European Cup w/c 8 April Catch-All Thread

[LenCohen]

That's a red.

Yup. How many more dim reds this weekend. Just so many stupid players littering the game these days.

Paddy TMO trying his best to get Tigers out of jail having ignored the neck wrench in the 1st half. Well done Georgian ref.

Have you ever actually been near a rugby pitch? Do you have any concept of how quickly the play is moving at this level and hhow easily an incident like this can happen? Calling the player stupid is ridiculous, ha actually made a decent read

[Kawazaki]

That's a red.

Yup. How many more dim reds this weekend. Just so many stupid players littering the game these days.

Paddy TMO trying his best to get Tigers out of jail having ignored the neck wrench in the 1st half. Well done Georgian ref.

Have you ever actually been near a rugby pitch? Do you have any concept of how quickly the play is moving at this level and hhow easily an incident like this can happen? Calling the player stupid is ridiculous, ha actually made a decent read

There's quite a few former non-players on this forum.

[TheFrog]

There's quite a few former non-players on this forum.

[Tichtheid]

There's quite a few former non-players on this forum.

To be honest being an ex-player means nothing and only eedjits would validate someone's opinion on the basis that they had played rather than what was said - look at some of the pundits they pull out for the top games in world rugby all year round, some of them were the best players of their time, yet some of them still talk shite.

Yesterday Sam Warburton was called out on here for something he said about number 7s - he was one of the best 7s in the world for his entire international career.

[TheFrog]

There's quite a few former non-players on this forum.

To be honest being an ex-player means nothing and only eedjits would validate someone's opinion on the basis that they had played rather than what was said - look at some of the pundits they pull out for the top games in world rugby all year round, some of them were the best players of their time, yet some of them still talk shite.

Yesterday Sam Warburton was called out on here for something he said about number 7s - he was one of the best 7s in the world for his entire international career.

Still I found Toga's post funny.

[Torquemada 1420]

That's a red.

Yup. How many more dim reds this weekend. Just so many stupid players littering the game these days.

Paddy TMO trying his best to get Tigers out of jail having ignored the neck wrench in the 1st half. Well done Georgian ref.

Have you ever actually been near a rugby pitch? Do you have any concept of how quickly the play is moving at this level and hhow easily an incident like this can happen? Calling the player stupid is ridiculous, ha actually made a decent read

His read was certainly better than yours.

[Torquemada 1420]

Just realised, if I have this right, Tiger's reward for their o/s performance is to meet Leinster?

[Kawazaki]

Still I found Toga's post funny.

Careful, foruming is a serious business - literally ones of people you don't know will judge you in here. Levity is frowned upon!

[Tichtheid]

Just realised, if I have this right, Tiger's reward for their o/s performance is to meet Leinster?

I think that's correct, yeah. A Pyrrhic victory right enough, though Leicester will be at home if they get through by the looks of things
https://www.epcrugby.com/2022/01/23/hei ... -fixtures/

[Torquemada 1420]

Just realised, if I have this right, Tiger's reward for their o/s performance is to meet Leinster?

I think that's correct, yeah. A Pyrrhic victory right enough, though Leicester will be at home if they get through by the looks of things
https://www.epcrugby.com/2022/01/23/hei ... -fixtures/

Cheers. Absolute cracker to look fwd to.

So reads
1) Racing v Sale/Bears
2) MH/Quins v LaR
3) Ulster/ST** v Chiefs/Munster
4) Tigers v Leinster

** Because ST showed enough that with 15 men and cutting out the howlers, they might turn that one around.

Fre sides with a favourable draw in regards venue.

[JM2K6]

Racing v Leinster final unless Tigers are capable of turning them over

[Torquemada 1420]

Racing v Leinster final unless Tigers are capable of turning them over

It might look that way but Racing have been all round flakes at home this season so would not be surprised to see them fall over.

Can't see anyone beating Leinster if, as you point out, Tigers don't turn them over.

[Tichtheid]

depending on injuries Leinster can put out a side that could easily be the Irish national team and it wouldn't be much if at all weaker than with the likes of Aki and Beirne in it.

More importantly they are a big game team, they know how to win, I can see them doing a double this year.

[ASMO]

Racing v Leinster final unless Tigers are capable of turning them over

I actually think they are.

[Kawazaki]

Racing v Leinster final unless Tigers are capable of turning them over

It might look that way but Racing have been all round flakes at home this season so would not be surprised to see them fall over.

Can't see anyone beating Leinster if, as you point out, Tigers don't turn them over.

If half a relegated Saracens team can beat Leinster in Dublin then other teams can. They don't have a great Plan B.

[JM2K6]

Racing v Leinster final unless Tigers are capable of turning them over

It might look that way but Racing have been all round flakes at home this season so would not be surprised to see them fall over.

Can't see anyone beating Leinster if, as you point out, Tigers don't turn them over.

If half a relegated Saracens team can beat Leinster in Dublin then other teams can. They don't have a great Plan B.

That was 2 years ago. Since then, Keenan's turned into a superb fullback, Lowe has improved, Gibson-Park is the Ireland scrum half ahead of McGrath, Sheehan is an upgrade on Cronin, Furlong is better than Porter (who started that game), Doris has improved, and vd Flier is absolute quality now. The locks are worse IMO but that's about it.

I don't think there's much to draw from that result, especially as Leinster probably learned a fair bit from it. They're a serious team.

[Torquemada 1420]

Racing v Leinster final unless Tigers are capable of turning them over

It might look that way but Racing have been all round flakes at home this season so would not be surprised to see them fall over.

Can't see anyone beating Leinster if, as you point out, Tigers don't turn them over.

If half a relegated Saracens team can beat Leinster in Dublin then other teams can. They don't have a great Plan B.

Even if that was relevant now, I don't see their Plan A failing much.

[Tichtheid]

Saracens weren't relegated because they were a bad side, they were still a very good one who were up around English and European champions level, they were relegated because they got caught cheating.

[Kawazaki]

It might look that way but Racing have been all round flakes at home this season so would not be surprised to see them fall over.

Can't see anyone beating Leinster if, as you point out, Tigers don't turn them over.

If half a relegated Saracens team can beat Leinster in Dublin then other teams can. They don't have a great Plan B.

That was 2 years ago. Since then, Keenan's turned into a superb fullback, Lowe has improved, Gibson-Park is the Ireland scrum half ahead of McGrath, Sheehan is an upgrade on Cronin, Furlong is better than Porter (who started that game), Doris has improved, and vd Flier is absolute quality now. The locks are worse IMO but that's about it.

I don't think there's much to draw from that result, especially as Leinster probably learned a fair bit from it. They're a serious team.

I never said they weren't a serious team.

The point made was that Leinster are vulnerable to pressure, relentless defence and intensity. Just like any other team. Build them up as Ireland in blue shirts and you're half-beaten before you start. Go after Sexton, he's the weakest link.

[JM2K6]

Saracens weren't relegated because they were a bad side, they were still a very good one who were up around English and European champions level, they were relegated because they got caught cheating.

Yeah the teamsheet doesn't scream 2nd team or anything. Beyond missing Farrell at 10 it was a very strong side, with perhaps some weakness in the back row - nothing out of the ordinary for that stage of the season.

[JM2K6]

If half a relegated Saracens team can beat Leinster in Dublin then other teams can. They don't have a great Plan B.

That was 2 years ago. Since then, Keenan's turned into a superb fullback, Lowe has improved, Gibson-Park is the Ireland scrum half ahead of McGrath, Sheehan is an upgrade on Cronin, Furlong is better than Porter (who started that game), Doris has improved, and vd Flier is absolute quality now. The locks are worse IMO but that's about it.

I don't think there's much to draw from that result, especially as Leinster probably learned a fair bit from it. They're a serious team.

I never said they weren't a serious team.

The point made was that Leinster are vulnerable to pressure, relentless defence and intensity. Just like any other team. Build them up as Ireland in blue shirts and you're half-beaten before you start. Go after Sexton, he's the weakest link.

Not sure what that has to do with the opinion that if Tigers can't turn them over they're unlikely to lose to anyone else

[Kawazaki]

Saracens weren't relegated because they were a bad side, they were still a very good one who were up around English and European champions level, they were relegated because they got caught cheating.

The Saracens budget when they beat Leinster in the EC final in 2019 was still £millions less than Leinster spend. A year later when they beat Leinster in Dublin, they were without George Kruis (in Japan), Will Skelton (at La Rochelle), Ben Spencer (Bath) ,Liam Williams (Scarlets), Alex Lozowski (Montpellier) and Titi Lamositele (at Montpellier). And Owen Farrell (who apparently never gets censured for his tackling technique) was suspended for his tackling technique. And of course all the French teams that Saracens beat in the EC were spending far more than Leinster were. Plus there isn't a salary cap in the EC anyway so thanks for the comment.

[Kawazaki]

That was 2 years ago. Since then, Keenan's turned into a superb fullback, Lowe has improved, Gibson-Park is the Ireland scrum half ahead of McGrath, Sheehan is an upgrade on Cronin, Furlong is better than Porter (who started that game), Doris has improved, and vd Flier is absolute quality now. The locks are worse IMO but that's about it.

I don't think there's much to draw from that result, especially as Leinster probably learned a fair bit from it. They're a serious team.

I never said they weren't a serious team.

The point made was that Leinster are vulnerable to pressure, relentless defence and intensity. Just like any other team. Build them up as Ireland in blue shirts and you're half-beaten before you start. Go after Sexton, he's the weakest link.

Not sure what that has to do with the opinion that if Tigers can't turn them over they're unlikely to lose to anyone else

Leicester now play like Saracens. Not really surprising given who the coach is. I don't think Leinster are necessarily even favourites if they play Leicester at Welford Road.

[PornDog]

Go after Sexton, he's the weakest link.

I wonder why nobody has ever tried that before

[Kawazaki]

Go after Sexton, he's the weakest link.

I wonder why nobody has ever tried that before

When they do, he usually reacts poorly.

He must be the most overrated player since Ronan O'Gara.

[PornDog]

Go after Sexton, he's the weakest link.

I wonder why nobody has ever tried that before

When they do, he usually reacts poorly.

He must be the most overrated player since Ronan O'Gara.

That probably explains why Leinster lose so many games when he plays

[Kawazaki]

I wonder why nobody has ever tried that before

When they do, he usually reacts poorly.

He must be the most overrated player since Ronan O'Gara.

That probably explains why Leinster lose so many games when he plays

I laughed earlier today listening to the recent BBC podcast interview with Stuart Lancaster (link below). It's well worth a listen and very informative, Lancaster is clearly a very bright coach. Anyway, the bit that made me laugh was the section where Lancaster is blowing smoke up Sexton's arse, saying he sees things other players don't, sees 'pictures' etc and then he executes based on this picture that other mere mortals just can't see and I laughed because Lancaster painted this vision of a player operating on some kind of ethereal plane, seeing two, three, four steps ahead in 4D and after doing all that in the blink of an eye what does his vision tell him to do? "Run a circle pass off the 12 Johnny, that'll confuse the bejaysus out of the defenders, they'll never guess you're gonna run dat again!"

[Biffer]

Leicester v Leinster at a packed Welford Road in front of 30,000. That's what European competition should be about. Belter of a tie.

All four games looking pretty good tbh.

POersonally I'm looking forward to a civilised middle class city clash in the Challenge Cup in Edinburgh v Bath.

[TheFrog]

Any english fan thinking Zach Mercer should be in the national team?

[JM2K6]

Any english fan thinking Zach Mercer should be in the national team?

He's on better form than Simmonds this season and had a mighty performance opposite Dombrandt. But we're not short of quality 8s. He was in great form when Eddie ignored him (and Simmonds tbf) so there we go. Most international sides tackle better than Quins did but I appreciate he does that kind of thing on a regular basis, and did so for Bath!

[Tichtheid]

Saracens weren't relegated because they were a bad side, they were still a very good one who were up around English and European champions level, they were relegated because they got caught cheating.

The Saracens budget when they beat Leinster in the EC final in 2019 was still £millions less than Leinster spend. A year later when they beat Leinster in Dublin, they were without George Kruis (in Japan), Will Skelton (at La Rochelle), Ben Spencer (Bath) ,Liam Williams (Scarlets), Alex Lozowski (Montpellier) and Titi Lamositele (at Montpellier). And Owen Farrell (who apparently never gets censured for his tackling technique) was suspended for his tackling technique. And of course all the French teams that Saracens beat in the EC were spending far more than Leinster were. Plus there isn't a salary cap in the EC anyway so thanks for the comment.

The comment was accurate though, wasn’t it?

[TheFrog]

Any english fan thinking Zach Mercer should be in the national team?

He's on better form than Simmonds this season and had a mighty performance opposite Dombrandt. But we're not short of quality 8s. He was in great form when Eddie ignored him (and Simmonds tbf) so there we go. Most international sides tackle better than Quins did but I appreciate he does that kind of thing on a regular basis, and did so for Bath!

He has been an outstanding player for Montpellier since joining.

[Tichtheid]

Mercer went to school in Edinburgh and was in the Glasgow academy before joining Bath.

My memory might be playing tricks on me but I think he wasn’t offered a contract with Glasgow.
One that got away

[Kawazaki]

Mercer went to school in Edinburgh and was in the Glasgow academy before joining Bath.

My memory might be playing tricks on me but I think he wasn’t offered a contract with Glasgow.
One that got away

Born in Leeds to a New Zealand father playing RL in England and the Jocks think he's one that got away.

Shameless.

[Tichtheid]

Mercer moved to Scotland at 8 years old and learned his rugby at primary school in Glasgow before going to Merchiston where a lot of rugby scholarships are granted

As was mentioned, he was in the Glasgow academy and had played for Scotland U16s

One that got away

[Kawazaki]

Mercer moved to Scotland at 8 years old and learned his rugby at primary school in Glasgow before going to Merchiston where a lot of rugby scholarships are granted

As was mentioned, he was in the Glasgow academy and had played for Scotland U16s

One that got away

Even Ali Price sounds more Scottish than Zach Mercer.

[inactionman]

Any english fan thinking Zach Mercer should be in the national team?

He's on better form than Simmonds this season and had a mighty performance opposite Dombrandt. But we're not short of quality 8s. He was in great form when Eddie ignored him (and Simmonds tbf) so there we go. Most international sides tackle better than Quins did but I appreciate he does that kind of thing on a regular basis, and did so for Bath!

He has been an outstanding player for Montpellier since joining.

He was outstanding for Bath but seemed to be a bit second-fiddle in terms of backrow positioning - to be fair, at the time there were players like Faletau, Flouw and Underhill in the mix, but even then I thought he was a bit hard done by. Couple that with Bath's downturn and lack of England selection and not hard to see why he'd opt for a trip to France. In terms of England selection, Eddie Jones is just Eddie Jones, not sure there's never really a reason.

There was talk of him coming back to Bath once he'd had an enjoyable sojourn in France and the coaching regime changed at both club and national level, but think that was just wishful thinking on a few fan's behalves.

He's nimble, elusive, skilful and surprisingly strong for how he looks, not surprised he's going great guns in France.

[sockwithaticket]

Mercer moved to Scotland at 8 years old and learned his rugby at primary school in Glasgow before going to Merchiston where a lot of rugby scholarships are granted

As was mentioned, he was in the Glasgow academy and had played for Scotland U16s

One that got away

Am I right in thinking that the residency clock doesn't start ticking until players turn 18 , so, even if he had stayed north of the border rather than heading down to Bath and joining up with England U20s, he wouldn't have been eligible to represent the senior Scotland side until he turned 21?

[Tichtheid]

Mercer moved to Scotland at 8 years old and learned his rugby at primary school in Glasgow before going to Merchiston where a lot of rugby scholarships are granted

As was mentioned, he was in the Glasgow academy and had played for Scotland U16s

One that got away

Am I right in thinking that the residency clock doesn't start ticking until players turn 18 , so, even if he had stayed north of the border rather than heading down to Bath and joining up with England U20s, he wouldn't have been eligible to represent the senior Scotland side until he turned 21?

Maybe, how old were the Vunipola bothers when they first played for England?

I didn't know that was the case with residency

edit - I just had a look and the only mentions of "age of majority" is that that is when you can be "captured", I couldn't see mention of when the residency clock starts ticking

[Paddington Bear]

Leicester v Leinster at a packed Welford Road in front of 30,000. That's what European competition should be about. Belter of a tie.

All four games looking pretty good tbh.

POersonally I'm looking forward to a civilised middle class city clash in the Challenge Cup in Edinburgh v Bath.

The winner awarded a nicely pressed pair of red trousers