[Rugby] Union / League / Super / Sixes Sevens Pro14 / Cups & Tours / Olympics

[aoluain]

I'm watching the Storm spank the pants of the Rabbitohs in much the same way the Roosters poured ice over the Dragons to win 60 - 18.

At the start of the day, the Warriors had an early lead which they squandered then were unable to come back to loose 24 - 27.

That'll mean I'm two from three this round.

Jeez, the Rabbitohs are still stuck on the bottom after that loss. If they lose a few more
rounds I'd say their season is over.

The two teams I'm following this season, Wests Tigers and Broncos are facing off
against each other tomorrow, thats a pity but it has to happen.

The Warriors would want to up their performance too, they are slipping down the ladder,
a bit disappointing after their good season last year.

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[Timelord2067]

I'm going to sit down in an hour and watch the Tigers Vs Broncos game - last night I went to three from four pics when the Sea Eagles decimated the Eels (who admittedly started very strongly, then went to water well before half time).

[aoluain]

Broncos have started brightly 0-16 at half time, Tigers have a fair bit of catching up to
do now in the second half...


URC

We had two matches last night and between those two matches 131 points were scored!
I watched the highlights and both matches were just action packed in terms of scoring.

Scarlets 27 - 32 Sharks
Ulster 38 - 34 Bennetton

I'm going with a 4 match parlay in todays matches, total 2.83.

Zebre to be beaten at home by Glasgow Warriors
Bulls at home to beat the Ospreys
Cardiff to be beaten at home by Edinburgh
Lions to be beaten at home by Munster

[Timelord2067]

Broncos have started brightly 0-16 at half time, Tigers have a fair bit of catching up to
do now in the second half...

The Tigers got applauded as they left the field at half time (they had a try disallowed and, like the other games this week, the commentators are saying this is a game for the ages).



The second half will recommence very shortly.  ($26 at kickoff of the second half)


In an hour, the beleaguered Cowboys will try to stare down the Panthers.  (The game is being played in Townsville, so the Cowboys may have a home ground advantage)

[aoluain]

I'm going with a 4 match parlay in todays matches, total 2.83.

Zebre to be beaten at home by Glasgow Warriors
Bulls at home to beat the Ospreys
Cardiff to be beaten at home by Edinburgh
Lions to be beaten at home by Munster

Happy to say my parlay is in the Green! two weeks in a row -  this is getting easy! ^{I jest}

As I eluded to earlier in the week, table toppers Leinster got hammered ^again in South Africa
by the Stormers, this weekend coming is the big one so all their top players will be in action.

Leinster have been overtaken by Glasgow Warriors who will certainly have their eye on some long
overdue silverware.

Connacht are only coming good at the end of the season and are now up to 6th in the table.

The Tigers got applauded as they left the field at half time (they had a try disallowed and, like the other games this week, the commentators are saying this is a game for the ages).


In an hour, the beleaguered Cowboys will try to stare down the Panthers.  (The game is being played in Townsville, so the Cowboys may have a home ground advantage)

Broncos up to 6th now on the ladder!

Cowboys v Panthers - ah the damage was done in the first half, Cowboys came back into it in
the second but not enough time to win!

[aoluain]

Semi Final stage to two big tournaments coming up at the weekend

Investec Champions Cup

Leinster^Ireland v Northampton Saints^England - Leinster are big favourites with a home stadium of 80,000+ spectators! @ 1.12

Stade Toulousain^France v Harlequins^England - Toulouse are also bigger favourites at home @ 1.05

EPCR Challenge Cup

Hollywoodbets Sharks^{South Africa} v ASM Clermont Auvergne^France - No odds available yet on this one.

Gloucester^England v Benetton Treviso^Italy - The English side are obvious favourites against a surprising Italian side @ 1.43
Benetton are priced at 3.00 - Just for the fun I'm doing a small bet on the Italians. They have been fairly decent
this year so far on both the Challenge Cup ad the United Cup, surprising really and kind of gives a glimmer of
hope for future Italian Rugby.

[aoluain]

Rugby 7's

Second last round this coming weekend 3rd - 5th May in Singapore.

Mens side:
Argentina are sitting on top spot with 94 points
Ireland in second on 86 points
Fiji in 3rd 76 points
France on 74 points

Argentina need to watch out, they only scored 4 points last time out.

Womens side
New Zealand and Australia 1st and 2nd on 106 points
France in 3rd on 88
USA in 4th on 82

NZ and Australia are going to be slugging it out for top spot really.


I cant see any odds yet.

[Timelord2067]

I might be able to catch a game over the weekend. Last weekend it was wall to wall League - as well as the games mentioned above, I saw the Dolphins clumsy loss, then the embarrassing loss by the Raiders on their coaches 500th game.

During the week, the Rabbitohs have sacked their coach as they have had just one win this season.  Tonight, the Rabbitohs are going to be up against the Panthers who as we know are firming up as finals contenders yet again.

So on to my pics for round eight:

Panthers, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Bulldogs, Storm, Dolphins, Warriors, Sharks.

The Bulldogs game could be close against the Tigers who are showing improved form.
The Sea Eagles captain had his dangerous throw/tackle charge down graded - his first charge in his long career.  I'm sure he'll be wanting to play a careful game but will be out to show he can still play a clean game.

[aoluain]

During the week, the Rabbitohs have sacked their coach as they have had just one win this season.  Tonight, the Rabbitohs are going to be up against the Panthers who as we know are firming up as finals contenders yet again.

Another big score difference Rabbitohs 12 - 42 Panthers. They go up to second spot  . . . temporarily.

It looks like Wayne Bennett is going in to replace Jason Demetriou. I remember Timelord saying something
about Bennett a few years ago. Anyway he is back in to try and turn the ship around.

Big match coming up tomorrow for both the Broncos and Roosters, Broncos are favourite at home.
Wests Tigers need a big game away to the Bulldogs and are big underdogs @ 3.35

Big game too for the Dolphins to try and stay up when they play the Cowboys, you have them to win
and they are underdogs away to the Cowboys.

[Timelord2067]

The first ten minutes of the Rabbioths game saw them score two converted tries and I got an "oh no" moment.  Then, by half time The Empire Panthers Struck Back to record a crushing 12 - 42 win.

Yeh, I've noticed the Dolphins are the underdogs.  I'm sure I had good reason for picking them - it'll come to me eventually.  In the meantime, the Broncos game will be dynamite just weeks out from the State Of Origin. (I haven't heard the news about Wayne Bennet who was the Broncos coach for many, many years).

[aoluain]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/05/02/sounds-like-its-already-done-robinson-backs-bennett-as-souths-saviour/


Here are the pool standings after day 1 of the rugby 7's and as expected the top teams
occupy 1st and 2nd in each pool.

.:MENS:.
Pool A:
Australia 6
Argentina 4

Pool B:
South Africa 6
France 6

Pool C:
USA 6
Ireland 4

I expect all these teams to go through to the finals to play for medals.

.:WOMENS:.
Pool A:
New Zealand 6
Canada 4

Pool B:
France 6
Japan 3 with South Africa also on 3 with a less favourable points difference

Pool C:
Australia 6
Fiji 6

[Timelord2067]

I was just listening to the news on the radio. Fijian Drua is expected to win their game this afternoon in the Super Pacifica Rugby comp.

Also in the same comp, the Rebels team have been offered a lifeline after having gone into administration earlier in the year. TBH, I've never been comfortable with these gimic names for teams that in some cases were formed to either fill the comp with teams, or to establish a team in a certain region.


Recently, there has been some noise about demerging the Western Suburbs (of Sydney) Magpies and Balmain Tigers (and to a lesser degree the Saint George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers (where there are massive Steel Factories))

Broncos Captain Adam Reynolds who just came back from a multiple week injury is now out for multiple months during last night's 18 - 40 loss to the Roosters. Reynolds' injuries weren't the only ones with a second Bronco out with a broken jaw in the same game.

Earlier, a missed two point field goal by the Sea Eagles captain saw them loose 24 - 26 in a very tight fame against the Canberra Raiders who has suffered a crushing loss lass week.

[aoluain]

Adam Reynolds out for 3 months - thats a massive blow to the Broncos. That was a very
costly match with the Roosters, losing 2 players who will be out for months.


Over at the Rugby 7's its play off time.

In the Mens quarter finals its Argentina v Ireland, thats a massive match to come later today
for a chance at 1st and 2nd spot.

In the Womens again Ireland have a tough quarter final draw against table toppers Australia,
Ireland are MASSIVE outsiders at 9.20.

At least both Irish sides are guaranteed points for being in the top 8

[aoluain]

The 7's finals are under way with the womens 3rd place match live now, France have
beaten Fiji by a whopping 7-29.

Next up is the final New Zealand v Australia, this is for number 1 and 2 positions overall.
New Zealand are favourites but I think a small bet on Australia might pay off @ 3.15?


Later its the mens finals:
3rd place final between Great Britain and Australia
Grand Final between  Ireland and New Zealand - have to back Ireland for the win!

Argentina finished up in 5th beating South Africa, I'm not sure if Ireland beat New Zealand
do they take the top spot from Argentina?

[Timelord2067]

I heard the Australian Women's team won their match, but that's all I've heard so far.

In the NRL five from eight with the Dolphin's win taking the sting out of the three losses.

[aoluain]

I heard the Australian Women's team won their match, but that's all I've heard so far.

No Timelord, it was a New Zealand double!

The women won 31-21 from Australia and the men just beat Ireland 14-17. Ireland now
are only 2 points behind Argentina and New Zealand in 3rd in the pool with only 1 round remaining.




The finalists of the Champions Cup have been decided for the Final in 3 weeks, it will be
Leinster v Toulouse. Leinster held on to win at home against Northampton, only
scoring 5 points in the second half but defense held up 20-17. Toulouse were too strong
for Harlequins 31-21.