Lv the LV?
First team?
By Go Bath!
January 20 2014
Do you love the LV? Hard to get enraptured by this competition, now in its forty something year, with its strange qualifying pool format, sporadic timings, relegated to a second xv competition for its last two qualifying rounds courtesy of the six nations and no cup upsets as only the big boys get to play, make this a pale shadow of its former glory in the guise of the John Player and Pilkington days.
Despite this, would you like this in the trophy cabinet alongside the "A" League Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup and dare I even contemplate the Aviva Premiership? For me some silver is better than no silver so bring it on!
Hard to know where to start with our visitors on Saturday with the Blues on 5 points, third in their pool and wholly reliant on someone beating the group leaders Tiggers ( that'll be us then fingers crossed!) on 9 points make this potentially an academic trip for them, whereas a 5 pointer for Bath keeps then in the hunt for a home semi final.
Shorn of key Internationals, sprinkled with a modicum of injuries especially with Patchell the fly half side-lined make this potentially a 2nd/3rd XV for Cardiff. Also judging by the comments on the blues board the recent defeat to Exeter left them seething about their team's performance with several players singled out for some criticism, hopefully this form will continue!
Looking through by BB&W tinted spectacles I'm hoping Bath fielding perhaps not the 1st XV but a proven 2nd XV to win by 20-25pts with the forwards edging the battle in the loose, a strong scrum, MacHeathcote pulling the strings and too much pace in the backs with Bendy and Lane. Also keep an eye out for young Devoto's distribution. But as a wise man said me don't confuse ambition with achievement (thanks Dad!) so I'm not counting my chickens just yet!
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I think it's pants, a total dogs breakfast.
Format is all down to giving the bread-heads enough guaranteed fixtures but why take the best format on the planet (FA CUP etc) and turn it into the worst?
Oh for the mighty upsets, away to Waterloo anyone?
And would say Worcester fancy the short trip to Lydney or Wasps fancy the somewhat longer trip to Penzance.
Oh for underdogs, giant killers and true KNOCKOUT!
HOPFLAPSQUAWKPECK
Stuart
Former ed.
HOPPECK
Horatio Nelson
Stuart
Former ed.
Maybe better to draw in numbers 2-5 in the championship last year. That way we'd get sensible groups (play each other once only to give 4 fixtures) but the 1st division sides would also have time to plan for their fixtures.
It would be fun, also I think mis-match thing is over-exagerated.
Also, all loan or dual reg players to be disallowed from playing for 'donor' clubs but allowed to play for host clubs. I for one would love to see Chris Cook running blindside straight at Stringer from an attacking scrum 5 metres out, only one winner there I'd suggest!
HOP