Gallagher Premiership 2018/2019

Squidgy Black · 09-05-2019 1:01pm

The investment required for teams to step up from the Championship is mental if you look at Bristol last year and now LI.

Cookiemunster · 09-05-2019 1:34pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

my view exactly.....

rather then having a cold passing in it, i might get invested in the notnots

And soon to be just the nots when they move in with Brentford!

ScrubsfanChris · 09-05-2019 1:53pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

The investment required for teams to step up from the Championship is mental if you look at Bristol last year and now LI.

True
And it undid London Welsh unfortunately, who now only exist as an amateur team.

Buer · 09-05-2019 3:29pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

The investment required for teams to step up from the Championship is mental if you look at Bristol last year and now LI.

There are probably smarter ways to do it than Bristol i.e. making Charles Piutau the highest paid player in the game, supposedly. Things have clicked for them of late but I think they'd have been better off spreading that money through their team a little more.

They spent massive money on a small number of players who had the ability to command big salaries. Piutau has started 10 Premiership matches this season. Madigan hasn't started a Premiership match since February after falling down the pecking order.

Hopefully LI are getting better value for money in signing guys like PJ and SOB who will probably command a diminished salary for various reasons or possibly have clauses in their contract based on appearances.

Former Former · 09-05-2019 3:43pm

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

True
And it undid London Welsh unfortunately, who now only exist as an amateur team.

Wasn't London Welsh's problem that they didn't pump a heap of money into the squad, and lost every game as a result?

irishbucsfan · 09-05-2019 3:45pm

Former Former wrote: »

Wasn't London Welsh's problem that they didn't pump a heap of money into the squad, and lost every game as a result?

After being told by the RFU that they couldn’t financially compete or survive and then appealing the RFU’s decision to force their way into the premiership

Rigor Mortis · 09-05-2019 3:55pm

Former Former wrote: »

Wasn't London Welsh's problem that they didn't pump a heap of money into the squad, and lost every game as a result?

No, i think their problem was that they were not in a position to sign players until very late in the day, because of questions about their ground. By the time they could they had to overpay for dross

Former Former · 09-05-2019 4:02pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

After being told by the RFU that they couldn’t financially compete or survive and then appealing the RFU’s decision to force their way into the premiership

I'd forgotten all about that.

At some point, they are going to have to ring-fence the Premiership. Is there anyone in the Championship who could legitimately compete in the top tier?

Squidgy Black · 09-05-2019 4:08pm

Former Former wrote: »

I'd forgotten all about that.

At some point, they are going to have to ring-fence the Premiership. Is there anyone in the Championship who could legitimately compete in the top tier?

Other than Newcastle depending on how they get on next season, not really. There was a 33 point difference between LI at the top and Bedford in third. Ealing were second and 13 points behind LI. Which is a fair turnaround considering they were in the National League 1 only 4 years ago, but they also don't have a ground that meets the requirements for the premiership.

ScrubsfanChris · 09-05-2019 6:03pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

After being told by the RFU that they couldn’t financially compete or survive and then appealing the RFU’s decision to force their way into the premiership

Thanks, that's what I was referring too.
Were advised not to go up because of unstable finances but forced ahead anyway.
It was a number of reasons but that was definitely a huge factor.

ScrubsfanChris · 09-05-2019 6:06pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Other than Newcastle depending on how they get on next season, not really. There was a 33 point difference between LI at the top and Bedford in third. Ealing were second and 13 points behind LI. Which is a fair turnaround considering they were in the National League 1 only 4 years ago, but they also don't have a ground that meets the requirements for the premiership.

Ealing went and beat LI in the Cup too :pac:

But yeah, their current ground is only around 3000 and lacks the media/hospitality amenities needed.

CatFromHue · 09-05-2019 6:55pm

Buer wrote: »

Hopefully LI are getting better value for money in signing guys like PJ and SOB who will probably command a diminished salary for various reasons or possibly have clauses in their contract based on appearances.

SOB was doing media duties for the Sunday papers last week so they had it that he will be getting 425K euro per year.

Not too shabby.

Squidgy Black · 13-05-2019 7:26pm

Being reported that CVC, RFU and Newcastle are close to coming to an agreement to expand the Gallagher Premiership to 13 teams starting next season.

Which would mean Newcastle wouldn't be relegated and they want to introduce a two-legged playoff between the bottom placed Premiership team and the winner of the Championship.

Bit of a joke if it does go ahead to be honest, all because LI finally got back into the top tier they now have their 13 shareholders in the league (if Newcastle aren't relegated as part of this deal).

Squatter · 20-05-2019 10:16pm

I really enjoyed all of the final round of GP games last weekend - although I only watched the highlights on BT.

Some right crackers, some fantastic tries (Danny Solomona's finish was sensational) and three important games going right down to the wire:-

* the winning try for Bath was scored in the 78th minute and converted for a 32-31 win at Tigers (so Bath qualify for Europe),

* Quins missed a last minute penalty from the half way line to lose 27-25 at Wasps. The kick passed literally inches below the crossbar. Had it gone over they would have made the play-offs instead of Saints.

* a Sarries scrum was destroyed when the clock was in the red - and Duncan Weir converted the difficult kick for Worcester who thus won 31-29

plus

* 13 try thriller at Sale who won 46-41 against a below strength Gloucester.

* brutal game in Sandy Park where the Chiefs demolished Saints 41 - 20

The semis next weekend see Sarries host Gloucester and then the Saints are back in Sandy Park - I feel their pain!

jr86 · 24-05-2019 9:23am

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Being reported that CVC, RFU and Newcastle are close to coming to an agreement to expand the Gallagher Premiership to 13 teams starting next season.

I never for one second thought Leicester would be relegated - even if they finished bottom

However I thought they'd leave it be at the 12 teams given they survived

thomond2006 · 24-05-2019 9:35am

bUt ReLeGaTiOn MaKeS oUr LeAgUe StRoNgEr.

troyzer · 25-05-2019 1:34pm

Great start for Gloucester.

troyzer · 25-05-2019 1:36pm

Never mind.

bilston · 25-05-2019 2:01pm

Atkinson looks a decent player at 12 for Gloucester

ScrubsfanChris · 25-05-2019 2:06pm

Gloucester are a good team to watch but they make some brain dead mistakes.

troyzer · 25-05-2019 2:12pm

Game over.

Saracens are such a horrible team to play against.

ScrubsfanChris · 25-05-2019 5:09pm

Northampton just scoreed an incredible team try from their own 22

baas baa · 25-05-2019 5:15pm

Kvesic is an animal around the ruck.

baas baa · 25-05-2019 5:19pm

Northampton butcher a certain 7 pointer

OldRio · 25-05-2019 5:21pm

baas baa wrote: »

Northampton butcher a certain 7 pointer

How the hell did he drop that.

AdamD · 25-05-2019 5:46pm

Can we claim this O'Flaherty lad?

OldRio · 25-05-2019 5:46pm

Tom O'Flaherty for Exeter. Looks good.

OldRio · 25-05-2019 5:47pm

Haha beat me to it Adam.

Squatter · 25-05-2019 6:20pm

For the second Saturday in a row Saints travelled to Sandy Park, did their best, but got stuffed.

Pity Reinach dropped that gimme pass - it would have kept the game interesting for maybe 10 minutes longer!

Jupiter Mulligan · 29-05-2019 6:44pm

Slap on the wrist for Geordie!

The Leicester coach, Geordan Murphy, has been banned from matchday coaching duties for his club’s first three games of next season, ordered to pay £1,500 to charity and instructed to write an open letter of apology to his players for verbally abusing a match official following the Tigers’ final league game against Bath earlier this month.

LuckyGent88 · 01-06-2019 3:11pm

Very eventful start to the final. 8-7 Saracens after 8 mins and a yellow card to Slade already

conor678 · 01-06-2019 3:18pm

Sarries getting momentum now. Such a hard team to stop once they get going. Surprised the chief's forwards haven't fronted up more

Clegg · 01-06-2019 3:21pm

Itoje shot out if the line, didn't hold the tackle and left a gap in defence for Exeter to get to metre of Saracens line.

Saracens infringe at their line and Itoje is carded.

LuckyGent88 · 01-06-2019 3:22pm

Exeter need to take advantage here

conor678 · 01-06-2019 3:24pm

Good game this. Itoje surprises me all the time he doesn't get more yellow cards. Hopefully he's getting found out now.

Great response from chiefs forwards

LuckyGent88 · 01-06-2019 3:36pm

Nice to see Exeter really take advantage of the yellow for Itoje. He is a yellow card magnet

Clegg · 01-06-2019 3:36pm

Two trys for Exeter while Itoje is in the bin. Very bad 10 minutes for him.

RugbyLover123 · 01-06-2019 3:36pm

Jack Nowell is a class player

Dog Botherer · 01-06-2019 3:37pm

very good game this

guapos · 01-06-2019 3:37pm

This a great game, some lovely lines taken by both teams

Clegg · 01-06-2019 3:37pm

Exeter have been excellent in changing the point of attack. Going right for phases then spreading it wide quickly. Nowell has also been excellent popping into the midfield for straight up carries.

Clegg · 01-06-2019 3:46pm

It's almost a shame that Hogg has signed for Exeter. Nowell has been electric from fullback. Picking some incredible lines in midfield and carrying strongly. He won't be able to do that nearly as much on the wing.

razorblunt · 01-06-2019 4:01pm

Ewers is a mountain of a man but clever too, be through a few fake pickups at the back of rucks and caught the Sarries line offside, well watched by Barnes too.

Itoje still acting the clown post yellow card.

razorblunt · 01-06-2019 4:07pm

Clegg wrote: »

It's almost a shame that Hogg has signed for Exeter. Nowell has been electric from fullback. Picking some incredible lines in midfield and carrying strongly. He won't be able to do that nearly as much on the wing.

I dare say Hogg might not be in 15 for long. Richie Gray and Greig Laidlaw have been found wanting down south, will be interesting to see what happens.

Buer · 01-06-2019 4:07pm

razorblunt wrote:

Ewers is a mountain of a man but clever too, be through a few fake pickups at the back of rucks and caught the Sarries line offside, well watched by Barnes too.

Not watching it but if he's deliberately faking a pick up to draw the opposition offside, that should be a penalty against him.

Dave_The_Sheep · 01-06-2019 4:18pm

If only Billy could have been this placid against us.

Clegg · 01-06-2019 4:20pm

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

If only Billy could have been this placid against us.

Saracens aren't playing to the same intensity as they against Leinster. But at the same time Exeter are doing brilliantly in not allowing the Saracens defence to settle.

razorblunt · 01-06-2019 4:26pm

Buer wrote: »

Not watching it but if he's deliberately faking a pick up to draw the opposition offside, that should be a penalty against him.

No, he just slaps the ground next to the ball, never actually makes a pick motion. Quite clever.

Itoje pinged again for not rolling away.

ScrubsfanChris · 01-06-2019 4:26pm

Itoje has given away 3 penalties since coming back from being yellow carded. Is the guy genuinely a moron?

razorblunt · 01-06-2019 4:27pm

Lovely try. Great work by Skinner.

Gallagher Premiership 2018/2019

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