Rugby Union

[Hitesh]

What was the attendance/atmosphere like today? Better than the Heineken Quarter??

[Ultra]

Only about 18k there...

But Tigers still managed their third win in a row at the Way, which is something we've not done this year.

[Narborough Bod]

Only about 18k there...

But Tigers still managed their third win in a row at the Way, which is something we've not done this year.

I was thinking it looked a bit sparce on the box yesterday.

If they can only get 18k for a Premiership semi final against their oldest rivals, are they really going to fill a 30k stadium when it's fully built?

[C-man]

Many Tigers fans still protest against the play-off system because the only reason it was brought in was to try and stop Tigers winning the league every season. It has kind of worked.

Then you've got the fans who protest against the Walkers full stop, and there were less Bath fans there than in the Heineken Cup, yet they've still managed a higher attendance than they would have got at WR.

I still don't think they'll sell out WR much though.

[Ultra]

Many Tigers fans still protest against the play-off system because the only reason it was brought in was to try and stop Tigers winning the league every season. It has kind of worked.

If anything the playoff system helps Tigers, as they have to play a lot of league games without their top internationals. A league table based on the results of such fixtures would not tell the full story.

Then you've got the fans who protest against the Walkers full stop, and there were less Bath fans there than in the Heineken Cup, yet they've still managed a higher attendance than they would have got at WR.

A lot of fans whinge about playing at our stadium, but in the past they've still bought tickets.

I still don't think they'll sell out WR much though.

Agreed. The new stand will only be full for Heineken Cup games and perhaps a couple of league matches.

[C-man]

If anything the playoff system helps Tigers, as they have to play a lot of league games without their top internationals. A league table based on the results of such fixtures would not tell the full story.

That's why I've gone off Rugby a bit in the last season or two, I just don't think it's fair how during the internationals, teams with the fewest international players can run into some form, pick up 4 or 5 wins and sneak into the play-offs.

This is from wiki:

"In the 2001–2002 season a controversial knock-out cup style play-off system was introduced. Half-way through the season, with Leicester odds-on to win their fourth title in succession, it was decided that the winners of the playoffs would be crowned champions"

In the end those plans were dropped until the following season, but it's still an absolute joke. The League Champions should be the English Champions.

[Finchy]

It is the most ridiculous rule in sport. Why should the team who finishes 4th have any chance of taking the title? It's ironic how Tigers have taken advantage of the rule in recent seasons tho

[Narborough Bod]

It is the most ridiculous rule in sport. Why should the team who finishes 4th have any chance of taking the title? It's ironic how Tigers have taken advantage of the rule in recent seasons tho

Professional game run by amateurs :

- the play off system

- no breaks for international matches

- the inconsistent citing rule

I'm sure you could name more examples.

[Finnegan]

It's just about making money.

They should never have cancelled the league trophy, though. When they first introduced the Zurich Play-Off or whatever it was called it was an extra trophy pegged on the end of the season and you still won the league if you came first.

But oh well. You want to be following the Magners' League anyway - far better rugby, more exciting. Leicester play some fantastic stuff at times but generally speaking the English premiership is utterly dire.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

It's just about making money.

They should never have cancelled the league trophy, though. When they first introduced the Zurich Play-Off or whatever it was called it was an extra trophy pegged on the end of the season and you still won the league if you came first.

But oh well. You want to be following the Magners' League anyway - far better rugby, more exciting. Leicester play some fantastic stuff at times but generally speaking the English premiership is utterly dire.

So what is so great about the Magners League? Maybe its the rose tinted glasses you must wear that makes it so much better. The English Premiership is far from being "utterly dire"!

[Finnegan]

More excitement, more open play. I was a four-year season ticket holder at the Tigers and have spent years watching the Magners League, the English League and domestic rugby in the Southern Hemisphere and I can tell you that the least interesting of the lot (by far) is the English league.

England might have some of the most succesful teams in the North but they're utterly dull to watch.

The Tigers, to be fair, are a bit of an exception and play a far more expansive game than most sides - but still. Snoresville! There's a more consistent level of quality in the Magners League due to the nature of it's composition.

[Father Ted]

So what is so great about the Magners League? Maybe its the rose tinted glasses you must wear that makes it so much better. The English Premiership is far from being "utterly dire"!

I have to agree. Finners can be so biased at times and talk such crap.

[Finnegan]

I have to agree. Finners can be so biased at times and talk such crap.

I can be biased, yes.

But I also know what I'm talking about.

I like the Tigers, I've got a lot of time for them and I love to see them do well - I just don't have the same degree of infatuation with them that you natives will do and I can sit back and comment a bit more impartially.

I'm also willing to bet I watch the sport considerably more than you and a majority of others on here. With the exception of a few purple patches from the likes of the Quins or Gloucester in the last few years, the Zurich Prem just doesn't have teams focussed on playing as thrilling rugby as they do in the Celtic league.

The likes of Cardiff, Munster, Leinster, the Ospreys and the Scarlets (when they're not as wank as this year) thrive on playing fast and exciting rugby - I can sit and watch it for hours no matter who's playing. I struggle to get engrossed with the English league if the Tigers aren't playing.

[john_lcfc]

Surely attendance figures for the GP prove that no-one really wants to watch teams other than Tigers, who even then have shocking attendances for a suposed "world power" in their sport.

[Father Ted]

I can be biased, yes.

But I also know what I'm talking about.

I like the Tigers, I've got a lot of time for them and I love to see them do well - I just don't have the same degree of infatuation with them that you natives will do and I can sit back and comment a bit more impartially.

I'm also willing to bet I watch the sport considerably more than you and a majority of others on here. With the exception of a few purple patches from the likes of the Quins or Gloucester in the last few years, the Zurich Prem just doesn't have teams focussed on playing as thrilling rugby as they do in the Celtic league.

The likes of Cardiff, Munster, Leinster, the Ospreys and the Scarlets (when they're not as wank as this year) thrive on playing fast and exciting rugby - I can sit and watch it for hours no matter who's playing. I struggle to get engrossed with the English league if the Tigers aren't playing.

I bet you do watch more than me but have you played it more than me???

[C-man]

Erm, maybe because football is the national sport and Rugby isn't?

[C-man]

I bet you do watch more than me but have you played it more than me???

I bet I've played it more than you, and although I don't watch the Magners League (because it's not on Sky), I bet he's right.

[Finnegan]

Surely attendance figures for the GP prove that no-one really wants to watch teams other than Tigers, who even then have shocking attendances for a suposed "world power" in their sport.

Erm. So rugby's less popular, what's your point? And the Tigers' so-called shocking attendances are pretty much the same as City's attendances this year.

I bet you do watch more than me but have you played it more than me???

Probably true - I haven't played since High School. But what's that got to do with anything?

Unless you've played in the Guinness Premiership and the Magners League that's an entirely irrelevant point given the argument at hand.

[Father Ted]

Erm. So rugby's less popular, what's your point? And the Tigers' so-called shocking attendances are pretty much the same as City's attendances this year.

Probably true - I haven't played since High School. But what's that got to do with anything?

Unless you've played in the Guinness Premiership and the Magners League that's an entirely irrelevant point given the argument at hand.

Nothing

I'm just really bored and got nothing else to say.

[Finnegan]

Nothing

I'm just really bored and got nothing else to say.

You're pretty stupid, y'know that?

[Edmund]

With the exception of a few purple patches from the likes of the Quins or Gloucester in the last few years, the Zurich Prem just doesn't have teams focussed on playing as thrilling rugby as they do in the Celtic league.

I personally think the Zurich premiership has gone downhill over the years in terms of excitement. When I use to go and watch the tigers when I was younger I swear it was much more fast paced but it could have been because tigers use to turnover every opponent except Bath by about 50 points.

The Underwood brothers, Jonno, Stransky etc they were the days.

[Sparky]

I like both leagues , to say the Magners is better entertainment is a big statement that i dont follow myself . Id watch Premiership every time over that but i still enjoy the Magners . Hope this dont turn in to another Prem vs La Liga debate

[Finnegan]

I personally think the Zurich premiership has gone downhill over the years in terms of excitement. When I use to go and watch the tigers when I was younger I swear it was much more fast paced but it could have been because tigers use to turnover every opponent except Bath by about 50 points.

The Underwood brothers, Jonno, Stransky etc they were the days.

Like I said, the Tigers are usually good entertainment anyway. The season they had Jaco van der Westhuyzen they played some utterly brilliant rugby, I was gutted when he went to Japan.

I watch them now and they're less impressive, they've less household names in the backs and the likes of Murphy are getting on a bit. I never thought I'd say it but I almost miss Leon Lloyd!! It was always a heart-in-mouth moment when someone passed to him and his ol' Teflon hands, haha. I loved his try at the end of the Stade final.

I like both leagues , to say the Magners is better entertainment is a big statement that i dont follow myself . Id watch Premiership every time over that but i still enjoy the Magners . Hope this dont turn in to another Prem vs La Liga debate

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose! It depends what you enjoy watching. I just don't get off on good forwards play at all and I just find the standards in the English league drop a bit more significantly once you get out of the top four or five clubs. I could happily sit and watch Newport play Glasgow - but the thought of watching, say, Newcastle play Sarries makes me want to channel hop and go watch a VH1 100 worst videos special.

[Sparky]

Like I said, the Tigers are usually good entertainment anyway. The season they had Jaco van der Westhuyzen they played some utterly brilliant rugby, I was gutted when he went to Japan.

I watch them now and they're less impressive, they've less household names in the backs and the likes of Murphy are getting on a bit. I never thought I'd say it but I almost miss Leon Lloyd!! It was always a heart-in-mouth moment when someone passed to him and his ol' Teflon hands, haha. I loved his try at the end of the Stade final.

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose! It depends what you enjoy watching. I just don't get off on good forwards play at all and I just find the standards in the English league drop a bit more significantly once you get out of the top four or five clubs. I could happily sit and watch Newport play Glasgow - but the thought of watching, say, Newcastle play Sarries makes me want to channel hop and go watch a VH1 100 worst videos special.

Yeh spot on , id watch Newc vs Sarries but would watch Britains got talent infront of Newport vs Glasgow . Personal preference

[Father Ted]

You're pretty stupid, y'know that?

But your Welsh.