Heineken Cup Final 2020/2021 - Toulouse vs La Rochelle

Buer

Thought it was a fairly absorbing game. La Rochelle had the tools to win that game but I can't argue too much about the end result.

Even allowing for the red card, La Rochelle seemed to lack focus or the occasion got to them. The missed kicks at goal, poor kicks from TKB, knock ons in open play and iffy discipline. Skelton had a few nibbles at people off the ball. They looked like a team too wound up on the day.

You can't dominate the opening 25 minutes in a final and be behind if you want to win.

If La Rochelle can hold this team together for another year, there's silverware ahead. They lacked composure and experience today but that will come. As good as West is at times, his old weaknesses came back to haunt him today. That's one area they might look to strengthen.

razorblunt

Digifriendly wrote: »

Should that have been a penalty to La Rochelle at the end?

The rucks at the end were a mess but there was one where at least 3 French forwards went flying off feet, past the ruck. Pearce looked away.

I was stuck watching it on Channel 4. It’s a joke at this stage they pay Heaslip to co commentate, he was whooping and hollering and guffawing all game. Incredibly distracting.

blackvalley

Just dont get it . Abosolute borefest today
You have a guy like Skelton 22 stone , 6 foot 10 inches and what the fook does he do other than throw himself on top of every available ruck and damm all else . No heart , drive or determination . Give me a Peter Stringer any day who is prepared to risk life and limb for the cause . Time to move away from the idea of " big units " slamming into each other and return rugby to the running , passing game as it was in the past .

OldRio

I think playing Stringer at second row would be 'interesting'???
The idea that the game was all running and passing in the past is absurd. It's a game for all sizes and shapes. That's the beauty of it.

prawnsambo

blackvalley wrote: »

Just dont get it . Abosolute borefest today
You have a guy like Skelton 22 stone , 6 foot 10 inches and what the fook does he do other than throw himself on top of every available ruck and damm all else . No heart , drive or determination . Give me a Peter Stringer any day who is prepared to risk life and limb for the cause . Time to move away from the idea of " big units " slamming into each other and return rugby to the running , passing game as it was in the past .

Ah, Skelton did a bit more than throw himself at rucks. He threw a few players around as well.

blackvalley

prawnsambo wrote: »

Ah, Skelton did a bit more than throw himself at rucks. He threw a few players around as well.

Main picture in your reply shows biggest man on field tackling “ throwing around “ smallest.
Brave man.
Pound for pound Skeleton is greatest waste of space on a rugby pitch.

blackvalley

OldRio wrote: »

I think playing Stringer at second row would be 'interesting'???
The idea that the game was all running and passing in the past is absurd. It's a game for all sizes and shapes. That's the beauty of it.

So you think I suggested Peter Stringer would make a second row. That’s some stretch of the imagination.
My point if I need to clarify is that I would prefer to see a player with heart, fire and determination any day who would be prepared to fight to the last breath for the cause rather than a swaggering bully who throws in the towel when challenged.

theVersatile

blackvalley wrote: »

Pound for pound Skeleton is greatest waste of space on a rugby pitch.

Interesting take.

pickarooney

blackvalley wrote: »

So you think I suggested Peter Stringer would make a second row. That’s some stretch of the imagination.
My point if I need to clarify is that I would prefer to see a player with heart, fire and determination any day who would be prepared to fight to the last breath for the cause rather than a swaggering bully who throws in the towel when challenged.

What about a swaggering bully who fights to the last breath?

OldRio

blackvalley wrote: »

So you think I suggested Peter Stringer would make a second row. That’s some stretch of the imagination.
My point if I need to clarify is that I would prefer to see a player with heart, fire and determination any day who would be prepared to fight to the last breath for the cause rather than a swaggering bully who throws in the towel when challenged.

You do know that Skelton has been capped by Australia. Helped Sarries win 2 EP championships. Won a European Championship with said team. Helped Lá Rochelle to their first European Final and has a good chance of a French Championship medal.
If only he had applied himself?

emmet02

blackvalley wrote: »

Main picture in your reply shows biggest man on field tackling “ throwing around “ smallest.
Brave man.
Pound for pound Skeleton is greatest waste of space on a rugby pitch.

Did you see the semi final by any chance?

He was unreal.

PMC83

razorblunt wrote: »

I was stuck watching it on Channel 4. It’s a joke at this stage they pay Heaslip to co commentate, he was whooping and hollering and guffawing all game. Incredibly distracting.

Phonebox!! You'd swear he was in the pub talking to his mates

Digifriendly

PMC83 wrote: »

Phonebox!! You'd swear he was in the pub talking to his mates

Reason I watched final on BT Sport rather than Channel 4 was Jamie Heaslip's thinking he is a commentator rather than a summariser.

razorblunt

PMC83 wrote: »

Phonebox!! You'd swear he was in the pub talking to his mates

Ferris can get a bit excited when Ulster play but I've never heard the whooping like that. Can only think CHannel 4 have no idea what they're doing so they let him run with it.

Digifriendly wrote: »

Reason I watched final on BT Sport rather than Channel 4 was Jamie Heaslip's thinking he is a commentator rather than a summariser.

I gave up in the end and muted it when he started asking Miles Harrison who his favourite Lions player is and his favourite Lions game. With 15 minutes to go in a close final.
I can't remember if that was before or after the female co-commentator was trying to make out La Rochelle's try wasn't legit.


But yeah the pair of them were laughing and screaming at everything. Thankfully its normally avoided.

Ardillaun

From the camera view behind him, Kerr-Barlow’s grip on the ball looks very light indeed for a moment before he scores.

blackwhite

ROG fairly salty about the refereeing on OTB this evening