HEC competitor watch

[glenageary]

Sarries beat our cousins and are 2nd in the premiership - they will be no push over - so lets get prepared and not over confident!

Racing are playing Toulon later, a good preview for both us and Munster (who need to be worried)

Racing are still doing well and will most likely win and be 2nd too in the top 14.

ASM are still having a bad time and lost to Brive on Friday - hopefully the kick in the arse they need to take Racing on next weekend.

Without doubt we can see that we have the hardest group with the form teams

Team Pl W D L +/- Pts
1 Toulouse 16 10 1 5 148 51
2 Montpellier 16 10 1 5 86 47
3 Racing Métro 92 15 9 2 4 73 45
4 Biarritz Olympique 16 9 1 6 56 44
5 ASM Clermont Auvergne 16 9 0 7 109 44

[desperado]

Anybody see the Saracens match on Sky? Just read the report and it didn't seem great (or a great performance). Also they apparently have scored the least amount of tries of all teams in the top half of the premiership. Of course, should never be complacent - need to up the physicality from the Ospreys game. It occurred to me that the worst performers (in the main) the other night were those that had been in 'Camp Ireland' - wonder if there's anything in that. Don't like the early afternoon kickoff; the 16th man will have an important role.

[johng]

Anybody see the Saracens match on Sky? Just read the report and it didn't seem great (or a great performance). Also they apparently have scored the least amount of tries of all teams in the top half of the premiership. Of course, should never be complacent - need to up the physicality from the Ospreys game. It occurred to me that the worst performers (in the main) the other night were those that had been in 'Camp Ireland' - wonder if there's anything in that. Don't like the early afternoon kickoff; the 16th man will have an important role.

Think it was on espn. don't have it

[Donny B.]

The Racing match ain't exactly a thriller either....

[johng]

The Racing match ain't exactly a thriller either....

What's the score?

[Donny B.]

The Racing match ain't exactly a thriller either....

What's the score?

12-3 Toulon - All kicks

It's on Setenta Ireland

[johng]

The Racing match ain't exactly a thriller either....

What's the score?

12-3 Toulon - All kicks

It's on Setenta Ireland

Don't have it now we are on sky. I suppose I could sneak off to the kids tv seeing as they are in here watching star wars 3.

From the sound of it though..... It wouldn't be worth the minus brownie points.

[Donny B.]

What's the score?

12-3 Toulon - All kicks

It's on Setenta Ireland

Don't have it now we are on sky. I suppose I could sneak off to the kids tv seeing as they are in here watching star wars 3.

From the sound of it though..... It wouldn't be worth the minus brownie points.

It's not, believe me. Like most times I watch French rugby it's turned out to be a bore.

[johng]

12-3 Toulon - All kicks

It's on Setenta Ireland

Don't have it now we are on sky. I suppose I could sneak off to the kids tv seeing as they are in here watching star wars 3.

From the sound of it though..... It wouldn't be worth the minus brownie points.

It's not, believe me. Like most times I watch French rugby it's turned out to be a bore.

I've seen a few crackers.

In fairness even the T14 is a fairly large step down from the HC.

I would say T14 > Magners > Premiership. Obviously with many exceptions. But on balance.

[Donny B.]

I've seen a few crackers.

In fairness even the T14 is a fairly large step down from the HC.

I would say T14 > Magners > Premiership. Obviously with many exceptions. But on balance.

I'm generally not around to watch games Saturdays but a lot of the Friday/Sunday games have been disappointing.

I know people look down on the Magners, but in terms of entertaining rugby I'd actually take it over the Top14. Too many teams play pretty negative rugby.

[Donny B.]

12-9 now, basically a drop goal competition!

[johng]

12-9 now, basically a drop goal competition!

Sounds Yawn, How long left.

[Donny B.]

12-9 now, basically a drop goal competition!

Sounds Yawn, How long left.

13 mins 12-12 now. Racing looking a lot livelier now though

[Donny B.]

15-12 Racing now - Another drop goal

[Donny B.]

15-12 Racing now - Another drop goal

Finished 15-12 - Think there was 5 drop goals in all

[conf101]

15-12 Racing now - Another drop goal

Finished 15-12 - Think there was 5 drop goals in all

6 I think. Toulon didn't really seem to be going for trys, always seemed to settle for drop goals.

[fourthirtythree]

15-12 Racing now - Another drop goal

Finished 15-12 - Think there was 5 drop goals in all

6 I think. Toulon didn't really seem to be going for trys, always seemed to settle for drop goals.

Turned it off 50 minutes in (not worth the hassle to watch sh!te like that). If that kind of game spreads like a cancer they'll lower drops to two points.

[ronk]

Steyn+Wilkinson=quelle surprise

There was always a danger that we might face a few games like this with the new interpretations. This is exactly what happened in league long ago (and early in professional rugby union). Defences can fan out without committing anyone to rucks and more or less stop tries if they do it well, they can also stop penalties if they almost never compete for the ball, soon a stalemate is reached if both teams commit to that style and are at roughly the same level. The drop-goal takes over as the dominant tactic, especially when you have guys like that.

[desperado]

+ Wiesnewski (more so than Steyn). Hopefully he'll be missing for our trip to Metro as he's been cited after the Montpellier match and is due for a hearing on the 19th.

[[Jackass]]

Funny how Sarries played LI and Racing played Toulon this week, both opposition from our group and the other group of death, with both our grop rivals winning. Seriously tough group we are in.

I don't think Sarries will be a pushover. It's an English rugby trait to play for pride and they will want to spoil our party, that's for sure. I don't think motivation or effort will be any less than usual for Sarries in this one.

I'm less optomistic after our Ospreys performance. We should beat anybody in the RDS, but I just hope the lads aren't complaicant and also cleaned off some cobwebs the other night.

Should be a great fixture though and I'm really looking forward to it.