Thursday, 27 October 2016
Friday, 21 October 2016
european rugby predictions 21-10-16
FRIDAY
SALE V TOLOUN
I would be very surprised here if Sale got anything from
this match I see it as a 20 point win for the French side as they would be
enraged by what happened against Saracens last week.
SATURDAY
MUNSTER V GLASGOW
This is hard to predict as it is hard to say what Munster will come out to play after the death of a legends and coach. I think that Glasgow will win but by no more than 7 but I would not be shocked if Munster won it
SARACENS V SCARLETS
I think that Saracens will blow the Scarlet's away and win by at least 30 points
CASTREV NORTHAMPTON
I think this will be a battle but I see Northampton winning it by 30 points
CLERMOUNT V BORDEUX
After what happened between Bordeaux and Ulster last week Bordeaux
have shown them to have the class to win a tight game when needed. I think they
will get a losing bonus point from this match but that is it
ULSTER V EXETER
I think that Ulster will get the win here after how they
lost the last match there will be a lot of things looked at and they will get a
few answers to what went wrong last week.
SUNDAY
TOLOUSE V WASPS
I think that Wasps will win this after what happened last
week but it will be a tight battle
LEICESTER V RACING
I think that both of these teams a even and I think whether
having the match called off against Munster last week effected Racing or not
will be a huge factor I think Leister will win it.
ZEBRE CONNACHT
I think Connacht will get the bonus point here and things
will look like they are on easy street but Zebre will be up at some stages and
it will not be easy during the match
MONPELLIER V
LEINSTER
Monday, 17 October 2016
Anthony Foley a life at Munster 17-10-16 n
The reason to why Munster did not play yesterday was because
of the death of a Heniken Cup winner and Munster Legend died last knight
Anthony Foley. Foley was an Irish and Munster Legend and will be remembered by
a lot of people from that part of the world.
Anthony Gerard Foley (30 October 1973 – 16 October 2016) was
an Irish rugby union player and head coach of Munster. He was attached to the
same squad during his professional playing career. He was a member of the
Munster team that won the 2002–03 Celtic League and was the winning captain
during their 2005–06 Heineken Cup success. Foley played for Ireland from 1995
to 2005, and captained the squad on three separate occasions.
Club career
Foley made his professional debut for Munster against
Swansea in November 1995, a game that was also Munster's first ever Heineken
Cup fixture. He was in the Munster team that lost 8–9 to Northampton Saints in
the 2000 Heineken Cup Final and was again the runner-up when Munster lost 15–9
to Leicester Tigers in the 2002 Heineken Cup Final. Foley was finally on the
winning side when Munster won the 2002–03 Celtic League
When Mick Galwey resigned as Munster captain, Foley narrowly
lost to Jim Williams in a vote to decide the next captain. When Williams left
Munster in 2005, Foley became the new captain, and in his first season in the
position, he led Munster to victory over Biarritz Olympique in the 2006
Heineken Cup Final] Foley had played in all but one of Munster's first 78
Heineken Cup games until a shoulder injury sustained during Munster's 21–19
victory over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in their first game of the
2006–07 Heineken Cup caused him to miss his sides subsequent victory over
Bourgoin, as well as back-to-back games against Cardiff in December 2006.
He stood down as captain at the beginning of the 2007–08
season, making way for Paul O'Connell. He was dropped for Munster's final
fixtures of the 2007–08 Heineken Cup, and announced his retirement for the end
of the season.
International career
Foley made his debut for Ireland against England in the 1995
Five Nations Championship on 21 January 1995. He scored a try on his debut in
an 8-20 defeat. He went to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, an played
in one pool game against Japan.He missed the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but was
selected for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, featuring in two of the pool games
against Romania and Australia.
Foley captained Ireland three times: in 2001 against Samoa,
and in 2002 against Romania and Georgia. His last international was against
Wales in the 2005 Six Nations
Coaching career[edit]
In March 2011, it was announced that Foley would take over
as Munster forwards coach at the end of the 2011 season.[16] He temporarily
replaced Gert Smal as Ireland's forwards coach during the 2012 Six Nations
Championship, after Smal was forced to miss the remainder of the tournament
with an eye condition. Foley signed a contract extension with Munster in May 2013.
The following year it was announced that Foley would succeed Rob Penney as
Munster's head coach, signing a two-year contract that began on 1 July
2014.[20]
Personal life and death
He was married to Olive; the couple had two children. His
father Brendan Foley and sister Rosie Foley (fr) also played rugby for Ireland.
Foley played Gaelic football for his local GAA club Smith O'Briens in the
parish of Killaloe, Co. Clare. He lined out for Smith O'Briens GAA club in a
Munster junior club football semi-final in 2010. He played inter-county hurling
for Clare at underage level alongside former Munster rugby player Keith Wood.
Foley died suddenly on 16 October 2016, while in Paris with
Munster. The team was preparing to face Racing 92 in its opening game of the
2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. The match was postponed as a result of
Foley's death.
Honours
Munster
Heineken Cup:
Winner (1): 2005–06
Celtic League:
Winner (1): 2002–03
Celtic Cup:
Winner (1): 2004–05
Ireland[edit]
Triple Crown:
Winner (1): 2004
As Munster say goodbye to a Legend let’s hope that it help-s
to create a new type of Legend around Munster. A legend that Munster had a few years
ago and that was a thing that made Munster very hard to beat. It is never right
for someone to die so young.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP 17-10-16
POOL 1
GASGOW 42-13 LEISTER
SARTO DOUBLE GIVES GLASGOW SURPRISE BIG WIN
Matt Toomua’s Tigers debut saw him sin-binned for a
dangerous tip tackle on Finn Russell but the visitors led 10-3 after Brendon
O’Connor’s try.
Warriors responded superbly with three tries in eight
minutes from Leonardo Sarto, Fraser Brown and Henry Pyrgos to lead 22-13 at
half-time.
Intercept tries from Mark Bennett and Sarto compounded
Leicester’s misery
This bonus point win for Glasgow could be the difference
between getting into the quarters and not for the Scots and the win was
impressive but where was Leister as they are seen to be be the mos consistent
team in Europe this was not Leister.
POOL 2
WASPS 82-14 ZEBRE
SIMPSON AND MILLER DOUBLES MAKE THINGS VERY EASY FOR WASPS
Full-back Rob Miller crossed twice, with Jake
Cooper-Woolley, Joe Simpson, Frank Halai and Ashley Johnson also scoring as the
hosts claimed the bonus point well before half-time.
Simpson, Elliot Daly, Joe Launchbury, Josh Bassett, James
Gaskell and Dan Robson added tries in the second half.
This win makes me again wonder whether or not Italian sides
should be in this competition or whether or not they should get an automatic
spot as wins like this seem to happen every week.
CONNACHT 23-21 TOLOUSE
AKI TRY CONVERSION MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
The Pro12 champions trailed 21-11 at the break with Niyi
Adeolukun's early try cancelled out by scores from Yann David and Jean-Marc
Doussain.
Tiernan O'Halloran and Bundee Aki crossed for second-half
Connacht tries
Connacht has shown this week that they can be a force in
this group but they cannot take this win for granted. Toulouse would be one of
the best teams at taking a result like this and using it to make them a better
sided. Toulouse will improve
POOL 3
TOLOUN 23-31 SARACENS
FARELLL PENALTY DENIS TOLOUN BONUS POINT
Sean Maitland dived over and Richard Wigglesworth strolled
under the posts as Saracens took control early on.
Chris Wyles rounded off a slick team move just before the
break, but Levan Chilachava and Bryan Habana crossed as Toulon rallied in the
second half.
But a late Owen Farrell penalty denied the hosts even a
losing bonus point.
This was an amazing result and something that we do not see
that often in sport this was the best team in Europe getting hammered as
Saracens led by 28 points to 3 at one stage and this does make me ask are they
as strong as we have seen the3m in the past.
SCARLET'S 28-11 SALE
PATCHELLS 13 POINTS GIVE SCARLET'S SURPRISE WIN
Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies and Canada wing DTH van der
Merwe scored first-half tries but Van der Merwe's second was the only score of
a poor second period.
Rhys Patchell's 13 points with the boot helped the Scarlets
keep control.
Hooker Neil Briggs got the visitors' only try in the first
period with Dan Mugford landing two penalties.
This group was always going to be an interesting one between
2 of the biggest sides in European Rugby. I think that Scarlets will have to
learn a lot fast if they are to compete with either Saracens or Toloun.
POOL 4
LEINSTER 33-15 CASTRE
CRONIN DOUBLE GIVES LEINSTER BONUS POINT
Sean Cronin's brace of tries and one by Jack McGrath had the
three-time winners 19-3 ahead after 34 minutes.
Castres were awarded a penalty try just before the interval
with Luke McGrath sin-binned for the indiscretion.
Isa Nacewa's try wrapped up the bonus point for 14-man
Leinster and a penalty try put them 33-10 up before Anthony Jelonch's
consolation try for Castres.
We did not see results like this happen last year when there
were no Pro 12 teams in the quarter finals. I think that Leinster could go back
to reaching a minimum of a semi-final based on the strength of this performance.
NORTHAMPTON 16-14 MONPELLIER
MYLER MAKES DIFFERENCE FOR SAINTS
The Saints exploited a slow start by Montpellier as Calum
Clark muscled over out wide in the third minute.
But Francois Steyn crossed before half-time and added two
kicks to put the visitors 14-13 up inside the last 10.
Harry Mallinder missed a long-range penalty before Myler
stepped up to seal victory with the last act of the game
This could be van interesting group as the teams all believe
that they could win it and this was tight enough so no one could call it. I
think that Northampton might find it difficult to play away rugby.
POOL 5
BORDEUX 28- 13 ULSTER
CONNOR TRY BREAKS ULSTER HEARTS
Ulster led for most of the match after Andrew Trimble's
21st-minute try.
But Sebastien Taofifenua battled over to edge the French
club ahead eight minutes from the end.
Ulster conceded a penalty try, with Sean Reidy sin-binned
for tackling a man without the ball, before winger Blair Connor got the third
score
This is a match that Ulster must be annoyed to have lost
because of the way that they lost it due to 2 bad breakaway tries and they were
right in it for most of the match and then had 2 breakaway tries conceded against
them. If Ulster can come back well then they could win the group
EXETER 8-38 CLERMOUNT
FOFANA DOUBLE GIVES CLERMOUNT BIG WIN
The Chiefs struck first through Gareth Steenson's boot but
Julien Bardy, Noa Nakaitaci and Wesley Fofana crossed for the French visitors
before the break.
Former Bath full-back Nick Abendanon danced over and Fofana
strolled over as Clermont stretched clear.
Sam Hill scored a late consolation that did little to mask a
poor performance.
The French side showed why they are one of the favourites in
the group and. But next week we will get a clearer picture of how good they are
as they play a much trickier opponent. Exeter will need to get their acts
together quickly if they want something to happen.
Friday, 14 October 2016
14-10-16 Champions Cup preview
FRIDAY
POOL 1
GLASGOW V LEICESTER
Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg, Leonardo Sarto, Alex Dunbar,
Sam Johnson, Rory Hughes, Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos,Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown,
Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson, Josh
Strauss.
Leicester Tigers: Telusa Veainu, Adam Thompstone, Mathew
Tait, Matt Toomua, Tom Brady, Owen Williams, Ben Youngs, Ellis Genge, Tom Youngs,
Dan Cole, Dom Barrow, Graham Kitchener, Mike Fitzgerald, Brendon O'Connor,
Lachlan McCaffrey.
If Glasgow is to step up that level and reach the quarter
finals of the Champions Cup then this is the type of match that they must win
and be able to be seen to have a chance of a bonus point. I think though that Leister will have too much
as again the strength of the league will help the English side. I think that
this could be a close one though.
SATURDAY
POOL 2
WASPS V ZEBRE
Anything other than 5 points here for Wasps could be a
serious problem for them as they are so much better than any Italian side I
think that Wasps will tear Zebre to bits and put 60 points past them easily.
CONNACHT V TOLOUSE
Connacht line-up v Toulouse
Robbie Henshaw, Fionn
Carr, Eoin Griffin, Dave McSharry, Matt Healy, Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion Brett
Wilkinson, Sean Henry, Nathan White, Mick
Kearney, Craig Clarke (captain, John Muldoon, Jake Heenan, George Naoupu
I think that I have seen enough of Connacht against Ulster
to say this will not be a sure thing for either side but I do think that the
French side will have that piece of magic that The Irish side will not be able
to cope with. I say Tolouse but by no more than 10
POOL 3
TOULON V SARACENS
This could easily be the final of the European cup so I
think this could be a hum dinger going one way and then the other. I think that
this will be won by the French side as they do seem to be a league above other
teams in Europe. I would not be surprised if either side won this match well.
SCARLETS V SALE
I think this could be an interesting tie as neither side
have really shown what it is they can do in European Rugby in recent times I
see this as a low score3ing tie with Scarlets on top as they will use home to
their advantage.
POOL 4
LEINSTER V CASTRE
This could be a battle and especially with the failure of
last year most Leinster fans will come in with a certain amount of expectation
and |I think that with the players that they have this should be an easy win
for the Irish side. I think that winning this match could affect the history
moving forward of Irish rugby
NORTHAMPTON V MONPELLIER
This should be an easy win for the English side but as
French rugby shows from time to time there is a chance of a major shock result.
I think that Northampton have got too much here
SUNDAY
POOL 1
RACING V MUNSTER
If Racing does not win this match there is something wrong
in the French rugby club. Munster can play well but are nowhere the level that
the French side are still an incredible side. Where Munster is at their best
they are unstoppable but I see them in a bit of a transmission.
POOL 5
BORDEUX V ULSTER
For Ulster it is about whether or not that loss to Connacht
was a good thing or a bad thing. We will get the chance to see if Ulster
learned from their mistakes last week as if they have this should be a simple
enough win. If not this could be close and they can lose it
EXETER V CLERMOUNT
I would think that this will be a battle between 2 sides
that have got the potential to be European champions. I think that this match
could easily be a bit of a thriller. I think home advantage could be a big
thing as it will give Exeter a slight edge.
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