The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

I just saw the Glasgow vs Ulster (16-14) match this afternoon on replay. What can I say I can't imagine anyone watching a game like that and not enjoying it. Those players are made of something special for sure. How can you not feel badly for whatever side loses a match like that. Pete

[pharvey]

Pete - all the Play-off's have been superb in the Aviva and the Pro 12. I include the drubbing Bath gave Leicester (Aviva) as I support Bath!!

I for one am not a huge supporter of the "Play-offs" as it's just a money grabbing exercise and quite frankly the players are given too many games as it is. Don't get me wrong..... love to see the games, but give the guys a rest.

That aside

Aviva Final on Saturday: - Bath vs Saracens !!

Bath's 1st final since 2004...... We are going to TW@T them!!

[pharvey]

Incredible end to the Rugby Championship (2nd tier English club rugby), that saw Worcester return to the Premiership after a 59-58 aggregate win over Bristol after a 2 leg playoff final. Worcester took the first leg 29 v 28 at Bristol, and last night's second leg ended in a pulsating 30 v 30 draw, with Worcester coming back with 2 late tries.... incredible stuff.

You have to feel for Bristol though - table toppers in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015...... go to the playoff's and fail to get promotion. This quite frankly is where the playoff's are completely unfair - IMHO, if you're top of the table at the end of the season, you get promoted or win the title... simples! You don't see playoff's at the bottom of the table with those fighting relegation.

I truly hope that Worcester can make a better go of it than London Welsh did this season. London Welsh newly promoted for this season did not record a single win in their 22 matches, scoring just a single bonus point for a loss of less than 7 points. And now head straight back down to the Championship........

Now for the Premiership final with Bath taking on Saracens at "HQ". Kick-off is Saturday 30th, 15:30 local.

[EDIT] Again, showing the unfairness of the playoff system. Northampton, who top the table and are IMHO deserved champions, are not even present in the final. I say this despite being a Bath supporter!!

[PeteC]

There's also Munster vs Glasgow on Sunday. Live here on Setanta.

[pharvey]

There's also Munster vs Glasgow on Sunday. Live here on Setanta.

I'd completely forgotten about that Pete - thanks for the reminder!!

[PeteC]

Here are the listings for Setanta in case anyone interested:

http://www.setanta.com/asia/tv-listings/

...and a how to watch guide:

http://www.setanta.com/asia/watchsetanta/thailand/

[dtaai-maai]

I'm going to have to get Setanta at 4k baht per year, but I'll wait until the start of next season. 365Sport is good all round, but not enough UK rugby week in, week out.

[Big Boy]

DM, you might want to consider Best TV. I don't have Best TV, but I have similar technology (installed by a friend), and it gives a hell of a lot - so much that you could probably dump 365 and have everything in the same place.

[dtaai-maai]

I don't want boxes and stuff, just a program I can download onto my PC - do they do that?

[robcar]

Try this website. http://ifirstrow.eu/# I use it all the time. You do need a good, contant internet connection speed. I do ok on 3bb 15mbps. Sometimes it freezes but re-login and it's ok

[pharvey]

I don't want boxes and stuff, just a program I can download onto my PC - do they do that?

Also worth looking at http://www.filmon.com DM - only provides Terrestrial TV (UK, US, Canada etc.), but it's free and the lower quality stream is absolutely fine on a PC screen (you can upgrade to HD for a monthly charge if, but for me it's simply not worth it as I only use while traveling/working away). Whilst unfortunately the vast majority of sport is now on Cable/Satellite, you do still get the occasional games - especially grass-roots and age grade rugby which has seen some great games this season.

Tie in with http://www.tvguide.co.uk to see what the hell is on!!

[pharvey]

Sad and shocking news this morning..

Taken from: - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33017982


Jerry Collins: Former All Black dies in car crash

Former All Black Jerry Collins and his wife Alana Madill have died in a car crash in France, with their daughter in a critical condition in hospital.
Reports in France say a bus was in collision with the couple's car in the early hours of Friday.
Collins, 34, made his debut for new Zealand in 2001 and won 48 caps. The ex-Ospreys flanker had been playing for French side Narbonne.
The All Blacks said on Twitter they are "shocked and saddened" by the news.
The tough-tackling blind-side flanker was described as the "Jonah Lomu of the forwards" by World Cup-winning England scrum-half Matt Dawson.
Wales and Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb said it was "devastating news" to hear of the death of "a true rugby legend".

R.I.P. Jerry - one of the true greats of rugby.

[PeteC]

Forgot to comment earlier.....Bath vs Saracens and Glasgow vs Munster were boring matches to me. Couldn't hold a candle to the week prior Glasgow vs Ulster. That was championship rugby IMO. Pete

[pharvey]

^ Didn't get to see the Munster match, but certainly didn't enjoy the Bath game - not least as they lost!! Although there was some excitement in the second half

Bath simply didn't turn up for the 1st half and were 25-3 down at the break - some poor decision making on the pitch, and some poor tactical decisions off it IMHO. The second half was a slightly different story with Bath coming back to finaly lose 28-16. Bath need to do a little soul-searching over the "close season".

Still some cracking rugby to come in the French Top 14. Clermont take on Toulouse (Saturday 6th KO 14:15 GMT) and Stade Francais play Toulon (Friday 5th KO 18:45 GMT) in the 2 semi-finals.....

[PeteC]

Waratahs, Brumbies vie for Super Rugby home semi-final
Post Publishing PCL.

SYDNEY - Defending champions New South Wales Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies are chasing maximum points this weekend to lock down a home semi-final and an easier path to this year's Super Rugby final......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/ ... semi-final