NPR

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:52 pm

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:34 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:15 pm

Ulster need to start picking him at 10. There's very little chance he'll be worse than Burns.

I agree and disagree.

I agree that he'd probably do a better job at 10 than Burns, although to be fair Billy Boy had a reasonable game yesterday.

I disagree that Lowry should play 10. He's playing great rugby at 15 and offers a threat running from deep that we would struggle to replace with our current squad.

Burns when he is playing with confidence is a good URC/competent ERC-level player. The best use of resources is keeping him as our starting 10 imo, and giving him a boot up the arse/arm around the shoulder to keep the brainfarts away.

Do you not have other options at 15? McIlroy will probably do a job for you there until Addison comes back to full fitness (and stays there for 15 mins before breaking again).
If he has international ambitions, he's going to need to play 10 a bit more.

McIlroy is a very decent player and could do a job at 15 but in my eyes he's very servicable rather than game changing from FB. He'd be a good backup option.

I've written Addison off at this point which is a shame. I know his current injury was a freak one but given his lack of game time I can't view him as an option until he strings 6 or 7 games together without breaking.

There are other options like Gilroy or Stockdale at 15 but neither would fill me with confidence, especially Stockdale.

I just think the combination of McIlroy's stability/composure, the power and pace of Baloucoune and Lowry's creativity and ability to cause chaos for defences is our best back 3.

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:21 pm Got a contract extension and all but across the board, Irish rugby teams can be very slow to let underperforming players go.

McCloskey makes it work for Burns and to a lesser extent Hume

paddyor wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:44 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:21 pm Got a contract extension and all but across the board, Irish rugby teams can be very slow to let underperforming players go.

McCloskey makes it work for Burns and to a lesser extent Hume

Yeah, those lads are guaranteed front foot ball against most teams.

FFLOSE's hilarious take on the Montpellier game:
https://fflose.com/champions-cup-leinst ... tres-cher/

We can imagine that Montpellier's team talk at the break must have been very intense. And we weren't wrong. As soon as the game resumed, the Irish planted 3 more tries in the space of just 7 minutes. You have to view as the glass half full; the weather conditions are perfect for playing rugby this afternoon............. Between the missed tackles, the accordion alignments of the Hérault's defence, the spaces left as wide as the Champs-Élysées and the kicks directly into touch, the performance of MHR is just phenomenal.

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 1:51 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 1:50 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 1:48 pm I thought Umaga might have crouched enough for mitigation, but he ran the risk and paid the price.

We're going to need a hell of a game to overcome this.

What happened?

Didn't get low enough in a tackle and smacked heads with Page Relo.

Umaga out for 4 weeks

SaintK wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:20 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 1:51 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 1:50 pm

What happened?

Didn't get low enough in a tackle and smacked heads with Page Relo.

Umaga out for 4 weeks

That's double the previous ban, which makes sense. Thought it might be a bit more actually considering he literally just came back from a ban for the same offence and he got a week off the previous tariff to take some sot of course on tackling(which clearly didn't stick).

So what's the spread for Bath v Leinster, this weekend ?

I don't usually bet on Rugby; but this one might be free money

[Edit] Just checked; ... Leinster +25 Pile on folks !!!

fishfoodie wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:36 pm So what's the spread for Bath v Leinster, this weekend ?

I don't usually bet on Rugby; but this one might be free money

[Edit] Just checked; ... Leinster +25 Pile on folks !!!

Thats free money

Toulon v Falcons pp'd which effectively means cancelled since Toulon already have a backlog in T14 and are in the relegation zone and so will want out of Europe asap.

Toulouse v Blues looks like it's going ahead at the moment despite covid all over the red camp including Dupont.
probably still too good for the Blues.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:56 am Toulon v Falcons pp'd which effectively means cancelled since Toulon already have a backlog in T14 and are in the relegation zone and so will want out of Europe asap.

Toulouse v Blues looks like it's going ahead at the moment despite covid all over the red camp including Dupont.
probably still too good for the Blues.

Ohhhh i see your fav is playing at 15 Torq

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:02 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:56 am Toulon v Falcons pp'd which effectively means cancelled since Toulon already have a backlog in T14 and are in the relegation zone and so will want out of Europe asap.

Toulouse v Blues looks like it's going ahead at the moment despite covid all over the red camp including Dupont.
probably still too good for the Blues.

Ohhhh i see your fav is playing at 15 Torq

"playing" is a reach.

Quins have rested a bunch against Castres, probably wisely. Very few chances for a rest at the moment. Still not a complete 2nd team with some big names taking the field.

Marler, Musk, Kerrod, Lamb, Tizard, Vailani, Wallace, Dombrandt, Steele, Allen, Murley, Esterhuizen, Jones, Lynagh, David

Smith and Marchant on the bench for a rescue act if needed...

JM2K6 wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:30 am Quins have rested a bunch against Castres, probably wisely. Very few chances for a rest at the moment. Still not a complete 2nd team with some big names taking the field.

Marler, Musk, Kerrod, Lamb, Tizard, Vailani, Wallace, Dombrandt, Steele, Allen, Murley, Esterhuizen, Jones, Lynagh, David

Smith and Marchant on the bench for a rescue act if needed...

Saw that. Which makes the pick tough because Castres have partially done the same. Looks like a lot tighter game now than would have expected because CO will still be cussed.

ASMO wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:48 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:36 pm So what's the spread for Bath v Leinster, this weekend ?

I don't usually bet on Rugby; but this one might be free money

[Edit] Just checked; ... Leinster +25 Pile on folks !!!

Thats free money

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:41 am

ASMO wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:48 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:36 pm So what's the spread for Bath v Leinster, this weekend ?

I don't usually bet on Rugby; but this one might be free money

[Edit] Just checked; ... Leinster +25 Pile on folks !!!

Thats free money

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

Given the results we’ve had at home this year, take the money! Only one game one against a 14 man Worcester where we scraped over the line. For the rest, we’ve been roundly stuffed pretty much every week!

duke wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:52 am

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:41 am

ASMO wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:48 pm

Thats free money

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

Given the results we’ve had at home this year, take the money! Only one game one against a 14 man Worcester where we scraped over the line. For the rest, we’ve been roundly stuffed pretty much every week!

No idea what sort of team Leinster are putting out tomorrow but still I never underestimate a top club like Bath regardless of how shit they have been.

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:58 am

duke wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:52 am

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:41 am

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

Given the results we’ve had at home this year, take the money! Only one game one against a 14 man Worcester where we scraped over the line. For the rest, we’ve been roundly stuffed pretty much every week!

No idea what sort of team Leinster are putting out tomorrow but still I never underestimate a top club like Bath regardless of how shit they have been.

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:41 am

ASMO wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:48 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:36 pm So what's the spread for Bath v Leinster, this weekend ?

I don't usually bet on Rugby; but this one might be free money

[Edit] Just checked; ... Leinster +25 Pile on folks !!!

Thats free money

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

Saracens scored 71 points against them at the Rec in October, so the main question this weekend should be whether Leinster can beat that score.

Lobby wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:38 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:41 am

ASMO wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:48 pm

Thats free money

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

Saracens scored 71 points against them at the Rec in October, so the main question this weekend should be whether Leinster can beat that score.

I would be more than happy with a BP win. Their points diff is off the charts as it is.

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:44 pm

Lobby wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:38 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:41 am

Shirley Bath will mount some sort of a challenge at home in the Rec, no ????

Saracens scored 71 points against them at the Rec in October, so the main question this weekend should be whether Leinster can beat that score.

I would be more than happy with a BP win. Their points diff is off the charts as it is.

I am pretty sure the BP will be achieved before half time

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:47 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:44 pm

Lobby wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:38 pm

Saracens scored 71 points against them at the Rec in October, so the main question this weekend should be whether Leinster can beat that score.

I would be more than happy with a BP win. Their points diff is off the charts as it is.

I am pretty sure the BP will be achieved before half time

Poor Bath.....WTF has happened to them ?.
As an aside, always a great weekend away when we would get them in the Heineken 10/15 years ago. good Rugby blokes.

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:51 pm

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:47 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:44 pm

I would be more than happy with a BP win. Their points diff is off the charts as it is.

I am pretty sure the BP will be achieved before half time

Poor Bath.....WTF has happened to them ?.
As an aside, always a great weekend away when we would get them in the Heineken 10/15 years ago. good Rugby blokes.

2 words, Stuart Hooper

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:51 pm

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:47 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:44 pm

I would be more than happy with a BP win. Their points diff is off the charts as it is.

I am pretty sure the BP will be achieved before half time

Poor Bath.....WTF has happened to them ?.
As an aside, always a great weekend away when we would get them in the Heineken 10/15 years ago. good Rugby blokes.

Years of un-arrested mediocrity taking a nose dive under the inexperienced stewardship of Stuart Hooper

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:56 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:51 pm

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:47 pm

I am pretty sure the BP will be achieved before half time

Poor Bath.....WTF has happened to them ?.
As an aside, always a great weekend away when we would get them in the Heineken 10/15 years ago. good Rugby blokes.

Years of un-arrested mediocrity taking a nose dive under the inexperienced stewardship of Stuart Hooper

It remains to be seen but I doubt think Van Graan will be the answer to anyone's question !!!!

Wasps team to go tackle Munster


Returns from injury or illness for West, Millar-Mills, Stooke, Robson, Watson, Morris and Spink.

The unavailable list this week:
Biyi Alo, Alfie Barbeary, Malakai Fekitoa, Vaea Fifita, Dan Frost, Jimmy Gopperth, Ben Harris, Robin Hislop, Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige, Joe Launchbury, Matteo Minozzi, Will Simonds, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis, Tom Willis.

Bolded players were involved in the Toulouse win last week. Seems like a lot to lose and every time we get some guys coming back from injury, more fall over. Notable exception for Umaga starting his ban.

Probably going to get beat, very few teams rock up at Thomond and win in Europe.

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:06 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:56 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:51 pm

Poor Bath.....WTF has happened to them ?.
As an aside, always a great weekend away when we would get them in the Heineken 10/15 years ago. good Rugby blokes.

Years of un-arrested mediocrity taking a nose dive under the inexperienced stewardship of Stuart Hooper

It remains to be seen but I doubt think Van Graan will be the answer to anyone's question !!!!

If he could just arrest the decline and maye get them back to lower mid-table, that'd be an improvement.

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:33 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:06 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:56 pm

Years of un-arrested mediocrity taking a nose dive under the inexperienced stewardship of Stuart Hooper

It remains to be seen but I doubt think Van Graan will be the answer to anyone's question !!!!

If he could just arrest the decline and maye get them back to lower mid-table, that'd be an improvement.

depends on the question being asked, if the question is "name someone who would be an improvement on the pile of shit coaching Bath currently have?" then he would be one of probably 1000+ answers

Cardiff/Toulouse game off with Cardiff getting the win.......!!! Makes it interesting for Wasps on Sunday.

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:46 pm Cardiff/Toulouse game off with Cardiff getting the win.......!!! Makes it interesting for Wasps on Sunday.

Toulouse fail to qualify then?

LNR and Toulouse are up in Arms about it

They have a team though

Cardiff would qualify not having won a game

laurent wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:57 pm LNR and Toulouse are up in Arms about it

They have a team though

Cardiff would qualify not having won a game

So did Leinster....didn't matter a shit.

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:59 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:46 pm Cardiff/Toulouse game off with Cardiff getting the win.......!!! Makes it interesting for Wasps on Sunday.

This is strange as Toulouse had the 23 players require with negative test results.

Consistently idiotic with the Leinster decision.

fishfoodie wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:04 pm

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:59 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:46 pm Cardiff/Toulouse game off with Cardiff getting the win.......!!! Makes it interesting for Wasps on Sunday.

This is strange as Toulouse had the 23 players require with negative test results.

Consistently idiotic with the Leinster decision.

Ir's what happens when you move sporting bodies to places were they don't play the sport.

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:53 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:46 pm Cardiff/Toulouse game off with Cardiff getting the win.......!!! Makes it interesting for Wasps on Sunday.

Toulouse fail to qualify then?

Yes. Because whatever happens at Coventry, either Wasps or CO will overhaul them. No sympathy from me.


{EDIT} Didier Lacroix (Pres) is doing his nut. Apparently Toulouse could field a team but EPCR had allegedly already made up minds to cancel. Toulouse is going to sue.

This comp gets more farcical by each day.

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 2:32 pm Wasps team to go tackle Munster


Returns from injury or illness for West, Millar-Mills, Stooke, Robson, Watson, Morris and Spink.

The unavailable list this week:
Biyi Alo, Alfie Barbeary, Malakai Fekitoa, Vaea Fifita, Dan Frost, Jimmy Gopperth, Ben Harris, Robin Hislop, Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige, Joe Launchbury, Matteo Minozzi, Will Simonds, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jacob Umaga, Jack Willis, Tom Willis.

Bolded players were involved in the Toulouse win last week. Seems like a lot to lose and every time we get some guys coming back from injury, more fall over. Notable exception for Umaga starting his ban.

Probably going to get beat, very few teams rock up at Thomond and win in Europe.

I'm sure there's an element of having to risk not quite fit players, but what point do you start to worry that there's something fundamentally wrong with the S&C at Wasps?

Sh*t has hit the fan now.

The LNR has waded in in support of Toulouse, calling the cancellation unfounded and a scandal. Stating that Toulouse had followed all EPCR rules and therefore EPCR has violated its own regs.

This is a big deal. LNR is hinting it will support legal proceedings by Toulouse against EPCR. LNR is the governing body for the French clubs.

Farcical decision. Farcical tournament format. Farcical tournament.

We didn't appreciate what we had in the 00s/early 10s.

And UBB gets the 28-0 treatment

Just dump the thing

laurent wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:53 pm And UBB gets the 28-0 treatment

Just dump the thing

Yup. It's not beyond the realms that the LNR threatens to pull the remaining Fre clubs and uses the gap to catch up T14 fixtures.

Jim Lahey wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:45 pm Farcical decision. Farcical tournament format. Farcical tournament.

We didn't appreciate what we had in the 00s/early 10s.

Some of us did but the combo of money, TV and an inept organiser has made it as sh*te as Soup now.