Rugby Union 2010

[Schumi]

Toulon winning the Challenge Cup would do the job for Biarritz too. They won't want to rely on that though, especially as Toulon will likely be looking ahead to theb Top 14 final the next week.

Ignore this, I'm talking through my arse. A French team will win the Heineken Cup so they get 7 places next year and Biarritz will qualify regardless.

[paudie]

Clermont just about beat Racing Metro at home in the 1st round of top 14 playoffs. 21-17.
Playing Toulon in semis

[paudie]

Tolouse beat Castres 35-12 to reach the SF for the 17th year in a row!

They'll play Perpignan

[Charlie Darwin]

I was watching the AIB league final but every time I switched over Toulouse were dominating them. Didn't even look close - 4 penalties for Castres, right?

Mary's put up a brave resistance to Cork Con and certainly had the better possession and territory, but the superior fitness and guile of the professionals in the Cork ranks won it for them.

[joeSoap]

Second year in a row that the AIL final has gone to extra-time. Good for the viewers. I actually though Marys left it behind them during the 80 mins, with a couple of poor penalties. You certainly wouldn't have backed him kicking the conversion to level it though...

Leinster v Munster semi in the Magners...but only just. Couldn't believe how Munster were actually beaten last night. Cardiff were very poor and Munster controlled most of the game. Leinster were made fight hard by their bogey team, but came through in the end after a major scare. Semi final in the RDS so they're ignoring the money and using the home advantage...sensible move. At least it gives us an Irish finalist no matter what and a big night on Saturday.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think the Setanta commentators mentioned something about Croker not being available, but that if they'd both made the final they could have arranged it.

[Schumi]

I doubt Croker would have been much over half full anyway tbh so it wouldn't have made much sense for Leinster to move it. The extra takings wouldn't have done much more than cover the rent and the atmosphere would have been crap.

[Youths4Ever]

Croker wont be used to big like Schumi said would not get a big enough crowd plus with a week turn around to short notice to move and organise tickets etc. moving would be a mistake anyway in terms of atomsphere

[Macy]

I'd say the short turn around is the main reason, as no way they could build the hype to sell enough tickets to make it the occasion. Maybe if Munster had qualified earlier...

[Aberdonian Stu]

Even then Macy I'm almost glad they didn't (even though it means I have no chance at a ticket). Croker is great when it's full, really capable of being something special, but it suffers terribly when anything less than three quarters full (60k). The drop off in atmosphere is painful and takes something out of the experience.

[Macy]

Surprised there hasn't been any mention of the game. I thought it was fairly easy for Leinster once they got on top, Munster didn't really produce anything to really threaten Leinster in the second half, not helped by a few panicky decisions by O'Gara imo. He was also lucky not to concede 10 for not shutting up when Owens was telling him to, is he to hot headed to be captain? I also felt that Leinster were unlucky with the decision with O'Learys tackle on Healy. I thought it was high, and should've been a penalty try (at least).

4 in a row to the "ladyboys" - time to pass on the ping pong balls?

[joeSoap]

Surprised there hasn't been any mention of the game. I thought it was fairly easy for Leinster once they got on top, Munster didn't really produce anything to really threaten Leinster in the second half, not helped by a few panicky decisions by O'Gara imo. He was also lucky not to concede 10 for not shutting up when Owens was telling him to, is he to hot headed to be captain? I also felt that Leinster were unlucky with the decision with O'Learys tackle on Healy. I thought it was high, and should've been a penalty try (at least).

4 in a row to the "ladyboys" - time to pass on the ping pong balls?

Leinster far superior to Munster in nearly all facets. McGahan and Fisher need to handed their P45's I think.

I thought the opposite for the 'high' tackle. I thought he took him around the shoulder.

[Macy]

I thought the opposite for the 'high' tackle. I thought he took him around the shoulder.

His hand was on his shoulder, but the rest of the arm was neck level imo. I'm not suggesting it was deliberate btw, but if it was a penalty (which irrc it was) it should've been a penalty try, which would've been game over at that stage.

Ireland squad for the summer tour, full strength...

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster), Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)*, Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*, Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)*, David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

* Uncapped player

[paudie]

French Top 14 final on Saturday evening - Live on Setanta 1

Clermont Auvergne v Perpignan

Clermonts fourth final in a row and 11th in all but they've never won it!
Perpignan are the holders

[paudie]

Clermont won 19-6

[Mr A]

How the hell is Buckley constantly preferred to Tom Court?

[OneRedArmy]

Spot on Mr A. The play at the final whistle epitomised why Buckley isn't an international footballer. A club 3rd's player would be embarrassed by his body position going into the challenge. Add the fact he's 6'5" and 20 stone and it reflects worse on him.

[Mr A]

Heineken Cup Draw is done:

Heineken Cup 2010/11

Pool 1
Cardiff Blues
Northampton Saints
Edinburgh
Castres Olympique

Pool 2
Leinster
Clermont Auvergne
Saracens
Racing Metro 92

Pool 3
Munster
Ospreys
London Irish
Toulon

Pool 4
Biarritz
Bath
Ulster
Aironi Rugby

Pool 5
Leicester
Scarlets
Perpignan
Benetton Treviso

Pool 6
Toulouse
London Wasps
Glasgow Warriors
Newport Gwent Dragons

Ulster probably the happiest, despite being third tier.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ulster's pool is definitely winnable. Leinster and Munster have both drawn by far the strongest fourth seeds. Will be tough, especially with French rugby on the up.

[Real ale Madrid]

Ireland try again against the All Blacks this Saturday morning at 8.35. We've never beaten them. I was fearing a right hammering given the injuries we have, but the New Zealanders have 3 new caps, plenty of injuries themselves and were caught early this time last year by France, so I hope we give them a right good game. End of a long season tho, so I'd be pleasantly surprised if we got within 7-10 points.

Ireland:
Rob Kearney (Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster); Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), John Hayes (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), John Muldoon (Connacht), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: John Fogarty (Leinster), Tony Buckley (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester).

New Zealand:
Israel Dagg (Highlanders); Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Benson Stanley (Blues), Joe Rokocoko (Blues); Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders); Ben Franks (Crusaders), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Anthony Boric (Blues), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Richie McCaw (Crusaders, capt), Kieran Read (Crusaders).

Replacements: Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Victor Vito (Hurricanes), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes), Zac Guildford (Crusaders).

But before that Ireland play thier 2nd game in the Junior World Cup tonight in Argantina against England. Thought we were very unlucky not to get a draw against France, but still in with a chance to qualify for the semis if we beat England and Argentina and pick up a bonus point or two. Should be another good game.