Domestic and European Rugby
- Thread starter Whagwan
- Start date
gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
Wasps are done (at least as anything approaching a professional club) 
London Irish will go at the end of the month
London Irish will go at the end of the month
Elpenor
a clown’s heart and a mandolin
Two Welsh greats retiring from international rugby - announced today - Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones. Over 250 caps between the two of them. I wonder if any more of the big names in Welsh rugby will bail before a brutal World Cup training camp begins.
Probably the right call given Wales are rebuilding having been pretty poor for the last 12 months or more and it makes more sense to blood the next generation with a more experimental squad.
Probably the right call given Wales are rebuilding having been pretty poor for the last 12 months or more and it makes more sense to blood the next generation with a more experimental squad.
starfish
No dialogue. Just plot.
Very disappointing performance from Glasgow last night. Sometimes teams have to realise when certain things arent working & just take the points instead of constantly going for line outs from penalties. Probably wouldnt have changed the outcome but if they had gone in only 21-9 or 21-12 down at half time the second half would have been more interesting.
Elpenor
a clown’s heart and a mandolin
Premiership final is at 3pm on Saturday on ITV, Sale v Saracens. It’s Ford vs Farrell at fly half, and the Sale coach used to be a coach at Saracens for over a decade too, so a few subplots.
It would be nice for Sale to win as it’s their first final since 2006. Suspect Saracens will have too much for them - both teams have very strong defences with efficient and somewhat underrated attacks. It could prove a dull game but the weather forecast is good so hopefully a close game and perhaps a classic encounter.
On Sunday there is also an exhibition game on channel 5 at 2pm I think. An Eddie Jones coached Barbarians team vs a Rest of World XV coached by Steve Hansen, coach of the NZ 2015 World Cup winning team. These games are usually a bit silly, nothing riding on them so there’s tendency for a bit of champagne rugby, as the squads tend to feature exciting players to watch, plus usually a few retiring players.
Main point of media interest is that the nasty homophobe Israel Folau is playing for the rest of the world.
It would be nice for Sale to win as it’s their first final since 2006. Suspect Saracens will have too much for them - both teams have very strong defences with efficient and somewhat underrated attacks. It could prove a dull game but the weather forecast is good so hopefully a close game and perhaps a classic encounter.
On Sunday there is also an exhibition game on channel 5 at 2pm I think. An Eddie Jones coached Barbarians team vs a Rest of World XV coached by Steve Hansen, coach of the NZ 2015 World Cup winning team. These games are usually a bit silly, nothing riding on them so there’s tendency for a bit of champagne rugby, as the squads tend to feature exciting players to watch, plus usually a few retiring players.
Main point of media interest is that the nasty homophobe Israel Folau is playing for the rest of the world.
Elpenor
a clown’s heart and a mandolin
There’s also the United Rugby Championship final at 5:30pm on Saturday (tournament for Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Italian and South African teams 
formerly the Pro 14) which sees Munster play the Stormers in Cape Town. I am not sure if it’s on free to air tv or not, have never watched a URC game. I may investigate a stream.
formerly the Pro 14) which sees Munster play the Stormers in Cape Town. I am not sure if it’s on free to air tv or not, have never watched a URC game. I may investigate a stream.
sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
You can take the man out of Cork....
Loving Saracens Sale so far. Great commentary by Flats as ever
Flats is so much better as a pundit than a host.
Miles Harrison went a bit Partridge at one point:
"The TMO is TOM; Tom Foley that is."
It is, but I thought it was better when Mark Durden-Smith was hosting it, and Flats was the pundit. That's before Topsy was with them, when he was still playing I think.
Elpenor
a clown’s heart and a mandolin
More bad news for English domestic rugby - London Irish look to be a goner. While the news cannot a good thing, realistically I don’t think London can sustain more than 2 clubs, particularly as they play in the same part of town as Harlequins.
So a 10 team premiership next year? No bye weeks and only 18 league games. Suppose it reduces the length of the season but also really puts the squeeze on club revenues as they now have only 9 home games.
So a 10 team premiership next year? No bye weeks and only 18 league games. Suppose it reduces the length of the season but also really puts the squeeze on club revenues as they now have only 9 home games.
