General Rugby Discussion

CMOTDibbler · 23-04-2016 08:38AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Their choice was to sign two TV contracts?

Everyone is completely aware that's not what happened.

It's certainly not what the fans wanted. But nobody gave a flying turd what the fans wanted in the scramble for money to line their own pockets.

So if it all goes tits up, they've no-one to blame but themselves. Anyone with half a brain could see it coming; it's been a slow car crash ever since.

irishbucsfan · 23-04-2016 09:35AM

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

It's certainly not what the fans wanted. But nobody gave a flying turd what the fans wanted in the scramble for money to line their own pockets.

So if it all goes tits up, they've no-one to blame but themselves. Anyone with half a brain could see it coming; it's been a slow car crash ever since.

Some people will see what they want to see

OldRio · 23-04-2016 09:52AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Some people will see what they want to see

If Heineken did irony.:D

former total · 23-04-2016 09:57AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Some people will see what they want to see

And they'll need multiple subscriptions to do it.

irishbucsfan · 23-04-2016 10:02AM

former total wrote: »

And they'll need multiple subscriptions to do it.

Well hopefully not for long. That's just because the old organisation signed a contract for a competition they couldn't produce and an accommodation had to be made.

That'll be gone as soon as it's up for renewal, both of them will be after exclusivity and the value will increase again.

Bazzo · 23-04-2016 10:09AM

When does the current deal run until?

irishbucsfan · 23-04-2016 10:15AM

Bazzo wrote: »

When does the current deal run until?

I'm not certain, I think the original deals were until 17/18

molloyjh · 23-04-2016 10:46AM

I do think people are jumping on this to show that the whole competition and it's set-up was a huge problem and this is proof. The articles and posts suggesting Irish teams made the HEC in particular are really cringey. This is one year. Last year didn't have these issues and next year might not. A bit of perspective wouldn't go astray.

It's a disappointing season and bad news for the competition on that basis, but it isn't exactly conclusive proof of anything. Maybe if we get a couple of seasons in a row like this people can start pulling out the "I told you so" card. But it's a bit early to be doing that now. While I would worry that the next few years might see this become the pattern I do hope it doesn't. And it might not. If Leinster can build back up to a side who make the SFs and Ulster can build on the potential they have, plus teams like Clermont and Toulouse can come back into the reckoning, there's no reason that it can't turn around.

The TV deals are a real issue but they won't be there forever. I'd wager that it'll be a single broadcaster once this deal runs out. And I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it be Sky.

irishbucsfan · 23-04-2016 11:10AM

molloyjh wrote: »

I do think people are jumping on this to show that the whole competition and it's set-up was a huge problem and this is proof. The articles and posts suggesting Irish teams made the HEC in particular are really cringey. This is one year. Last year didn't have these issues and next year might not. A bit of perspective wouldn't go astray.

It's a disappointing season and bad news for the competition on that basis, but it isn't exactly conclusive proof of anything. Maybe if we get a couple of seasons in a row like this people can start pulling out the "I told you so" card. But it's a bit early to be doing that now. While I would worry that the next few years might see this become the pattern I do hope it doesn't. And it might not. If Leinster can build back up to a side who make the SFs and Ulster can build on the potential they have, plus teams like Clermont and Toulouse can come back into the reckoning, there's no reason that it can't turn around.

The TV deals are a real issue but they won't be there forever. I'd wager that it'll be a single broadcaster once this deal runs out. And I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it be Sky.

Further to this, the fact that there is no Irish team in the semi finals really has absolutely nothing to do with any changes that happened in the competition. Our sides just aren't as good as they were before, we saw that in 2012-13 in the Heineken Cup as well.

If an Irish team were in the semi-final I reckon they'd be extremely well supported, but that's just the way it goes. If it was Clermont v Leinster in the Aviva it'd be a sellout, but unfortunately for that to happen we have to actually win our pool matches. I'm hopeful we'll have Irish sides in the knockouts next season.

nc6000 · 23-04-2016 11:33AM

That Marler "incident" is a load of nonsense, the other player doesn't even complain about it or appear to notice being "kicked in the head". If anything he's complaining about being gouged beforehand.

This link has a video of it:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/watch-joe-marler-could-be-facing-another-ban-after-an-alleged-kick-to-the-head-34652395.html

Bazzo · 23-04-2016 11:43AM

nc6000 wrote: »

That Marler "incident" is a load of nonsense, the other player doesn't even complain about it or appear to notice being "kicked in the head". If anything he's complaining about being gouged beforehand.

This link has a video of it:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/watch-joe-marler-could-be-facing-another-ban-after-an-alleged-kick-to-the-head-34652395.html

I mean there wasn't a lot of power in it or anything but it still looks like he deliberately kicked out at a player's head. Whatever very small amount of respect I had left for him is completely exhausted at this stage. I'll leave it there because forum rules won't allow me to say exactly what I think of him

Edit: also it says right there in the video the player complained he was kicked in the head?

The Lost Sheep · 23-04-2016 11:45AM

nc6000 wrote: »

That Marler "incident" is a load of nonsense, the other player doesn't even complain about it or appear to notice being "kicked in the head". If anything he's complaining about being gouged beforehand.

This link has a video of it:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/watch-joe-marler-could-be-facing-another-ban-after-an-alleged-kick-to-the-head-34652395.html

He deliberately aimed a kick at someone's head. That's a definite citing. Though will he get another ban....

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 23-04-2016 01:02PM

molloyjh wrote: »

I do think people are jumping on this to show that the whole competition and it's set-up was a huge problem and this is proof. The articles and posts suggesting Irish teams made the HEC in particular are really cringey. This is one year. Last year didn't have these issues and next year might not. A bit of perspective wouldn't go astray.

Last season's final was pretty poorly attended. Perhaps having it at Twickenham was a tad overambitious and it was unfortunate too that no English team made the final.

Irish fans travel better than the French and maybe even the English but as you say the fact they're not getting to SFs anymore is nothing to do with the set up of the competition.

There seems to be a whole load of problems from individual club set ups to TV deals and a few in between too.