This weekends Euro Games

Just watching the Gloucester v Ospreys game...and the chat after on TNT

Is it me or is Dallaglio really agitated..? Foot tapping, constant motion, actually quite irritating to watch...

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs VODACOM BULLS
Investec Champions Cup, Quarter-Final
Saturday 13 April, 2024
cinch Stadium at THE Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 8pm BST / 3:00pm EDT

OUR NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
15 James Ramm
14 George Hendy
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Alex Coles
6 Courtney Lawes (c)
7 Sam Graham
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Alex Waller
18 Paul Hill
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Lewis Ludlam
22 Tom James
23 George Furbank

Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, Burger Odendaal and Tom Pearson.

BULLS
15 Devon Williams
14 Sebastian de Klerk
13 Henry Immelman
12 Harold Vorster
11 Stravino Jacobs
10 Chris Smith
9 Zak Burger
1 Simphiwe Matanzima
2 Akker van der Merwe
3 Mornay Smith
4 Janko Swanepoel
5 JF van Heerden
6 Nizaam Carr (c)
7 Mpilo Gumede
8 Cameron Hanekom

16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
17 Dylan Smith
18 Francois Klopper
19 Merwe Olivier
20 Reinhardt Ludwig
21 Keagan Johannes
22 Jaco van der Walt
23 Cornal Hendricks

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos and Ludovic Cayre (both Fra)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (Fra)

I think Dayglow must have got a lot, and a mean a lot, of verbal, and probably online, abuse for those motorway ads.
The one in the shower is particularly cringe worthy.
Also, his financial " troubles" which undoubtedly precipitated the car sales ads can't be easy to deal with.

I was more bothered by his wittering on about Quins’ reasons for not picking Marler and Care this weekend, and how much they’ll miss Marler. If he’d been paying attention for the past few weeks, he might have realised that Baxter is in better form than Marler, so might well have been first choice even had they both been fit. Care is a bigger loss, with Porter only just back from injury.

Much as I think Dayglow was a good captain for England, he's always been a terrible pundit/commentator IMHO. Two of my current favourites are Topsy and Flats, and for internationals Warbs is one of the best.

A bit back some broadcaster posted on reddit asking for questions for Dallagio. Almost everything was about coke, not paying taxes or sending pictures of his c**k to a random woman he met on a train. The bloke's rep seems to be dropping year on year. Having very strong opinions about rugby whilst not seeming to know the rules anymore likely doesn't help. At least Johnno and Wilkinson sit quietly for much of their pointless punditry gigs. Lol and SCW are the brutal combination of being loudmouthed and out of touch. "Never meet your heroes", has extended to, "never listen to comms", for those of us who grew up idolising that '03 team.

The Champions Cup does unavoidably feel even more diluted when you've got sides rotating so heavily away from home for a quarter-final though. The format that allows teams with one group stage win to qualify for the KOs makes the earlier stages of the tournament far less engaging than it once was anyway. When the KOs are heading the same way, there's clearly an issue.

As said in previous threads, I'd much prefer a two legged KO comp with losing Champions Cup sides from R1 then dropping down into R2 of the challenge cup. That would keep the two guaranteed home games for every club, which honestly seems the height of ambition of most sides in the comp at the minute, whilst making each match mean more.

Chandler Cunningham-South has been brilliant so far, he is skittling some really big men!

Quisn 14-0 up after 10 minutes. Looking like a 52-50 final scoreline.

Half-time score:

Bordeaux 12-28 Harlequins

Four tries for Quins. Three converted, and one penalty try award.

Baxter’s been a monster and Porter’s controlled the game nicely while scoring two tries. Imagine how far ahead we’d be with Marler and Care on the pitch, eh Lol? LOL.

Poorfour wrote:Baxter’s been a monster and Porter’s controlled the game nicely while scoring two tries. Imagine how far ahead we’d be with Marler and Care on the pitch, eh Lol? LOL.

He has, it is a statement to come down to France and smash a big pack AND make such an impact around the field.

Has to be asked, when is the warning coming about the scrum penalties? We're up to four now I think?

I think the heat and monstrous Bordeaux bench will do for Quins unfortunately. The've given it a good lash though.

That's an outstanding kick from Smith given everything had been running Bordeaux's way for a period.

How did that first penalty get given? UBB were all off their feet, especially the first guy who just flopped on top of the ruck and then crawled forward.

Having talked up UBB can't have them getting beaten at home ....

Christ!  He has put that wide!

And a win for Quins!

Both the last two passes before the try looked forwards ...

Well deserved Quins

What a game! That had everything!

Rugby Fan wrote:Quisn 14-0 up after 10 minutes. Looking like a 52-50 final scoreline.

You were close!

The ref bribers win again! And with their squad being over the salary cap you can really tell they’re the next Sarries

glaws wrote:The ref bribers win again! And with their squad being over the salary cap you can really tell they’re the next Sarries

D+ Must try harder....

But not far off. Were there any 7 min binnings this week
That’s why most genuine fans don’t like Quins

glaws wrote:The ref bribers win again! And with their squad being over the salary cap you can really tell they’re the next Sarries

That’s two pretty big accusations there. Got any evidence to support either?

Poorfour wrote:

glaws wrote:The ref bribers win again! And with their squad being over the salary cap you can really tell they’re the next Sarries

That’s two pretty big accusations there. Got any evidence to support either?

Don't feed him pal, he'll quickly bore off.

Anyone else watching Leinster on TNT and getting the sound about 2 secs before the pictures???

Freakin Quins.  They really have that never stop mentality.  Of course, they need that because defense gotta be better.  What an ending.

tigertattie wrote:Anyone else watching Leinster on TNT and getting the sound about 2 secs before the pictures???

Not for me

Gibson Park mugging Dickson by feeding the ball straight to the back of the scrum and getting away with it ...

Karl Dickson is a poor referee, it's a shame he's officiating this game.

Proper flyhalf tackle from Hastoy there. Should be shot for cowardice.

Hope Kerr Barlow isn't to badly injured.

Osborne has been impressive today. Ireland's next inside centre

Leinster have had an extra gear in attack and have dominated the breakdown. La Rochelle struggling to get anything going, they look shaken.

Heaf wrote:Gibson Park mugging Dickson by feeding the ball straight to the back of the scrum and getting away with it ...

Alex Mitchell won't let him get away with shenanigans like that.

doctor_grey wrote:

Heaf wrote:Gibson Park mugging Dickson by feeding the ball straight to the back of the scrum and getting away with it ...

Alex Mitchell won't let him get away with shenanigans like that.  

Will help that there'll be a better ref (probably) than Dickson.

Big win for Saints.

Is that 2 semi finalists? Can they upset the odds and one of them win it?

Geordie wrote:Big win for Saints.

Is that 2 semi finalists? Can they upset the odds and one of them win it?

Well, given that Rob Baxter is a hell of a coach, Exeter is never completely out of anything....
Then Quins host Exeter at a neutral ground somewhere....
Saints wear their green and confuse Ireland, oops I mean Leinster, and sneak a W....
And Saints defeat Quins 71-70 on a last second drop goal by Alex Waller.

Ollie Sleightholme earned the man of the match award. I have recently heard people around the club describing Ollie as a young Ben Cohen.

Ollie is really realising his potential now...been a fan since he came through for saints...tough boy aswell...

SB has some big decisions fir the NZ tour ..

Geordie wrote:Ollie is really realising his potential now...been a fan since he came through for saints...tough boy aswell...

SB has some big decisions fir the NZ tour ..

If he can keep his injury issues behind him. I'd like to see some more of him under the high ball. I think he's got a chance of making the squad but the 23 is a big ask with IFW and Freeman on the wings. Unless there's an injury or Freeman goes into centre. His lack of versatility might hamper his chances of taking the 23 shirt. Hopefully he gets a chance against Japan.

I didn’t see it but wow, that was some statement of intent from Leinster. They’ll be adding Snyman and Tupou to their ranks next season…

formerly known as Sam wrote:Leinster have had an extra gear in attack and have dominated the breakdown. La Rochelle struggling to get anything going, they look shaken.

I didn’t see the game, but prior to it I was reading that was the reason Will Connors was starting.

Also looks like Saints demolished Bulls, no easy feat. That upcoming QF will be a good game.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Ollie is really realising his potential now...been a fan since he came through for saints...tough boy aswell...

SB has some big decisions fir the NZ tour ..

If he can keep his injury issues behind him. I'd like to see some more of him under the high ball. I think he's got a chance of making the squad but the 23 is a big ask with IFW and Freeman on the wings. Unless there's an injury or Freeman goes into centre. His lack of versatility might hamper his chances of taking the 23 shirt. Hopefully he gets a chance against Japan.

One thing I find odd is Sleightholme is not kicked to very much. Can't expand on that, but is something some mates mention from time to time.

How are the home draws I mean grounds for the semi finals decided? I thought they were supposed to be neutral.

Sleights can kick, not as well as Freeman or Furbank, but safe enough. I think he just prefers to run it back if he has space, the way he goes past/through people might not make as much ground as a kick, but gives a much better chance of ball retention.

The other thing he does better than most backs is scavenge, he is a nightmare for the opposition over the ball where his stocky frame keeps him low and very difficult to move.

Stephen Jones having another big whinge over Leinster hosting their semi final in Croke park. What a sausage. I hope for his sake Harlequins dont make the final as Im sure he will be equally outraged that they will have a home final.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Sleights can kick, not as well as Freeman or Furbank, but safe enough. I think he just prefers to run it back if he has space, the way he goes past/through people might not make as much ground as a kick, but gives a much better chance of ball retention.

The other thing he does better than most backs is scavenge, he is a nightmare for the opposition over the ball where his stocky frame keeps him low and very difficult to move.

I was thinking more contestable high ball as opposed to him putting boot to ball. It's such a common tactic in international rugby. As mentioned already he isn't kicking to much which considering he's under 6ft is a surprise. Perhaps the Saints defensive structure keeps him out of that position.