Pro14 Season 2019-2020

Edinburgh - Glasgow a cracker.

thomond2006 wrote: »

There's too many fixtures in the calendar to the dominant in Europe and a domestic competition that is competitive, unless you're Toulon circa 2013-15 when they had an (1) an incredible squad of 20-25 starters to rotate throughout the season, (2) leaders across the pitch like Guirado, Fernandez Lobbe and Wilkinson and (3) relatively few international absences.

Putting three interpro weeks together over the festive period is a relatively recent change and it's terrible. Two interpro games is fine.

I think it's good that a mix of experience among the provinces get to size each other up from time to time. This generates a lot of good feedback within the national team environment as to opposition players strengths and some of their weaknesses. The players get a lot of good feedback from these games and get to play infront of a loud partisan crowd which has value in itself.

I also like to see developing talent in these kinds of mash up games. There are often breakthrough performances that showcase when a player has legitimately progressed to international standard among a more reasonable reflection of their peers.

I thought Andrew Porter was probably chief among these today. He had one big error and another where the ball went back and then forward off a foot so not entirely his fault. But his physicality in defense hurt Munster. He might be the most powerful man in rugby and he's learnt how to use it. I'd love a journalist to have a good look at his performances this season because I think he's been absolutely sensational.

Will Connors similarly was outputting at a different level to those around him. Absolutely relentless and expect his stat sheet to be interesting reading. He was there every time momentum shifted and his speed and effort off the line had a visible impact on JJ's game.

Jack O'Donoghue also showed why he should be in contention for the six nations and also why Munster are wasting him at 7 in a team lacking ball carriers. Thought his overall involvement at 8 eclipsed anything I've seen from him at 7.

Doris absolutely worthy of the motm but I feel he had less overall impact than the above 3. He's no problems at this level at all though and has a bit of Keiron Reed about him, extremely focused, aware and athletic player.

Final word to Scott Fardy. What an amazing signing. I posted during the game that he was the glue to Leinsters performance. He was right there to fill in the gaps when the pack was not firing on all cylinders. Doris got absolutely smashed later in the second half and was about to get floored to deck, Fardy had seen it coming and latched at the last second to Doris maintaining the gainline. I'm itching for a copy of the game to get online so I can watch it back. It should be the first thing every child entering the game of rugby watches. I can't get over how committed Fardy is to the cause. He gives international level effort every single time he plays. The absolute legend.