Anglo-Welsh

[Puja]

Didn't watch any, but there's some interesting results and team-sheets showing up. London Irish took the piss by naming almost the first XV and stuffed Wasps 66-7, who appeared to be playing their U-18s. Match-up of the day would've been Ben Franks on the Irish loose vs Gabriel Oghre on the Wasps tighthead, especially considering I was convinced Oghre was a hooker and not a very big one at that. Is this an ongoing project for Oghre? Or was he just the sacrificial lamb for the day?

Joe Marchant played 80 for Quins, Saracens stupid academy (plus Mark Flanagan) carried on their progress by thumping Dragons 2nds, and Leicester somehow managed not to get the bonus point again, despite facing what appears to be Cardiff's Home Guard.

Was there anything else vaguely interesting that happened?

Puja

[Raggs]

Ogjre was playing hooker. Stuart was our tighthead, he apparently won a penalty in the scrum too.

Lots of academy and age grade players in the wasps side, along with a number of guests. With something like 27 fit first teamers last weekend I'm guessing Dai has sent them to put their feet up.

[Scrumhead]

Didn't watch any, but there's some interesting results and team-sheets showing up. London Irish took the piss by naming almost the first XV and stuffed Wasps 66-7, who appeared to be playing their U-18s. Match-up of the day would've been Ben Franks on the Irish loose vs Gabriel Oghre on the Wasps tighthead, especially considering I was convinced Oghre was a hooker and not a very big one at that. Is this an ongoing project for Oghre? Or was he just the sacrificial lamb for the day?

Joe Marchant played 80 for Quins, Saracens stupid academy (plus Mark Flanagan) carried on their progress by thumping Dragons 2nds, and Leicester somehow managed not to get the bonus point again, despite facing what appears to be Cardiff's Home Guard.

Was there anything else vaguely interesting that happened?

Puja

I can understand why they did it, given the position they’re in, but it’s not really in the spirit of the competition.

Pleased to see Marchant, Wallace, Morris and Twomey back for Quins.

[Mellsblue]

Bath v Newcastle was entertaining, if low scoring. Didn’t really learn anything other than Knight is out of his depth, Radwan is unbelievable going forwards, a liability going backwards and a little lazy and JP Socino is the most Argentinian looking man in the world. Bath brought on some young, ginger backrower who looked good for the few mins he got.

Flanagan is a plus to any side.

[Puja]

Ogjre was playing hooker. Stuart was our tighthead, he apparently won a penalty in the scrum too.

Lots of academy and age grade players in the wasps side, along with a number of guests. With something like 27 fit first teamers last weekend I'm guessing Dai has sent them to put their feet up.

That makes a lot more sense. Bloody BBC.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Ogjre was playing hooker. Stuart was our tighthead, he apparently won a penalty in the scrum too.

Lots of academy and age grade players in the wasps side, along with a number of guests. With something like 27 fit first teamers last weekend I'm guessing Dai has sent them to put their feet up.

That makes a lot more sense. Bloody BBC.

Puja

Yep they’re flipping hopeless. Earlier this season they had our 40ish lock down as kicking a penalty.

[Stom]

Didn't watch any, but there's some interesting results and team-sheets showing up. London Irish took the piss by naming almost the first XV and stuffed Wasps 66-7, who appeared to be playing their U-18s. Match-up of the day would've been Ben Franks on the Irish loose vs Gabriel Oghre on the Wasps tighthead, especially considering I was convinced Oghre was a hooker and not a very big one at that. Is this an ongoing project for Oghre? Or was he just the sacrificial lamb for the day?

Joe Marchant played 80 for Quins, Saracens stupid academy (plus Mark Flanagan) carried on their progress by thumping Dragons 2nds, and Leicester somehow managed not to get the bonus point again, despite facing what appears to be Cardiff's Home Guard.

Was there anything else vaguely interesting that happened?

Puja

I can understand why they did it, given the position they’re in, but it’s not really in the spirit of the competition.

Pleased to see Marchant, Wallace, Morris and Twomey back for Quins.

Yeah. Really good to see Twomey back. Plus Gray, too. And always good to see Ibitoye, though. Haven't seen it, of course, though...

[fivepointer]

Glos made hard work of putting away a very young Ospreys side last night.

Only caught the 2nd half of Bath-Falcons but it looked a pretty entertaining game.

Irish putting out virtually their 1st XV isnt really the done thing.

I wonder if the competition could be improved by limiting it to U25 players (with maybe 2 over age players) and an EQ requirement of at least 20 out of the matchday 23.

[Puja]

Glos made hard work of putting away a very young Ospreys side last night.

Only caught the 2nd half of Bath-Falcons but it looked a pretty entertaining game.

Irish putting out virtually their 1st XV isnt really the done thing.

I wonder if the competition could be improved by limiting it to U25 players (with maybe 2 over age players) and an EQ requirement of at least 20 out of the matchday 23.

I'd endorse that - I mooted U23s with 4 overages on the Welsh board a while back after Exeter humiliated a bunch of Llanelli schoolchildren. Right now, no-one's sure what the hell this competition's meant to be and it's just making it even more irrelevant than it already is.

Needless to say, adding the Saffers would not improve the situation. Especially since it looks like we're preparing to sell them a bill of lading on this being an "elite" competition.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Agreed. IMO, the AW Cup needs to go one way or the other ...

There are two distinct options as I see it:

1) Put regulations in place to the profile/prestige of the competition to ensure more first team players are involved

Or ...

2) Put regulations in place (as others have suggested) to make sure everyone is treating it as a development competition i.e. U25 etc.

[Digby]

I think what Irish did makes perfect sense, it's a chance to run some patterns above training, but not with the usual disruption of a side able to disrupt their play more. Get some cohesion, I assume rest next Friday, and then give it plenty for that home match Vs Sale. They'd be selling their players, members and so on rather short if they hadn't done this.

And I don't think it detracts from the AW Cup, partly how would one lower such an event anyway, but mainly that teams come to it with such different aims seems fine to me. If everyone was picking such teams that would prompt me to think some changes were needed, as is it seems fine.

[Which Tyler]

Most years there's someone who plays the first XV in the group stages, whether to just run through some moves as anglorified training run, or to claim some form of silverware from an otherwise lost season.
Its just the way the competition is, we all know it, and it's why that piece of silverware is considered a nothing-boast.

I'd far rather invite the Champ teams along, and put a limit on the average experience in a team (whether that be U25 +2, or no capped players, or no-one with 200+ club appearances, or whatever)

[Raggs]

Saracens stupid academy (plus Mark Flanagan) carried on their progress by thumping Dragons 2nds

Sorry, just checked the Saracens lineup expecting to see just a couple of recognisable names, but on checking it, not sure you can call that a Sarries academy squad! Though if they've convinced the likes of Figallo to accept an academy contract, that would explain how they've stayed under the cap!

[Galfon]

Falcons host Glos. next Sat. Any home win should see them through to semi's above Tigs. on basis of tries scored, should Leic also win.
Exeter have been finalists in last 3 years, host Sarries.

[Puja]

Saracens stupid academy (plus Mark Flanagan) carried on their progress by thumping Dragons 2nds

Sorry, just checked the Saracens lineup expecting to see just a couple of recognisable names, but on checking it, not sure you can call that a Sarries academy squad! Though if they've convinced the likes of Figallo to accept an academy contract, that would explain how they've stayed under the cap!

I only looked at the XV, of which the vast majority were academy.

Falcons host Glos. next Sat. Any home win should see them through to semi's above Tigs. on basis of tries scored, should Leic also win.
Exeter have been finalists in last 3 years, host Sarries.
The lure of Champs. cup qual. for mid-table teams is still a resonable carrot, suppose.

Is that still there? I thought that had been done away with?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Is that still there? I thought that had been done away with?

Me too, quite a while ago wasn't it?

[Mellsblue]

Is that still there? I thought that had been done away with?

Me too, quite a while ago wasn't it?

I thought so, too. The commentator did mention it during the game yesterday, though.

[Galfon]

Is that still there? I thought that had been done away with?
Puja

Yes, it has.
I was talking out my erse on that one based on duff info I had read...this went with the rejigged format post Heiny.
Top 6 from Eng & Fra, 7 from Pro-14 , plus from next year no play-offs for last slot, it's the winner of the Challenge cup.
Maybe the 'tator was referring to this as a route through for some of the teams.

[Scrumhead]

As it stands, the current group leaders are Bath, Quins, Saints and Falcons.

As the only team with 15 points from 3 bonus point wins, Quins are most likely to be semi finalists but it’s not guaranteed. We have Saints away next weekend and while we will potentially still qualify if we lose, Bath have 12 points so could leapfrog us in to first spot and it’s also mathematically possible that Saints, Falcons and Tigers (all currently on 10 points) could nudge us out on points difference if we come away from Saints with 0.

[Which Tyler]

Quin's and Bath as comfortable favourites for home SFs as far as I can tell. Quin's just need a LBP at Saints to confirm it, Bath need any win at Ospreys, who are out of contention. Beyond that it's a bugger's muddle.

[Timbo]

Just watching Saints vs Quins and James Chisholm is a fantastic player. If he stays fit he’ll definitely get caps.

[Mellsblue]

I’d agree he’s a fantastic player. I’m not sure he’ll definately get caps. With the quality coming out of the academies I think we’ll have plenty of good players go uncapped.

[Timbo]

I was surprised that he’s only 22. Assumed with the injuries he was a bit older.

I think I’d have him over Mercer in the England squad at present.

[Buggaluggs]

How did North look?

[Timbo]

How did North look?

Like a T-1000 on steroids, as always.

But otherwise fit, sharp, not injured and fully conscious.