Talking Rugby Episode 43 - with phatpiggins, jacothelad, thomond, Doc

thomond2006

Thanks again to the posters that contributed questions for this episode, please feel free to post any quickfire questions for our panelists and we'll answer them to the best of our ability next week! We're all about listener interaction!

Listen to the show here: http://talkingrugby.podomatic.com/entry/2012-06-01T14_08_01-07_00

Leinster were just short of achieving a historic double, as Ospreys fired in all cylinders to beat the European Champions in the RaboDirect Pro12 Final. Conor O'Shea's Harlequins defied the odds to beat Leicester at Twickenham in the Premiership Final while Toulon and Castres progressed to the Top14 semi finals with forgettable wins.

Joining Dave this week is a revigorated Alan who finally sorted his sound problems in Luxembourg, Pedro from Cork, Doc from Dublin and later in the show Ulsterman William chimes in.

COMING UP ON THE SHOW:
0:00 - We look back on the RaboDirect Pro12 final where Ospreys beat Leinster in Dublin. The scrum once again played a part in a big game and we discuss if it's possible to win 2 finals in consecutive weeks without significant rotation. Also Shane Williams retired in style!
16:35 - Harlequins have won their first Premiership title in their first Premiership final over a more experienced Leicester Tigers side.
26:05 - The Top14's "match de barrages" bored Alan to death, but it's all about the result at this stage as Toulon and Castres went through to the semi-finals to face Clermont and Toulouse respectively.
30:15 - There's been plenty of news down in Munster, with colourful kiwi Simon Mannix arriving as Munster's new backs coach. We also mention quotes from Rob Penney in the press.
44:10 - The panel discuss Ireland's confirmed squad for the tour to New Zealand, having narrowly lost to the Barbarians.
1:02:10 - Some quickfire questions from our fans on boards.ie!
1:11:10 - Bet of the Week!

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thomond2006

Seriously, any thoughts/suggestions?

DeDoc

we did tell you.

Going to that party without any pants was bound to lead to this.

ray jay

It was good to hear something about the new coaching duo at Munster. It'll be very interesting to see if Penney can come through on the points he's mentioned so far.

profitius

I think Mannix might not be too bad. He was respected by the Racing Metro players and I'd say Penney might know him well.

Regardless of Mannix I think Penney will know what gameplan he wants. He'll want the players playing heads up rugby which will be a nice change to the brainless rugby they played under McGahan.

I have seen little of Racing Metro. Aside from their style of play, how was their passing/handling etc?

thomond2006

Oh dear, how wrong I was about Toulon...

Tim Robbins

Just started listening to this podcast - really good btw. Very refreshing listening to genuine fans give their real opinions and not sitting on the fence.

4PP

thomond2006 wrote: »

Oh dear, how wrong I was about Toulon...

You weren't wrong about Toulon thomond2009, absolutely nobody (french sites included) expected such a non performance from ASM.

4PP

profitius wrote: »

I think Mannix might not be too bad. He was respected by the Racing Metro players and I'd say Penney might know him well.

Regardless of Mannix I think Penney will know what gameplan he wants. He'll want the players playing heads up rugby which will be a nice change to the brainless rugby they played under McGahan.

I have seen little of Racing Metro. Aside from their style of play, how was their passing/handling etc?

Very much so, thats why he was lynched mid season as Berbie saw him as a threat amidst a player mutiny.

Whatever happens the "speakers" in the various Rabo stadia will have to up the volume if they hope to drown out his bellowing from the sideline :P. Unbelievable pair of lungs :pac:

re the League/Playoffs

it's just too difficult to please everyone. A league is a league imo, as Pedro has said. But we need to keep the game alive up until the end.

It could well be worthy to take a look at the idea of having a Trophy for the playoffs and a Plaque or secondary award for the team that wins the league portion outright.

Munster murdered the league last season, romped home, yet Leinster had a chance to rob it at then end, and that's the way I see the playoffs tbh, the league winner trying to not get beaten, it's a shot to nothing for the second/third/fourth place team.

I don't think we're ever going to lose the playoff system, but it might be worthwhile thinking about having a prize in recognition for the league element of the RBP12

thomond2006

Deleted User wrote: »

re the League/Playoffs

it's just too difficult to please everyone. A league is a league imo, as Pedro has said. But we need to keep the game alive up until the end.

It could well be worthy to take a look at the idea of having a Trophy for the playoffs and a Plaque or secondary award for the team that wins the league portion outright.

Munster murdered the league last season, romped home, yet Leinster had a chance to rob it at then end, and that's the way I see the playoffs tbh, the league winner trying to not get beaten, it's a shot to nothing for the second/third/fourth place team.

I don't think we're ever going to lose the playoff system, but it might be worthwhile thinking about having a prize in recognition for the league element of the RBP12

A 'minor premiership' like they have in the NRL would be good.

Gracelessly Tom

What about having the league winners as the Champs and reverting to the old format of top 8 going into a Rabo Cup? It would only mean one extra game if a team were to go all the way in H cup and the Rabo Cup.

Downside would, inevitably, be whether the League winners or top few teams really care about it if they were involved in the later stages of Europe, a la Leinster this season.

Good way of getting the up and coming guys some game time (in addition to the B&I Cup).