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Weekend Round-Up: Can Leigh Kick It?

By RugbyPass
Leigh Halfpenny

Catch up on the best of the weekend’s games on Rugby Pass as more than one Champions Cup game goes right down to the wire.

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Champions Cup: Connacht vs Wasps
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Wasps were unbeaten in Pool 2 heading to Galway on Saturday, high in confidence after seeing off Connacht 32-17 in Coventry last weekend. Scrum half Joe Simpson gave them the lead with the game’s first try, but despite the sin-binning of Tiernan O’Halloran ten minutes later the visitors couldn’t take advantage and it was Connacht who went to the break in the lead after a Danie Poolman try right at the end of the half. Wasps came out stronger in the second half, and eventually levelled the score through the boot of Jimmy Gopperth, setting up an enthralling final ten minutes.

Champions Cup: Leicester vs Munster
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Call it revenge or call it saving face, Leicester were certainly out for something at Welford Road on Saturday. Their 38-0 drubbing at Thomond Park last weekend was the club’s heaviest ever European defeat and left them teetering on the brink of elimination. A win in the return fixture was necessary for their survival, and Owen Williams’ boot was the weapon of choice; the Welsh fly-half keeping Leicester in front for most of the game. But when Niall Scannell barrelled over for the game’s first try in the 74th minute he gave Tyler Bleyendaal the chance to snatch the lead for the visitors with the conversion and surely end Leicester’s campaign.

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Champions Cup: Clermont vs Ulster
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Could Clemont and Ulster possibly manage to play out the match of the round two weeks in a row? They certainly gave it an honest shot at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday. The home side got off to an even faster start than last weekend with a try inside the first minute to Isaiah Toeava, and added two more by the 24 minute mark for an imposing 21-0 halftime lead. Clermont were playing some spectacular rugby, but Ulster weren’t finished and fought back gamely in an entertaining second half.

Champions Cup: Scarlets vs Toulon
Watch: Full Game | Condensed
Home advantage cannot be underestimated in Europe. Toulon scored a comfortable 31-20 victory over scarlets at Stade Mayol last weekend, but at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday it was a new game and a different story. The home side raced out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter before the French heavyweights started climbing back through the trusty boot of Leigh Halfpenny. With the match poised at 13-9 at halftime, the stage was well and truly set for an intense second forty.

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Trevor 38 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 4 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.

29 Go to comments
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