For me it’s just a day of heavy favourites. Bulls Sarries and Bath Ulster are quite even but all the others look like blowouts. In many ways I’d be happy if say Toulouse didn’t take this match too seriously and rested a few against the scarlets….it might make the game more watchable
Rugby Union 23/24 Discussion
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Well, further evidence that I know feck all about rugby as a young Exeter team head over to Toulon and upset Ollivon & co 
Big one for Bath today. They should really have no fear in the Premiership. Every game they seem to be scoring close to 40 and not even being that clinical.
What’s been the difference? It’s not all Finn, Bath’s pack used to get blown around the Rec by a strong wind. Is it all new additions?
The forwards are largely the same, Du Toit has been a great addition of course but even before he came off the bench, Bath were dominating. Of the 15 that started today, only Russell and Stooke (was previously with Bath till 2021) weren’t there last season but Injuries had been awful the last two years, whereas now, only Ted Hill is missing long term.
Secondly, Van Graan has seemingly changed the culture quite a bit. Bath were very flakey before and now they seem to accelerate in tight games and bounce back well. I think last years league position was underrated after how bad the start was. Bath have been good since early 2023, but taken it up a notch this season.
Eddie Jones is set to be named Japan's new coach.
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Fair, maybe I should give JvG a bit more credit. If that pack has gone from struggling in the prem to pushing teams around in Europe then he must have done something right
I don’t expect them to compete with the best in Europe. Ulster fans were really down on their team yesterday so I don’t think it was the biggest shock to them.
Oh my god we actually beat them, was starting to think it wasn’t possible.
I knew you’d be here
Leinster winning Europe confirmedCaught the tail end after work, looks like Leinster can finally do it on a cold wet day in La Rochelle
I was so sure they were going to score in the last few minutes again to win the game. Not sure I could have handled yet another loss like that. They are just such a horrible team to play against, so solid everywhere. LAR definitely weren’t at their best today but didn’t think Leinster were either.I knew you’d be here
Caught the tail end after work, looks like Leinster can finally do it on a cold wet day in La Rochelle
Yeah I was glad not to have missed a classic tbh.
Fancy this one, Racing & Quins, two traditionally batshit crazy teams. Watch it be a borefest now…..
Four years since anyone beat them at their home ground. The final kick was nuts. The TV commentators were saying it’s so far out there’s no hope of kicking it over so he’s just wasting time. Then boom…
This game is brilliant….any rugby fans should stick it on the tele
Wasn’t aware of that stat! Yeah had no idea Frawley had a kick like that in his locker. Really hope he stays healthy this season, I think he’s a really good player.
Just checked the score, looks a great game. Sickened I have to work. Like you said they are both really batshit teams
Totally lived up to its billingJust checked the score, looks a great game. Sickened I have to work. Like you said they are both really batshit teams
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...-outcasts-as-he-extends-racing-deal-rzfhqb99p
Surely only a matter of time before the RFU ends this nonsense
Surely only a matter of time before the RFU ends this nonsense
They’ll end up winning, but not great for Leinster to be losing at home to Sale’s reserves
Hoping this thread provides a safe haven today 
Some decent-looking fixtures….
Exeter and Munster to kick us off at 1pm
Then an absolute cracker - Quins versus Toulouse - both teams full strength -3:15pm, should be bucket loads of mad shit rugby joy
Then…..if United is too painful to watch, Stade Francais versus Leicester afterward
Some decent-looking fixtures….
Exeter and Munster to kick us off at 1pm
Then an absolute cracker - Quins versus Toulouse - both teams full strength -3:15pm, should be bucket loads of mad shit rugby joy
Then…..if United is too painful to watch, Stade Francais versus Leicester afterward
Hopefully Ahern gets a run out in the green jersey this year, you can’t teach 6,9” with pace, he’s looked the real deal can play at 6 and lock.
What is happening in this game. It felt for all money like one of those games where you’d say, “Exeter’s young team aren’t ready for big European sides”…..but they’re winning
Had to skip the 2nd half and it all went to shit
When Michael Cheika signed on to be Argentina's coach, he signed up to a succession plan where he would be replaced by Felipe Contepomi at some point down the track. Well, that point has come with Cheika announcing his departure as Argentina coach with Contepomi taking over from the passionate Aussie.
Cheika back to Aus then?
In other news, not that any fecker in here will have watched it, but Sale beat Sarries 22-20 in the battle of the title-aspirers in the Prem
Well I did watch it. Good game and a well deserved win for the Sharks
Good man….this thread seems to have quietened down after the WC, nice to see some people are still watching the domestic game
Couldn’t watch it last night but it’s alway nice when Saracens lose. Should be another top game at the Rec today as well, can’t watch it live as I’m going to watch Cornish Pirates and of course they’re on at the same time. Should just about squeeze in an hour of the United game beforehand.
No idea why my family put up with me
Don’t forget the boxing tonightCouldn’t watch it last night but it’s alway nice when Saracens lose. Should be another top game at the Rec today as well, can’t watch it live as I’m going to watch Cornish Pirates and of course they’re on at the same time. Should just about squeeze in an hour of the United game beforehand.
No idea why my family put up with me
Men have solidarity in sport - we’re all doing it so it’s just acceptable, it’s like a union. Strength in numbers
RA aren't ruling anybody out and that includes Cheika but Joe Schmidt is the name doing the rounds as Eddie Jones' possible successor. I'd say Schmidt is RA's #1 choice but that's no guarantee he'll become Aussie Joe in a few months from now. They want to make an appointment by March. World Rugby head of high performance Peter Horne has been announced as Australia's new director of high performance with David Nucifora joining RA in an advisory capacity at the end of next year's Olympics.
Plus the NFL all weekend. Luckily the missus watches that so it’ll be fine.Don’t forget the boxing tonight
Men have solidarity in sport - we’re all doing it so it’s just acceptable, it’s like a union. Strength in numbers
Ah you’ve lost me now. NBA for me….never invested the time to understand NFL
Used to play basketball quite seriously, but stopped watching a long time ago. Magic seem to have gotten their shit together for the first time in years, so maybe I need to start watching again.
Also, I need to start thinking about accommodation in west London next year by the looks of it. Bath are actually legit good
Yeah mate I caught the end of it, bath looked really strong. Surprised because Quins are known for their flashiness…but they can be quite grizzly when it’s tight.Used to play basketball quite seriously, but stopped watching a long time ago. Magic seem to have gotten their shit together for the first time in years, so maybe I need to start watching again.
Also, I need to start thinking about accommodation in west London next year by the looks of it. Bath are actually legit good
Yeah Magic look good, decent young kids. Never a sport I played in my youth, play it against my lad and I’m fecking awful
Hard game to pick up later in lifeI got back into it a couple of years ago and it was surprising how good I was after some practice. I don’t think you lose that coordination once you’ve played it. Saying that I’m 5 foot 8, so I maintain I had to be really fecking good, vs my 6 foot plus mates who had to just jump and grab the fecking ball and tip it in. As you can tell, I’m not bitter at all.Yeah mate I caught the end of it, bath looked really strong. Surprised because Quins are known for their flashiness…but they can be quite grizzly when it’s tight.
Yeah Magic look good, decent young kids. Never a sport I played in my youth, play it against my lad and I’m fecking awful
Yeah it’s definitely a sport that pays to be tall, my lads a couple of inches taller than me but he gets every bloody rebound. I think it’s one that playing in your youth is so important - my hand eye coordination is great for racket sports because I played them early but it’s fecking awful for basketball.
Tough one to play at an amateur level as well as in East Yorkshire there’s just nothing going on
I grew up in Cornwall and it wasn’t a thing. I’m not joking, someone moved to our school from London in year 8 and loads of people suddenly started playing. Now there’s a really good system in place here for kids that want to play. I used to go and watch Plymouth play, and noticed that BBL has gotten some air time on tv recently, but it never seems to take off.
La Rochelle vs Toulouse on at the moment….for anyone that needs to watch a different sport
Can’t understand Bath resting their whole starting 15 once again. Did it away to Sale and now at Leicester, basically chucking the tougher away games to rest players.
Are other teams doing this? Surely you can rotate a few players at a time and give yourselves a chance.
Are other teams doing this? Surely you can rotate a few players at a time and give yourselves a chance.
No idea. There can’t be that much of a fixture pile-up, they’ve 3 less teams to play this season
I wonder if it’s a contracts-management thing, like the big players are on appearance-related bonuses?
Either way, I just watched the full match replay of an absolutely batshit game in the Top14 between Clermont and UBB. The whole game is worth a rewatch if it can be found, otherwise, highlights below: