Leicester vs Glasgow, 17:30 KO Saturday 21st January 2017

First topic message reminder :

Tigers vs Warriors
17:30 KO
Saturday 21st January
Welford Road, Leicester

BT Sport 2/beIN Sports

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FIR)

Last 3 Tigers Matches             Last 3 Glasgow Matches

Racing 34 - 3  Cubs              Glasgow 12 - 14 Munster
Tigers 18 - 16 Munster         Glasgow 23 - 7  Racing
Munster 38 - 0 Cubs             Racing   14 - 23 Glasgow

   Head to Head
6      Played     6
4        Win       2
2      Losses     4
28     Tries     17
228   Points    159

Leicester's closest away match so far was the tight 42-13 match up at Scotstoun. At home they have won both matches in relatively tight battles and are a completely different animal. Glasgow have played excellently against Racing and Leicester but have lacked a clinical edge against Munster. With Leicester out and Glasgow probably in need of a victory to avoid Sarries in the quarters, it will be fascinating to see what teams show up. Will Leicester go for young guns who give it their all (a la Racing last week)?


Glasgow

15. Stuart Hogg (95) (29)
14. Tommy Seymour (96) (25)
13. Mark Bennett (63) (13)
12. Alex Dunbar (93) (23)
11. Lee Jones (46) (22)
10. Finn Russell (58) (17)
9. Ali Price (36) (8)

1. Gordon Reid (108) (20)
2. Fraser Brown (58) (12)
3. Zander Fagerson (46) (11)
4. Tim Swinson (91) (41)
5. Jonny Gray CAPTAIN (68) (19)
6. Rob Harley (152) (31)
7. Ryan Wilson (124) (28)
8. Josh Strauss (103) (22)

Replacements:

16. Pat MacArthur (147) (35)
17. Alex Allan (40) (12)
18. D’arcy Rae (16) (1)
19. Brian Alainu'uese (6) (1)
20. Chris Fusaro (117) (25)
21. Henry Pyrgos (116) (25)
22. Nick Grigg (10) (2)
23. Peter Murchie (111) (17)

Not available due to injury: Simone Favaro (ankle), Peter Horne (knee / ankle), Rory Hughes (knee), Sean Lamont (back), Greg Peterson (shoulder), Sila Puafisi (head), Leonardo Sarto (shoulder) and Tjiuee Uanivi (shoulder).

Leicester

15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Jack Roberts
11 Tom Brady
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs

1 Greg Bateman
2 Tom Youngs
3Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater
5 Michael Fitzgerald
6 Mike Williams
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Luke Hamilton

16 Harry Thacker
17 Ellis Genge
18 Patrick Cilliers
19 Dom Barrow
20 Will Evans
21 Sam Harrison
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith

Ayerza (Leg), Mulipola (Knee), Kitchener (Back), O'Connor (Head), Teamwork (Head), Tuilagi (Knee), Toomua (Knee), Spirit (Heart), Veainu (Head), Pietersen (Leg), Worth (Leg), Bryant (something), Catchpole (Leg), Skills (Hands)

RDW_Scotland wrote:The full game is on YouTube - several links available

I'll be reporting them as illegal copies so I don't accidentally watch that horror show again

What has happened to tigers?
I think that they suffered their 3 biggest European defeats durning this campaign.
the are not doing as well as normal in the league, but are still around the play off places, much like Glasgow in theirs.

Hopefully the Tigers of old are back for next year, the tournament is better for having them each year.

Kingshu - I think its because the pro 12 teams are improving and the best of them playing with a pace the likes of Leicester are not used to playing against

It isn't in this respect. It's Tigers going downhill. Glasgow are very good but Tigers will be turned over by a good side playing any style.

TJ wrote:Kingshu - I think its because the pro 12 teams are improving and the best of them playing with a pace the likes of Leicester are not used to playing against

Yes, because leicester have been brilliant against all teams other than the pro 12 ones....

TJ wrote:Kingshu - I think its because the pro 12 teams are improving and the best of them playing with a pace the likes of Leicester are not used to playing against

Nah Tigers where thumped by Exeter earlier this month.

It has been a troubling time for us.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

TJ wrote:formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball.  Glasgow play on a plastic pitch at home as well remeber.  

If you want to beat Sarries you have to control territory. The forwards will need to be in Sarries half if the brilliant offloading stuff is going to happen. Glasgow try and go from their 22 and they won't make it out their half, Sarries have the best defence in Europe. Keep pushing Sarries into their half and they'll always be pragmatic and kick. Thats when Glasgow need to get bodies behind the ball and counter and bring their offloading game. Sarries are often happy to play without the ball they are not happy to play in their third of the pitch. 

Good point about Billy though, Sarries will need him back.

Munster have the best defence in Europe (and PRO12).

Munster conceeded 4 tries in Europe this year (2 v Glasgow). Sarries have conceeded 6.

Who has scored the most tries?

Munster are meanies - they steal your sweeties and everfink!

TJ wrote:Who has scored the most tries?  

Munster are meanies - they steal your sweeties and everfink!  

Munster scored 18, Tries against 4. - Points difference 96
Sarries scored 20, Tries against 6. - Points difference 94.

Morning gents, so I wakened up yesterday; hungover and with that "my God did I do that?" feeling.
About an hour after the final whistle I slipped away from the carousing in the bar under the stand and went to stand by the pitch. I always find empty, quiet , floodlit stadiums strangely beautiful. I had my phone in my hand and was about to ask Feckless Rogue to take my photo when two Glasgow players passed by me. They smiled and nodded and I greeted one of them with the word, "Shrek!".
He gave me such alook and asked, "Shrek???"
My life flashed before my eyes and I garbled an explanation that it was a term of endearment. I then attempted to explain that "meet them aff the bus" has gone down in Glasgow folklore. He appeared unconvinced. Then to compound my misery Pat Macarthur stopped laughing long enough to say, "Let's get a photo taken with the man.....SHREK."
I just know that the best loosehead in world rugby will be getting Shrekked all day at training this week.
I'm not sure I ever want to bump into him again.

jimbopip wrote:Morning gents, so I wakened up yesterday; hungover and with that "my God did I do that?" feeling.
About an hour after the final whistle I slipped away from the carousing in the bar under the stand and went to stand by the pitch. I always find empty, quiet , floodlit stadiums strangely beautiful. I had my phone in my hand and was about to ask Feckless Rogue to take my photo when two Glasgow players passed by me. They smiled and nodded and I greeted one of them with the word, "Shrek!".  
He gave me such alook and asked, "Shrek???"
My life flashed before my eyes and I garbled an explanation that it was a term of endearment. I then attempted to explain that "meet them aff the bus" has gone down in Glasgow folklore. He appeared unconvinced. Then to compound my misery Pat Macarthur stopped laughing long enough to say, "Let's get a photo taken with the man.....SHREK."
I just know that the best loosehead in world rugby will be getting Shrekked all day at training this week.
I'm not sure I ever want to bump into him again.

Brilliant - I bet he loves you for that.

Although to be fair if no one in the squad had already thought of that nickname I'd be very disappointed!

Yes,I' ve just told the women in the department, who are all rightly sensitive about cruel nicknames, they saw the photo and all said, "Fair enough, you were just being accurate."

RDW_Scotland wrote:

jimbopip wrote:Morning gents, so I wakened up yesterday; hungover and with that "my God did I do that?" feeling.
About an hour after the final whistle I slipped away from the carousing in the bar under the stand and went to stand by the pitch. I always find empty, quiet , floodlit stadiums strangely beautiful. I had my phone in my hand and was about to ask Feckless Rogue to take my photo when two Glasgow players passed by me. They smiled and nodded and I greeted one of them with the word, "Shrek!".  
He gave me such alook and asked, "Shrek???"
My life flashed before my eyes and I garbled an explanation that it was a term of endearment. I then attempted to explain that "meet them aff the bus" has gone down in Glasgow folklore. He appeared unconvinced. Then to compound my misery Pat Macarthur stopped laughing long enough to say, "Let's get a photo taken with the man.....SHREK."
I just know that the best loosehead in world rugby will be getting Shrekked all day at training this week.
I'm not sure I ever want to bump into him again.

Brilliant - I bet he loves you for that.

Although to be fair if no one in the squad had already thought of that nickname I'd be very disappointed!

Well they certainly know it now!

Well done Jimbo for educating the Glasgow players, it has often been said before that they really aught to spend more time reading this forum!

I am sure you enjoyed the game, we certainly did

Graham, were the Tiggers fans not wonderful?
After the game Tom Croft (British Lion) gave me a doughnut (not a metaphor) and I had a pint with Martin Johnson's dad, who is a genuinely nice guy.
If we played Tiggers every season I wouldn't complain.

We were sitting within a crowd of Tigers fans, most of whom were season ticket holders, all really lovely and happy to chat about their team and to congratulate Glasgow. They were a bit down on their team, even before the start and said that they just wanted to see a good game. I promised them that with Glasgow playing there would be plenty of tries, I just don't think any of us were expecting that they would all be for Glasgow.

It was a great place to visit, rightly one of the legendary venues of rugby and I would happily go back again.

Leicester will come good again as well. A club with that history and levels of support won't fail. They just need to adapt a little to changes in modern rugby.

jimbopip wrote:Graham, were the Tiggers fans not wonderful?
After the game Tom Croft (British Lion) gave me a doughnut (not a metaphor) and I had a pint with Martin Johnson's dad, who is a genuinely nice guy.
If we played Tiggers every season I wouldn't complain.

MJ is a top top bloke. Once had the pleasure of being coached by him for a session at school. Couldn't have been friendlier.

jimbopip wrote:Morning gents, so I wakened up yesterday; hungover and with that "my God did I do that?" feeling.
About an hour after the final whistle I slipped away from the carousing in the bar under the stand and went to stand by the pitch. I always find empty, quiet , floodlit stadiums strangely beautiful. I had my phone in my hand and was about to ask Feckless Rogue to take my photo when two Glasgow players passed by me. They smiled and nodded and I greeted one of them with the word, "Shrek!".  
He gave me such alook and asked, "Shrek???"
My life flashed before my eyes and I garbled an explanation that it was a term of endearment. I then attempted to explain that "meet them aff the bus" has gone down in Glasgow folklore. He appeared unconvinced. Then to compound my misery Pat Macarthur stopped laughing long enough to say, "Let's get a photo taken with the man.....SHREK."
I just know that the best loosehead in world rugby will be getting Shrekked all day at training this week.
I'm not sure I ever want to bump into him again.

Best thing I've read on 606. Ever!

Sin é wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

TJ wrote:formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball.  Glasgow play on a plastic pitch at home as well remeber.  

If you want to beat Sarries you have to control territory. The forwards will need to be in Sarries half if the brilliant offloading stuff is going to happen. Glasgow try and go from their 22 and they won't make it out their half, Sarries have the best defence in Europe. Keep pushing Sarries into their half and they'll always be pragmatic and kick. Thats when Glasgow need to get bodies behind the ball and counter and bring their offloading game. Sarries are often happy to play without the ball they are not happy to play in their third of the pitch. 

Good point about Billy though, Sarries will need him back.

Munster have the best defence in Europe (and PRO12).

Munster conceeded 4 tries in Europe this year (2 v Glasgow). Sarries have conceeded 6.

That's good going by Munster. Saracens will have scored a lot of points on the back of their defence though, it's practically an attacking weapon.

What a game!

Surprised Swinson got MOTM ahead of Price and Russell who controlled the game excellently but the forwards were so dominant that they deserved it as a collective. If the Vunipola's are still out, this Glasgow team may be able to get parity with the Sarries pack and anything can happen after that.

I got a picture with Shrek after the Cardiff game a couple of years back; a really good bloke and surprisingly big. He probably was not going to do a Ryan Wilson on you...probably

The commentators were purring about Swinson after the match and pointing out some of the work he does off the ball as well as what he does with it. They where clearly very impressed with him.

But yes, you could probably have made a case for anyone in the Glasgow pack!

Sin é wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

TJ wrote:formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball.  Glasgow play on a plastic pitch at home as well remeber.  

If you want to beat Sarries you have to control territory. The forwards will need to be in Sarries half if the brilliant offloading stuff is going to happen. Glasgow try and go from their 22 and they won't make it out their half, Sarries have the best defence in Europe. Keep pushing Sarries into their half and they'll always be pragmatic and kick. Thats when Glasgow need to get bodies behind the ball and counter and bring their offloading game. Sarries are often happy to play without the ball they are not happy to play in their third of the pitch. 

Good point about Billy though, Sarries will need him back.

Munster have the best defence in Europe (and PRO12).

Munster conceeded 4 tries in Europe this year (2 v Glasgow). Sarries have conceeded 6.

Saracens have only conceded 10 tries in the AP + 6 conceded in Europeans champions cup - 16 in 19 games.

Compared to Munster's 17 in the Pro12 and 4 in the European champions cup - 21 in 18 games.

On that evidence Saracens do indeed have the best defence in Europe.

beshocked wrote:

Sin é wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

TJ wrote:formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball.  Glasgow play on a plastic pitch at home as well remeber.  

If you want to beat Sarries you have to control territory. The forwards will need to be in Sarries half if the brilliant offloading stuff is going to happen. Glasgow try and go from their 22 and they won't make it out their half, Sarries have the best defence in Europe. Keep pushing Sarries into their half and they'll always be pragmatic and kick. Thats when Glasgow need to get bodies behind the ball and counter and bring their offloading game. Sarries are often happy to play without the ball they are not happy to play in their third of the pitch. 

Good point about Billy though, Sarries will need him back.

Munster have the best defence in Europe (and PRO12).

Munster conceeded 4 tries in Europe this year (2 v Glasgow). Sarries have conceeded 6.

Saracens have only conceded 10 tries in the AP + 6 conceded in Europeans champions cup - 16 in 19 games.

Compared to Munster's 17 in the Pro12 and 4 in the European champions cup - 21 in 18 games.

On that evidence Saracens do indeed have the best defence in Europe.

Maybe the average Aviva Prem team is less accomplished in attack...

BigGee wrote:The commentators were purring about Swinson after the match and pointing out some of the work he does off the ball as well as what he does with it. They where clearly very impressed with him.

But yes, you could probably have made a case for anyone in the Glasgow pack!

I wonder whether this purple patch of form will see him overtake Gilchrist for Scotland bench duty. I've never been a big fan of Swinson in a Scotland jersey, but form is form and he certainly deserves a chance.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if instead of Shrek, it was Batman that was walking passed!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

BigGee wrote:The commentators were purring about Swinson after the match and pointing out some of the work he does off the ball as well as what he does with it. They where clearly very impressed with him.

But yes, you could probably have made a case for anyone in the Glasgow pack!

I wonder whether this purple patch of form will see him overtake Gilchrist for Scotland bench duty. I've never been a big fan of Swinson in a Scotland jersey, but form is form and he certainly deserves a chance.

There is zero justification of Gilchrist over Swinson. I'd still take Toolis on the bench but would have no complaints about Swinson!

Hell I'm even coming round to the idea of Ryan Wilson starting - these are big steps for me!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

BigGee wrote:The commentators were purring about Swinson after the match and pointing out some of the work he does off the ball as well as what he does with it. They where clearly very impressed with him.

But yes, you could probably have made a case for anyone in the Glasgow pack!

I wonder whether this purple patch of form will see him overtake Gilchrist for Scotland bench duty. I've never been a big fan of Swinson in a Scotland jersey, but form is form and he certainly deserves a chance.

There is zero justification of Gilchrist over Swinson.  I'd still take Toolis on the bench but would have no complaints about Swinson!

Hell I'm even coming round to the idea of Ryan Wilson starting - these are big steps for me!

Woah there!! Just remember that when the going gets tough, Ryan Wilson is no-where to be seen. Yes he can do a bit of show pony stuff in a 43-0 rout, and he's almost as fast as Sean Lamont, but in the trenches against a technically astute Ireland side he will go missing. You can bet on it.

Swinson on the other hand has a cracking engine and gets through a ton of influential work. Whilst I still wonder whether he'll be able to replicate this form in a Scotland jersey, he has certainly earned the right to show us, particularly when you factor in the form, or absence thereof, of Grant Gilchrist.

You Edinburgh guys really do not get Ryan Wilson do you?

He is the undropable, go to guy in the Glasgow back row, always turns up, never goes missing.

There are questions about whether he really is big and physical enough to be a really world class internationalist but he will never go missing. His discipline was an issue, but seems much improved this season as well (why have I just said that!).

Luckily VC is not a one eyed Edinburgh fan and he sees him for what he is and he picks him a lot!

He is probably not the best in any of the individual positions of the back row, but he does all of them very well. I would be very surprised if he is not in the match day squad for the Irish game.

Hey I said I was even coming round to the idea of him starting!

That still isn't definite though...

RDW_Scotland wrote:Hey I said I was even coming round to the idea of him starting!

That still isn't definite though...

Moving away from Edinburgh has clearly helped you appreciate some of the better things in life!

BigGee wrote:You Edinburgh guys really do not get Ryan Wilson do you?

He is the undropable, go to guy in the Glasgow back row, always turns up, never goes missing.

There are questions about whether he really is big and physical enough to be a really world class internationalist but he will never go missing. His discipline was an issue, but seems much improved this season as well (why have I just said that!).

Luckily VC is not a one eyed Edinburgh fan and he sees him for what he is and he picks him a lot!

He is probably not the best in any of the individual positions of the back row, but he does all of them very well. I would be very surprised if he is not in the match day squad for the Irish game.

Wilson has 23 Scotland caps and has done next to nothing with them. I'd be delighted should he be selected again, put 23 caps of nothingness behind him and "always turn up and never go missing", but he'd be reversing the trend. I also think he's short in the top two inches. Quite why he feels the need to get involved in each and every scuffle I'll never know. I could live with it if he was a physical enforcer in the pack and used those situations to impose himself, like Bakkies Botha for example, but he isn't.

That all said, he is on good form playing 7 for Glasgow, and there's no denying that his pace works well in a fast, open and loose game. He may also benefit from a lack of form players in the back row. I'd want Strauss to start at 8 in the 6 Nations, and probably Barclay at 6. I do like a specialist at 7 so would opt for Watson or Ritchie, rather than Wilson, but he's clearly worked well at 7 in combination with Harley and Strauss so perhaps balance isn't all it's cracked up to be (although having Fraser Brown at hooker does help at the breakdown). I suppose there's a case for Wilson on the bench, ahead of the more talented but completely out of form Du Preez. In fact I suspect that's exactly what Vern will do.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Wilson has 23 Scotland caps and has done next to nothing with them.

I would actually say that Wilson has done a lot more with his 23 caps than many others in recent and less recent times. Scotland certainly not world beaters yet, but we have steadily improved over the past few years and he has been as much a part of that as anyone in the squad. He has been:

Been part of our best WC performance of recent times

Been part of our best recent 6N performance

Won series away from home on summer tour

Played well in good autumn series for Scotland

We are not short of back row talent at the moment and yet he keeps getting picked. Unfortunately the batman reputation is going to stay with him forever with some fans. Nothing he can do about that except keep playing well for club and country and maybe he will eventually get recognised for what he does.

BigGee wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Wilson has 23 Scotland caps and has done next to nothing with them.

I would actually say that Wilson has done a lot more with his 23 caps than many others in recent and less recent times. Scotland certainly not world beaters yet, but we have steadily improved over the past few years and he has been as much a part of that as anyone in the squad

I'm sorry but I disagree. He's been on the pitch for much of it, but he's been nowhere near as influential as Nel, J Gray, R Gray, Ritchie (at the World Cup), Laidlaw, Russell, Dunbar, Jones, Bennett, Seymour and Hogg. Not even close.

Still, your opening gambit is a fair one. He's not alone in failing to deliver in a Scotland jersey over that period. Ross Ford, albeit handy in the AIs, has had some long periods of "going quiet". Tim Swinson has been the proverbial fly on the windscreen at international level, and Grant Gilchrist hasn't delivered on early promise. Tim Visser would also fit into this bracket recently, although hopefully the Quins move will have sort that out. Maitland is another who hasn't set the heather on fire, although I thought he was a bit better in the AIs (probably with added confidence from the Sarries move). Duncan Weir has been poor also.

Well, what an unbelievable performance. Special credit to Lee Jones, who has slowly rebuilt his career at Glasgow, he was my MoM. He straightened the line beautifully for Bennett's try, assisted Grays try and caught every re-start Tigers kicked to him (which I think was every one).

As for Wilson, there is no denying that he is a player always involved for the Warriors when the big games come round, he is very consistent. However, I will have to side with fES on the international front, aside from on a few rare occasions he just doesn't make a big enough impression for me.

I'm really pleased to hear about Lee Jones re-capturing form. I remember being really exciting by him when he broke through, but I think in hindsight he was called-up for Scotland duties too quicky and had that nightmare game against Malzieu. He was also caught up in the rapid decline under Bradley and reduced to tackling duties, which will never be a forte of a winger whose best work tends to be ball in hand.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm really pleased to hear about Lee Jones re-capturing form. I remember being really exciting by him when he broke through, but I think in hindsight he was called-up for Scotland duties too quicky and had that nightmare game against Malzieu. He was also caught up in the rapid decline under Bradley and reduced to tackling duties, which will never be a forte of a winger whose best work tends to be ball in hand.

I'm not sure if Jones was ever really an international standard winger, and as you say, the Malzieu incident really seemed to knock his confidence totally.

However, he was excellent against the Tigers. It reminded me of a Cory Jane performance, nothing too elaborate, just constantly made the right decisions and executed them really well.

EST wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm really pleased to hear about Lee Jones re-capturing form. I remember being really exciting by him when he broke through, but I think in hindsight he was called-up for Scotland duties too quicky and had that nightmare game against Malzieu. He was also caught up in the rapid decline under Bradley and reduced to tackling duties, which will never be a forte of a winger whose best work tends to be ball in hand.

I'm not sure if Jones was ever really an international standard winger, and as you say, the Malzieu incident really seemed to knock his confidence totally.  

However, he  was excellent against the Tigers.  It reminded me of a Cory Jane performance, nothing too elaborate, just constantly made the right decisions and executed them really well.  

Jones undeniably bulked up and he looks better on it - we had better stop calling him the Selkirk Pixie soon (ish).

He had a great year with Scotland 7s and game back full of confidence. He also knows that with Sarto and Hughes injured and Seymour needing a rest, he had better put in some huge performances whilst he has the chance.

I thought the defining moment Lee Jones lost a lot of his confidence when he was knocked out in the flying headbutt with minimum arms by Trimble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpXCLJ1qKEY

I always thought he could have made a decent scrum half to be fair

highland_scot wrote:I thought the defining moment Lee Jones lost a lot of his confidence when he was knocked out in the flying headbutt with minimum arms by Trimble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpXCLJ1qKEY

I always thought he could have made a decent scrum half to be fair

I had forgotten about that one, not pretty viewing. He was out cold long before he hit the ground!

And what about the high tackle immediately before - is that Keith Earls on Rory Lawson?

How is Ben Youngs after the game on Saturday anyway - shins still intact?

highland_scot wrote:And what about the high tackle immediately before - is that Keith Earls on Rory Lawson?

I think it was Keith Earls trying to rip NDL's head off. No doubt NDL milked it afterwards....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

highland_scot wrote:And what about the high tackle immediately before - is that Keith Earls on Rory Lawson?

I think it was Keith Earls trying to rip NDL's head off. No doubt NDL milked it afterwards....

He clearly put his head in an awkward position and Earls (who is a nice angelic boy) had no choice but to rip it off. He shouldn't have had the temerity to have the ball in the Irish half!

NDL also nearly injured Earls' hand with his face. What the hell was he thinking of? Earls could have been hurt.

Connor Murray would never have put up with that sort of rough stuff.

Then of course, there was Hoyland's head nearly coming off after Fergus McFadden decided to tackle him.

Not just Munster to be fair.

Lads - you need to move on. Munster beat you twice. You need to learn how to lose graciously.

I'm fairly confident all of the above could be classed as 'banter' and everyone's tongue's were firmly in their cheeks...

highland_scot wrote:I thought the defining moment Lee Jones lost a lot of his confidence when he was knocked out in the flying headbutt with minimum arms by Trimble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpXCLJ1qKEY

I always thought he could have made a decent scrum half to be fair

I love the fact in that short clip are 2 red cards with the new tackle laws :-)

RDW_Scotland wrote:I'm fairly confident all of the above could be classed as 'banter' and everyone's tongue's were firmly in their cheeks...

Good to hear that then.