RugbyRebels

Results like this one are so good for the game, particularly against a side whose principle goal is the Champions’ Cup about which they build their season and preserve their best players.
Bravo, Northampton, all rugby fans will be delighted for you!

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:57 pm Results like this one are so good for the game, particularly against a side whose principle goal is the Champions’ Cup about which they build their season and preserve their best players.
Bravo, Northampton, all rugby fans will be delighted for you!

Amen

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:57 pm Results like this one are so good for the game, particularly against a side whose principle goal is the Champions’ Cup about which they build their season and preserve their best players.
Bravo, Northampton, all rugby fans will be delighted for you!

Absolutely!

What a match as well. It's taken years off my life despite no skin in the game (bar quite wanting an English club to win against the odds)

Danno wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:34 pm That shoulder barge and the offside were very stupid, but iron those out a bit with experience and he'll be a real cheat's cheat on top of the rest of his game.

100% there's a reason opensides tend to peak in their late twenties most the time. He's a menace already and as he learns as you say, to cheat clever he'll be an even bigger menace.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:57 pm Results like this one are so good for the game, particularly against a side whose principle goal is the Champions’ Cup about which they build their season and preserve their best players.
Bravo, Northampton, all rugby fans will be delighted for you!

I applaud this post

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:56 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 7:48 pm Jesus Christ I can't remember being more tense than in the last few minutes there. Unbelievable effort from the squad. Poor decision making from Leinster not to kick points.

I've seen loads of people criticising Pollock on social media for not doing the nuts and bolts of flanker play, making turn overs etc. Pretty sure he's winning the stats for turnovers in this competition. The guy is an insane talent, and therefore some people are desperate to find fault for reasons I can't understand.

20, is remarkable. Ignore the critics.

agreed.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:57 pm Results like this one are so good for the game, particularly against a side whose principle goal is the Champions’ Cup about which they build their season and preserve their best players.
Bravo, Northampton, all rugby fans will be delighted for you!

Very well said

Kemeny is a clear red card right?

Actually a clear penalty against pollock on 76 minutes, should have been a yellow card

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:56 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 7:48 pm Jesus Christ I can't remember being more tense than in the last few minutes there. Unbelievable effort from the squad. Poor decision making from Leinster not to kick points.

I've seen loads of people criticising Pollock on social media for not doing the nuts and bolts of flanker play, making turn overs etc. Pretty sure he's winning the stats for turnovers in this competition. The guy is an insane talent, and therefore some people are desperate to find fault for reasons I can't understand.

Pollock is absolute class now and I think he's going to get a hell of a lot better. To be an integral part of that win, especially against that back row, at 20, is remarkable. Ignore the critics.

I think we saw the two Lions 7s today in Pollock and Josh VDF. Both had a stormer. Might be a tad hard on Jac Morgan, but they can't all go, and these two look ahead of the pack. Tom Curry and Jack Willis options for 6, but not outstanding lineout options..
Great win for Saints. No substitute for real pace (Freeman, Pollock.)

Don't think I've seen such a blatant off-the-ground pass as the one from Deegan, who was more or less flat on his back, to Vd Flier, who went on to score. Have refs stopped blowing this up now?

Spiffy wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 2:06 am Don't think I've seen such a blatant off-the-ground pass as the one from Deegan, who was more or less flat on his back, to Vd Flier, who went on to score. Have refs stopped blowing this up now?

I was yelling at that at the time, he was on the floor for 5+ seconds before the pass ffs

Danno wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 5:51 am

Spiffy wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 2:06 am Don't think I've seen such a blatant off-the-ground pass as the one from Deegan, who was more or less flat on his back, to Vd Flier, who went on to score. Have refs stopped blowing this up now?

I was yelling at that at the time, he was on the floor for 5+ seconds before the pass ffs

Yep I was similarly annoyed by that. It's been creeping in for ages now, and whilst I'm generally happy for refs to allow pops off the ground to allow attacking play to continue, it surely has to be pretty immediate on hitting the deck. He was laying on his back looking for options and waiting for the right one.

Danno wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 5:51 am

Spiffy wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 2:06 am Don't think I've seen such a blatant off-the-ground pass as the one from Deegan, who was more or less flat on his back, to Vd Flier, who went on to score. Have refs stopped blowing this up now?

I was yelling at that at the time, he was on the floor for 5+ seconds before the pass ffs

And dummied one to make the Saints defenders leap rather than folding. If he's allowed one immediate action, then he used it on the dummy.

Still, thankfully a moot point.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 10:48 am

Danno wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 5:51 am

Spiffy wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 2:06 am Don't think I've seen such a blatant off-the-ground pass as the one from Deegan, who was more or less flat on his back, to Vd Flier, who went on to score. Have refs stopped blowing this up now?

I was yelling at that at the time, he was on the floor for 5+ seconds before the pass ffs

And dummied one to make the Saints defenders leap rather than folding. If he's allowed one immediate action, then he used it on the dummy.

Still, thankfully a moot point.

Puja

Yeah I think the post mortem on what should have the ref have done is a bit pointless; Leinster should be wondering how an injury hit side beat them when down to 14 men for 30 minutes of the match, at home. Kudos to Saints for sticking to attacking principles.

Got to say I thought the ref did a good job, both sides were up to all sorts at the breakdown and maul. The game was played at a frenetic pace. Would have been easy for him to lose control of that but he did well and it helped the game as a result.

The second semi kicks off at 3pm UK time and here are the teams. No Dupont, Ramos or Kinghorn for Toulouse, but Capuozzo is fit to play :

Toulouse
15. Mallia ; 14. Capuozzo, 13. Barassi, 12. Ahki, 11. Delibes ; 10. R.Ntamack, 9. Graou ; 7. Willis, 8. Roumat, 6. Cros ; 5. Meafou, 4. Flament ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Marchand (cap.), 1. Baille.

Remplaçants : 16. Cramont, 17. Neti, 18. Merkler, 19. Vergé, 20. Jelonch, 21. Castro-Ferreira, 22. Saito, 23. Chocobares.

And Bordeaux/Bègles:

15. Buros ; 14. Penaud, 13. Depoortere, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Lucu (cap.) ; 7. Petti, 8. Samu, 6. Diaby ; 5. Cazeaux, 4. Coleman ; 3. Falatea, 2. Lamothe, 1. Poirot.

Remplaçants : 16. Sa, 17. Perchaud, 18. Tameifuna, 19. Bochaton, 20. Gazzotti, 21. Vergnes-Taillefer, 22. Retière, 23. Carbery.

I caved in yesterday and coughed up for one month of Premier Sports. Bloody glad I did. What a fekking game!

Freeman just ridiculous. Bet Mitchell’s a bit miffed that his immaculate pop pass wasn’t getting any glory for that Pollock walk-in.

Round 2 of Freeman vs LBB should be fun.

Beasties wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 3:27 pm I caved in yesterday and coughed up for one month of Premier Sports. Bloody glad I did. What a fekking game!

Freeman just ridiculous. Bet Mitchell’s a bit miffed that his immaculate pop pass wasn’t getting any glory for that Pollock walk-in.

Walk-in's a bit strong, but it was utterly glorious timing on the pass and you're right should be getting more credit.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 4:09 pm

Beasties wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 3:27 pm I caved in yesterday and coughed up for one month of Premier Sports. Bloody glad I did. What a fekking game!

Freeman just ridiculous. Bet Mitchell’s a bit miffed that his immaculate pop pass wasn’t getting any glory for that Pollock walk-in.

Walk-in's a bit strong, but it was utterly glorious timing on the pass and you're right should be getting more credit.

Puja

The lines he and Smith hit would be described as sumptuous by Mr S Barnes

Great stuff from Bordeaux. Even with Toulouse’s resources, they still look a shadow of the side without Dupont.

Jack Willis was incredibly anonymous in this game too.

UBB were class.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 4:51 pm Great stuff from Bordeaux. Even with Toulouse’s resources, they still look a shadow of the side without Kinghorn.

Jack Willis was incredibly anonymous in this game too.

Yeah. Same with Faz earlier.