NH Club Rugby

Sore loser

Bordeaux (plus a few others) missing out on the Top 14 finals could theoretically result in France sending a stronger team to play NZ in the Nations Championship than expected. Realistically though, a lot of the top players (LBB, Jalibert) will have played close to the 2,000-minute mark so are unlikely to tour regardless - but while thee was zero chance of them touring had they played in the final, there's at least a small possibility now.

Bulls in the final again. Last year Jake White made a fuss about not having enough quality players and basically put his coaching ability forward as the reason why they even made the final.
So this year a rookie coach is in the same position.
F off Jake the snake.

@W32 do you fancy their chances against Leinster? Pity they have a 2 week break as it will probably mean they fly back to SA again? I think their power game might cause Leinster some issues but you would think home advantage might be big.

@Rugbyman said in NH Club Rugby:

@W32 do you fancy their chances against Leinster? Pity they have a 2 week break as it will probably mean they fly back to SA again? I think their power game might cause Leinster some issues but you would think home advantage might be big.

Yeah bulls are underdogs. They are going back to SA for the break. The Leinster backs are so much more experienced and savvy that it’s going to be very hard for the bulls to make their forward dominance count.
JGP is a game winner for Leinster

The Bulls have much better depth compare to the Stormers at the moment. They have a great bomb squad. The Bulls weakness all season was their defense. If they can copy the Stormers defense they should take it. Its their 4th URC final and have beaten Leinster a few years ago in a play off at home.

Leinster’s to lose

Apparently only about 15,000 at the Leinster Stormers semi final.

Geez just watched Saints/Tigers semi final from Gallaher Shield, another top game. It's not only us who had a great Friday night semi!

@Dan54

Yeah bloody good game. The man everyone loves to hate was everywhere in the first half, tailed off a bit in the second half though. Unlucky not to get MOM. George Martin was immense too and that bloody Reffel - how many turnovers did he get and at such critical times too..

Wow

What a second SF

Bath absolutely blew that

@Catogrande said in NH Club Rugby:

The man everyone loves to hate

Genge? Farrell? Pollock? Itoje? Daly? Roots?

@Bones I'm not biting on that rancid bait.

@Catogrande said in NH Club Rugby:

@Bones I'm not biting on that rancid bait.

Jamie George. Understood

@MiketheSnow said in NH Club Rugby:

Wow

What a second SF

Bath absolutely blew that

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@pakman said in NH Club Rugby:

@MiketheSnow said in NH Club Rugby:

Wow

What a second SF

Bath absolutely blew that

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Straws clutched

Bath tactically poor

@pakman There were a number of times when I thought Bath had got the ball over the line but Ridley was positioned very well and was very certain in his judgements and conveyed this very well. Telling I think that the Bath boys didn't go up in arms about any of those plays and nor did the TMO intervene at any point to suggest a review..

Typical Planet Rugby hatchet piece. Do they ever do any positive "journalism"?

Interesting reading some of the criticism of Carreras at 10 - it looked to me like he was quite aggressively calling for the ball on more than one occasion.

@Mr-Fish said in NH Club Rugby:

Interesting reading some of the criticism of Carreras at 10 - it looked to me like he was quite aggressively calling for the ball on more than one occasion.

In Spanish?

@pakman He was certainly gesticulating like an Argentinian.

Leinster castrating the Bulls

Nice finish by Ioane there. And 3 yellow cards for people blocking passes - failed 'intercepts' preventing linebreaks, good stuff.

Toulouse beat Racing 71-17 in the first Top 14 semi final

@KiwiMurph said in NH Club Rugby:

Toulouse beat Racing 71-17 in the first Top 14 semi final

Sheesh, so the top club comp in the world has gaps as big as Super in the finals?

@Nepia said in NH Club Rugby:

@KiwiMurph said in NH Club Rugby:

Toulouse beat Racing 71-17 in the first Top 14 semi final

Sheesh, so the top club comp in the world has gaps as big as Super in the finals?

I don't think the Crusaders got beaten that badly did they?

@brodean said in NH Club Rugby:

@Nepia said in NH Club Rugby:

@KiwiMurph said in NH Club Rugby:

Toulouse beat Racing 71-17 in the first Top 14 semi final

Sheesh, so the top club comp in the world has gaps as big as Super in the finals?

I don't think the Crusaders got beaten that badly did they?

TBF, none of the gaps were that big.

@reprobate said in NH Club Rugby:

Nice finish by Ioane there. And 3 yellow cards for people blocking passes - failed 'intercepts' preventing linebreaks, good stuff.

That first one looked pretty rough to me - the pass was forward so can hardly call it a potential line break.

Nice clean from Ioane after bulls nearly scored from that kick too.

@Nepia said in NH Club Rugby:

@KiwiMurph said in NH Club Rugby:

Toulouse beat Racing 71-17 in the first Top 14 semi final

Sheesh, so the top club comp in the world has gaps as big as Super in the finals?

Racing were completely worn out after their game against Pau and they had to face a very fresh Toulouse side. And they had to manage a six day turnover as well.

@Tim said in NH Club Rugby:

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Nice try in the final by Reiko Ioane. Glad he got a winner's medal.

He should be in the ABs squad on Monday. Probably no longer our first-choice 13 but a great bench and squad option.

Not a bad match in the Premiership Final

Northampton too strong

World Rugby confirm drugs ban for former Bristol Bears star Chris Vui