Rainbow Cup 2021

irishbucsfan · 26-03-2021 1:33pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Am becoming pretty disenchanted with provincial rugby competitions. Not Awec-level enraged, but it all feels fairly meh. I was excited to bring in a competition with the SA teams, but God it feels rudderless.

I believe I read in the media that Ulster were finished anyway

Paul Smeenus · 26-03-2021 1:36pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

The real competition will be next season. Given the current Covid situation, we'll be doing well to have any games with SA sides.

I completely understand the need for TV money and all the rest of it. But I simply don't care. It's so clearly games for the sake of games. It's just a bit mince.

Paul Smeenus · 26-03-2021 1:37pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I believe I read in the media that Ulster were finished anyway

Nope.

irishbucsfan · 26-03-2021 1:37pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

I completely understand the need for TV money and all the rest of it. But I simply don't care. It's so clearly games for the sake of games. It's just a bit mince.

But you like games!

Come on, it’s going to literally revolutionise the way you enjoy sports entertainment

thomond2006 · 26-03-2021 1:39pm

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

I completely understand the need for TV money and all the rest of it. But I simply don't care. It's so clearly games for the sake of games. It's just a bit mince.

It's games for the sake of games but there's more to it. They want to integrate the SA teams into the Pro14. The Springboks need games before the Lions.

The alternative would be to continue the league which is all well and good but 90% of those games are rubbish. Connacht and Ulster can feel hard done by for missing out on a SF but that's it really.

Podge_irl · 26-03-2021 1:41pm

bayern wrote: »

they could have just continued with the league instead of this crap.

I will take the possibility of games against the SA Super Rugby teams any day before more of the procession that was the league.

Paul Smeenus · 26-03-2021 1:51pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's games for the sake of games but there's more to it. They want to integrate the SA teams into the Pro14. The Springboks need games before the Lions.

The alternative would be to continue the league which is all well and good but 90% of those games are rubbish. Connacht and Ulster can feel hard done by for missing out on a SF but that's it really.

True. I might feel more excited when I see our Rounds 4-6 fixtures.

Dubinusa · 26-03-2021 2:42pm

It's a chance to play young lads. What's wrong with seeing Ahern or McCann playing bok teams. It will also be a proving ground for academy players trying to get development contracts. Lads like Hawkshaw should get some minutes to prove themselves. I think it's a meh tournament, but it gives the coaches a chance to feature lads they normally wouldn't.

Tommybojangles · 26-03-2021 3:06pm

I'm definitely excited, maybe I'm naive!
I think it might be that the effects of the 5 months without sport last year haven't left me yet and I'm excited about everything. I even find myself waking up on Saturdays to watch Kearney play for the force

Bazzo · 26-03-2021 4:45pm

Is this being televised on the current pro12/14 broadcasters?

sydthebeat · 26-03-2021 4:52pm

Bazzo wrote: »

Is this being televised on the current pro12/14 broadcasters?

yes

https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup-questions-answers

Where will I be able to watch all of these games?

Right through until the last kick of the ball in the Rainbow Cup in June, fans will be able to watch it all unfold with current broadcast partners Premier Sports, eir Sport, S4C, TG4, DAZN and Super Sport.

KBurke85 · 26-03-2021 4:53pm

Bazzo wrote: »

Is this being televised on the current pro12/14 broadcasters?

From the statement
PRO14 Rugby is currently consulting with our broadcast partners to select kick-off times and will confirm the scheduling as soon as possible.

Neil3030 · 26-03-2021 4:54pm

Will they be the Vodafone Bulls when they finish quarantining?

pickarooney · 26-03-2021 6:27pm

Dubinusa wrote: »

It's a chance to play young lads. What's wrong with seeing Ahern or McCann playing bok teams. It will also be a proving ground for academy players trying to get development contracts. Lads like Hawkshaw should get some minutes to prove themselves. I think it's a meh tournament, but it gives the coaches a chance to feature lads they normally wouldn't.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ahern. I am so over Ryan Baird at this stage.

Garda Kenny · 26-03-2021 10:22pm

pickarooney wrote: »

I'm looking forward to seeing Ahern. I am so over Ryan Baird at this stage.

Correct

thomond2006 · 27-03-2021 3:53pm

I hope Eir will carry the SA vs SA games in the first few weeks.

bilston · 27-03-2021 5:35pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

I hope Eir will carry the SA vs SA games in the first few weeks.

I, perhaps naively, assumed that was a given!

Pussyhands · 27-03-2021 11:25pm

They should have just called this the Money Cup.

That's the only reason for it. Change the structure of the Pro 14 mid way through the league to create this money grabbing thing.

Pussyhands · 27-03-2021 11:31pm

SA teams participating in a NH tournament just doesn't work, logistics just don't work.

Be better to have a 20 teams Celtic+English league. Play every other team once with top 4 playing off.

19 game general season with promotion and relegation.

Dave_The_Sheep · 27-03-2021 11:48pm

bilston · 27-03-2021 11:54pm

Pussyhands wrote: »

They should have just called this the Money Cup.

That's the only reason for it. Change the structure of the Pro 14 mid way through the league to create this money grabbing thing.

"Money grabbing"?

Thhis is money that is fundamental to the existence of the professional game and money that keeps lots of people (not just players) in employment.

AbusesToilets · 27-03-2021 11:55pm

I'll be happy with a more competitive competition. My hope is that this will be a bridge to some form of Euro league.

thomond2006 · 28-03-2021 12:30am

Pussyhands wrote: »

They should have just called this the Money Cup.

That's the only reason for it. Change the structure of the Pro 14 mid way through the league to create this money grabbing thing.

Ah yes, the great and mighty Pro14.

It's a professional sport. Of course money is a concern.

KBurke85 · 29-03-2021 8:33am

Could be some new rules being trialed also

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2021/0326/1206390-rainbow-cup-in-line-for-20-minute-red-card-trial/?fbclid=IwAR0txX4V1xtaANnJAJi6Yzzwp57_sotqy4p8GUOwA6b7_KQqGYOU2Wom7wY

Pussyhands · 29-03-2021 8:45am

Red card rule trial is rubbish.

If you want to get rid of dangerous play, you don't allow teams to get away with it.

There's more red cards now but players are learning. You can see it during games.

Caranica · 29-03-2021 9:06am

Not loving the goal line dropout in Super Rugby Aotearoa, penalising the attacking team goes against the spirit of most of the other laws. Can see it being even less popular up here given the proportion of maul tries.

The red card idea is just dangerous.

sydthebeat · 29-03-2021 9:21am

Caranica wrote: »

Not loving the goal line dropout in Super Rugby Aotearoa, penalising the attacking team goes against the spirit of most of the other laws. Can see it being even less popular up here given the proportion of maul tries.

The red card idea is just dangerous.

I don't mind the goal line drop out to much, the attacking team invariably end up with an another attack within the 22 from it. It discourages the endless pick and jams which, to me, should be used to draw in defenders to open space out wide which should be utilised.

I also like the red card trial, but it's one I don't see being made common place. I think the stats are that a team usually concedes 7 points per yellow card so take from that that a red card will cost your team somewhere between 10-14 points.

If red cards were given for only the most egregious acts of foul play then I'd agree that there should be no leniency.... However we're seeing more and more red cards been given for acts of bad timing, clumsiness or bad technique.... So from that point of view I don't mind the 20min replacement rule.

thomond2006 · 29-03-2021 10:02am

Pussyhands wrote: »

Red card rule trial is rubbish.

If you want to get rid of dangerous play, you don't allow teams to get away with it.

There's more red cards now but players are learning. You can see it during games.

It doesn't change the fact that rugby is an entertainment business and a traditional red card can ruin games. It's worth trialling.

irishbucsfan · 29-03-2021 10:06am

I think the drop out rule is a positive change. At the moment you can effectively use being held up as a form of attacking exit because you get a 5 meter scrum from it which is very often a better attacking platform than where you started from. A really good example was the second time Leinster got held up last weekend, that carry would not happen that way if this law was in place.

Now we’ll see teams having to start again from between the 22 and 10 meter line. That should reduce the amount of those kinds of situations.

errlloyd · 29-03-2021 10:47am

sydthebeat wrote: »

If red cards were given for only the most egregious acts of foul play then I'd agree that there should be no leniency.... However we're seeing more and more red cards been given for acts of bad timing, clumsiness or bad technique.... So from that point of view I don't mind the 20min replacement rule.

I also think it's really weird how red cards exist on a sliding scale of severity. The difference between POM committing a red card foul in the first quarter against Wales, and Russell committing a red card foul in the final ten against France is HUGE. Because the "onfield" punishment, is such a high proportion of the deterrent, I think it is disproportionate how it falls right now.

Rainbow Cup 2021

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