2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[Torquemada 1420]

That Saints side is just about as strong a team that they could put out especially with Mitchell returned from injury.
Can't see them getting within 15 points of the Bulls though!

Hmm. If it were not for the altitude and travel, with that big pitch, I'd fancy Saints' chances of an upset.

[SaintK]

That Saints side is just about as strong a team that they could put out especially with Mitchell returned from injury.
Can't see them getting within 15 points of the Bulls though!

Hmm. If it were not for the altitude and travel, with that big pitch, I'd fancy Saints' chances of an upset.

I’d have gone with that last season
The attack is not really a problem but They are struggling for grunt up front particularly in the second row and missing what Ribbans and surprisingly Moon bought to the team before they left for France

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks throwing their game against Leicester?

Sharks won their home game. Can afford to use their CC team.

[SaintK]

Sharks throwing their game against Leicester?

Sharks won their home game. Can afford to use their CC team.

Leicester not playing particularly well the last couple of games
Could be close

[Torquemada 1420]

That Saints side is just about as strong a team that they could put out especially with Mitchell returned from injury.
Can't see them getting within 15 points of the Bulls though!

Hmm. If it were not for the altitude and travel, with that big pitch, I'd fancy Saints' chances of an upset.

I’d have gone with that last season
The attack is not really a problem but They are struggling for grunt up front particularly in the second row and missing what Ribbans and surprisingly Moon bought to the team before they left for France

Yeah. I guess those backs are no use as a weapon if they cannot get any ball.

[Uncle fester]

Interesting interview with John Dobson.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/ ... dApp_Other

[Torquemada 1420]

This is a pretty soft yellow.

[ASMO]

Racing are really ordinary, only player showing any heart is Chat. Le Garrec for someone who is supposed to be next cab off the rank for France st 9 has been really shite.

[SaintK]

Sale not much better
Fords kicking out of hand has been abysmal
Pretty poor fare all round

[Torquemada 1420]

Racing are really ordinary, only player showing any heart is Chat. Le Garrec for someone who is supposed to be next cab off the rank for France st 9 has been really shite.

Really gone to sh*t since Lancaster took over. Le Garrec has already bailed and signed for LaR so he has no interest in playing for Lancaster.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... 25/1501100

EDIT: Lancaster's nepotism doesn't appear to be to everyone's delight either.

[Torquemada 1420]

Sale not much better
Fords kicking out of hand has been abysmal
Pretty poor fare all round

There is a serious gulf between 3 or 4 teams and the rest.

[SaintK]

Sale not much better
Fords kicking out of hand has been abysmal
Pretty poor fare all round

There is a serious gulf between 3 or 4 teams and the rest.

Yep
Two poor teams playing poor rugby in this match

[ASMO]

Both teams are not to put too fine a point on it...........gash

[SaintK]

Finally a bit of quality from Roebuck and Carpenter
19 7 Sale

[Torquemada 1420]

Sale not much better
Fords kicking out of hand has been abysmal
Pretty poor fare all round

There is a serious gulf between 3 or 4 teams and the rest.

Yep
Two poor teams playing poor rugby in this match

CO v Munster is probably equally as dire. I'm off to bed!

[fishfoodie]

What is it about Munster & OHs playing themselves out of contention for the National side ?

Crowley was shocking tonight, & if he'd been 10% better they'd have secured an away win & make qualification probable.

[SaintK]

Sale 29 7 would have been a lot more if they’d had a lineout
Racing were dreadful

[Torquemada 1420]

Both teams are not to put too fine a point on it...........gash

Following on with a bit more detail
- Racing has long had an identity of panache stretching back beyond Mesnel and co stepping out in the Brennus with gold boots, berets and champagne.
- Lancaster has come in attempting to impose some terribly conservative style of English rugby. And I do understand Racing's thinking here that what they have lacked is some pragmatism/realism........ but this is too much of a culture shift too quickly.
- Epitomised with the recruitment of Farrell. Which is all the more stupid when they already had Gibert who is French.
- And some pretty rotten other cross Channel recruitment including Arundell (who has been uniformly sh*te), James (whose peak is uninspiring) and Rowlands who obviously decided he wasn't going to make the grade for a desperately poor Welsh ntl team.

[Torquemada 1420]

FM, I changed my FR pick moments before KO from CO by 1 to Munster by 1: lost my nerve with the commentators talking up Munster

[Stranger]

Lancaster isn't enhancing his reputation.

[ASMO]

Both teams are not to put too fine a point on it...........gash

Following on with a bit more detail
- Racing has long had an identity of panache stretching back beyond Mesnel and co stepping out in the Brennus with gold boots, berets and champagne.
- Lancaster has come in attempting to impose some terribly conservative style of English rugby. And I do understand Racing's thinking here that what they have lacked is some pragmatism/realism........ but this is too much of a culture shift too quickly.
- Epitomised with the recruitment of Farrell. Which is all the more stupid when they already had Gibert who is French.
- And some pretty rotten other cross Channel recruitment including Arundell (who has been uniformly sh*te), James (whose peak is uninspiring) and Rowlands who obviously decided he wasn't going to make the grade for a desperately poor Welsh ntl team.

Not sure you can call Arundell shite, he has scored plenty of tries for them, but the game plan under Wankaster just using right for him to shine, it should also be noted he is a 15 by trade. James i agree on however, he was gash in the Premiership and has not changed in the T14, Rowland is a big lump, but is just that, a lump, adds not much else.

[OomStruisbaai]

SA teams will be lucky to keep it within 20 against the English today. Basic Currie Cup teams in totally different conditions.

I am looking for early excuses.

[SaintK]

Lancaster isn't enhancing his reputation.

I don't think he's ever had a strong reputation as a head coach!

[Torquemada 1420]

Not sure you can call Arundell shite, he has scored plenty of tries for them, but the game plan under Wankaster just using right for him to shine, it should also be noted he is a 15 by trade. James i agree on however, he was gash in the Premiership and has not changed in the T14, Rowland is a big lump, but is just that, a lump, adds not much else.

I'll directly quote Bernol on this: "The Englishman has been going through a bad period for several months. (Last night) he was rarely any threat with ball in hand, was faulty in defence and clearly has no confidence. A former international phenomenon, will he ever wake up?"
Why any flair player would sign up for Lancaster is beyond me.

[Torquemada 1420]

Lancaster isn't enhancing his reputation.

Carry on like this and Lorenzetti will have him out of the door by the end of the season.

[Torquemada 1420]

Whoever is responsible for that new Saints' badge needs shooting.

[TheNatalShark]

SA teams will be lucky to keep it within 20 against the English today. Basic Currie Cup teams in totally different conditions.

I am looking for early excuses.

Sharks not playing Wright means they are still within a chance.

[JM2K6]

Both teams are not to put too fine a point on it...........gash

Following on with a bit more detail
- Racing has long had an identity of panache stretching back beyond Mesnel and co stepping out in the Brennus with gold boots, berets and champagne.
- Lancaster has come in attempting to impose some terribly conservative style of English rugby. And I do understand Racing's thinking here that what they have lacked is some pragmatism/realism........ but this is too much of a culture shift too quickly.
- Epitomised with the recruitment of Farrell. Which is all the more stupid when they already had Gibert who is French.
- And some pretty rotten other cross Channel recruitment including Arundell (who has been uniformly sh*te), James (whose peak is uninspiring) and Rowlands who obviously decided he wasn't going to make the grade for a desperately poor Welsh ntl team.

Not sure you can call Arundell shite, he has scored plenty of tries for them, but the game plan under Wankaster just using right for him to shine, it should also be noted he is a 15 by trade. James i agree on however, he was gash in the Premiership and has not changed in the T14, Rowland is a big lump, but is just that, a lump, adds not much else.

Arundell has been shite. He's been shite every time he's come up against an English team in Europe, and he's not scored plenty of tries either - a hat-trick on debut was great but then 7 in 18 after that last season, and 2 in 9 this season. Big whoop. I hate to say it but he's really not making the most of his ability at all, and really needs to leave France.




Great crowd for this Bulls/Saints game, I assume the local steakhouse has a discount lunch offer?

[sockwithaticket]

I do enjoy how much of a niggly bastard Pollock is. He looks set to be the kind of nuisance you love when he's on your side and despise when he's playing against you.

[JM2K6]

Lmao at the commentators seeing a Saffer on top of Pollock on the floor and patronising Pollock's "exuberance of youth" while pretending he was the aggressor

[sockwithaticket]

Not sure you can call Arundell shite, he has scored plenty of tries for them, but the game plan under Wankaster just using right for him to shine, it should also be noted he is a 15 by trade. James i agree on however, he was gash in the Premiership and has not changed in the T14, Rowland is a big lump, but is just that, a lump, adds not much else.

I'll directly quote Bernol on this: "The Englishman has been going through a bad period for several months. (Last night) he was rarely any threat with ball in hand, was faulty in defence and clearly has no confidence. A former international phenomenon, will he ever wake up?"
Why any flair player would sign up for Lancaster is beyond me.

Did he not sign before Lancaster?

[Torquemada 1420]

Not sure you can call Arundell shite, he has scored plenty of tries for them, but the game plan under Wankaster just using right for him to shine, it should also be noted he is a 15 by trade. James i agree on however, he was gash in the Premiership and has not changed in the T14, Rowland is a big lump, but is just that, a lump, adds not much else.

I'll directly quote Bernol on this: "The Englishman has been going through a bad period for several months. (Last night) he was rarely any threat with ball in hand, was faulty in defence and clearly has no confidence. A former international phenomenon, will he ever wake up?"
Why any flair player would sign up for Lancaster is beyond me.

Did he not sign before Lancaster?

I wondered that after posted it but can't find it. I think you may be right.

[OomStruisbaai]

Interesting one.

[sockwithaticket]

Northampton really don't need to be giving the Bulls opportunities to scrum through unforced errors like that.

[JM2K6]

Could do with Fin Smith not belting the ball straight to one of their runners, too.

Not much they can do about Millar-Mills being useless in the scrum. These Bulls mistakes aren't going to save them for much longer.

[JM2K6]

Christ, someone got absolutely melted there. Hutchinson?

[JM2K6]

It was Furbank and it looks like he's broken something. Shit.

"The harsh realities of rugby dawning on the captain of the Saints" get fucked you arsehole

[sockwithaticket]

Turning the shirt into a sling is rarely for something unserious

Smith might not be having one of his better games, but he's got some appetite in defence.

[sockwithaticket]

Turning the shirt into a sling is rarely for something unserious

Smith might not be having one of his better games, but he's got some appetite in defence.

I should shit talk him more. That was a nice little put through for Hendy.

[JM2K6]

My streams have stopped working, so... :-(