u/SonicBoom_81

Anyone know why he fell out of favour at Toulon? Quality player. Never understood why he didn't shine at Toulon. Should make a significant difference to Perpignan making the top14 even more competitive next season.

Toulouse to be weakened and Vannes to be stronger competition than Mountaban.... Next season is gonna be a belter

Italy in the first half were flying up and smashing the kiwis and shutting down the wide channels too.

Then in the second half, the All Blacks found the space with inside balls and playing back and getting outside the Italian D.

In the first half, Aus were shutting down Aus and whenever Jalibert touched the ball, he had no space and no one coming off him, and were also threatening.

I don't know what happened in the second half, but somehow Jalibert came from deeper and picked lines and had people running off him everytime and it utterly ripped Aus apart.
Aus didn't seem to be on the ball at all.
The German Comms claimed that the French forwards upped their intensity but I think it must have been a different strategy like it was in the Italy NZ game?

It was claimed on commentary that the rugby community in Germany would be delighted for segner. I've been i the country for 11 years and haven't really found a rugby community... But if it's here, I'd love to find it.

I'm outside Cologne (Bergisch) ... Where is this German rugby community?

It doesn't have to be about watching Germany. I'd love to watch games together. Have loved watching the top14 this year

I get that you want to have atmosphere, but the DJ smashing out a song every single stoppage and carrying on into play really pissed me off at the NZ Italy game. It made it borderline unwatchable for me. I love hearing the crowd get into the game and the swells of emotion and cheers. All of it was drowned out by the DJ and singing along.

I'm used to watching the top14 where the singing and noise comes from the fans.

That plus playing sweet Caroline whilst the opposition fullback is being strapped to a board and carried off in full head gear was incredibly poor taste.

Rant over...

I'm in Germany and have Flo sports but there are no games there. What are the channels I could come into? Or do I just have to watch replays?

Edit: I meant the championship. I want to specifically watched aus France tomorrow

I've spent the season watching the top14. There are Fijians everywhere and they add flair and strength but I don't recognise the players when they play for Fiji.

They go for so many more offloads, with so much risk and sometimes it's a joy and incredible. But very often they fumble it and it leads to turnover and teams playing structured and tight will win.

Let's take Rayasi. He has been dangerous for UBB all year. Reliable at fullback. Made the shirt his own when he came in as second choice (I think this is true). Last week playing Wales, he was just jogging back like he didn't care... He then skinned 3 defenders and gives the most lazy "I don't give a shit" pass to Tuisova when if he played properly, it was most likely a try.

Rayasi also looked like he was wearing a shirt that was too big for him and had a hair tie to take the bagginess out.

I get that some of these players have now made it, and maybe they don't get paid enough for playing for Fiji and are phoning it in...

Generally I just don't understand why they don't play to their potential. If they dialled it down just a bit, I think they'd dominate. They are big enough to go at it with the books and have the skills to create space anywhere...

Thoughts?

Please give them scores out of 10. Cheers

I got the 21 MP 4 years ago and was working as a tennis trainer at the time. I was on court 18 hours a week giving training and trying to play my own stuff too. By the end of the summer I had golfers elbow and was giving training playing left handed and learning the 2 handed backhand.

Over the winter I carried on with the 2HBH but it wasn't working for me. Eventually I moved back to the one hander and through the winter my tennis arm was gone by the end of 2022. I've carried on wearing a compression sleeve when I play though, as when I don't I seem to get some pain.

No problems for 3 years until I decided to wear the compression sleeve less... I don't know why, but now I am suffering from golfers elbow again for the last 5 weeks.

I've played around with strings over the years and really love the solinco confidential in it.

I played for 10-12 years prior having the speed and never had an issue, but there was a 3 year gap where they was no problem, or maybe the compression just masks it - though I do try to play about 6 hours a week so I can't imagine its that much of a magic cure.

I did try a bunch of different sticks very very briefly whilst my buddy was trying them out and really didn't like how they felt (the RF, the yonex precept and possible the wilson blade) - but I only hit with them for 10 minutes each.

Thoughts and suggestions on racquets I could try?

Hi,

I play one handed backhand. Last year whilst playing on clay, I discovered that playing with a western grip is great for dealing with high balls. However, when they are lower, I don't seem to get much spin on them. I hit through the ball quite a lot. It feels fast but it doesn't really seem to do much damage.

In the winter, I worked on my returns and changed to an eastern grip as it seemed to work so well on the return, I put it into my normal rally game. Its great for hitting lower balls and hitting through more.

Now the summer is here again and I am getting smashed with high spinny balls. I can hit the eastern grip but it has little margin for error. Even when I'm hitting against heavy spin around waist height, my timing can be off and the balls fly long.

I played briefly with the western grip again and the balls that were over my shoulder I could sent back and direct. Took away their tactic immediately and allowed me to actually get on top of the points rather than just putting the ball back. (also why I don't slice those balls).

So I think the western grip on the backhand is the one for me. However I ask myself how can I make the most of it? It should have more spin right? Should I look to play balls with more spin and a higher trajectory to hurt the opponent? I love hitting through it but it doesn't seem to hurt the opponent.

I see really good players absolutely hammering the ball. They must be putting tons of spin on the ball too... So do I learn in to that and try to rip it more as the western grip should give access to more spin and therefore be even safer if I "hit bigger?"

It's interesting on the defence being so good from Leinster and they think that may cause UBB trouble.

My mate reckons if Leinster are still in it at halftime, Leinster will do it as the changing room seems to do magical things to Leinster.

I mostly watch top14 so hard for me to judge Leinster.

UBB haven't looked unbeatable this season and I have the feeling jalibert is forcing things at the moment. It's not quite as fluid as it has been... But their backline is immense....

Let's go UBB!!!