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This Week's Biggest Matches on Rugby Pass

By RugbyPass
Kurtley Beale

We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend as the Premiership and Top 14 get festive with some tasty top-of-the-table clashes.

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Top 14: Clermont vs Paris (Saturday December 24, 2:00am HKT)
Clermont are one of the most fun teams to watch in Europe at the moment. They return to Top 14 action this weekend after an entertaining home-and-away battle with Ulster which saw them suffer a rare loss at Kingspan before exacting swift revenge back at Stade Marcel-Michelin. They are at home again on Saturday against Stade Francais, who sit a ninth on the table, a couple of wins off the pace of the playoffs race. They’re unlikely to make any advance on that front against Clermont, but if the last fortnight is any guide it should be an entertaining encounter nonetheless.

Aviva Premiership: Northampton vs Sale (Saturday December 24, 3:45am HKT)
Fair to say these are two clubs having disappointing seasons so far. Ninth and tenth on the table and both coming off back-to-back losses in the Champions Cup it’s a tough time to be a Saints or a Sharks supporter. Saints had the worse fortnight in Europe, being smashed twice to Leinster including a 60-13 rout in Dublin last weekend. Sharks at least held Saracing within arms reach for most of their game at AJ Bell Stadium, and they could be in with a chance to leapfrog Saints on the Premiership table on Saturday.

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Top 14: Montpellier vs Toulon (Saturday December 24, 4:00am HKT)
The game of the week in France sees second-placed Montpellier host third-placed Toulon with only a point separating them on the table. Both took a win and a loss from the Champions Cup break, Toulon being upset by Scarlets in Llanelli last weekend and Montpellier sharing the spoils with Castres. Home advantage tips this is Montpellier’s favour; their simple, effective game plan built on stultifying defence is hard to break down, but if Toulon play to their potential they are one of the few teams in France who capable of doing it.

Aviva Premiership: Wasps vs Bath (Saturday December 24, 10:00pm HKT)
If Saints and Sharks’ fortunes are stuck in reverse this season then Bath have had the accelerator to the floor for the first few months; Todd Blackadder’s side currently sit 3rd on the Premiership table and top of their Challenge Cup group. They are travelling nicely, but Wasps are doing even better – but then that’s no surprise. They sit just a point behind Saracens on the Premiership table and top of their Champions Cup group and, home advantage being what it is, should get the W at Ricoh Arena on Saturday. Bath will make them work for it though.

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B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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