peasy23 Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Well they have signed multiple established Tier One internationals (Henshaw, Fardy, Tomane) and James Lowe would not have been cheap. It also needs to be remembered that they are the only professional sport team in an area with a population of 2.5m and Dublin has a load of private schools that spend big money on their rugby teams.Heard Brian O'Driscoll talking about it last week on the radio. All the Irish academies are improving because guys who would normally have stuck to GAA sports have realised their best chance of becoming a professional sportsman is to play rugby. He was saying that even Connacht who are in real GAA heartlands, have seen a massive rise in the number of youth teams they have. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lambies Doos Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Neither of those are 'gimmees' for Munster. You'd think that they have enough quality to win at least one of those, but away to Gloucester is not as easy as it was earlier in the season. Lose that and it could be squeaky bum time. As for Exeter. As a scottish Wasps fan, I can safely say that what they have done in the past 10 years is simply amazing. They are a model club for how things should be done. Great academy and youth set up, great integration into the community throughout the South West of England, they've also developed as a rugby team from a very effective 'forwards dominated' style to an exceptionally balanced team of forwards and backs (I think Hogg will shine even more brightly there). They and Saracens are head and shoulders better than the rest of the English Premiership, and (unlike Saracens) Exeter haven't broken the bank to do it. On a wider topic, how great is Scottish Rugby at the moment. Glasgow are still (IMHO) the second best side to watch (Leinster being no. 1). But it is the massive strides that Edinburgh have taken under Cockerill that I'm really delighted with at the moment. As for Wasps... Oh dear, we've spunked millions on top knotch internationals (Geroge Smith, Piatau, Beale etc) only to be perenial bridesmaids. Rumours have it that Wasps are back to living hand-to-mouth. Final shout out to Adam Hastings. After a torrid time v the USA, has turned it around and I think he is a proper international standard 10 (when is the last time Scotland had two of them on the go at the same time)? Yours aDONis Whilst Leinster are currently a better team than Glasgow they are certainly not better to watch. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 This should be a belter. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Welsh pundit Stephen Jones has named his greatest XV. No Lomu as his career was cut short by injuries bit he has picked Warburton ahead of McCaw. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Hernandez at 10 ahead of Barry John, Phil Bennett, Dan Carter, Michael Lynagh? Latham ahead of guys like Cullen or Blanco ; Warburton and Lydiate in the back row? No John Eales? He always was a shite troll but this is something else. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
come on shire Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 (edited) Two sides naturally playing their strongest sides. I'm more hopeful of winning at Scotstoun as Edinburgh are unbeaten at home this season. However, whilst they've been good in Europe, they've been a bit more mediocre in the league but at the same time they'll raise their game as it's a derby. On paper we've got the better backs but, barring the front row, the packs are fairly even though I'd JUST give Edinburgh the edge. The likes of Ashe and M. Fagerson have been excellent so far this season but Hamish Watson and Bill Mata are established heavyweights. Edinburgh could cream us in the front row as Stuart McInally is the 1st choice Scotland hooker whereas our 2 main hookers are injured. Grant Stewart is defo one for the future but still learning the trade. Edited December 21, 2018 by come on shire 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 For me the 2 sides are fairly even, obviously Glasgow stronger in the backs with Edinburgh having the better forwards. For me though the Glasgow bench is much stronger than Edinburgh's which may be the difference. If Glasgow are in contention early 2nd half, bring on the likes of Jones and Matawalu will swing the game 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detournement Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 (edited) Munster are resting most of their 1st XV tonight away to Ulster who have a full strength side out. This double header could cement the conference for Glasgow and simultaneously kill Edinburgh's playoff chances. Their best hope looks like Scarlets shite form is permanent rather than temporary. Edited December 21, 2018 by Detournement 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Ulster down to 14 with yellow straight from the kickoff. Should probably have been red. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detournement Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Munster got a losing bonus point from a soft penalty after 80 minutes. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Munster got a losing bonus point from a soft penalty after 80 minutes.Stop lying Munster never get soft penaltys 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 George Turner out for around 10 weeks with the ankle injury that saw him stretchered off last week, while Matawalu is the latest to sign a new deal until 2021. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afca32 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 (edited) If Glasgow can get close to matching Edinburgh’s pack, which going by their form this season they probably will, I reckon the backs will run riot. Edited December 21, 2018 by afca32 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northsea80 Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Combined Glasgow/Edinburgh VX as chosen by bbc sport users. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lambies Doos Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Good start from Edinburgh 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detournement Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Hastings and Grigg have been poor from Glasgow. More accuracy needed in the second half. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Jacobsen Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 That's the second game in a row that Cully has been binned. A tad frustrating. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detournement Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Hogg was lucky he didn't get done for a seatbelt which would have been a penalty try. Hastings and Grigg are so bad at passing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggy Snake Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 (edited) Glasgow were really poor tonight. Edinburgh professional and well organised which is all they required. Edited December 22, 2018 by Jaggy Snake 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Glasgow back to the old problem of trying to force it wide when they haven’t got enough quick ball and go forward. Edinburgh defended well and were pretty much gifted the game. We need a big destructive ball carrier in the Mata/Nick Williams mould. The young boys may get there, but it’s the big thing that is lacking. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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