A heavy weekend away

• Posted by Rob at 4:26 PM | add or read comments (0)

Following what can only be described as a heavy weekend away in deepest darkest Ireland, I am back and reday to continue blogging.
First of all I want to make special mention of Munster claiming the Heineken Cup at the Millennium Stadium. I watched the match - well as much of it as possible through the bottom of a Guinness glass - and have to say I wasn't exactly over enthused with either side.
It wasn't that it was a bad game, or that either side played particularly badly, more that it just nver caught fire the way it should do between these two sides, and therefore left me feeling somewhat disappointed.
But I also couldn't help thinking what it would have been like had either the Cardiff Blues or Ospreys managed to make the final against Munster. As a proud Welshman and also a Welsh rugby writer I would have found it quite difficult to hold my tongue for so long even surrounded by a host of mad-cap Munster fans.

While I've been away I've been an avid reader of my fellow bloggers Celtic League combined player of the season, and I'd like to offer my own opinion on a couple of aspects.
I know Dan said he had no interest in the hair of the player, but honestly you can't really overlook Colin Charvis or either of the Hair-bear bunch boys Adam and Duncan Jones.

But I'm going to look at the best rugby brain and after careful consideration the award has to go to Martyn Williams.
I know he's got a few miles on the clock, and it starting to slow in his old age, but when it comes to speed of mind against speed of body I don't think anyone in world rugby let along the Celtic League, comes close to our nugget.

H Cup/Bath/Ultimate player part 2

• Posted by Dan Owen at 3:19 PM | add or read comments (0)

Good weekend of rugby all in all.

Great Heineken Cup final, Munster bossing things from about 20 mins onwards. Paul O'Connell was an absolute hero. Such a different prospect to the man who was so off colour in the world cup.

Enjoyed the Bath v Worcester final yesterday too, if not watch michael Lipman's lip hanging off - if ever there had be a hint of comedy timing in a name this was it.

Seiously though, again the right side won on the day. Nick Abendanon's try being the highlight.

I have to say of all the Guinesses Prem sides I have most enjoyed watching Bath this year. Nice flowing game and in Buth James and Michael Claassens they have probably the best half back pairing in the league.

Finally following on from the last blog here is the start of the Magners' Ultimate player.

Best Hands - Gavin Henson (Ospreys)

Reason: Because they are. Full stop. One of the most maligned payers around (especially Ruperts in England shirts), Henson is a fantastically gifted player with great speed of mind and hand. Sees and makes passes others can only dream of. What a dream it would be to see Gav and Regan King together in the centre.

The ultimate player.....

• Posted by Dan Owen at 3:19 PM | add or read comments (0)

People with nothing better to do have come up with a breakdown of which players, when combined would make up the ultimate player in the Guinness Prem.

They have gone for.......

Best hair - Sebastien Chabal (Sale Sharks)
Best rugby brain - Mike Catt (London Irish)
Best cauliflower ears - Peter Buxton (Gloucester)
Most damaged nose - Mike Tindall (Gloucester)
Strongest player - Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks)
Best hands - James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
Fastest Legs - Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)
Best right boot - Charlie Hodgson (Sales Sharks)
Best left boot - Danny Cipriani (London Wasps)

Firstly these things should not have a 'best hair' category.

Also not sure about the left boot either, sure a certain Jonny might have something to say about that.

I'm gonna work on a Magners League ultimate player - reckon we can beat this one.

A little bit of history repeating?

• Posted by Dan Owen at 2:25 PM | add or read comments (0)

With the big man away in Ireland for the weekend i'm sure the craic for the H Cup final will be spot on. Interesting game for sure. From Munster's point of view I think if the roof is open and there is a bit of rain about they can grind out a win.

Interesting to see which Toulouse side turns up, they can tend to not turn up away from home and if the Munster game get into them early on it could be a right battle

With the attacking flair Toulouse have if it is dry and open you can only see one winner.

The mind goes back a couple of years to this.........

Heineken Cup

• Posted by Rob at 5:58 PM | add or read comments (0)

I have to admit that I actually don't mind the play-offs too much. A controversial statement I know and one that I am sure will not be taken well by my fellow blogger.
But play-offs do add that little bit of spice to a competition that otherwise can often be sown up long before the end of the tournament.
Now I'm not saying they are particularly a fair way of conducting your business, and I am fully aware they are often seen by many as simply a way of the higher ups exploiting a competition and making more cash for their ever growing coffers.
And I am also pretty sure that the team which works hard over the course of the season and finishes in top spot will also not be keen on the idea, but they do add something extra to a competition. And while many will not like them, they are unfortunately here and don't look as though they're going anywhere.

But putting play-offs to one side, this weekend sees the final of the Heineken Cup and pits two of Europe's heavyweights going at it tooth and nail for the coveted trophy.
Toulouse are easily the most successful team in the competition, but Munster are no mugs and if anything have the class and experience not to choke on the big occassion - and let's face it they don't come an awful lot bigger than this.
And I will also be watching the final from inside a pub somewhere in deepest, darkest Ireland while on a joint stag-do. So in that case all I can say is come on Munster!

I hate the play offs

• Posted by Dan Owen at 10:32 AM | add or read comments (0)

Good morning one and all, and welcome to the new Daily Post rugby blog. I am Dan and you will be hearing from Rob (Prop to his friends) Griffiths soon. We will be looking at all things rugby from the local scene to the national side to international. So let's get on with it.

See much action over the weekend?

Watching the Gloucester/Leicester game did nothing for my mood yesterday. Firstly not the biggest Leicester fan - the blatant foul play at the end of the first half is everything that should be getting stamped out in the game. Killing the ball, pulling players back, playing the ball on the floor, you name it they did it to stop Gloucester going over at a time when a score would have put them about 15 points ahead at the break. Not game over but pretty much.

As it happens Leicester came back to take it 26-25. Andy Goode in the second half showed everything opposite number Ryan Lamb must aspire to be. Calm, composed and bringing it at the big time. Lamb famously got trampled all over the place in the play off final last year and in Alesana Tuilagi he had a juggernaut of a recurring nightmare yesterday. Swatted away like a fly for the crucial first try. He will be a top player, just needs a little time.

So the team that tops the league again will not win the title. Only Sale have managed this and I just think it's not right. Glouscester have worked hard all year plugging away to top the league. Champions? No. You know that team who were seventh at one point last weekend, they are in the final instead. Fair? Surely not. Yes it adds a little excitment to the end of season but do we need them? I don't think so. Let's crown the team who wins the league as Champions, not an also ran.

Finally best wishes go out to Danny Cipriani. Great talent, horror injury picked up yesterday. He is a young lad we can only hope his powers are recovery are good and he will be back on the field as soon as possible.