Topic: [Rugby] Union / League / Super / Sixes Sevens Pro14 / Cups & Tours / Olympics - page 83. (Read 16868 times)

The Paramatta Eels managed to outplay the Wests' Tigers.  I have a feeling the Eels might be the overall better team and the Tiger's win last week was the exception rather than the rule.

So, at the end of the fourth round, the NRL 2021 Season:

https://www.nrl.com/ladder/?competition=111



I feel the Panthers, Rabbitohs, Dragons and Storm with be top eight if not facing off against each-other in the semis.

The Eels and Sharks will be in the top eight. 

As to the other two slots Roosters/Raiders/ plus maybe Knights/Warriors.

Ah I havent been keeping up with this at all.
Who is the top team, France? and who would be favourite to win the championship?

The format has changed for this year only


Well then, the first two games were high scoring affairs, England hammering Scotland 52 - 10

Impressive performance from France against Wales yesterday at the first round of the Women's Six Nations tournament. Les Bleues beat the welsh ladies 53-0. They were clearly above technically and physically during all the match. France will be a very serious contender for England this year. I think they could even make a Grand Slam if the format of the contest hasn't been changed this year.  
https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/women/womens-fixtures-results/

I'd started to do a post and it got lost, so "take two" as they say...

Screen shots via https://www.nrl.com/



Round four as you can see above I'd called the Panthers (but somehow forgot to place a wager).  The three Qld teams, Broncos, Cowboys and Titans all lost (thankfully I didn't place bets on two and won picking the Storm over the Broncos)  With one game left to play I've called four correctly and one incorrectly (NZ Warriors and Roosters have won one and lost one in rounds three and four).  I'm expecting Wests' Tigers to eat the Eeels.



Round Five of the 2021 Season kicks off in a few days.  Based on the the round four results, my picks to win are:

Rabbitohs, NZ Warriors, Panthers, Knights, Storm, Roosters, Wests' Tigers and the Dragons.

The odds are too short for two games:



with a couple of other markets not yet available via https://nitrogensports.eu/sportsbook

Not bad Tinelord2057, you were in the GREEN with the last round.

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50/50 result for the Irish sides in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Leinster progress to the quarter final - the match against Toulon of France was
cancelled because of Covid-19 health risk in the Toulon team.
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12263705/champions-cup-leinster-progress-to-quarter-finals-after-last-16-match-against-toulon-is-cancelled-hours-before-kick-off

Munster were beaten by Toulouse 33-40
Looked like a clise game but Toulouse's class brought them home towards the end.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/munster-vs-toulouse/report/97995

Round 4 of the NRL Rugby League competition begins in nine hours time:

Screen shot via https://www.nrl.com/



I'm expecting the Panthers to continue their for from last week.  Dragons to slay the Knights (scorch them?)  And Wests' Tigers will eat the Eels if they are able to continue their form from last week.

*edit* Late bet for the New Zealand Warriors to win over the Roosters who lost last week to the Rabbitohs.




Union:  Won 2 / Lost 1

• I won on the Chiefs over the Blues / Scotland over France
• Lost calling the Highlanders' over the Hurricanes /

League:  Won 2 / Lost 2

-

• Won Rabbitohs over the Roosters / New Zealand Warriors over the Canberra Raiders /
• Lost calling the Bull Dogs over the Broncos / Lost in the Qld Cup Townsville beat the Easts' Tigers

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I won't be putting a bet on the in form Rabbitohs because they are the firm favorites and it's reflected in the odds:

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I haven't been following the form of the Gold Coast Titans, or the North Queensland Cowboys, but I expect they'll win over their respective opponents (but I won't be putting a wager on either game)

How did you do after your round 3 bets?

Not much Rugby Union going on here ATM, Six Nations Championship and Pro14 League
have been completed.

The last competition is the Heineken Champions Cup > https://www.epcrugby.com

From an Irish perspective we have again Leinster and Munster still involved in the
round of 16.

Games coming up for both are:

Leinster V Toulon (France) KO 17:30 local time - Friday 2nd April

Munster V Toulouse (France) KO 15:00 Local time - Saturday 3rd April

Just two picks for round four of the NRL Rugby League games to be held over the 4th/5th of April, 2021

Wests to beat the Parramatta Ells.  (the announcer on the ABC radio at the end of Wests' last game said that if they play like they just did, then they'll win next week)

Saint George / Illawarra Dragons to slay the Newcastle Knights

And as expected Leinster take the win from Munster.
Not a high scoring game it had a lot of handling errors. Munster were pretty much
chasing the game in the second half and were not allowed play their game. Leinster
has a few "held up" trys but in the second half there was no doubt they were getting
more dominant.


Highlights > https://youtu.be/OO9pxZsqzyI

Not to be though, just watched the highlights, the Broncos looked far superior.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/03/27/match-highlights-broncos-v-bulldogs/

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The Guinness Pro14 Final is on this evening. Its a great reflection of where Irish Rugby Union
is at the moment even after a slightly disapointing Sin Nations campaign.

Two Irish Provinces (clubs) battle it out for the title.

Leinster V Munster - KO 17:00 local time or GMT

Leinster have won this competition 7 times and Munster 3 times, my money is on Leinster
The team is just so dominant its hard to Munster take them.

https://www.cloudbet.com/en/sports/rugby-union/international-pro-14

At full time, the New Zealand Warriors romped home 34 - 31 which means in the last twelve minutes they scored two tries and conversions.  (another game I would have liked to watch!).


I had a feeling it'd be something like that - Scotland would seize an opportunity and run with the ball.

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53 minutes of play down - The Brisbane Broncos are ahead 2 - Nil via a penalty kick.  If the Bull Doges can score and keep Broncos scoreless, they'll win the game.  (Two try's in 20 minutes would seal the game)



Screen grab via https://www.nrl.com/

Thats 3 winners so far, going well, good picks.

The France v Scotland game was entertaining in its own right, there was a
lot of errors with a lot of mistakes, OK it was raining on the night.
Scotland didnt let France play their game and France didnt show their potential
until about 20 minutes in.

With the clock on RED and France ahead by 3 points their #15 Dulin opted not
to kick the ball out to end the game, instead ran the ball resulting in a Scotland
turnover followed by a converted try 4 minutes later.

Thanks - I would have liked to have been able to see that game.  I'm sure it would have been very gritty!

One of my other picks, the Rabbitohs, got up and beat the Roosters 26 - 16.

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With 13 minutes to go, it looks like the Canberra Raiders are going to threash the New Zealand Warriors (31 - 22 at the 67 minute mark)

Unbelievable - France 23 - 27 Scotland, Well done Timelord2067,
Great call and nice reward.

Well done to Wales, GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS 2021.

I had a nice win calling Penrith over the Melbourne Storm in their game last night.





If the Scots get up I'll be an even more happy chappy that's for sure.

 


I'm pretty sure my bet is just for the game play itself, not the overall championship.

Wow Timelord2067, thats a big call for Scotland to beat France tomorrow night.
Good price though and I hope you are right for 3 reasons.

you get your reward

Will make for a great game of Rugby

Wales win the Grand Slam.

KO tomorrow night is 20:00 GMT

For France to win the Championship they have to win by 22points with a bonus try.

Round three of the 2021 NRL competition kicks off tomorrow.

https://www.nrl.com/



My calls for this week are:

Rabbitohs will pluck the Roosters

Penrith Panthers in an upset over the Melbourne Storm.  (and you thought I was going to say "Weather the Storm")



The Bull Dogs will take advantage of last weeks slump by the Broncos while

The New Zealand Warriors will leave the Canberra Raiders scratching their heads:

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In Rugby Union fixtures:

The Chiefs will paint the Blues Red and the Highlanders will snuff out the Hurricanes.

(And the Scots will devours the Frogs):   

What a game we had between France and Wales in the final round of the Six Nations,
The game had everything, 4 try's in the first 15 minutes, great attacking and defensive Rugby,
game changing mistakes and infrindgments by both teams and an unbelievable final 4
minutes of play for France to score a crucial 4th try.

I really thought Wales were going to take the win after taking the lead in the second half
and Willemse of France seeing a Red card for a wreckless ruck clearout, but IMO Wales lost
their discipline with minutes to go and had 2 players yellow carded.

Wales played a superb game up to that point, their play was fast, powerful and had some
brilliant moments of skill and tactics.

France also matched Wales in a lot of departments but had more handling errors.

The final game now on Friday is crucial for France to win with a bonus point to win the championship.

Well I would like to see our Celtic Cousins take the win from France,
the same will be for Scotland when they face up later in the week.

France coming into the tournament were definitely the ones to watch
but havent performed to that expectation and Wales were seen as a weaker
team coming in this year but have out performed to pull off some good wins.

France will love the chance to run the ball in broken play especially and will
want to run the ball as much as possible, they have some fantastic players,
as do Wales. I think you are right Welsh, play the French with scrappy tactics,
frustrate them and you could take the win, this is the game of the day,
a must watch.

We have a tough one against England too, dont know how to call it and I'm
not betting on this one.

I think most of the world right now wants france to win, at least that's the impression I'm getting from various friends, and rugby forums. I know Wales definitely haven't set the world alight in their performances, and I'm probably one of our biggest critics in the Pivac era. However, we've really started to demonstrate some real improvement recently, and to be honest I wasn't expecting to get this far in the competition, without losing. Yeah, we narrowly beat 14 men in the competition, but sometimes especially if its a forward that gets sent off, it can actually make it easier to play, as it just means that one of the forwards needs to do a little bit more work, and encourages that under dog type attitude.

Now this is a big test for us, France are playing some slick rugby, and were definitely the favorites to win the Six Nations, and are the favourites coming into this match. Despite this, I'm actually quietly confident going up against them. Wales are notorious for bringing in a scrappy game, and I don't think the French will want a slow, and scrappy game. I wasn't particularly impressed with them against England either.

I think we can keep the score close as long as we impose a scrappy game. I do believe we can even beat them, and pinch another grand slam. However, its all depending on whether we can make the game scrappy. I believe if its allowed to flow, and France get it to their backs then despite the attacking prowess we process now with other wingers, they won't be able to defend against the tenacious French back line.

I'm going with a Wales win, which the odds will definitely favour, although there is definitely some bias in that