Yeah Hougaard has been great at times when he's played, had a good game in the important one against Bristol the other week. Would be good to see a solid run from him.
Rugby 2017 Discussion
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Yeah Hougaard has been great at times when he's played, had a good game in the important one against Bristol the other week. Would be good to see a solid run from him.
Ryan is to old for a central contact while heaslip who's 4 days younger and in a hotly contested spot gets a contract.
I take your point but the travel they have to go through for their away games makes me wonder just how practical it really is for them to be in Super Rugby.
Anybody see this last weekend?
Was that a scrum given?
Yes.
What was the reason?
I assume because both sides were in a stand off and the ref wanted a scrum to get some rugby going again.
Thats brilliant, my team doesn't always engage the maul and then we just come round the back and take out the carrier.
Been a long time since i played
can they not start moving forward, so long as the front of the maul has the ball (ie not causing offside) and then when they are engaged by opposition move the ball backwards to the back of the maul
Champions Cup Quarter-Finals are on this weekend, with some very intriguing match-ups all things considered.
Leinster vs. Wasps - Saturday, 15:15
Probably the hardest encounter to call. Leinster have at their disposal basically a full XV of good Irish internationals, even with Rob Kearney and Heaslip out injured. Wasps's back-three could cause Leinster all sorts of problems going forward, although they may be very vulnerable going the other way. This one could well be a one-score game and seeing as I'm a homer, I'll say Leinster by 3.
Munster vs. Toulouse - Saturday, 17:45
Munster have had an excellent season ever since they beat Glasgow in Week 2 of the Champions Cup. They're also likely to be the least expansive team out of the 8 sides although this doesn't matter since their style of play is still very effective. Toulouse have a very poor away record in the Top 14 this season and moreover, the only game they won away from home in the Champions Cup was against Zebre (Which doesn't really count). Munster should win this one but if Conor Murray is out, the odds change drastically in Toulouse's favour. Munster by 10.
Saracens vs. Glasgow - Sunday, 13:00
Saracens aren't top of the Aviva Premiership but they are still in my eyes the best side in the competition. They seem to have become more confident at going through the phases, although they still can pretty much out-muscle any other side in Europe. Glasgow probably play the best rugby out of all the Quarter-Finalists; Gregor Townsend will also be looking to achieve some success in Europe before leaving to become Scotland's new HC. Still, it's hard to look past Sarries , especially when they-re at home. Saracens by 10.
Clermont vs. Toulon - Sunday, 16:15
At times when I saw Clermont play earlier on in the Champions Cup, they very much looked like a real threat to finally win it all. I fund this surprising considering how I thought they were on their way out of Europe's elite. However, I think Fofana is injured; an absolutely major loss for Clermont. Toulon are not the same side they were two years ago and their away record in the Top 14 is also poor. I'd also be surprised if Mike Ford was the man who would be able to coax Toulon into a performance of yesteryear. Clermont by 13.
Leinster vs. Wasps - Saturday, 15:15
Probably the hardest encounter to call. Leinster have at their disposal basically a full XV of good Irish internationals, even with Rob Kearney and Heaslip out injured. Wasps's back-three could cause Leinster all sorts of problems going forward, although they may be very vulnerable going the other way. This one could well be a one-score game and seeing as I'm a homer, I'll say Leinster by 3.
Munster vs. Toulouse - Saturday, 17:45
Munster have had an excellent season ever since they beat Glasgow in Week 2 of the Champions Cup. They're also likely to be the least expansive team out of the 8 sides although this doesn't matter since their style of play is still very effective. Toulouse have a very poor away record in the Top 14 this season and moreover, the only game they won away from home in the Champions Cup was against Zebre (Which doesn't really count). Munster should win this one but if Conor Murray is out, the odds change drastically in Toulouse's favour. Munster by 10.
Saracens vs. Glasgow - Sunday, 13:00
Saracens aren't top of the Aviva Premiership but they are still in my eyes the best side in the competition. They seem to have become more confident at going through the phases, although they still can pretty much out-muscle any other side in Europe. Glasgow probably play the best rugby out of all the Quarter-Finalists; Gregor Townsend will also be looking to achieve some success in Europe before leaving to become Scotland's new HC. Still, it's hard to look past Sarries , especially when they-re at home. Saracens by 10.
Clermont vs. Toulon - Sunday, 16:15
At times when I saw Clermont play earlier on in the Champions Cup, they very much looked like a real threat to finally win it all. I fund this surprising considering how I thought they were on their way out of Europe's elite. However, I think Fofana is injured; an absolutely major loss for Clermont. Toulon are not the same side they were two years ago and their away record in the Top 14 is also poor. I'd also be surprised if Mike Ford was the man who would be able to coax Toulon into a performance of yesteryear. Clermont by 13.
It is so disheartening seeing the Aussie teams struggle in Super Rugby the way they are.
Do you think this article is relevant?
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/behind-the-lines/2016/dec/08/australia-rugby-union-england
Nicely summed up!
As a Munster man, I'm a bit worried about the build up this week. There is too much talk of Toulouse struggles, semi final planning and an easy win on Saturday. Rugby rarely pans out like this and this is still Toulouse we're talking about. They'll be hurting and coming over with every intention of sticking the form book up our arses.
Add that to the rumours and uncertainty surrounding the futures of Rassie Erasmus and Donncha Ryan all week, plus the injury questionmark hanging over Murray and my fingernails are bitten to the bone. I'd bite your hand off for a 1 point win right now.
Fancy Leinster and Wasps to be a cracker but think Leinster will be just too strong at home while I think Sarries - Glasgow will be the match of the weekend for me. Both sides at home on the plastic pitch and Glasgow can bring an intensity and skill set on their day which I think might shock Saracens. The Weegies don't always show up, but when they do I think they reach a level above any side other than Sarries in the AP. Really looking forward to that one.
As you've mentioned, Clermont are the only real banker of the weekend. Toulon look in disarray somewhat and Clermont at home in this tournament are a fearsome outfit.
Surely having formed a maul which wasn't moving forward, the ref should have instructed them once to use it, and then awarded the scrum to the defending side?
Nobody from the defending team was bound onto an opponent so i don't think there's a maul there, more of a stand off with both sides not willing to engage so i think the ref was right to call a scrum attacking team ball.
You're probably right there actually. I'm not sure what the exact rule is on a maul engagement but it probably wasn't officially formed. I just think in that scenario, the onus is on the attacking team to actually move forward. The defensive line is entitled to hold their line and if the side with the ball isn't willing to move forward, they should lose it.
I think it's a fair article. Rugby is what i'd call a ''bandwagon'' sport in Australia. People will ride the wave of momentum behind a super rugby team in their state if that team is winning games in an entertaining manner. When the QLD Reds were a good team in Super Rugby from 2010-2013, crowds at home games were pretty solid - 25000 - 30000 people will turn up. Now the Reds will do well to get 20000 to a match unless the Waratahs are in town. That's common among the other Super Rugby teams. If a team at Super Rugby or the Wallabies are struggling the game ends up being a game only the hardcore fans are interested in.
Rugby also struggles due to a lack a of a free to air presence. There's one Super Rugby game a week on free to air TV which was shown more than 24 hours after the match took place. Last year's match between England and Australia at Twickenham will be the most recent Rugby match shown live on free to air TV until Australia play Fiji on June 10. An absence on more than 6 months is not ideal for a sport that struggles for attention, fans and popularity. Rugby also struggles due to the perception that it's the most ''boring'' of the football codes in Australia of which there are four.
Back in 2008, some experimental law variations were trialed where foul play, offside and entering a breakdown from the side were the only offenses penalisable via a long arm penalty, everything else was a free kick. Those law variations led to a faster game with teams more often than not taking a tap after being given a free kick but those law variations remained trials and weren't given the green light.
Rugby's laws though don't screw Australia up. The cold hard fact is if the Wallabies are winning in an entertaining style and Aussie Super Rugby sides are doing the same thing, Rugby would be far more popular. Since making the last World Cup Final, much has gone wrong, not right for Rugby. A Bledisloe Cup series win this year would do wonders for Aussie Rugby but that is very unlikely.
That's a a good and thorough account of Aussie rugby.
In your opinion, what are the short-term and long-term solutions to this problem?
As of now, Aussie sides are one win from 14 games against overseas teams. Yes, there have been some close losses among that but the numbers don't lie. The common view which i agree with is that there isn't the player depth to have five Super Rugby sides who can compete. In the coming weeks, news will come that one Aussie side will be cut with the Western Force appearing the most likely to go. If the better players are spread four teams instead of five, we might see the Aussie sides competing more with their overseas counterparts. None of the Aussie sides appear well coached at the moment either which is an issue. They're the short term issues and solution. The long term issue will be having the most talented young Aussie sportsmen playing Rugby instead of the other sports. Improving coaching standards and skill set of players is a long term issue that needs to be fixed or the Wallabies and Aussie sides in general will continue to struggle.
Nigel Owens has made a sudden yet surprising decision to announce his retirement from refereeing test matches at the end of the June series of internationals.
April fool or real?
My lame April fool joke. I had to try something.
Looking forward to the matches today. No april fools there. Hoping for some smashing contests. I think the only upset could be in the Leinster Wasps match.
Shame for Glasgow that their game with Saracens is in England, not Scotland. I saw Saracens put 53 on Bath last weekend. The reigning English and European champs have an incredible home record.
I think they were a bit overawed going to Thomond the week after Foley's death and then threw away a winning position at home to Munster which meant they got such a tough draw. They've had a slightly underwhelming season actually, as a Leinster supporter I would have considered Glasgow's squad to be arguably the closest in terms of quality in the Pro 12 yet they've realistically got no chance of even making the play-offs.
The Leinster game is the toughest to call (I think the home sides are clear favourites in the other three), I'm hoping home advantage and possibly a stronger scrum can give us the edge but Wasps' backline is terrifying as well as them having some quality forwards.
@Mitchell Nicholas , seems like you didn't make the worst April Fools joke today 
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-fit...r-world-rugby-domination-20170331-gvaqbr.html
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-fit...r-world-rugby-domination-20170331-gvaqbr.html
Wasps rattled, much like England. Over to ye, lads.
Willie Le Roux will extremely silly if Leinster win.
That's one for his highlight reel.Good to hear the dulcet tones of Michael Cheika on BT Sport's coverage.
Leinster appear to have a match winning half time lead.
First points for Wasps, match gone a bit scrappy with stupid penalties.
I hadn't heard Cheika talk for over a month so i was more focused on trying to suss out who was talking more than taking notice of what was being said. The Aussie accent and his history with Leinster gave it away eventually.
Carberry's been great. Leinster just look half a second more up to speed than Wasps. They'll have to seriously up their committment to have any hope.
How could you forget that honeyed voice?
Game over I'd say, just turned over to see the try, hopefully my boys do it later on against tolouse
Seen that Willie Le Roux bombed try again and it is as embarrassing as it gets.