The Rugby Thread

[dtaai-maai]

Try this - CricFree seem to be back!

https://cricfree.sc/watch/live/leiceste ... -streaming

Brilliant! My hero! Unfortunately, just in time to see Montpellier take the lead...

[pharvey]

Try this - CricFree seem to be back!

https://cricfree.sc/watch/live/leiceste ... -streaming

[EDIT] Hope you've seen this DM - checking the link, CricFree looks very good at the moment for all sports! Cracking match by the way.....

[dtaai-maai]

Thanks, Pete, I caught the last 20 minutes, just as Montpellier went ahead. Not the most fascinating 20 minutes of rugby I've ever seen, with a lot of kick-tennis and Leicester seeming strangely reluctant to take any risks. It must be devastating to lose so narrowly, but kudos to the French for managing that part of the game so well.

[PeteC]

What are those rectangular lumps sewn into the player's jersey? Just below the neck on the spine a bit above the shoulder blades. Are they some kind of remote vital sign monitor?

[dtaai-maai]

No, they're GPS trackers. They're also used to give the props an electric shock when the ref says 'set'.

[lindosfan1]

No, they're GPS trackers. They're also used to give the props an electric shock when the ref says 'set'.

[pharvey]

Not the most fascinating 20 minutes of rugby I've ever seen, with a lot of kick-tennis and Leicester seeming strangely reluctant to take any risks. It must be devastating to lose so narrowly, but kudos to the French for managing that part of the game so well.

No, not the best final quarter I've seen and the "kick-tennis" was ridiculous at times. What the hell the Leicester Scrumhalf (Wigglesworth?) was thinking kicking possession away with 2-3 minutes remaining, God only knows - game over!
That said, I don't think there's much doubt Montpellier deserved the win, despite the Yellow.

[dtaai-maai]

What the hell the Leicester Scrumhalf (Wigglesworth?) was thinking kicking possession away with 2-3 minutes remaining, God only knows - game over!

I think it was Youngs by then - even more astonishing!

[dtaai-maai]

Almost forgot the European Champion Cup final - got there a few minutes before half-time, and don't appear to have missed much, apart from a deserved red card apparently. I'm going for La Rochelle because they're the underdogs and because it's a beautiful place with happy memories.

Mind you, if they started as underdogs, they'll do well to survive the 2nd half with 14 men...

[pharvey]

Well, not the game I was expecting. Long periods of "unexciting" rugby shall we say, but some lively spells as well. Toulouse were doing their best at times to lose the game, but that said, Rochelle did very well to keep in it after being down to 14 for a clear Red after 27 mins. A couple of standout performances not least by "Ken Barlow" at Scrumhalf for Rochelle. We'll certainly be seeing them again......

[dtaai-maai]

Yes, I enjoyed the 2nd half and am glad I caught it, in the sense that it was intriguing to watch rather than exciting rugby. It was also interesting to see 2 French clubs - I haven't watched much French rugby recently. Very physical! In fact, I saw a comment from Danny Care that that was the very reason he'd never gone to play in France. Can't say I blame him...

As it rurned out, La Roche were a bit unlucky, in that their kicker hit the post 3 times. Shame really, I do love it when an underdog comes through. (Probably because I'm usually the underdog... ).

Another good refereeing performance from Luke Pearce in tricky circumstances.

[pharvey]

Yes, certainly very physical and could have been a different result if the 3 efforts were a few inches to the left/right - as one of commentators said "all small margins" - Toulouse could well have had a red card themselves but for the smallest of margins in a tackle.

Indeed, another good performance from Luke Pearce - he certainly had a busy day, but tried his damdest to keep it an open game.....

[pharvey]

Well, Australian Rugby certainly needs the money and they've hosted/co-hosted great tournaments in the past and they have been hit harder than others in recent years - both financially and with several scandals.

"Australia has officially launched its bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, calling it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".

The 1991 and 1999 world champions last hosted the tournament in 2003.

The nation's rugby union chiefs expect the event to attract two million attendees across 48 matches, at up to 10 venues over seven weeks.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan called it "an exciting day for all Australians".

He added it was an "unrivalled opportunity to grow the game".

Rugby Australia says the event could attract as many as 200,000 international visitors, adding A$2.5bn (£1.37bn) to the nation's economy."

However, when you consider the following: -

"The news comes after Brisbane was named as the preferred bidder for the 2032 Summer Olympics by the International Olympic Committee.

Australia will host cricket's Twenty20 World Cup next year, football's Women's World Cup in 2023 and the British and Irish Lions rugby tour in 2025..........."

I'm less inclined to be too sympathetic - the Australian government needs to pump some money in!!.... And bring it to Wales

Taken From: - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57189263

[PeteC]

This week's matches in the Southern half. All televised on TRUE channel 669, and other Rugby Pass TV resources.

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[PeteC]

Current standings.

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