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Heinieken Cup 2008/2009

Red Faction said:
you bastard

you had to go and say it didnt you

take it back

take it back now before you jinx it altogether
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:D. Nevarrr, nevarrr, nevarrrr!

ian_paisley.jpg


Scott Johnson confirmed as new Ospreys head coach - here

Whatever else comes of his appointment, the thought of what he is capable of doing with that backline is making me moist. If he can get somebody in to sort out the forwards, the Os really could become a force to be reckoned with.

Could be installed 'before the end of the season', which means he could be in place before the Munster game. All of a sudden I've started looking forward to that match a teensy bit more:)
 
1927 said:
But with Scott Johnson on board?
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We know he's a top class backs coach. Is he a a real head coach capable of overseeing and maximising the ability of the whole Ospreys set up?

I hope so. I know I'm Irish but I'd love Wales to become a serious rugby force. It would be great for the sport. The potential is there in the players I think. The structure isn't yet.
 
Mr Retro said:
We know he's a top class backs coach. Is he a a real head coach capable of overseeing and maximising the ability of the whole Ospreys set up?

I hope so. I know I'm Irish but I'd love Wales to become a serious rugby force. It would be great for the sport. The potential is there in the players I think. The structure isn't yet.
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That came over as sooooo patronising.

Remind me again of the glory years of Irish rugby again< i must have blinked and missed them. We've won more Grand Slamsd in the last four years than you have in the last ...... well ever! Cheeky sod.
 
bendeus said:
T
The Os have the current best winger in the world on the wing, and he gets the ball a total of three or so times in a game. Why is this?
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I'm just snowed in and watching the highlights but that was a shocking dive by him, shame to see it creeping into the game.
 
1927 said:
Remind me again of the glory years of Irish rugby again< i must have blinked and missed them. We've won more Grand Slamsd in the last four years than you have in the last ...... well ever! Cheeky sod.
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Fuck off - ye're not even a proper country!.
 
1927 said:
That came over as sooooo patronising.

Remind me again of the glory years of Irish rugby again< i must have blinked and missed them. We've won more Grand Slamsd in the last four years than you have in the last ...... well ever! Cheeky sod.
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It wasn't meant to be. I never said Ireland had a glory period did I?

But you're really a football fan jumped on the rugby bandwagon and so over sensitive to these things.
 
Mr Retro said:
It wasn't meant to be. I never said Ireland had a glory period did I?

But you're really a football fan jumped on the rugby bandwagon and so over sensitive to these things.
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I'll have you know that I was always a Swansea RFC fan. Once went 7 years without a missed game, all over Europe with them included!

If you think following Cardiff City is frustrating then watching Swansea was excrutiating. On paper by far the best squad in wales if not UK in the great days and vfery little to show for it.

If I named my all time swansea team, of players I saw play, I would still have enough left over to pick another 2 teams who could hold their own against the Os at their best.
 
The greater financial clout of the French clubs is nothing new is it? Not sure I agree with the argument that it will harm the national team though. If anything, the huge number of foreign players in the Top14 is hurting the French side more than anyone.
 
Wonder if Johnno will follow Gats in insisting that England players will only be considered if they're playing in the national league?

Oops. Bad post fuckup.
 
The Boy said:
The greater financial clout of the French clubs is nothing new is it? Not sure I agree with the argument that it will harm the national team though. If anything, the huge number of foreign players in the Top14 is hurting the French side more than anyone.
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It could well make the English boys better players, though. Removal from the stultifying confines of the GP to a more open and expansive league can only help their games. As I said, it depends on whether they will still be eligible.

Spot on on the negative effect on the Top14, mind. Reason to be worried if you're a Frenchy, IMO.
 
bendeus said:
Spot on on the negative effect on the Top14, mind. Reason to be worried if you're a Frenchy, IMO.
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Tell me about it. Can't really argue that having players like Kelleher playing in the league isn't good thing, but it's getting a bit crazy. Jonny Wilkinson is rumoured to be signing for Racing Metro, btw.

Oh, and since we're talking GP players bowing out, I see Ibanez is retiring due to injury.
 
The Boy said:
Tell me about it. Can't really argue that having players like Kelleher playing in the league isn't good thing, but it's getting a bit crazy. Jonny Wilkinson is rumoured to be signing for Racing Metro, btw.

Oh, and since we're talking GP players bowing out, I see Ibanez is retiring due to injury.
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I think the problem is not with marquee players such as Kelleher, but in journeymen (such as Flutey;)) keeping local talent from the side and stifling player development.

Wales has long had the problem of second rate islanders bought on the cheap blocking player progression from the academy sides into the first team. The WRU has tried to deal with this with its player quotas, which works to a degree, but doesn't seem to stop teams like the Scarlets signing shite or over the hill foreigners.

Wales is a bit of a different kettle of fish, mind. With our tiny player base we have to bring in foreign talent to strengthen the regions, because there simply aren't enough quality Welsh players to make up four senior squads. I don't reckon that France has the same excuse, though.
 
I'd disagree...many young kids in France don't like rugby as much as they use to from my experience and what i've heard from my French mates. Before many kids played rugby at school, department then regional level. That's declined significantly over the last 10 years. Now in particular those in the large cities where there are many more families of N. African descent (but not necessarily 1st generation) kids only care for football due to the impact of Zidane and now players like Nasri and Gourcuff.

That might not expalin it all but it's certainly the theory my French friends have put forward as to why rugby is in decline and why many French clubs are increasingly forced to look overseas.
 
bendeus said:
I think the problem is not with marquee players such as Kelleher, but in journeymen (such as Flutey;)) keeping local talent from the side and stifling player development.

Wales has long had the problem of second rate islanders bought on the cheap blocking player progression from the academy sides into the first team. The WRU has tried to deal with this with its player quotas, which works to a degree, but doesn't seem to stop teams like the Scarlets signing shite or over the hill foreigners.

Wales is a bit of a different kettle of fish, mind. With our tiny player base we have to bring in foreign talent to strengthen the regions, because there simply aren't enough quality Welsh players to make up four senior squads. I don't reckon that France has the same excuse, though.
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Yeah, that was supposed to be my point, but my brain being made of porridge kind of prevented me making it in a clear and lucid fashion. That and the shock that anyone would want to sign Jonny Wilkinson so he can sit on the physio's table.

There are a whole host of structural problems that are probably having some sort of impact, as well as cultural and political issues, none of which I'm knowledgable enough to comment on in any useful manner. Suffice to say there are number of things that the FFR could - and should - do to improve things.
 
g force said:
I'd disagree...many young kids in France don't like rugby as much as they use to from my experience and what i've heard from my French mates. Before many kids played rugby at school, department then regional level. That's declined significantly over the last 10 years. Now in particular those in the large cities where there are many more families of N. African descent (but not necessarily 1st generation) kids only care for football due to the impact of Zidane and now players like Nasri and Gourcuff.

That might not expalin it all but it's certainly the theory my French friends have put forward as to why rugby is in decline and why many French clubs are increasingly forced to look overseas.
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Hmmm...I've always gotten the impression that in the large urban areas football has always been king - particularly amongst the working classes and immigrant communities.

Traditionally, rugby didn't have that big a following outside of the South West whereas now you have Stade Francais playing in front of 80,000 people three times a year, talk of a club being founded in Lyon (a city with no rugby heritage) and clubs expanding grounds to cope with demand for tickets.

Having said that, it's entirely possible that more kids who would have chosen to play rugby are being drawn towards football, although hopefully the higher profile gained from hosting the WC will go someway to remedying that.
 
The Boy said:
Having said that, it's entirely possible that more kids who would have chosen to play rugby are being drawn towards football, although hopefully the higher profile gained from hosting the WC will go someway to remedying that.
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It will if France win the WC!
 
bendeus said:
Wonder if Johnno will follow Gats in insisting that England players will only be considered if they're playing in the national league?
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Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan believes the RFU can introduce certain measures to make sure the trickle of players leaving the Premiership does not become a flood.

He said: "I think the obvious thing is to say they would expect England players to be playing in the Premiership.

"Then a player not only has to make a financial decision, he has to make an international decision about his career. That also then hopefully helps create a co-ordinated approach to developing international players."
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Looks like the RFU may be considering only selecting GP based players
 
bendeus said:
Looks like the RFU may be considering only selecting GP based players
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Dunno. Shaun Edwards seems to think Haskell, Flutey and Palmer have been told that they can still be selected for England. See the interview video clip half way down the page.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/london_wasps/7893734.stm

I think its fair enough for players to make as much money as they can in their careers, but its not great news for the England team. I'd be amazed if the French clubs will be happy for them to have as much time training with England as the English clubs do.
 
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