finals/</a>
 
While Clermont and Toulon have next weekend off, these play-off matches will be played for the two remaining semi-final spots:
 
Racing92 v Toulouse (Sun 12 June, 6.45am NZT). The winner of this game will play Clermont in the semis.
Montpellier v Castres (Mon 13 June, 2.15am NZT). The winner of this game will play Toulon.

Derm McCrum

And just like happened with Ben Te'o, the French and English clubs are now hovering over players like Bundee Aki. It looks like the IRFU will have to try and sign him early to stay and play in Connacht.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799'>http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799</a>
 
I can see this happening more and more with some players - Irish and foreign - that develop well, and then are going to get snapped up with massive money from either England or France.

Billy Tell

Minimal sympathy sorry Pot Hale. From a NZ point of view if it's Connacht, Toulon or Wasps, it's still a talented NZ player moving overseas. 
I expect Aki to stay, given he's more Weshtie than the Connacht lads themselves. Or at least that was the angle taken this season. So you can relax, he will be impervious to money as his burning desire has always been to wear the green of Connacht & Ireland

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="585402" data-time="1465259437">
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And just like happened with Ben Te'o, the French and English clubs are now hovering over players like Bundee Aki. It looks like the IRFU will have to try and sign him early to stay and play in Connacht.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799'>http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irfu-move-to-secure-bundee-aki-as-foreign-clubs-hover-1.2674799</a>
 
I can see this happening more and more with some players - Irish and foreign - that develop well, and then are going to get snapped up with massive money from either England or France.
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PH, I find that article really quite ironic and just a bit funny too. Complaining about one's poaches being poached. :think:

Cpt Kumera

carl axtens had his debut game for toulouse against another bop rugby player tino nemaini playing for grenoble

Derm McCrum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="585486" data-time="1465281978">
PH, I find that article really quite ironic and just a bit funny too. Complaining about one's poaches being poached. :think:</blockquote>
 
I agree. I'm not complaining. If this continues to happen, then it will kill off the notion of project players.

hydro11

Racing will play Toulon in the Nou Camp in the Top 14 final.
 
Racing had to win in extra time with Carter putting them ahead with a late conversion. Joe Rokocoko scored a fantastic try and looked to still have a lot of his old pace. 
 
Ma'a Nonu scored a try and assisted in another for Toulon.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="589612" data-time="1466290985">
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Racing will play Toulon in the Nou Camp in the Top 14 final.
 
Racing had to win in extra time with Carter putting them ahead with a late conversion. Joe Rokocoko scored a fantastic try and looked to still have a lot of his old pace. 
 
Ma'a Nonu scored a try and assisted in another for Toulon.
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Racing was very lucky; controversial officiating much in favour of Racing.
 
Ma'a Nonu also got knocked out in that game. Fortunately, he tweeted afterwards that he's okay.
 
Will be an interesting final. Too bad we have to watch it via dodgy streams here in NZ because no one can be bothered to broadcast Top 14 games. It may not be the same level of rugby as Super Rugby, I still would like to be able to watch a few games now and then.

The Silver Fern

European Club Rugby