The four proud HEC provinces

First topic message reminder :

So for the first time ever we have a full compliment in the HEC. How are we feeling, one and all?

Personally, even though Montpellier have no HEC pedigree they worry me. They stormed into qualification last year. They've never cared about the Amlin, even to the point of being fined by the ERC after not registering the likes of Trinh Duc. But as a group I'd say it's less evil than last year.

Ulster, without Pienaar, are up against it. Clermont (ouch) and Tigers (ouch-ouch), how are the northerners feeling about this? Would qualification for the Amlin knock-outs be a good or bad thing, in terms of realistic silverware?

Munster, well the fans probably won't wake up until the knock out stages Lets hope the team does. WC hangovers and all that. Leinster are likewise suffering. The derby was not exactly Inviticus, now was it? Actually it was, awful film.

Harlequins and Gloucester yo-yo between the Amin and the HEC. In fact, in Connacht's group, Toulouse are the only team that weren't in the Amlin last year. The group of snooze in terms of TV coverage, I fear.

But still, the first time we've had all four and that's something to celebrate. And Connacht's HEC shirt is, once again, a thing of beauty.

Spoiler:

The beard-stroking verdict: Lots of beer.

Sin é wrote:Michael D is a soccer fan. He is (or was) chairman of Galway United, Connacht's main sporting competition.

By the way, Michael D. was born in Limerick!

My point exactly Sin. How long before he is seen sporting a Connacht scarf...

Hurley, there are loads of Connacht people making their way over to Toulouse. Bandwagon is on the roll.

Fair play to them Stag. All teams need their bandwagoners. Filthy lucre and all that.
What are all your win or lose predictions for the 4 games?
As I have stated I think Munster & Ulster will win, and Leinster & Connacht lose.

Huge game for Browne tomorrow. Hope he takes up Hines' mantle. For a while anyway - hes 31 near 32. Have to be honest and say Ive only seen him play a couple of of times this season. Thought Toner had done enough to hold his place. Hes fast improving.
Thoughts/gen on Browne, ye lot?

I would have played SOB, Jenno and Heaslip in the backrow, with McLaughlin at lock. But Joe must believe Browne can do a job for us.
Strong bench if it doesn't go well in the 1st 40.

HURLEY_BURLEY wrote:Fair play to them Stag. All teams need their bandwagoners. Filthy lucre and all that.
What are all your win or lose predictions for the 4 games?
As I have stated I think Munster & Ulster will win, and Leinster & Connacht lose.

I agree with your predictions. I'm so confused about Munster though I think we'll do it. Could just as easy be the other way though

Northampton won 4, lost 4 in England.
Looking at the Premiership, would be more worried if I was a Connacht fan.
1 Harlequins 8 8 0 0 234 143 2 34
2 Saracens 8 7 0 1 195 122 2 30
3 London Irish 8 3 1 4 221 195 6 20
4 Gloucester 8 4 0 4 167 163 3 19
5 Sale 8 4 0 4 177 201 3 19
6 Northampton 8 4 0 4 177 136 2 18
7 Bath 8 4 0 4 153 169 2 18
8 Wasps 8 4 0 4 148 169 2 18
9 Exeter 8 3 0 5 150 170 5 17
10 Leicester 8 2 1 5 210 231 4 14
11 Worcester 8 2 1 5 110 151 2 12
12 Newcastle 8 1 1 6 130 222 1 7

** I accept of course that the World Cup will have affected this table.

It'll be very tough for us, but I think we can take a scalp at home.

Games that we will lose, as long as we can keep the score down and maybe even pick up a few losing bonus points along the way.

Glad a few of our games are on sky, few of us were talking about going to Toulouse.

I'll be a very happy man if both teams in green win tonight.

Gibson wrote:
Thoughts/gen on Browne, ye lot?

Squad player and no more. Toner needs a kick up the brains for letting Browne in ahead of him. Browne will do a job, but no more. He was brought in as cover, I'm not sure I trust him with HEC starts.

Sykes is in your 'A' team. IMO there are question marks over Leinsters recruitment in recent seasons.

Something is wrong when Browne can start for Leinster but probably wouldn't start for his home province, that's not an acceptable standard of second row.

I take it SinÉ doesn't like Cork. We had their number for so long in the hurling put the baton is changing hands. He has a cut at Cork City FC then, like Tipp's soccer team are great( sorry what team is that?) Cork City have attracted more fans than your average premier LOI club. They are a fan owned team with many promising players and great facilites and support. You're a man who loves his stats so you say we have a poor club, how many players have been sent to England for Cork City in the last 10 years and how many have acheived international honours?

Guys, once again, and I'm asking nicely, if you're not interested in celebrating all four provinces in the HEC then please have your willy measuring contest elsewhere. Thanks.

It is a great acheivement and I'm looking forward to see how Connacht do as the new guys. They are a team who don't give up and are nearly always in with a shout. Browne seems like a very odd call for Leinster but Schmidt has done well so far so you have to back him. Montpellier could shade it though, a decent pack, a very talented backrow and a nice backline too.



Apologies Greybeard.

Nae worries, cheers mate.

Cheers on the heads-up on Browne, Grey.
I thought as much. Toner has been playing really well. So WTF is Joe doing here? Is he looking for raw power in the 1st half, frustrate them, wear them down and take them in the 2nd? Really dunno what Jenno is doing on the bench and SOB at 7. Complete head-feic for moi. It's not our best team by a long shot. Its not our best 22. Dom Ryan at 7, instead of SOB - at least. Thought Sykes with Toner on the bench, was going to happen.

He must have a cunning, tactical-plan. I hope he does.

P.S. Sykes had been injured Stag. We don't know what he is capable of yet. Must not be match-fit - hence the B&I inclusion.

Actually, now that I think of it, Browne played in France and will have his ears at the ready come line out time. Schmidt's an old Top 14er, maybe he knows something.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Are there any ulster men from donegal?

At the Connacht game last weekend the two clubs sending mini-rugby teams to Ravenhill to compete at half-time were both from Donegal. Finn Valley RFC and Tir Chonaill RFC. Both brand new rugby clubs from non-rugby areas getting involved in mini-rugby. Both founded in the last few years.

I think (hope) we're going to see the effects of the groundwork at grassroots level in Donegal in terms of supporter base and player numbers across the next few years.

It would be a massive coup if we could get Tommy Bowe back to the province, in terms of having a big name from Monaghan one of our less established rugby areas.

HURLEY_BURLEY wrote:Wow - next time Sin é is having a pop at Leinster, we can just throw in a line about Cork to deflect his attention.
e.g,
Sin é "22% of people know that in 48% of matches, Jonny Sexton will MISS 74% of kicks that 38% of all out-halves in the World would have kicked had the humidity been 10% higher, and the crowd attendance 7% lower".

A N OTHER "Really Sin é, fascinating. By the way, what are your views on Cork getting that European City of Culture award. Well deserved eh??"

Sin é "GGGRRRRR, "

Love it.

Ah ya bullies. Every blog needs a token Tipp man. And he's ours.

Oh, and Bluemuff too. For Waterford. Lovely hurlin.

Will three of four regions qualifying for the quarters make Kidney's position untenable?

His position is only tenable now, because the IRFU are spineless, jobs for da biys - gobshoites. Like our last government.

I mean, getting tactically shafted, by the moron that is Gatland. That, to me, is an international rugby disgrace.
Suitably punishable, by his returning to a Munster, he slowly let age & die - before he ran out on them.

Im just joshin Grey. Really.

Kidney or Anthony Foley are the only two people I want to see as next Munster coach.

Connacht Abu! Huge ask. Hope they get at least a LBP. That would be a great start, against an on-form, on fire, O Shea run - Quins.

There will be blood-letting - twixt O Shea and Elwood. Former play-mates.

They were in playboy?

Do you have a book of inappropriate haikus Greybeard?

MON Connacht!

Glas a du wrote:Do you have a book of inappropriate haikus Greybeard?

Beside the toilet

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

All I said was toilet

I try I really do try...

Frank Murphy's tache is freaking Care out.

MON Connacht!

Believe!

Eoin Griffen for Ireland ?

Last 2 Quins lineouts were crooked.SO crooked. REF!

NO try.

Feck forgot the Connacht game was on! Is it still 19-17 to quins?

Get Higgins out of the aras, macca for president!

Duffy is playing so clever. Kicking the life out of em.

Duffy for Ireland? Ah, hang on now...

Now Connacht. Keep the cool. A LBP would be huge in yer 1st HC. A win?

Jeezuz. Shame there are no Connacht fans on here. Love to celebrate that with them. Ah well .

Gibson wrote:Now Connacht. Keep the cool. A LBP would be huge in yer 1st HC. A win?

Jeezuz. Shame there are no Connacht fans on here. Love to celebrate that with them. Ah well .

We're all Connacht fans Gibbo!

I'm sure we're all Connacht people today

True Dave. True. Some more than others.
This, has been magnificent. Keep them on the rack lads.

Hold this LBP score and its a terrific start. Set them up for Toulouse.

BELIEVE!

Quins pressing. Nail them! Bollox!

Squeaky-bum time lads.

Hold out!

Stupid pen. Should not have committed that. Just stupid.

They deserved so much more here.

Killer

Feck. Really unlucky for Connacht. Sounds like they really did themselves proud tonight .

Connacht certainly did us proud tonight. Proved they're not just cannn fodder. Roll on Toulouse in the Sportsground!

I think we might have seen BODs replacement in Mr Griffin in midfield....looks very tasty.

Toulouse, on watching that, are now forewarned. A LPB was deserved on that performance. But, they lost the hid in the end.

Great performance Connacht. But no cigar. Not even a rollie.