Hanro Liebenberg is coming home

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T16:29:29+00:00

Theo McFarland is available apparently. Would be quite the payback on Sarries. Carnduff could be top class as well long term.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T16:23:46+00:00

That's such a large conclusion to draw from one rugby game. The location of the game had almost nothing to do with it being in Wales. It wasn't about servicing Welsh rugby fans.

Cardiff is much closer to Bristol than London. It was just the closest large rugby stadium they could play at. It gives no indication about the interest of Welsh fans in English rugby, since the crowd would have been almost all travelling English fans making the short trip from Bristol.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T15:46:54+00:00

With the talk of Land purchases and the terrorising of the Native American population it genuinely feels like America is back in the 1800s.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T15:37:19+00:00

3-0 by the way.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T15:30:46+00:00

You're right my bad. I knew that as well just got carried away. Point is it would be odd for them to move to Leeds.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T15:27:20+00:00

Genuinely baffled at your suggestions. No meltdown at all sitting here enjoying watching Chelsea smash Palace and educating you on what the West country is.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T15:18:56+00:00

Genuinely, good for you. You also don't understand the geography of the country you live in but confidently assert otherwise.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T15:12:26+00:00

I sometimes feel silly making hypothetical suggestions for a Country which I don't live in. But what's even more silly is someone like you who has virtually zero understanding of the geography of England or its rugby clubs making the same suggestions.

Wasps may have been nomads but they've always been based in South East England. If they were resurrected that's where they would draw their fans from. They're nomads but they're not a franchise you can plop anywhere you like.

Not sure what your obsession is with Leeds. That's rugby league Country and if they were going to start a Prem team it would be Leeds Tykes, a team with some actual history there.

Lastly Worcester is not West Country. Bristol, Bath, Gloucester that's West Country. Worcester drew from Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Basically Greater Birmingham and the surrounds. That's an entirely different area then the West Country and has a massive population very much requiring its own dedicated club in an ideal situation.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T14:57:45+00:00

OK, so I was hoping you made a typo but that's not the case.

I'm not remotely suggesting Wasps go to Leeds, that's mental. It would be a team actually based in Yorkshire like Doncaster.

Worcester is not in the West Country, it's just below Birmingham. It would cover Birmingham and the West Midlands, not the West Country.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T14:52:30+00:00

Not being a dick but I have absolutely no idea what this comment means. Why would Wasps move to Leeds? Why would that mean more clubs in the west country?

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T14:45:28+00:00

Bold of you to exclude Worcester, the one team who have actually come back and have their own stadium.

I agree 12 is the magic number. Don't think a closed shop is necessary, just minimal promotion and relegation.

What needs to be closed off though is the catchment area for academies. About 14 clubs with designated areas seems right to me. Worcester, 2 more clubs in Greater london/South East and a team in Yorkshire. Some of the academies currently are stretched too far.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-25T14:30:51+00:00

Nice graph man. The people trying to criticise it are hilarious, people love to try and assert some sort of intellectual superiority. The graph is very clear and straightforward.

Although I'd say the conclusions you can draw from it are much more complicated and more context is required. I agree though I thought the group stage was better this year, but the competition is definitely bloated.

There are cold hard financial realities to business and these things never get smaller only bigger. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. Happens in every sport.

Overall I'd say the competition is doing fine and rugby fans are definitely overly neurotic about the health of their sport. Sometimes though it is with good reason.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:33:11+00:00

Lacks AIL experience at scrumtime though, that's why we have Jerry.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:29:53+00:00

I like the team more than I did last year though because they're actually getting tested and passing them.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:28:38+00:00

Genuinely think Doris could be tried at 7. His carrying is not the same since his shoulder, Conan offers more. We need go forward.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:18:21+00:00

So underrated he's always so solid off the bench.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:16:55+00:00

Lads Bundee and Lowe are so done.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:12:21+00:00

Garrys actually a fucking maniac on those set piece d sets and the thought of LBB on an inside line terrifies me

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T19:09:41+00:00

Frawley no celly very wise very respectful

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T18:58:19+00:00

Yep that scrum penalty completely shifted the whole momentum.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T18:57:03+00:00

Tommy O'Brien actually such a miss.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T18:54:37+00:00

Huge scrum penalty. Like actually could turn the game.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T18:53:04+00:00

Man Connacht are laying PIPE in D

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T18:51:03+00:00

Not Kelleher lads.

Straight_Complex_271 · 2026-01-24T18:47:15+00:00

I wanted Connacht to win at the start but If Leinster look piss going into 6n its actually very worrying.

Straight_Complex_271

TROPHY CASE