European Club Rugby

cgrant

Very brutal game between Toulouse (with Census Johnston, Edwin Maka, Paul Perez and Luke McAllister) and Montpellier.
Montpellier is coached by Jake White and fields a lot of SA players : three Du Plessis (among them Bismarck and Jan), Willemsee at lock, Liebenberg on the flank, Catrakilis at 1st 5/8, FranÃ§ois Steyn and Ebersohn in midfield. Pierre Spies was in the stands. A few Aussies complete the team (Jesse Mogg and Ben Lucas - Nick White and Ben Mowen did not play).

Bovidae

I suppose this is the best place to mention Weepu. Now playing Div 6 French club rugby thanks to Sivivatu's contacts. Sad to read about how his overseas rugby career has stalled.
 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77343644/former-all-black-piri-weepu-joins-club-in-sixth-tier-of-french-rugby'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77343644/former-all-black-piri-weepu-joins-club-in-sixth-tier-of-french-rugby</a>

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="561632" data-time="1456735023">
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I suppose this is the best place to mention Weepu. Now playing Div 6 French club rugby thanks to Sivivatu's contacts. Sad to read about how his overseas rugby career has stalled.
 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77343644/former-all-black-piri-weepu-joins-club-in-sixth-tier-of-french-rugby'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77343644/former-all-black-piri-weepu-joins-club-in-sixth-tier-of-french-rugby</a>
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</blockquote>
 
What is the deal there? The bit about "try to get match fit" isn't great. In theory he should be oustanding in French rugby, its slow as fuck. How unfit is he now?

Stargazer

Former All Black and Crusader Corey Flynn will be moving from to Toulouse to Glasgow after this Top14 season. He has signed a two year contract with the Glasgow Warriors.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/16/02/29/former-all-black-flynn-join-club-next-season'>http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/16/02/29/former-all-black-flynn-join-club-next-season</a>

Catogrande

George Smith (who has been bloody good for Wasps this season) has been cited for striking James Hook in the head with his knee. Presumably a lengthy ban if he is found to have hit the Qrange Twat with not enough force.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="563473" data-time="1457514416">
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George Smith (who has been bloody good for Wasps this season) has been cited for striking James Hook in the head with his knee. Presumably a lengthy ban if he is found to have hit the Qrange Twat with not enough force.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Can't plead a clean sheet either as he couldn't stop Justin Marshall becoming a "commentator"
 
context: he broke Meg's ribs in one of our losing semifinals a distant memory ago in a far off dimension ;)

Stargazer

Great interview with Corey Flynn, who's hitting the nail on the head: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Ex-AB Flynn questions motives of big-spending French clubs Last updated 11:50, March 10 2016 
 Former All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn has flicked a dart at the wealthy owners of French clubs, saying their habit of throwing big money at foreign players is detrimental to the national side and the state of rugby in the European country. 
 Flynn, who left the Crusaders to link with French club Toulouse after the 2014 Super Rugby final and recently joined Scottish club Glasgow, said the No 1 priority for many private club owners in France was to ignore local talent and access their bulging bank accounts to win titles. 
 Rather than scout players from the lower grades, he said the club owners simply looked to fast-track in established, and promising, players from other countries. 
 This has led to frustration among the French rugby community. 
 "Some of these club owners have got a lot of money - the rugby clubs are just a plaything for them," Flynn told BBC Scotland. "They're not worried about spending money. 
 "It's not a good thing for French rugby as a whole. I've been talking with a couple of the French boys; they're a little bit annoyed because they're not just targeting the big stars of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa." 
 While established All Blacks such as Dan Carter, who joined Paris-based club Racing Metro on a record-breaking deal, and Flynn have flocked to the French clubs there is also the scenario of talented youngsters being lured to the continent. 
 "They're targeting the younger ones so they can get them in at an early age, have them in the academy for three years, then they're regarded as French-qualified, not foreign players any more," Flynn added. 
 "That's a bad thing because they're not nurturing their own talent - which they have an abundance of. But until you get a centrally controlled system you're never going to get that because the private owners just want to win. 
 "They want to spend money to win competitions and they don't really care about the national team or the state of French rugby, which is a shame." 
 The French national side, widely known as Les Bleus, has struggled in recent seasons. France were smashed 62-13 by the All Blacks in the World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff last year. 
 Unlike New Zealand Rugby, who have benefited from a central contract system which means All Blacks and Super Rugby players are contracted and funded by the national union, the French clubs operate independently. This means wealthy club owners are at liberty to pay big wages for players - but their self-interest means they will put their club before the national team. 

Flynn, 35, played 31 games for Toulouse last season - including two against his new side - starting 30, hot on the heels of a run to the 2014 Super Rugby final. 
 His move to Glasgow followed some discussions with coach Gregor Townsend who asked if he was prepared to work with younger players, too. 
 "Having been in France for two years after a fairly intense, structured outfit in the Crusaders, it turned out I wasn't ready just to cruise, show up and play rugby. I'm not ready to finish like that," Flynn said. 
 "What gives me satisfaction isn't just strapping on my boots and playing, it's being involved in decisions and the way a team runs. I still want to use my brain; I still want to engage mentally into an environment. 
 "Gregor also asked about the mentoring role, and I'm not naÃ¯ve in thinking I can play forever, so I realise that half of my appeal is the experiences I've been through and the ability to pass on those to the younger guys. 
 "You're only ever really a caretaker of a jersey - it's about when you leave, you leave the jersey in a better position, you know?" 
 Stuff 
</blockquote>

SammyC

Corey Flynn is a great guy

MajorRage

In other news, the sky is blue.

Bones

Racing (Carter, Masoe, Rokocoko) scrape through against Toulon (Nonu, Taylor) in the champions cup qf.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="571413" data-time="1460308181">
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Racing (Carter, Masoe, Rokocoko) scrape through against Toulon (Nonu, Taylor) in the champions cup qf.
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</blockquote>
 
How's Joe R looking these days Bones ? I remember the fern bagging him for being too bulky and slow, is this still the case ?

Bones

Doesn't look slow, but seems the only thing he knows how to do is crash it up - which he actually does bloody well. Ploughed Nonu backwards with a good run at one stage.

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="571583" data-time="1460359050">
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Doesn't look slow, but seems the only thing he knows how to do is crash it up - which he actually does bloody well. Ploughed Nonu backwards with a good run at one stage.
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</blockquote>
 
He spent most of the game playing centre too. He's basically been used as a wing / centre all year. Looks very solid, but not very flashy or quick.
 
Wasps got through too after Chales Piatau scored in the corner & Jimmy Gopeth cooly slotted from the touch line. Wasps backline was Gopeth (10), S Piatau (13), C Piatau (15) Halai (14)
 
And the Aaron Mauger coached Liecester got thru. Under Mauger they have been scoring shitloads, which has made up for them conceding shitloads...

Billy Tell

Infamous Stephen Jones of the Times said the Wasps games was "one of the greatest club games ever played. Like Super Rugby with tackling".
 
The irony was ALL of Wasps points came from Kiwis (Gopperth, Piutau, Halai).
 
Tubby Thomas got 2 tries for Exeter.

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="571639" data-time="1460393295">
<div>
Infamous Stephen Jones of the Times said the Wasps games was "one of the greatest club games ever played. Like Super Rugby with tackling".
 
The irony was ALL of Wasps points came from Kiwis (Gopperth, Piutau, Halai).
 
Tubby Thomas got 2 tries for Exeter.
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Well, the walrus is a prick.
 
It was a great game but one of the greatest? Not so sure about that. As to the Super Rugby troll - sort of to be expected. Click-bait.
 
Gopperth played well and nailing that last kick took some nuts. Thomas the Tank has been a revelation since joining Exeter. Last season he was the premiership top try scorer and he is well on the way again this year despite not being a regular starter for the first half of the season. He is no athlete that's for sure but has a deceptive turn of pace and such rugby nous that he is always popping up in just the right place. Seems like a great bloke too.
 
Gutted to see Exeter lose like that though.

MajorRage

I actually think it's a compliment. He's basically admitting that Super Rugby is a far superior product, but perhaps the defense needs improvement.

Catogrande

Weeeel you could be right MR. I'm just going by his previous.

Cookie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="571639" data-time="1460393295">Infamous Stephen Jones of the Times said the Wasps games was "one of the greatest club games ever played. Like Super Rugby with tackling". 
 
The irony was ALL of Wasps points came from Kiwis (Gopperth, Piutau, Halai). 
 
Tubby Thomas got 2 tries for Exeter.</blockquote>
 
Good to see the mad Welsh bastard hasn't lost his touch. I was getting worried about him.

Stargazer

Fritz Lee has re-signed with Top14 leaders Clermont for two more seasons (until 2019).
 
I never really rated him when he was playing in NZ, but he has been playing really well in France.

Margin_Walker

Christian Wade equalled the league record of six tries in a game as Wasps beat Worcester 54 - 35 yesterday in the AP. Remains to be seen whether Eddie Jones fancies giving him a go at some point.
 
Tom Coventry's London Irish have a crunch match against Newcastle today. Lose and they are almost certainly relegated to the Championship.

The Silver Fern

European Club Rugby