Euro Rugby 2020-2021 from the gloom of Covid to a brave new world

First topic message reminder :

I have nothing bright or insightful with which to start the thread.  Outside of Exeter's continued excellence and Leinster's annoying way of simply beating everyone, not sure how this will go.  

My point for starting this is simply:  Why do Saints have to play on Friday and therefore ruin my weekend?  

Good luck to all.........

Fair play to Connacht today going for the win in the last play of the game excellent effort against Racing.Gotta hope Munster are playing the conditions against Quins and not a return to the box kicking tactics they and Ireland seemed to have left behind.

I thought Elias was fairly poor in Bath vs Scarlets. Interestingly, Connacht’s lineout is considered poor at just over 80%, but apparently Scarlets and Ospreys are below this. Funny now, looking back at someone claiming Elias was the second coming. Where’s that person gone now? We can’t wait for the return of Owens.

Awesome display from Exeter today.  Thumped Glasgow ( albeit not the Glasgow of a few years ago) and hardly a mistake all game.  Not just forward power as they are so often caricatured.  Its going to be hard for anyone to beat them on that form.  One of the most impressive displays I have ever seen on a rugby pitch - the barstewards :-)  Good job they are now scotlands 3rd pro team

Bring back the premiership, euro rugby is dull. Only a few teams try to win it and the standard of refereeing is poor.

Exeter are really good, and have been for a while despite not really having any top flight players - obviously no longer the case as they have managed to develop a few internationals. Even their third choice front-row looks decent. Where was Francis, just rested?

mikey_dragon wrote:I thought Elias was fairly poor in Bath vs Scarlets. Interestingly, Connacht’s lineout is considered poor at just over 80%, but apparently Scarlets and Ospreys are below this. Funny now, looking back at someone claiming Elias was the second coming. Where’s that person gone now? We can’t wait for the return of Owens.

Just thought I would reiterate this. Is Elias slipping down the pecking order? Probably. Is Dee moving back up? Going forward, is Parry the deputy?

Conference A
I think Leinster and Toulon looked good with Scarlets and La Rochelle getting important wins away.
Bordeaux have potentially played their hardest game so should be one of the 4 quarter-finalists.

Big games this coming week have to be Scarlets v Toulon.

Have to feel Saints are out.
Losers of Edinburgh v Sale will be out too.

Conference B

Shows how hard this group is. 5 of the 6 teams picked up 5pts. Which leaves Munster already a point behind.

Big wins for Clermont and Toulouse to win away from home v strong opposition.

Big games this weekend is Munster v Clermont and Toulouse v Exeter. Quinns v Racing and Glasgow v Lyon will be a big ones for the away teams as it's their hardest game

Have to feel that all the teams that lost are out

It will be good for Scarlets to face Toulon at home but they really need some key players back. Dan Jones was partially awful at fly-half again. A few others in their lineup aren't cut out for European rugby.

mikey_dragon wrote:It will be good for Scarlets to face Toulon at home but they really need some key players back. Dan Jones was partially awful at fly-half again. A few others in their lineup aren't cut out for European rugby.

If only they had a young prodigy at flyhalf that they are not giving any starts...

mikey_dragon wrote:It will be good for Scarlets to face Toulon at home but they really need some key players back. Dan Jones was partially awful at fly-half again. A few others in their lineup aren't cut out for European rugby.

Didn't Dan Jones set up what was the winning try against Bath?

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:It will be good for Scarlets to face Toulon at home but they really need some key players back. Dan Jones was partially awful at fly-half again. A few others in their lineup aren't cut out for European rugby.

If only they had a young prodigy at flyhalf that they are not giving any starts...

Like one of those guys that just stands out so much at u20s and you start to fear them coming through to full international?

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:It will be good for Scarlets to face Toulon at home but they really need some key players back. Dan Jones was partially awful at fly-half again. A few others in their lineup aren't cut out for European rugby.

Didn't Dan Jones set up what was the winning try against Bath?

Yes, hence why I said partially. He hasn't been good for a few weeks and neither has AOB.

Like others have alluded to they have a very promising, up-and-coming 10 in the squad who really can't get a game. Hopefully Costelow can move to the Dragons next season .

mikey_dragon wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:It will be good for Scarlets to face Toulon at home but they really need some key players back. Dan Jones was partially awful at fly-half again. A few others in their lineup aren't cut out for European rugby.

Didn't Dan Jones set up what was the winning try against Bath?

Yes, hence why I said partially. He hasn't been good for a few weeks and neither has AOB.

Like others have alluded to they have a very promising, up-and-coming 10 in the squad who really can't get a game. Hopefully Costelow can move to the Dragons next season .

Like Connacht have seen since getting the same payment from the IRFU as the other Provinces and with players likely to be picked for Ireland as Ulster and Munster more players have moved Connacht. They know moving there they could be a starter for a playoff team rather than second fiddle at another playoff team.

With WRU backing I think Dragons will start to see more young players moving to them. If Dragon keep up their run of being a equal to the Blues and Ospreys they will be well placed to keep them.

If the Pro14 do the top six for playoffs it could easily be Connacht v Dragons in the quarters That is hard to imagine but highly possible.

Dragons playing champions cup should also make them more match ready for the games against the two weaker Regions.

Dragons reportedly without a host of players for the trip to BB, that won't be pretty.

Scarlets without Williams, Patchell, Williams, Ball, Lee for Toulon. A shame as Javan as a bit meh for this comp. The SA new boy might might his European debut. Good news that McNicholl should return.

Exeter v Toulouse is off. Really should be the same for Bordeaux v Dragons.

Edit. Glasgow v Lyon off too.

Dragons game goes ahead, despite a further two positive cases amongst the players and one amongst the staff. Madness.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1216/1184831-danny-care-on-munster-we-thought-we-were-playing-psg/

Shots fired. It's going to be quite a rematch in January. Certainly no love lost.

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1216/1184831-danny-care-on-munster-we-thought-we-were-playing-psg/

Shots fired. It's going to be quite a rematch in January. Certainly no love lost.

I think this is brilliant, could be a little rivalry forming there.

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1216/1184831-danny-care-on-munster-we-thought-we-were-playing-psg/

Shots fired. It's going to be quite a rematch in January. Certainly no love lost.

“There was a couple of 50-50 decisions went against us, a couple of Irish linesmen, but we won't say anything more than that.”

No surprise who the TMO was either.

RiscaGame wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1216/1184831-danny-care-on-munster-we-thought-we-were-playing-psg/

Shots fired. It's going to be quite a rematch in January. Certainly no love lost.

“There was a couple of 50-50 decisions went against us, a couple of Irish linesmen, but we won't say anything more than that.”

Danny is lining himself up for a bit of special attention in January. It could all get a bit feisty, can't wait

Should be a cracker.

I don't get how they've called off a couple other games but the Dragons are still going to France to play?

Pete330v2 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1216/1184831-danny-care-on-munster-we-thought-we-were-playing-psg/

Shots fired. It's going to be quite a rematch in January. Certainly no love lost.

“There was a couple of 50-50 decisions went against us, a couple of Irish linesmen, but we won't say anything more than that.”

Danny is lining himself up for a bit of special attention in January. It could all get a bit feisty, can't wait

Just when there is a lot of talk about Rugby becoming boring. Now I have to go back and watch the game. Good thing we received a foot of snow last night and I am going nowhere outside of cleaning up outside. This afternoon should be a good time to sit back with my bottle of Tullamore Dew (reserved for special occasions only) and watch Danny Care and the alleged floppers.....

Just finished a bottle of the old Dew...lovely stuff.

Got a nice Cardhu waiting for me, for the falcons tomorrow afternoon!

I see Bath have called off their game with La Rochelle now. Why are Welsh teams continuing to play despite numerous cases?

doctor_grey wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1216/1184831-danny-care-on-munster-we-thought-we-were-playing-psg/

Shots fired. It's going to be quite a rematch in January. Certainly no love lost.

“There was a couple of 50-50 decisions went against us, a couple of Irish linesmen, but we won't say anything more than that.”

Danny is lining himself up for a bit of special attention in January. It could all get a bit feisty, can't wait

Just when there is a lot of talk about Rugby becoming boring.  Now I have to go back and watch the game.  Good thing we received a foot of snow last night and I am going nowhere outside of cleaning up outside.  This afternoon should be a good time to sit back with my bottle of Tullamore Dew (reserved for special occasions only) and watch Danny Care and the alleged floppers.....  

I'm pretty tempted to go back and rewatch as I wasn't giving it my full attention at the time. Certainly be interested to see the incident which caused Brown to go off. From what Care's been saying Minster were giving a bit out but getting away with it. Be good to go back and see if that was the case.

mikey_dragon wrote:I see Bath have called off their game with La Rochelle now. Why are Welsh teams continuing to play despite numerous cases?

Honestly given the state of things in South Wales currently its bonkers the players are leaving the house let alone playing and travelling.

Call this ridiculous competition off, get back to league rugby in the new year.

Scarlets/Toulon called off as well.

Competition in jeopardy?

If matches keep being called off, what am I going to do instead?  Talk to my wife??????????????

I really am struggling to believe Dragons game is on still.

Seems like there’s a stink over the Scarlets cancellation, with Toulon not happy it was ever on.

Toulon just scared to play in Wales?

Frankly, I don't blame Toulon. It's rotten for all of us but especially Toulon who had to travel for the match. We have to keep a lid on the god-damn virus. The fact we are able to have Rugby and other pro sport is really a strong testament to the efforts of many people at all clubs. And I hope they can all keep it going. But things like this are, unfortunately, inevitable.

Falcons beat Castres....

If the game was supposed to go ahead and Toulon refused, shouldn't they be punished? This is ridiculous...

The competition is descending into farce. Bath self isolate 12 players in part, because a Scarlets player has been diagnosed and a week later Toulon won't play because of the risks of playing Scarlets and probably the impact on their subsequent T14 fixtures.
How many games have been cancelled now ?
The abbreviated nature of the tournament is already leading to second team selections. The competition is losing credibility.

That young Scrum half for wasps is playing well.

Do people think Bearbary will actually move to hooker..or will he stay in the back row..

GeordieFalcon wrote:Do people think Bearbary will actually move to hooker..or will he stay in the back row..

If he wants a long international career he'll move to hooker. Neither of George nor LCD will go beyond the next world cup. Whereas there's a significant number of brilliant young backrow options. Depth is incredible and it's not looking like it'll dry out. The question will be whether he can do the all actions displays he has been doing in the backrow from hooker. Quite frankly if he can go all action after scrumming well and hitting his marks in the lineout the kid could be a legend.

Yeah thats what i was thinking...he simply cant perform like that if hes a front rower...or can he?

As you say he could go on to be one of the greatest ever if he can....

Am i the only one who really rates that Odogwu? Is he not a power option that Jones wants? Everytime i see him he looks so powerful

What happened with the red card?

Hate seeing players celebrate like that for winning s scrum penalty. Pathetic.

TightHEAD wrote:Hate seeing players celebrate like that for winning s scrum penalty. Pathetic.

Like Bath last weekend.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Do people think Bearbary will actually move to hooker..or will he stay in the back row..

Well how is his throwing? Would be handy having a good hooker who can do what he does. Barbeary reminds me of the NZ U20s hooker who used beat teams by himself, he starred in the final against England. Who was he and what happened to him???

RiscaGame wrote:I really am struggling to believe Dragons game is on still.

Seems like there’s a stink over the Scarlets cancellation, with Toulon not happy it was ever on.

Shouldn’t that be 28-0 to Scarlets, unless I’m missing something?

That’s probably what Dragons were hoping for, that BB would call it off and award us the win. Looks like that backfired.

mikey_dragon wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:I really am struggling to believe Dragons game is on still.

Seems like there’s a stink over the Scarlets cancellation, with Toulon not happy it was ever on.

Shouldn’t that be 28-0 to Scarlets, unless I’m missing something?

That’s probably what Dragons were hoping for, that BB would call it off and award us the win. Looks like that backfired.

This season? I don't know the rules for matches being cancelled due to Covid-19. I don't think it's fair to ask teams to play if one is concerned about contamination given a positive test has already been recorded.

doctor_grey wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:I really am struggling to believe Dragons game is on still.

Seems like there’s a stink over the Scarlets cancellation, with Toulon not happy it was ever on.

Shouldn’t that be 28-0 to Scarlets, unless I’m missing something?

That’s probably what Dragons were hoping for, that BB would call it off and award us the win. Looks like that backfired.

This season?  I don't know the rules for matches being cancelled due to Covid-19.  I don't think it's fair to ask teams to play if one is concerned about contamination given a positive test has already been recorded.  

That was the case last season and I wasn’t fan of it, but ya know, 28 - 0 for Toulouse against Exeter this weekend, among others. I’m just wondering how and why it hasn’t happened for Scarlets?

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Toulon just scared to play in Wales?

Scared of getting stuck there for Christmas.