The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Ospreys 6 Leinster 10 at half time. Quite a decent match considering the conditions. Leinster have a full strength side out as they are out of Europe while the Ospreys have rested AWJ, Tipuric and Lydiate.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Matthew Morgan is returning to Wales from Bristol next season. He's joining Cardiff Blues. I was shocked to find out he's only 23, he seems to have been around years.

He's one of the Wales U20 team that beat NZ in the junior RWC in 2012, most of that Wales team has gone on to do well.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Ospreys 9 Leinster 22, the experience and squad depth shone through. Ospreys are at home to Clermont next Friday in a huge Europe game.

[Ray de Galles]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Antepli Ejderha wrote: Matthew Morgan is returning to Wales from Bristol next season. He's joining Cardiff Blues. I was shocked to find out he's only 23, he seems to have been around years.

He's one of the Wales U20 team that beat NZ in the junior RWC in 2012, most of that Wales team has gone on to do well.

Wish he was joining Patchell rather than replacing him.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Watching Racing 92 Glasgow, the French side lead 20 to 3 and look like a side that could win this tournament.

It's not only Dan Carter but he's added some real class to their side.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

27 to 3 now, they've got nearly 30 minutes to score another try to get the bonus point.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Ray de Galles wrote:

Matthew Morgan is returning to Wales from Bristol next season. He's joining Cardiff Blues. I was shocked to find out he's only 23, he seems to have been around years.

He's one of the Wales U20 team that beat NZ in the junior RWC in 2012, most of that Wales team has gone on to do well.

Wish he was joining Patchell rather than replacing him.

At the Scarlets? I would have thought he'd suit them better. At the Blues he'll play at 15 and Anscombe will be the 10.

Danny Wilson is assembling a decent squad at the Blues though. Rhys Gill is the latest confirmed signing.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Antepli Ejderha wrote: 27 to 3 now, they've got nearly 30 minutes to score another try to get the bonus point.

They got the bonus point as the clock ticked red. When Carter was taken off the momentum switched and Racing looked unlikely to get that crucial bonus point.

[Ray de Galles]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Antepli Ejderha wrote:

Matthew Morgan is returning to Wales from Bristol next season. He's joining Cardiff Blues. I was shocked to find out he's only 23, he seems to have been around years.

He's one of the Wales U20 team that beat NZ in the junior RWC in 2012, most of that Wales team has gone on to do well.

Wish he was joining Patchell rather than replacing him.

At the Scarlets? I would have thought he'd suit them better. At the Blues he'll play at 15 and Anscombe will be the 10.

Danny Wilson is assembling a decent squad at the Blues though. Rhys Gill is the latest confirmed signing.

I'd rather Cardiff had Patchell, Morgan and Amscombe - there's a place for all of them in the squad. We are going to kick ourselves over letting Patchell go in a few years.

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Oyonnax, who have been higher a nightmare season, on top of Ulster early in the Alps

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

ursus arctos wrote: Oyonnax, who have been higher a nightmare season, on top of Ulster early in the Alps

At half time it's Oyonnax 23 Ulster 0.

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Now 23-14, with Ulster driving.

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

23-21 with a bit more than ten minutes left.

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Paddy Jackson with a penalty from his own half

24-23

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Toulon and Bath knotted at 9 after 55 minutes.

ESPN 3 has "decided" to provide simultaneous and overlapping English and French commentary on the only audio channel.

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Toulon escape 12-9

They still are far from assured from advancing.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

The Scarlets get a win over Connacht with a late penalty from Shingler. He is making a habit of converting these late chances.

[tee rex]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Latest instalment in a (very) occasional series:
Rugby players on international trade deals.

There is a bit of underlying politics in the All Blacks: the stars (McCaw, Carter) are seen as pro-government (Tory), others less so (Weepu, Kaino).

[Ray de Galles]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

England announce their 6N squad.

I'm always pretty ignorant of all but the most established names in their side but anyone know much about the new intake? ;

Forwards: Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby) *injury replacement for Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens).

Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) *injury replacement for Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

[Ray de Galles]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Eventful Ospreys v Clermont game on right now, especially for Viktor Kolelishvili.

He objected to the position Wayne Barnes took while reffing a home attack so shoved him out of the way, conceding a penalty. Then he reacted to AWJ taking him out off the ball by rolling on top of him and throwing a fist in to his face. Barnes gave him a yellow despite AWJ protesting it didn't deserve one.

6-10 right now but plenty of chances for both sides, Tipuric is having a typically gorgeous game.

.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

It's a decent game. Clermont lead 13 to 6. Biggar has missed two kickable penalties and Eli Walker panicked when he could have put Leonard away.

However Clermont are dominating the scrum and have a rolling maul that's a train used to destroy the Ospreys.

[ursus arctos]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

There is a bit of underlying politics in the All Blacks: the stars (McCaw, Carter) are seen as pro-government (Tory), others less so (Weepu, Kaino).

Weepu has just had his contract with Oyonnax terminated. He had failed to make any impact while there.

[Ray de Galles]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Yeah, I don't see Ospreys getting the win they need especially after actually shipping points against 14 men.

They're trying to play their natural brand of passing rugby while Clermont are grinding it out and Parra is kicking better than Biggar.

Just watched the yellow card again, AWJ really remonstrates with Barnes to keep an opponent on the pitch, what a man.

[Ray de Galles]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

Biggar's playing on after a dead leg.

GET. HIM. THE. FUCK. OFF. THAT. PITCH!

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Road to Rio: Rugby 2016

The only thing that's going to keep the Ospreys in this is Clermont being mentally fragile.