The Shocking standard of the Pro14

First topic message reminder :

Having been watching it since it was the original Celtic league and looking at comments about it online in all those years it's fair to say it's the most controversial competition in world rugby. There are always problems popping up that it could do without. No exaggeration to say it has a way to go yet.


What I've noticed in the last few years is the standard of play. It has dramatically improved!!!


Starting off with Glasgow's rise to win the competition. Then we had Connacht coming from nowhere to win it. Then the Scarlets won it in style. Those teams won by playing attractive running rugby.


Then last year Leinster won again after they've become one of the best non international teams in the world. Also last year we had Benetton and Zebre getting their act together and become hard teams to beat, especially Benetton. Edinburgh have become a tough team to beat too, much improved from previous years.


The South Africans are weak but they've added something exotic to the league. Cheetahs do look weaker than last season (too early to judge) but Kings look improved so far. After 2 poor seasons the buzz is back in Connacht and Cardiff are showing good signs.


So all in all the standard has improved greatly. That's putting the pressure on other traditionally strong sides like Munster, Ospreys and Ulster, which is no harm.


The league isn't without problems which are constantly highlighted so I though I'd take a look at the big picture for a change.

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Yup still ducked that question Phil.  Is it simply an employer reason or to do with nationality as well?

I've answered it clearly. I've ducked feck all.

Your binary thinking indicates a complete lack of nuance and comprehension.

So you have an issue with both pay and nationality I think.

Doctor7 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And it'll just move on band. Read any thread and there will be someone moaning about a ref. May just move onto this ref is rubbish rather than bias yet I read constantly that certain refs are biased despite having no ties etc.

Its quite bizarre how dedicated people are to this topic. In every thread discussing the Pro14 the same arguments come up, there's no way they can actually have time to enjoy watching their team actually play rugby, given their up-session with arguing the same thing online over and over again.

One of them doesn't even support a Pro 14 team, so I don't know why people spend so much time entertaining his "debates" when in reality he obviously doesn't really care about the product.

Strange, I thought it was a free forum. Do you need to support a Pro14 team to be able to debate about it ?

Would you constantly criticise something, when you have no real interest in it? As a new poster, you might not be aware that you are able to foe people who seem uppity to you or even complain about them. Hope that’s not telling you what to do.

RiscaGame wrote:
Would you constantly criticise something, when you have no real interest in it? As a new poster, you might not be aware that you are able to foe people who seem uppity to you or even complain about them. Hope that’s not telling you what to do.

You can have an interest in a sports league and not support a team in it you know.

I watch a bit of the Gallagher Premeirship but I don't support any team in it.

Do you complain about it religiously?

RiscaGame wrote:Do you complain about it religiously?

I complain about everything religiously.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:Do you complain about it religiously?

I complain about everything religiously.

You must be great craic at parties

RugbyFan100 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:Do you complain about it religiously?

I complain about everything religiously.

You're from Northern Ireland?

PhilBB wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:Do you complain about it religiously?

I complain about everything religiously.

You're from Northern Ireland?

I shudder at the thought.

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

Nah. €30m sets up GP2 nicely.

Thanks for the cash.

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

Typical arrogance from Phil, nominating himself to speak for Welsh rugby, bet you loves playing by himself

RiscaGame wrote:

Doctor7 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And it'll just move on band. Read any thread and there will be someone moaning about a ref. May just move onto this ref is rubbish rather than bias yet I read constantly that certain refs are biased despite having no ties etc.

Its quite bizarre how dedicated people are to this topic. In every thread discussing the Pro14 the same arguments come up, there's no way they can actually have time to enjoy watching their team actually play rugby, given their up-session with arguing the same thing online over and over again.

One of them doesn't even support a Pro 14 team, so I don't know why people spend so much time entertaining his "debates" when in reality he obviously doesn't really care about the product.

Strange, I thought it was a free forum. Do you need to support a Pro14 team to be able to debate about it ?

Would you constantly criticise something, when you have no real interest in it? As a new poster, you might not be aware that you are able to foe people who seem uppity to you or even complain about them. Hope that’s not telling you what to do.

It really is up to the member, and not you to say otherwise.

You do have a choice, you do not have to read what people put on here. Although, you would not get much conversation with your attitude.

Hello Doc, welcome to the forum.

Don't let some of these on here bother you, they will sap the life out of you, I have that member you are talking to on ignore, and for good reason.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello M'lord.

It takes more than that to bother me, so don't worry.

I am a retired ex-service man, I hail from just north of Glasgow, west of Stirling in a place called Balloch by Loch Lomond.

I support Glasgow, and Scotland.

How about you ?

Lord is our regular Consumer Watchdog Tsar.

He lets you know when the price is right, and he gives all the reasons why it shouldn't be tolerated when the price is wrong.

PhilBB wrote:

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

Nah. €30m sets up GP2 nicely.

Thanks for the cash.

Na, we like the English Premiership as it is, thanks all the same. Maybe spend that £30m on making ticket prices free so the avid fans in Wales can watch a derby game every week and not pay anything

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

Nah. €30m sets up GP2 nicely.

Thanks for the cash.

Na, we like the English Premiership as it is, thanks all the same. Maybe spend that £30m on making ticket prices free so the avid fans in Wales can watch a derby game every week and not pay anything

But will it be at the right time though? Sure we know the Welsh only like their rugby played at certain times

We already have the championship so think we're ok anyway.

marty2086 wrote:

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

Typical arrogance from Phil, nominating himself to speak for Welsh rugby, bet you loves playing by himself

For someone who has blocked him, you don't half like talking about him.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

BamBam wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Brendan wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Can we change the name Celtic Rugby now?

Any suggestions?!  Keep them clean!  Titles with "Pr'O" or similar in them will not be allowed!  That joke is so 2016.

Rugby Union's Great Buisness Yearly League That's Done or Rugby Ltd for short.

Or

Union Run Not Benefactor Rugby.

Great. Can we Welsh leave, in that case?

Pay us off €30m.

Aye, the standard of the 4 Welsh regions playing each other 20 times a year would be great

Typical arrogance from Phil, nominating himself to speak for Welsh rugby, bet you loves playing by himself

For someone who has blocked him, you don't half like talking about him.

For someone who isn't Phil, you don't half jump to his defence quite a lot

marty2086 wrote:

For someone who isn't Phil, you don't half jump to his defence quite a lot

Oh bless. Do you still think I'm another poster?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

For someone who isn't Phil, you don't half jump to his defence quite a lot

Oh bless. Do you still think I'm another poster?

I've clearly said you aren't him

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

For someone who isn't Phil, you don't half jump to his defence quite a lot

Oh bless. Do you still think I'm another poster?

I've clearly said you aren't him

Weird you would mention it then.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

For someone who isn't Phil, you don't half jump to his defence quite a lot

Oh bless. Do you still think I'm another poster?

I've clearly said you aren't him

Weird you would mention it then.

Why is it weird when you keep jumping to his defence to point out that someone who isn't Phil keeps jumping to his defence?

marty2086 wrote:

Why is it weird when you keep jumping to his defence to point out that someone who isn't Phil keeps jumping to his defence?

Because you keep spouting weird nonsense about him. Like Calling him Phyllis. It seems you're obsessed yet maintain he's an irrelevance which is why you've blocked him. If you weren't I wouldn't have to point it out.

It's like the schoolboy who is attracted to the schoolgirl but goes to lengths to prove he's not.

It's quite fascinating to watch actually.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Why is it weird when you keep jumping to his defence to point out that someone who isn't Phil keeps jumping to his defence?

Because you keep spouting weird nonsense about him. Like Calling him Phyllis. It seems you're obsessed yet maintain he's an irrelevance which is why you've blocked him. If you weren't I wouldn't have to point it out.

It's like the schoolboy who is attracted to the schoolgirl but goes to lengths to prove he's not.

It's quite fascinating to watch actually.

When did I say that's why I blocked him? You don't have to point anything out, that was a choice you made so why are you paying so much attention to what I say about him, is that not a little creepy? Do you have a crush on one of us? By your logic it would seem to be me

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Why is it weird when you keep jumping to his defence to point out that someone who isn't Phil keeps jumping to his defence?

Because you keep spouting weird nonsense about him. Like Calling him Phyllis. It seems you're obsessed yet maintain he's an irrelevance which is why you've blocked him. If you weren't I wouldn't have to point it out.

It's like the schoolboy who is attracted to the schoolgirl but goes to lengths to prove he's not.

It's quite fascinating to watch actually.

When did I say that's why I blocked him? You don't have to point anything out, that was a choice you made so why are you paying so much attention to what I say about him, is that not a little creepy? Do you have a crush on one of us? By your logic it would seem to be me

Busted.

No 7&1/2 wrote:We already have the championship so think we're ok anyway.

Typical arrogance from No 7&1/2, nominating himself to speak for English rugby, bet you loves playing by himself

marty2086 wrote:
But will it be at the right time though? Sure we know the Welsh only like their rugby played at certain times

Typical arrogance from Martyn, nominating himself to speak for Welsh rugby fans, bet you loves playing by himself

I speak for myself. Just a joke comment response to a joke comment. You seem to be running out of material!

No 7&1/2 wrote:I speak for myself. Just a joke comment response to a joke comment. You seem to be running out of material!

Trust me, you are an eternal source of it.

PhilBB wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:We already have the championship so think we're ok anyway.

Typical arrogance from No 7&1/2, nominating himself to speak for English rugby, bet you loves playing by himself

I too would rather watch the Championship than see the Welsh have the opportunity to ruin another league with their constant whining

Coming from you Phil that means next to nothing!

Doctor7 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

Doctor7 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And it'll just move on band. Read any thread and there will be someone moaning about a ref. May just move onto this ref is rubbish rather than bias yet I read constantly that certain refs are biased despite having no ties etc.

Its quite bizarre how dedicated people are to this topic. In every thread discussing the Pro14 the same arguments come up, there's no way they can actually have time to enjoy watching their team actually play rugby, given their up-session with arguing the same thing online over and over again.

One of them doesn't even support a Pro 14 team, so I don't know why people spend so much time entertaining his "debates" when in reality he obviously doesn't really care about the product.

Strange, I thought it was a free forum. Do you need to support a Pro14 team to be able to debate about it ?

Would you constantly criticise something, when you have no real interest in it? As a new poster, you might not be aware that you are able to foe people who seem uppity to you or even complain about them. Hope that’s not telling you what to do.

It really is up to the member, and not you to say otherwise.

You do have a choice, you do not have to read what people put on here. Although, you would not get much conversation with your attitude.

If you haven't been reading this fourm for the last couple of years, then I'm sorry you really have no idea what you're talking about here. If you're looking to talk about rugby stay away from the Pro14 threads...also if you read one, you've read them all. It's the same arguments over and over again by people who may actually not have any real interest in the sport. I honestly don't see how you could enjoy rugby with the way they go on. Thankfully there are plenty of other rugby forums where people discuss the games every weekend.

LeinsterFan4life wrote: If you're looking to talk about rugby stay away from the Pro14 threads...also if you read one, you've read them all. It's the same arguments over and over again by people who may actually not have any real interest in the sport. I honestly don't see how you could enjoy rugby with the way they go on. Thankfully there are plenty of other rugby forums where people discuss the games every weekend.

Prove it. Where's your links? You should know by now that you don't turn up at a Pro14 thread without a few suitcases full of IRFU secret documents, hatfuls of broadcasting fine-print contracts and loadsa conclusive-proof LINKS!

Benetton beat Grenoble 40 - 14 at home with 6 trys. Glad to see them carrying on their form in Europe. Though French team at home might not be everything.