MichaelRobartes

Has there been a rule change in terms of the time you're allowed to bowl your overs? It's been a while, but the last time I watched a T20 match, the last few overs were interminable.

The goys missing out on the fifth stor. Seriously, that's one of the best finals I've seen. Freakishly good. Four Heineken Cups for ROG now.

Disagree about the old format. I think it was really cutthroat. The new format is rubbish, although I quite liked the two-legged round of 16 against all the odds! Agree about Leinster's run. Fair enough that the final is in Dublin, but I'd like a random draw for the semi finals at least.

Hard to argue with this. They've made a right pig's ear of it. For me, the Heineken Cup was the best club competition in sport. Its decline over the last decade or so is really sad. That said, we've hopefully got a great final today. Let's hope they see sense and go back to the old format in time.

That's an improvement. Best thing would be to go back to six pools of four teams though. Pool winners and two best runner ups through to the quarters. Top four have home advantage then a free draw for the semi finals. Easy.

Munster or Stormers from the URC and likely Toulouse or La Rochelle from the Top14.

I'd be delighted as Munster will be one of the URC top seeds and are down to draw Exeter or Baff from the Premiership. I'd prefer Bristol though. I don't get to many Munster matches now.

Looking rocky for Irish. If they go belly up, Bristol will be in the Heineken Cup next season after all.

I have tons of O'Neills GAA gear and the quality is excellent. Some of the jerseys I have are the bones of 20 years old and more or less in perfect condition. Agree with Norn Iron that it'd be an aberration if our gear turns out to be poor quality.

I'd definitely be going to that if I could. Saw the Barbarians against Ireland at Kingsholm years back. Great fun in the Shed with ROG booed throughout and me and my mates booing Contepomi for kicking a penalty at the end to win it. Were you at that one, @'Orns?

Some of us hate the English so much that we've spent most of our lives there and support English football teams. Can't stand the English, me.

Seems a reasonable view. I'll just go fup myself then.

Also covered in the Belfast Telegraph here: https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/bristol-city-fc-apologise-for-message-celebrating-michael-stone-beating-milltown-3-0/1464101728.html Stone is a notorious UDA murderer. Pretty sick from whoever sent that in, but I don't expect City to have any clue of the significance of the message.

I guess Dickson has come to that decision under law 13.4: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/law/13 Players on their feet and without the ball must not fall on or over players on the ground who have the ball or who are near it. Sanction: Penalty. As you know, I don't agree that the law changes aren't necessary, but it's hard to have much sympathy for that decision. It's not high or dangerous and he's trying to prevent a try from being scored. For me, he's already on the floor before making contact with Ashton. It's not like he's dived on him recklessly. The only thing I'd say is that it highlights the danger of getting silly yellows for deliberate knock ons when you know you have a guy like Karl Dickson in the middle. I don't think that incident has a lot to do with the laws.

MacGinty has trucked up some muck ball. Not where you want him at all. The Curry brothers are class. Get the feeling Bristol need to add a bit more to their pack, especially the back 5. No point having top backs when your pack gets beaten up.

Agreed. Red all day for me.

Great work from MacGinty and Naulago for that try. I switched it on just in time to see a high shot from Manu

I didn't know it was definitely in place until after the World Cup. Last I read was that they were considering it and that Borthwick was keen to select from outside England. Would any of those bar Willis be in the post-World Cup frame? I think a lot will depend on what Borthwick wants and how big a rebuild he has in mind. He'll pretty much have a free hand. If the World Cup goes well, his decisions will be backed, and if it doesn't, it'll be a lot easier for him to justify ripping up the squad. I doubt the RFU will want the exception to become the rule (and rightly so in my opinion), but I think there could be a bit more wiggle room for a few years until the situation in the Premiership is a bit more stable. Under the circumstances, I think it'd be hard on guys to leave them out because they couldn't get what they were worth in England. It's a dangerous game and a short career.

It shouldn't be, but Borthwick has indicated that he'd like to be able to pick who he wants irrespective of where they play. The financial landscape has changed somewhat and of course there will be a few guys like Cowan-Dickie going abroad next season, so he may get his wish, at least in the short term. I can't see a situation where England go to the World Cup without Willis if he's fit.

That's true but it has changed in the last while. Our football and rugby national sides played there while Lansdown Road was being rebuilt. I haven't checked the dates, but Croke Park may not have been available for the Euros because of All Ireland fixtures.

Would have been a superb signing for Bristol, but it makes a lot of sense for Toulouse and Willis. They retain a top player who fits perfectly into their back row and he gets to continue playing for one of the best teams in Europe.

You've got to love French rugby.

Really good game to watch. Lots of errors but think Clermont were the better side. He didn't get a ton of ball tonight but I love watching Penaud play. He's a freak.

That's atrocious from Naulago. You know Penaud is coming. Just dot it down. Braindead.