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General Rugby Discussion

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    #6572
    connemara man
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional West Moderators Posts: 6,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭connemara man


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    They've given full time contracts to the English squad, but I think the Top 14 are looking to implement more traditional professional teams.

    I thought that's why sene naupou moved over to Gloucester apart from George playing there.


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    #6573
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    connemara man wrote: »
    I thought that's why sene naupou moved over to Gloucester apart from George playing there.

    I'd say there's more money available now for cases like that because the RFU are effectively subsidising those clubs further. I might be entirely wrong though and maybe Premiership Rugby are going to do the same as the Top 14 (they haven't announced it though as far as I'm aware).


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    #6574
    phog
    Registered Users Posts: 23,957 ✭✭✭✭phog


    News to me.

    From twitter
    RugbyInsideLine ‏@RugbyInsideLine 5m5 minutes ago
    BREAKING: We are led to believe that Vern Cotter will be the Lions coach for the 2017 Tour to New Zealand.


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    #6575
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,509 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    It'll be a 3 nil pumping for sure, not sure I believe that story.


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    #6576
    golfer555
    Registered Users Posts: 188 ✭✭golfer555


    phog wrote: »
    News to me.

    From twitter

    Well it would fit nicely, he's out of contract in June and the Lions now insist the coach is in place for one year leading up to the tour.

    Wales probably don't want to relase Gatland again.


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    #6577
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    golfer555 wrote: »
    Well it would fit nicely, he's out of contract in June and the Lions now insist the coach is in place for one year leading up to the tour.

    Wales probably don't want to relase Gatland again.

    Actually Wales agreed to make Gatland available quite a while ago in principle, but he himself may not be interested.


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    #6578
    Yeah_Right
    Registered Users Posts: 5,972 ✭✭✭Yeah_Right


    At least if it's Cotter the squad selection will be unbiased. He wouldn't load the Lions with Scottish players if he wants to win.


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    #6579
    Felix Jones is God
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,160 ✭✭✭Felix Jones is God


    Yeah_Right wrote: »
    At least if it's Cotter the squad selection will be unbiased. He wouldn't load the Lions with Scottish players if he wants to win.

    Don't think the Lions have a hope in hell of winning no matter who they pick


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    #6580
    OldRio
    Registered Users Posts: 5,945 ✭✭✭OldRio


    golfer555 wrote: »
    Well it would fit nicely, he's out of contract in June and the Lions now insist the coach is in place for one year leading up to the tour.

    Wales probably don't want to relase Gatland again.

    I would imagine Gatland is very happy with that arrangement.


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    #6581
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,509 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Yeah_Right wrote: »
    At least if it's Cotter the squad selection will be unbiased. He wouldn't load the Lions with Scottish players if he wants to win.

    :pac:

    The Lions could be given special dispensation to play every game with 16 men on the field at all times and they would still lose this series 3 nil.


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    #6582
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    Dylan Hartley is joint favourite to be named Lions captain. I can just imagine how toxic boards.ie would become if Gatland and Hartley end up running the show...


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    #6583
    former total
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/cillian-willis-to-sue-sale-sharks-over-concussion-1.2764945

    A bit more detail on the Cillian Willis story.


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    #6584
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,930 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    Dylan Hartley is joint favourite to be named Lions captain. I can just imagine how toxic boards.ie would become if Gatland and Hartley end up running the show...

    To be fair to him, he did alright this past 6 Nations in the role for England.


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    #6585
    Teferi
    Registered Users Posts: 6,320 ✭✭✭Teferi


    I can see how Hartley would be a good captain for the Lions actually. Hard nosed nutcase might be just what is needed.

    Fucking Gatland though. That's a 0-3 series right there. Not that we'll win anyway but I think a better coach could get us to a winner takes all in the Third Test situation.


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    #6586
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,930 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Given how poorly Wales did on their summer tour against NZL are the powers that be really likely to give it to Gatland again?


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    #6587
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    Gatland is probably the ideal coach, there's not really anyone better available. He's a winner, he knows kiwi rugby and he's available. They need a better backs coach though and maybe Townsend won't be available with his new job lined up. If it's not Townsend or Joe then I'm very worried, maybe Alex King might be available, he's one of the best in Europe by all accounts and he's worked with Gatland previously. If it's Howley again I'll be very disappointed.


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    #6588
    DGRulz
    Registered Users Posts: 1,231 ✭✭✭DGRulz


    I seem to remember they lost 3-0 to Austrailia in 2012 and he got it then.


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    #6589
    Winters
    Registered Users Posts: 14,761 ✭✭✭✭Winters


    Mad Mourad has put his name forward for LnR president.

    Interesting times ahead.


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    #6590
    connemara man
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional West Moderators Posts: 6,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭connemara man


    Winters wrote: »
    Mad Mourad has put his name forward for LnR president.

    Interesting times ahead.

    Sources close to Mourad say he feels he has a chance especially if Trump has a chance of becoming President of America


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    #6591
    Winters
    Registered Users Posts: 14,761 ✭✭✭✭Winters


    If anyone was wondering where ex St. Michaels, UCD, Leinster and Ireland flanker, Ex Heineken Cup supremo and Mark McCafferty's BFF Derek McGrath is now, he is CEO of the Curragh.

    In case you are wondering.


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    #6592
    b.gud
    Registered Users Posts: 4,803 ✭✭✭b.gud


    Winters wrote: »
    Mad Mourad has put his name forward for LnR president.

    Interesting times ahead.

    On the plus side we might soon be able to bring back the 5 nations trophy :)


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    #6593
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    Martin Anayi calling for the 6 Nations to be pushed back and the club season to finish before it starts, and that he expects World Rugby to facilitate this. He's been a real breath of fresh air since joining the Pro 12.


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    #6594
    former total
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    Martin Anayi calling for the 6 Nations to be pushed back and the club season to finish before it starts, and that he expects World Rugby to facilitate this. He's been a real breath of fresh air since joining the Pro 12.

    How does he expect World Rugby to facilitate it if the Six Nations Unions are against it and it is they who will vote on it?


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    #6595
    molloyjh
    Registered Users Posts: 24,745 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    Martin Anayi calling for the 6 Nations to be pushed back and the club season to finish before it starts, and that he expects World Rugby to facilitate this. He's been a real breath of fresh air since joining the Pro 12.

    It has to happen and it is good to see someone in this part of the world talking about it seriously. Although the idea of bringing in a US franchise I wouldn't be so sure about.

    http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0823/811451-pro12-want-to-push-back-6-nations-and-bring-in-us/


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    #6596
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,764 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Gregor Townsend was just on BBC 5 Live there and was pretty coy when asked about the Lions. Listening to the tone of his interview I'd say he is probably nailed to be involved. Good news if true.

    I'd have AWJ as Lions skipper, the problem is with the English second rows, and others, would he get on the team?


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    #6597
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,764 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    molloyjh wrote: »
    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    Martin Anayi calling for the 6 Nations to be pushed back and the club season to finish before it starts, and that he expects World Rugby to facilitate this. He's been a real breath of fresh air since joining the Pro 12.

    It has to happen and it is good to see someone in this part of the world talking about it seriously. Although the idea of bringing in a US franchise I wouldn't be so sure about.

    http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0823/811451-pro12-want-to-push-back-6-nations-and-bring-in-us/

    It would be interesting to see what difference moving the 6Ns back 3 week would actually make. On the face of it I don't see how it would resolve anything.

    I'm open to new ideas regarding the Pro 12 so I'd like to hear more about how an American franchise would work in practice. I still believe getting the Welsh more invested, having the top internationals playing a bigger ratio of games and having one centralised broadcaster with exclusive rights (hence more valuable rights) are three issues that if resolved would give the league a real boost.


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    #6598
    wp_rathead
    Registered Users Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭wp_rathead


    bilston wrote: »
    It would be interesting to see what difference moving the 6Ns back 3 week would actually make. On the face of it I don't see how it would resolve anything.

    I'm open to new ideas regarding the Pro 12 so I'd like to hear more about how an American franchise would work in practice. I still believe getting the Welsh more invested, having the top internationals playing a bigger ratio of games and having one centralised broadcaster with exclusive rights (hence more valuable rights) are three issues that if resolved would give the league a real boost.

    While it would suck getting rid of FTA coverage for PRO12, the Heineken Cup didn't suffer when it went exclusively to SKY (in fact I really think the Champions Cup is suffering having the games split on BT and SKY)

    There is no really solution to solving the problem of Welsh apathy towards PRO12


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    #6599
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    I'm open to a US franchise. With no promotion/relegation the league gets stale. It's the same teams every season. However the last thing the league needs is more teams meaning more shadow squad matches.


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    #6600
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,930 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    bilston wrote: »
    Gregor Townsend was just on BBC 5 Live there and was pretty coy when asked about the Lions. Listening to the tone of his interview I'd say he is probably nailed to be involved. Good news if true.

    How would that work though if he's taking over the Scotland job? Do they not have a tour next summer?


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    #6601
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    An American team would be completely uncompetitive but their union would funnel a bunch of money into the league for the pleasure of being allowed to participate, just like the Italians did.


This discussion has been closed.
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