Lineout Calls of the Week and What to Watch this Weekend and Why

So, moving forward, a slightly different format. From now on, we’ll be looking at any particular matches that catch our eye in the weekend ahead and why. That’s in addition to anything that came out of the previous week and how it struck us, and as always, an attempt to be more regular in ourContinue reading “Lineout Calls of the Week and What to Watch this Weekend and Why”

The Lineout Calls of the Week

First up, huge apologies that it is over a month since we last sat down to write. Life’s been a bit crazy lately for us with work and family commitments and is likely to remain so for a wee while to come, but we are determined to get at least two missives a month outContinue reading “The Lineout Calls of the Week”

The Lineout Calls of the Week

The big talking points of the week took place off the field, as the heads rolled in the Coaching boxes in Wales and England. While Wayne Pivac’s exit stage left seemed inevitable in Wales, there were still many, ourselves included, who felt that in England Eddie Jones, despite feeling the heat, would somehow manage yetContinue reading “The Lineout Calls of the Week”

In a mirror image of the Six Nations, England and Ireland’s best do battle in the European Champions Cup Final

A match that has perhaps been as eagerly anticipated as the opening fixture of this year’s Six Nations between Ireland and England in February, kicks off on Saturday, as the final that most people wanted in the European Champions Cup takes place between Ireland’s Leinster and England’s Saracens. The two best club sides in EuropeContinue reading “In a mirror image of the Six Nations, England and Ireland’s best do battle in the European Champions Cup Final”

As European club sides engage in a mirror image of the Six Nations, two potentially thrilling European Champions Cup Semi-Finals lie in store this weekend!

Increasingly the European Champions Cup semi-finals have become one of the most anticipated weekends of the year for us here at the Lineout. It may not be Test rugby but in name only. This weekend’s action sees the cream of Ireland, England and France go head to head. Although Wales, current Six Nations champions, areContinue reading “As European club sides engage in a mirror image of the Six Nations, two potentially thrilling European Champions Cup Semi-Finals lie in store this weekend!”

Rounds 5 and 6 of the European Champions Cup provide little in the way of surprises but plenty of entertainment as it is an all English/French affair heading into the quarter-finals!

The last two weekends and the penultimate rounds of the European Champions Cup pool stages provided us with plenty of spectacle, but in many ways few surprises as English and French clubs emerged as the clearly dominant forces in the competition.  We apologize to English and French fans as there was so much rugby over the last twoContinue reading “Rounds 5 and 6 of the European Champions Cup provide little in the way of surprises but plenty of entertainment as it is an all English/French affair heading into the quarter-finals!”

Ireland’s hopes for this year’s European Champions Cup are in Ulster’s Hands

As we continue our look at how this year’s European Champions Cup tournament is shaping up, we turn our attention to how Ireland’s three representative teams are faring.  In the years gone by Irish club teams have traditionally performed extremely well in this competition, but this year with the exception of Ulster, European giants suchContinue reading “Ireland’s hopes for this year’s European Champions Cup are in Ulster’s Hands”

Mixed Fortunes for Welsh sides so far in this year’s European Champions Cup!

Continuing our look at how the Six Nations countries are doing in this year’s European Champions Cup, we look at Wales’ representative two teams’ efforts in round 3 of the competition.  Ospreys took on Bordeaux-Begles from France while Scarlets took on Glasgow Warriors. Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets Final Score – Glasgow 43/Scarlets 6 Glasgow AsContinue reading “Mixed Fortunes for Welsh sides so far in this year’s European Champions Cup!”

Scotland’s representative in the European Champions Cup gets off to a shaky start but shows some promise for the rest of the tournament!

It may not have been the start to their Champions Cup campaign that they would have liked, but despite the loss there were signs that once Glasgow settle into their stride in this tournament it is unlikely that the errors we saw in this match will repeat themselves so readily.  From a Scotland point ofContinue reading “Scotland’s representative in the European Champions Cup gets off to a shaky start but shows some promise for the rest of the tournament!”

Italy’s lone representative in the European Champions Cup struggles to make a positive impression in difficult Irish conditions!

With the World Cup well and truly behind us, we turn our attention to the European Champions Cup which got underway this weekend.  As we did last year, during the Pool stages of the competition we take a look at the efforts of the teams from a particular country each weekend as we try toContinue reading “Italy’s lone representative in the European Champions Cup struggles to make a positive impression in difficult Irish conditions!”