GRcade

This is insane! They're taking them to the cleaners!

Nice one scarlets and exeter! Good day of sport, all the teams i wanted to win have won.

Came out on the wrong side of it but a great weekends rugby, really has me looking forward to the Lions tour now.

Saffers? In my Pro12?

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40122015

South African side Cheetahs receive formal invitation to join league

That's a long jaunt for an away leg.

The South African sides joining the Celtic League was a big rumour before the Italians were added, it never seemed to really go away as the South Africans have never been happy with the Super Rugby setup. It would be interesting if this happened, presumably they would have to cut one of the Italian teams to make room, 13 teams means you have 1 team not playing every weekend and that would get very messy. Of course they could also be inviting the Kings and attempting to make the Pro 14......

The biggest hurdle here is that financial support would have to be given by the league to make this possible, the Cheetahs would have to make a 18000km round trip 11 times in 9 months, not easy and not cheap. Of course they would schedule their away games to minimise this problem, have them do road trips where they play 2-3 games away in consecutive weeks, schedule away games either side of the international window, stuff like that, but its still a huge expense. I dont think the Pro12 is that flush with cash and I cant see the addition of the Cheetahs causing a huge windfall from South African TV rights so until that issue is sorted, its a non runner.

Anyone else watching the Lions?

That's not a good opener, especially for what should be the easiest game in the calendar. They looked like a really amateurish side, no flow, speed, or accuracy. Now it's full Super Rugby teams from here on out to the full tests.

Expected the first game to be a bit creaky but that looks a bit ominous - definitely makes me even more baffled about the exclusion of Launchbury.

Farrell did more in two minutes than Sexton managed in fifty.

Sexton was having a really wobbly game. Hopefully just the jet lag, but it's not like there aren't other 10s to fill his place if not. Farrell came on and took total control of the back line. Still can't believe he struck the post with that penalty, though.

I can only imagine every other side the Lions are due to play were absolutely loving that display, and can't wait to get their turn humiliating the northern hemisphere further.

Pretty much what I expected really. Its only going to get worse from here, the Blues are the weakest of the NZ franchises and from now on the Lions are going to start having one eye on the test matches, getting a win against the Barbarians means they have avoided a complete whitewash but I think it will be the only vistory well see on this tour.

That backs display was strawberry floating rubbish. I'm not necessarily saying it was any individual (although Sexton ballooning possession didn't help) but it had the pawprints of Howley all over it.

You're not going to beat the ABs with stuck-in-the-mud, defensive rugby that's even 5 years past it's sell by even in the NH. Biggar, Sexton, the two Irish backs plus Halfpenny don't exactly scream exiting flair rugby as a combo.

It's what you get with Warren Gatland as Head Coach.

Great game between England and Argentina

Ireland destroying USA without breaking a sweat

Lions struggling here after having a healthy lead. Sin bin for Henderson has cost us, although he has been excellent apart from that.

BTB wrote:Lions struggling here after having a healthy lead. Sin bin for Henderson has cost us.

31:31. What the hell is going on?!

Gatland.

Lions team for Saturday


Not too sure on it to be honest, I think the Sexton/Farrell combination is a nice idea, i'm not sure how well it will actually work, especially after how well Teo played. Also surprised Kruis was been dropped for Itoje, I assumed it would be AWJ.

I hope they prove me wrong.

Its good to see them trying new combinations but is it a bit too much of a change? Im with you, I dont see why AWJ should keep his place while Kruis misses out. I think Teo is very hard done by, he didnt do mush wrong last week and put in some huge hits but I am looking forward to seeing what Sexton and Farrell can do together, hopefully it means better ball for the outside backs and a bit more imagination in attack.

Well that was quite something.