Rugby Union

[Greenback]

I had quite forgotten Cliff Morgan was on A Question of Sport when it first started. I'm too young to have seen him play, but not too young to remember the early 70's!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Gloucester 16...Sale Sharks 22

This looked to be a hard away first match of the season for Sale, but the team spirit that was fostered in the second part of last season and the new team captain's input saw them register a good win today.

 

[Greenback]

The new scrum laws are interesting this season. While watching two Rabo games I couldn't help thinking that this will place even mor epressur eon the referees and their colleagues. In Llanelli the crowd were howling every time Eoin Redding the Leinster scrum half, fed the ball in to the scrum!

 

[andrew bell]

The new scrum laws are interesting this season. While watching two Rabo games I couldn't help thinking that this will place even mor epressur eon the referees and their colleagues. In Llanelli the crowd were howling every time Eoin Redding the Leinster scrum half, fed the ball in to the scrum!

It's good to see these new scrum laws being brought in as it limits the chances of the game being very stop-start and helps the flow quicker. It will take a few weeks for it to be ironed out and everyone understands it fully

 

[Greenback]

It's good to see these new scrum laws being brought in as it limits the chances of the game being very stop-start and helps the flow quicker. It will take a few weeks for it to be ironed out and everyone understands it fully

I agree that they are a good move, but I wonder how it will work out in practice? I was hoping that the 'hit' would be eliminated, but there seems little sign of that in the first two Celtic League games I've watched. In fact, the Ospreys managed to successfully nullify Treviso in the last few minutes of the match last night by making a scrum near their line take about four minutes to get right!

 

[andrew bell]

I agree that they are a good move, but I wonder how it will work out in practice? I was hoping that the 'hit' would be eliminated, but there seems little sign of that in the first two Celtic League games I've watched. In fact, the Ospreys managed to successfully nullify Treviso in the last few minutes of the match last night by making a scrum near their line take about four minutes to get right!

I didn't see that game as was probably watching other things (no idea what tho) but if that is true then it should be 1 reset, if same team does same or similar offence its penalty against them and a warning next time it happens its yellow

 

[Greenback]

I didn't see that game as was probably watching other things (no idea what tho) but if that is true then it should be 1 reset, if same team does same or similar offence its penalty against them and a warning next time it happens its yellow

I agree, but the trouble is that with all the front row skullduggery it's difficult, if not impossible for referee's to work out who has offended in many cases. A penalty was of little use to Treviso, who needed a try in the last few minutes, and a yellow card has little effect that late in the game.

I watched the Aviva Premiership highlights last night, where the analysis of the scrum changes seemed quite positive. I think it will take time to see how things work, and I think that the scrum is generally more stable and allows for quicker and cleaner ball overall.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sale 14...Newcastle 15

Sale were 11-3 ahead after 30 minutes, but 5 penalties converted by Newcastle saw them edge home by the old point. Newcastle will feel somewhat relieved to have registered a win on their return to the Premiership in their second league fixture, after the home defeat last week.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

After the salutary warning, a week ago, in the report above, Sale Sharks must have taken heed of the mid-week team session talks as the result last night was:-

Sale Sharks 26...London Wasps 22

Cipriani scored a try and kicked 4 penalties and 2 conversions.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Gloucester v Northampton Saints match was superb today
26-24 to Gloucester

Some strange referee decisions though

 

[Greenback]

Good win for Gloucester, I'm looking forward tot he highlights show tonight.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Good win for Gloucester, I'm looking forward tot he highlights show tonight.

Two words for you GB, George North

I forgot to mention my team Glasgow Warriors are beginning to back up their potential! Back to back wins against Ulster and Leinster

That Will do

 

[Greenback]

Two words for you GB, George North

I forgot to mention my team Glasgow Warriors are beginning to back up their potential! Back to back wins against Ulster and Leinster

That Will do

I've been impressed with Glasgow so far in the Rabo. Being unbeaten after three games is a pretty good start. Worst side so far? Cardiff Blues! Though they will undoubtedly try and blame their new pitch!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I note that as part of the current situation that has developed over the Heineken Cup and its future, the Celtic unions have stressed that their clubs will not participate in any new competition that does nor have the full approval of the IRB. This appears to follow on from the IRB ruling earlier this week that it must be the rugby association bodies and not the clubs who are to decide upon such matters.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Good result for Glasgow Warriors again tonight.
Made a lot of changes but still came away with 24-17 win

 

[Greenback]

I note that as part of the current situation that has developed over the Heineken Cup and its future, the Celtic unions have stressed that their clubs will not participate in any new competition that does nor have the full approval of the IRB. This appears to follow on from the IRB ruling earlier this week that it must be the rugby association bodies and not the clubs who are to decide upon such matters.

And quite right they are too. I wonder if any split will follow the Premier League model in football, or the darts PDC/WDO model?

Both were similar in that clubs/players wanted to do better financially than they were under the traditional organisations running the sport.

My personal view is that the unions must create a new tournament which is acceptable to all parties, even if this means fewer representatives from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The worse thing for the sport as a whole would be for an Anglo French 'European' Cup and a separate Celtic dominated 'European' Cup.

Good result for Glasgow Warriors again tonight.
Made a lot of changes but still came away with 24-17 win

Yes, indeed, though Edinburgh appear to be struggling having been beaten by a less than stunning Scarlets side who spent half an hour with 14 men!

Following on from their thrashing at the OSpreys, it's fair to say Edinburgh are going through a rebuilding stage, just like the Cardiff Blues. Or shoudl that just be Cardiff now?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I note that as part of the current situation that has developed over the Heineken Cup and its future, the Celtic unions have stressed that their clubs will not participate in any new competition that does nor have the full approval of the IRB. This appears to follow on from the IRB ruling earlier this week that it must be the rugby association bodies and not the clubs who are to decide upon such matters.

And quite right they are too. I wonder if any split will follow the Premier League model in football, or the darts PDC/WDO model?

Both were similar in that clubs/players wanted to do better financially than they were under the traditional organisations running the sport.

My personal view is that the unions must create a new tournament which is acceptable to all parties, even if this means fewer representatives from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The worse thing for the sport as a whole would be for an Anglo French 'European' Cup and a separate Celtic dominated 'European' Cup.

Good result for Glasgow Warriors again tonight.
Made a lot of changes but still came away with 24-17 win

Yes, indeed, though Edinburgh appear to be struggling having been beaten by a less than stunning Scarlets side who spent half an hour with 14 men!

Following on from their thrashing at the Ospreys, it's fair to say Edinburgh are going through a rebuilding stage, just like the Cardiff Blues. Or should that just be Cardiff now?

 

[SkinnyDave]

My heart weeps for Edinburgh

 

[Liam]

Edinburgh have been awful for years. Been going downhill since Robinson left.

 

[SkinnyDave]

For years Edinburgh in my opionion were the main focus of the SRU and it is with satisfaction that Glasgow are performing better on the pitch and aruguably off it too.


I still think Scotland needs a third pro team and I think Aberdeen has the potential to make a success out of it

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Richard Cockerill, the director of rugby of Leicester Tigers, has now signed a new five-year contract with the club.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
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English Premiership...Friday night result


Sale 19...Bath 13

Sale recover from a 10-6 half-time defecit, thanks again to the boot of Cipriani.

 

[Greenback]

I still think Scotland needs a third pro team and I think Aberdeen has the potential to make a success out of it

I think Scotland needs a third team and Wales needs a fifth team. I think the Aberdeen area might support a side, and I would add North Wales as a development region in the Welsh set up.

 

[SkinnyDave]

I think Scotland needs a third team and Wales needs a fifth team. I think the Aberdeen area might support a side, and I would add North Wales as a development region in the Welsh set up.

Agreed..
Newport are doing well just now, no longer the whipping boys of the regions

 

[Greenback]

Agreed..
Newport are doing well just now, no longer the whipping boys of the regions

I'm not a Dragons fan by any means but it's nice to see them having a bit of pride and fight once again. They were worthy winenrs against my local team a couple of weeks ago, and displayed the traditional Gwent qualities of self belief, strength, grit and steel that have been missing for the last few years.

 

[SkinnyDave]

And the Warriors keep marching on

Real Deal

 

[Requeststop]

Got to throw in a plug for my local leading team, The Cornish Pirates. I am a proud Pirates fan, and I have to say that the team and officials of the club do Penzance and West Cornwall proud.

As an add-on, all Pirates games are broadcast live on-line via BBC Radio Cornwall, so I recommend that if you are a Pirates fan, a fan of Cornish and West Country Rugby, or that your team is playing either at home, or away at the "Mennaye" in Penzance, either in the Championship or the British and Irish Cup (Pirates proudly first winners of the Cup) listen in to a truly excellent though sometimes biased commentary on-line.

Come on you Pirates! Give us a P: Pee. Gus us an I: Eye. Give us and R: Arrrrrrr.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

South Africa 27...New Zealand 38

In a high scoring final at the Ellis Park stadium, New Zealand won their sixth consecutive tournament match to deservedly win this championship.

 

[Greenback]

I can't resist expressing my delight (and surprise) at my local team's excellent heineken Cup win at Harlequins yesterday.

And a well done to Gloucester on their win too. The biggest surprise for me was Edinburgh beating Munster

 

[SkinnyDave]

Yeah good results.
Edinburgh done well someone has put a rocket up their......

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Heineken Cup...Pool 1

Castres 19...Northampton 13

Would this result be described as something as a shock to Northampton ?

 

[sonic2009]

I was surprised that Saints lost, my club team won yesterday Coventry Welsh winning 12-10 against Redditch in the pouring rain

For many of you who don't know me, i love the game and position wise im an inside centre despite being 6ft 4.