Duncan Gardner wrote:


Why would they go ahead in half-empty football grounds? That will only happen if the RFU overprice the tickets. Admittedly there's a shout of that, but France 2007 saw full crowds for almost every game and very few games were in the so-called heartlands.

Most rugby premiership clubs play in sheds and if they don't it's because they borrowed their ground from a Football League club.

Flynnie wrote:


If you think [second rank Pacific island] versus [amateur African or Asian qualifier] will fill a Prem football ground on the 2007 model (ie, that there isn't a risk in the way I suggested), fine. To this non-RU fan it just looked a bit odd.

Heinken Thread here.

Thought Europe's premier club competition deserved its own thread.

All Blacks: too big to fail ...



New shirt on display vs Australia today.

Just watched highlights of Bath- Exeter. Is Dan Hipkiss a complete idiot or what? Gloucester-Leicester an absolute cracker.

Sweet Jesus Wales were poor today. No intensity or imagination, it was pitiful. The 'big names' were the worst, looking really uninterested. It's no disgrace to lose to Argentina, they're an excellent team, but to lose at home by so much, with no time spent in their 22 or line breaks of any consequence to speak of is piss poor. We'll lose or scrape a win v Samoa then play amazing v NZ but still lose and we'll all think everything is great. Usual stuff then

Didn't see any of the matches - just so damn busy on Saturdays - but the Wallabies on the end of a bit of a kicking from France, eh? 33-6, ouch.

Hopefully someone uploads that and the Wales game to youtube during the week.

Can only agree with the comment about Wales above. The team played one-dimensional sleep-walking crap throughout and few players rated anything above abysmal.

Priestland particularly is a huge worry and without Roberts outside him (as he was due to injury after 30 minutes today) is always a complete waste of space apart from the odd decent kick for territory.

Argentina's excellent display should be acknowledged too though, their addition to the SH championship is already having a great effect on them.

Did not see the game but the SH tournament will push Argentina into number 4in the world if they can structure their grass roots rugby effectively.

Fly half is a huge problem for Wales. Priestland just doesn't cut the mustard and Biggar is, well....Biggar. After that there's not many options. Nicky Robinson? Matt Morgan perhaps? Never thought there would be such a dearth of talent at 10 in Wales.

Same old for Wales. No confidence at all, summed up by Priestland having a 6 on 2 overlap and kicking it dead. Awful.

I'm just glad I focused on the Track Cycling, where two Welsh women got gold, and had the rugby more in the background. My parents are staying with us and my Dad was in agony.

The scoreline flattered Wales, Howley shouldn't be allowed near a rugby team again but it's not solely his fault. For years Wales have been excellent when playing at 100% but even the tiniest drop in intensity fucks them up completely.

Discuss:

prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapo265933...cbd2a2deb2bf7f21.gif

I believe a ban of 32 weeks was ordered for a previous similar incident. I've tweeted to Bret Gosper for comment.

I like the winger who is like...err, mate, what are you doing, then shoves the Scottish lock when he comes in to get the Kiwi off his man.

That kind of dickery does make you wish the Scot came in and just kicked that Kiwi 12's teeth out, with referees and tribunals all turning a blind eye.

Ban the player for life, seriously there is no excuse, need or justification for that. He should never be allowed to play international rugby ever again as a minimum. What a cunt.

My mates just rang to say he's got a spare for the England v New Zealand game at Twickenham.
Can anyone recommend a book/website that explains the rules as his mates probably wont put up with my dumb questions for a third time?

Three results from today:

Italy 10 NZ 42
England 14 Australia 20
Scotland 10 SA 21

HT between Ireland A and Fiji, 29-0

This evening sees France host Argentina at 20.00 GMT.

Sundeporino wrote:


Once you remember that the ball cannot go forward, that will explain 90% of penalties/frees/turnovers.

France 24-13 up against Argentina, hopefully I'll get to watch the second half.

France win 39-22 in Lille on a pitch that cut up badly, a poor second half.

Any truth in the Gavin Henson to the rescue rumours?