Saracens - Rugby News

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Bwood_Horn, Oct 16, 2017.

  1. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    The Saints are a very good team - they were made to look very, very average by the Men in Black last night and this was with Itoje having a pretty "anonymous" game.

    For all of those who are vociferous fans of video technology (especially after Richarlison's penalty) might want to have a look at Farrel's "tip tackle" and "elbowing" - I was very surprised that he stayed on the pitch.
     
  2. Guy

    Guy Squad Player

    Just a bit of argy bargy as McLaren used to say.... Eddie Jones seemed to like it
     
  3. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    I’m against video technology. But Farrell’s tackle seemed fine to me - dumped the Saints player firmly on his back and there was no hint of him landing on his neck - it’s only a tip tackle if it’s out of control and damaging to the neck and this was neither.

    As far as the ‘elbow’ was concerned. Was a very silly thing to do but there’s an element in rugby that allows retaliation if provoked and the Saint’s player instigated the situation by pinning Farrell to the ground. eg If I start a fight with someone, I can’t really complain about getting hit.

    Though the ref got both decisions bang on.
     
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  4. Grrwood

    Grrwood Reservist

    Dominant display, I was pleasantly surprised as Saints have looked good so far this season. Sarries players have the unfortunate habit of getting a bit too competitive and undisciplined which gives away needless penalties - luckily they've usually done the job by then!
     
  5. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Blimey - that wasn't too easy. Far too many errors, stupid scrum penalties and losing line-outs from the MiBs.
     
  6. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Are all the other clubs still quite bitter about them?

    Get the feeling Sarries are the Man U of the Rugby world - disliked by everyone else.
     
  7. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    They have certainly inflated the wages market. They along with a handful of the other Premiership clubs and those in the Top 14 have made life difficult for anyone coming out of a second club tier to compete. Although Exeter have proved that it can be done with solid management on and off the field and an excellent coach in Rob Baxter. Probable successor to Eddie Jones.
     
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  8. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    I would have said that "Chelski" was a better analogy - but saying that the "Saffracens" label has, pretty much, disappeared. Seeing that the home pitch was a dog ****/beer bottle/syringe strewn public park to the point where they wear two stars (European champions) above the club badge are achievements that very few begrudge them. They have, no exaggeration, transformed, the domestic game - and it's had a knock-on (ho! ho!) to the national squad(s).

    It will be interesting to see what the RFU can/will do to change the top-heavy nature of the Premiership - it shows that there's still much to be done as the capital can only "support" two top level clubs although Wasps have built up a fanbase (the enforced "regionalism", judging by how well the Osprteys played last night, of the Welsh model might be something well-worth exploring). Exeter's success has shown that it is possible to break into the big time, but whether its sustainable (London Welsh) is doubtful/another thing.

    It will be interesting to see whether the RFU will (or can) intervene to stop the Premiership having the same effect on the national game/non-top 6 clubs the "Greatest League in the World™, © all the media" has had on the round-ball game.
     
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  9. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    The first criteria would be to ensure that players are not asked to exhaust themselves. Something which the Southern Hemisphere teams despite their domestic competitions do well. The modern game is ever so exhausting and physically demanding not to mention with the increased awareness of progressive brain injury that players are going to be retiring earlier and earlier. I for one would not begrudge a shorter season and a higher level of competition which would be beneficial to the national team. However finance always prevails hence the after season playoffs.

    There is no doubt the status of the top clubs and training has improved fortunes in junior rugby. One only has to see the results at the Junior World Cup to see how dominant England are becoming. However to maintain this concentration of quality and success I think however distasteful it is to keep the current structures as they are. Restricting promotion to one club from the Championship is how it should remain. Even though there are many former traditional powerhouses of the game that have been left outside the promised land like Nottingham, Coventry, Orrell etc,etc.

    My concern for the global game is that more and more overseas players end up here. Some prematurely. While not so much of an issue for the well established unions it is a huge worry for the Pacific Island teams. In one way it is great as many can get a career here and well paid too to support their families and improve their national team. On the other what is concerning is the snatching of kids from these islands dragging them off to France, NZ and indeed England and then they end up playing for those teams. (I am not talking about Polynesians for example who are native to NZ and have had their rugby upbringing there especially places like Auckland). It's a perennial problem and the issues with Samoa's finances highlight this especially given that England cannot be bothered to play a reciprocal Test in Apia or indeed NZ. There has been some movement by World Rugby (who under Beaumont and Pichot are doing their best to make the sport more equitable) such as a Fijian team in the Australian domestic tournament (where they have swept all aside) and hopefully a Super Rugby franchise.
     
  10. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Point proven with their win in Montpellier today .
     
  11. Stevohorn

    Stevohorn Watching Grass Grow

    Saracens are dead to me.
     
  12. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I wonder how the London/Wycombe based Wasps fans felt about their club being moved up the M1 to Coventry - seem to get decent crowds mind you.

    Having a top 4 team helps I guess.
     
  13. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    It looks like the other members of the 'top-flight' have had enough:
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/50300756
     
  14. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I think they have had their suspicions for a whille !
     
  15. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    A good friend and Wasps winger is a Saracens season ticket holder.
    He is very worried about this and fears the worst.
     
  16. AndrewH63

    AndrewH63 Reservist

    I work with a Northampton Saints season ticket holder. I always thought rugby union fans were very civilised types. But the bile that poured out after I raised the Saracens decision demonstrated how disliked they are. Not for being successful, but for the cheating.

    Professional Rugby Union has a problem, primarily because they are struggling to build the fan base. The tv money of course sustains the top clubs. But the financing of the game is a core problem. Plus the continual divide between building the Premier League, versus building the international team.
     
  17. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    When Sarries were winning European trophies (and feeding into a triumphant national squad) most supporters could hold their noses and just about stomach it. I'm certain this would have gone away (for another season) if England had brought the World Cup home and to build a fanbase you need winners...
     
  18. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Harlequins were pretty vocal in their condemnation - funny considering they themselves got caught cheating during a game .

    Guess Sarries will forget about Europe to battle staying up then re build next season .
     
  19. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Judging by the panelling dished out to Ospreys at the weekend I'd say "no". Also, something I noticed in the small print about European Cup qualification (I'd forgotten the got rid of the play-offs last season):
    [​IMG]
    I wonder if Sarries will *really* go for it as a big "FU" to the rest of the Premiership next season...
     
  20. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    The points they achieved last season would keep them up this, apparently.
     
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  21. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Some of my mates went down to Exeter last night and have been really worried about the atmosphere they're experiencing from a few locals... it's really nasty. It's something they've never experienced following Sarries.
     
  22. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I thought all rugby fans were respectful and always nice to each other..

    Seems not!
     
  23. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Gloucester vs Bath has always been 'pwoper nawty' and was always a very much isolated case. As my mates (50+ YO's medics/scientists) have said in the 20-odd years they've been following Sarries it's the first time they've ever experienced anything like it.
     
  24. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Exeter are really miffed about losing titles to a team they see as financially doping. It's pretty much just between fans and not the players as in the England dressing room. However when I have been to rugby matches prior to this the atmosphere is very convivial for the most part and fans do mingle.
     
  25. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    The mass brawl (started by Exeter) in the dying moments of yesterday's match suggests otherwise. The red card for the substituted (and sin-binned) Williams is going to gave massive ramifications.

    I was supposed to be there, but due to problems getting 'digs' I cried it off. Before the match the atmosphere in town, was reported by my mates to be, very nasty with quite a few 'scuffles' (more so than just the 'usual' Saturday night with p1$$ed-up and 'punchy' Marines). Last night, because of the win, was more 'bantz'/continual verbal abuse. My mates (and I) have never experienced anything like it in the 20-odd years we've been going to matches. Not even during the years of the extremely heated rivalry with 'The Saints' which never, ever spilled off-pitch.

    The Gloucester/Bath stuff has always been there and is much the same as that between us and the Scummers - very vociferous but far too many idiots get caught-up in trading more than just insults.
     
  26. Grrwood

    Grrwood Reservist

    I live in Exeter and none of them will admit it but they are a nasty bunch for rugby fans. Huge sense of entitlement even before the Saracens punishment this year, and a pretty incredible lack of comprehension about what has actually gone on as it is obvious that it is not as black and white as "they pay their players over the wage cap." To me this is caused by their owner Tony Rowe who comes across as incredibly petty and bitter. No denying that there is some kind of rule break but his calls for Sarries to hand over the trophies are ludicrous. If the competition was clearly league based then fair enough BUT the playoff system makes this impossible in my eyes. He is essentially demanding trophies for games that they were not good enough to win. Level headed Chiefs fans are few and far between down here.
     
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  27. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Well it looks like Sarries will have to go for the big FU...
     
  28. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    The downfall of these befezzed simpletons is a joy to observe.
     
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  29. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

  30. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    Am I right in thinking they are scrapping promotion from next season meaning that's it for them as a Premier league team?
     
  31. Guy

    Guy Squad Player

    A shame that football hasn't the balls to take similar action for fpp violations
     
  32. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    They will find a way to be allowed back in probably if they sell all their players and actually fit in with the wage cap.
     
  33. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    No they're not. Although they will probably scrap it when if Sarries get promoted.

    EDIT: Just seen this:
    So it looks like Sarries will be in the championship for at least two seasons.
     
  34. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    ...Or they will be the England franchise in the spring/summer rumoured Super League
     
  35. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Incidently, seeing how tied-in Old Albanians are into the Sarries set-up (training, med/physio facilities) I wonder how their defenestration is going to affect them?
     

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