NPR

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:33 pm

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.

There has to be some sort of compensation for such a public embarrassment....

Does Sheehan think, he only gets his match fee, if he scores ?

Bath racking up a number of injuries

Bath are an absolute joke team. Hooper for the love of God go!!!

Leinster are a terrifying team who deserve a much better tournament than this season's farce to show how good they are.

Hope Quins don't have to play them at any point, we'd get marmalised.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:09 pm Leinster are a terrifying team who deserve a much better tournament than this season's farce to show how good they are.

Hope Quins don't have to play them at any point, we'd get marmalised.

I've got this idea about substitutes if things are going badly wrong...

Time to get rid of the EPCR and reform the ERC ?

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:09 pm Leinster are a terrifying team who deserve a much better tournament than this season's farce to show how good they are.

Hope Quins don't have to play them at any point, we'd get marmalised.

With feeble prep like this, they'll probably come unstuck against a team that actually puts up a resistance.

Camroc2 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:09 pm Time to get rid of the EPCR and reform the ERC ?

It'd just be the same teams with the same issues. There's no level playing field in European competitions so it'll always have numerous mismatches.
Leinster are a terrific side and should win the Cup at a canter.

Have to say though, the Strength of all the Irish sides is very formidable - all 4 going through to the next round is a superb effort. Shame this year's tournament has been turned into a bit of a farce - Cardiff are likely to qualify despite losing all the games they've played Probably the only way a Welsh side were going to qualify - nonetheless, it'd still good, in one way, for the tournament have sides from 4 nations make it out of the 1st round.

Ovals wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:49 pm

Camroc2 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:09 pm Time to get rid of the EPCR and reform the ERC ?

It'd just be the same teams with the same issues. There's no level playing field in European competitions so it'll always have numerous mismatches.
Leinster are a terrific side and should win the Cup at a canter.

Have to say though, the Strength of all the Irish sides is very formidable - all 4 going through to the next round is a superb effort. Shame this year's tournament has been turned into a bit of a farce - Cardiff are likely to qualify despite losing all the games they've played Probably the only way a Welsh side were going to qualify - nonetheless, it'd still good, in one way, for the tournament have sides from 4 nations make it out of the 1st round.

Kinda a contradiction there?

Took kids out instead of watching the Bath game, sounds like the right call.

Competitive for about 10 mins, then it all goes to ratshit and our best players get crocked.

Let's all agree to pretend this season never happened.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:49 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:09 pm Leinster are a terrifying team who deserve a much better tournament than this season's farce to show how good they are.

Hope Quins don't have to play them at any point, we'd get marmalised.

With feeble prep like this, they'll probably come unstuck against a team that actually puts up a resistance.

But that's what scares me about them. Bath are dogshit and Leinster were far from perfect but they still brought incredible intensity.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:22 pm But that's what scares me about them. Bath are dogshit and Leinster were far from perfect but they still brought incredible intensity.

What do you expect? That was most of the Irish side that defeated the ABs in November. 5 of the Irish pack including the entire backrow. Would have been 6 had Furlong played. Sexton, Keenan and Gibson-Park (ok, he didn't start for Ireland) too. Larmour, Henshaw and RIngrose all intls.

The only surprise should be that they don't win everything at a canter.

Hah. That was quality by Brizzle.

Brizzle currently two tries to the good against the Scrats. Vui with a filthy reverse offload to set up the second.

Bris very vulnerable to the counter.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:03 pm Bris very vulnerable to the counter.

Mainly because they keep giving it away poorly on full speed offence.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:05 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:03 pm Bris very vulnerable to the counter.

Mainly because they keep giving it away poorly on full speed offence.

Story of their season really. Continuing trying to play at warp speed even while their fundamentals are letting them down.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:07 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:05 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:03 pm Bris very vulnerable to the counter.

Mainly because they keep giving it away poorly on full speed offence.

Story of their season really. Continuing trying to play at warp speed even while their fundamentals are letting them down.

Defo looks a case of overplaying your hands.

Was about to say Piatau has done nothing

Gloating in the face of a grounded player for a knock-on and tapping their head - class

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:42 pm Gloating in the face of a grounded player for a knock-on and tapping their head - class

Especially poor given the way this game has been played.

Ironic that it's a brute force, pick and go that gets Brizzle in.

{EDIT} Or not. Seems they can't even do that right!

Raynal seems to be one of the few enforcing (at least verbally) the start of season directive around jackallers needing to actually lift the ball.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:53 pm Raynal seems to be one of the few enforcing (at least verbally) the start of season directive around jackallers needing to actually lift the ball.

I think the officials have had a good game here.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:56 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:53 pm Raynal seems to be one of the few enforcing (at least verbally) the start of season directive around jackallers needing to actually lift the ball.

I think the officials have had a good game here.

Yeah, I know there's a lot of frothing about French refs from some quarters, but I think Ryanal is generally very good. The TMO for this game has also only made good contributions.

That said, not entirely sure the penalty try was warranted in that situation. Yellow card definitely.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 6:58 pm
That said, not entirely sure the penalty try was warranted in that situation. Yellow card definitely.

Once it was yellow, it was going to be a pen try. At the moment of contact, there are basically 2 wide Briz players and no defenders.

Meantime, as predicted, Gibbes' Clermont are having their arses reemed in Ulster. Maybe he and Hooper could switch jobs?

Brizzle may think that's clever but it's just really poor game management.

{EDIT} And Piatau pays the price.

Piutau and Fitz-Harding between them are brilliant examples of Bristol's terrible salary largesse. The former is so expensive and nearly constantly injured, whereas the latter is a no name who's forced his way into the starting line up and the guy on half a million quid he's replaced is on loan in the Championship.

O'Conner's slippery, but that was pish tackling.

FM. Didn't see this capitulation coming.

The game's really run away from Scarlet's in the last 15 or so. An ugly scoreline given how close it was for about an hour.

Ulster's bench completely outclassed by the intensity that Clermont's brought onto the pitch.

Enjoyable game to watch. Definitely never a dull moment watching Ulster play these days. I said after last week that our defence is not good enough yet to be at the big boy's table in Europe, I think tonight is another example that you can only out-attack a shite defence for only so long. We need a big improvement in that area in the knockouts.

That was quite good.

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 7:23 pm Ulster's bench completely outclassed by the intensity that Clermont's brought onto the pitch.

Enjoyable game to watch. Definitely never a dull moment watching Ulster play these days. I said after last week that our defence is not good enough yet to be at the big boy's table in Europe, I think tonight is another example that you can only out-attack a shite defence for only so long. We need a big improvement in that area in the knockouts.

Crikey, last I looked it was 34-13 to Ulster, quite a fightback from Clermont

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 7:23 pm Ulster's bench completely outclassed by the intensity that Clermont's brought onto the pitch.

Enjoyable game to watch. Definitely never a dull moment watching Ulster play these days. I said after last week that our defence is not good enough yet to be at the big boy's table in Europe, I think tonight is another example that you can only out-attack a shite defence for only so long. We need a big improvement in that area in the knockouts.

Explains my observation about Ulster falling away in 2nd halfs.

Will a Welsh side actually win a single game in Europe this year? (Except by default)...all hopes pinned on the pisspreys tomorrow i guess

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 7:23 pm Ulster's bench completely outclassed by the intensity that Clermont's brought onto the pitch.

Enjoyable game to watch. Definitely never a dull moment watching Ulster play these days. I said after last week that our defence is not good enough yet to be at the big boy's table in Europe, I think tonight is another example that you can only out-attack a shite defence for only so long. We need a big improvement in that area in the knockouts.

We're missing a shedload of players and that is having an impact on the 23. With some more players back (Henderson and one if Reidy or Murphy in particular) you all of a sudden have so much more quality on the pitch for 80mins.

Similarly we started with our 3rd choice 12 and ended up with an Academy wing in the centre.

Yes we could get rolled by a big team but equally we can score from just about anywhere and make a fight of the game.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 7:32 pm Will a Welsh side actually win a single game in Europe this year? (Except by default)...all hopes pinned on the pisspreys tomorrow i guess

No is the answer. Tbh this years competition is as much of a joke as the Welsh teams.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 7:32 pm Will a Welsh side actually win a single game in Europe this year? (Except by default)...all hopes pinned on the pisspreys tomorrow i guess

Sale have looked pretty ordinary so.....





no.