Babbling 'brook

riocard911 wrote: ↑April 6th, 2024, 1:30 pm HT: Bulls 28-7 Lyon. Game over.

59-19. More over now.

Hard going for both Men and Women this morning in Hong Kong.

Men beat Spain in last Pool game and now play USA next. Women lost to Fiji but, bizarrely qualify for 1/4 finals and face France next.

Argentina not looking great in Men's comp so far

Have been out this morning in "Storm Kathleen" and in an open field it would be all but impossible to play as even a static ball on the ground blew 40m away with one gust. However, Leo et all have clearly planned for the conditions, given his reference to the greater shelter at the Souther...

https://i.ibb.co/vVq4V4y/image.png Bookies have home teams as very strong favourites for all L16 games bar Stormers v LAR on friday night. They may be right but there's a couple of uncertainties which have factors you can't express in algorithms Harlequins v Glasgow: All Scots hate the English, Gla...

Except for the absence of Ringer, which is a grave concern, delighted with backs selection. Forwards missing Milne & Jenkins from my preferred starters. Can understand the logic, particularly with Porter available. Conan, Jenkins, Kelleher will have big impact off the bench.

Of course stats matter, it almost feels like some of the commentary is drifting into "it doesn't matter if we miss tackles", it matters and the coaches know it matters when they review. La Rochelle was a bit of a freakshow game where we benefited significantly from horrendous conditions. ...

Really enjoyed this week's Molecast (#122). Really interesting trawl through the fortunes of all four Provinces and good speculation about the prospect for the week's 1/16th round.

The whistling, jazzy, version of Sweet Georgia Brown was a super musical finale.

https://i.ibb.co/vVq4V4y/image.png Bookies have home teams as very strong favourites for all L16 games bar Stormers v LAR on friday night. They may be right but there's a couple of uncertainties which have factors you can't express in algorithms Harlequins v Glasgow: All Scots hate the English, Gla...

offshorerules wrote: ↑April 4th, 2024, 2:07 pm The Ryan ban is a big blow for them.

Archer is in for long sessions on the pitch.

paddyor wrote: ↑April 3rd, 2024, 2:43 pm

mildlyinterested wrote: ↑April 3rd, 2024, 2:02 pm he trained today so I doubt it.

In a medical vest

Sounds like a bad pint.

The team I'd like to see against Leicester (and some reasons). 15. Keenan 14. Larmour (more experienced than Russell in defence) 13. Ringrose 12. Osborne (Left-footed and on form; Henshaw HIA last week) 11. Lowe 10 Ross Byrne (Calmer leader who optimises others; better tackler than Harry) 9. JGP 1. ...

@propertymad listed about 40 front-line players who should form our selection pool between now and season end. That can be done with some rotation or by, almost, alternate teams. I am open-minded to either strategy for some games but only if our objective is to win every game. I believe we can do th...

Osborne and Frawley are great players. As is Turner. But, for a Heineken Cup knockout match, I'd be a little concerned about any partnership without any of Henshaw, Ringrose and Ngatai. The fact Henshaw wasn't running yesterday doesn't necessarily mean he's out though. It's an 8-day turnaround from...

Joe Schmidt's appointment of Mike Kron as his Assistant Coach for the scrum is a very clear indication of the importance he places on the scrum, as do Faz and Paul O'Connell in the Irish context. Recruitment of the game's most experienced scrum Coach, rather than a Line-out specialist, is a clear st...

Like Faz & PO'C worked out, scrum vulnerability can cost penalties, points and even cards. Line-out weaknesses cost your opportunities or limits options. "Don't go to a gunfight with a knife" comes to mind. Tigers have a scrum and maul we must handle. Beyond that, not so much. This is ...

sunshiner1 wrote: ↑April 1st, 2024, 11:20 am Kitshoff rumours heating up. Apparently he has a clause in his contract that let's him be released if there is a managerial change. Also the Stormers have some new backers who are looking to make a splash.

Including a very significant Irish investor who is well advised, rugby-wise.

Playing against Leicester is not rocket science. But we must have best possible front-five and half-backs. Front-five will get a real workout in scrums & mauls and if we're not in charge Reiffel will get lots of turnovers. Kicking ball to Stewart will gain no return, so any half-back kicks must ...

With Glasgow playing Zebre twice, the Bulls having a million home matches and our potential European commitments does anyone else feel the run in could see us finishing 3rd in the league? Short answer: maybe. Long answer: I expect the Bulls to win their remaining five games and finish on 68/69 poin...

Boyle will be 22 in October 2024. He has played 10 times for Leinster at LHP and has his career ahead of him, bar serious injury. Why would he be considering leaving Leinster, where he is surrounded by many of the best players on the Irish team who have won successive 6N titles. His Club Leinster ca...

Any injury report from Friday. We'll need a full deck for the next fortnight but a few of theyoungsters have put their hands high in the air. Russell, Turner and Milne have all made good impressions whilst Larmour, Lowe, Henshaw, Kelleher and Conan look on top of their form. Who partners McCarthy? W...