RWC19 "Stuff"
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Really missing the usual suspects predicting a massive loss for England. Sure they’ll come tomorrow (maybe). Really fancy England to win this weekend. Dominate them up front.
Liam Williams is huge loss for wales. Their only real attacking threat in the back line
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
And here was me thinking this was a site for club supporters...
Go down the road of central contracts and you end up like Ireland (failed dismally at the RWC) where star players turn out for their club (province) rarely. I don't want to watch club rugby stripped of its stars.
Don't fall into the trap of believing everything is rosy in NZ, because it isn't...Super Rugby's in disarray, fans are walking away from it, and kids are drifting away from rugby in droves. I think our model works rather well thank you very much.
There's too much international rugby, and too much of that is mere money-spinning. In England the club scene is where the history, the tribalism, and the 'proper' fans are. As for the Lions...their committee are too up themselves, and think the calendar should revolve round them.
PS I still fancy England to win the RWC
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
As I said before this comes around every 4 years...the bread and butter is the the Premiership and the T14 they hold the purse strings.
The fantasy that the financially strapped RFU can get control is up there in Lalaland. I've heard there was an outcry when, as part of the cutbacks, it was discovered the ice in the G&Ts was frozen not fresh,
This morning it was reported from the Irish that their problem is that they DON'T play enough meaningful rugby week in week out....made I larf!
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Not1eyed wrote:Really missing the usual suspects predicting a massive loss for England. Sure they’ll come tomorrow (maybe). Really fancy England to win this weekend. Dominate them up front.
Liam Williams is huge loss for wales. Their only real attacking threat in the back line
Not entirely sure how you 'dominate' that Kiwi pack.
Bit of a sod to lose Sanjay, 1/2 p has been missing for a long time since Kerevi knocked him out.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Sorry Guys we'll just have to agree to differ. Eng and France are the only two nations who have clubs dominating the national cause. the French story os too well oiled. Eng are doing very well just now but as we know given the player base their record over the last 30 yrs is way behind where it should have been. The club game is as we have all admitted way beyond unsustainable. Look at Sarries and Barf. How you can call that doing very nicely I don't understand. The Prem is becoming a self serving ego trip for rich boys the way football has. We have now nearly half the main players in each team from other nations which may be fine for those who want to watch but strips the assets from the nations who need it.
We will all watch and support Glos whoever plays . Did we enjoy it less back in the 80's and 90's with so many of " our own" playing. No it was just as much fun. Those days have gone but that doesn't mean the current route is the best way ahead.
I am not suggesting that the Pro 14 is any sort of perfect system by the way. It is far from it but neither is the route that the Prem have gone. There is a better more sustainable route that benefits rugby around the globe.
I guess it is just as well none of us have any say in the future so we'll have to lie back a take the game we're given. 
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
If you want to see the "future" CMGC, I do recommend buying Unholy Union- Rugby meets the modern era. some long passages in it, but scary. Some bits from it: the T14 is the richest in the world by revenue, The Prem second and WR via the RWC the third. However 52% of RWC revenue goes to the "Founding Nations" ( 5 Nations & the big 3 in the SH ). WR is not 1 member 1 vote, again the Founding nations made sure of that . I believe N Wray wrote off a £40 Million "debt" and let's hope his descendants are obsessed with Sarries as he is. Southampton FC is a case in point. Owner loved them, daughter didn't and sold them. Mr Langford, tbf is a Bristol boy and wants success for the Citys teams however, his firm is taking flack in the papers which may dent his fortune: https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... dford-fund
Rugby shouldn't end up a mess like Football, but you'd think the powers that be would recognise that and act accordingly. Whilst the FFR is a toothless wonder, the RFU still have some clout. The players also need to be less greedy. Yes it's a short career, but it's even shorter if the money runs out.
PS: If the JRFU get their way with their proposed new League and the Company owned Clubs get on board, the power and monetary shift will make the T14 & GRP paupers by comparison. Then watch where the "big" nations Tour.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
I'll have a look at it. WR have lots to sort out and the WC payout is one thing that needs to be shared on a very different basis. Ok it make take a couple of cycles to get it right but something needs to shift. Thank heavens the qualification rules are now moving in the right direction. Hopefuly they will remove grannygate next.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Disappointed to read that PRL have refused the Lion's request to move the Premiership Final forward by one week in order to create a week for travel/acclimatisation pre-SA Tour.
Disappointing because the Pro 12 Final is being moved to accommodate Lions.
You would have hoped that CVC might have been able to get the warring factions in agreement.
Sad state of affairs BUT bear in mind that a few at PRL consider the Lions to be as much a waste as time as the International tournaments. They would be happy with club rugby only...….
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
DT's right. some on here berate WR for the dithering and lack of progress across the whole, but all said and done they're a pretty toothless head to the beast that is full of vested interests.
Re: RWC19 "Stuff"
Gloucester Mute wrote:Disappointed to read that PRL have refused the Lion's request to move the Premiership Final forward by one week in order to create a week for travel/acclimatisation pre-SA Tour.
Disappointing because the Pro 12 Final is being moved to accommodate Lions.
You would have hoped that CVC might have been able to get the warring factions in agreement.
Sad state of affairs BUT bear in mind that a few at PRL consider the Lions to be as much a waste as time as the International tournaments. They would be happy with club rugby only...….
I guess they didn't consider having one less autumn international that season as a solution, it's not quite as straight-forward as you suggest. PRL, I suspect, are not anti internationals, they just realise that they have to co-exist and that it should not be all-give.