Premiership Rugby 2020-2021

Buer · 03-11-2020 1:17pm

They won't be as strong as ever as I don't believe they're going to have the same squad in 2 years. They're going to get guys back but they'll struggle to attract the same talent they have done in recent seasons until they're back performing in the top flight.

They've also lost a couple of major players. Take Wigglesworth and Barritt out of that Saracens side and they're not the same team. The difference Barritt makes to their defence is incredible. He stays on against Racing and I believe Saracens lift the Champions Cup.

There's also a genuine risk that at least one more of their big names departs in the next 2 years i.e. one of Itoje, Farrell, George, Daly or either Vunipola. Those guys are their game breakers. Alex Goode, Maitland and Rhodes are all going to be facing retirement around then too.

I do think they'll be contenders the moment they're back but they're not going to be the dominant force that they were unless they manage to attract some significant talent in the interim whilst retaining the existing players.

Cookiemunster · 19-11-2020 1:14pm

English rugby is getting a bail out form the UK government.

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1329396944616230913

I wonder will they also send money to the devolved regions, which could be good for the IRFU?

Digifriendly · 19-11-2020 1:52pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

English rugby is getting a bail out form the UK government.

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1329396944616230913

I wonder will they also send money to the devolved regions, which could be good for the IRFU?

Looks like its England only - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/54998979

I think the different devolved administrations may be the ones paying out rather than the Westminster government.

bilston · 19-11-2020 10:28pm

Digifriendly wrote: »

Looks like its England only - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/54998979

I think the different devolved administrations may be the ones paying out rather than the Westminster government.

I think the NI Executive has already given sport in NI some cash. £15m was the figure I read, that was two weeks ago.

I'm sure as you say that Wales and Scotland have done similar

LuckyGent88 · 20-11-2020 10:38pm

Sam simmonds starting this new season just where he left off. Another quality performance.

He might play for the lions this year but not England!!!

RugbyLover123 · 20-11-2020 11:23pm

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Sam simmonds starting this new season just where he left off. Another quality performance.

He might play for the lions this year but not England!!!

I can’t see Gatland picking him for South Africa if he isn’t playing for England and proven on the international stage. He isn’t playing for England because of his lack of size, something Gatland is also renowned for being in favour of.

A smashing club player in a great system, but I would have my doubts over him being able to do what he does at the top end of international level.

Digifriendly · 21-11-2020 8:41am

Exeter in Premiership are becoming like Leinster in the Pro 14. I think they'll win the Premiership this season and possibly dominate it for next few seasons.

Cookiemunster · 21-11-2020 9:57am

Digifriendly wrote: »

Exeter in Premiership are becoming like Leinster in the Pro 14. I think they'll win the Premiership this season and possibly dominate it for next few seasons.

It's possible, but it's a bit early to be making that claim and Harlequins are a poor side. Let's see how they do against Wasps and Bristol.

Stan27 · 29-11-2020 8:43pm

Anyone see how sean o brien is playing ?

Clegg · 29-11-2020 9:04pm

Stan27 wrote: »

Anyone see how sean o brien is playing ?

He wasn't in the squad. Played the whole 80 last week so maybe he's just being rested? He's injury prone and may not be able to play week to week.

RugbyLover123 · 29-11-2020 9:18pm

He picked up a calf strain pre game going from London Irish twitter.

Digifriendly · 29-11-2020 9:49pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It's possible, but it's a bit early to be making that claim and Harlequins are a poor side. Let's see how they do against Wasps and Bristol.

Northampton must be rubbish then because Harlequins thumped them at Franklin Gardens.

Cookiemunster · 29-11-2020 10:00pm

Digifriendly wrote: »

Northampton must be rubbish then because Harlequins thumped them at Franklin Gardens.

Correct, they are rubbish. They only won 8 games last season and just pipped Worcester to 8th place on points difference.

They've also, after that result, now lost 8 homes games in row.

Tighty · 29-11-2020 10:13pm

Paddy Jackson kicked 17 points in London Irish's 22-9 home win over Leicester.

Burkie1203 · 16-12-2020 12:22am

https://twitter.com/TimesSport/status/1338937193000280065?s=19

icdg · 16-12-2020 3:54pm

Apparently the expectation is that Amazon will pick them up. Are Amazon ready to be the primary host broadcaster for a top flight domestic league, I wonder? The Nations Cup was only a handful of games but this would require them to have cameras at 135 games each season and fully televise them all for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and then 3-4 each week when (if) things are back to normal. I don’t think they’ve made this kind of commitment to a sport (the Premier League is just 20 games and they don’t have to do anything for their NFL and tennis rights as other people are host broadcasters).

It likely means the end of coverage of this league in Ireland if Amazon pick it up, given they seem mainly interested in U.K.-only rights.

Be interesting to see if BT have any interest in keeping the Heineken Cup if they do ultimately lose the PRL rights. Sky are virtually out of the rugby union game now other than the Lions and Sanzaar.

Cookiemunster · 16-12-2020 4:08pm

icdg wrote: »

Apparently the expectation is that Amazon will pick them up. Are Amazon ready to be the primary host broadcaster for a top flight domestic league, I wonder? The Nations Cup was only a handful of games but this would require them to have cameras at 135 games each season and fully televise them all for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and then 3-4 each week when (if) things are back to normal. I don’t think they’ve made this kind of commitment to a sport (the Premier League is just 20 games and they don’t have to do anything for their NFL and tennis rights as other people are host broadcasters).

It likely means the end of coverage of this league in Ireland if Amazon pick it up, given they seem mainly interested in U.K.-only rights.

Be interesting to see if BT have any interest in keeping the Heineken Cup if they do ultimately lose the PRL rights. Sky are virtually out of the rugby union game now other than the Lions and Sanzaar.

There are specialist companies that the broadcasters use to televise matches. They don't all use their own in house crews. Amazon could easily contract one of these companies for 6 matches a week.

icdg · 16-12-2020 4:58pm

Oh absolutely, and it’s likely Sunset and Vine crews would work the games and the same people would be doing the same jobs, behind the scenes as present. But it changes the whole nature of Prime Video Sport from being a “dip a toe in the water” to a significant, full time player in premium sports, at least in the U.K. A big change. I could see them going after the Pro14 too as I don’t expect Premier Sports to be interested again unless they get Irish rights too.

Cookiemunster · 16-12-2020 5:25pm

Looks like PRL has backed. £110m 3 year deal.

https://twitter.com/MikePullen1969/status/1339242264938360832

icdg · 18-12-2020 11:20pm

And official now. Were Amazon ever in the running, I wonder.

https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/bt-sport-to-remain-the-home-of-premiership-rugby-in-the-uk

molloyjh · 18-12-2020 11:45pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Looks like PRL has backed. £110m 3 year deal.

https://twitter.com/MikePullen1969/status/1339242264938360832

Oops.

Tigerandahalf · 25-12-2020 6:21pm

I was listening to Brian Moore's podcast earlier and this was mentioned.
Apparently there were no others interested in the rights.

You do wonder though who CVC have in mind re a broadcaster. Are Sky keeping their powder dry until the right opportunity comes along to tie all the CVC investments into one tv deal.

The pandemic wouldn't have helped and the concussion issue may be frightening some away .

icdg · 26-12-2020 4:11pm

Sky are basically done with Northern Hemisphere rugby. Aside from the Lions they have no more NH rights left. Arguably this could have been foreseen right back to when they moved from numbered to genre based channels back in 2017 and there was no room for a Sky Sports Rugby. There won’t be any tying PRL and ProXX into a single deal for now - PRL now tied up to 2024. What happens with Pro14 will be interesting as I expect that unless Premier Sports get both ROI and U.K. rights this time round they will probably bail.

sydthebeat · 26-12-2020 4:49pm

Very watchable game this afternoon between quins and Bristol.

Quins winning 9 - 5 at half time.
Lam basically told his lads that if they don't want to play rugby just get back out onto the bus and they'll go home.

Bristol currently winning 12 - 27 with the TBP.
Adeolukun with the last try.

Burkie1203 · 26-12-2020 7:04pm

Exeter turning themselves into Saracens

https://twitter.com/ExeterChiefs/status/1342841053603356673?s=19

Dog Botherer · 26-12-2020 7:26pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Exeter turning themselves into Saracens

https://twitter.com/ExeterChiefs/status/1342841053603356673?s=19

Podge_irl · 26-12-2020 7:39pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Exeter turning themselves into Saracens

https://twitter.com/ExeterChiefs/status/1342841053603356673?s=19

They are actually orders of magnitude worse

Buer · 26-12-2020 7:54pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

They are actually orders of magnitude worse

Saracens upset people through their off field, rugby related activity such as breaking the salary cap whilst signing star players. It was always a means to an end in their unrelenting pursuit of success.

Exeter's indiscretions have little to do with rugby. Their comments/behaviour on Covid has been ridiculous, actually harming their chance of success and now we see their official account post nonsense like the above.

Saracens were hard to like but they were generally quite conscious of their public image and managed it carefully.

Exeter are becoming the Millwall of rugby. People don't like us and we don't care etc. They appear to be doubling down on their behaviour rather than trying to repair any damage.

irishbucsfan · 26-12-2020 8:01pm

Buer wrote: »

Saracens upset people through their off field, rugby related activity such as breaking the salary cap whilst signing star players. It was always a means to an end in their unrelenting pursuit of success.

Exeter's indiscretions have little to do with rugby. Their comments/behaviour on Covid has been ridiculous, actually harming their chance of success and now we see their official account post nonsense like the above.

Saracens were hard to like but they were generally quite conscious of their public image and managed it carefully.

Exeter are becoming the Millwall of rugby. People don't like us and we don't care etc. They appear to be doubling down on their behaviour rather than trying to repair any damage.

Saracens offered fans money back if Gavin Henson, an ex-player, scored against them.

And they had the "fat lady" singing of course at a match...

So they're not exactly masters of managing their public image!

Buer · 26-12-2020 8:03pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Saracens offered fans money back if Gavin Henson, an ex-player, scored against them.

And they had the "fat lady" singing of course at a match...

So they're not exactly masters of managing their public image!

Fair call on the Henson situation. That was pretty poor taste!

I wouldn't equate those to the Chiefs behaviour of late but I suppose I'll need to revise my opinion on Saracens PR team!

molloyjh · 26-12-2020 9:31pm

Saracens had a few PR blunders. The Henson thing, the fat lady, the drowning out travelling support with music over the tanoy etc. But most of that was a good few years ago and they seemed to really clean their act up since AFAIK. What Exeter are at is def far worse. Its almost like someone has to take on the mantle of dickheads now that Saracens are going or something. Either that or they tired of the respect that many others had for them so decided to torpedo it. Its just bizarre. And incredibly amateur.

Dave_The_Sheep · 26-12-2020 10:09pm

molloyjh wrote: »

But most of that was a good few years ago and they seemed to really clean their act up since AFAIK.

Well, there was that one repeated thing - bit minor really - that happened there lately... you might have heard of it.

But yeah. Exeter really have burnt through so much goodwill in such a short period of time and don't really show signs of stopping.

molloyjh · 26-12-2020 10:38pm

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Well, there was that one repeated thing - bit minor really - that happened there lately... you might have heard of it.

But yeah. Exeter really have burnt through so much goodwill in such a short period of time and don't really show signs of stopping.

Ah yeah, there was that too. But I was focusing on the PR side of the house there.

sydthebeat · 27-12-2020 1:56am

Exeter are pissed off Eddie Jones doesn't know who they are

Dog Botherer · 27-12-2020 1:51pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Exeter are pissed off Eddie Jones doesn't know who they are

“If someone is mad at me i must be doing something right!!!”

nah you’re just a bunch of arseholes mate

Burkie1203 · 02-01-2021 8:14pm

play on?
https://twitter.com/joshgardner/status/1345441262040731648

Podge_irl · 02-01-2021 8:28pm

While I am sure it is happening behind closed doors in assessments, I think the organising bodies are going to have to come out to comment on how refs are getting this spectacularly wrong too often.

conor678 · 09-01-2021 5:47pm

Watching the Bristol Exeter game. Byrne has been very reliable with his darts. Watched him a fair but this season and always reliable. Wonder will we see him back home in a bit

Stout Warrior · 09-01-2021 8:38pm

conor678 wrote: »

Watching the Bristol Exeter game. Byrne has been very reliable with his darts. Watched him a fair but this season and always reliable. Wonder will we see him back home in a bit

I always felt the Byrne twins were underrated and undervalued at Leinster. Ed has gone on to earn a few Irish caps since Bryan left for Bristol and he wasn’t even the better of the brothers. We have dire problems at 2 and keeping on Cronin or bringing back Bryan is one solution. We have a few coming through the academy one in particular forget his name but it might be a year or two too soon for him to shore up our problems at 2. I would like to see the consummate professional and hard worker Bryan come back to plug a hole and possibly even stake a claim for the jersey outright.

sydthebeat · 10-01-2021 5:53pm

Quins - Irish playing out a cracker here

Irish down 15 - 27 with 15 to go are now 27 all in the red

degsie · 10-01-2021 6:00pm

Cracking game! Draw was best result here.

Buer · 10-01-2021 6:05pm

Would have been a very Irish win in the closing minutes if the penalty went over given SPB won it after Jackson had already knocked over the sideline conversion a minute beforehand.

Would have been an incredible finish for LI to score 10 points in 2 minutes.

Digifriendly · 10-01-2021 6:12pm

Harlequins are a bit like Arsenal - lots of talent in their squad but infuriating to watch at times. They should have closed that game out. However I'm glad LI got a draw.

Cookiemunster · 20-01-2021 3:28pm

Paul Gustard given the boot from Quins.

https://twitter.com/Nik_Simon88/status/1351893940820205568

conor678 · 20-01-2021 7:17pm

Interesting news about Quinn's. Can't say I am overly shocked. Very hot and cold team and there's been many hints at unrest there and a poor culture.

Wonder will.Nick Evans step in for the rest of the season

The Inbetween is mine · 26-01-2021 8:00am

Seems like the rats are deserting the Quin's ship.... Chris Ashton going to Worcester immediately for the rest of the season

conor678 · 29-01-2021 10:07pm

Bristol are absolutely hockeying Bath.

For all thier history and decent players Bath have been poor for years

UAEguy2020 · 29-01-2021 10:15pm

Shocked, a hooker leaves Ireland and all of a sudden can throw into a lineout... I wonder what the common denominator is in all this.

bayern · 29-01-2021 10:23pm

UAEguy2020 wrote: »

Shocked, a hooker leaves Ireland and all of a sudden can throw into a lineout... I wonder what the common denominator is in all this.

and that is?

sydthebeat · 29-01-2021 10:27pm

bayern wrote: »

and that is?

Must be he's playing professional rugby now.....

Premiership Rugby 2020-2021

Comments