Rugby Union

[fgwrich]

As if we didn't have an impressive enough team this season, Exeter's backline has just gained another very powerful and experienced player in the form of Ollie Devoto from Bath.

So, Slade at 10, Short at 11, Slade at 12, Hill at 13, Nowell at 14, McGuigan / Dollman at 15.



http://exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/baxters-delight-as-devoto-seals-move/

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

European Rugby Challenge Cup....Pool 2

Sale Sharks 38...NG Dragons 5

In this Thursday match between the top two teams in Pool 2, Sale made all the most of their opportunities and at half-time had built a 24-0 lead and by the end of the match, they had scored five tries to one.

This result saw Sale go over NG Dragons to the top of Pool 2, after six matches now being played, with a margin of three points.

 

[fgwrich]

Exeter 33-17 Ospreys / Clermont 28-37 Bordeaux - European Rugby Championship.

What a result! After last weekends loss and a week of nearly having Exeter written off, The Chiefs bounce back with plenty of Try's - 2 from Short, 2 from the beast that is Waldrom, and one from Kai Horstmann. Ultimately it all came down to a late tap and go from Morgan Parra, with all teams in the last 5 minutes all drawing on 16 points each within Pool 2.

This now results in 5 English Teams in the Semi Finals, Bad news for the Pro 12 as none of their teams have made it through.

So, Chiefs v Wasps is on the way, a team that Chiefs have comfortably beat already this season. Could be a great Final on the way!

 

[richw]

Exeter 33-17 Ospreys / Clermont 28-37 Bordeaux - European Rugby Championship.

What a result! After last weekends loss and a week of nearly having Exeter written off, The Chiefs bounce back with plenty of Try's - 2 from Short, 2 from the beast that is Waldrom, and one from Kai Horstmann. Ultimately it all came down to a late tap and go from Morgan Parra, with all teams in the last 5 minutes all drawing on 16 points each within Pool 2.

This now results in 5 English Teams in the QuarterSemi Finals, Bad news for the Pro 12 as none of their teams have made it through.

So, Chiefs v Wasps is on the way, a team that Chiefs have comfortably beat already this season. Could be a great Final on the way!

Clermont finished on 15, and finished bottom, they would have taken Exeter's place in the quarters and came top had they kicked a penalty in the dying minutes to secure a losing bonus point. They tried to run it instead, eliminating themselves in the process.

Due to the draw we are guaranteed at least one English team in the Final

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Aviva Premiership

Sale Sharks 38...London Irish 10

In a match affected by strong blustery winds, the first half was close with Sale only 12-10 up at half-time, but once again their second half performance was very strong and in this period, they scored four unanswered tries.

Sale now in seventh place in the league and remain undefeated at home this season.

 

[Butts]

Calcutta Cup Day in Edinburgh

Six Nations is upon us once again, who do we think will win this years Competition?

Can Ireland make it three in a row ?

 

[Greenback]

Ireland will miss Paul O'Connell. After the World Cup, I wouldn't rule out Scotland being a force. The tournament is usually very interesting as some players will have retied and there will be new coaches involved as well.

Really, the cycle towards the next World Cup starts now!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Aviva Premiership

Leicester Tigers 3...Sale Sharks 10

Josh Beaumont scored the only try of the game, which consolidates Sale's mid-table position.

 

[Greenback]

Sorry, Butts, looks like I was mistaken earlier.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The England first half performance against Scotland seemed to show the same lack of personal discipline that was shown during the Rugby World Cup. I wonder if strong words from the new coach rang in their ears, as the second half performance was a distinct improvement.

Still, there are a number of areas that still need to be addressed.

 

[Butts]

Sorry, Butts, looks like I was mistaken earlier.

Indeed adjust the "wouldn't" to would rule out Scotland being a force

 

[Oswyntail]

Indeed adjust the "wouldn't" to would rule out Scotland being a force

I see the Scottish coach has at least mastered the required cliches - which I suspect he will be needing to wheel out quite often.

 

[Greenback]

I was pretty disappointed with Scotland. I expected more from them yesterday.

 

[Johnuk123]

Not that impressed with England but a win's a win.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

At least Wales did not lose - or Ireland for that matter. Good game.

 

[Oswyntail]

At least Wales did not lose - or Ireland for that matter. Good game.

Lots of thud and blunder, with plenty of mistakes, but no real sense of a plan for unlocking defence from either side.

 

[Greenback]

Plenty of commitment and effort from both sides, but both teams looked pretty blunt. I thought they both seemed ponderous at times, especially in getting the ball away from the ruck area.

I don't think that NH teams will ever be able to compete with SH teams unless their ball handling, off loading and decision making skills improve. Then we need to add a bit more pace to how we play.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lots of thud and blunder, with plenty of mistakes, but no real sense of a plan for unlocking defence from either side.

Plenty of commitment and effort from both sides, but both teams looked pretty blunt. I thought they both seemed ponderous at times, especially in getting the ball away from the ruck. I don't think that NH teams will ever be able to compete with SH teams unless their ball handling, off loading and decision making skills improve. Then we need to add a bit more pace to how we play.

Both sides now have southern hemisphere head coaches, so will that bring about a change of emphasis upon the style of play in future matches?

 

[Greenback]

Both sides now have southern hemisphere head coaches, so will that bring about a change of emphasis upon the style of play in future matches?

I don't think so. It's more to to do with the mind set and skill set of the players. It's too ingrained to be able to be undone by individuals. It needs to be done in the grass roots, schools, the emphasis on how to play the game needs to completely change.

I think Brian Moore inadvertently put his finger on it during Saturday's game when he said he wanted both England and Scotland to play adventurously and sensibly. I think too many people translate sensible as cautious, and being sure not to lose rather than going out to win. Note the difference in mindset on the last day of last year's tournament!

As far as I'm concerned, sensible doesn't mean cautious at all. It means making the right decisions at the right times. Adventurous doesn't mean insane, it means looking to play a fast paced game, offloading, and doing something unexpected now and again rather then running through the same old predictable moves like Wales and Ireland mostly did yesterday.

Until we change the we approach the game, then I fear that the home nations will have to content themselves with very occasional wins against the big three. Argentina are only going to get better as well, now that they are in the SH international competition.

 

[newbie babs]

I really enjoyed last weekends games and can`t wait for this weekend. I think its interesting that all are so close this year but I think for me those that got off with a win was France.
Thrilling or what !!!

 

[Greenback]

I think it will have to some way to beat last year's final weekend, but here's hoping!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Aviva Premiership

Sale Sharks 23....Exeter Chiefs 17

Sale are beginning to build a reputation for being hard to beat on their own ground and were 17-0 up at half-time against second-placed Exeter and despite a good second half comeback by Exeter, did not succumb, scoring three tries to two.

Sale are now up to sixth place in the Premiership.

 

[Butts]

I think it will have to some way to beat last year's final weekend, but here's hoping!

Well Wales v Scotland was a great game with loads of action even if we were yet again defeated

 

[Oswyntail]

Well Wales v Scotland was a great game with loads of action even if we were yet again defeated

Much better for both sides than last week, possibly because of weaker opposition. They both tend to get over-excited and forget what they are doing. One moment did it for Wales - that run of James seemed to deflate the Scots for the next 15 minutes - and all those handling errors from rushing sunk the Jocks.

 

[Greenback]

It was a more entertaining spectacle, but there were a lot of errors from both sides. I thought the Scots were better than Wales for most of the game. They should have won, and I think they would have, if Hogg had stayed on and they could have tackled George North!

Equally, though, Anscombe's pathetic attempt at a tackle let the Scots in for the final try of the game.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Aviva Premiership

Worcester 31...Sale Sharks 23

The recent winning run of Sale Sharks finally came to an end. Worcester had built up a 21-8 half-time lead, but the critical thing that affected the result after Sale had applied much second-half pressure, was the inability to convert tries, as Sale outscored Worcester by four tries to three, none of which were converted.

Had Cipriani had the recent proposed move in mind and not enough thought on the goal-kicking ?
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Sale Sharks 36....Saracens 36

After that last defeat by Worcester, the visit of top-of-the-table Saracens was the last thing that Sale needed. However, it was good to see that both Saracens and Sale scored five tries each, but for the second match running, Cipriani was not on form with his goalkicking and did not convert the final try that would have given Sale the victory.

Sale are now in sixth place in the league and have drawn two their league matches so far.

 

[Butts]

At last Scotland managed to win a Six Nations match against Italy - 10th time lucky

England disposing on the Irish puts them in pole position for TC/GS - or can the Welsh derail their ambitions ?

 

[richw]

At last Scotland managed to win a Six Nations match against Italy - 10th time lucky

England disposing on the Irish puts them in pole position for TC/GS - or can the Welsh derail their ambitions ?

The Irish seemed more worried about what Eddie Jones had said pre match. Not something we are used to seeing in rugby. His comments did take the focus and some of the pressure from the media away from his players as the media was all focussed on Jones and not the players.

 

[Hornet]

The Irish seemed more worried about what Eddie Jones had said pre match. Not something we are used to seeing in rugby. His comments did take the focus and some of the pressure from the media away from his players as the media was all focussed on Jones and not the players.

It's a pity that Jones has to rehash a two week old story rather than come up with some original quotes himself. Don't think England will win the GS. Jones is not the greatest of coaches and is a crap medic.

George Hook: 'Johnny Sexton needs to go talk to his wife and parents'

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...go-talk-to-his-wife-and-parents-34452699.html

 

[richw]

It's a pity that Jones has to rehash a two week old story rather than come up with some original quotes himself. Don't think England will win the GS. Jones is not the greatest of coaches and is a crap medic.

George Hook: 'Johnny Sexton needs to go talk to his wife and parents'

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...go-talk-to-his-wife-and-parents-34452699.html

The Irish have made a big song and dance about EJ saying it though. Hadn't seen GH had make the same comment until your link.