General Rugby Discussion II

18-11-2019 12:05pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Sarries cannot refuse to release players called up.

Eddie Jones doesn't give a crap about saracens

I suspect they will try not release and will be forced to.

errlloyd · 18-11-2019 12:17pm

Dog Botherer wrote: »

Folau might be the stupidest professional rugby player i can think of, which is impressive as hasn’t even drunkenly driven a golf cart down a motorway at 2 in the morning.

This is a funny post - and I am definitely not having a go!

Just wanted to note that although Andy Powell did that, I had huge respect for how he retired. His club covered for him saying he had a knee injury, but he went to Sky Sports later in the week and admitted he was retiring because he was struggling with depression. Incredibly honest and almost certainly helpful in addressing some of the stigmas in the game.

molloyjh · 18-11-2019 1:47pm

For the good of the game. LOL.

https://www.saracens.com/club-statement-on-behalf-of-nigel-wray/

prawnsambo · 18-11-2019 1:55pm

molloyjh wrote: »

For the good of the game. LOL.

https://www.saracens.com/club-statement-on-behalf-of-nigel-wray/

How are they going to stay within the salary cap and not lose players? That's not explained.

molloyjh · 18-11-2019 1:58pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

How are they going to stay within the salary cap and not lose players? That's not explained.

Magic.

And probably by not offering the additional benefits. In fairness to Sarscens they do seem to have a good set-up in terms of how they look after the players and their families. Once in to somewhere like that it can take a lot to be drawn away from it.

prawnsambo · 18-11-2019 2:16pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Magic.

And probably by not offering the additional benefits. In fairness to Sarscens they do seem to have a good set-up in terms of how they look after the players and their families. Once in to somewhere like that it can take a lot to be drawn away from it.

They will probably get through the season without losing anyone. Unusual to see players jumping ship mid-season. But there are a couple of factors that might impact them. One, they are not going to win the premiership and in fact are possibly going to be in a fight to stay up. Secondly, the European championship is going to have to take a back seat in favour of the premiership battle. Players may find it difficult to be motivated for a season that's got nothing in it for them, either financially or gong-hunting.

sydthebeat · 18-11-2019 2:48pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

They will probably get through the season without losing anyone. Unusual to see players jumping ship mid-season. But there are a couple of factors that might impact them. One, they are not going to win the premiership and in fact are possibly going to be in a fight to stay up. Secondly, the European championship is going to have to take a back seat in favour of the premiership battle. Players may find it difficult to be motivated for a season that's got nothing in it for them, either financially or gong-hunting.

it will be a real test of this famous "wolfpack" mentality.... all sticking together, one big family etc etc

Shefwedfan · 18-11-2019 4:19pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Magic.

And probably by not offering the additional benefits. In fairness to Sarscens they do seem to have a good set-up in terms of how they look after the players and their families. Once in to somewhere like that it can take a lot to be drawn away from it.

They have a good setup and no is disputing that, the fact is the reason they get players is money.....simple fact. bath offer 100k, Saracens offer 100k and 100k "company fund".

Once they get the player to the club they do look after them but lets say the same player was. Bath 100k, Saracens 100k but Wasps 200k as marquee player. That player would be in Wasps tomorrow morning......

Saracens didn't challenge because all of the details would come out in press and everyone would find out exactly what they are up to. Better to hide this and move on.

18-11-2019 9:18pm

Be interesting if the other Prem teams go all out to keep Saracens bottom table. Make every game an absolute war.

Dave_The_Sheep · 19-11-2019 12:11am

Deleted User wrote: »

Be interesting if the other Prem teams go all out to keep Saracens bottom table. Make every game an absolute war.

I can't imagine them not doing that. There's a lot of ill will there.

Squidgy Black · 19-11-2019 12:20am

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

I can't imagine them not doing that. There's a lot of ill will there.

I mean the premiership is probably one of the most competitive leagues there is anyways, 4 games in and every team's picked up at least 1 win and no unbeaten teams as a result. There was only a 4 point difference between 4th and 9th last season. I can't see a reason why teams wouldn't be going hell for leather regardless of the points deduction.

Quin_Dub · 19-11-2019 11:38am

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I mean the premiership is probably one of the most competitive leagues there is anyways, 4 games in and every team's picked up at least 1 win and no unbeaten teams as a result. There was only a 4 point difference between 4th and 9th last season. I can't see a reason why teams wouldn't be going hell for leather regardless of the points deduction.

Saracens will be doing well to finish inside the Top 10 based on previous years performances.

They'd have to post league all-time best win ratios to get much higher than that..

I suspect that they may just forget about Europe this year and keep the big-guns for the league.

All the EPS players have game management programs in place so I reckon that the 12-15 games or whatever the number is that they are allowed play for their clubs this year will all be Premiership games.

They are going to go all out to try to get to the Top 6 to qualify for Europe for next year rather then trying to win it this year.

I don't think they can do it myself , but that's what I think they are going to try to do.

prawnsambo · 19-11-2019 11:29pm

Dave Rennie taking over the Wobblies it ssems. Glasgow going to be looking around again.

sydthebeat · 19-11-2019 11:31pm

Wow....

A good appointment.

And one surely to hated by the hardcore aussie fan.

prawnsambo · 19-11-2019 11:33pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Wow....

A good appointment.

And one surely to hated by the hardcore aussie fan.

Well they didn't like the last Aussie they got, so they can put up or shut up. Confirmed now.

Squidgy Black · 19-11-2019 11:34pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Wow....

A good appointment.

And one surely to hated by the hardcore aussie fan.

I'd say Cheika is fuming too, he was imploring Rugby Australia to give the job to another Australian coach.

He'll be sticking around until the end of the Pro14 apparently, it'll be interesting to see how Glasgow go given the announcement now.

prawnsambo · 19-11-2019 11:38pm

Danny Wilson is taking over Glasgow at the end of the season. Dave Rennie's first match as Wobblies coach will be against Ireland I think.

RugbyLover123 · 19-11-2019 11:43pm

Hasn’t exactly taken Glasgow on since Townsend has he?

Squidgy Black · 19-11-2019 11:54pm

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Hasn’t exactly taken Glasgow on since Townsend has he?

Top of the conference in 2017, knocked out by Scarlets in the semis, runners up last year and got to the knockouts in Europe. Gregor had the league win but only brought them to the European knockouts in his final season in his 5 years there.

I'd say he's done fairly well to be honest.

Dog Botherer · 20-11-2019 3:49am

errlloyd wrote: »

This is a funny post - and I am definitely not having a go!

Just wanted to note that although Andy Powell did that, I had huge respect for how he retired. His club covered for him saying he had a knee injury, but he went to Sky Sports later in the week and admitted he was retiring because he was struggling with depression. Incredibly honest and almost certainly helpful in addressing some of the stigmas in the game.

ah yeah, wasn’t having a go at Powell, was very much tongue in cheek. he seems a good egg in general but i don’t think that in any universe doing what he did could be considered a smart move.

probably not very fair of me to bring the incident up in relation to a real prick like Folau, but it is a very funny story :pac:

swiwi_ · 20-11-2019 6:39pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Wow....

A good appointment.

And one surely to hated by the hardcore aussie fan.

Rennie the roo.

sydthebeat · 20-11-2019 7:03pm

swiwi_ wrote: »

Rennie the roo.

Stop speaking with your mouth full

pickarooney · 21-11-2019 7:24am

Was that Rory Best's last action on a rugby pitch, a left foot conversion?

Felix Jones is God. · 22-11-2019 12:27am

If you've 2 mins to spare, have a little look at Joe Marlers interview about their upcoming game against Bath, plenty of horsing around

prawnsambo · 22-11-2019 12:30am

Felix Jones is God. wrote: »

If you've 2 mins to spare, have a little look at Joe Marlers interview about their upcoming game against Bath, plenty of horsing around

He seemed to lose the run of himself alright.

.

sydthebeat · 23-11-2019 10:48am

I see Toulon scored an 87th minute converted try last night to beat scarlets by one point.

That must have been some kick in the nads for the Welsh Boys.

prawnsambo · 23-11-2019 2:53pm

Benetton in control against Northampton at the moment. 25-15. Northampton just got a try before half time.

Squidgy Black · 23-11-2019 3:18pm

Sarries hammering Ospreys. 30-3 50 minutes gone. Ospreys could be looking at an early exit from Europe and staying around the bottom of the pro14 this year.

Exclamation Marc · 23-11-2019 3:57pm

Rotten luck for Benetton. Gave away a penalty for deliberate knock on ten or fifteen seconds after a forward pass that wasn't picked up.

Great game though.

Shefwedfan · 24-11-2019 12:36am

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Rotten luck for Benetton. Gave away a penalty for deliberate knock on ten or fifteen seconds after a forward pass that wasn't picked up.

Great game though.

Treviso had a number of issues with the ref in that game....they got screwed a good few times......

RugbyLover123 · 24-11-2019 12:08pm

I see Pablo Matera has joined Stade Francais. You’d have to think Argentina will struggle to compete in next years rugby championship with the exodus of players. Strange move from him as well if it’s only been done recently, considering the mess they are in.

sydthebeat · 24-11-2019 12:12pm

Looks like Argentina tried the Irish route and failed, now they look like they will have to go full SA

mfceiling · 26-11-2019 3:13pm

Osprey's after letting Allen Clarke go.

Squidgy Black · 26-11-2019 3:36pm

mfceiling wrote: »

Osprey's after letting Allen Clarke go.

No indication of who's going to replace him yet, their backs coach is finishing up at the end of this season also.

26-11-2019 3:51pm

I will guffah heartily if it's Jackman.

Shefwedfan · 26-11-2019 3:56pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I will guffah heartily if it's Jackman.

The Welsh where going mad last year about the lack of Welsh coaches, I would expect the WRU will be going for a home grown coach, if they have any :P

sydthebeat · 26-11-2019 7:01pm

Ben Teo joining sunwolves in 2020............

Squidgy Black · 26-11-2019 7:06pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Ben Teo joining sunwolves in 2020............

Wonder is it a one year contract and then off to a Top League side, considering nobody knows what's going to happen to the Sunwolves after this season.

sydthebeat · 26-11-2019 7:10pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Wonder is it a one year contract and then off to a Top League side, considering nobody knows what's going to happen to the Sunwolves after this season.

id imagine its a one year contract alright.

the current status is that 2020 is sunwolves last year of super rugby, so im not sure how they can offer him anything more

prawnsambo · 26-11-2019 9:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I will guffah heartily if it's Jackman.

That sounds painful. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a hearty guffaw instead?

Clegg · 27-11-2019 9:54am

Bristol have announced the signing of Semi Radradra for next season. Huge acquisition for them.

Shefwedfan · 27-11-2019 10:07am

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Wonder is it a one year contract and then off to a Top League side, considering nobody knows what's going to happen to the Sunwolves after this season.

It was mentioned in the NZ press the other day that some people are calling for NZ and Aus to drop SA out of Super Rugby. Concentrate on Japan etc....more or less chase the money

SA are too far away and Super Rugby is dying a death anyway.

Japan have pulled the Sunwolves out of Super Rugby but are now saying they might reconsider. If SA are dropped from Super Rugby they will probably end up in Pro14 but will want to have the ability to play in Heniken Cup.

Quin_Dub · 27-11-2019 10:21am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

It was mentioned in the NZ press the other day that some people are calling for NZ and Aus to drop SA out of Super Rugby. Concentrate on Japan etc....more or less chase the money

SA are too far away and Super Rugby is dying a death anyway.

Japan have pulled the Sunwolves out of Super Rugby but are now saying they might reconsider. If SA are dropped from Super Rugby they will probably end up in Pro14 but will want to have the ability to play in Heniken Cup.

Interesting..

I know that SA are the majority provider of the TV money in the current Super Rugby deal.

Would Japan fill/improve that funding for having 1 team in a Super 10/12 competition?

If they were given another slot or two I don't know that they be able to fill them unless of course they just took all the SA players,which would be a fairly mercenary move to say the least.

How would the Pro14 accommodate extra teams? - If you assume that the 2 current SA teams would get swapped out for their Super equivalents there's still another 2 teams to be accommodated.

Would Scotland/Wales/Italy want them in thereby likely removing their teams from Europe??

MarinersBlues · 27-11-2019 10:28am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Japan have pulled the Sunwolves out of Super Rugby but are now saying they might reconsider. If SA are dropped from Super Rugby they will probably end up in Pro14 but will want to have the ability to play in Heniken Cup.

If they get into the Champions cup I would make it eight groups of four and have one extra knockout round.

The extra money they bring should help in that regard.

Shefwedfan · 27-11-2019 10:38am

MarinersBlues wrote: »

If they get into the Champions cup I would make it eight groups of four and have one extra knockout round.

The extra money they bring should help in that regard.

When the SA team joined the Pro14 they done a couple of interviews with a guy in SA press on Offtheball.The SuperRugby teams would sit back and wait till it was confirmed if the SA team could play in HC...

If they where allowed then either the players would move over to Ceetahs/Kings(unlikely) or the Super Rugby teams would move across to the Pro14 slots

The distance between SA and Aus/NZ is the issue plus the time difference. The fact SA is in the same time bracket as NH teams means TV times suit.....

One of the articles here: https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/mehrtens-remains-adamant-drop-sa-from-super-rugby-20191125?fbclid=IwAR1Ef9aB-auMGAPP4S-EecwvLZX4yhFow0KdFbQFAmyJob6unXbPRp0CDJQ

27-11-2019 10:41am

MarinersBlues wrote: »

If they get into the Champions cup I would make it eight groups of four and have one extra knockout round.

I don't think there's any chance of that happening, schedules are pretty packed as it is.

Yeah_Right · 27-11-2019 1:11pm

I remember a friend of mine talking about this in NZ years ago. He said rugby would eventually move from NH and SH based competitions to ones based on time zones. Especially at club level. Super Rugby should go back to being Super 12. 5 kiwi teams, 4 Aussie, 1 PI, 2 Japanese. Alternatively, scrap the PI based side and go with another Asian (HK or Singapore maybe). Or maybe a Californian team.

sydthebeat · 27-11-2019 1:29pm

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I remember a friend of mine talking about this in NZ years ago. He said rugby would eventually move from NH and SH based competitions to ones based on time zones. Especially at club level. Super Rugby should go back to being Super 12. 5 kiwi teams, 4 Aussie, 1 PI, 2 Japanese. Alternatively, scrap the PI based side and go with another Asian (HK or Singapore maybe). Or maybe a Californian team.

any scope for another NZ based team?

is it possible to split the crusaders region into 2 and have 3 south island based teams and 3 north island??

leave canterbury, mid and south together .......and join tasman, buller and west coast into another franchise??

just spit ballin

PMC83 · 27-11-2019 1:32pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

any scope for another NZ based team?

is it possible to split the crusaders region into 2 and have 3 south island based teams and 3 north island??

leave canterbury, mid and south together .......and join tasman, buller and west coast into another franchise??

just spit ballin

More likely bring back Western Force? Such a shame they left, an tbh that Rapid Rugby thing they are involved in just looks a little silly. Even though it was created to sustain them.

sydthebeat · 27-11-2019 1:38pm

PMC83 wrote: »

More likely bring back Western Force? Such a shame they left, an tbh that Rapid Rugby thing they are involved in just looks a little silly. Even though it was created to sustain them.

more chance of NZRU being able to sustain a 6th region than ARU sustaining a 5th franchise... sugar daddy or not. they were cut for financial regions and if anything ARUs finances have gotten worse in the meantime, not better.

Perhaps some kind of restructuring might work, but TV income from australia is pitiful.

and in all this..... what about the hags ??

General Rugby Discussion II

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