Aviva Premiership 13/14 season thread

dregin · 17-02-2014 1:44am

So, Sam Burgess is off to Bath.

Molester Stallone · 19-02-2014 9:45am

Only a 3 week ban for Tomás O'Leary, very lucky I'd say

thomond2006 · 19-02-2014 10:27am

Molester Stallone wrote: »

Only a 3 week ban for Tomás O'Leary, very lucky I'd say

Previous clean record got him two weeks less I'd say. Even then it's very lucky.

Can you really say, in suspension terms, that Chapparo's tip/spear on Boss was three times worse than TOL's stamp? When you look at it like that it's very lenient on TOL.

Grandpa Hassan · 19-02-2014 11:11am

dregin wrote: »

So, Sam Burgess is off to Bath.

I'm excited about seeing him. Common wisdom would say that rugby league converts are best on the wing or at FB, as there is less complexity in the play.

But enough coaches are suggesting he is good enough to be another Sonny-Bill, so maybe he can be successful in the midfield.

Will be interesting to watch, anyway

CatFromHue · 19-02-2014 2:41pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Previous clean record got him two weeks less I'd say. Even then it's very lucky.

Can you really say, in suspension terms, that Chapparo's tip/spear on Boss was three times worse than TOL's stamp? When you look at it like that it's very lenient on TOL.

The comparisson for me would be what Adam Thompson did for NZ against Scotland a few seasons back. What TOL did was worse and that's why the ban was worse. Neither were real stamps as such as there was no power in them.

The Tip/Spear tackle is in a different league as from memory Boss looked in bits on the ground and had to go off.

matthew8 · 29-03-2014 5:07pm

Northampton Leicester is pretty good. Leicester dominated the first half but Northampton got one chance and took it to claw back to 13-8 down. As is customary with Saints Tigers, there has been a biting accusation.

irishbucsfan · 29-03-2014 5:08pm

It'd be much closer if Hooley could kick anything. He's missed two absolute sitters.

CatFromHue · 29-03-2014 5:14pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It'd be much closer if Hooley could kick anything. He's missed two absolute sitters.

Geraghty
Myler
Lamb

Now Hooley?

matthew8 · 29-03-2014 5:39pm

Another miss by Hooley. Dreadful kicking by him.

Buer · 29-03-2014 6:28pm

Saints fail to score against 13 men for the last 5 minutes and Leicester win 22-16. Northampton are suffering a bad drop in form at the moment and have now lost 3 in a row.

neilmulvey · 30-03-2014 1:14pm

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9240241,00.html

hartley accused of biting again

Molester Stallone · 30-03-2014 3:45pm

neilmulvey wrote: »

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9240241,00.html

hartley accused of biting again

Hartley cleared of biting, no case to answer

matthew8 · 30-03-2014 3:47pm

It didn't look like anything on TV, and if anyone it looked like Ma'afu was more likely.

Worcester finally win an awful game, their first Premiership win this season!

Dave_The_Sheep · 02-04-2014 3:08pm

Interesting to hear people who watch the Aviva Prem regularly (more regularly than me anyways, I usually only get the highlight shows) make of this suggestion from the Saracens chairman. Basic gist: Saracens want minimum salary cap introduced.

Just an attempt to keep the lesser financially able clubs down or has it merit?

Grandpa Hassan · 02-04-2014 4:39pm

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Interesting to hear people who watch the Aviva Prem regularly (more regularly than me anyways, I usually only get the highlight shows) make of this suggestion from the Saracens chairman. Basic gist: Saracens want minimum salary cap introduced.

Just an attempt to keep the lesser financially able clubs down or has it merit?

I see what he is getting at. To make the promoted clubs compete instead of protecting their balance sheet for an inevitable drop.

I think the carrot approach would be better than the stick though....a higher parachute payment to soften the blow of relegation, and make clubs more confident in spending with a better safety net there. But that of course would cost the big clubs, as they would likely have to contribute to it

irishbucsfan · 02-04-2014 5:51pm

The NFL brought in similar rules. There are merits to it but I'm not sure exactly what they're thinking of as a minimum spend, the Premiership cannot be moved out of reach of the Championship

matthew8 · 12-04-2014 5:09pm

Absolutely ludicrous match in Gloucester today. Bath-Glaws is never friendly but this has been ridiculously wild. Red for Gloucester, 3 yellows for Bath and 2 for Gloucester, and now a fight which will bring more cards. Agulla was also challenged to a post-game fight by one of the Gloucester players. Wigglesworth has had absolutely no control throughout and has made many baffling decisions.

EDIT: And another red for Gloucester from the fight.

LeeroyJones · 12-04-2014 5:12pm

This is incredible TV....

They cant fit all the cards on the score graphic!

matthew8 · 12-04-2014 5:13pm

LeeroyJones wrote: »

This is incredible TV....

They cant fit all the cards on the score graphic!

Yeah it's fking hilarious. For the first time ever I find myself agreeing with Austin Healy.

CatFromHue · 12-04-2014 5:29pm

That guy Puafisi has some record.

He's only played 9 games in the Aviva (5 starts and 4 from the bench) but has 2 yellows and now a red!

Just reading on ESPN's commentary of the game and they said "Horrible high tackle, horrible. Sila Puafisi knows it's a card, the colour is all that is in doubt. Replay looks even worse, as they often do. Arm out into the neck and it's a red card" and then have a tweet from the Gloucester Citizen (the local paper) saying "RED CARD. Puafisi given his marching orders for a high tackle on Abendanon. The right decision. Idiotic tackle not for the 1st time".

matthew8 · 12-04-2014 5:40pm

Clothesline tackle but there didn't seem to be any malice. Bath players didn't react either.

Teferi · 14-04-2014 4:21pm

Caught the highlights of Gloucester-Bath. Some match, would have loved to see it live.

thomond2006 · 14-04-2014 9:07pm

Just saw the Knoyle incident. It's not the first time Knoyle has gone out to cheap shot someone, I'm fairly sure he decked a Leinster player from behind when he was playing with the Scarlets.

CatFromHue · 14-04-2014 11:07pm

The guy he thumped was goading him when he was on the ground. Not an excuse but it does explain why he reacted like that.

Think he's moving to Cardiff for next season.

matthew8 · 19-04-2014 4:56pm

Sale won at Exeter by a score of 55-12. You read that right. They were 5 point underdogs. That is extraordinary, and done without their best player (Braid). Bath dodged a bullet home to Worcester, cruelly denied at the death again. The race for the playoffs is heating up.

CatFromHue · 19-04-2014 5:07pm

It's funny looking at the tables between the Aviva and the Rabo.

The difference between 6th and 7th in the Aviva is 16pts and in the Rabo it's 10.
The difference between 4th and 5th in the Aviva is 6pts and in the Rabo it's 7 (both teams still have to play this weekend in the Rabo though).

Competitiveness wise the leagues are very similar

OldRio · 04-05-2014 2:16pm

Exeter v Quinns on BT1 at the moment.
3-0 to Exeter

CatFromHue · 04-05-2014 3:31pm

Looks like the Aviva's last regular season round will end up the same as the Rabo as Quins are losing to Exeter but need to win to have any chance of getting into the Playoffs.

Currently it's

Saracens 85
Northampton 73
Leicester 69
Bath 66
Quins 58 (they'll be on 59 if it finishes with the same score)

Northampton v Wasps
Leicester v Saracens
Quins v Bath

are next weeks fixtures

matthew8 · 04-05-2014 3:34pm

2 more tries for Quins though, and it's winner takes all for the right to lose a semi-final at Allianz park.

matthew8 · 04-05-2014 3:47pm

And there it is. The fourth try and they lead 30-29.

OldRio · 04-05-2014 3:56pm

Some come back by Quinns.

CatFromHue · 04-05-2014 3:58pm

I take it back so!

Saracens 85
Northampton 73
Leicester 69
Bath 66
Quins 63

Northampton v Wasps
Leicester v Saracens
Quins v Bath

are next weeks fixtures

08-05-2014 9:37am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2369hIABz6o

Try of the season candidates.

Mumm's is a superb breakout, great hands everywhere.
Wade's step at full pace is lethal.
I like the power of Mulipola though.

irishbucsfan · 08-05-2014 12:46pm

Try of the season for me was definitely Elliot's. Last minute of the game, out of nowhere, Northampton starting to give up on it when Burns kicked the ball down the field to them... and the George North produces some absolute magic to create a try that puts Northampton in the lead. Really impressive that they were able to execute that in the 79th minute of the game with so much on the line.

errlloyd · 08-05-2014 1:09pm

I know it's not prem, might already have been discussed. But do people think it's okay for ryan Jones to transfer to Bristol for just the play off games?

irishbucsfan · 08-05-2014 1:13pm

errlloyd wrote: »

I know it's not prem, might already have been discussed. But do people think it's okay for ryan Jones to transfer to Bristol for just the play off games?

Nah, it's crazy. The RFU have made a big oversight in leaving the possibility for this open. There should be a final date (like in most professional leagues) for registering players for your squad.

I like Bristol though, so hopefully he helps them to get up!

The Lost Sheep · 08-05-2014 2:32pm

errlloyd wrote: »

I know it's not prem, might already have been discussed. But do people think it's okay for ryan Jones to transfer to Bristol for just the play off games?

Shouldn't be allowed. All other leagues have a final date for registration/movement of players.
Wasn't there a transfer involving one of the Scottish teams not allowed recently enough??

thomond2006 · 08-05-2014 2:34pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Nah, it's crazy. The RFU have made a big oversight in leaving the possibility for this open. There should be a final date (like in most professional leagues) for registering players for your squad.

I like Bristol though, so hopefully he helps them to get up!

Imagine if Bristol don't win the playoffs. That would be one huge cluster**** with all those signings.

Buer · 08-05-2014 2:37pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Imagine if Bristol don't win the playoffs. That would be one huge cluster**** with all those signings.

The list of players that could potentially be in the Championship is mad. Bristol are by no means guaranteed promotion at this stage. I suspect bringing Jones in is a bit of a panic move to do everything they can but it might well galvanise the opposition.

matthew8 · 10-05-2014 3:34pm

Northampton losing by 13 points at home to the Wasps second string! They might miss their home semi here.

Tox56 · 10-05-2014 3:43pm

Great try from George Ford, hes quick

CatFromHue · 10-05-2014 3:48pm

Tox56 wrote: »

Great try from George Ford, hes quick

He took it well but there was a huge gap in the Quins defence for him to run through.

Tox56 · 10-05-2014 3:53pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

He took it well but there was a huge gap in the Quins defence for him to run through.

Ah yeah it was poor defence but he reminds me of Hanrahan with that smooth running style and a lovely pass to go with it, although hes a bit further along in his development than JJ. I think if Saracens reach the final (and Bath dont) he'll be starting in NZ for England

CatFromHue · 10-05-2014 5:04pm

Ha Wasps have gone from leading Northampton 13-0 after 15 mins to losing 74-13!

Wasps were 7th in the Aviva this morning and people give out about the Rabo!

Edit: Wasps may have had a weaker team out than usual today for the HEC playoff, not fully sure though.

sock puppet · 10-05-2014 5:48pm

Buer wrote: »

The list of players that could potentially be in the Championship is mad. Bristol are by no means guaranteed promotion at this stage. I suspect bringing Jones in is a bit of a panic move to do everything they can but it might well galvanise the opposition.

What I don't understand is why they don't get rid of the playoffs if they want the "right" team to be promoted. Every year an ex-premiership team runs away with the league and then shits the bed in the playoffs.

errlloyd · 11-05-2014 12:41pm

Championship playoffs are done on an aggregate score right? Bristol only managed a 3 point win over Rotherham at home in the first leg.

Buer · 11-05-2014 12:46pm

errlloyd wrote: »

Championship playoffs are done on an aggregate score right? Bristol only managed a 3 point win over Rotherham at home in the first leg.

Correct. All to play for now! Would be interesting to see Scanlon and Keating in the top flight for Rotherham.

thomond2006 · 12-05-2014 10:18am

Nigel Davies sacked by Gloucester: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/27372902

I can't say I've been a big fan of his since he sent that joke lineup to Thomond in the second round of the Heineken Cup. I couldn't believe that they were effectively throwing a match after they won their first round match at home to Perpignan.

Buer wrote: »

Correct. All to play for now! Would be interesting to see Scanlon and Keating in the top flight for Rotherham.

Would a club like Rotherham be able to get the finances together to recruit to stay up? The promoted club is really at a disadvantage at getting in players since very few will have no contract sorted by May. Ideally their season should start in August and end in April.

irishbucsfan · 12-05-2014 10:23am

I like Davies as a coach. Obviously it didn't work out for him and Gloucester were going backwards a bit, but I think he'll go on to be successful somewhere. He probably needs to be better at building the structure within the club, but I love his philopsophy of play and the way he set his teams up, especially for big games.

Maybe he'd be a better assistant at a higher level, rather than a head coach.

Swiwi. · 12-05-2014 7:32pm

@irishbucsfan, any ideas who might make the English touring part downunder? I know a couple of the big names such as Corbisiero are out with injury, but I've read Cipriani might be in line for a shock recall.

Any newbies you think might get the call, or basically just the same squad from the 6N? IMO, it would be a great confidence boost for England to win a test in NZ, but with a weakened squad for the 1st test owing to the Premiership final, they could already be off to a rocky start.

Given the RWC is in England though, even a 0-3 result in NZ won't faze Lancaster too much I imagine. Don't talk to me if it ends up 3-0 though :eek:

Aviva Premiership 13/14 season thread

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