posted Oct 23, 2006

It is great to see that the ML has demonstrated the quality of its teams through last weekends performances, though this should not really come as any suprise to English, French or Celtic supporters alike.
I think that most rational supporters of all these countries realise that there is little difference between any of them at the moment, and what go's around comes around. It may well be the GP's turn to have a good weekend next week, then the French and so on.
We should all be rooting for continually improving standards within all these leagues, which in turn should significantly strengthen future Lions teams, not forgeting and Home Nations prospects in the next and future World Cups.

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posted Oct 23, 2006

The quality of players in the ML (with the exception of a few) is of a great standard. However the quality of the ML is not high as it simply is not competitive as it is viewed by many sides in it as an irrevelance and merely a way of preparing for other things (see the sides fielded by Munster/Leinster for the first month of the season or the sides fielded by the Blues in Belfast or the Ospreys against Glasgow). The ML sides in the HC are all tough nuts to crack particularly at home and only an idiot would expect a trip to Ravenhill or Strady to be a cake walk. This weekend was the big wet fish alot of English rugby fans needed!

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posted Oct 23, 2006

"...welsh clubs are still inferiour to many in the HC and will get found out away from home and when the presure is on..."

I think you will find that 2 out of the 3 Welsh regions competing in the HC over the weekend won away. Was the pressure on when the Ospreys completed 13 phases in order to grab the last gasp try? Did Hook fold under pressure when he slotted the conversion that consigned the GP champions to defeat? I think you'll find that the "inferior" Welsh outfits will have a few more stings in their respective tails, before the pool stage is over...

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posted Oct 23, 2006

"...Most the of the comment on this board having a go at English clubs, English rugby and so on is ignorant and motivated purely by racism. If it isn't: I'd expect to hear the same level of abuse directed at the French clubs this week - they haven't done any better than the English. But then again, it's not about the rugby really, is it?"

Tosh! Of course it's about the rugby! The subject matter of these comments are in respect the respective merits and drawbacks of the GP versus the ML. I don't recall any French sides that play in the GP? The ML came out overwhelmingly on top after round one, so the Celts have utilised their bragging rights. Don't tell me the English fans wouldn't have done the same had results gone in their favour?

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posted Oct 23, 2006

I don't think the English would have crowed quite so loudly had the shoe been on the other foot. I guess it's just a Welsh thing.

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posted Oct 23, 2006

The bottom line is; no one is afaid of Leicester or Wasps any more, even away. The big away games are still in France. Even Ulster will be afraid in Toulouse - remember the reverse after a similar emphatic home win v Leicester 2 years ago

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posted Oct 24, 2006

I note that "heritage" and "youth policies" have been used above as if they only apply to premiership teams.

The four provinces of ireland have played as representative teams since 1876. 130 years is far older than most clubs in England.

As for youth policies, they are just as old as the clubs and schools feed directly into the provinces. Last year's Leinster Schools Final had more in attendance that Leinster's match against Gloucester.

Ignorance is not an excuse.

And to counter the argument of the Irish and Welsh concentrating resources, Wales has a population of 3m, the Island of Ireland has 5m and between them they have 8 representative sides (1 for every two million people). England has 40m+ and 12 premiership sides, which is 3.3m per side. It's a numbers game.

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posted Oct 24, 2006

Rob H, don't beat yourself up about your musings on thursday regarding the threat of English dominance over the weekend — at least you got the five out of six bit right

Mr Foxes, you may be proud that the profits from Leicester Tigers PLC exceed the wage bill of most (if not all) ML clubs. However, from a Munster perspective, it gives us not inconsiderable pleasure knowing that our team is competing with, and beating, the richest clubs in Europe on a quarter of the budget. And as for profits, I couldn't care less if Munster never turned a profit as long we have fifteen lads on the pitch who believe they can mix it with the best in europe and who play with the pride and passion of those who went before them.

and we're not gloating. on another weekend, the english teams might have won four out of six (gloucester and northampton were always going to struggle), but as it happened, the chips fell the ML way and why wouldn't we be thrilled about it. SKY do over-hype the GP; the ML can get farcical (especially when the IRFU drag our elite players away from their provinces — but who could blame them?). however i think we're all agreed the HC is a cracking competition, and long may it continue.

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posted Oct 26, 2006

i couldn't agree more with man of munster when he says "who play with pride and passion" this what the GP sides lack English rugby stars are heading the same way as thier fellow countrymen in the round ball game they have lost the pride and the passion and only play for the money....

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posted Oct 27, 2006

There are wider debates that go beyond the HC. These have heavily impacted on English Rugby, Club and Country. The size of the league, the amount of games, the pressure put on by relegation and the playoffs. None of this is witnessed in the Magners League.

If the format for the English game is sorted out then once again you will be assured of an English team being in the last 4 at least.

As for the history of the HC - No Welsh side has ever won it, only one Scottish side has qualified for the second phase, and the Irish teams despite claiming super status, have only two winners.

Take the debate to the National arena and Ireland probably by only playing a few pressure and intense filled games have failed to deliver a grand slam that there squad should have had in the bag.

What goes around, comes around. England and English clubs will be back on top before you know it.

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