2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[laurent]

Honestly Oom. You make us look so bad.

Nah it's your teams

most of you are ok, like every nation you have your share of .

[clydecloggie]

Tits. The reason God made birds.

[Torquemada 1420]

French clubs have players from all over maybe the reason why they lost against the Springboks at home in a WC quarter final. But they still blame the ref.

Several contributors to that loss, any of which might be blamed but ultimately the margin was so fine, enough of them were of Fra's own making to have to suck it up.
1) Dupont's freak injury.
2) Baille not being fully fit after injury.
3) Failing to get Meafou qualified in time.
4) The combo of
- playing Bielle-Biarrey too early: he was defensively weak which is something he has worked on massively but the last side you can afford to do that against is a physical SA
- and not trusting in the superb defensive abilities of Villiere who, sadly, had also not fully recovered from a long injury lay off
5) Jelonch over Cros. This was a massive error. If you go back to the RWC threads, I had warned that Galthie had a hard on for Jelonch and would shoe horn him in at
the first opportunity despite him having had a long injury lay off AND Cros being far better even when Jelonch is fully fit. Jelonch was poor: missed tackles, little impact
ball in hand. You can never go into a game against SA without your best backrow.
6) The bounce of the ball: just the way it goes. Hack up-field going SA's way.
7) Another thing I warned about: Ramos and dead ball kicking. He has a habit of kicking everything for game after game and then saves up the misses for 1 game. Again, in
the threads I said this was just as likely to happen in a critical game and cost Fra.
8) SA brave. France not. SA opted for the aggressive options from pens e.g. taking a scrum. When Fra should have gone for the corner, they bottled it. Actually, Fra's decision making
on the day was all too frenetic and ill judged. This had me throwing stuff at the TV.
9) The one that you refer to: Du Toit should have seen red for the clear out on Danty just as he saw red in the Marseilles game. That was a game changer but Fra had enough
in their own control to render that academic.

[OomStruisbaai]

French clubs have players from all over maybe the reason why they lost against the Springboks at home in a WC quarter final. But they still blame the ref.

Several contributors to that loss, any of which might be blamed but ultimately the margin was so fine, enough of them were of Fra's own making to have to suck it up.
1) Dupont's freak injury.
2) Baille not being fully fit after injury.
3) Failing to get Meafou qualified in time.
4) The combo of
- playing Bielle-Biarrey too early: he was defensively weak which is something he has worked on massively but the last side you can afford to do that against is a physical SA
- and not trusting in the superb defensive abilities of Villiere who, sadly, had also not fully recovered from a long injury lay off
5) Jelonch over Cros. This was a massive error. If you go back to the RWC threads, I had warned that Galthie had a hard on for Jelonch and would shoe horn him in at
the first opportunity despite him having had a long injury lay off AND Cros being far better even when Jelonch is fully fit. Jelonch was poor: missed tackles, little impact
ball in hand. You can never go into a game against SA without your best backrow.
6) The bounce of the ball: just the way it goes. Hack up-field going SA's way.
7) Another thing I warned about: Ramos and dead ball kicking. He has a habit of kicking everything for game after game and then saves up the misses for 1 game. Again, in
the threads I said this was just as likely to happen in a critical game and cost Fra.
8) SA brave. France not. SA opted for the aggressive options from pens e.g. taking a scrum. When Fra should have gone for the corner, they bottled it. Actually, Fra's decision making
on the day was all too frenetic and ill judged. This had me throwing stuff at the TV.
9) The one that you refer to: Du Toit should have seen red for the clear out on Danty just as he saw red in the Marseilles game. That was a game changer but Fra had enough
in their own control to render that academic.

I gave the Springboks no chance specially against France.In fact France started like a house on fire but the Springboks have heart and fight back blow for blow. The Springbok bomb squad made the difference in the end.

Look half the Springbok squad plays in Japan for NH teams. It make our franchises weaker but it also give youngsters chances. If we know from next year we can host home knock out matches it may change the coaches mindset towards the competition.

[Torquemada 1420]

Look half the Springbok squad plays in Japan for NH teams. It make our franchises weaker but it also give youngsters chances. If we know from next year we can host home knock out matches it may change the coaches mindset towards the competition.

It would be a mistake to think Fra now is the Fra of pre JIFF rules. There is a powerful balance now between economic strength and development. It's no coincidence that Fra is now consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s). What the rules have done is to limit the no of foreign players but it has also allowed Fre clubs to hire the best of the mercs. And, of course, that feeds back into the youth development.

SA must have the largest realistic potential playing pool of all the rugby nations. You just need to find a path to optimising that. Maybe Europe isn't that and a refocus on Currie is the way to go.

[OomStruisbaai]

Look half the Springbok squad plays in Japan for NH teams. It make our franchises weaker but it also give youngsters chances. If we know from next year we can host home knock out matches it may change the coaches mindset towards the competition.

It would be a mistake to think Fra now is the Fra of pre JIFF rules. There is a powerful balance now between economic strength and development. It's no coincidence that Fra is now consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s). What the rules have done is to limit the no of foreign players but it has also allowed Fre clubs to hire the best of the mercs. And, of course, that feeds back into the youth development.

SA must have the largest realistic potential playing pool of all the rugby nations. You just need to find a path to optimising that. Maybe Europe isn't that and a refocus on Currie is the way to go.

Maybe, first need to sort our calender out. Best time was like last year but the franchises and player union had a problem.

[Paddington Bear]

Look half the Springbok squad plays in Japan for NH teams. It make our franchises weaker but it also give youngsters chances. If we know from next year we can host home knock out matches it may change the coaches mindset towards the competition.

It would be a mistake to think Fra now is the Fra of pre JIFF rules. There is a powerful balance now between economic strength and development. It's no coincidence that Fra is now consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s). What the rules have done is to limit the no of foreign players but it has also allowed Fre clubs to hire the best of the mercs. And, of course, that feeds back into the youth development.

SA must have the largest realistic potential playing pool of all the rugby nations. You just need to find a path to optimising that. Maybe Europe isn't that and a refocus on Currie is the way to go.

England won the u20s 6N last year, France won two games

[Torquemada 1420]

Look half the Springbok squad plays in Japan for NH teams. It make our franchises weaker but it also give youngsters chances. If we know from next year we can host home knock out matches it may change the coaches mindset towards the competition.

It would be a mistake to think Fra now is the Fra of pre JIFF rules. There is a powerful balance now between economic strength and development. It's no coincidence that Fra is now consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s). What the rules have done is to limit the no of foreign players but it has also allowed Fre clubs to hire the best of the mercs. And, of course, that feeds back into the youth development.

SA must have the largest realistic potential playing pool of all the rugby nations. You just need to find a path to optimising that. Maybe Europe isn't that and a refocus on Currie is the way to go.

England won the u20s 6N last year, France won two games

Sample size of 1 does not invalidate "consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s)"..

And there is a bit more to this than meets the eye. Eng is much poorer at getting these young players game time at snr level. Go back to the thread for the Ux WC comp. and see how many players I listed not playing for Fra because they were already playing T14. If Fra had fielded the side that was possible, they'd have won that again.

[Paddington Bear]

It would be a mistake to think Fra now is the Fra of pre JIFF rules. There is a powerful balance now between economic strength and development. It's no coincidence that Fra is now consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s). What the rules have done is to limit the no of foreign players but it has also allowed Fre clubs to hire the best of the mercs. And, of course, that feeds back into the youth development.

SA must have the largest realistic potential playing pool of all the rugby nations. You just need to find a path to optimising that. Maybe Europe isn't that and a refocus on Currie is the way to go.

England won the u20s 6N last year, France won two games

Sample size of 1 does not invalidate "consistently at the top of the table at U21 level(s)"..

And there is a bit more to this than meets the eye. Eng is much poorer at getting these young players game time at snr level. Go back to the thread for the Ux WC comp. and see how many players I listed not playing for Fra because they were already playing T14. If Fra had fielded the side that was possible, they'd have won that again.

Since covid only Ireland and England have won the u20 6 Nations

[OomStruisbaai]

Bokkies won the summer series against the 6 nations teams back in 2022. SMZ captain them on the series. In fact we play an important role for the likes of France, England and Ireland hosting their youngsters at home

[Torquemada 1420]

Since covid only Ireland and England have won the u20 6 Nations

And where have they been in the Ux WCs for, say, the last 10 years?

The 6N comp is in the middle of T14 season and so even less chance of the better players being made available.

[duke]

Since covid only Ireland and England have won the u20 6 Nations

And where have they been in the Ux WCs for, say, the last 10 years?

The 6N comp is in the middle of T14 season and so even less chance of the better players being made available.

In the last 10 U20 World Cups, England have won 4 and been runners up 3 times. France have won 3, runners up 1, Ireland runners up 2 times (world cups cancelled 2020-2022)

[Torquemada 1420]

Since covid only Ireland and England have won the u20 6 Nations

And where have they been in the Ux WCs for, say, the last 10 years?

The 6N comp is in the middle of T14 season and so even less chance of the better players being made available.

In the last 10 U20 World Cups, England have won 4 and been runners up 3 times. France have won 3, runners up 1, Ireland runners up 2 times (world cups cancelled 2020-2022)

Think about the bit in bold.

[SaintK]

Forecasting all home wins in the Round of 16 on Superbru though Saints will probably bugger that up for me against Clermont

[sockwithaticket]

Forecasting all home wins in the Round of 16 on Superbru though Saints will probably bugger that up for me against Clermont

Certainly didn't start well, but that's a nicely worked try for Smith.

[Torquemada 1420]

No idea WTF Clermont were doing dicking around at that scrum but it cost them the full load.

[Torquemada 1420]

Forecasting all home wins in the Round of 16 on Superbru though Saints will probably bugger that up for me against Clermont

You picked 2nd string Pau to beat Bath?!!

[Torquemada 1420]

Game defo over now with Delguy off and Udrapilleta on. Speed for snail. Will get real ugly for ASM here on in.

[Oxbow]

Tremendous tap tackle from Mitchell.

[sockwithaticket]

Great pass from Dingwall to give Freeman his brace.

[Torquemada 1420]

Yup. Saints ASM's worse nightmare. Pace versus ageing immobility. If they haven't worked it out by now, a complete clear out is needed and total rebuild.

[Oxbow]

I have a lot of man love for Dingwall.

[sockwithaticket]

Yup. Saints ASM's worse nightmare. Pace versus ageing immobility. If they haven't worked it out by now, a complete clear out is needed and total rebuild.

I was genuinely surprised to see Fritz Lee still togging out. He's been part of the furniture there for what feels like forever.

[SaintK]

Forecasting all home wins in the Round of 16 on Superbru though Saints will probably bugger that up for me against Clermont

You picked 2nd string Pau to beat Bath?!!

Didn’t check the teams
Edit: just remembered I’m not tipping the Challenge Cup

[Torquemada 1420]

Yup. Saints ASM's worse nightmare. Pace versus ageing immobility. If they haven't worked it out by now, a complete clear out is needed and total rebuild.

I was genuinely surprised to see Fritz Lee still togging out. He's been part of the furniture there for what feels like forever.

The mad aspect is the wage bill for some of these guys is huge.

[Stranger]

Not sure what happened there but the lack of replays suggests it was a very nasty injury.

[SaintK]

Not sure what happened there but the lack of replays suggests it was a very nasty injury.

Broken leg by the sounds
Saints worth the win

[OomStruisbaai]

Wilko LOUW vs a French 7s player in the scrums.

[Paddington Bear]

This is quite something, isn’t it

[duke]

Would never have predicted this

[duke]

And they go over again

[Paddington Bear]

Toulon’s largest library stunned - Dan is tearing them apart and were it not for Dave Ribbans the damage would likely be even worse

[ASMO]

Theo Dan having a ridiculous game

[SaintK]

This is quite something, isn’t it

35 points in 34 minutes away in Toulon without all their England players I assume you're referring to?

[Paddington Bear]

This is quite something, isn’t it

35 points in 34 minutes away in Toulon without all their England players I assume you're referring to?

Very much so - Dan has been completely unplayable, Toulon have barely turned up and Sarries are tearing up. Albeit with a weak bench this is far from over

[Paddington Bear]

Huge momentum swing just on the stroke of half time. Not sure we’ll hold on from here

[duke]

Properly topsy turvy game this. Sarries will have to dig deep

[ASMO]

Toiuon finally wake up

[Torquemada 1420]

Watching something else but this doesn't surprise me. What is a surprise is how well Toulon have gone this season playing an outmoded style of rugby like Montpellier. CW how the likes of Saints, Quins and UBB are trying to play and, of course, Toulouse who can combine power and style......

[SaintK]

Toiuon finally wake up

Fun while it lasted!