3 of the 4 top teams in Europe are from the Rabo

Discuss.........

PS. Leinster have to play the other 3 top teams in Europe, 3 weeks in a row.

Urm, well observed? What else is there to discuss?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

You could put 'nyah, nyah, na, nyah na' at the end of the title, I suppose.

'nah, nah, nan, nah, nah' is how we probably pronounce it

Anyway, two of them are Irish....still; which is much sweeter than Rabo representation actually. But no, I won't do the 'nah, nah' bit.

SecretFly wrote:'nah, nah, nan, nah, nah' is how we probably pronounce it

Anyway, two of them are Irish....still; which is much sweeter than Rabo representation actually. But no, I won't do the 'nah, nah' bit.

Next we'll probably hear "four of the five teams left have an Irishman involved"

At which point, I'll reach for the bucket.....

Well I wasn't actually expecting a discussion. But don't you get a pain in your hoop listening to what a shyte league it is, and how it will never amount to anything. (Even from posters who support a team in it sometimes)

If sarries pull off a win then 3/4 would have an Irish coach. Pity we still have a Poopie national coach

toml wrote:If sarries pull off a win then 3/4 would have an Irish coach. Pity we still have a Poopie national coach

Alex King is assistant coach at Clermont - so there will be some English representation in the semis.

Right where is that straw clutching smiley?

Just goes to show the Rabo is the best league in Europe.

3rdGrandslamCame wrote:Just goes to show the Rabo is the best league in Europe.

Nope, shows they have some of the best teams in Europe. After all, Spain have 2 teams in the footie European semis - not many claim that makes it the best league in Europe.

If i was feeling mean spirited, I could say it works very well as a development league rather than a competitive league in it's own right. As i am not - i shall just say it is different.

Well at least you could say there's two British-based teams who've made it through to the semis.

Ah yes I am a UK citizen. I am UKish

The team that are second from bottom in the Rabo are one of the best 4 in Europe. Must be the best league in Europe then.

Pot Hale wrote:Well at least you could say there's two British-based teams who've made it through to the semis.

One of them is only partly British-based. Ulster is an Irish Province not a political region of Britain. A map will explain it. Some of Ulster makes up Northern Ireland (the political bit that is British administered) and some of it is in the Republic.

Lets not go down that road fella's.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Lets not go down that road fella's.

It's important that education continues outside the classroom. Knowledge is power

It just goes to prove that the PRO12 unfairly allows their teams to focus on the HEC. They really need to change the structure

CurlyOsp wrote:The team that are second from bottom in the Rabo are one of the best 4 in Europe. Must be the best league in Europe then.

No, that shows that playing in a non relegation league means Edinburgh can fully focus on the HC. If Clermont for instance were second from bottom in the Top 14, you sure as hell wouldn't see a full strength team playing.

Ring fencing time for the Aviva and Top14 no doubt.

I think relegation and promotion really adds to the Aviva and Top 14, i hope they don't ring fence their leagues and i can't see it happening.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Ring fencing time for the Aviva and Top14 no doubt.

It's not ring fencing that's needed, just let every side qualify for the HC

You say that as thought HC spots are allocated to leagues rather than countries - they arent - deal with it.

By the way it wouldn't matter if you had 11 teams in the Heineken they'd still all be out - you had one team in the quarters out of 7, why do you think you'd have more if another 4 weak teams were added?

Still doesn't change the fact that the Pro 12 itself is a crap league Dodger. Top 14 and Aviva are on the way up, i'm not to sure they really give a damn.

gowales wrote:Still doesn't change the fact that the Pro 12 itself is a crap league Dodger. Top 14 and Aviva are on the way up, i'm not to sure they really give a damn.

Can't really take that comment seriously - if the top14 and aviva are on the way up why are their best teams getting destroyed in europe?

Artful_Dodger wrote:Ring fencing time for the Aviva and Top14 no doubt.

Th Aviva is practically ring fenced by the wealthier clubs only wanting clubs of a like mind in the premiership. London welsh and Cornish pirates for example are not allowed promotion even if they win the championship.

I'm just looking forward to three Scottish teams in the HC next year...

Melrose, anyone?

Artful_Dodger wrote:

gowales wrote:Still doesn't change the fact that the Pro 12 itself is a crap league Dodger. Top 14 and Aviva are on the way up, i'm not to sure they really give a damn.

Can't really take that comment seriously - if the top14 and aviva are on the way up why are their best teams getting destroyed in europe?

Because the top 14 and aviva are making money and their crowds are going up. Pro 12 sides on the whole are not doing this. Didn't you hear that Aironi has gone bust?

For example, not many German football sides go far in the Champions league but the Bundesliga is one of the best run and supported leagues in the world.

I'm talking to England fans on the 606 FB page right now- they think increasing the number of teams to 14 in the Aviva and then ring fencing is the answer - again I cant see how 4 more English teams would make any difference, the top English teams simply arent good enough, so why would those ranked 7-11 in the Aviva make any difference?

gowales wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

gowales wrote:Still doesn't change the fact that the Pro 12 itself is a crap league Dodger. Top 14 and Aviva are on the way up, i'm not to sure they really give a damn.

Can't really take that comment seriously - if the top14 and aviva are on the way up why are their best teams getting destroyed in europe?

Because the top 14 and aviva are making money and their crowds are going up. Pro 12 sides on the whole are not doing this. Didn't you hear that Aironi has gone bust?

For example, not many German football sides go far in the Champions league but the Bundesliga is one of the best run and supported leagues in the world.

Actually the provinces crowds and accounts are great, Edinburgh have made into the HC semi's sounds like cause the Welsh regions arent cutting it you want to throw the toys out of the pram.

Scotland can sell it and use the money towards paying off the debt they're in. :-x

I don't think anyone' proposing increasing the English teams are they? I thought it was about making qualification for Pro 12 sides based on their league positions

Artful_Dodger wrote:I'm talking to England fans on the 606 FB page right now- they think increasing the number of teams to 14 in the Aviva and then ring fencing is the answer - again I cant see how 4 more English teams would make any difference, the top English teams simply arent good enough, so why would those ranked 7-11 in the Aviva make any difference?

They'd replace the Irish provinces

Actually someone above just said they just need all the clubs in the Aviva to qualify for the HC - but seriously, what the hell difference is knocking a few teams out of the HC going to make?

If you wouldnt replace them with English and French clubs, why would you want to change the format of the HC to 18 clubs say?

Doesnt make any sense, Edinburgh beat Toulouse yet according to you they dont deserve to be in the Heineken based on their league position?

Artful_Dodger wrote:Actually someone above just said they just need all the clubs in the Aviva to qualify for the HC - but seriously, what the hell difference is knocking a few teams out of the HC going to make?

If you wouldnt replace them with English and French clubs, why would you want to change the format of the HC to 18 clubs say?

Doesnt make any sense, Edinburgh beat Toulouse yet according to you they dont deserve to be in the Heineken based on their league position?

Well i'd like it because it would give a bit more meaning to the Pro 12. You can bet your bottom dollar that Edinburgh will be playing a 3rd string side in the Pro 12 for the rest of the season now.

Hmmm the rest of the season being 2 games.

Again what you are saying could destroy the HC - it could mean no Scottish or Italian sides in a particular season - disaster for European rugby and growing the game.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

gowales wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

gowales wrote:Still doesn't change the fact that the Pro 12 itself is a crap league Dodger. Top 14 and Aviva are on the way up, i'm not to sure they really give a damn.

Can't really take that comment seriously - if the top14 and aviva are on the way up why are their best teams getting destroyed in europe?

Because the top 14 and aviva are making money and their crowds are going up. Pro 12 sides on the whole are not doing this. Didn't you hear that Aironi has gone bust?

For example, not many German football sides go far in the Champions league but the Bundesliga is one of the best run and supported leagues in the world.

Actually the provinces crowds and accounts are great, Edinburgh have made into the HC semi's sounds like cause the Welsh regions arent cutting it you want to throw the toys out of the pram.

No, not at all. I know the Irish sides are doing great, that's pretty obvious, but look at the rest. Yay a Scottish side have gone through to the Semi's for the first time in their history, still doesn't change the fact that they'll be playing front of an empty stadium in their other games.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Hmmm the rest of the season being 2 games.

Again what you are saying could destroy the HC - it could mean no Scottish or Italian sides in a particular season - disaster for European rugby and growing the game.

I reckon a season in the Amlin could be really good for an Italian or Scottish side

maestegmafia wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Ring fencing time for the Aviva and Top14 no doubt.

Th Aviva is practically ring fenced by the wealthier clubs only wanting clubs of a like mind in the premiership. London welsh and Cornish pirates for example are not allowed promotion even if they win the championship.

Actually they can if they develop their infrastructure to a suitable level. It's to stop a rich backer from buying in players that are unsustainable for the long term. This should result in sides like Exeter getting to the Premiership [those requirements are also set by the RFU not the clubs]. The Pirates are currently working on it and are trying to get a Cornish stadium built to meet the criteria.

The clubs generally want ring-fencing (of course they would). The RFU doesn't want it because it allows any club to develop themselves up to the top level. I've said before that I'd prefer something like the league franchise system although that peed a lot of people off.

Yup Pirates are trying to get the stadium sorted, going through planning at the moment. Could well happen and give them the ground they need to push forwards.

Artful_Dodger wrote:I'm talking to England fans on the 606 FB page right now- they think increasing the number of teams to 14 in the Aviva and then ring fencing is the answer - again I cant see how 4 more English teams would make any difference, the top English teams simply arent good enough, so why would those ranked 7-11 in the Aviva make any difference?

You're missing the point, its not about extra teams its about having the ability to rest players in league games without the fear of not qualifying for next season's HC, and with ring fencing without the fear of relegation.

There is no argument that the English sides just weren't good enough this year, but surely the best league is gauged by how many people pay to watch it, along with TV revenue?

On the revenues side, why are the French sides so wealthy?

HongKongCherry wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:I'm talking to England fans on the 606 FB page right now- they think increasing the number of teams to 14 in the Aviva and then ring fencing is the answer - again I cant see how 4 more English teams would make any difference, the top English teams simply arent good enough, so why would those ranked 7-11 in the Aviva make any difference?

You're missing the point, its not about extra teams its about having the ability to rest players in league games without the fear of not qualifying for next season's HC, and with ring fencing without the fear of relegation.

There is no argument that the English sides just weren't good enough this year, but surely the best league is gauged by how many people pay to watch it, along with TV revenue?

Why would that be the gauge?The English and French leagues will always have higher viewing numbers and tv money purely because the populations in those countries are so much bigger than the Rabo teams although the Italians may change that some day in the very distant future.

It just goes to show what can be achieved when clubs can afford to rest players for meaningless games.

But well played to Leinster, Edinburgh and Ulster.

trebellbobaggins wrote:On the revenues side, why are the French sides so wealthy?

Wealthy private backers, big tv money, huge attendences, good economy, massive advertising money.

HERSH wrote:It just goes to show what can be achieved when clubs can afford to rest players for meaningless games.

But well played to Leinster, Edinburgh and Ulster.

Don't see how that makes any difference our sides can do whatever they want outside the HC.

yeah, the popularity of rugby is massive there isn't it. Eng can't come close to matching that. Wales can though, Cornwall could do if we got behind one side.

If France could translate it to their senior team they should win world cups and dominate Europe.

HongKongCherry wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:I'm talking to England fans on the 606 FB page right now- they think increasing the number of teams to 14 in the Aviva and then ring fencing is the answer - again I cant see how 4 more English teams would make any difference, the top English teams simply arent good enough, so why would those ranked 7-11 in the Aviva make any difference?

You're missing the point, its not about extra teams its about having the ability to rest players in league games without the fear of not qualifying for next season's HC, and with ring fencing without the fear of relegation.

There is no argument that the English sides just weren't good enough this year, but surely the best league is gauged by how many people pay to watch it, along with TV revenue?

Hmmm so because England have a population of 60 million and many more viewers therefore, the league is better than Ireland who have a population of 6 million, despite 2 Irish teams in the semi finals to Englands zero??

eng would def benefit from teams guaranteed europe like Ireland so they can rest key players more.

players playing in less sides has to be good too.

Ireland have really shown what can be done with good management and development of players even with a smaller base.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Hmmm so because England have a population of 60 million and many more viewers therefore, the league is better than Ireland who have a population of 6 million, despite 2 Irish teams in the semi finals to Englands zero??

Your talking about which league has the best sides, but that doesn't mean the league is better. The AP has competitive games throughout, the Rabo doesn't. The Rabo has some excellent sides, but it also has some very poor sides too.