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Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:23 pm
by Torquemada 1420
With little margin for error in this season’s restructured tournament, Boyd has already indicated he will field a weakened side against Leinster in Dublin next week, recognising that it will now be seriously hard for the Saints to reach the last eight. The competition organisers will be less than thrilled but Northampton are increasingly not in a position to mess about.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 2:51 pm
by ASMO
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:23 pm
With little margin for error in this season’s restructured tournament, Boyd has already indicated he will field a weakened side against Leinster in Dublin next week, recognising that it will now be seriously hard for the Saints to reach the last eight. The competition organisers will be less than thrilled but Northampton are increasingly not in a position to mess about.
Gloucester did the same, the prem and T14 are almost swapping position on this now. Prem sides struggling in the domestic comp are relegating the European comps as a place to blood second stringers and academy players. France seem to be really taking it seriously.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:02 pm
by Saint
To be honest, could anyone here tell the difference between a weakened Saints side and the first choice XV at the moment?
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
by JM2K6
ASMO wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 2:51 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:23 pm
With little margin for error in this season’s restructured tournament, Boyd has already indicated he will field a weakened side against Leinster in Dublin next week, recognising that it will now be seriously hard for the Saints to reach the last eight. The competition organisers will be less than thrilled but Northampton are increasingly not in a position to mess about.
Gloucester did the same, the prem and T14 are almost swapping position on this now. Prem sides struggling in the domestic comp are relegating the European comps as a place to blood second stringers and academy players. France seem to be really taking it seriously.
It's a ridiculously compressed season. There's a pandemic on. I don't blame any side for taking drastic action.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
by Torquemada 1420
ASMO wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 2:51 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:23 pm
With little margin for error in this season’s restructured tournament, Boyd has already indicated he will field a weakened side against Leinster in Dublin next week, recognising that it will now be seriously hard for the Saints to reach the last eight. The competition organisers will be less than thrilled but Northampton are increasingly not in a position to mess about.
Gloucester did the same, the prem and T14 are almost swapping position on this now. Prem sides struggling in the domestic comp are relegating the European comps as a place to blood second stringers and academy players. France seem to be really taking it seriously.
It's a strange and unexpected reversal of behaviour. Not how I'd like to see anyone emulate Fre clubs.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:11 pm
by JM2K6
If English sides are still doing it after the pandemic then it's worth mentioning.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:15 pm
by Torquemada 1420
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
It's a ridiculously compressed season. There's a pandemic on. I don't blame any side for taking drastic action.
Begs the question whether the game authorities have got this all wrong.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:04 pm
by ASMO
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:15 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
It's a ridiculously compressed season. There's a pandemic on. I don't blame any side for taking drastic action.
Begs the question whether the game authorities have got this all wrong.
I believe they have, in effect this is a knockout from the start, a single loss at home for the most part means you are unlikely to progress. Teams unlikely to give a shit after a home loss.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:11 pm
by SaintK
ASMO wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:04 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:15 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
It's a ridiculously compressed season. There's a pandemic on. I don't blame any side for taking drastic action.
Begs the question whether the game authorities have got this all wrong.
I believe they have, in effect this is a knockout from the start, a single loss at home for the most part means you are unlikely to progress. Teams unlikely to give a shit after a home loss.
This unfortunately
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:33 pm
by sockwithaticket
ASMO wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:04 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:15 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
It's a ridiculously compressed season. There's a pandemic on. I don't blame any side for taking drastic action.
Begs the question whether the game authorities have got this all wrong.
I believe they have, in effect this is a knockout from the start, a single loss at home for the most part means you are unlikely to progress. Teams unlikely to give a shit after a home loss.
Tbf, in regular times if you lose your first two it effectively becomes a knock out for the majority and you see teams not going well domestically pick sides accordingly. With relegation around and the Prem so competitive (if not particularly high on quality), Europe's been too mcuh of a risk in recent seasons.
This season they're just accelerating the rate at which teams stop giving a shit.
Re: Weakened sides
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2020 1:04 pm
by Torquemada 1420
ASMO wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:04 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:15 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:10 pm
It's a ridiculously compressed season. There's a pandemic on. I don't blame any side for taking drastic action.
Begs the question whether the game authorities have got this all wrong.
I believe they have, in effect this is a knockout from the start, a single loss at home for the most part means you are unlikely to progress. Teams unlikely to give a shit after a home loss.
Would have been better to have just gone FA cup style although that would have meant less money for some parties plus I have no idea what ERC is contracted to deliver to its broadcasters.