NPR

Tichtheid wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:40 pm That is terrible from Exeter, really poor.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:52 pm

PornDog wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:28 pm All Leinster second rows for both teams

Roux was at Leinster?

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 6:49 am Sharks are through to the play offs. Just need to keep their loss under 28.

Dan54 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 12:52 am Well watched that game9Or about 50 minutes or so) this morning. Was live here about 9am, so handy time.
Conclusion was although I enjoyed waht I saw in general, the defnce of both teams kind of ruined the game. I loved some of the tries, but just getannoyed when so many basic errors in defence. I know they happen etc, but one or 2 of them looked as if the players didn't know what they were supposed to do, and even worse maybe just came from basic no communication between players.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 6:49 am Sharks are through to the play offs. Just need to keep their loss under 28.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:59 am Rob Baxter will get his usual free pass from the rugby media and it will be somebody else's fault.

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 11:04 am That may be true, but I'm pretty sure Exeter are running on a restricted budget, they've lost almost everyone that formed the successful side of the last decade, and it's extremely hard to halt a slide like that.

With all that in mind, them losing away in Europe with a second team where they were competitive for half of it barely registers in their list of woes this season.

I will say that sides are finding out pretty quickly that the recent relatively cheap Welsh signings are largely not worth it. Bristol have done well with them. Outside of that, IFW, Tomos Williams, and maybe Anscombe have been successes in the premiership. Jarrod Evans at Quins is a good second choice even if he's not quite at the standard his fans thought.

Joe Hawkins, Dafydd Jenkins, Iestyn Harris (recently retired), Oli Burrows at Exeter; Wyn Jones, Dillon Evans, Leigh Halfpenny at Quins, and a bunch of even lesser known journeymen have been largely making up the numbers.

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 8:45 am

Dan54 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 12:52 am Well watched that game9Or about 50 minutes or so) this morning. Was live here about 9am, so handy time.
Conclusion was although I enjoyed waht I saw in general, the defnce of both teams kind of ruined the game. I loved some of the tries, but just getannoyed when so many basic errors in defence. I know they happen etc, but one or 2 of them looked as if the players didn't know what they were supposed to do, and even worse maybe just came from basic no communication between players.

Exeter have been a genuine disaster this season and that was largely a second team. Frankly amazed it was 17-17 at half time.

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 11:04 am That may be true, but I'm pretty sure Exeter are running on a restricted budget, they've lost almost everyone that formed the successful side of the last decade, and it's extremely hard to halt a slide like that.

With all that in mind, them losing away in Europe with a second team where they were competitive for half of it barely registers in their list of woes this season.

I will say that sides are finding out pretty quickly that the recent relatively cheap Welsh signings are largely not worth it. Bristol have done well with them. Outside of that, IFW, Tomos Williams, and maybe Anscombe have been successes in the premiership. Jarrod Evans at Quins is a good second choice even if he's not quite at the standard his fans thought.

Joe Hawkins, Dafydd Jenkins, Iestyn Harris (recently retired), Oli Burrows at Exeter; Wyn Jones, Dillon Evans, Leigh Halfpenny at Quins, and a bunch of even lesser known journeymen have been largely making up the numbers.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:59 am Rob Baxter will get his usual free pass from the rugby media and it will be somebody else's fault.

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 11:04 am ...they've lost almost everyone that formed the successful side of the last decade, and it's extremely hard to halt a slide like that.

ASMO wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:35 pm Is this Stade 2nd or 3rd xv?

Slick wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:24 pm Just turned off the Bulls game, SF absolutely pathetic.

dpedin wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 11:26 am

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 11:04 am That may be true, but I'm pretty sure Exeter are running on a restricted budget, they've lost almost everyone that formed the successful side of the last decade, and it's extremely hard to halt a slide like that.

With all that in mind, them losing away in Europe with a second team where they were competitive for half of it barely registers in their list of woes this season.

I will say that sides are finding out pretty quickly that the recent relatively cheap Welsh signings are largely not worth it. Bristol have done well with them. Outside of that, IFW, Tomos Williams, and maybe Anscombe have been successes in the premiership. Jarrod Evans at Quins is a good second choice even if he's not quite at the standard his fans thought.

Joe Hawkins, Dafydd Jenkins, Iestyn Harris (recently retired), Oli Burrows at Exeter; Wyn Jones, Dillon Evans, Leigh Halfpenny at Quins, and a bunch of even lesser known journeymen have been largely making up the numbers.

Even allowing for it being a 2nd choice Exeter team the level of organization and motivation was just awful and reflects very badly on the coaching team. They were hardly playing a top class Ulster team who tried hard to let Exeter make a match of it. Good to see Cooney add a real touch of class to the game when he came on, real top player and would do a turn for a lot of teams at the moment if he leaves Ulster as expected.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:38 pm

Slick wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:24 pm Just turned off the Bulls game, SF absolutely pathetic.

An accurate advert for this comp.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:04 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:38 pm

Slick wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:24 pm Just turned off the Bulls game, SF absolutely pathetic.

An accurate advert for this comp.

I remember the spivs telling us they’d get rid of dead rubber games with their new format competition.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:04 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:38 pm

Slick wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:24 pm Just turned off the Bulls game, SF absolutely pathetic.

An accurate advert for this comp.

I remember the spivs telling us they’d get rid of dead rubber games with their new format competition.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:08 pm

Biffer wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:04 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:38 pm

An accurate advert for this comp.

I remember the spivs telling us they’d get rid of dead rubber games with their new format competition.

Scotland contribute a grand total of two sides full of plastic Jocks. You should grateful for what you get.

C T wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 3:06 pm How is home quarters/semis decided? Just trying to figure out why the group stages have got pish.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 4:43 pm Wow pass from Fin Smith.

That's what top 10s do, they make those around them tick.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:08 pm

Biffer wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 2:04 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2025 1:38 pm

An accurate advert for this comp.

I remember the spivs telling us they’d get rid of dead rubber games with their new format competition.

Scotland contribute a grand total of two sides full of plastic Jocks. You should grateful for what you get.