Babbling 'brook

We lost Abdaladze to Georgia, Ulster lost Bradley Roberts to Wales. Previously we lost Teo who was about to make a Lions tour. I don't remember Munster fans standing with us then. Teo was reduced in estimation quite a bit by a) being around during MOC b) using his forearm too much to lead when rugb...

Is Daniel Brennan an option? Is Oli Jager? Both of them are IQ Are either of them at the level we need? Brennan has only played lh since 19/20 season. He would be a functional depth option but unless Porter is moving to th we have enough depth at lh (even with Healy retiring). Oli Jager is probably...

2nd week in a row Harry Byrne standing at front of the lineout for the opposition throw. Is that a change in the system or just accomodating individual defensive weakness? He was taken off immediately after Kinghorn stood him up in midfield leading to an embra try. Boks have hidden Libbok a lot off...

Keith wrote: ↑November 7th, 2023, 6:55 pmI don't understand how rugby can just throw away well supported clubs like that. Something is seriously broken.

Rugby's definition of well-supported is at odds with most other professional sports and also economics/fiscal responsibility.

Xanthippe wrote: ↑November 5th, 2023, 4:41 am Very strange and concerning injury for Dan Biggar in Toulon’s game v Perpignan

https://x.com/PlanetRugby/status/172091 ... 0413?s=20

Back spasm perhaps.

Oldschoolsocks wrote: ↑October 29th, 2023, 12:51 amOK, educate us.

So what you actually mean is "no matter what is presented to me I have preconceived notions that I refuse to alter".

This is off-topic so I'll leave it there.

The real change in the zeitgeist is not that it is being brought up rather than it isn't being vehemently shouted down when it is raised In the first instance it should most likely be considered racist. In the 2nd instance it's more of an acknowledgement of the role of the British empire in context...

I'm oldish so cut me some slack but even if Curry was called a white c**t is it that bad? I know it's selective racism but for me it's incomparable with calling someone a black c**t. Is that daft? Yeah it is a bit. That way of thinking affords some people less protection from racial abuse because o...

We don't need a 5th province. We barely have enough to go around as it is. Ulster made a loss of 900k in the last season. How successful is any union or league club in London or Greater London? Last I heard it was Northampton, Leicester and Exeter regularly in the black (not certain which Superleag...

I know the idea wasn't well received by some on here but if this does happen, the IRFU might revisit the idea of London Irish as a 5th province. Such a club would garner huge support in London and surrounding area from exiles and Irish descendents there. We don't need a 5th province. We barely have...

naraic wrote: ↑October 22nd, 2023, 2:30 pm

Observingprop123 wrote: ↑October 22nd, 2023, 12:07 pm I'd be pretty sure there's plenty of words in Zulu worse than "White C***" that Bongi could have used. Makes me sceptical of the incident if I'm honest.

Bongi has form with Curry.

I'm sure he's eaten in Durban alright . . .

Good to see a clear and decisive call made by Murphy.

wixfjord wrote: ↑October 21st, 2023, 1:46 pmOne of the best TH scrummagers we've ever had in blue and green was a nobody until he was about 27 and another excellent Leinster front row servant was mocked when he arrived from NZ at 26.

Benty won a last minute scrum pen to secure Taranaki the NPC this morning.

For some strange reason I've lost interest. Wonder why? I know you weren't asking for a response, but the reality is our last experience of rugby hurt, and the last experience of Leinster rugby hurt a lot. Need to start watching it again to start getting over the pain I suppose. HbksgiJJKiM Et voil...

Only if England are comprehensively defeated by SA in the RWC semi-final is there any chance that the RFU and Premiership Clubs will consider any radical change in their structures. A win or even a modest defeat in a World Cup semi-final will provide sufficient vindication that their game is on the...

I attended a Blue Jays game in Toronto and thought it was one of the most enjoyable sporting experiences I've had. Thought the stadium was incredible, only to find out it was considered one of the worst in the league! Golf is a nice walk ruined. Baseball is a few hours of eating and chatting interr...

I don't think NZ and SA are especially disciplined teams - they don't offer up the cheap silly penalties some of the Pacific Islander teams are especially prevalent for, they are just highly experienced and cynical IMO in terms of playing the referee well. They're able to get a read early on for wh...

From the All.Rugby site Ben BROWNLEE is a 21-year-old Irish rugby player standing at 1.88 m tall (6 ft 2 in) and weighing in at 100 kg (15 st 10.46 lb; 220.46 lb) Robbie HENSHAW is a 30-year-old Irish rugby player standing at 1.91 m tall (6 ft 3 in) and weighing in at 100 kg (15 st 10.46 lb; 220.46...

It sounds stupid to reduce the outcome to this, but i feel that if Scott Barratt gets away with what he often gets away with, NZ will have a real shout. If NZ and Barratt get reffed they way they should by the Laws, theyll have a long night. Scott is a bellweather for whether the game is left flow ...

mildlyinterested wrote: ↑October 6th, 2023, 4:53 pm

Keith wrote: ↑October 6th, 2023, 3:58 pm Greg McGrath has joined Ulster.

great for Greg, but you'd wonder whats going on up there.

Nice guy, hope it goes well for him.