The rugby

[BrumJim]

The lack of relegation means there is no jeopardy or incentive for sides with nothing to play for, so these one sided cricket score matches will become commonplace towards the end of the season.
Is that a good thing?

Saracens and Sale were (and still are) adjacent to each other in the league.

But yes, it is a bit disappointing that there is no promotion or relegation, but mainly in the leagues below. What is the incentive to winning a league?

 

[Dorset Boy]

Saracens and Sale were (and still are) adjacent to each other in the league.

But yes, it is a bit disappointing that there is no promotion or relegation, but mainly in the leagues below. What is the incentive to winning a league?

Outside of football, there aren't many elite sports with automatic promotion / relegation.
Some seasons we end up with a weekend of these one sided results, other seasons the matches remain competitive.
Financial stability is more important than promotion / relegation at the moment.

 

[BrumJim]

Outside of football, there aren't many elite sports with automatic promotion / relegation.
Some seasons we end up with a weekend of these one sided results, other seasons the matches remain competitive.
Financial stability is more important than promotion / relegation at the moment.

Cricket introduced it to the County Championship. But I don't know if there is any substantial incentive to being in the top league? Gate receipts must be up, if only slightly, but dont know about TV rights, etc.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Another high quality encounter between Saints and Bath.
Just into the second half and one score between the teams.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Last 10 minutes and it’s all square at 31 a piece.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

The TMO snatches a Saint’s win from what would have been a perfect draw.
Sickening.

 

[geocycle]

Great game and mixing squad performance from Bath. It was a penalty but a draw would have been the deserved outcome.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Fuming, totally fuming after that. Pearce ignored so many Saints infringements at the breakdown - the 14 point turnaround in the first half, loads of others. And then a joke decision by him an Tempest to award a penalty at the end. Pillock, the rol around on the floor like a footballer earlier, had dipped, was handing off and first contact is on the arm.

However, what a moral victory.
3rd and 4th choice props, 2nd choice second rows, a 10 that has been out all season, 2nd / 3rd choice centres, and but for a balanced reffing performance, would probably have won.

 

[geocycle]

Fuming, totally fuming after that. Pearce ignored so many Saints infringements at the breakdown - the 14 point turnaround in the first half, loads of others. And then a joke decision by him an Tempest to award a penalty at the end. Pillock, the rol around on the floor like a footballer earlier, had dipped, was handing off and first contact is on the arm.

However, what a moral victory.
3rd and 4th choice props, 2nd choice second rows, a 10 that has been out all season, 2nd / 3rd choice centres, and but for a balanced reffing performance, would probably have won.

Yeah, HP is an absolute irritant. I’m amazed he’s got so far in rugby behaving like that as idiots are normally sorted out in the year groups. This is the deepest squad I can remember of any Premiership team. The Bath coaches are outstanding to create a system they can swap talented lads in and out of.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

So glad that Gloucester managed to hold on to beat Exeter after dominating for much of the match.
Another cracker.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

A pity he never got on with Saint-Andre, so he didn’t get a lot of game time for Provence.
I know they’ve been house hunting in the Vale and part of the business is in Cowbridge. It will be nice to see more of them again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cwy2wz08l4no

 

[Dorset Boy]

A pity he never got on with Saint-Andre, so he didn’t get a lot of game time for Provence.
I know they’ve been house hunting in the Vale and part of the business is in Cowbridge. It will be nice to see more of them again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cwy2wz08l4no

He's only 34!
Mind you, with his repeated concussions a few years ago and the negligence of the Welsh medical staff, it's also pleasing he's still been able to play on.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Perhaps we'll see him and his wife cycling round the Vale...if he can keep up with her.

 

[Alex321]

A pity he never got on with Saint-Andre, so he didn’t get a lot of game time for Provence.
I know they’ve been house hunting in the Vale and part of the business is in Cowbridge. It will be nice to see more of them again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cwy2wz08l4no

The Baffle Haus is actually in Bonvilston rather than Cowbridge, though Cowbridge is the closest real town.

On the A48, next to the Aubrey Arms. It was only recently I realised it was owned (partly) by George North.

 

[AndyRM]

I always respect players (of any sport) when they realise enough is enough. Seeing anyone go through injury and surgery just because of a single minded obsession is awful.

North is up there as one of my favourite players of the modern era. He'd stroll into the current Welsh side even with a knackered Achilles.