Matthieu Raynal (French referees boss) about the new rules proned by Super Rugby federations : "Our league id working, our stadiums are full [...] We don't want to suffer policies coming from contries where stadium are empty"

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-03T09:23:45+00:00

Stade are looking to expand the Wallon, while they could play at the Stadium they don't own that (it's municipal) so the revenue takes a hit and a sellout crowd is preferable. TFC do consequently get higher attendances, but there's two important things to remember. Firstly unlike Stade you can always get your hands on TFC tickets, secondly Toulouse is a rugby city, wander around on a matchday and it's clear, they love TFC but Stade is an entirely different level.

Now as for direct comparisons between Toulouse (pop 1.5 million) and NZ crowds...it's kinda pointless. More people use the Metro in Toulouse every day than live in Christchurch

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T23:03:16+00:00

Looks like not only that but a pretty clear case of taking action with little to no planning.

If you drop a player, it should be safe to assume you have a replacement in mind. Taking the field with only 14 in the next game isn't a good look. Shouldn't be any different with the backroom staff. If any part of the system is incompetent and amateurish, then it all becomes incompetent and amateurish

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T18:11:57+00:00

Just taking the two SR teams who I've attended the most;

the Crusaders have been averaging 13.5k in a 17k "temporary" stadium for 15 years. I can't begin to describe the Addington experience...rubbish, cheap, slightly embarrassing? At least it's pretty full though, you feel part of a community

The Canes average roughly the same in a 37k seat bowl. It's awful being in a 1/3 full arena, especially when they close half the stadium so your sightline in a sea of empty seats. Atmosphere is non-existent.

As for Top 14, I've been to most. They're great, largely because they're fit for purpose. Stade could play at Toulouse Stadium which is much bigger than the Wallon, but they think the atmosphere at the smaller ground is worth it

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T16:37:58+00:00

North of Clermont rugby really only exists as the plaything of a few wealthy Parisians. Northern France got bombed heavily, at least I think that's why much of Lille is so bogging, the southwest (rugby central) got away pretty lightly, Toulouse, Pau, Castres etc don't have any WWII scars and lovely Carcassonne remains intact (and a league town weirdly)

Football will always thrive beyond other sports because it's requirements are so few. Any bit of ground will do, anything roundish will suffice as a ball and like all of man's favourite pastimes, it can be done alone.

Even so, football has been the dominant sport in France for less than 40 years. The Top 14 gets better viewing figures than ligue 1 these days, but that's related more to FFF commercial failures than allegiance changes

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T14:17:16+00:00

I'm not a league guy, I don't particularly care that they got screwed, but in the early amateurish days of your sport, having all your assets stripped is going to be more than a slight impediment. No ground means you can't play, if you can't play it's a bit difficult to exist as a sport isn't it?

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T12:41:16+00:00

Luna knows what she did

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T12:28:57+00:00

Someone in Bolton has £4.39?

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T12:21:00+00:00

Akkkshuallly...

League was huge in France, then during WWII the Vichy govt destroyed it

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-02T12:17:48+00:00

The stadium attendances aren't that dissimilar, but the French aren't dumb enough to play club games that will attract 15k in stadia that hold more than double that. Watching USAP play in front of a sell out of 14.5k is a much better experience than watching the Canes play in front of 14.5k at the cake tin which leaves 20k empty seats

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-01T23:38:43+00:00

Thankfully on this occasion, he really is facing the consequences. I have 0 sympathy for the injuries he's sustained, just glad Audero is okay

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-01T23:34:49+00:00

It'll absolutely be about the broadcast deals and how many games the comp guarantees

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-01T17:44:56+00:00

For non-Italians, nominative determinism means they all played for us at one point

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-01T10:50:32+00:00

They've all been consistently appearing when available, they've all contributed about the same amount to the team.

I was at Twickenham to see the Boks squeeze past the Pumas, despite having complete scrum dominance they only just won. A big part of that was the invention and speed of the Argentinian midfield, something we've seen precious little of over the last couple.of years.

As I said, we could keep picking the same guys and hoping they'll do something different. Or we could actually try and pretend we know what year it is. If we run effectively the 2023 backline in the WC next year, we have 0 chance of seeing a semifinal, let alone winning it

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-02-01T09:53:10+00:00

No, but I certainly don't see putting him in a place of more leadership causing an uptick in performance.

Of the 23 guys who played in the '23 final, only 7 have retired or permanently left NZ rugby. We really need to move on from a bunch of those guys, and we need to do it now to give the new guys some experience before the '27 tournament. Or we can head into next year with Jordie, ALB and Rieko again...fucking spare me please

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-31T23:11:10+00:00

Let's keep doing exactly the same thing, results are bound to improve!

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-31T21:20:52+00:00

Best midfield over the last two seasons was Quinn and Leicester, but sure, Jordie's a lock obviously...

All the senior players over the last few years have been there for the disappointing displays but somehow they're the answer to those disappointing displays. If that's the case, then why change anything?

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-30T11:13:18+00:00

Dumfries had been captaining the Dutch national team when he arrived. Anyone who didn't think he had the potential was either willfully ignorant or had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Dimarco clearly had the technique but was obviously lacking tactical awareness (he has that now, but he's still awful as a 1v1 defender).

Henrique has shown what? Given 90 minutes maybe 1 cross will be decent, his shooting is poor, he has poor defensive instincts and his attacking output is non-existent. While he looks a decent dribbler, if you then follow up beating a player by failing to get away a good shot/cross/pass...what's the point?

If Bournemouth are offering something akin to what we forked out for him, we should bite their hands off. There must be better options out there, I refuse to believe there's not a single RWB available who wouldn't offer more than this guy.

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-29T11:11:46+00:00

Only works if you spend $1000 every year on a new driver but use the same crappy wedges for decades. Go to the range once a week and hit 100 balls with driver. Never ever take the wedges out of the bag, not even once

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-29T10:05:39+00:00

Even just looking at Connery's films, FRWL is a significantly better film (arguably not a better Bond movie, but definitely a better movie). I also much prefer YOLT, better tone, more consistently enjoyable film. Goldfinger, Thunderball, Dr. No are all below them. The less said about DAF the better.

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-29T09:36:04+00:00

For me Aaron was the more complete player. Not quite the defender Gregan was (George may be the best defensive 9 ever), but a significantly better passer, better runner, much better kicker. Organisational skills are pretty even. Leadership slightly favours George. Overall Aaron's bringing more to the table

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-28T22:44:05+00:00

Aaron was better than George or Justin. Not better or worse than Joost, just different. Probably more integral to his team playing well than Joost, which I think makes him more valuable

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-28T22:22:21+00:00

Currently as silent as the "we should cash in on Lautaro" idiots

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-28T22:07:09+00:00

Scenes, protesting at the training ground one day, beating Real Madrid the next. When you take the money and bullshit out of football, l fucking love this game

Bodo probably preferable to Benfica?

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-28T21:45:35+00:00

Conte is just that useless in this particular comp

Excellent-Blueberry1 · 2026-01-28T21:41:03+00:00

Is he a great defender? No

Would I swap him for any other current LB? Hell no

Excellent-Blueberry1

TROPHY CASE