2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[Torquemada 1420]

United Rugby Boss
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/inte ... -ten-years

“That would be when we brought the South African teams in and created the United Rugby Championship,” he declares.

“They have been tremendously successful in terms of performance and attendance, as well as financially and commercially.

“Pretty much anybody you speak to in the league will say they have raised the standard of the competition on and off the field and they will continue to do that.”

Expanding on the financial benefit, he said:

“It’s a game changer. It’s millions.

“More than half our revenue comes from South Africa via television and sponsorship.

“They are also providing more value to EPCR, via Investec’s sponsorship of the Champions Cup.

“It is a huge part of the rugby economy for Europe.”

Okay, I'll hold my hand up and repeat what I said at the time
- Soup was a stitch up for SA perpetuated by Aus who has no viable ntl comp to sustain themselves through the professional era
- whereas both SA and NZ had world class domestic tournies in the CC and Provincial rugby
- NZ bought into the ploy and I can see reasons why, but not for SA who had the most financial clout and were always going to be shafted by the travel

And here we are today. Chickens roosting. Soup over extended itself massively and Aus are f**ked and NPC (still the most enjoyable comp in the world for me) has gates that a Federale side in France would be embarrassed by, CC has been diminished and Soup is just a meaningless bore.

SA in Europe? Made sense once a long time ago: maybe more so at intl level given the time zones.

Now, as for the contentions in that post
1) URC has been such a shambles in its various guises for so many years, I'll leave othesr to judge improving standards. Results in Europe would suggest otherwise.
2) As for economics, I don't doubt SA revenue has helped there but I'm going to dispute the impact on the HEC. I can categorically say SA's presence has brought nothing to the table for the Fre teams. There is nothing in SA's participation for France.

[Sandstorm]

6 Nations next.

[Slick]

6 Nations next.

viewtopic.php?t=481

[OomStruisbaai]

United Rugby Boss
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/inte ... -ten-years

“That would be when we brought the South African teams in and created the United Rugby Championship,” he declares.

“They have been tremendously successful in terms of performance and attendance, as well as financially and commercially.

“Pretty much anybody you speak to in the league will say they have raised the standard of the competition on and off the field and they will continue to do that.”

Expanding on the financial benefit, he said:

“It’s a game changer. It’s millions.

“More than half our revenue comes from South Africa via television and sponsorship.

“They are also providing more value to EPCR, via Investec’s sponsorship of the Champions Cup.

“It is a huge part of the rugby economy for Europe.”

Okay, I'll hold my hand up and repeat what I said at the time
- Soup was a stitch up for SA perpetuated by Aus who has no viable ntl comp to sustain themselves through the professional era
- whereas both SA and NZ had world class domestic tournies in the CC and Provincial rugby
- NZ bought into the ploy and I can see reasons why, but not for SA who had the most financial clout and were always going to be shafted by the travel

And here we are today. Chickens roosting. Soup over extended itself massively and Aus are f**ked and NPC (still the most enjoyable comp in the world for me) has gates that a Federale side in France would be embarrassed by, CC has been diminished and Soup is just a meaningless bore.

SA in Europe? Made sense once a long time ago: maybe more so at intl level given the time zones.

Now, as for the contentions in that post
1) URC has been such a shambles in its various guises for so many years, I'll leave othesr to judge improving standards. Results in Europe would suggest otherwise.
2) As for economics, I don't doubt SA revenue has helped there but I'm going to dispute the impact on the HEC. I can categorically say SA's presence has brought nothing to the table for the Fre teams. There is nothing in SA's participation for France.

just to add we had our CEO attacking our coaches complaining about participating in the Champions Cup

Bulls and Sharks criticism
Jake White has been a critic of the extra travel and last season defended his decision to play a weakened squad in the Champions Cup quarter-final against Northampton Saints.

John Plumtree also recently gave a forthright view after the Sharks’ heavy defeat to Leicester Tigers last weekend when he left many of his stars at home.

“I want to bring our strongest Sharks side here and play on the biggest stage. I can understand their [the fans’] frustration,” Plumtree said following the 56-17 loss to Leicester.

“I want to go out there and give Leicester a good hiding in front of their home crowd. Don’t worry about that.

“We’re all competitive. But the reality is we’ve got to look after these athletes. They are not robots. They don’t front up every week. And right now, the South African boys are treated like robots.”
CEO feels that the URC and, by extension the EPCR, have given them an opportunity after they were ousted from Super Rugby in 2020.

‘Does not help our cause’
“That is the reality. Our teams want to play in professional leagues and the United Rugby Championship and European competitions offer exactly that,” he told Rapport.

“The South African clubs have to live with the fact that they are competing in two competitions at the same time. It does not help our cause to be so critical.

“Remember, there are clubs in the European competitions [Champions Cup and Challenge Cup] that don’t want us there. We have to be careful not to shoot ourselves in the foot by constantly criticising a competition that we participate in by invitation. After all, it is our lifeblood.

“One must not forget that Super Rugby kicked us out. If it wasn’t for the URC and European competitions, we would only have Currie Cup rugby to play now.”

[Kawazaki]

It's not the responsibility of European unions and clubs to make South African rugby stronger. And from what I've seen so far, it's a one-way deal in favour of the South African teams.

You're a southern hemisphere country. South Africa should be the catalyst for African rugby to grow and develop but you do bugger all for your continent and just dilute and make our continent weaker.


p.s Merry Christmas all

[OomStruisbaai]

It's not the responsibility of European unions and clubs to make South African rugby stronger. And from what I've seen so far, it's a one-way deal in favour of the South African teams.

You're a southern hemisphere country. South Africa should be the catalyst for African rugby to grow and develop but you do bugger all for your continent and just dilute and make our continent weaker.


p.s Merry Christmas all

Do you have any idea of African Rugby and what Saru do for them?

[Slick]

It's not the responsibility of European unions and clubs to make South African rugby stronger. And from what I've seen so far, it's a one-way deal in favour of the South African teams.

You're a southern hemisphere country. South Africa should be the catalyst for African rugby to grow and develop but you do bugger all for your continent and just dilute and make our continent weaker.


p.s Merry Christmas all

Do you have any idea of African Rugby and what Saru do for them?

Just poach Namibians as far as I can see

[OomStruisbaai]

It's not the responsibility of European unions and clubs to make South African rugby stronger. And from what I've seen so far, it's a one-way deal in favour of the South African teams.

You're a southern hemisphere country. South Africa should be the catalyst for African rugby to grow and develop but you do bugger all for your continent and just dilute and make our continent weaker.


p.s Merry Christmas all

Do you have any idea of African Rugby and what Saru do for them?

Just poach Namibians as far as I can see

forgot about Percy.

[Uncle fester]

And Zimbabweans

[Slick]

Do you have any idea of African Rugby and what Saru do for them?

Just poach Namibians as far as I can see

forgot about Percy.

[Uncle fester]

It's not the responsibility of European unions and clubs to make South African rugby stronger. And from what I've seen so far, it's a one-way deal in favour of the South African teams.

You're a southern hemisphere country. South Africa should be the catalyst for African rugby to grow and develop but you do bugger all for your continent and just dilute and make our continent weaker.


p.s Merry Christmas all

Poundshop Walrus.

[OomStruisbaai]

Champions Cup
ROUND 3
Friday 10 January
Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92 (8pm)
Saturday 11 January
Stormers v Sale Sharks (1pm)
Exeter Chiefs v Bordeaux-Bègles (3.15pm)
Sharks v Toulouse (3.15pm) Free on France TV
Munster v Saracens (5.30pm) Free on RTÉ
Stade Français v Northampton (5.30pm)
Leicester Tigers v Ulster (8pm)
Castres v Bulls (8pm)
Sunday 12 January
Toulon v Harlequins (1pm)
La Rochelle v Leinster (3.15pm) Free on France TV
Bristol Bears v Benetton (3.15pm)
Bath v Clermont Auvergne (5.30pm)
ROUND 4
Friday 17 January
Ulster v Exeter Chiefs (8pm)
Saturday 18 January
Bulls v Stade Français (1pm)
Northampton Saints v Munster (3.15pm)
Clermont Auvergne v Bristol (3.15pm) Free on France TV
Benetton v La Rochelle (5.30pm)
Leinster v Bath (5.30pm) Free on RTÉ
Harlequins v Glasgow Warriors (8pm)
Racing 92 v Stormers (8pm)
Sunday 19 January
Bordeaux-Bègles v Sharks (1pm)
Saracens v Castres (3.15pm)
Toulouse v Leicester Tigers (3.15pm) Free on France TV
Sale Sharks v Toulon (5.30pm)

[OomStruisbaai]

No way Toulouse will send an A team to the Sharks in January. French teams do this all the time.

Apparently they are sending their A team, as there will be some sort of ceremony for the young lad who died a few months back.

It would be great to see du Pont playing at Kings Park, hopefully against Grant Williams.

So DuPont are heading south to Durbs

[lemonhead]

United Rugby Boss
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/inte ... -ten-years

“That would be when we brought the South African teams in and created the United Rugby Championship,” he declares.

“They have been tremendously successful in terms of performance and attendance, as well as financially and commercially.

“Pretty much anybody you speak to in the league will say they have raised the standard of the competition on and off the field and they will continue to do that.”

Expanding on the financial benefit, he said:

“It’s a game changer. It’s millions.

“More than half our revenue comes from South Africa via television and sponsorship.

“They are also providing more value to EPCR, via Investec’s sponsorship of the Champions Cup.

“It is a huge part of the rugby economy for Europe.”

Now, as for the contentions in that post
1) URC has been such a shambles in its various guises for so many years, I'll leave othesr to judge improving standards. Results in Europe would suggest otherwise.
2) As for economics, I don't doubt SA revenue has helped there but I'm going to dispute the impact on the HEC. I can categorically say SA's presence has brought nothing to the table for the Fre teams. There is nothing in SA's participation for France.

1) Improvements are certainly relative. For a league that had no sponsor for 5 years and from 2017 until URC was won by Leinster, Leinster, Leinster and Leinster the change is night and day. Different winner from a different union every season since and 4pts often separating 8-10 teams in the table throughout the year. Standard and competitiveness has shot up even faster than Europe's gone to shit.

2) Sounds reasonable. At the moment HEC's in such a mess since T14 nabbed one of the fixture weekends it's hard to see what anyone can bring to the table. For anything to work there's going to have to be much more coordination between EPCR and the leagues. If we're stuck on 8 fixtures then either 8 groups of 3 H&A or we pair French teams in their respective pools of 4 and domestic games double as a European result. Both are shit solutions but I'm guessing that weekend will not be coming back and anything's better than this. Once format gets agreed you can start to add in SA tour schedule crossovers with the URC. Would they consider one neutral venue home game in their pool, perhaps a major city showcase? I don't know but agreed, in current guise things are basket case and a headwreck for all concerned.

[Torquemada 1420]

1) Improvements are certainly relative. For a league that had no sponsor for 5 years and from 2017 until URC was won by Leinster, Leinster, Leinster and Leinster the change is night and day. Different winner from a different union every season since and 4pts often separating 8-10 teams in the table throughout the year. Standard and competitiveness has shot up even faster than Europe's gone to shit.

2) Sounds reasonable. At the moment HEC's in such a mess since T14 nabbed one of the fixture weekends it's hard to see what anyone can bring to the table. For anything to work there's going to have to be much more coordination between EPCR and the leagues. If we're stuck on 8 fixtures then either 8 groups of 3 H&A or we pair French teams in their respective pools of 4 and domestic games double as a European result. Both are shit solutions but I'm guessing that weekend will not be coming back and anything's better than this. Once format gets agreed you can start to add in SA tour schedule crossovers with the URC. Would they consider one neutral venue home game in their pool, perhaps a major city showcase? I don't know but agreed, in current guise things are basket case and a headwreck for all concerned.

On 2), the genius of the HEC was the fact that the games were inter-national. The combo of
- URC having the same teams as Europe bar Eng and Fra
- and the stupidity of allowing GP-GP and T14-T14 Euro fixtures before the KO stages
are all part of the "headwreck".

From a viewing interest, I wonder if the URC is actually the most interesting comp to watch! I suppose the GP is unpredictable with high scores which is an attraction in itself even if the standard isn't particularly great.
T14 is not a great watch most of the time. Especially with Toulouse chucking out 3rd teams like this w/e whilst traditionally entertaining sides like Racing (blame Lancaster) and Paris have gone to sh*t.

[Biffer]

HEC would make much more sense with four groups of five, play all the other teams once, top two in each pool to the last eight. So twenty teams total, base the allocation on the previous 3/4/5 years performance, whatever rocks your boat (but maybe guarantee a minimum of five or six teams from each league?). One of the problems is there's a last 16 so no one really gives a toss prior to the KO. Make it more challenging to get into the knockout rounds and you've got a worthwhile competition again. Only takes seven weekends from the calendar, instead of eight like it does now. QFs start of April, SFs start of May, Final late May.

[PornDog]

One team would be sitting on their arse every week during the group stages (or they could play with themselves fnarr fnarr) - so would still need 8 weeks.

[Biffer]

One team would be sitting on their arse every week during the group stages (or they could play with themselves fnarr fnarr) - so would still need 8 weeks.

Right enough but I’m fine with that.

[PornDog]

It would be better than what we have, no doubt, but home AND away fixtures would be better. It needs to be 9 weekends, 5 or 6 groups of four.

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls vs Castres
Bulls – 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Nizaam Carr (c), 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 JF van Heerden, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Subs: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Corne Beets, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23. Cornel Smit.

[assfly]

What the fuck kind of a team is that from the Bulls?

[Uncle fester]

What the fuck kind of a team is that from the Bulls?

I don't know a single player in that squad.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers vs Sale Sharks
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sales Sharks
15 Piet du Preez, 14 Loren du Preez, 13 Frans du Preez 12 Koos du Preez, 11 Speedy du Preez, 10 Robert du Preez 9 Scrummie du Preez 8 JP du Preez 7 Other du Preez twin 6 Heinrich du Preez 5 Ernst van Rhyn 4 Kaalvoet du Preez 3 Vetgat du Preez 2 Middel du Preez 1 Ginger du Preez

[LoveOfTheGame]

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Jurenzo Julius

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Jack Willis, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Ange Capuozzo

I see an arse whipping loading...

[assfly]

I see an arse whipping loading...

Yep. Our backline looks so poor. No Eben in the pack either. I'm not sure we could have done much better given our list of injuries, but let's hope it's a good game anyway.

[Sandstorm]

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Jurenzo Julius

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Jack Willis, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Ange Capuozzo

I see an arse whipping loading...

Sards going to crying like a bitch when a certain #9 gets the ball.

[Tichtheid]

What the fuck kind of a team is that from the Bulls?

I don't know a single player in that squad.

15. Henry Immelman - Edinburgh legend.

He was the personification of the team, blowing from hot to honking on a week by week basis.


That Stade Toulousain team is ridiculous. The only thing that might count against them is that they are not used to the travel, but otherwise I can only see that match going one way

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Jurenzo Julius

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Jack Willis, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Ange Capuozzo

I see an arse whipping loading...

Sards going to crying like a bitch when a certain #9 gets the ball.

Toulouse going to get another 50.

[Dogbert]

Currently -4 in Scotstoun, feels a damn sight colder in the main stand, and they are selling ice cream in the North Stand.

Brrrrrrrr

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Luke James, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Robert du Preez (captain), 9 Gus Warr, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Willgriff John, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Ben Bamber, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Rekeiti Maasi-White, 23 Ben Curry.

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France) & Vincent Blasco Baque (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

[Sandstorm]

Some good and some dogshit in the Stormers starting 15.

Sale by 4

[Torquemada 1420]

Racing: a club in total disarray. Lancaster's exit cannot come soon enough for them.

[Torquemada 1420]

Tackling already an optional extra for Racing

[Torquemada 1420]

Racing: a club in total disarray. Lancaster's exit cannot come soon enough for them.

Along with Lancaster Jr (who would not get game time at Rouen), Farrell and Arundell.

[Tichtheid]

That's twice Racing have been lucky to keep 15 players on the park, that clearout on Darge is something that has to be taken out of the game

[Kawazaki]

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Luke James, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Robert du Preez (captain), 9 Gus Warr, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Willgriff John, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Ben Bamber, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Rekeiti Maasi-White, 23 Ben Curry.

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France) & Vincent Blasco Baque (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Is Quirke injured again?!

[Torquemada 1420]

That's twice Racing have been lucky to keep 15 players on the park, that clearout on Darge is something that has to be taken out of the game

The game is going the wrong way with this stuff with refs to blame IMHO.
- we had the Mack Hansen outburst which seemed bang on to me. And he gets a ban longer that the dangerous player.
- Alldritt was furious with ref Luc Ramos (a serial offender) and pointedly told him "Don't talk to us about player safety any more" after Tuilagi (another with a history of thuggery) shoulder charged the LaR man's head with no sanction.
- And talking of serial offenders, this clearout by Latu (the man is an uber c**t)

also went largely unpunished by Ref Ramos which led to Dupont taking to social media along with the likes of Dourthe on Canal Plus.

We have 2 problems
1) Refs who can't, won't or deliberately choose not to do their job.
2) Players who are not changing despite all the directives and some who seemingly are actively encouraged to continue being ****s. Tight 5 on Latu

Tolu Latu, again.

Hate to keep mentioning it but he is an actual danger. One of the worst card records of all time, seems to never learn.

[Slick]

Probably only going to get away with one game today. Thinking Sharks v Toulouse if they really have gone down there will a full squad

[Torquemada 1420]

Probably only going to get away with one game today. Thinking Sharks v Toulouse if they really have gone down there will a full squad

It's the best team available to Toulouse.