Weekend round-up: Chris Ashton swandives into the record books
Catch up on the weekend's best games as the European Champions and Challenge Cup finals lived up to their occasion.
Challenge Cup: Gloucester vs Stade Francais
About the only thing certain in this match was uncertainty, as two of Europe's more unpredictable sides met in stereotypically Scottish conditions. The result, as big-match nerves jangled deafeningly on both sides, was an enthralling and, yes, gloriously unpredictable encounter at Murrayfield. Ironically, at the end of the first quarter, the result seemed beyond doubt – 15 minutes later, and all options were emphatically back on the table.
Champions Cup: Saracens vs Clermont
Physics is wrong. When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, the two do not cancel each other out. Instead, they burn scintillatingly bright for 80 minutes. Saracens should have had the game won inside the opening 20 minutes. They were even beating Clermont at their own forward game. But they made the mistake of letting the dangerous Top 14 side drag themselves back into the game with a mix of flair and pig-headed determination – what followed was one of the great Champions Cup finals.
Super Rugby: Crusaders vs Hurricanes
New Zealand's Super Rugby franchises have been reluctant to add more local derbies to the calendar. After watching this game it's easier to empathise with them. The two best sides in Super Rugby this season played this game at test-match intensity for the full 80 minutes. It was a gripping encounter as the unbeaten Crusaders shut down the usually unstoppable Barrett brothers and forced the battle up front. Other games had a lot more tries but this was hands down the match of the round.
Super Rugby: Kings vs Sharks
If the intensity of the Crusaders vs Hurricanes derby doesn't do it for you then this should do the trick. Tries, scuffles, lead changes and a nailbiting last-gasp finish – the Kings vs Sharks game had it all. With the visitors looking over their shoulder in the final playoffs spot, they went to Port Elizabeth looking to lock up all 5 points. But they met a Kings side who, while destined for the Super Rugby scrapheap at the end of the season, still have plenty to prove.
NRL: Storm vs Titans
More points were scored in this round of the NRL than in any other this season. A fair chunk of them were scored in this game, between the table-topping Storm and a Titans side who are starting to live up to their early promise after injuries derailed the first half of their season. It might have been the first half of a double-header at Suncorp Stadium, but it deserved to be the main attraction. Two of the best attacking performances of the season.
Latest Comments
I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
Go to comments