Rugby Union -Aviva Premiership 2011

[Foster House]

How blessed to have a passion for many sports!

Friday night sees the final of the Rugby 7s at the Stoop with Harlequins and Saracens expected to run each other close.

I am Harlequins fan, and often see them play. I know there are some rugby fans on NSC. Does anyone have any predictions for the new season?

(Boring tedious, predicatble 'Rugby is rubbish' responders may wish to take a break from this post...)

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Rugby is rubbish will appear. Egg-chasing will be the most prevalent.

Despite being half English/half Welsh, I have taken to London Scottish. First season in the second flight. Will be interesting to see how they get on.

To be honest, I have lost interest in top flight rugby, certainly after they introduced the playoff system for the title. I'll watch it, but won't get caught up in the hype. Leicester are my team, really, but London Scottish take preference.

 

[Deleted member 18477]

i cannot believe you have said that word on NSC!

 

[Foster House]

Rugby is rubbish will appear. Egg-chasing will be the most prevalent.

Despite being half English/half Welsh, I have taken to London Scottish. First season in the second flight. Will be interesting to see how they get on.

To be honest, I have lost interest in top flight rugby, certainly after they introduced the playoff system for the title. I'll watch it, but won't get caught up in the hype. Leicester are my team, really, but London Scottish take preference.

Although they are in there with London Welsh.

You make a good point about the top league. I mentally split it in two. As far as I'm concerned Leicester are the League Champions, Saracens won the Premiership Trophy.

As for the championship. something needs to be done. It's pointless splitting it up at the end of the season in the way they do. There is no point in having a season!

Very much looking forward to the World Cup.

 

[Foster House]

i cannot believe you have said that word on NSC!

I am deeply sorry for using the Sar***ns word, please don't ban me....

 

[Deleted member 18477]

I am deeply sorry for using the Sar***ns word, please don't ban me....

lol! not a fan of club rugby myself but i do love an england rugby union game! as above cant wait for the world cup!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Although they are in there with London Welsh.

You make a good point about the top league. I mentally split it in two. As far as I'm concerned Leicester are the League Champions, Saracens won the Premiership Trophy.

As for the championship. something needs to be done. It's pointless splitting it up at the end of the season in the way they do. There is no point in having a season!

Very much looking forward to the World Cup.

Agreed! Bizarre system. Makes many months of toil seem very pointless (on both counts!).

On the London Welsh vs Scottish front, that is a difficult one. I got dragged along to Richmond to watch the Exiles (Sco) and fell in love with the whole thing.

As with you, I am REALLY looking forward to the World Cup. The 2003 knocked me out of sync. Going out on the piss on a Friday night and then back in the pub early (7am?_ Satruday morning for a pint and a bacon butty. We seem to be picking up some sort of form again at the right time. I haven't worked out timings yet. Are we looking at 730am starts again?

 

[Foster House]

Agreed! Bizarre system. Makes many months of toil seem very pointless (on both counts!).

On the London Welsh vs Scottish front, that is a difficult one. I got dragged along to Richmond to watch the Exiles (Sco) and fell in love with the whole thing.

As with you, I am REALLY looking forward to the World Cup. The 2003 knocked me out of sync. Going out on the piss on a Friday night and then back in the pub early (7am?_ Satruday morning for a pint and a bacon butty. We seem to be picking up some sort of form again at the right time. I haven't worked out timings yet. Are we looking at 730am starts again?

.

Two 7 am kick offs for Georgia and Romania (If you really can be arsed) Anything else, including any QF, SF and Final (ambitious) is between 8.30 and 9.30,

 

[Barrel of Fun]

The England vs Georgia game (WC2003) was at a sociable hour, I seem to remember. The four of us ended up dancing on a table singing "You've lost that lovin' feelin'" to a hen party.

As with you, I'm really looking forward to it. I'd love to be out there.

I see we have ruffled the feathers with our new 'all black' kit.

 

[Brian Potter]

Rugby is rubbish will appear. Egg-chasing will be the most prevalent.

Despite being half English/half Welsh, I have taken to London Scottish. First season in the second flight. Will be interesting to see how they get on.

Blackheath for me (my local team). Playing your lot at the Eltham ground this Saturday.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Blackheath for me (my local team). Playing your lot at the Eltham ground this Saturday.

I used to live right next to the ground at Blackheath. Great place. Played a lot of cricket in their nets. I had no idea that Micky Skinner played for them, until I supped a beer in the clubhouse.

I went to the game when LSRFC won by a point (33-32??) a year or so ago.

 

[Brian Potter]

Ah, The Munch! A complete and utter leg-end. I am only about 10mins walk from the Eltham ground, so will be popping along for this, and they are showing the England v Wales game, so that is me well and truly trollied

 

[strings]

I think Saracens will walk it this season. A lot of teams, Northampton and Leicester especially, will struggle during the World cup without some of their better players. At the same time Bath will presumably not have Francois Louw until after the World Cup - I think they are pinning a lot of hope to him following Butch James' departure.

Saracens defended really well in the final last season and that young number 10 (Farrell) is looking like he will become a big player for them. If they can stop the other team from scoring, whilst keeping the scoreboard ticking over with 3 point scores, they will have a good season.

Unfortunately, I don't think Bath will be in the play-offs this season

 

[Monsieur Wabee]

I'm a Quins fan myself. I think they'll take the 7s title this Friday, as for the full season I have them donw to finish in 4th (being a bit ballsy with that one).
The earliest England group games are at 7am (Georgia & Romania), latest one will be 9.30am. Beer for breakfast then.

 

[keaton]

I'm a big rugby fan. Support Wales and England, and Ospreys are the club I support but watch most of it as a neutral with a soft sport for Northampton and Bath.

I've tickets to the Twickenham double-header which is a great day out and good appetite-wetter the weekend before the World Cup starts.

I like the play-off system, without it none of the big teams would have any English players. Teams have accepted now they're competing to finish top of the league to get a home play-off not because it means they'll win the league by doing that

 

[chucky1973]

Love Rugby, cant remember when I fell in love with it, but am Sure Dusty Hare was playing, I am a Wasps fans, get to see them about 6 times a year and enjoy the whole day, I think we are in for another struggle this year as it seems we are continuing with the "bringing the youth through with a bit of experiance". What may play in our hands is when the world cup is on and with the fact that Wasps are not suppling many for the squad, the teams will be evened out and we may pull off some victories that normally we wouldnt have. For me i cant see past Leicester again for the tile, but think the Quinns may pull off a surprise victory. But I honestly feel that England have a great shout for the world cup................

 

[withdeanwombat]

I know rugby is a minor sport,but can't you start your own board somewhere ?

 

[ATFC Seagull]

On a similar note - this year's double-header (admittedly minus all the internationals) is on a weekend when we are not playing due to international football! Result!

 

[Foster House]

I'm at the 7s this Friday, and sadly I think Saracens will walk it. They have put out a really strong side. Quins, if on form, should meet them in the final.

I'm at the double header too, and thankfully Quins are playing first, which means I may be able to leave before all the beer tthrowing starts..

 

[Paddy B]

Wasps are my team and whilst we have made some good signings, I think a transitional year is in prospect.