A whiff of Cordite

[JB1973]

The URC ( and it's previous guises) serves a purpose there is no doubting both the welsh and Irish national teams have improved greatly since it started. Both have won grand slams both have even made it to number 1 in the world rankings, imagine that in the 80s? Not to mention the many European successes the Irish sides enjoyed

Yes the rugby is not great and there are mismatches but what is the alternative? back to welsh clubs playing each other and the test team losing to Canada , Romania and getting thumped by all the big sides?

Do you guys want to go back to blackrock vs young munster?

The premiership is imo the best league out there, big crowds, high scores and often close games but the t14 is often a boring slog and I can hardly ever watch a full match

if ROG is being honest the URC is as good as spectacle as the T14 week in week out

[paddyor]

Whilst I would disagree with you on Van Graan’s development process, as I think that it is one of his few redeeming factors, I do feel that discussing it here would detract from the conversation.

You are correct, I do like to watch young players not only get chances, but also take those chances.
For me, this is where our league comes into its own.
The URC imo is a strong development league which allows clubs to compete in the HC on a regular basis, and produces a steady flow of internationals for each country involved.

This use of the league for this purpose is what lowers the quality of the league. It is deduced to a league where the bigger clubs don’t have to field anything close to full strength teams to make the knockouts.

MOC disproved this theory of the Pro12 in his second season and Foley too the season after. The move to 14 teams and 6 playoff slots has made it easier granted but the home incentive of a home semi means you do have to win every other time.

The weakness of the URC are mostly union specifc. The Scots didn't spend any money on their teams for years and they can't afford(or have decided to save a few quid) to keep their best players(Russell, Hogg, Gray etc) in Scotland. They've had to plug holes in player production with saffer and English imports. It appears to be paying off with both sides being a bit competive.

You could a book on the probelms of the Welsh regions. It's certainly true in many of their cases that their players only seem to care about Wales. Not sure how you fix that.

[LeinsterLeader]

The URC ( and it's previous guises) serves a purpose there is no doubting both the welsh and Irish national teams have improved greatly since it started. Both have won grand slams both have even made it to number 1 in the world rankings, imagine that in the 80s? Not to mention the many European successes the Irish sides enjoyed

Yes the rugby is not great and there are mismatches but what is the alternative? back to welsh clubs playing each other and the test team losing to Canada , Romania and getting thumped by all the big sides?

Do you guys want to go back to blackrock vs young munster?

The premiership is imo the best league out there, big crowds, high scores and often close games but the t14 is often a boring slog and I can hardly ever watch a full match

if ROG is being honest the URC is as good as spectacle as the T14 week in week out

I think that's a pretty fair opinion JB and probably close to the truth.

I think it's closer then ROG's anyway. At the end of the day that's the thing though, it's all just opinion. There is no real way to prove it.

[paddyor]

The Top14 is by far and away a bigger and better quality league than the URC. Not sure how that can be argued.

(For anyone who wants to watch high quality rugby TV production by the way, try tune into Canal's Saturday Top14 live programme. It's incredibly well produced and really makes a spectacle of the 2-3 games that are shown).

The Prem has declined I think for a variety of reasons, but it also means more to most fans and clubs than the Heineken Cup does to URC clubs.

Once we get a proper year where the SA clubs are involved and engaged then that might change.

Was it?

[riocard911]

Whatever league Leinster play in is the best, IMO. End of!

[Dave Cahill]

Once a plonker, always a plonker. If I were advising Exeter in terms of PR and branding I'd have the Chief transformed into a Dumnonii chieftain, with a big beard, big shield and big sword. This Red-Indian stuff is downright cringeworthy in this day and age and the hanging on to it embarrassing.

Thats actually what they're doing - they have engaged historians from local universities to reseach local celtic and other historical peoples to create a new brand identity

[LeinsterLeader]

Personally I think they missed a trick by not rebranding as "Chieftains" and used Paddy Moloneys image

[ronk]

Would it be auto cultural appropriation or self cultural appropriation?

[riocard911]

Once a plonker, always a plonker. If I were advising Exeter in terms of PR and branding I'd have the Chief transformed into a Dumnonii chieftain, with a big beard, big shield and big sword. This Red-Indian stuff is downright cringeworthy in this day and age and the hanging on to it embarrassing.

Thats actually what they're doing - they have engaged historians from local universities to reseach local celtic and other historical peoples to create a new brand identity

Thanks for the follow up, Dave. Lovely branding. I think they can be happy with that. I would be.

[The Doc]

And they can swap the drums for bodhrans - not sure what they do with the tomahawk chop chant

[paddyor]

Anyone else seeing Jack Nowell in a mongol hat/helmut?

[Oldschool]

And they can swap the drums for bodhrans - not sure what they do with the tomahawk chop chant

axe it

[Oldschool]

Anyone else seeing Jack Nowell in a mongol hat/helmut?

German pre WW1

[fourthirtythree]

Anyone else seeing Jack Nowell in a mongol hat/helmut?

I wasn't, but now you say it I can't unsee it!

[ronk]

Anyone else seeing Jack Nowell in a mongol hat/helmut?

In lipstick
EDIT and rouge and eyeliner

[riocard911]

Very good, Ronk. That said, I imagine warpaint may well have been de rigeur going into battle for the Dumnonii back in the day....

[paddyor]

Anyone else seeing Jack Nowell in a mongol hat/helmut?

German pre WW1

Loose the ponytail and the makeup and it could be Paul Von Hindenberg

[neiliog93]

Paul von Hindenburg...there's a solution to our NIQ tighthead second-row needs...

[Laighin Break]

Garry Doyle's article in The42 fanboying Munster's win against Edinburgh is something else

[Barry]

Garry Doyle's article in The42 fanboying Munster's win against Edinburgh is something else

Watched the game and thought Casey was awful, the article is singing his praises

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