Babbling 'brook

So let me see, it's quite feasible that in a game next season, Munster could start 5 SA born players, Grobler, Cloete, Kleyn, Taute and CJ. Jeez, and people slag off Saracens as Saffersens! No doubt we'll hear the usual stuff about how how they all "buy in" to whatever every import is supp...

NZ obvious favourites but Lions at 7-2 is a good bet especially if it p1sses rain and turns into a slugfest. With a rookie 15 and a 12 with limited experience, NZ may be more vulnerable than for a long time. First 15-20'minutes will be a war, if Lions survive that all to play for.

mildlyinterested wrote:3 Saffer teams in the Pro 12 next season will be great.

Gonna have to bring Afrikaans onto the Limerick school curriculum soon. Seriously though don't know this guy but A 5'9" flanker!!!

Gas to read Quinny - the Voldemort of the dark arts - going on about the NZ use of the dark arts in the Indo today. Good analysis though the rest of it

Different outlooks provide differing analysis of what actually happened on Saturday and what the Lions might do about it. As those who are regulars will know, my assessment has been that this NZ Squad and team is better tban any team or Squad the Lions can select - in every Unit in their team witho...

And Rassie is yet another import who "bought in" to whatever completely thing Munster offers. Already on munsterfans, the knives are out and words like treason are being thrown around.

Don't get to see Super Rugby so today's Lions game is first time I've ever sen Lowe. Not fair to judge on him on one poor performance in a team that was going backwards at a rate of knots and according to the totally trustworthy NZ media he has been brilliant this season. That said, he was awful tod...

Henshaw ok but not enough to get into test team Best ditto CJ - think at one stage went up on screen he had 16 carries for 27m gain - not great. Hendo probably best if the Irish Back row for first test should be POM-SOB-Faletau but none of us will be surprised to see Warburton there given it's Gatty...

Not the worst Maybe not the worst but not the best either. Will be a right catfight for the number 1 slot and I'd expect teams to take points off each other with a 4-2 win-loss possibly enough, bonus points will be crucial as second place in this group mightn't be enough. Son is off to Exeter doing...

Oh, only got to see the second half of the Top 14 final and was expecting great things based on the comments by the Sky panel at half-time. Well, sorry the second half was the same old grunt and grind we've come to expect from the Top 14, the only difference being that this time Clermont held off To...

Very happy for the Clermont fans as they are the real thing and add a lot to the games I've been at over there and when they've travelled over here for HC games. But there's a lot of twaddle out about how Clermont are somehow a French equivalent of Exeter, small town team fighting against the odds a...

not the most scientific barommeter of all time but going by volume of posting here and on twitter there seems to be a record low in interest in the Lions Have to say most rugby people I know are pretty ambivalent about the Lions, if they win great and if they lose don't really give a toss. For some...

Apologies because no doubt this has been answered umpteen times before but how is the seeding of the Pro12 teams for the ERC done - is it based on final league position or after the knockouts. Am assuming it's the latter and the Pro12 order of seeding for the ERC will be Scarlets-Munster-Leinster-Os...

Scarlets website has Beirne as 106 kg. Would he need to beef up a bit if he wants to become an international lock, don't think there are too many international locks below 112-115 kg

Anybody know what time Japan games kick off - they're listed as 0600 and 0640 GMT. Excuse the ignorance but are we on GMT or (hopefully) an hour later. USA game kicks off at 2200 GMT

Can't quibble too much with that panel, Sweetnam and Adam Byrne maybe a bit unlucky but Stockdale and Conway have also been good. Think you have to have some experienced wingers like Earls, couldn't take four wingers with just one cap between them (Zebo on tour as a FB I think). And 8 uncapped playe...

Well that cr@p performance could really come back and bite us in the arse, having to play an in form team like Scarlets instead of a shambolic Ospreys. Munster must be doing cartwheels with the hairsprays going to Thomond while we have the Scarlets. Big big improvement needed or we risk being turned...

Not too much for Ulster to take from that - awful. Stockdale looked good though

I do hope Clermont beat the Orcs in the final but can't see it happening. Their fans are great but some people are getting a bit carried away with Clermont and somehow see them as a plucky small town club triumphing against the odds. Clermont is a big budget club bankrolled by Michelin and splash th...

Would have taken Toner off rather than Triggs