Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 3, 2023 13:40:47 GMT
Atlas completed the deal in the end, which is probably bad news for Warriors - the two guys in charge seem about as trustworthy as the previous dastardly duo, and they clearly have no realistic plans for "elite rugby" at Sixways anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the BBC is reporting that April's wages at Irish weren't paid yesterday as promised.
Worrying times.
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Post by Danno on May 3, 2023 16:55:09 GMT
Oh gawd. We'll have an 8 team "premiership" at this rate.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 4, 2023 19:57:23 GMT
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zephro
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Post by zephro on May 6, 2023 19:42:31 GMT
I know I'm the only one who watches the URC but Glasgow are 0-14 down at half time in the semis. FUUUUUCK
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Post by Danno on May 7, 2023 11:17:44 GMT
At least you get to watch Munster's humilation against Leinster instead of Glasgow. I guess.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 7, 2023 21:35:33 GMT
Chris Ashton managed to finish his professional career in the most Ashton-esque way possible: a red card at the end of the first half against Harlequins.
It was a good call... which is more than I can say for Cadan Murley's facial hair. The more I see of the latter, the less I seem to understand.
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Post by elstoof on May 8, 2023 6:47:50 GMT
Getting his guy Fawkes look ready a bit too soon in the year
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 9, 2023 9:12:53 GMT
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Post by Dougs on May 9, 2023 9:18:07 GMT
Good on him imo.
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zephro
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Post by zephro on May 9, 2023 9:48:50 GMT
I think it's a good choice. Other Scotland fans seem divided. Not winning a 6N seems to be the benchmark, but I'm not sure what other coach that's out there could. Meanwhile back in reality we have come achingly close to it a couple times (this year we were really good, but that Ireland side is unbelievable. Then 2021 with Wales' jam-slam.) But since professionalism there was the last 5N in 1999 and then a good 16 years of absolute shite. Vern Cotter started turning it around in 2015, but to some extent that was Toonie making Glasgow good and winning the Pro12 that year. Hogg, Finn, Price, Seymour, the Fagersons, the Gray brothers were all coming through that system under Toonie before 2015 anyhow. Anyway from 2015 to here we're mostly beating England, Australia etc. ran the All Blacks close a few times. That's definitely the best record of any Scotland coach since Jim Telfer.
I suspect due to smaller playing pools and money we're just a bit stuck. As getting talent through the system seems hard right now, the U20 team are doing so badly. No coach in the world can fix that so quickly. But we're right on the cusp of turning 3 wins and a narrow loss into 4 wins and that's often enough to win the 6N.
Though the World Cup draw remains absolute fucking bullshit.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 11, 2023 19:05:14 GMT
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Post by Danno on May 11, 2023 19:28:59 GMT
Almost a shame, that game was such a perfect microcosm of his career bar someone actually punching him |
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Post by Danno on May 11, 2023 19:34:54 GMT
I don't know whether I want him to have another stab at it or not because I'm not sure who out of Tigers/Sharks has the best shot at beating Sarries* in the final and a Tigers side with Ashton available is likely better than without.
*I fucking hate them, sue me.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 11, 2023 19:42:51 GMT
Almost a shame, that game was such a perfect microcosm of his career bar someone actually punching him
Ha!
I've seen it suggested that he should deliberately get sent off for punching Tuilagi at the weekend.
Personally, I'll be supporting Saints and Tigers in the semis, but it all boils down to "Anyone but Saracens" in the end - I share your feelings about that particular club.
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Post by Danno on May 11, 2023 20:10:24 GMT
Think I forgot to reply to your message about Tigers v Quins.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 11, 2023 20:27:59 GMT
Danno That's okay - I forgive you. You bastard 
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Post by Danno on May 11, 2023 21:54:27 GMT
Well you're dead to me now. Get outta my thread!
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Post by elstoof on May 11, 2023 22:28:55 GMT
Fuck Saracens deep in their cunty faces
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Post by Danno on May 12, 2023 11:29:37 GMT
Interesting that Murley was allowed to put his side across. Would that still be the case if there was some handbags after the tackle?
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 13, 2023 15:20:11 GMT
A good question, and one to which I don't know the answer.
Ashton wasn't selected in any case, so - barring a late change - his career will still be over unless Tigers proceed to the final.
In the other semi, it's 21-3 to Saracens at the halfway point. C'mon, Saints!
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Post by Danno on May 13, 2023 15:33:59 GMT
Ugh dammit. I wasn't terribly hopeful but allowed myself to dream of an upset.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 13, 2023 16:08:51 GMT
31-15 with less than 10 minutes remaining, and Saints down to 14.
As good as over, sadly.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 14, 2023 16:05:00 GMT
Sale beat Leicester to make it a Saracens vs. Sale final in two weeks' time.
Tigers pretty much shat the bed in the final 10 minutes, missing not one but two penalty kicks to touch (first Atkinson, then Van Poortvliet).
I hope Sale win, but I doubt I'll bother to watch the final.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 18, 2023 16:25:46 GMT
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Post by elstoof on May 18, 2023 17:14:57 GMT
15 years ago I watched them lift the premiership thinking we’d be flying high for years, now it’s all gone
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Post by Trowel 🏴 on May 19, 2023 15:35:28 GMT
Tipuric retiring from international rugby was a bit sad but replaceable... and then Alun Wyn Jones decides he's done too... 😞
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Post by elstoof on May 19, 2023 16:28:25 GMT
Must be absolutely toxic behind the scenes
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Post by Dougs on May 20, 2023 7:25:18 GMT
What an absolute mess. Sad scenes. |
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 20, 2023 15:54:25 GMT
Re Wasps, I have a lot of mixed feelings on the subject.
The club that died in Coventry last October wasn't the same club I started to support in London way back when - and I'd come to that conclusion long before the plug was finally pulled - so I don't feel much in the way of sadness anymore, having already made my peace with it.
Moreover, Wasps v 3.0 ('Worcester Wasps', if you will) would've been even further removed from the London Wasps of old, so it's not as though I can grieve for what might have been - any hope that the Coventry collapse would lead to a return to the capital was soon snuffed out by the club's new owners, who had basically bought the brand name and not much else.
Even so, seeing the news this week has been kind of sobering. I feel bad for those fans who'd clung onto the hope of Championship rugby for Wasps from 2023-24 onwards; for the senior players who found themselves out of work with almost no notice, and who were owed money into the bargain; for the academy kids who were kicked to the kerb, again with no time in which to adjust; and for the netball team that found itself rendered defunct amid the rugby-related fallout.
I feel anger and disgust towards the former management regime and its public supporters, who took the club 100 miles from London on puffed-up pretences and empty promises. Unlike many, though, I don't blame the RFU for much - they bent over backwards to give Wasps every chance of success in the Championship, and they left it as late as they could to rescind the offer of a spot in said league. (Yes, the English game is a financial basket case, and yes, the buck has to stop somewhere, but I don't think Wasps were any more or less hard done by than all the other pro clubs in the country.)
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on May 20, 2023 15:57:25 GMT
Re Wales, what the hell is going on?
Two established internationals, both of whom were named in the World Cup training squad, announcing their retirement from international rugby within an hour or so of one another, four months before the biggest tournament in the sport is due to begin?
As Elstoof says, it might be a truly toxic situation behind the scenes... but surely Tipuric and AWJ have worked with Gatland before, so what's different now?
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