The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

Leinster's ground with the privet hedges bordering the pitch, what's that all about

The RDS is the Royal Dublin Showground - used for horse shows....

[Buzzo]

Glasgow 15 Leinster 18

Decent game until the heavens opened. High intensity.

Leinster out muscled Glasgow. The rain was not what Glasgow needed and resulted in some errors, and Leinster just Leinstered their way to victory, its not pretty, one 'up the jumper' 25 phase move where they gained about 20 metres before getting penalised about summing it up.

Glasgow gifting a try back to Leinster after taking the lead also not ideal.

Overall, the best team won. But what might have been.

Disgrace how often the Irish are taking out Stuart Hogg, blatantly in the 6ns and now carelessly today. Taken out in the air and knocked out cold. His final action in a Glasgow shirt. Not that it affected the result but that had to be a red.

[Irishnev]

Glasgow 15 Leinster 18

Decent game until the heavens opened. High intensity.

Leinster out muscled Glasgow. The rain was not what Glasgow needed and resulted in some errors, and Leinster just Leinstered their way to victory, its not pretty, one 'up the jumper' 25 phase move where they gained about 20 metres before getting penalised about summing it up.

Glasgow gifting a try back to Leinster after taking the lead also not ideal.

Overall, the best team won. But what might have been.

Disgrace how often the Irish are taking out Stuart Hogg, blatantly in the 6ns and now carelessly today. Taken out in the air and knocked out cold. His final action in a Glasgow shirt. Not that it affected the result but that had to be a red.

Not sure it’s an Irish thing Hogg plays the game at such a pace he just gets caught. Kearney is also v good in the air but he timed that one badly and prob should have walked.

Leinster more streetwise and found it out, they looked tired from the Sarries game and the weather didn’t help ye either

[Buzzo]

Not sure it’s an Irish thing Hogg plays the game at such a pace he just gets caught. Kearney is also v good in the air but he timed that one badly and prob should have walked.

Leinster more streetwise and found it out, they looked tired from the Sarries game and the weather didn’t help ye either

Twice now though, unfortunate late hits taking him out of a game.

Yeah, Leinster just ground out the win. And the love I have for Rugby

[Cormack74]

Big blow for Ireland but probably beneficial to London Irish in so much as they will get a rested player for the new season and if they are going to survive the season (without getting relegated again) then they will need everything going for them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48414576

Ireland back row forward Sean O'Brien has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup as he will be sidelined for up to six months recovering from hip surgery.

A statement released by Leinster on Sunday indicated that O'Brien will have surgery "in the next few weeks".

O'Brien lifted the Pro14 trophy on Saturday after Leinster beat Glasgow 18-15 in the final at Celtic Park.

The 32-year-old British and Irish Lions flanker is joining London Irish later in the year.

O'Brien made his Ireland debut in 2009 and has won 56 caps despite struggling with a string of injuries.

"It is a huge blow for Ireland and Sean will be bitterly disappointed," said former team-mate Stephen Ferris.

"Hip surgery is a pretty big operation and he has had a few issues with his hips over the last number of years so fingers crossed he is able to get it all sorted out over the next few months."

Injury denied O'Brien a place in Leinster's squad for the Pro14 decider but he still collected the silverware after the win.

His future involvement in international rugby is in doubt given Ireland's preference to select players who are contracted to play for the Irish provinces.

[Irishnev]

Leavy is a much bigger loss and O’Brien would never have got though the WC, his body can’t handle it anymore. At his peak he was a force of nature but he’s been well off it a few years now.

I’d love if he could play injury free for LI and just enjoy himself.

[Cormack74]

With all the excitement from last Saturday night I forgot to mention that I went to the Premiership final in the afternoon.

I think everyone who went sort of knew that Saracens would prevail but Exeter could, (possibly should) have won.

They had an eleven point lead after an hour and the Sarries players looked out on their feet but then some really poor Chiefs decision making allowed them to get back in to it.

When the opposition look knackered and your the team has the maximum in play time and phase play stats for the entire season surely you do more of the same? But no, Exeter got involved in a kick and contest battle and Saracens don't lose those. So an opportunity spurned.

One other thing, Sam Skinner's touch line break and off-load for Slade's try was a thing of beauty - especially for a second row. I'm not sure how a lad from somewhere like Torquay ends up with Scotland? Someone's done you a favour there Buzzo

[Buzzo]

His Dads Scottish - so he is a bona fide Scotsman.

I watched the game. Exeter had one hand on the trophy, but took their eye off the ball after that try which is a bad move v Saracens. The score immediately after was crucial.

[Cormack74]

If memory serves (and I'd had a few pints of Guinness so I may be wrong), that try straight after was the Farrel kick to Williams in the corner?

And that was preceded by some appalling game management by Chiefs when they threw to the middle from a line out 5m out, when the obvious tactic is to go over the top because your team only has half the distance to the ball to make up compared to the oppo'

I have a lot of admiration for Exeter but they do seem to lack a bit of pragmatism at the very top level which may explain why they haven't made a mark on Europe to any extent.

[Buzzo]

Yeah, beating Saracens requires perfection. That was the next try a real soft one from such a strong position.

They got themselves well into position to do so, but couldn’t close it out. Pretty unforgivable from such a strong position.

It will be interesting to see Stuart Hogg at Exeter. They lack a dynamic runner and with the power they have up front O can see how Hogg could fit in - he could do for them what Williams does for Saracens.

[Cormack74]

Yeah, beating Saracens requires perfection. That was the next try a real soft one from such a strong position.

They got themselves well into position to do so, but couldn’t close it out. Pretty unforgivable from such a strong position.

It will be interesting to see Stuart Hogg at Exeter. They lack a dynamic runner and with the power they have up front O can see how Hogg could fit in - he could do for them what Williams does for Saracens.

Actually I think they've had dynamic runners in Nowell and Santi Cordero, the trouble is Nowell seems to lack the absolute top pace of a Hogg or a Johnny May which is key to turning breaks into tries.

And both he and SC have had bad injuries - Cordero missed the last third of the season although he's off to France now so if injury affects him in the future it won't be the Chiefs problem

I hope Hogg has better luck and stays fit. He's going to enhance any game so it would be good if he gets a prolonged spell where he's available and firing and generally being entertaining.

[Buzzo]

yeah fair point. No well is a strong runner but lacks express pace as you say.

It’s a huge challenge for Hogg, he had the talent - but if targeted I worry about his fitness also.

——

Some Genuinely fascinating news with the story in NZ Rugby right now with Crusaders rebranding after the recent reformist attacks. They are also considering a full rebrand and new name.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48566104

[Buzzo]

Tough draw for Munster Nev. Hogg back to Scotstoun.

Champions Cup 2019-20 draw

Pool One Leinster, Lyon, Northampton Saints, Benetton

Pool Two Exeter Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, La Rochelle, Sale Sharks

Pool Three ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster Rugby, Harlequins, Bath

Pool Four Saracens, Munster, Racing 92, Ospreys

Pool Five Toulouse, Gloucester, Connacht, Montpellier

[Cormack74]

Buzzo's right Nev' that might be the end of Munster's interest.

Nailed on for Exeter to be in the same group as Glasgow wasn't it. These things seem to be almost guaranteed to occur in sport.

[Cormack74]

New World League plans abandoned:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48698587

World Rugby has abandoned plans for a new Nations Championship starting in 2022 after failing to gain the required support from unions.

The governing body needed unanimous approval from the 10 unions that make up the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship and Europe's Six Nations.

World Rugby says there was a "lack of consensus on key issues" including timing and the tournament's format.

The project had secured equity support worth £6.1bn over 12 years.

"We remain fully committed to exploring alternative ways to enhance the meaning, value and opportunity of international rugby," said World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont.

"This includes our continued commitment to competition and investment opportunities for emerging nations to increase the competitiveness of the international game with a view to possible Rugby World Cup expansion in 2027."

The Nations Championship would have seen a top division of 12 teams from both hemispheres play each other once in a calendar year, either through traditional competitions like the Six Nations or the Rugby Championship, or in summer or autumn Test windows.

The top two teams would have then met in an end-of-year showpiece final.

However, a major sticking point was the concept of promotion and relegation, with Six Nations unions such as Scotland and Ireland believed to be unconvinced on the sustainability and vibrancy of the second division.

The proposals would have also seen the November international schedules redrawn, with smaller nations fearing any new calendar would reduce the opportunities available to them.

However, a 12-team first division would have seen regular exposure against the top nations for the likes of Fiji and Japan, who would each have benefited from as many as 11 matches each year against top-tier nations.

The players' union was also believed to harbour reservations over the travel required in the summer international window, when northern hemisphere teams traditionally play in the south.