European Rugby Thread

[Torquemada 1420]

Irish teams are on a different league.

Why should that be a surprise? They are regions.

And ?

Listen, if Northland had to play the Bulls. No. Wait.

[sockwithaticket]

Irish teams are on a different league.

Why should that be a surprise? They are regions.

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

[OomStruisbaai]

Why should that be a surprise? They are regions.

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

England should do the same then.

[sockwithaticket]

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

England should do the same then.

Might have been possible at the dawn of professionalism, but the RFU could never buy out PRL and the clubs now.

[Torquemada 1420]

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

England should do the same then.

It's not really the point, is it? You don't see Currie Cup sides competing against NZ Soup teams.

[Prembore]

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

England should do the same then.

Not at all, we have a vibrant league that doesn't need to rope in super rugby rejects to make up the numbers. It's to the detriment of the clubs in European competition but they've done alright historically and Europe is only ever the icing on the cake. I wouldn't trade the premiership, and the historic clubs involved in it, for any amount of European success.

[Slick]

Why should that be a surprise? They are regions.

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

And England have about 3x more players, so pretty even…

There is a lot to hate about Irish rugby, but their stunningly successful system is not one of them

[sockwithaticket]

Fuck's sake. Oghre and Carr have both limped out of this game.

[Oxbow]

Jesus, Wasps must have broken several dozen mirrors.

[Raggs]

Jesus, Wasps must have broken several dozen mirrors.

Nah, the several dozen mirrors was at the end of last season, this season we've taken a shit on Satan's cornflakes.

[Torquemada 1420]

Carney just given one of the most ridiculous decisions this season. Glasgow already down to 14 for pulling a rolling maul down in front of the line: from which Sinzelle scored but Carney failed to apply the advantage.

Then on next foray a Glasgow back bats the ball forward with both hands to prevent an overlap. Clear yellow. Carney's rationale is he went for it with both hands. Completely disregarding that the ball was deliberately knocked fwds and there was no chance of recovering it.

[JM2K6]

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

And England have about 3x more players, so pretty even…

There is a lot to hate about Irish rugby, but their stunningly successful system is not one of them

People are picking a very odd game to make a big deal out of, I must say

[Torquemada 1420]

There is a lot to hate about Irish rugby, but their stunningly successful system is not one of them

People are picking a very odd game to make a big deal out of, I must say

Nothing to do with this game per se. The comment was that the Irish sides were way above all others.

[sockwithaticket]

Well that went about as badly as it could.

Shields will probably pick up a ban. Porter got injured in the warm up and we lost Carr and Oghre during the game. Possibly Barbeary too? Didn't catch why he was subbed at half time.

[SaintK]

Jesus, Wasps must have broken several dozen mirrors.

Nah, the several dozen mirrors was at the end of last season, this season we've taken a shit on Satan's cornflakes.

sure looks like it

[Biffer]

Why should that be a surprise? They are regions.

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

Population of Ireland 7 million. Population of England 55 million.

[Biffer]

Carney just given one of the most ridiculous decisions this season. Glasgow already down to 14 for pulling a rolling maul down in front of the line: from which Sinzelle scored but Carney failed to apply the advantage.

Then on next foray a Glasgow back bats the ball forward with both hands to prevent an overlap. Clear yellow. Carney's rationale is he went for it with both hands. Completely disregarding that the ball was deliberately knocked fwds and there was no chance of recovering it.

So you missed Carney saying he got both hands to it again on the way down after he’d popped it up into the air, so that meant he thought it was a genuine attempt to catch the ball?

[fishfoodie]

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

Population of Ireland 7 million. Population of England 55 million.

Jesus lads; it's the first weekend; don't blow your load just yet !

[fishfoodie]

Quins running out in; what I think is the ugliest kit I've ever seen; dysentery green/brown; I think that colour is called.

[JM2K6]

And ?

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

Population of Ireland 7 million. Population of England 55 million.

Good to know we have 55m rugby players to pick from

[SaintK]

Quins running out in; what I think is the ugliest kit I've ever seen; dysentery green/brown; I think that colour is called.

I suddenly want Castres to win
Quins strip is an abomination

[dkm57]

Some would call it Khaki, others tell the truth KAK!!

[JM2K6]

Yeah it's awful. Ironically, given the colours, it caused a big stink when it was revealed because of how bad it is.

[JM2K6]

Jones is allergic to passing, Jesus

[JM2K6]

Quins shelling too much ball in contact. Lynagh really needed to get that ball off the pitch.

[Paddington Bear]

This Quins kit is actually affecting my enjoyment of the match

[JM2K6]

Jesus that's some pretty illegal maul defence

[JM2K6]

Castres stand up in the scrum to avoid being marched backwards. Ref waves play on. Right, okay.

Quins lack of accuracy of the past few weeks very much on display though.

[Hal Jordan]

Quins' kit looks like one if thise Godawful "Drool over the military" affairs that NFL teams rig out the sidelines with.

[Hal Jordan]

Quins' kit looks like one if those Godawful "Drool over the military" affairs that NFL teams rig out the sidelines with.

[Hal Jordan]

Quote myself. Idiot.

[Biffer]

They have much more concentrated quality of players. The best players in Ireland are dsitributed across 4 teams (well, 3. Sorry Connacht...). The best of England are spread across 13.

Population of Ireland 7 million. Population of England 55 million.

Good to know we have 55m rugby players to pick from

Do you think Ireland have 7 million?

[JM2K6]

Population of Ireland 7 million. Population of England 55 million.

Good to know we have 55m rugby players to pick from

Do you think Ireland have 7 million?

No. It's almost like it's an utterly meaningless stat. Look at the population of Russia!

[sockwithaticket]

Great hands and good decision from Tizard to bail out of that messy maul. All too often you see players stubbornly stay in and cede the scrum.

[Paddington Bear]

This is disgraceful- should be off for that chat

[JM2K6]

I agree with that being a high tackle, but when Huw Jones was tackled on the line like that last week, Kay said it's not a penalty any more and that head contact is required. I'm guessing he was talking shit.

Kockott mouthing off to the ref and trying to get a card, claiming he was hit in the face when the replay says otherwise. Grub.

[sockwithaticket]

I agree with that being a high tackle, but when Huw Jones was tackled on the line like that last week, Kay said it's not a penalty any more and that head contact is required. I'm guessing he was talking shit.

Kockott mouthing off to the ref and trying to get a card, claiming he was hit in the face when the replay says otherwise. Grub.

Might it be a Prem only approach? I've certainly noticed other seatbelt tackles in the Prem being waved off by refs stating 'no head contact'.

Kockott should have been done for his initial comment, starting up again he should have been carded.

[JM2K6]

Disappointed to be behind at half time, largely through our own errors. Ref has been very weak and I'm flabbergasted by the scrum decision on their line, but Quins have simply dropped too much ball and it's been the story of the last few matches.

[Niegs]

Quins' kit looks like one if those Godawful "Drool over the military" affairs that NFL teams rig out the sidelines with.

League also seem to do camo jerseys to support the troops.


Looks 'moss' coloured to me. Like someone left them in the kitbag while wet, remembered them weeks later and couldn't shake the mould stains.

[Niegs]

Lol just said Castres' backline has an average age of 35... true or an exaggeration?!