The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

Not much of a game so far, 2 mins into the 2nd half. Not sure whether both teams are having an off day or whether they're cancelling each other out. Hopefully it will liven up soon.

Quite an exciting finish, but the game didn't live up to expectations and certainly didn't compare to last night's game at Ashton Gate.

Can't say Exeter vs Toulouse has been much better so far - hopefully a step up in the second half.

[EDIT] Looks like it's stepping up a gear at the end of the first half!

[pharvey]

Well, the 2nd half was certainly an improvement on the 1st!!

Exeter ran out worthy winners and will now take on Racing 92 in the Final in 3 weeks time (17/10) - one to look forward to!

[PeteC]

Just an FYI, I've watched four Mitre 10 cup games and on the 5th one now this weekend. No All Blacks in sight. They must be on some kind of restricted schedule as to how many games they can play over a certain period of time. Last week they were in full force, now none. It sure makes a difference in the quality of the matches.

[PeteC]

Best Mitre 10 Cup game of the week: Hawkes Bay vs Canterbury. Won after the siren with a rolling maul from a throw-in. , in case you get a chance to see a replay.

[arcadianagain]

Well, the 2nd half was certainly an improvement on the 1st!!

Exeter ran out worthy winners and will now take on Racing 92 in the Final in 3 weeks time (17/10) - one to look forward to!

I wonder if Big Boy is disappointed.

[Big Boy]

Of course, Exeter is the natural enemy.

[pharvey]

Of course, Exeter is the natural enemy.

And the final's being played at Ashton Gate..... Is that just taking the Michael?

[Big Boy]

Nah, not a problem. They are the natural enemy of Plymouthians, not Bristolians.

[Big Boy]

Another rule that I wasn't aware of in this morning's Bears thrashing of the Tigers. It was was in favour or the Bears, so no rant.

Deliberate knock on is a Yellow Card offence. First time saw Tigers lose a man for 10 minutes. Second time, Bears were also awarded a penalty try. OK, no complaints from me, but a Yellow Card seems very harsh for sticking your hand out.

[dtaai-maai]

You don't watch much rugby, do you BB?
A deliberate knock-on when intercepting a pass stops the attacking team having possession in the same way as an offence at the ruck, scrum or any other aspect of play. It can be a fine line, but the decision is based on whether there is a realistic chance of taking the ball, which usually means that one hand stuck out in an attempt to stop the pass results in at least a penalty and often a yellow. And if, in the ref's opinion, it stops a try being scored (like any other offence) it results in a penalty try.

[Big Boy]

No, I watch England, and very recently, The Bears. I could understand the penalty try because the offence stopped an almost certain try. The first one though needed to be penalised, but I didn't think it deserved a card. However, if that's the rules, then it had to happen.

[PeteC]

[pharvey]

Yep, that was quite something!

[pharvey]

Well, the Coronavirus has certainly turned sport on it's head. The Pro14 league kicks off this evening (UK time) with Zebre hosting Cardiff, Scarlets away to Leinster and Ulster hosting Benetton - just 2 weeks after the 2019-2020 season final was played!

Note to DM - Leinster vs Scarlets being shown on S4C (KO 20:15).

Only 12 teams will begin the tournament rather than the usual 14, with both South African teams (Cheetahs & Southern Kings) missing. No decision has been made on when South African teams will again join the league, but it will not be before 2021. Here it gets a bit more complicated - the Southern Kings have gone into administration and therefore will not be re-joining the league - another team (undecided) will take their place. However, there is a good chance that two further teams will join before the end of the season making it the PRO16!!

The idea of the enlarged tournament has stemmed from New Zealand confirming a repeat of their own Super Rugby Aotearoa for the 2021 season and Australia therefore expected to repeat their own domestic tournament with the Super Rugby AU competition...... Who knows!!

[dtaai-maai]

Note to DM - Leinster vs Scarlets being shown on S4C (KO 20:15).

Thanks Pietro, S4C available on BBC iPlayer apparently.