The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

For reference here's the Rugby Championship full schedule, including who the head referee will be. Times are local time at venue. Pete

http://www.superxv.com/rugbychamps/rugb ... -fixtures/

[PeteC]

Pharvey, what's your team; Blues, Scarlets or Ospreys? Pete

[pharvey]

Pharvey, what's your team; Blues, Scarlets or Ospreys? Pete

Historically was always Llanelli Pete - so the Scarlets as they are now known. Still very much a favourite, but rarely get to see them play. More recently for my sins, it's been the Newport Gwent Dragons basically as they are a 30 min drive away (or an hour on the bus when I'm allowed to partake in a pint or six)! They're certainly the weakest of the four Welsh sides and the departure of Taulupe Faletau to Bath Rugby (my "Team" in Engeeerrlund) will do them no favours at all this season - though it's a positive move for him personally IMHO.

Some cracking games yesterday in both the Pro 12 and the Premiership - did you get to see any?

[PeteC]

I was out and in all weekend and only got to see pieces of the Glasgow, Munster and Ulster wins. Setanta Asia has good coverage of about everything now that the downunder leagues are over, or wrapping up in the case of the NRL. Pete

[pharvey]

I was out and in all weekend and only got to see pieces of the Glasgow, Munster and Ulster wins. Setanta Asia has good coverage of about everything now that the downunder leagues are over, or wrapping up in the case of the NRL. Pete

Bristol game superb - if you can get a link well worth the watch.

[pharvey]

A great club saved - thanks to our US cousins!

London Welsh - a team formed in 1885 playing at "old Dear Park". "The Exiles" (players born in Wales but living outside... originally) it's been the home of some classic players - JPR, Merv, Gerald, John Dawes - good God, incredible.

London Welsh have suffered badly in recent years, demoted, cash problems and lately threatened with closure from the HMRC over an unpaid tax bill - The TAX w@nkers go after great clubs (and the "common" people) rather than the huge corporate companies avoiding tax, the likes of "Facebook", "Amazon", "Apple", "Starbucks" etc..... Bizarre that an American company has saved the team!!

[PeteC]

Is there a link with the story?

[pharvey]

Is there a link with the story?

Apologies, yes indeed there is: -

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... r-11846052

[pharvey]

Is there a link with the story?

Apologies, yes indeed there is: -

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... r-11846052


[EDIT] Also from the official London Welsh RFC Site: - http://www.london-welsh.co.uk/index.php ... ew&id=2970

[dtaai-maai]

Do they have a special deal for pensioners at Old Dear Park?

[PeteC]

I'm curious who it is, but the articles don't say. Sooner or later it will come out. Pete

[pharvey]

Do they have a special deal for pensioners at Old Dear Park?

I think they were trying anything and everything - guess you qualify??!!
Actually a cracking ground for the atmosphere - just not to Premiership League standards these days, hence the reason for their (unsuccessful) move a couple of seasons ago.

I'm curious who it is, but the articles don't say. Sooner or later it will come out. Pete

Something I've been trying to find out..... Basically all the news states is that it's a "Californian based consortium".

[arcadianagain]

How many of us qualify as "Old Dears"?

[PeteC]

The New Zealand vs Argentina game was amazing. It was within a few points at the half and I thought we really have a game here. Somewhere around 50 minutes the All Blacks went to the bench and to my shock took off some star players. By 64 minutes they had reached my spread of 23 points, and it just went on from there. They looked like a team of boys who just got back from the senior prom the night before and couldn't see or walk straight in the first half, then they went into another gear or dimension and simply blew Argentina away. Very sad for the Argentines as you could see all the hope they had in the first half totally drain away. This game was another weird number like the 48th or 49th straight NZ win at home. If anyone beats them in the foreseeable future, it will be themselves. Pete

EDIT: Above should be 42 home test matches....not 48 or 49.

[PeteC]

Full video replay of the NZ vs Argentina game #1 match from last weekend. Pete

http://allblacks.com/Video/Viewer/26714 ... ina-game-1

Under the "video" tab is also the full replay of NZ vs Australia Game #2

EDIT: Unfortunately at the moment You Tube is stating "video not available". Don't know if a temporary glitch, or it's been blocked here. I'll try it later using a vpn and report back.

EDIT #2: Yes, it works with a vpn tuned into Singapore or New Zealand as server locations. Assume it works with other locations as well, but it didn't with a Hong Kong server location. Appears they may be blocking it in locations well known for copying.