NPR

PCPhil wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:31 am So the freeview CH4 game today is Bath v Leinster. Should be a close one, if Leinster went out on the lash last night that is.

And tie their boot laces together.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:51 am

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:29 am We were good but Brive, jesus, why even board the plane.

Agree. Much as Castres are disliked in France, you rarely see them simply throw games.

After Montpellier last week, some of the French teams can be a disgrace to the game.

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 10:56 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:51 am

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:29 am We were good but Brive, jesus, why even board the plane.

Agree. Much as Castres are disliked in France, you rarely see them simply throw games.

After Montpellier last week, some of the French teams can be a disgrace to the game.

We've come full circle. For many years, most Fre sides considered T* more important than Europe. Toulouse being the consistent exception but they had deep resources enabling them to compete on 2 fronts. The Parker was viewed as a waste of time and so you saw stuff like Agen chucking games.

That all went away for a while but in recent times, it has come back. Sure, covid has not helped, but it's more than that. Interest in the comps has waned. Many Fre supporters don't even bother watching the Euro games. I suspect if the LNR offered the clubs the same funds and the option to dip Europe, they'd all take it.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 8:34 am This should please Torq

Mike Adamson of Scotland is the only other referee to have two matches, officiating France v Scotland in Round 1 before also being on the whistle for England v Wales at Twickenham in Round 3.

He can't be doing that in Round 1 as he's Scottish

edit. I checked, he had France v Italy. 6N fucked up their own copy

mos_eisely_ wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:41 am

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 8:34 am This should please Torq

Mike Adamson of Scotland is the only other referee to have two matches, officiating France v Scotland in Round 1 before also being on the whistle for England v Wales at Twickenham in Round 3.

He can't be doing that in Round 1 as he's Scottish

edit. I checked, he had France v Italy. 6N fucked up their own copy

I have seen him ref a few games, cant recall a good performance from him, not sure how he has managed to get Tier 1 international games.

Racing v Saints match tomorrow gone.
Positive tests in the Saints camp this morning.
Racing "win" 28-0, which is probably a lot less than the actual result would have been!!!

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:31 pm Racing v Saints match tomorrow gone.
Positive tests in the Saints camp this morning.
Racing "win" 28-0, which is probably a lot less than the actual result would have been!!!

Well, now Mackey has spoken and whilst we can hope the crook will be in jail sometime soon, he is still head of the FFR and has spoken out against EPCR. So now we have Fra's top club, the body that runs the Fre league and the national federation all laying into EPCR.

Nice to have some Leinstertainment on public TV in the UK - thanks Channel 4.

Is that Francois Louw? Or what's left of him?

Bath ready for the bumming

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:00 pm Bath ready for the bumming

Yup. 2 good chances already squandered from complete ineptitude.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:47 am

mos_eisely_ wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:41 am

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 8:34 am This should please Torq

He can't be doing that in Round 1 as he's Scottish

edit. I checked, he had France v Italy. 6N fucked up their own copy.

I have seen him ref a few games, cant recall a good performance from him, not sure how he has managed to get Tier 1 international games.

I think most Scots would agree that Hollie Davidson is the best Scottish ref. Personally, I have always been impressed by her calm and authoritative manner. She manages that difficult balance of being friendly but leaving no one in any doubt who is in charge. She is less experienced than Adamson, and she is very young for a ref, but her day will come, as will that of Joy Neville.

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:31 pm Racing v Saints match tomorrow gone.
Positive tests in the Saints camp this morning.
Racing "win" 28-0, which is probably a lot less than the actual result would have been!!!

Looking at the two sides I reckon they would have put 50+ on us. We've got no chance of getting through and I'd rather Saints didn't take another hammering, so this isn't terrible news.

7 mins and 49 phases later....

Leo. “Right lads, been a bit easy lately so we’ll get some tackle practice in for first 10 mins.”

Bath gave the Leinster defence a good gumming there.

Can't hold player back like that.

Cannot believe it's taken them this long to make such an obvious call

Why does the ref need it explained in words of one syllable FFS?

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:16 pm Cannot believe it's taken them this long to make such an obvious call

This is it for me, everyone else knew straight away ffs

That was some hit. Ouch.

Bailey having a bright start. Shame I have to go out now, had assumed this would be a waste of time

Bit of a push there by Llama.

Underhill broken again

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:24 pm Underhill broken again

Ugly tackle; head to thigh, & he was clearly sparked out

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:24 pm Underhill broken again

With a head that big it's always likely to get in the way.

Big blow for Bath, two of their back rowers and best players taken out in quick succession.

That was too easy

That's nonsense. Not held.

Leinster playing poorly and still winning this at a canter

Moral victory secured.

And there is the bonus point try

Bath are at least trying, unlike Montpellier, but it really is the game you get when you pit a rusty international team against the worst team in the Prem.

And there is the 5th

Again Leinster are lethal in the Championship minutes around HT

I love Porter as a player but jesus, his hair gets worse everytime I see him

Must have a few posters of BOD circa 2004 up on his bedroom.

That's embarrassing; JOB Hat trick

Dear oh dear, this is utterly painful, how the fuck is Hooper not falling on his own sword.

Bath have mentally given up now.

That.was.a.Peach !

Last pass was clearly fwd. It doesn't matter if the margin is already a cricket score, apply the f**king laws.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:30 pm Last pass was clearly fwd. It doesn't matter if the margin is already a cricket score, apply the f**king laws.

Pass was fine in my view.

Bath players should be ashamed to collect their salaries.