Hec 2005/2006

[An Tarbh]

I don't know what the story will be with O'Driscoll for next week, too many conflicting reports over his availability, I say don't rush it, the Ulster match is plenty time for him to regain his fitness.

Results so far this weekend

Castres 16 - 20 Sale
Ulster 19 - 10 Saracens
Bath 31 - 26 Glasgow
Calvisano 10 - 25 Cardiff Blues
Clermont Auvergne 12 - 16 Stade Francais
Edinburgh 13 - 20 Toulouse
Leinster 53 - 7 Bourgoin
Newport-Gwent D'gons 8 - 24 Munster

No try for Lomu in his comeback match but too much to expect methinks, give him another match at least.

 

[el_tk]

Ryle on RTE 2 said he was talking to BOD and the man himself reckons Stephen's Day against Ulster. After today I don't see the need to rush him back.

A classic Swerve from Girv, Kearney generally being the best thing since the toasted-sandwich maker and so forth.

Brian Blaney looked a lot more solid than Jackman or his brother have so far this season, but both the brothers look better than Jackman.

 

[An Tarbh]

Jesus if Jackman could sort out his lineout demons we'd be in far better shape alright, good to see Blaney coming on.

Who's Jowitt who got the last try?

 

[loratadine]

good player.

 

[An Tarbh]

got any more info than that?

 

[harrison2468]

Originally posted by An Tarbh@Dec 10 2005, 08:27 PM
They don't have the money to compete in 2 tournaments although if the coaches words were anything to go by this week it sounded like Bourgoin meant business this time round.

Their priority is the Top 14, qualifying for Europe gives them a big payday, hence why they wouldn't want to forfeit their place plus they don't have a sugardaddy backing them unless I'm mistaken.

I understand their position, but it devalues the tournament IMO. I feel sorry for their fans tbh. How do they fare at home in the competetion?

 

[An Tarbh]

beaten 34-0 by Treviso last year, they ran Leinster close after the drubbing last year but O'Driscoll got a classy try and we won by 3 points, and Bath won there as well but both teams were gone at that stage.

This year they'd beaten Glasgow at home so their campaign certainly wasn't dead coming to the RDS yesterday.

 

[harrison2468]

Originally posted by An Tarbh@Dec 11 2005, 02:43 PM
beaten 34-0 by Treviso last year, they ran Leinster close after the drubbing last year but O'Driscoll got a classy try and we won by 3 points, and Bath won there as well but both teams were gone at that stage.

This year they'd beaten Glasgow at home so their campaign certainly wasn't dead coming to the RDS yesterday.

Treviso 34-0 lost at home!

It would be hard to prove, but you may as well ban them, their place would be better given to another Italian team to gain some experience. Nobody likes to see drubbings like that really.

 

[An Tarbh]

Wasps' chances of qualifying were severly dented today after going down to Llanelli 21-13 at Stradey, not even a losing bonus point to show for their efforts.

They're surely gone now, can't see anyone beating Stade Toulousain at home. If Llanelli can complete the double next week there's no reason why they can't get one of the best runner-up spots.

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

Llanelli will have to beat Edinburgh at Murrayfield though, and that's not likley to happen. I was supposed to go to the game as I'm a season ticket holder but I got concussion during my game and had to spend overnight in Hospital.

 

[An Tarbh]

you say that now but what confidence they'll have going into that game if they complete the double over Wasps, plus after yesterday and most likely next week Edinburgh won't have any interest left in the competition.

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

But we had points from every game. I don't know how well we played yersterday but we should've beaten Llanalli at Stradey Park, It was just the stupid amount of stopage time playerd that cost us.

 

[An Tarbh]

Granted but you can't use the stoppage time as an excuse, it's not as if the refs make a guess and hope for the best.

I'm not saying Llanelli will march on Edinburgh, show up and take the points easily and **** off back south. They only have to look at your match with Wasps and they have a massive warning already.

 

[loratadine]

llanelli have the best chance of challening tolouse,

good win today and well deserved - great try from mark jones

half time at welford road

ospreys 12
tigers 6


two pens for the tigers, and two tries for the ospreys, hensons started, and have looked ok, made a good break in the opening minutes, and set up sonney parker for his try.

i expect tigers to blitz us in the second half, and win by at least 15 pts.

 

[el_tk]

Originally posted by An Tarbh@Dec 11 2005, 12:29 AM
Who's Jowitt who got the last try?

Some randomer (NZ I think) who signed for Lansdowne for the AIL season and got picked up by Cheika. That's as far as I know.

 

[loratadine]

i was right

tigers, 30
ospreys, 12

 

[An Tarbh]

thought the Ospreys might put up a better showing than that, no sign of Mr Church showing us his class today then? Oh well maybe next week

 

[An Tarbh]

Well that's week 3 done and dusted in the HEC, good weekend for the Irish provinces with all 3 picking up wins, not bad for the English with Bath, Sale Leeds and Leicester picking up decent wins while Wasps and Saracens fell to defeat. 50/50 for the Welsh, although the Dragons should have put in a better performance against Munster. Not so good for the Scots with Edinburgh's slim chances pretty much gone or the Italians either. Mixed bag for the French as well, with expected wins for the deux Stades, although the Parisiens did well to pick up victory in Clermont but Castres, Perpignan and Bourgoin didn't enhance their reputation.

Standings after Round 3

Pool 1
Pos Team Played W D L T F A TB LB Pts
1 Sale Sharks 3 3 0 0 9 85 40 1 0 13
2 Munster 3 2 0 1 8 79 51 1 0 9
3 Castres Olympique 3 1 0 2 6 61 86 1 1 6
4 Dragons 3 0 0 3 5 43 91 0 1 1


Pool 2
Pos Team Played W D L T F A TB LB Pts
1 Perpignan 3 2 0 1 10 82 41 1 1 10
2 Cardiff Blues 3 2 0 1 10 79 60 2 0 10
3 Leeds Tykes 3 2 0 1 7 67 76 1 0 9
4 Calvisano 3 0 0 3 2 32 83 0 0 0


Pool 3
Pos Team Played W D L T F A TB LB Pts
1 Leicester Tigers 3 2 0 1 10 93 47 2 1 11
2 Stade Francais 3 2 0 1 2 36 31 0 1 9
3 ASM Clermont Auvergne 3 1 0 2 6 69 87 1 1 6
4 Ospreys 3 1 0 2 4 39 72 0 0 4


Pool 4
Pos Team Played W D L T F A TB LB Pts
1 Biarritz Olympique 3 2 0 1 10 77 48 2 0 10
2 Ulster 3 2 0 1 7 65 43 1 0 9
3 Saracens 3 2 0 1 5 62 46 0 0 8
4 Benetton Treviso 3 0 0 3 3 24 91 0 0 0


Pool 5
Pos Team Played W D L T F A TB LB Pts
1 Bath Rugby 3 3 0 0 9 92 57 2 0 14
2 Leinster 3 2 0 1 12 105 49 2 1 11
3 Bourgoin 3 1 0 2 2 35 95 0 0 4
4 Glasgow Warriors 3 0 0 3 5 49 80 0 1 1


Pool 6
Pos Team Played W D L T F A TB LB Pts
1 Toulouse 3 2 1 0 10 85 56 1 0 11
2 Llanelli Scarlets 3 2 0 1 7 64 76 0 0 8
3 Edinburgh Gunners 3 1 0 2 5 58 66 0 2 6
4 London Wasps 3 0 1 2 4 59 68 0 1 3

 

[gjohn85]

Originally posted by An Tarbh@Dec 12 2005, 05:11 AM
no sign of Mr Church showing us his class today then? Oh well maybe next week 

I don't think he was gonna go into 100% He has just come back from having surgery on his groin. I thought he had a good game myself.

I was annoyed that the Ospreys couldn't manage win any lineouts in the second half.

 

[An Tarbh]

Only taking the **** mate, didn't see the game so can't comment on Mr Church just yet, is the return match on Saturday or Sunday, if it's Sunday I'll catch it but not Saturday, would be quite the day Charlotte's beau to shine or wax lyrical, christ these are bad.