Challenge Cup - Round 1

[TRF_Olyy]

This game is f***ing terrible.

 

[Big Ewis]

Saffycen yeh been hearing about Ewers quite a bit, in particular on this forum. Just saw the score: fkng 55-0, well done Gloucester ! Bravo les Anglais
A few of those Brivistes are first team starters but it looks like a widely second string team, thank God !...boy in Rugby a difference in individual class can be felt the hard way...dunno if there's another sport like that. At soccer you can hold your own even if you lack a lot individually, if you play your game and have your guys play hard you can get away with a 2-0, 1-0 maybe even a tie. Not in Rugby..

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just to be a player stat pedant: Ewers is wayyy bigger than 115kg... the prem's website has him at 124kg. He's definitely north of 120kg.

He's 6"4, but he's also got Kyphosis (I'm guessing) so he'd probably be at least 6'5".
I think he looks smaller than he actually is because of it.

 

[SelimNiai]

This game is f***ing terrible.

Turned it off just after half time

 

[goodNumber10]

Yeah, I think that's what should happen - Hook looks like 36 when he has to play 10: Can do a job but doesn't look that comfortable/at home/natural there.

I imagine, if they do move him, it'll be to 15, but I'm really not sure whether they will or not. How long did Glaws persist with Burns last year? Hook is nowhere near that bad, it's just he's holding them back from really hitting their stride.

such a negative move putting him at 15, he's best imho at 12, his passing is very good in that channel. At 15 he's solid and that's about it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

such a negative move putting him at 15, he's best imho at 12, his passing is very good in that channel. At 15 he's solid and that's about it.

I don't disagree, I've always thought he was best at 12. Is he going to displace 36 though? Especially as he's captain?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Whatever happens - I agree with Vickery that it's a massive shame that Robson isn't starting.

 

[Tony Manx]

Turned it off just after half time

Peeky Blinders was very good!!!

 

[glawsfan]

Again we seem to have played well in one half and poorly in the other however to beat a team by 50+ and not let them score is a great achievement. However when we play the better sides we need to be more clinical as we missed far too many try scoring opportunities. I also agree about Robson. If he had a full season of premiership rugby under his belt I could see him challenging for the bench spot for England it is shame he has Laidlaw who is also playing well in front of him. Also as I have said many times I don't get the obsession for Twelvetrees he is being shown up this season for what he is average. It is no coincidence that when he has gone off in games for Atkinson we have looked a better side and Hook has looked a better 10.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Just to be a player stat pedant: Ewers is wayyy bigger than 115kg... the prem's website has him at 124kg. He's definitely north of 120kg.

He's 6"4, but he's also got Kyphosis (I'm guessing) so he'd probably be at least 6'5".
I think he looks smaller than he actually is because of it.

I was going off Wiki but I believe your stats more. If someone told me he was 130 I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[ratsapprentice]

130 is a bit extreme but he's certainly a lump.

 

[Big Ewis]

yeah fk, just checked him out, he's just an ogre, simply. Picamoles and Ben Morgan are known to be giants, and this guy is a level on top.

 

[big ginger 8]

Connacht: 15. Darragh Leader, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Craig Ronaldson, 11. Matt Healy, 10. Jack Carty, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Ronan Loughney, 2. Jason Harris-Wright, 3. Nathan White, 4. Quinn Roux, 5. Aly Muldowney, 6. John Muldoon (c), 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Denis Buckley, 18. Rodney Ah You, 19. Andrew Browne, 20. George Naoupu, 21. Ian Porter, 22. Dave McSharry, 23. Niyi Adeolokun

 

[Big Ewis]

Bordeaux fielding a B-side (even C in parts) for this. Won't be taking this comp very seriously I see if even at home they field such a team...oh well.



Bayonne also with a weak side on paper as they host Exeter....too small a squad, they just can't afford to play both Top 14 AND anything else as they're struggling enough as it is..

 

[Tony Manx]

Bordeaux fielding a B-side (even C in parts) for this. Won't be taking this comp very seriously I see if even at home they field such a team...oh well.

View attachment 3347

Bayonne also with a weak side on paper as they host Exeter....too small a squad, they just can't afford to play both Top 14 AND anything else as they're struggling enough as it is..

UBB are making their intentions clear.. Top 14!! I reckon you are wrong on AB as some of their top players who should be rested, El Capitano for one, are apparently being picked to play!!

 

[Bluemoon]

Cardiff Blues V Grenoble Teams

Cardiff Blues: R Patchell; R Smith, A Thomas, G Evans, G Walsh; G Davies, L Williams; S Hobbs, M Rees (c), A Jones, J Hoeata, F Paulo, M Cook, M Vosawai, S Warburton.
Reps: K Dacey, G Jenkins, S Andrews, J Turnbull, J Navidi, T Knoyle, C Allen, D Fish.

Grenoble: G Aplon; X Mignot, C Farrell, G Messina, D Kilioni; J Michallet, J Hart (capt); R Hugues, A Hegarty, A Buckle, T Rey, R Skeate, L Marrou, D Hayes, F Alexandre.
Reps: L Bouchet, D Coulson, R Choirat, H Vanderglas, J Henry, C Gelin, L Saseras, H Roodt.

Really disappointed with Blues back line selection. It's very weak in defence and still lacks any spark outside. The benching of Cory Allen is the final straw for me. I understand they think Gavin Evans is senior (although I don't agree), but Adam Thomas has been next to useless and Cory Allen should be starting. Turnbull and Navidi have also been good, yet Cook has one of his first starts of the season at 6. Cardiff are in disarray as far as I'm concerned. It's not effective to treat a season like a season long pre-season.

Can anyone give me an idea of the relative strength of this Grenoble team in relation to their Top 14 line up? Is it the same or is it the B team?

 

[dragos03]

The Dragons will get a bonus point win away at Stade Francais, I didn't expect this one. Totally deserved result, they were the better team and looked more dangerous in attack even with a man in the bin.

 

[Draggs]

Gutsy performance from Newport, good to see after a dire two months.
Not perfect, but you can't argue with a winning try BP away from home, really.
Scrum looked better second half, even managing a penalty!
Meyer Bosman still as poor as ever.

 

[Tony Manx]

I see Bayonne won with a weakened side...............I can only presume that Exeter are as interested in this competition as the French sides....Not a lot!!!!

Leads one to ask.......is there really any point in this competition?

 

[dragos03]

Leads one to ask.......is there really any point in this competition?

The clubs that don't care at all about it should just be removed and replaced with Romanian, Georgian and Russian clubs who would really benefit from playing in this competition. The top 3 Romanian clubs have a decent standard, as well as the top 2 Russian ones and surely the Georgians could also assemble 1 or 2 competitive teams.

Sure, some of these Eastern clubs could lose heavily initially but I doubt they would perform much worse than Brive for example, who were trashed 0-55 in Gloucester this round.