2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[Slick]

Agreed, 9 is the major problem position. IVZ was poor as he often is under pressure

Rumours that Raffi Quirke might be Sarries bound but he's so injury prone. Hopefully Bracken Jr can break through.

Quirke remains such a what if for England, he’d be a superb signing. A Bracken jnr in a Sarries shirt would be a surefire sign that I am ageing rapidly!

Front row did pretty well today all things considered, but I remain of the view our scrum is not good enough to win knockout rugby domestically or in Europe.

Good day in Barnet though, crowd was understandably a bit sparse but in good voice. For the second time in a month I have nothing but good things to say about the Saffers I met in the flesh at a rugby match, which is I have to admit devastating. Glad we’ll have plenty to play for given the king’s ransom I had to pay for a hotel room in Limerick in January…

When I saw this last night I had a forlorn hope that “Bracken junior” didn’t mean the son of Kieran.

[Torquemada 1420]

Very poor from the South African sides.

Jake White said it. You need depth.

Bulls never really perform in bad weather abroad. Got to sort this out. KLA a huge loss for them.
Stormers on a spiral. Running out of a team to put together. Challenge Cup the only real alternative for them.

Bulls the biggest surprise for me. Outmuscled? Toulon going pretty well this season but that was a poor performance by them and yet, was still too good for the Stormers who looked terrible.

[Sards]

A lot of cards first weekend.

[Sards]

Very poor from the South African sides.

Jake White said it. You need depth.

Bulls never really perform in bad weather abroad. Got to sort this out. KLA a huge loss for them.
Stormers on a spiral. Running out of a team to put together. Challenge Cup the only real alternative for them.

Bulls the biggest surprise for me. Outmuscled? Toulon going pretty well this season but that was a poor performance by them and yet, was still too good for the Stormers who looked terrible.

Stormers don't have the budget of the Sharks and Bulls. Some really overpaid passengers don't make it any easier.
KLA is a huge difference in any team. But Bulls are not well known travelers. But strong at home

[Torquemada 1420]

Stormers don't have the budget of the Sharks and Bulls. Some really overpaid passengers don't make it any easier.
KLA is a huge difference in any team. But Bulls are not well known travelers. But strong at home

Out of interest, how are the SA franchises funded? Presumably some is centrally from the SARU, but is that evenly spread? For the rest, are there "sugar daddies"/corporate funding? What's the connect between the Currie Cup side?

[Sards]

Stormers don't have the budget of the Sharks and Bulls. Some really overpaid passengers don't make it any easier.
KLA is a huge difference in any team. But Bulls are not well known travelers. But strong at home

Out of interest, how are the SA franchises funded? Presumably some is centrally from the SARU, but is that evenly spread? For the rest, are there "sugar daddies"/corporate funding? What's the connect between the Currie Cup side?

It's basically franchises. With clubs supposedly responsible for the Currie Cup. 3 Franchises have investment partners. The Bulls are funded by 2 South African billionaires and the Sharks are funded by a gambling empire which was turned down by the Stormers. So they went to the Sharks. Stormers are " funded " by a " family trust ". The clubs in the Western Province ( Stormers) carried too much weight on decisions. They forced the Stormers to turn down the Massoti investment deal so now they are sitting with very shallow pockets and most of their real talent has left to play at the Bulls and Sharks.

[Paddington Bear]

Anyone got a half reliable stream? Resent paying for another subscription

[Torquemada 1420]

How is that not a deliberate slap into touch?

[Torquemada 1420]

Anyone got a half reliable stream? Resent paying for another subscription

https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby/bordeaux-be ... ers-2-live

You need an adblocker

[Torquemada 1420]

Stormers don't have the budget of the Sharks and Bulls. Some really overpaid passengers don't make it any easier.
KLA is a huge difference in any team. But Bulls are not well known travelers. But strong at home

Out of interest, how are the SA franchises funded? Presumably some is centrally from the SARU, but is that evenly spread? For the rest, are there "sugar daddies"/corporate funding? What's the connect between the Currie Cup side?

It's basically franchises. With clubs supposedly responsible for the Currie Cup. 3 Franchises have investment partners. The Bulls are funded by 2 South African billionaires and the Sharks are funded by a gambling empire which was turned down by the Stormers. So they went to the Sharks. Stormers are " funded " by a " family trust ". The clubs in the Western Province ( Stormers) carried too much weight on decisions. They forced the Stormers to turn down the Massoti investment deal so now they are sitting with very shallow pockets and most of their real talent has left to play at the Bulls and Sharks.

Cheers

[Paddington Bear]

Anyone got a half reliable stream? Resent paying for another subscription

https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby/bordeaux-be ... ers-2-live

You need an adblocker

Perfect, thanks

[Torquemada 1420]

Who is this clown commentator? "Leicester used to a high tempo"

He does realise they are facing the best backline in Europe? WTF would Bordeaux want to slow the game down?

[Torquemada 1420]

Well that's just bollox. Clear take out beyond the ruck by Leicester to create the time before that pen.

[Torquemada 1420]

Finally a pen for the late clear out.

[Torquemada 1420]

No arms "tackle"

[Stranger]

There was enough of a wrap there.

[Torquemada 1420]

There was enough of a wrap there.

Biomechanically, it's nigh impossible IMHO to legally wrap if you attempt a tackle at that angle with your head on the wrong side.

[Stranger]

I am watching on Bein sports and the French commentators thought it was fine.

Tigers looking good except for the line out.

[Torquemada 1420]

Maybe the commentator would like to remind us again which of these 2 sides likes a high tempo game.....

[Torquemada 1420]

And maybe remind us once more.

[Stranger]

Well that 10 minutes has changed the game a bit

[Torquemada 1420]

Depoortere and Penaud are not even match fit.

[Torquemada 1420]

Steward is such a carthorse even going fwds but when he has to turn to defend

[Torquemada 1420]

Leicester really impressing me with their high tempo, one out maul it up the pitch, 1m at a time stuff.

[ASMO]

JVP is just so glacially slow, i wonder who mentored him? Leicester epitomise everything that is wrong with English rugby, unimaginative stuff it up the jumper one out pick and go or kick the leather off it...wonder who their coach was?

[Torquemada 1420]

JVP is just so glacially slow, i wonder who mentored him? Leicester epitomise everything that is wrong with English rugby, unimaginative stuff it up the jumper one out pick and go or kick the leather off it...wonder who their coach was?

Sums it up perfectly from what I've seen today. Hence my irritation at that commentator banging on about Leicester wanting to be the side who played the rugby. All Tigers have done is hoof the ball away....... which, tbf, is normally effective against Fre sides who can't catch a cold.

[Torquemada 1420]

If Jalibert ever wants to get back into the ntl frame, he needs to start tackling a lot better than that.

[Torquemada 1420]

Bye Leicester. Commentator just saying how they'd capitalise on tired bodies

[Torquemada 1420]

Ah. Now we trot out the "it's all down to the money" excuse. Well, maybe English rugby could stop over paying RFU execs, allowing unsustainable models resulting in bankrupting clubs and do something to draw in 30k gates.

[ASMO]

Steward showing his blistering pace for that break...you could see the look of desperation on his face as he was looking for a prop with more pace to pass it to

[Torquemada 1420]

Not smart by Penaud when the clock needed to be run down to prevent the BP and then Jalibert doing his best Garbajosa impression

[Torquemada 1420]

Steward showing his blistering pace for that break...you could see the look of desperation on his face as he was looking for a prop with more pace to pass it to

[Torquemada 1420]

Toulouse would run in half a century against this Leicester team.

[SaintK]

JVP is just so glacially slow, i wonder who mentored him? Leicester epitomise everything that is wrong with English rugby, unimaginative stuff it up the jumper one out pick and go or kick the leather off it...wonder who their coach was?

Fortunately Mitchell is fit again for the 6N…..if he gets selected

[fishfoodie]

I'm boycotting the next match, as I strongly oppose blood sports of any form !

[Kawazaki]

Steward showing his blistering pace for that break...you could see the look of desperation on his face as he was looking for a prop with more pace to pass it to

I seriously don't think he's a back. He runs like a lock, but a lock like Borthwick, not even a fast lock.

It's bizarre that some people still think he's test quality.

[Kawazaki]

Leicester epitomise everything that is wrong with English rugby, unimaginative stuff it up the jumper one out pick and go or kick the leather off it...wonder who their coach was?

They still think it's c.2008

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm boycotting the next match, as I strongly oppose blood sports of any form !

I suspect you are going to need rain. And a lot of it.

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm boycotting the next match, as I strongly oppose blood sports of any form !

I suspect you are going to need rain. And a lot of it.

[Torquemada 1420]

Cros still out